B&G FOODS INC
10-Q, 1999-05-17
CANNED, FRUITS, VEG, PRESERVES, JAMS & JELLIES
Previous: AMERICAN EXPRESS ASSET MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL INC/MN, 13F-HR, 1999-05-17
Next: MKS INSTRUMENTS INC, 10-Q, 1999-05-17






      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 17, 1999

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


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 10-Q



    (Mark one)       Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
       [X]                of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                  For the quarterly period ended April 3, 1999

                                       or


                Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
       [ ]            of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                   For the transition period from ________ to

                        Commission file number 333-39813



                                 B&G FOODS, INC.

        (Exact name of small business issuer as specified in its charter)

            Delaware
   (State or other jurisdiction of                      13-3916496
    incorporation or organization)          (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

426 Eagle Rock Avenue, Roseland, New Jersey               07068
 (Address of principal executive offices)               (Zip Code)

         Issuer's telephone number, including area code: (973) 228-2500


         Check whether the issuer (1) has filed all reports required to be filed
by  Section  13 or 15(d)  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934  during  the
preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that registrant was required to file
such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing  requirements for the past
90 days. Yes [X]  No [ ]

         As of April 3,  1999,  there  was 1 share  of the  registrant's  common
stock,  $.01 par  value,  outstanding,  which was owned by an  affiliate  of the
registrant.

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


<PAGE>


                        B&G Foods, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                                      Index

                                                                        Page No.

PART I.       FINANCIAL INFORMATION

         Item 1.

                a)  Consolidated Balance Sheets................................1

                b)  Consolidated Statements of Operations......................2

                c)  Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows......................3

                d)  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.................4

         Item 2.    Management's Discussion and Analysis of
                    Financial Condition and Results of Operations..............7

         Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about
                    Market Risk...............................................10

PART II.      OTHER INFORMATION

         Item 1.    Legal Proceedings.........................................10

         Item 2.    Change in Securities......................................10

         Item 3.    Defaults Upon Senior Securities...........................10

         Item 4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holdings......10

         Item 5.    Other Information.........................................10

         Item 6.    Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K..........................11
                    (a)    Exhibits
                    (b)    Reports on Form 8-K

SIGNATURES

         Index to Exhibits....................................................14

                                      (i)

<PAGE>


                                     PART I
                              FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.  Financial Statements

                        B&G Foods, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                           Consolidated Balance Sheets
                  (dollars in thousands, except per share data)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                              <C>                   <C>   

                   Assets                                         April 3, 1999        January 2, 1999
                                                                  -------------        ---------------
                                                                   (Unaudited)
Current assets:
      Cash and cash equivalents                                  $           926       $      599
      Trade accounts receivable, net                                      21,354           15,656
      Inventories                                                         61,098           39,764
      Prepaid expenses                                                     2,509            1,646
      Deferred income taxes                                                2,938            2,938
                                                                 --------------------------------
           Total current assets                                           88,825           60,603

Property, plant and equipment, net                                        42,152           26,486
Intangible assets, net                                                   317,913          119,542
Other assets                                                              11,260            5,242
                                                                 --------------------------------

                                                                  $      460,150       $  211,873
                                                                 ================================

           Liabilities and Stockholder's Equity

Current liabilities:
      Current installments of long-term debt                      $          250    $       1,431
      Trade accounts payable                                              14,759           17,508
      Accrued expenses                                                    13,315           10,335
      Due to related parties                                                 452              705
                                                                 ---------------------------------
           Total current liabilities                                      28,776           29,979

Long-term debt                                                           343,774          143,265
Deferred income taxes                                                     32,155           17,809
                                                                 ---------------------------------
           Total liabilities                                             404,705          191,053

Stockholder's equity:
Common stock, $.01 par value per share. Authorized
      1,000 shares; issued and outstanding 1 share in
      1999 and 1998                                                         -                -
Additional paid-in capital                                                56,342           21,342
Accumulated deficit                                                         (897)            (522)
           Total stockholder's equity                                     55,445           20,820
                                                                 ----------------------------------

                                                                 $       460,150      $   211,873
                                                                 ==================================
</TABLE>

                 See notes to consolidated financial statements.


<PAGE>


                        B&G Foods, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                      Consolidated Statements of Operations
                             (dollars in thousands)
                                   (Unaudited)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                   <C>                <C>    

                                                                         Thirteen Weeks Ended
                                                                        April 3, 1999    April 4, 1998

Net sales                                                              $    56,480         $   38,398
Cost of goods sold                                                          32,711             23,473
                                                                       ------------------------------

           Gross profit                                                     23,769             14,925

Sales, marketing, and distribution expenses                                 16,978             10,740
General and administrative expenses                                          2,392              1,357
Management fees-related party                                                   73                 62
                                                                       -------------------------------

           Operating income                                                  4,326              2,766

Other expense:
      Interest expense-related parties                                          15                 15
      Interest expense                                                       5,046              3,220
                                                                       -------------------------------

           Loss before income tax benefit                                     (735)              (469)

Income tax benefit                                                            (360)              (233)
                                                                       -------------------------------

           Net loss                                                     $     (375)        $     (236)
                                                                       ================================

</TABLE>

                 See notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                       2

<PAGE>


                        B&G Foods, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                      Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                             (dollars in thousands)
                                   (Unaudited)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                              <C>                     <C>    

                                                                         Thirteen Weeks Ended
                                                                 April 3, 1999           April 4, 1998
                                                                 -------------           -------------

Cash flows from operating activities
      Net loss                                                   $   (375)                $   236)
      Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used
        in operating activities:
           Depreciation and amortization                            2,457                   1,651
           Deferred income tax benefit                               (360)                   (220)
           Amortization of deferred debt issuance costs               221                     147
           Changes in assets  and  liabilities, net of effects of
              businesses acquired:
               Trade accounts receivable                           (5,698)                  2,277
               Inventories                                          4,565                   2,962
               Prepaid expenses                                      (863)                    (12)
               Other assets                                           (37)                     (9)
               Trade accounts payable                              (2,749)                 (3,308)
               Accrued expenses                                      (470)                 (3,338)
               Due to related parties                                (253)                    (50)
                                                               -----------------------------------

               Net cash used in operating activities               (3,562)                   (136)
                                                               -----------------------------------

Cash flows from investing activities:
      Paid for acquisitions                                      (222,570)                     -
      Capital expenditures                                         (1,667)                   (570)
      Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment           -                        346
                                                               -----------------------------------

               Net cash used in investing activities             (224,237)                   (224)
                                                               -----------------------------------

Cash flows from financing activities:
      Payments of long-term debt                                  (20,672)                    (95)
      Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt                    220,000                      -
      Proceeds from capital contribution                           35,000                     231
      Payments of deferred debt issuance costs                     (6,202)                   (127)
                                                               -----------------------------------

               Net cash provided by financing activities          228,126                       9
                                                               -----------------------------------

               Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents       327                    (351)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period                      599                     691
                                                               -----------------------------------

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                     $      926              $      340
                                                               ===================================

</TABLE>

                 See notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                       3

<PAGE>


                        B&G Foods, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                             (Dollars in Thousands)
                                   (Unaudited)

(1)      Basis of Presentation

         The accompanying  consolidated  financial statements of B&G Foods, Inc.
         and subsidiaries (the Company) contain all adjustments (consisting only
         of normal  recurring  adjustments)  necessary  to  present  fairly  the
         Company's financial position as of April 3, 1999 and the results of its
         operations  and its cash flow for the thirteen week periods ended April
         3, 1999 and April 4, 1998.

         The  results  of  operations  for the  thirteen  week  periods  are not
         necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.
         The accompanying  consolidated  financial  statements should be read in
         conjunction  with  the  consolidated  financial  statements  and  notes
         thereto included in the Company's 1998 Annual report on Form 10-K filed
         with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(2)      Nature of Operations and Business Acquisitions

         Nature of Operations

         The  Company  operates  in one  industry  segment,  the  manufacturing,
         marketing and distribution of branded,  shelf-stable food products. The
         Company's products include pickles,  peppers, jams and jellies,  canned
         meats and beans,  spices,  syrups, bagel chips and other specialty food
         products  which are sold to retailers and food service  establishments.
         The Company  distributes these products to retailers in the greater New
         York   metropolitan   area  through  a   direct-store-door   sales  and
         distribution  system  and  elsewhere  in the  United  States  through a
         nationwide network of independent brokers and distributors.

         Acquisitions and Financing

         On July 17, 1998, through a subsidiary, the Company acquired all of the
         issued and  outstanding  capital stock of Maple Grove Farms of Vermont,
         Inc.,   Up  Country   Naturals  of  Vermont,   Inc.  and  Les  Produits
         Alimentaires  Jacques et Fils, Inc.  (collectively,  Maple Grove),  and
         William F. Callahan and Ruth M. Callahan  (collectively,  the Sellers),
         for aggregate consideration of $34,137,  consisting of $14,170 in cash,
         1,000 shares of common stock of B&G Foods Holdings, Inc. (Holdings, the
         Company's parent),  having an aggregate value of $10, and 990 shares of
         the 13% Series A  cumulative  preferred  stock of  Holdings,  having an
         initial aggregate  liquidation  preference of $990, plus the assumption
         of $17,325 in debt which was paid at closing and  transaction  costs of
         $1,265 and a post-closing  adjustment.  Financing for this  acquisition
         and certain  related  transaction  fees and  expenses  was  provided by
         borrowings  from the  Company's  $50,000  Credit  Facility  (the Credit
         Facility).  As a result  of the Maple  Grove  Acquisition,  a  consent,
         waiver and first  amendment of the Credit  Facility  was entered  into,
         which  included  among other things,  a  prospective  change in certain
         financial  covenants and a consent by the lender regarding the purchase
         of Maple Grove.

                                       4

<PAGE>


                        B&G Foods, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                             (Dollars in Thousands)
                                   (Unaudited)
(continued)

         On February 5, 1999, the Company acquired certain assets of the Polaner
         Brand and  related  brands  (collectively,  "Polaner"  or the  "Polaner
         Brands  Acquisition")  from  International  Home Foods, Inc. (IHF), for
         approximately $30,574,  including transaction costs. Financing for this
         acquisition  and certain  related  transaction  fees and  expenses  was
         provided by borrowings from the Company's Credit Facility.

         On March 15,  1999,  the Company  acquired  the assets and stock of the
         Heritage  Portfolio  of Brands,  ("Heritage"  or the  "Heritage  Brands
         Acquisition")   from  Pillsbury,   Inc.  for  approximately   $191,996,
         including  transaction costs. In connection with this transaction,  the
         Company   entered  into  a  $280,000  senior  secured  credit  facility
         comprised of a $60,000 five-year  revolving credit facility,  a $70,000
         five-year term loan facility ("Term Loan A") and a $150,000  seven-year
         term loan facility  ("Term Loan B" and  collectively  with Term Loan A,
         the "Term Loan Facilities").  The proceeds of the Term Loan Facilities,
         together  with an  additional  $35,000 of equity from BRS, were used to
         fund the Heritage Brands Acquisition and refinance borrowings under the
         Company's  Credit  facility  which had been used for the Polaner Brands
         Acquisition and the Maple Grove Acquisition.

         The above  acquisitions  have  been  accounted  for using the  purchase
         method and, accordingly, the assets acquired,  liabilities assumed, and
         results  of  operations  are  included  in the  consolidated  financial
         statements from the respective date of the acquisitions.  The excess of
         the  purchase  price  over the fair  value of  identifiable  net assets
         acquired,  representing  goodwill,  is included in  intangible  assets.
         Goodwill and trademarks resulting from the above acquisitions are being
         amortized over 40, and 25-40 years, respectively.

         Pro Forma Summary of Operations

         The  following  unaudited  pro  forma  summary  of  operations  for the
         thirteen  weeks  ended  April 3, 1999 and April 4,  1998  presents  the
         operations  of the  Company  as if the  Maple  Grove  Acquisition,  the
         Polaner Brands  Acquisition  and the Heritage  Brands  Acquisition  had
         occurred  at the  beginning  of the periods  presented.  In addition to
         including the results of operations of the aforementioned entities, the
         pro forma  information gives effect primarily to interest on additional
         borrowings and changes in depreciation  and  amortization of intangible
         assets.  The pro  forma  summary  of  operations  reflects  preliminary
         estimates  of the  allocation  of the  purchase  price for the  Polaner
         Brands  Acquisition  and the Heritage Brands  Acquisition  which may be
         adjusted based upon a valuation study to be conducted.

                                                    Thirteen Weeks Ended
                                                 April 3, 1999     April 4, 1998
         Net sales                               $      82,469     $      81,110
         Net Income                                      1,761             2,041

         The pro  forma  information  presented  above  does not  purport  to be
         indicative of the results that actually would have been attained if the
         aforementioned  acquisitions,  and related  financing  transactions had
         occurred at the beginning of the periods  presented and is not intended
         to be a projection of future results.

                                       5

<PAGE>


                        B&G Foods, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                             (Dollars in Thousands)
                                   (Unaudited)

(continued)

(3)      Inventories

         Inventories consist of the following:

                                             April 3, 1999     January 2, 1999

         Raw materials and packaging         $     13,078          $   10,337
         Work in process                            1,948               2,862
         Finished goods                            46,072              26,565
                                              -----------           ---------

                                              $    61,098           $   39,764
                                              ===========           ==========

(4)      Debt

         On August 11,  1997,  the  Company  issued  $120,000  of 9.625%  Senior
         Subordinated Notes (the Notes) due August 1, 2007 with interest payable
         semiannually  of  February  1 and  August  1 of each  year,  commencing
         February  1,  1998.  The  proceeds  of the Notes were used to repay the
         outstanding  balances  together  with accrued and unpaid  interest with
         respect to the Company's $50 million Senior Secured Credit Facility and
         the Interim Notes, to finance the acquisition of JEM and to pay certain
         related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes.

         As part of the  registration  rights  agreement  dated  August 11, 1997
         entered  into with the  initial  purchasers  of the Notes,  the Company
         agreed to offer to  exchange  an  aggregate  principal  amount of up to
         $120,000  of its  9.625%  Senior  Subordinated  Notes due 2007 (the New
         Notes)  for a like  principal  amount  of the  Notes  outstanding  (the
         Exchange Offer).

         The terms of the New Notes are  identical in all  material  respects to
         those of the Notes (including principal amount, interest rate, maturity
         and  guarantees),   except  for  certain   transfer   restrictions  and
         registration  rights  relating  to the Notes.  The  Exchange  Offer was
         completed on February 6, 1998.

         On March 15, 1999, the Company  entered into a $280,000  Senior Secured
         Credit  Facility  comprised  of a $60,000  five-year  revolving  credit
         facility,  a $70,000  five-year  Term Loan A and a $150,000  seven-year
         Term Loan B. The proceeds of the Term Loan Facilities, together with an
         additional  $35,000 of equity from BRS,  were used to fund the Heritage
         Brands Acquisition and refinance  borrowings under the Company's Credit
         Facility which had been used for the Polaner Brands Acquisition and the
         Maple  Grove  Acquisition.  Interest  is  determined  based on  several
         alternative  rates as stipulated in the Senior Secured Credit Facility,
         including the base lending rate plus an applicable  margin, as defined,
         or the  eurodollar  rate plus an  applicable  margin,  as defined.  The
         Secured  Credit  Facility  is  secured  by  substantially  all  of  the
         Company's  assets and stock.  The Senior Secured  Credit  Facility also
         contains covenants that will restrict,  among other things, the ability
         of the Company to incur  additional  indebtedness,  pay dividends,  and
         create certain liens.  The Senior Secured Credit Facility also contains
         certain  financial  covenants  beginning in the second quarter of 1999,
         which,  among other things,  specify  maximum capital  expenditures,  a
         minimum  interest and fixed charge ratio, and a maximum senior leverage
         ratio, each ratio as defined.

                                       6

<PAGE>

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
         Results of Operations Results of Operations

         13 Week  period  ended April 3, 1999  compared to 13 Week period  ended
         April 4, 1998.

         Net Sales.  Net sales increased $18.1 million or 47.1% to $56.5 million
for the thirteen week period ended April 3, 1999 (the "1999  Period") from $38.4
million for the thirteen  week period  ended April 4, 1998 (the "1998  Period").
The net sales increase included $18.2 million of sales from Maple Grove, Polaner
Brands,  and  Heritage  Brands  Acquisitions.   Sales  from  Trappey's  products
increased $0.5 million or 10.0%,  and Vermont Maid sales  increased $0.2 million
or 13.6%.  These sales  increases  were  partially  offset by a decrease of $0.4
million or 6.4% in sales of Burns & Ricker Snack Foods  products,  due primarily
to a decline in sales to the deli departments of grocery stores and $0.4 million
or 3.1% in sales of B&G Pickle and Pepper products,  due primarily to lower unit
volume in sales of food service products.

         Gross Profit.  Gross profit increased by $8.8 million or 59.3% to $23.8
million for the 1999  Period  from $14.9  million  from the 1998  Period.  Gross
profit as a percentage  of net sales  increased to 42.1% in the 1999 Period from
38.9% in the 1998  Period  due to a  favorable  shift in the sales mix to higher
gross profit  margins from Polaner and  Heritage,  along with reduced  labor and
overhead costs at our Burns & Ricker Snack Food manufacturing facility.

         Sales,  Marketing  and  Distribution  Expenses.  Sales,  marketing  and
distribution  expenses  increased  $6.2 million or 58.1% to $17.0 million in the
1999 Period from $10.7 million in the 1998 Period. Such expenses as a percentage
of net sales increased to 30.1% in the 1999 Period from 28.0% in the 1998 Period
due  primarily to the Maple  Grove,  Polaner and  Heritage  acquisitions.  These
acquisitions  accounted for $6.9 million of the increase,  which was offset by a
decrease of $0.6 million in B&G Pickle and Pepper products.

         General  and  Administrative   Expenses.   General  and  administrative
expenses  (including  amortization of intangibles and management fees) increased
by $1.0 million, or 73.7%, to $2.5 million for the 1999 Period from $1.4 million
for  the  1998  Period,  primarily  due  to  increased  operating  expenses  and
amortization  of  intangibles  associated  with the  Maple  Grove,  Polaner  and
Heritage acquisitions.

         Operating  Income.  As a  result  of the  foregoing,  operating  income
increased  by $1.6 million or 56.4% to $4.3 million in the 1999 Period from $2.8
million in the 1998 Period.  Operating  income  expressed as a percentage of net
sales increased to 7.7% in the 1999 Period from 7.2% in the 1998 Period.

         Interest  Expense.  Interest  expense  increased  $1.8  million to $5.0
million for the 1999 Period from $3.2  million in the 1998 Period as a result of
the additional debt incurred by the Company to fund the Maple Grove, Polaner and
Heritage acquisitions.

                                       7

<PAGE>


Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash Flows

         Cash  used in  operating  activities  increased  $3.5  million  to $3.6
million for the 1999 Period from $0.1 million in the 1998 Period.  This increase
is primarily due to additional working capital needs related to the Maple Grove,
Polaner Brands and Heritage  Brands  Acquisitions.  Working  capital at April 3,
1999 was $60.0  million,  an increase of $29.4  million over working  capital at
January 2, 1999 of $30.6 million.

         Net cash used in  investing  activities  for the 1999 Period was $224.2
million as compared to $0.2  million for the 1998 Period.  The change  primarily
relates to the Polaner Brands and Heritage Brands Acquisitions for $30.6 million
and $192.0  million,  respectively,  in the 1999  Period.  Capital  expenditures
during the 1999 Period of $1.7 million included  purchases of manufacturing  and
computer equipment and were $1.1 million above $0.6 million in the 1998 Period.

         Net cash  provided  by  financing  activities  for the 1999  Period was
$228.1  million as compared  to $0.1  million  for the 1998  Period.  The change
relates primarily to the proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt and equity
in  the  1999  Period  to  finance  the  Polaner  Brands  and  Heritage   Brands
Acquisitions.

Acquisitions

         The Company's  liquidity and capital resources have been  significantly
impacted  by  acquisitions  and may be  impacted  in the  foreseeable  future by
additional acquisitions. The Company has historically financed acquisitions with
borrowings and cash flows from operations. The Company's future interest expense
will increase  significantly as a result of additional  indebtedness the Company
has  incurred  as a  result  of its  recent  acquisitions,  and  any  additional
indebtedness the Company may incur to finance potential future acquisitions,  if
any. To the extent  future  acquisitions,  if any,  are  financed by  additional
indebtedness,  the resulting  increase in debt and interest expense could have a
negative impact on liquidity.

Future Capital Needs

         The Company is highly leveraged.  On April 3, 1999, the Company's total
long-term debt (including  current  installments) and  stockholder's  equity was
$344.0 million and $55.4 million, respectively.

         The Company's  primary sources of capital are cash flow from operations
and borrowings under a $60.0 million  revolving  credit facility.  The Company's
primary capital requirements include debt service, capital expenditures, working
capital needs and  financing  acquisitions.  The  Company's  ability to generate
sufficient cash to fund its operations  depends  generally on the results of its
operations and the availability of financing. Management believes that cash flow
from operations in conjunction with the available  borrowing  capacity under the
revolving credit facility of  approximately  $56.6 million at April 3, 1999, and
possible future debt financing will be sufficient for the foreseeable  future to
meet debt  service  requirements,  make future  acquisitions,  if any,  and fund
capital expenditures.  However, there can be no assurance in this regard or that
the terms available for any future financing, if required, would be favorable to
the Company.

                                       8

<PAGE>

Seasonality

Sales of a number of the  Company's  products  tend to be seasonal.  The Company
purchases most of the produce used to make B&G Pickle and Pepper Products during
the  period  from  May to  October  and it  purchases  all  of its  maple  syrup
requirements  during  the  months  of  April  through  July.  Consequently,  its
liquidity needs are greatest during these periods.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June,  1998, the Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board issued  Statement on
Financial  Accounting  Standards No. 133 (SFAS 133),  "Accounting for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging  Activities."  SFAS 133  standardizes the accounting for
derivative  instruments  by requiring  that an entity  recognize  derivatives as
assets or liabilities in the statement of financial position and measure them at
fair value.  This  Statement is  effective  for all quarters of all fiscal years
beginning  after June 15,  1999.  This  Statement  should  have no impact on the
Company's consolidated financial statements.

Year 2000

The Year 2000 ("Y2K")  issue is the result of computer  programs  being  written
using two digits,  rather than four, to define the  applicable  year.  Mistaking
"00" for the year 1900  could  result in  miscalculations  and  errors and cause
significant  business  interruptions  for  the  Company,  as  well  as  for  the
government and most other companies. The Company has instituted a plan to assess
its  state  of  readiness   for  Y2K,  to  remediate   those  systems  that  are
non-compliant and to assure that material third parties will be Y2K compliant.

The Company has assessed its mainframe,  operating and  application  systems for
Y2K  readiness,  giving the  highest  priority to those  information  technology
applications  (IT)  systems  that  are  considered   critical  to  its  business
operations.  At  present,  management  believes  that  approximately  75% of the
critical IT systems and non-IT  systems  have been  remediated.  Those  critical
systems not yet remediated are expected to be remediated by June 30, 1999.  With
respect to the Company's non critical IT and non-IT systems, management believes
that  approximately  50% of such  systems have been  remediated  and expects the
remaining systems to be remediated by September 30, 1999.

In 1998, the Company installed throughout its business units a Wide Area Network
encompassing  merchandising,  logistics,  finance and human resources.  The Wide
Area Network project was undertaken for business reasons unrelated to Y2K.

The Company has distributed a comprehensive Y2K compliance  questionnaire to key
vendors,  service  providers  and  co-packers.   Management  has  addressed  the
responses as part of the Company's Y2K plan.

The Company is utilizing both internal and external resources to address the Y2K
issue.  Internal  resources  reflect the reallocation of IT personnel to the Y2K
project from other IT projects.  In the opinion of  management,  the deferral of
such other  projects  will not have a significant  adverse  effect on continuing
operations.  The  total  estimated  direct  cost to  remediate  the Y2K,  is not
expected to be material to the  Company's  results of  operations  or  financial
condition. All Y2K costs are expensed as incurred.

The Company is in the process of  developing  contingency  plans for those areas
which might be affected by Y2K. Although the full consequences are unknown,  the
failure of either the Company's  critical systems or those of its material third
parties to be Y2K compliant  could result in the  interruption  of its business,
which  could have a material  adverse  effect on the  results of  operations  or
financial condition of the Company.

                                       9

<PAGE>

Forward-Looking Statements

This report includes "forward-looking  statements" within the meaning of Section
21E of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as amended.  Statements  in this
report regarding  future events or conditions,  including  statements  regarding
industry prospects and the Company's expected financial  position,  business and
financing plans, are forward-looking  statements.  Although the Company believes
that  the  expectations   reflected  in  such  forward-looking   statements  are
reasonable,  it can give no assurance that such  expectations will prove to have
been  correct.  Important  factors  that could  cause  actual  results to differ
materially from the Company's  expectations are disclosed in this report as well
as the  Company's  most  recent  annual  report on Form 10-K,  and  include  the
Company's substantial  leverage,  the risks associated with the expansion of the
Company's  business,  the possible  inability  of the Company to  integrate  the
businesses it has acquired,  lower sales volumes for the Company's  products and
higher costs of food product raw  materials,  as well as factors that affect the
food industry  generally.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue  reliance on
these  forward-looking  statements,  which  speak  only as of their  dates.  The
Company   undertakes   no   obligations   to  publicly   update  or  revise  any
forward-looking  statements,  whether  as a result  of new  information,  future
events or otherwise.

Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk

         In the normal  course of  operations,  the Company is exposed to market
risks arising from adverse changes in interest rates. Market risk is defined for
these  purposes  as the  potential  change in the fair value  resulting  from an
adverse  movement in interest  rates.  As of April 3, 1999,  the Company's  only
variable rate borrowings were under the Term Loan Facilities which bear interest
at several alternative variable rates as stipulated in the Senior Secured Credit
Facility. A 100 basis point increase in interest rates, applied to the Company's
borrowings  at April 3, 1999,  would  result in an annual  increase  in interest
expense  and a  corresponding  reduction  in  cash-flow  of  approximately  $2.2
million.

                                     PART II
                                OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

The Company is from time to time  involved in legal  proceedings  arising in the
normal  course  of  business.  The  Company  believes  there  is no  outstanding
litigation which could have a material impact on its financial position, results
of operations or liquidity.

Item 2.  Change in Securities

         Not applicable.

Item 3.  Defaults Upon Senior Securities

         Not applicable.

Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holdings

         Not applicable.

Item 5.  Other Information

         Not applicable.

                                       10

<PAGE>


Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)      Exhibits
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
         <S>                                <C>   

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

         Exhibit 2.1                        Asset and Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 28,
                                            1999, by and among The Pillsbury Company, Indivined B.V., IC
                                            Acquisition Company, Heritage Acquisition Corp. and, as guarantor,
                                            B&G Foods, Inc. (filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Company's Report on Form
                                            8-K filed April 1, 1999 and incorporated by reference).

         Exhibit 2.2                        Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 12, 1999, by and among
                                            Roseland Distribution Company, International Home Foods, Inc. and M.
                                            Polaner, Inc. (filed as an exhibit to the Company's Report on Form
                                            8-K filed February 19, 1999 and incorporated by reference).

         Exhibit 10.1                       Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of March 15, 1999,
                                            among B&G Foods Holdings Corp., B&G Foods, Inc., as borrower, the
                                            several lenders from time to time party thereto, Lehman Brothers
                                            Inc., as Arranger, The Bank of New York, as Documentation Agent,
                                            Heller Financial, Inc., as Co-Documentation Agent, and Lehman
                                            Commercial Paper Inc. as Syndication Agent and Administrative Agent.

         Exhibit 10.2                       Term Loan Agreement, dated as of March 15, 1999,
                                            among B&G Foods Holdings Corp., B&G Foods, Inc., as borrower, the
                                            several lenders from time to time party thereto, Lehman Brothers
                                            Inc., as Arranger, The Bank of New York, as Documentation Agent,
                                            Heller Financial, Inc., as Co-Documentation  Agent, and Lehman
                                            Commercial Paper, Inc., as Syndication Agent and Administrative Agent.

         Exhibit 10.3                       Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated as of March 15, 1999, by
                                            B&G Foods Holdings Corp., B&G Foods, Inc., and certain of its
                                            subsidiaries in favor of Lehman Commercial Paper, Inc., as
                                            Administrative Agent.

         Exhibit 10.4                       Transition Services Agreement, dated as of February 5, 1999, among
                                            International Home Foods, Inc., M. Polaner, Inc. and Roseland
                                            Distribution Company (filed as an exhibit to the Company's Report on
                                            Form 8-K filed February 19, 1999 and incorporated by reference).

         Exhibit 10.5                       Consent, Waiver and Second Amendment, dated as of January 12, 1999 to
                                            the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of August
                                            11, 1997, among B&G Foods, Inc., the subsidiaries party thereto,
                                            Heller Financial, Inc., as agent and lender, and the other lenders
                                            party thereto (filed as an exhibit to

                                       11

<PAGE>


                                            the  Company's  Report  on Form  8-K filed February 19, 1999 and
                                            incorporated by reference).

         Exhibit 10.6                       Guaranty, dated January 12, 1999, of B&G Foods, Inc. in favor of
                                            International Home Foods, Inc. and M. Polaner, Inc. (filed as an
                                            exhibit to the Company's Report on Form 8-K filed February 19, 1999
                                            and incorporated by reference).

         Exhibit 27                         Financial Data Schedule
                                            (filed electronically with SEC only)

</TABLE>


(b)      Reports on Form 8-K

         Form 8-K filed February 19, 1999
         Form 8-K filed April 1, 1999
         Form 8-K/A filed April 21, 1999
         Form 8-K/A filed April 22, 1999

                                       12

<PAGE>

                                    SIGNATURE


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


Dated:   May 17, 1999                       B&G FOODS, INC.




                                            By:   /s/ Robert C. Cantwell
                                               -------------------------
                                                Robert C. Cantwell
                                                Executive Vice President and
                                                Chief Financial Officer
                                                (Principal Financial and
                                                Accounting Officer and
                                                Authorized Officer)

                                       13

<PAGE>



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit
Number                             Description
- ------                             -----------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                <C>    

Exhibit 2.1                        Asset and Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 28,
                                   1999, by and among The Pillsbury Company, Indivined B.V., IC
                                   Acquisition Company, Heritage Acquisition Corp. and, as guarantor,
                                   B&G Foods, Inc. (filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Company's Report on Form
                                   8-K filed April 1, 1999 and incorporated by reference).

Exhibit 2.2                        Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 12, 1999, by
                                   and among Roseland Distribution Company, International Home Foods,
                                   Inc. and M. Polaner, Inc. (filed as an exhibit to the Company's Report
                                   on Form 8-K filed February 19, 1999 and incorporated by reference).

Exhibit 10.1                       Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of March 15, 1999
                                   among B&G Foods Holdings Corp., B&G Foods, Inc., as borrower, the
                                   several lenders from time to time party thereto, Lehman Brothers
                                   Inc., as Arranger, the Bank of New York, as Documentation Agent,
                                   Heller Financial, Inc., as Co-Documentation Agent, and Lehman
                                   Commercial Paper Inc. as Syndication Agent and Administrative Agent.

Exhibit 10.2                       Term Loan Agreement, dated as of March 15, 1999,
                                   among B&G Foods Holdings Corp., B&G Foods, Inc., as borrower, the
                                   several lenders from time to time party thereto, Lehman Brothers
                                   Inc., as Arranger, The Bank of New York, as Documentation Agent,
                                   Heller Financial, Inc., as Co-Documentation  Agent, and Lehman
                                   Commercial Paper, Inc., as Syndication Agent and Administrative Agent.

Exhibit 10.3                       Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated as of March 15, 1999, by
                                   B&G Foods Holdings Corp., B&G Foods, Inc., and certain of its
                                   subsidiaries in favor of Lehman Commercial Paper, Inc., as
                                   Administrative Agent.

Exhibit 10.4                       Transition Services Agreement, dated as of February 5, 1999, among
                                   International Home Foods, Inc., M. Polaner Inc. and Roseland
                                   Distribution Company (filed as an exhibit to the Company's Report on
                                   Form 8-K filed February 19, 1999 and incorporated by reference).

Exhibit 10.5                       Consent, Waiver and Second Amendment, dated as of January 12, 1999 to
                                   the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of August
                                   11, 1997, among B&G Foods, Inc., the subsidiaries party thereto,
                                   Heller Financial, Inc., as agent and lender, and the other lenders
                                   party thereto (filed as an exhibit to the Company's Report on Form
                                   8-K filed February 19, 1999 and incorporated by reference).

                                       14

<PAGE>

Exhibit 10.6                       Guaranty, dated January 12, 1999, of B&G Foods, Inc. in favor of
                                   International Home Foods, Inc. and M. Polaner, Inc. (filed as an
                                   exhibit to the Company's Report on Form 8-K filed February 19, 1999
                                   and incorporated by reference).


Exhibit 27                         Financial Data Schedule

</TABLE>

                                       15




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


                                   $60,000,000

                           REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                      among

                            B&G FOODS HOLDINGS CORP.

                                B&G FOODS, INC.,
                                   as Borrower

                               The Several Lenders
                        from Time to Time Parties Hereto,

                              LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.,
                                   as Arranger

                              THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
                             as Documentation Agent

                             HELLER FINANCIAL, INC.,
                            as Co-Documentation Agent

                          LEHMAN COMMERCIAL PAPER INC.,
                              as Syndication Agent

                                       and

                          LEHMAN COMMERCIAL PAPER INC.,
                             as Administrative Agent


                           Dated as of March 15, 1999


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

<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                                                            Page

SECTION 1.  DEFINITIONS.......................................................1
         1.1  Defined Terms...................................................1
         1.2  Other Definitional Provisions...................................26

SECTION 2.  AMOUNT AND TERMS OF COMMITMENTS; LETTERS OF CREDIT................26
         2.1  Revolving Credit Commitments; Swing Line Commitment.............26
         2.2  Procedure for Borrowing; Swing Line Loans; Refunding of Swing Line
                Loans........................................................ 27
         2.3  Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt............................29
         2.4  Commitment Fees, etc. ..........................................30
         2.5  Termination or Reduction of Revolving Credit Commitments........30
         2.6  Optional Prepayments............................................30
         2.7  Mandatory Prepayments and Commitment Reductions.................31
         2.8  Conversion and Continuation Options.............................32
         2.9  Minimum Amounts and Maximum Number of Eurodollar Tranches.......32
         2.10  Interest Rates and Payment Dates...............................33
         2.11  Computation of Interest and Fees...............................33
         2.12  Inability to Determine Interest Rate...........................34
         2.13  Pro Rata Treatment and Payments................................34
         2.14  Requirements of Law............................................35
         2.15  Taxes..........................................................36
         2.16  Indemnity......................................................38
         2.17  Illegality.....................................................39
         2.18  Change of Lending Office.......................................39
         2.19  Substitution of Lenders........................................39
         2.20  L/C Commitment.................................................40
         2.21  Procedure for Issuance of Letter of Credit.....................40
         2.22  Fees and Other Charges.........................................41
         2.23  L/C Participations.............................................41
         2.24  Reimbursement Obligation of the Borrower.......................42
         2.25  Obligations Absolute...........................................43
         2.26  Letter of Credit Payments......................................43
         2.27  Applications...................................................43
         2.28  Existing Guaranteed Letters of Credit..........................44

SECTION 3.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES....................................44
         3.1  Financial Condition.............................................44
         3.2  No Change.......................................................45
         3.3  Corporate Existence; Compliance with Law........................45
         3.4  Corporate Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations.........45
         3.5  No Legal Bar....................................................46
        
                                       i

<PAGE>

         3.6  No Material Litigation..........................................46
         3.7  No Default......................................................46
         3.8  Ownership of Property; Liens....................................46
         3.9  Intellectual Property...........................................46
         3.10  Taxes..........................................................46
         3.11  Federal Regulations............................................47
         3.12  Labor Matters..................................................47
         3.13  ERISA..........................................................47
         3.14  Investment Company Act; Other Regulations......................47
         3.15  Subsidiaries...................................................48
         3.16  Use of Proceeds................................................48
         3.17  Environmental Matters..........................................48
         3.18  Accuracy of Information, etc...................................49
         3.19  Security Documents.............................................50
         3.20  Solvency.......................................................50
         3.21  Senior Indebtedness............................................50
         3.22  Regulation H...................................................50
         3.23  Year 2000 Matters..............................................51

SECTION 4.  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT..............................................51
         4.1  Conditions to Initial Extension of Credit.......................51
         4.2  Conditions to Each Extension of Credit..........................55

SECTION 5.  AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.............................................56
         5.1  Financial Statements............................................56
         5.2  Certificates; Other Information.................................57
         5.3  Payment of Obligations..........................................58
         5.4  Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence, etc. .........58
         5.5  Maintenance of Property; Insurance..............................59
         5.6  Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions..........59
         5.7  Notices.........................................................59
         5.8  Environmental Laws..............................................60
         5.9  Interest Rate Protection........................................60
         5.10  Additional Collateral, etc.....................................60
         5.11  Further Assurances.............................................62

SECTION 6.  NEGATIVE COVENANTS................................................63
         6.1  Financial Condition Covenants...................................63
         6.2  Limitation on Indebtedness......................................66
         6.3  Limitation on Liens.............................................67
         6.4  Limitation on Fundamental Changes...............................68
         6.5  Limitation on Disposition of Property...........................69
         6.6  Limitation on Restricted Payments...............................69
         6.7  Limitation on Capital Expenditures..............................70
         6.8  Limitation on Investments.......................................70

                                       ii

<PAGE>

         6.9  Limitation on Optional Payments and Modifications of Debt
                Instruments, etc. ............................................71
         6.10  Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates.....................71
         6.11  Limitation on Sales and Leasebacks.............................72
         6.12  Limitation on Changes in Fiscal Periods........................72
         6.13  Limitation on Negative Pledge Clauses..........................72
         6.14  Limitation on Lines of Business................................72
         6.15  Limitation on Amendments to Acquisition Documentation..........72
         6.16  Limitation on Activities of Holdings...........................72
         6.17  Limitation on Withdrawal of Reinvestment Deferred Amount.......73

SECTION 7.  EVENTS OF DEFAULT.................................................73

SECTION 8.  THE AGENTS........................................................77
         8.1  Appointment.....................................................77
         8.2  Delegation of Duties............................................77
         8.3  Exculpatory Provisions..........................................77
         8.4  Reliance by Agents..............................................77
         8.5  Notice of Default...............................................78
         8.6  Non-Reliance on Agents and Other Lenders........................78
         8.7  Indemnification.................................................79
         8.8  Agent in Its Individual Capacity................................79
         8.9  Successor Agents................................................79
         8.10  Authorization to Release Liens; Other Actions Relating to
                Security Documents............................................80
         8.11  The Arranger, the Co-Documentation Agent and the Documentation 
                Agent.........................................................80

SECTION 9.  MISCELLANEOUS.....................................................80
         9.1  Amendments and Waivers..........................................80
         9.2  Notices.........................................................82
         9.3  No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies..................................83
         9.4  Survival of Representations and Warranties......................83
         9.5  Payment of Expenses.............................................83
         9.6  Successors and Assigns; Participations and Assignments..........84
         9.7  Adjustments; Set-off............................................87
         9.8  Counterparts....................................................88
         9.9  Severability....................................................88
         9.10  Integration....................................................88
         9.11  GOVERNING LAW..................................................88
         9.12  Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers............................88
         9.13  Acknowledgments................................................89
         9.14  Confidentiality................................................89
         9.15  Release of Collateral Security and Guarantee Obligations.......90
         9.16  Accounting Changes.............................................90
         9.17  Delivery of Lender Addenda.....................................90
         9.18  WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL..........................................90

                                      iii

<PAGE>

ANNEXES:

A              Pricing Grid
B              Existing Guaranteed Letters of Credit
C              Existing Letters of Credit


SCHEDULES:

1.1            Mortgaged Property
3.4            Consents, Authorizations, Filings and Notices
3.9            Intellectual Property Claims
3.15           Subsidiaries
3.19(a)-1      UCC Filing Jurisdictions
3.19(a)-2      UCC Financing Statements to Remain on File
3.19(a)-3      UCC Financing Statements to be Terminated
3.19(b)        Mortgage Filing Jurisdictions
4.1(j)         Environmental Assessments
6.2(d)         Existing Indebtedness
6.3(f)         Existing Liens


EXHIBITS:

A              Form of Guarantee and Collateral Agreement
B              Form of Compliance Certificate
C              Form of Closing Certificate
D              Form of Mortgage
E              Form of Assignment and Acceptance
F-1            Form of Legal Opinion of Dechert, Price & Rhoads
F-2            Form of Legal Opinion of Local Counsel
G-1            Form of Revolving Credit Note
G-2            Form of Swing Line Note
H              Form of Exemption Certificate
I              Form of Lender Addendum


                                       iv

<PAGE>

         REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of March 15, 1999, among B&G FOODS
HOLDINGS CORP., a Delaware corporation ("Holdings"), B&G FOODS, INC., a Delaware
corporation (the "Borrower"), the several banks and other financial institutions
or entities from time to time parties to this Agreement (the "Lenders"),  LEHMAN
BROTHERS INC., as advisor, lead arranger and book manager (in such capacity, the
"Arranger"), THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as documentation agent (in such capacity, the
"Documentation  Agent"),  HELLER FINANCIAL,  INC., as co-documentation agent (in
such capacity, the "Co-Documentation  Agent"),  LEHMAN COMMERCIAL PAPER INC., as
syndication  agent (in such  capacity,  the  "Syndication  Agent"),  and  LEHMAN
COMMERCIAL  PAPER  INC.,  as  administrative   agent  (in  such  capacity,   the
"Administrative Agent").


                              W I T N E S S E T H:


         WHEREAS, the Borrower wishes to establish the credit facility described
below to provide a portion of the  financing  for the  general  working  capital
needs of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including Permitted Acquisitions and
the refinancing of certain existing debt of the Borrower; and

         WHEREAS,  the  Lenders  are  willing  to make  such  credit  facilities
available upon and subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;

         NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the premises and the agreements
hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

                             SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS

         1.1 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement,  the terms listed in this
Section 1.1 shall have the respective meanings set forth in this Section 1.1.

         "Acquired   Assets":   the  Transferred   Assets  (as  defined  in  the
    Acquisition Agreement).

         "Acquired  Property":  as defined  in the  definition  of  Consolidated
    EBITDA.

         "Acquisition":  the  acquisition  by the  Borrower,  or a wholly  owned
    Subsidiary  of  the  Borrower,  of  the  Acquired  Assets  pursuant  to  the
    Acquisition Agreement.

         "Acquisition Agreement":  the Asset and Stock Purchase Agreement, dated
    as of January 28,  1999,  among The  Pillsbury  Company,  the  Borrower  and
    others.

         "Acquisition  Documentation":  collectively,  the Acquisition Agreement
    and all schedules,  exhibits,  annexes and  amendments  thereto and all side
    letters  and  agreements  affecting  the terms  thereof or  entered  into in
    connection  therewith,  in each case, as amended,  supplemented or otherwise
    modified from time to time.

<PAGE>

         "Adjustment Date": as defined in the Pricing Grid.

         "Administrative Agent": as defined in the preamble hereto.

         "Affiliate":  as to any Person,  any other  Person  which,  directly or
    indirectly,  is in control of, is controlled  by, or is under common control
    with, such Person.  For purposes of this  definition,  "control" of a Person
    means the power,  directly or indirectly,  either to (a) vote 10% or more of
    the securities  having  ordinary  voting power for the election of directors
    (or persons  performing  similar  functions) of such Person or (b) direct or
    cause the direction of the management  and policies of such Person,  whether
    by contract or otherwise.

         "Agents":  the collective  reference to the  Documentation  Agent,  the
    Co-Documentation  Agent, the Syndication Agent and the Administrative  Agent
    and, for purposes of Section 8, each Issuing Lender.

         "Aggregate Exposure": with respect to any Lender at any time, an amount
    equal to (a) until the Closing Date,  the aggregate  amount of such Lender's
    Revolving Credit  Commitment at such time and (b) thereafter,  the amount of
    such  Lender's  Revolving  Credit  Commitment  then  in  effect  or,  if the
    Revolving  Credit  Commitments  have  been  terminated,  the  amount of such
    Lender's Revolving Extensions of Credit then outstanding.

         "Aggregate Exposure Percentage" with respect to any Lender at any time,
    the ratio (expressed as a percentage) of such Lender's Aggregate Exposure at
    such time to the Aggregate Exposure of all Lenders at such time.

         "Agreement":  this Revolving Credit Agreement, as amended, supplemented
    or otherwise modified from time to time.

         "Applicable  Margin":  for each  Type of Loan,  the rate per  annum set
    forth under the relevant column heading below:

                                                  Base Rate         Eurodollar
                                                    Loans             Loans
                                                  ---------         ----------

          Revolving Credit Loans                    2.125%             3.125%
          Swing Line Loans                          2.125%             N.A.

    provided,  that on and after the first  Adjustment  Date occurring after the
    completion  of two full fiscal  quarters of the  Borrower  after the Closing
    Date, the Applicable Margin will be determined pursuant to the Pricing Grid.

         "Application":  an application,  in such form as the applicable Issuing
    Lender may specify from time to time, requesting such Issuing Lender to open
    a Letter of Credit.

                                       2

<PAGE>

         "Approved Fund": with respect to any Lender that is a fund that invests
    in commercial  loans, any other fund that invests in commercial loans and is
    managed or advised by the same  investment  advisor as such  Lender or by an
    Affiliate of such investment advisor.

         "Arranger": as defined in the preamble hereto.

         "Asset  Sale":  any  Disposition  of  Property  or  series  of  related
    Dispositions of Property (excluding any such Disposition permitted by clause
    (a),  (b),  (c) or (d) of  Section  6.5)  which  yields  gross  proceeds  to
    Holdings,  the  Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  (valued at the initial
    principal  amount  thereof in the case of non-cash  proceeds  consisting  of
    notes or other debt  securities  and valued at fair market value in the case
    of other non-cash proceeds) in excess of $1,000,000.

         "Assignee": as defined in Section 9.6(c).

         "Assignment   and   Acceptance":   each   Assignment  and   Acceptance,
    substantially  in the form of Exhibit E, executed and delivered  pursuant to
    Section 9.6.

         "Assignor": as defined in Section 9.6(c).

         "Available Revolving Credit Commitment":  as to any Lender at any time,
    an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (a) such Lender's Revolving Credit
    Commitment  then in effect over (b) such  Lender's  Revolving  Extensions of
    Credit  then  outstanding;   provided,  that  in  calculating  any  Lender's
    Revolving  Extensions of Credit for the purpose of determining such Lender's
    Available  Revolving  Credit  Commitment  pursuant  to Section  2.4(a),  the
    aggregate  principal  amount of Swing Line Loans then  outstanding  shall be
    deemed to be zero.

         "Base  Rate":  for any  day,  a rate per  annum  (rounded  upwards,  if
    necessary,  to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to the  greatest  of (a) the Prime
    Rate in effect on such day,  (b) the Base CD Rate in effect on such day plus
    1% and (c) the Federal Funds  Effective Rate in effect on such day plus 2 of
    1%. For  purposes  hereof:  "Prime Rate" shall mean the rate of interest per
    annum publicly  announced  from time to time by the Reference  Lender as its
    prime or base rate in effect at its  principal  office in New York City (the
    Prime Rate not being  intended to be the lowest rate of interest  charged by
    the Reference  Lender in connection  with  extensions of credit to debtors);
    "Base CD Rate" shall mean the sum of (a) the product of (i) the  Three-Month
    Secondary CD Rate and (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the
    denominator of which is one minus the C/D Reserve Percentage and (b) the C/D
    Assessment  Rate;  and  "Three-Month  Secondary CD Rate" shall mean, for any
    day,  the  secondary  market rate for  three-month  certificates  of deposit
    reported  as being in  effect  on such day (or,  if such day  shall not be a
    Business  Day, the next  preceding  Business  Day) by the Board  through the
    public  information  telephone line of the Federal  Reserve Bank of New York
    (which rate will, under the current  practices of the Board, be published in
    Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15(519) during the week

                                       3

<PAGE>

    following  such day),  or, if such rate shall not be so reported on such day
    or such next  preceding  Business Day, the average of the  secondary  market
    quotations  for  three-month  certificates  of deposit of major money center
    banks in New York City received at  approximately  10:00 A.M., New York City
    time,  on such day (or, if such day shall not be a Business Day, on the next
    preceding  Business  Day) by the  Reference  Lender from three New York City
    negotiable certificate of deposit dealers of recognized standing selected by
    it. Any change in the Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate,  the Base
    CD Rate or the Federal  Funds  Effective  Rate shall be  effective as of the
    opening of business on the  effective  day of such change in the Prime Rate,
    the Base CD Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate, respectively.

         "Base Rate Loans":  Loans for which the applicable  rate of interest is
    based upon the Base Rate.

         "Benefitted Lender": as defined in Section 9.7.

         "Board":  the Board of Governors of the Federal  Reserve  System of the
    United States (or any successor).

         "Borrower": as defined in the preamble hereto.

         "Borrowing  Date": any Business Day specified by the Borrower as a date
    on which the Borrower requests the relevant Lenders to make Loans hereunder.

         "Business  Day":  (i) for all purposes  other than as covered by clause
    (ii)  below,  a day  other  than a  Saturday,  Sunday  or other day on which
    commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to close
    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) and  which is also a day for
    trading by and between banks in Dollar deposits in the interbank  eurodollar
    market.

         "Capital Expenditures": for any period, with respect to any Person, the
    aggregate of all  expenditures by such Person and its  Subsidiaries  for the
    acquisition  or leasing  (pursuant  to a capital  lease) of fixed or capital
    assets  or  additions  to  equipment  (including  replacements,  capitalized
    repairs and  improvements  during such period)  which should be  capitalized
    under  GAAP  on  a  consolidated  balance  sheet  of  such  Person  and  its
    Subsidiaries.

         "Capital Lease Obligations":  as to any Person, the obligations of such
    Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement
    conveying  the right to use) real or  personal  property,  or a  combination
    thereof,  which  obligations are required to be classified and accounted for
    as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and, for the
    purposes of this Agreement, the amount of such obligations at any time shall
    be the capitalized amount thereof at such time determined in accordance with
    GAAP.

                                       4

<PAGE>

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

         "Cash  Equivalents":  (a) marketable direct  obligations  issued by, or
    unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States Government or issued by any
    agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States,
    in each case  maturing  within  one year from the date of  acquisition;  (b)
    certificates  of  deposit,  time  deposits,   eurodollar  time  deposits  or
    overnight  bank  deposits  having  maturities of six months or less from the
    date of acquisition issued by any Lender or by any commercial bank organized
    under the laws of the United States of America or any state  thereof  having
    combined capital and surplus of not less than  $500,000,000;  (c) commercial
    paper of an issuer rated at least A-2 by Standard & Poor's Ratings  Services
    ("S&P") or P-2 by Moody's Investors Service, Inc.  ("Moody's"),  or carrying
    an equivalent  rating by a nationally  recognized  rating agency, if both of
    the two named rating agencies cease  publishing  ratings of commercial paper
    issuers  generally,  and  maturing  within  six  months  from  the  date  of
    acquisition;  (d) repurchase  obligations of any Lender or of any commercial
    bank satisfying the requirements of clause (b) of this definition,  having a
    term of not more than 30 days with  respect  to  securities  issued or fully
    guaranteed or insured by the United States  government;  (e) securities with
    maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition  issued or fully
    guaranteed by any state,  commonwealth or territory of the United States, by
    any  political   subdivision   or  taxing   authority  of  any  such  state,
    commonwealth  or territory or by any foreign  government,  the securities of
    which  state,  commonwealth,   territory,   political  subdivision,   taxing
    authority or foreign government (as the case may be) are rated at least A by
    S&P or A by Moody's;  (f) securities  with  maturities of six months or less
    from the date of acquisition  backed by standby  letters of credit issued by
    any Lender or any commercial bank satisfying the  requirements of clause (b)
    of this  definition;  and (g) shares of money market mutual or similar funds
    which invest  exclusively in assets  satisfying the  requirements of clauses
    (a) through (f) of this definition.

         "C/D  Assessment  Rate":  for any day as applied to any Base Rate Loan,
    the annual assessment rate in effect on such day that is payable by a member
    of the Bank  Insurance  Fund  maintained  by the Federal  Deposit  Insurance
    Corporation  (the  "FDIC")   classified  as   well-capitalized   and  within
    supervisory   subgroup  "B"  (or  a  comparable  successor  assessment  risk
    classification)  within  the  meaning  of 12  C.F.R.  Section  327.4 (or any
    successor  provision) to the FDIC (or any successor) for the FDIC's (or such
    successor's)  insuring time deposits at offices of such  institution  in the
    United States.

         "C/D Reserve Percentage": for any day as applied to any Base Rate Loan,
    that percentage  (expressed as a decimal) which is in effect on such day, as
    prescribed by the Board, for determining the maximum reserve requirement for
    a  Depositary  Institution  (as defined in  Regulation  D of the Board as in
    effect from time to time) in respect of new  non-personal  time  deposits in
    Dollars having a maturity of 30 days or more.

                                       5

<PAGE>


         "Closing Date": the date on which the conditions precedent set forth in
    Section  4.1 shall have been  satisfied,  which date shall be not later than
    March 15, 1999.

         "Code":  the  Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as amended from time to
    time.

         "Co-Documentation Agent": as defined in the preamble hereto.

         "Collateral":  all Property of the Loan Parties, now owned or hereafter
    acquired,  upon which a Lien is  purported  to be  created  by any  Security
    Document.

         "Commitment Fee Rate": .60% per annum; provided,  that on and after the
    first  Adjustment  Date  occurring  after the  completion of two full fiscal
    quarters of the Borrower  after the Closing Date,  the  Commitment  Fee Rate
    will be determined pursuant to the Pricing Grid.

         "Commonly  Controlled Entity": an entity,  whether or not incorporated,
    which is under  common  control  with the  Borrower  within  the  meaning of
    Section  4001 of ERISA or is part of a group that  includes the Borrower and
    that is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

         "Compliance Certificate":  a certificate duly executed by a Responsible
    Officer substantially in the form of Exhibit B.

         "Confidential  Information  Memorandum":  the Confidential  Information
    Memorandum dated February 1999 and furnished to the initial Lenders.

         "Consolidated  Current  Assets":  at any date,  all amounts (other than
    cash and Cash  Equivalents)  which would,  in  conformity  with GAAP, be set
    forth opposite the caption "total current assets" (or any like caption) on a
    consolidated  balance  sheet of the  Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  at such
    date.

         "Consolidated  Current  Liabilities":  at any date,  all  amounts  that
    would,  in conformity  with GAAP, be set forth  opposite the caption  "total
    current  liabilities" (or any like caption) on a consolidated  balance sheet
    of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  at such date,  but  excluding (a) the
    current portion of any Funded Debt of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries and
    (b) without duplication of clause (a) above, all Indebtedness  consisting of
    the Loans to the extent otherwise included therein.

         "Consolidated  EBITDA": of any Person for any period,  Consolidated Net
    Income of such Person and its  Subsidiaries  for such period  plus,  without
    duplication and to the extent reflected as a charge in the statement of such
    Consolidated Net Income for such period,  the sum of (a) income tax expense,
    (b)  Consolidated  Interest  Expense of such  Person  and its  Subsidiaries,
    amortization  or  writeoff  of debt  discount  and debt  issuance  costs and
    commissions,   discounts  and  other  fees  and  charges   associated   with
    Indebtedness, (c) depreciation and amortization expense, (d) amortization of
    intangibles

                                       6

<PAGE>

    (including,  but not limited to, goodwill) and  organization  costs, (e) any
    extraordinary,  unusual  or  non-recurring  expenses  or losses  (including,
    whether or not  otherwise  includable as a separate item in the statement of
    such  Consolidated  Net  Income for such  period,  losses on sales of assets
    outside  of the  ordinary  course of  business)  and (f) any other  non-cash
    charges,  and  minus,  to the  extent  included  in the  statement  of  such
    Consolidated  Net Income for such  period,  the sum of (a)  interest  income
    (except  to  the  extent  deducted  in  determining   Consolidated  Interest
    Expense),  (b) any extraordinary,  unusual or non-recurring  income or gains
    (including,  whether or not  otherwise  includable as a separate item in the
    statement  of such  Consolidated  Net Income for such  period,  gains on the
    sales of assets  outside of the  ordinary  course of  business)  and (c) any
    other non-cash income, all as determined on a consolidated basis;  provided,
    that for purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its
    Subsidiaries for any period,  (i) the  Consolidated  EBITDA of any Person or
    assets  (such  person or  assets an  "Acquired  Property")  acquired  by the
    Borrower or its  Subsidiaries  during such period shall be included on a pro
    forma basis for such period  (assuming the  consummation of such acquisition
    and the incurrence or assumption of any Indebtedness in connection therewith
    occurred  on the  first day of such  period)  if the  balance  sheet of such
    Acquired  Property as at the end of the period  preceding the acquisition of
    such Acquired Property and the related consolidated statements of income and
    stockholders'  equity  and of cash  flows for the period in respect of which
    Consolidated EBITDA is to be calculated (x) have been previously provided to
    the  Administrative  Agent  and the  Lenders  and (y)  either  (1) have been
    reported on without a qualification arising out of the scope of the audit by
    independent  certified public accountants of nationally  recognized standing
    or (2) have been found  acceptable  by the  Administrative  Agent,  (ii) the
    Consolidated  EBITDA  of  any  assets  Disposed  of by the  Borrower  or its
    Subsidiaries  during such period shall be excluded for such period (assuming
    the  consummation of such  Disposition and the repayment of any Indebtedness
    in connection  therewith occurred on the first day of such period) and (iii)
    in  calculating  the  amount  of the  Consolidated  EBITDA  of any  Acquired
    Property  to be included  on a pro forma  basis  pursuant  to the  foregoing
    clause (i) of this proviso,  the pro forma expenses of the Acquired Property
    for  the  relevant  period  shall  be  determined  in  accordance  with  the
    Borrower's customary practices consistent with the methodology  reflected in
    the Pro Forma Balance Sheet and related financial statements included in the
    Confidential Information Memorandum.

         "Consolidated  Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio":  for any period, the ratio
    of (a)  Consolidated  EBITDA of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  for such
    period  minus the  aggregate  amount  actually  paid by the Borrower and its
    Subsidiaries  in cash during such period on account of Capital  Expenditures
    to (b) Consolidated Fixed Charges for such period.

         "Consolidated  Fixed  Charges":   for  any  period,  the  sum  (without
    duplication) of (a)  Consolidated  Interest  Expense of the Borrower and its
    Subsidiaries  for such period payable in cash, (b) provision for cash income
    taxes made by the  Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries  on a  consolidated
    basis in respect of such period  (excluding cash taxes payable in respect of
    any gain  recognized in connection  with a  Disposition,  to the extent 

                                       7

<PAGE>


    such taxes are paid with  proceeds of such  Disposition)  and (c)  scheduled
    payments made during such period on account of principal of  Indebtedness of
    the  Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries  (including  scheduled  principal
    payments in respect of the Term Loans).

         "Consolidated  Interest Coverage Ratio":  for any period,  the ratio of
    (a) Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period
    to (b)  Consolidated  Interest  Expense of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
    for such period payable in cash.

         "Consolidated  Interest  Expense":  of any Person for any  period,  (a)
    total  interest  expense  (including  that  attributable  to  Capital  Lease
    Obligations)  of such  Person  and its  Subsidiaries  for such  period  with
    respect to all outstanding  Indebtedness of such Person and its Subsidiaries
    (including,  without limitation,  all commissions,  discounts and other fees
    and  charges  owed by such  Person  with  respect  to  letters of credit and
    bankers'  acceptance  financing  and net costs of such  Person  under  Hedge
    Agreements  in respect of  interest  rates to the extent  such net costs are
    allocable  to such  period  in  accordance  with  GAAP)  minus (b) the total
    interest  income of such Person for such period,  determined  in  accordance
    with GAAP;  provided that when the term  "Consolidated  Interest Expense" is
    used in the  calculation  of the  Consolidated  Interest  Coverage  Ratio or
    Consolidated  Fixed  Charge  Ratio  for any  period,  Consolidated  Interest
    Expense shall include, on a pro forma basis,  interest expense in respect of
    any Indebtedness  incurred in connection with any acquisition of an Acquired
    Property during such period (assuming incurrence of such Indebtedness at the
    beginning of such period) and shall exclude, on a pro forma basis,  interest
    expense  in  respect  of  any  Indebtedness  repaid  in  connection  with  a
    Disposition  during such period (assuming  repayment of such Indebtedness at
    the beginning of such period).

         "Consolidated Leverage Ratio": as at the last day of any period of four
    consecutive  fiscal quarters,  the ratio of (a)  Consolidated  Total Debt on
    such day to (b) Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for
    such period.

         "Consolidated  Net  Income":   of  any  Person  for  any  period,   the
    consolidated  net income (or loss) of such Person and its  Subsidiaries  for
    such period,  determined on a  consolidated  basis in accordance  with GAAP;
    provided,  that in calculating  Consolidated  Net Income of the Borrower and
    its consolidated  Subsidiaries  for any period,  there shall be excluded (a)
    the income (or deficit) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a
    Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or any of its
    Subsidiaries,  (b) the  income (or  deficit)  of any  Person  (other  than a
    Subsidiary)  in  which  the  Borrower  or  any of  its  Subsidiaries  has an
    ownership  interest,  except to the extent  that any such income is actually
    received by the  Borrower or such  Subsidiary  in the form of  dividends  or
    similar  distributions and (c) the undistributed  earnings of any Subsidiary
    to the  extent  that the  declaration  or payment  of  dividends  or similar
    distributions  by such  Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by the terms
    of any  Contractual  Obligation  (other  than  under any Loan  Document)  or
    Requirement of Law applicable to such Subsidiary.

                                       8

<PAGE>

         "Consolidated  Senior Debt": all Consolidated Total Debt other than the
    Senior Subordinated Notes.

         "Consolidated  Senior Leverage Ratio": as of the last day of any period
    of four consecutive  fiscal quarters,  the ratio of (a) Consolidated  Senior
    Debt  on  such  day to (b)  Consolidated  EBITDA  of the  Borrower  and  its
    Subsidiaries for such period.

         "Consolidated  Total Debt": at any date, the aggregate principal amount
    of all  Funded  Debt of the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  at such  date,
    determined on a consolidated  basis in accordance with GAAP;  provided that,
    for purposes of  calculating  the financial  ratios  referred to in Sections
    6.1(a)  and  (b) on any  date,  an  amount  equal  to the  then  outstanding
    aggregate Reinvestment Deferred Amount on such date may be deducted from the
    amount of Consolidated  Total Debt on such date so long as such Reinvestment
    Deferred  Amount  is on  deposit  in an  account  subject,  pursuant  to the
    Guarantee and Collateral Agreement,  to the sole dominion and control of the
    Administrative  Agent for the  ratable  benefit of the  Lenders and the Term
    Loan Lenders (it being understood that the foregoing  deduction shall not be
    made when  calculating  the  Consolidated  Leverage  Ratio for  purposes  of
    determining the Applicable Margin).

         "Consolidated Working Capital": at any date, the excess of Consolidated
    Current Assets on such date over  Consolidated  Current  Liabilities on such
    date.

         "Contractual  Obligation":  as to  any  Person,  any  provision  of any
    security  issued by such  Person or of any  agreement,  instrument  or other
    undertaking  to which  such  Person  is a party or by which it or any of its
    Property is bound.

         "Control Investment Affiliate": as to any Person, any other Person that
    (a) directly or indirectly,  is in control of, is controlled by, or is under
    common  control  with,  such  Person  and (b) is  organized  by such  Person
    primarily  for the purpose of making  equity or debt  investments  in one or
    more companies. For purposes of this definition, "control" of a Person means
    the power,  directly or indirectly,  to direct or cause the direction of the
    management and policies of such Person whether by contract or otherwise.

         "Default": any of the events specified in Section 7, whether or not any
    requirement  for the giving of notice,  the lapse of time, or both, has been
    satisfied.

         "Derivatives Counterparty": as defined in Section 6.6.

         "Disposition":  with respect to any Property, any sale, lease, sale and
    leaseback,  assignment,  conveyance,  transfer or other disposition thereof;
    and the terms "Dispose" and "Disposed of" shall have correlative meanings.

         "Documentation Agent": as defined in the preamble hereto.

         "Dollars" and "$": lawful currency of the United States of America.

                                       9

<PAGE>


         "Domestic  Subsidiary":  any Subsidiary of the Borrower organized under
    the laws of any jurisdiction within the United States of America.

         "Environmental  Laws": any and all laws,  rules,  orders,  regulations,
    statutes,  ordinances,  enforceable  guidelines,  codes,  decrees,  or other
    legally enforceable requirements (including, without limitation, common law)
    of any international  authority,  foreign government,  the United States, or
    any state,  local,  municipal or other governmental  authority,  regulating,
    relating  to or  imposing  liability  or  standards  of  conduct  concerning
    protection of the  environment  or of human health,  or employee  health and
    safety, as has been, is now, or may at any time hereafter be, in effect.

         "Environmental  Permits":  any and all  permits,  licenses,  approvals,
    registrations,  notifications,  exemptions and other authorizations required
    under any Environmental Law.

         "ERISA":  the  Employee  Retirement  Income  Security  Act of 1974,  as
    amended from time to time.

         "Eurocurrency  Reserve  Requirements":  for  any  day as  applied  to a
    Eurodollar  Loan, the aggregate  (without  duplication) of the maximum rates
    (expressed as a decimal fraction) of reserve  requirements in effect on such
    day  (including,  without  limitation,  basic,  supplemental,  marginal  and
    emergency  reserves under any regulations of the Board or other Governmental
    Authority  having  jurisdiction  with respect  thereto) dealing with reserve
    requirements  prescribed for eurocurrency  funding (currently referred to as
    "Eurocurrency  Liabilities"  in  Regulation D of the Board)  maintained by a
    member bank of the Federal Reserve System.

         "Eurodollar  Base Rate":  with respect to each day during each Interest
    Period pertaining to a Eurodollar Loan, the rate per annum determined on the
    basis  of the rate  for  deposits  in  Dollars  for a  period  equal to such
    Interest  Period  commencing  on the  first  day  of  such  Interest  Period
    appearing on Page 3750 of the Telerate screen as of 11:00 A.M., London time,
    two Business  Days prior to the beginning of such  Interest  Period.  In the
    event that such rate does not appear on Page 3750 of the Telerate screen (or
    otherwise on such screen),  the "Eurodollar  Base Rate" for purposes of this
    definition  shall  be  determined  by  reference  to such  other  comparable
    publicly  available  service  for  displaying  eurodollar  rates  as  may be
    selected by the Administrative Agent.

         "Eurodollar  Loans":  Revolving  Credit  Loans  the  rate  of  interest
    applicable to which is based upon the Eurodollar Rate.

         "Eurodollar Rate": with respect to each day during each Interest Period
    pertaining to a Eurodollar Loan, a rate per annum determined for such day in
    accordance with the following formula (rounded upward to the nearest 1/100th
    of 1%):

                                       10

<PAGE>

                              Eurodollar Base Rate
                       ----------------------------------
                    1.00 - Eurocurrency Reserve Requirements

         "Eurodollar Tranche":  the collective reference to Eurodollar Loans the
    then current Interest Periods with respect to all of which begin on the same
    date and end on the same later date  (whether or not such  Eurodollar  Loans
    shall originally have been made on the same day).

         "Event of Default":  any of the events specified in Section 7, provided
    that any requirement  for the giving of notice,  the lapse of time, or both,
    has been satisfied.

         "Excess Cash Flow": for any fiscal year of the Borrower, the excess, if
    any, of (a) the sum, without duplication, of (i) Consolidated Net Income for
    such fiscal year, (ii) an amount equal to the amount of all non-cash charges
    (including  depreciation  and  amortization)  deducted  in  arriving at such
    Consolidated Net Income, (iii) decreases in Consolidated Working Capital for
    such fiscal year, (iv) an amount equal to the aggregate net non-cash loss on
    the Disposition of Property by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries during such
    fiscal  year  (other  than  sales of  inventory  in the  ordinary  course of
    business),  to the extent  deducted  in arriving  at such  Consolidated  Net
    Income and (v) the net increase during such fiscal year (if any) in deferred
    tax accounts of the Borrower over (b) the sum, without  duplication,  of (i)
    an amount equal to the amount of all non-cash  credits  included in arriving
    at such  Consolidated  Net Income,  (ii) the Specified  Capital  Expenditure
    Amount for such fiscal year,  (iii) the aggregate  amount of all prepayments
    of Revolving Credit Loans during such fiscal year to the extent accompanying
    permanent  optional  reductions of the Revolving Credit  Commitments and all
    optional  prepayments  of the Term Loans during such fiscal  year,  (iv) the
    aggregate  amount of all regularly  scheduled  principal  payments of Funded
    Debt (including, without limitation, the Term Loans) of the Borrower and its
    Subsidiaries  made  during  such  fiscal  year (other than in respect of any
    revolving credit facility to the extent there is not an equivalent permanent
    reduction in commitments thereunder),  (v) increases in Consolidated Working
    Capital for such fiscal  year,  (vi) an amount  equal to the  aggregate  net
    non-cash  gain  on the  Disposition  of  Property  by the  Borrower  and its
    Subsidiaries  during such fiscal year (other than sales of  inventory in the
    ordinary  course of  business),  to the extent  included in arriving at such
    Consolidated Net Income, (vii) an amount equal to the aggregate cash gain on
    the Disposition of Property by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries during such
    fiscal  year  (other  than  sales of  inventory  in the  ordinary  course of
    business)  to the extent (A) included in arriving at such  Consolidated  Net
    Income, and (B) included in any Reinvestment Deferred Amount or applied as a
    Capital  Expenditure during such fiscal year, (viii) the net decrease during
    such fiscal year (if any) in deferred tax accounts of the Borrower, (ix) the
    amount of cash  invested in Permitted  Acquisitions  during such fiscal year
    (excluding  any such Permitted  Acquisition to the extent  financed with the
    proceeds of Indebtedness or any  Reinvestment  Deferred  Amount) and (x) the
    Permitted Stock  Repurchase  Amount for such fiscal year (less the amount of
    proceeds of resales of stock  reinvested in the Borrower  during such fiscal
    year as  contemplated  by the  definition  of  "Permitted  Stock  Repurchase
    Amount" in this Section 1.1).

                                       11

<PAGE>


         "Excess Cash Flow Application Date": as defined in Section 2.7(c).

         "Excluded Foreign  Subsidiaries":  any Foreign Subsidiary in respect of
    which either (i) the pledge of all of the Capital  Stock of such  Subsidiary
    as  Collateral  or  (ii)  the   guaranteeing   by  such  Subsidiary  of  the
    Obligations,  would,  in the good faith judgment of the Borrower,  result in
    adverse tax consequences to the Borrower.

         "Existing  Guaranteed Letters of Credit": the standby letters of credit
    issued by The Chase  Manhattan  Bank on behalf of the Borrower or any of its
    Subsidiaries  and  having  an  aggregate  stated  amount  of not  more  than
    $464,848,  all as more  particularly  described in Annex B,  drawings  under
    which  letters  of  credit  are  guaranteed  by Heller  pursuant  to the L/C
    Guarantee.

         "Existing Issuing Lender": Heller, as issuer of the Existing Letters of
    Credit and as guarantor of the Existing Guaranteed Letters of Credit.

         "Existing Letters of Credit":  the letters of credit described in Annex
    C.

         "Federal Funds Effective  Rate":  for any day, 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 on
    the next  succeeding  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 the day of such  transactions  received by
    the Reference Lender from three federal funds brokers of recognized standing
    selected by it.

         "Foreign  Subsidiary":  any  Subsidiary  of the Borrower  that is not a
    Domestic Subsidiary.

         "Funded Debt": as to any Person, all Indebtedness of such Person of the
    types   described  in  clauses  (a)  through  (e)  of  the   definition   of
    "Indebtedness" in this Section.

         "Funding  Office":  the  office  specified  from  time  to  time by the
    Administrative Agent as its funding office by notice to the Borrower and the
    Lenders.

         "FY":  when used with a numerical year  designation,  means such fiscal
    year (i. e., FY 1999 means  fiscal  year  1999,  which ends on the  Saturday
    nearest to December 31, 1999; and "FQ1", "FQ2 ", "FQ3", and "FQ4", when used
    with a numerical year designation,  means the first, second, third or fourth
    fiscal quarters,  respectively,  of such fiscal year of the Borrower. (e.g.,
    FQ1 1999 means the first fiscal quarter of FY 1999).

         "GAAP":  generally accepted accounting  principles in the United States
    of America  as in effect  from time to time,  except  that for  purposes  of
    Section 6.1,  GAAP shall be  determined  on the basis of such  principles in
    effect on the date hereof and

                                       12

<PAGE>


    consistent  with those used in the  preparation  of the most recent  audited
    financial statements referred to in Section 3.1(b).

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

         "Guarantee  and  Collateral  Agreement":  the Guarantee and  Collateral
    Agreement  to be executed and  delivered by Holdings,  the Borrower and each
    Subsidiary  Guarantor,  substantially  in the form of Exhibit A, as the same
    may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

         "Guarantee  Obligation":  as to any Person (the "guaranteeing person"),
    any  obligation  of  (a)  the  guaranteeing  person  or (b)  another  Person
    (including,  without  limitation,  any bank  under any  letter of credit) to
    induce  the  creation  of  which  the  guaranteeing   person  has  issued  a
    reimbursement,  counterindemnity  or  similar  obligation,  in  either  case
    guaranteeing or in effect guaranteeing any Indebtedness,  leases,  dividends
    or other  obligations (the "primary  obligations") of any other third Person
    (the  "primary  obligor")  in any manner,  whether  directly or  indirectly,
    including,  without limitation,  any obligation of the guaranteeing  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 (1) for the purchase or payment of any such primary
    obligation  or (2) 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 owner of
    any such  primary  obligation  against  loss in respect  thereof;  provided,
    however,  that the term Guarantee  Obligation shall not include endorsements
    of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business.
    The amount of any Guarantee  Obligation of any guaranteeing  person shall be
    deemed to be the lower of (a) an amount equal to the stated or  determinable
    amount  of the  primary  obligation  in  respect  of  which  such  Guarantee
    Obligation  is made and (b) the maximum  amount for which such  guaranteeing
    person may be liable pursuant to the terms of the instrument  embodying such
    Guarantee Obligation,  unless such primary obligation and the maximum amount
    for  which  such  guaranteeing  person  may be  liable  are  not  stated  or
    determinable, in which case the amount of such Guarantee Obligation shall be
    such  guaranteeing  person's  maximum  reasonably  anticipated  liability in
    respect thereof as determined by the Borrower in good faith.

         "Guarantors":  the collective  reference to Holdings and the Subsidiary
    Guarantors.

         "Hedge Agreements":  all interest rate swaps, caps or collar agreements
    or similar  arrangements  entered into by the  Borrower or its  Subsidiaries
    providing for protection

                                       13

<PAGE>

    against  fluctuations  in interest  rates or currency  exchange rates or the
    exchange of nominal interest obligations, either generally or under specific
    contingencies.

         "Heller": Heller Financial, Inc.

         "Indebtedness": of any Person at any date, without duplication, (a) all
    indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money,  (b) all obligations of such
    Person for the deferred  purchase price of Property or services  (other than
    trade payables  incurred in the ordinary course of such Person's  business),
    (c) all obligations of such Person evidenced by notes, bonds,  debentures or
    other similar instruments, (d) all indebtedness created or arising under any
    conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to Property
    acquired by such Person  (even  though the rights and remedies of the seller
    or lender  under  such  agreement  in the event of  default  are  limited to
    repossession or sale of such Property), (e) all Capital Lease Obligations of
    such Person, (f) all obligations of such Person, contingent or otherwise, as
    an account party or applicant under acceptance,  letter of credit or similar
    facilities,  (g) all obligations of such Person, contingent or otherwise, to
    purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire for value any Capital Stock of
    such  Person,  (h) all  Guarantee  Obligations  of such Person in respect of
    obligations  of the kind  referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above;  (i)
    all  obligations  of the kind  referred  to in clauses (a) through (h) above
    secured  by (or for which  the  holder of such  obligation  has an  existing
    right,  contingent  or  otherwise,  to be secured  by) any Lien on  Property
    (including, without limitation,  accounts and contract rights) owned by such
    Person,  whether  or not such  Person has  assumed or become  liable for the
    payment of such  obligation,  (j) for the purposes of Section 7(e) only, all
    obligations  of such  Person  in  respect  of Hedge  Agreements  and (k) the
    liquidation  value of any  preferred  Capital  Stock of such  Person  or its
    Subsidiaries  held by any Person other than such Person and its Wholly Owned
    Subsidiaries if such Preferred Capital Stock is mandatorily redeemable prior
    to the date which is 91 days after the final scheduled  maturity date of the
    Term Loans.

         "Indemnified Liabilities": as defined in Section 9.5.

         "Indemnitee": as defined in Section 9.5.

         "Insolvency":  with respect to any  Multiemployer  Plan,  the condition
    that such Plan is insolvent within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA.

         "Insolvent": pertaining to a condition of Insolvency.

         "Intellectual  Property":  the  collective  reference  to  all  rights,
    priorities and privileges relating to intellectual property, whether arising
    under United States, multinational or foreign laws or otherwise,  including,
    without  limitation,   copyrights,   copyright  licenses,   patents,  patent
    licenses,   trademarks,   trademark  licenses,   technology,   know-how  and
    processes, and all rights to sue at law or in equity for any infringement or

                                       14

<PAGE>


    other  impairment  thereof,  including the right to receive all proceeds and
    damages therefrom.

         "Interest  Payment Date": (a) as to any Base Rate Loan, the last day of
    each March, June,  September and December to occur while such Base Rate Loan
    is outstanding and the final maturity date of such Base Rate Loan, (b) as to
    any Eurodollar  Loan having an Interest  Period of three months or less, the
    last day of such Interest  Period,  (c) as to any Eurodollar  Loan having an
    Interest Period longer than three months, each day which is three months, or
    a whole multiple  thereof,  after the first day of such Interest  Period and
    the last day of such Interest Period and (d) as to any Eurodollar  Loan, the
    date of any repayment or prepayment made in respect thereof.

         "Interest Period": as to any Eurodollar Loan, (a) initially, the period
    commencing  on the  borrowing or  conversion  date, as the case may be, with
    respect to such  Eurodollar  Loan and ending one,  two,  three or six months
    thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its notice of borrowing or notice
    of  conversion,  as the case may be,  given with  respect  thereto;  and (b)
    thereafter,  each period  commencing  on the last day of the next  preceding
    Interest  Period  applicable  to such  Eurodollar  Loan and ending one, two,
    three or six months  thereafter,  as selected by the Borrower by irrevocable
    notice to the  Administrative  Agent not less than three Business Days prior
    to the last day of the then current  Interest  Period with respect  thereto;
    provided that, all of the foregoing  provisions relating to Interest Periods
    are subject to the following:

              (i) if any Interest  Period would  otherwise  end on a day that is
         not a Business Day, such Interest  Period shall be extended to the next
         succeeding Business Day unless the result of such extension would be to
         carry such Interest  Period into another  calendar month in which event
         such Interest  Period shall end on the immediately  preceding  Business
         Day;

              (ii) any Interest  Period that would  otherwise  extend beyond the
         Revolving   Credit   Termination  Date  shall  end  on  such  date,  as
         applicable;

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

              (iv) the  Borrower  shall  select  Interest  Periods  so as not to
         require  a payment  or  prepayment  of any  Eurodollar  Loan  during an
         Interest Period for such Eurodollar Loan.

         "Investments": as defined in Section 6.8.

                                       15

<PAGE>

         "Issuing  Lender":  the Existing Issuing Lender and any Lender selected
    by the  Borrower,  with the  consent of such  Lender and the  Administrative
    Agent, to act as Issuing Lender,  in its capacity as issuer of any Letter of
    Credit.

         "Joint Required Lenders": Lenders and/or Term Loan Lenders holding more
    than 60% of the sum of (a) the undrawn Revolving Credit Commitments, (b) the
    outstanding Term Loans and (c) the Total Revolving Extensions of Credit.

         "L/C Commitment": $5,000,000.

         "L/C Fee Payment Date": the last day of each March, June, September and
    December and the last day of the Revolving Credit Commitment Period.

         "L/C Guarantee":  the Service and Letter of Credit Guaranty  Agreement,
    dated as of October 13, 1993 and as amended through the date hereof, between
    Heller and The Chase Manhattan Bank with respect to the Existing  Guaranteed
    Letters of Credit.

         "L/C  Obligations":  at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the
    aggregate then undrawn and unexpired amount of the then outstanding  Letters
    of Credit and (b) the aggregate  amount of drawings  under Letters of Credit
    that have not then been reimbursed pursuant to Section 2.24.

         "L/C Participants":  the collective  reference to all the Lenders other
    than the relevant Issuing Lender.

         "Lehman  Entity":  any of Lehman  Commercial  Paper Inc.  or any of its
    affiliates (including Syndicated Loan Funding Trust).

         "Lender  Addendum":  with  respect  to any  initial  Lender,  a  Lender
    Addendum,  substantially  in the  form  of  Exhibit  I, to be  executed  and
    delivered by such Lender on the Closing Date as provided in Section 9.17.

         "Lenders": as defined in the preamble hereto.

         "Letters of Credit": as defined in Section 2.20(a).

         "Lien":  any  mortgage,  pledge,  hypothecation,   assignment,  deposit
    arrangement,  encumbrance,  lien  (statutory  or  other),  charge  or  other
    security interest or any preference, priority or other security agreement or
    preferential  arrangement  of any  kind  or  nature  whatsoever  (including,
    without limitation,  any conditional sale or other title retention agreement
    and any capital lease having  substantially  the same economic effect as any
    of the foregoing).

         "Loan": any loan made by any Lender pursuant to this Agreement.

                                       16

<PAGE>

         "Loan  Documents":  this  Agreement,  the  Applications,  the  Security
    Documents, the Syndication Letter and the Notes.

         "Loan  Parties":  Holdings,  the  Borrower and each  Subsidiary  of the
    Borrower which is a party to a Loan Document.

         "Material  Adverse  Effect":  a  material  adverse  effect  on (a)  the
    enforceability  of  the  documents  entered  into  in  connection  with  the
    Acquisition,  (b) the business,  assets,  property,  condition (financial or
    otherwise)  or prospects of the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  taken as a
    whole or (c) the validity or  enforceability of this Agreement or any of the
    other Loan  Documents or the rights or remedies of the Agents or the Lenders
    hereunder or thereunder.

         "Material  Environmental  Amount":  an amount or amounts payable by the
    Borrower  and/or  any of its  Subsidiaries,  in the  aggregate  in excess of
    $500,000  in respect of any one  occurrence,  for:  costs to comply with any
    Environmental Law; costs of any investigation,  and any remediation,  of any
    Material of  Environmental  Concern;  and compensatory  damages  (including,
    without limitation damages to natural resources),  punitive damages,  fines,
    and penalties pursuant to any Environmental Law.

         "Materials  of  Environmental   Concern":  any  gasoline  or  petroleum
    (including  crude  oil or  any  fraction  thereof)  or  petroleum  products,
    polychlorinated   biphenyls,    urea-formaldehyde   insulation,    asbestos,
    pollutants, contaminants,  radioactivity, and any other substances or forces
    of any  kind,  whether  or not any such  substance  or force is  defined  as
    hazardous or toxic under any Environmental  Law, that is regulated  pursuant
    to or could  reasonably  be  expected  to give rise to  liability  under any
    Environmental Law.

         "Mortgaged Properties":  the real properties listed on Schedule 1.1, as
    to which the  Administrative  Agent for the benefit of the Lenders  shall be
    granted a Lien pursuant to the Mortgages.

         "Mortgages":  each of the mortgages and deeds of trust made by any Loan
    Party in favor of, or for the benefit of, the  Administrative  Agent for the
    benefit of the  Lenders,  substantially  in the form of Exhibit D (with such
    changes thereto as shall be advisable  under the law of the  jurisdiction in
    which such mortgage or deed of trust is to be recorded),  as the same may be
    amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

         "Multiemployer Plan": a Plan that is a multiemployer plan as defined in
    Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

         "Nealson  Street   Property":   the  Mortgaged   Property  of  Bloch  &
    Guggenheimer, Inc. located at 202 Nealson Street in Hurlock, Maryland.

                                       17

<PAGE>

         "Net Cash  Proceeds":  (a) in  connection  with any  Asset  Sale or any
    Recovery  Event,  the  proceeds  thereof  in  the  form  of  cash  and  Cash
    Equivalents (including any such proceeds received by way of deferred payment
    of principal pursuant to a note or installment  receivable or purchase price
    adjustment  receivable or otherwise,  but only as and when received) of such
    Asset Sale or Recovery Event,  net of attorneys'  fees,  accountants'  fees,
    investment  banking fees, amounts required to be applied to the repayment of
    Indebtedness  secured by a Lien expressly  permitted  hereunder on any asset
    which is the  subject of such Asset Sale or Recovery  Event  (other than any
    Lien pursuant to a Security  Document) and other customary fees and expenses
    actually  incurred  in  connection  therewith  and  net  of  taxes  paid  or
    reasonably  estimated to be payable as a result  thereof  (after taking into
    account  any  available  tax  credits  or  deductions  and any  tax  sharing
    arrangements)  and (b) in  connection  with any  issuance  or sale of equity
    securities or debt securities or instruments or the incurrence of loans, the
    cash proceeds  received from such issuance or incurrence,  net of attorneys'
    fees, investment banking fees, accountants' fees, underwriting discounts and
    commissions  and other  customary  fees and  expenses  actually  incurred in
    connection therewith.

         "Non-Excluded Taxes": as defined in Section 2.15(a).

         "Non-U.S. Lender": as defined in Section 2.15(d).

         "Notes":  the  collective  reference to each  promissory  note, if any,
    evidencing Loans.

         "Obligations":  the unpaid  principal  of and  interest on  (including,
    without  limitation,  interest  accruing after the maturity of the Loans and
    Reimbursement  Obligations  and  interest  accruing  after the filing of any
    petition   in   bankruptcy,   or  the   commencement   of  any   insolvency,
    reorganization or like proceeding,  relating to the Borrower, whether or not
    a claim  for  post-filing  or  post-petition  interest  is  allowed  in such
    proceeding)  the  Loans,  the   Reimbursement   Obligations  and  all  other
    obligations and liabilities of the Borrower to the  Administrative  Agent or
    to any Lender (or, in the case of Specified Hedge Agreements,  any affiliate
    of any Lender), whether direct or indirect,  absolute or contingent,  due or
    to become due, or now existing or hereafter incurred, which may arise under,
    out of, or in connection with, this Agreement,  any other Loan Document, the
    Letters of Credit, any Specified Hedge Agreement or any other document made,
    delivered or given in connection  herewith or therewith,  whether on account
    of principal, interest, reimbursement obligations, fees, indemnities, costs,
    expenses (including, without limitation, all fees, charges and disbursements
    of counsel to the Administrative Agent or to any Lender that are required to
    be paid by the Borrower  pursuant hereto) or otherwise;  provided,  that (i)
    obligations  of the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  under any  Specified  Hedge
    Agreement shall be secured and guaranteed pursuant to the Security Documents
    only to the extent that,  and for so long as, the other  Obligations  are so
    secured and  guaranteed  and (ii) any release of  Collateral  or  guarantors
    effected in the manner  permitted  by this  Agreement  shall not require the
    consent of holders of obligations under Specified Hedge Agreements.

                                       18

<PAGE>

         "Other Taxes": any and all present or future stamp or documentary taxes
    or any other excise or property  taxes,  charges or similar  levies  arising
    from  any  payment  made  hereunder  or  from  the  execution,  delivery  or
    enforcement  of, or otherwise  with respect to, this  Agreement or any other
    Loan Document.

         "Participant": as defined in Section 9.6(b).

         "Payment  Office":  the  office  specified  from  time  to  time by the
    Administrative Agent as its payment office by notice to the Borrower and the
    Lenders.

         "PBGC": the Pension Benefit Guaranty  Corporation  established pursuant
    to Subtitle A of Title IV of ERISA (or any successor).

         "Permitted Acquisition":  any acquisition by the Borrower or any of its
    Subsidiaries of all of the Capital Stock of, or all or substantially  all of
    the assets  constituting  a business  unit of, any other  Person so long as,
    with  respect  to  any  such  acquisition,   the  following  conditions  are
    satisfied:

              (a) no  Default or Event of Default  shall  have  occurred  and be
         continuing or would result from such acquisition;

              (b) after giving effect to such acquisition, the Borrower shall be
         in pro  forma  compliance  with the  financial  covenants  set forth in
         Section 6.1;

              (c) such  acquisition  shall  be  consistent  with the  Borrower's
         stated  management  strategy as in effect on the Closing Date,  and the
         target of such  acquisition  shall be in the same or a similar  line of
         business as the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

              (d) the aggregate  consideration  for such  acquisition  shall not
         exceed (i)  $20,000,000 if such  acquisition is consummated in FY 1999,
         (ii)  $30,000,000  if such  acquisition  is consummated in FY 2000, and
         (iii)  $40,000,000  if  such  acquisition  is  consummated  thereafter;
         provided,  that the foregoing  restrictions in this paragraph (d) shall
         not be applicable to any acquisition if the Consolidated Leverage Ratio
         would be less than or equal to 5.5 to 1.0 after giving pro forma effect
         to such  acquisition  as if it had  occurred  on the  first  day of the
         period measured by the Consolidated Leverage Ratio;

              (e) the  target of such  acquisition  either  (i)  shall  have had
         positive consolidated net income before interest,  taxes,  depreciation
         and amortization, determined in accordance with GAAP ("EBITDA") for the
         period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of such target most recently
         ended  prior to the date of such  acquisition,  or (ii)  shall have had
         positive  pro forma EBITDA for such period (such pro forma EBITDA to be
         determined  in  accordance  with  the  Borrower's  customary  practices
         consistent with the methodology reflected in the

                                       19

<PAGE>


         Pro Forma Balance Sheet and related  financial  statements  included in
         the Confidential Information Memorandum);

              (f) the Borrower shall have performed reasonable and customary due
         diligence  with  respect to such  acquisition  and the target  thereof,
         including with respect to environmental matters;

              (g) the  Borrower  and/or  the  applicable  Subsidiary  shall have
         obtained all material  third party  consents and approvals  required in
         connection with such acquisition;

              (h)  environmental   audits,   pro  forma  financial   statements,
         appraisals,  if any,  accounting  reviews and  material  due  diligence
         reports  conducted by the  Borrower  with respect to the business to be
         acquired  shall have been  delivered to  Administrative  Agent not less
         than ten Business Days prior to consummation of such acquisition;

              (i) the  Borrower  shall have  reasonably  determined  that it has
         adequate liquidity available for working capital; and

              (j) substantially all of the assets so acquired are located in the
         United  States or Canada or, if such  acquisition  is  structured  as a
         purchase of stock,  the Person so acquired is organized  under the laws
         of a state of the United States,  and  substantially  all of the assets
         owned by such  Person  are  located  in the  United  States or  Canada;
         provided,  that (i) the  Borrower  may  acquire  the  stock of a Person
         organized  under the laws of a state of the United  States whose assets
         are  located,  in whole or in part,  in Puerto Rico or Canada,  if such
         Person becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor and grants a security interest in
         its assets as  contemplated  by Section  5.10 and (ii) the Borrower may
         acquire the stock of any Person organized under the laws of Puerto Rico
         or Canada, so long as the aggregate amount of investments made pursuant
         to this clause (ii),  together  with  Investments  made as permitted by
         Section 6.8(h), does not exceed $5,000,000.

         "Permitted  Investors":  the collective reference to the Sponsor, Bruce
    C. Bruckmann, Harold O. Rosser II, Stephen C. Sherrill, Donald Bruckmann, H.
    Virgil Sherrill,  Nancy Zweng, BCB Partnership,  NAZ Partnership and Paul D.
    Kaminski, and their respective Control Investment Affiliates.

         "Permitted Stock Repurchase Amount":  the amount of Restricted Payments
    made by the  Borrower  to Holdings  and  applied by  Holdings to  repurchase
    Capital  Stock of Holdings  from  officers and  employees of the Borrower in
    connection  with the death,  departure or  termination of employment of such
    officers and employees; provided, that (a) the proceeds of any resale of the
    Capital Stock so purchased are  immediately  reinvested in the common equity
    of the Borrower and (b) the cumulative amount of such

                                       20

<PAGE>


    payments  from and after the Closing  Date,  less the  cumulative  amount of
    proceeds of such resales  reinvested in the Borrower,  shall not at any time
    exceed $5,000,000.

         "Person": an individual,  partnership,  corporation,  limited liability
    company,   business  trust,  joint  stock  company,  trust,   unincorporated
    association,  joint  venture,  Governmental  Authority  or other  entity  of
    whatever nature.

         "Plan": at a particular time, any employee benefit plan that is covered
    by ERISA and in  respect  of which the  Borrower  or a  Commonly  Controlled
    Entity is (or,  if such plan  were  terminated  at such  time,  would  under
    Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an  "employer"  as defined in Section
    3(5) of ERISA.

         "Pricing Grid": the pricing grid attached hereto as Annex A.

         "Pro Forma Balance Sheet": as defined in Section 3.1(a).

         "Projections": as defined in Section 5.2(c).

         "Property":  any  right  or  interest  in or to  property  of any  kind
    whatsoever,  whether  real,  personal  or  mixed  and  whether  tangible  or
    intangible, including, without limitation, Capital Stock.

         "Recovery  Event":  any  settlement  of or  payment  in  respect of any
    property or casualty insurance claim or any condemnation proceeding relating
    to any asset of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

         "Reference Lender": Bankers Trust Company.

         "Refunded Swing Line Loans": as defined in Section 2.2.

         "Refunding Date": as defined in Section 2.2.

         "Register": as defined in Section 9.6(d).

         "Regulation  U":  Regulation  U of the Board as in effect  from time to
    time.

         "Reimbursement Obligation": the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse
    the relevant Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 2.24 for amounts drawn under
    Letters of Credit.

         "Reinvestment Deferred Amount": with respect to any Reinvestment Event,
    the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds received by Holdings, the Borrower or any of
    its Subsidiaries in connection  therewith that are not applied to prepay the
    Loans and reduce the Revolving Credit Commitments pursuant to Section 2.7(b)
    as a result of the delivery of a Reinvestment Notice.

                                       21

<PAGE>


         "Reinvestment  Event":  any Asset Sale or Recovery  Event in respect of
    which the Borrower has delivered a Reinvestment Notice.

         "Reinvestment  Notice":  a written  notice  executed  by a  Responsible
    Officer  stating  that no Default or Event of Default  has  occurred  and is
    continuing  and  that  the  Borrower   (directly  or  indirectly  through  a
    Subsidiary) intends and expects to use all or a specified portion of the Net
    Cash  Proceeds  of an Asset Sale or  Recovery  Event to  acquire,  repair or
    restore assets useful in the Borrower's or any Subsidiary's business.

         "Reinvestment  Prepayment  Amount":  with  respect to any  Reinvestment
    Event,  the  Reinvestment  Deferred Amount relating  thereto less any amount
    expended  prior to the  relevant  Reinvestment  Prepayment  Date to acquire,
    repair or  restore  assets  useful  in the  Borrower's  or any  Subsidiary's
    business.

         "Reinvestment Prepayment Date": with respect to any Reinvestment Event,
    the earlier of (a) the date occurring 270 days after such Reinvestment Event
    and (b) the date on which the  Borrower  shall  have  determined  not to, or
    shall have otherwise ceased to, acquire,  repair or restore assets useful in
    the Borrower's or any  Subsidiary's  business with all or any portion of the
    relevant Reinvestment Deferred Amount.

         "Reorganization": with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, the condition
    that such plan is in  reorganization  within the meaning of Section  4241 of
    ERISA.

         "Reportable  Event":  any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of
    ERISA,  other than those events as to which the thirty day notice  period is
    waived under  subsections  .27,  .28, .29, .30, .31, .32, .34 or .35 of PBGC
    Reg. Section 4043.

         "Required  Lenders":  at any time,  the holders of more than 50% of (a)
    until the Closing  Date,  the Total  Revolving  Credit  Commitments  and (b)
    thereafter, the Total Revolving Credit Commitments then in effect or, if the
    Revolving  Credit  Commitments  have been  terminated,  the Total  Revolving
    Extensions of Credit then outstanding.

         "Requirement   of  Law":  as  to  any  Person,   the   Certificate   of
    Incorporation and By-Laws or other  organizational or governing documents of
    such Person, and any law, treaty,  rule or regulation or determination of an
    arbitrator  or a  court  or  other  Governmental  Authority,  in  each  case
    applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its Property or to which
    such Person or any of its Property is subject.

         "Responsible Officer": the chief executive officer,  president or chief
    financial  officer  of the  Borrower,  but in any  event,  with  respect  to
    financial matters, the chief financial officer of the Borrower.

         "Restricted Payments": as defined in Section 6.6.

                                       22

<PAGE>

         "Revolving Credit Commitment": as to any Lender, the obligation of such
    Lender,  if any, to make Revolving  Credit Loans and issue or participate in
    Letters of Credit,  in an  aggregate  principal  and/or  face  amount not to
    exceed the amount set forth under the heading  "Revolving Credit Commitment"
    opposite such Lender's name on Schedule 1 to the Lender  Addendum  delivered
    by such Lender,  or, as the case may be, in the  Assignment  and  Acceptance
    pursuant  to which such  Lender  became a party  hereto,  as the same may be
    changed from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof.  The original amount
    of the Total Revolving Credit Commitments is $60,000,000.

         "Revolving Credit Commitment Period": the period from and including the
    Closing Date to the Revolving Credit Termination Date.

         "Revolving Credit Loans": as defined in Section 2.1.

         "Revolving  Credit  Percentage":  as to any  Lender  at any  time,  the
    percentage which such Lender's  Revolving Credit Commitment then constitutes
    of the  Total  Revolving  Credit  Commitments  (or,  at any time  after  the
    Revolving  Credit   Commitments  shall  have  expired  or  terminated,   the
    percentage which the aggregate  principal amount of such Lender's  Revolving
    Credit Loans then outstanding  constitutes of the aggregate principal amount
    of the Revolving Credit Loans then outstanding).

         "Revolving Credit Termination Date": [March 15], 2004.

         "Revolving  Extensions  of  Credit":  as to any Lender at any time,  an
    amount  equal  to the  sum of (a)  the  aggregate  principal  amount  of all
    Revolving  Credit  Loans  made by such  Lender  then  outstanding,  (b) such
    Lender's Revolving Credit Percentage of the L/C Obligations then outstanding
    and (c) such Lender's Revolving Credit Percentage of the aggregate principal
    amount of Swing Line Loans then outstanding.

         "SEC": the Securities and Exchange Commission (or successors thereto or
    an analogous Governmental Authority).

         "Security  Documents":  the  collective  reference to the Guarantee and
    Collateral  Agreement,  the  Mortgages  and  all  other  security  documents
    hereafter  delivered  to the  Administrative  Agent  granting  a Lien on any
    Property of any Person to secure the obligations and liabilities of any Loan
    Party under any Loan  Document and of any Loan Party (as defined in the Term
    Loan  Agreement)  under  any Loan  Document  (as  defined  in the Term  Loan
    Agreement).

         "Senior Subordinated Note Indenture": the Indenture, dated as of August
    11, 1997,  entered into by the Borrower and certain of its  Subsidiaries and
    The Bank of New York,  as Trustee,  in  connection  with the issuance of the
    Senior  Subordinated   Notes,   together  with  all  instruments  and  other
    agreements  entered into by the Borrower or such  Subsidiaries in connection
    therewith,  as the same may be amended,  supplemented or otherwise  modified
    from time to time in accordance with Section 6.9.

                                       23

<PAGE>

         "Senior  Subordinated  Notes":  the subordinated  notes of the Borrower
    issued  pursuant to the Senior  Subordinated  Note Indenture in the original
    aggregate principal amount of $120,000,000.

         "Single  Employer Plan": any Plan that is covered by Title IV of ERISA,
    but which is not a Multiemployer Plan.

         "Solvent":  when used with respect to any Person,  that, as of any date
    of determination, (a) the amount of the "present fair saleable value" of the
    assets of such  Person  will,  as of such  date,  exceed  the  amount of all
    "liabilities of such Person,  contingent or otherwise",  as of such date, as
    such quoted terms are determined in accordance with  applicable  federal and
    state laws governing  determinations  of the insolvency of debtors,  (b) the
    present fair  saleable  value of the assets of such Person will,  as of such
    date,  be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the liability
    of such Person on its debts as such debts become  absolute and matured,  (c)
    such Person will not have, as of such date, an unreasonably  small amount of
    capital with which to conduct its business, and (d) such Person will be able
    to pay its debts as they mature. For purposes of this definition, (i) "debt"
    means  liability  on a  "claim",  and (ii)  "claim"  means  any (x) 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 (y) right to an equitable remedy
    for breach of  performance  if such breach gives rise to a right to payment,
    whether or not such  right to an  equitable  remedy is reduced to  judgment,
    fixed, contingent,  matured or unmatured,  disputed,  undisputed, secured or
    unsecured.

         "Specified  Capital  Expenditure  Amount":  for any  fiscal  year  (the
    "Calculation  Year"), an amount equal to the amount of Capital  Expenditures
    permitted by Section 6.7 to be made in the  Calculation  Year (including any
    amount carried over from the prior fiscal year), minus (b) the amount of any
    permitted Capital  Expenditures from the prior fiscal year which was carried
    over  into  the  Calculation  Year but not  actually  expended  for  Capital
    Expenditures in the Calculation Year.

         "Specified Change of Control":  a "Change of Control" as defined in the
    Senior Subordinated Note Indenture.

         "Specified  Hedge  Agreement":  any Hedge Agreement (a) entered into by
    (i) the  Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries  and (ii) any  Lender  or any
    affiliate thereof, as counterparty and (b) which has been designated by such
    Lender  and the  Borrower,  by  notice to the  Administrative  Agent and the
    Syndication Agent, as a Specified Hedge Agreement.

         "Sponsor": Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherill & Co., L.P.

         "Subsidiary":  as to any Person,  a corporation,  partnership,  limited
    liability  company  or  other  entity  of  which  shares  of  stock or other
    ownership interests having

                                       24

<PAGE>


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

         "Subsidiary Guarantor":  each Subsidiary of the Borrower other than any
    Excluded Foreign Subsidiary.

         "Swing Line  Commitment":  the  obligation  of the Swing Line Lender to
    make Swing Line Loans  pursuant  to Section  2.2 in an  aggregate  principal
    amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed $5,000,000.

         "Swing Line Lender":  Lehman  Commercial Paper Inc., in its capacity as
    the lender of Swing Line Loans.

         "Swing Line Loans": as defined in Section 2.1(b).

         "Swing Line Participation Amount": as defined in Section 2.2.

         "Syndication Letter Agreement":  the letter agreement,  dated as of the
    date hereof, between the Borrower and the Syndication Agent and the Arranger
    relating to the syndication of the revolving  credit  facility  provided for
    hereunder and of the Term Loan Facilities.

         "Term Loan Agreement":  the Term Loan Agreement,  dated as of March 15,
    1999, among the Borrower, the lenders named therein, Lehman Commercial Paper
    Inc.,  as  administrative  agent,  and  others,  as the same may be amended,
    supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

         "Term Loan Facilities":  the credit facilities made available  pursuant
    to the Term Loan Agreement.

         "Term  Loan  Lender":   each  Lender  (as  defined  in  the  Term  Loan
    Agreement).

         "Term Loans": as defined in the Term Loan Agreement.

         "Total Revolving Credit Commitments": at any time, the aggregate amount
    of the Revolving Credit Commitments then in effect.

         "Total  Revolving  Extensions  of Credit":  at any time,  the aggregate
    amount of the Revolving  Extensions of Credit of the Lenders  outstanding at
    such time.

                                       25

<PAGE>

         "Transferee": as defined in Section 9.14.

         "Type":  as to any Loan, its nature as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar
    Loan.

         "Wholly Owned  Subsidiary":  as to any Person,  any other Person all of
    the Capital Stock of which (other than directors' qualifying shares required
    by law) is owned by such Person  directly  and/or through other Wholly Owned
    Subsidiaries.

         "Wholly Owned Subsidiary Guarantor": any Subsidiary Guarantor that is a
    Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower.

         1.2 Other  Definitional  Provisions.  (a)  Unless  otherwise  specified
therein,  all terms defined in this  Agreement  shall have the defined  meanings
when used in the other Loan Documents or any  certificate or other document made
or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto.

              (b) As  used  herein  and in the  other  Loan  Documents,  and any
certificate  or other  document  made or delivered  pursuant  hereto or thereto,
accounting  terms relating to Holdings,  the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  not
defined in Section 1.1 and  accounting  terms partly  defined in Section 1.1, to
the extent not defined,  shall have the respective  meanings given to them under
GAAP.

              (c) The words  "hereof",  "herein"  and  "hereunder"  and words of
similar  import when used in this  Agreement  shall refer to this Agreement as a
whole  and not to any  particular  provision  of this  Agreement,  and  Section,
Schedule  and  Exhibit   references  are  to  this  Agreement  unless  otherwise
specified.

              (d) The meanings  given to terms  defined  herein shall be equally
applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms.

          SECTION 2. AMOUNT AND TERMS OF COMMITMENTS; LETTERS OF CREDIT

              2.1  Revolving  Credit  Commitments;  Swing Line  Commitment.  (a)
Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Lender severally agrees to make
revolving credit loans  ("Revolving  Credit Loans") to the Borrower from time to
time during the Revolving  Credit  Commitment  Period in an aggregate  principal
amount at any one time outstanding  which, when added to such Lender's Revolving
Credit  Percentage of the L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans then outstanding,
does not exceed the amount of such Lender's Revolving Credit Commitment.  During
the Revolving Credit Commitment Period the Borrower may use the Revolving Credit
Commitments  by borrowing,  prepaying the Revolving  Credit Loans in whole or in
part, and reborrowing,  all in accordance with the terms and conditions  hereof.
The  Revolving  Credit Loans may from time to time be  Eurodollar  Loans or Base
Rate Loans,  as  determined  by the Borrower and notified to the  Administrative
Agent in accordance with Sections 2.2 and 2.8, provided that no Revolving Credit
Loan shall be made as a Eurodollar Loan after the day that is one month prior to
the Revolving Credit Termination Date.

                                       26

<PAGE>


         (b) Subject to the terms and conditions  hereof,  the Swing Line Lender
agrees to make  available  a portion of the credit  otherwise  available  to the
Borrower  under the Revolving  Credit  Commitments  from time to time during the
Revolving  Credit  Commitment  Period by making  swing line loans  ("Swing  Line
Loans") to the Borrower;  provided that (i) the  aggregate  principal  amount of
Swing  Line  Loans  outstanding  at any time  shall not  exceed  the Swing  Line
Commitment then in effect (notwithstanding that the Swing Line Loans outstanding
at any time,  when  aggregated  with the Swing Line Lender's  other  outstanding
Revolving Credit Loans  hereunder,  may exceed the Swing Line Commitment then in
effect) and (ii) the Borrower shall not request, and the Swing Line Lender shall
not make,  any Swing  Line Loan if,  after  giving  effect to the making of such
Swing  Line  Loan,  the  aggregate  amount  of the  Available  Revolving  Credit
Commitments  would be less than zero.  During the  Revolving  Credit  Commitment
Period,  the Borrower may use the Swing Line  Commitment by borrowing,  repaying
and reborrowing,  all in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof.  Swing
Line Loans shall be Base Rate Loans only.

         (c) The Borrower  shall repay all  outstanding  Loans on the  Revolving
Credit Termination Date.

         2.2 Procedure for Borrowing;  Swing Line Loans; Refunding of Swing Line
Loans.  (a) The Borrower may borrow  Revolving  Credit Loans under the Revolving
Credit Commitments during the Revolving Credit Commitment Period on any Business
Day, provided that the Borrower shall give the Administrative  Agent irrevocable
notice (which notice must be received by the Administrative Agent prior to 12:00
Noon,  New York  City  time,  (i) three  Business  Days  prior to the  requested
Borrowing Date, in the case of Eurodollar  Loans, or (ii) one Business Day prior
to the requested Borrowing Date, in the case of Base Rate Loans), specifying (A)
the amount and Type of Revolving Credit Loans to be borrowed,  (B) the requested
Borrowing  Date and (C) in the  case of  Eurodollar  Loans,  the  length  of the
initial Interest Period therefor. Any Revolving Credit Loans made on the Closing
Date shall initially be Base Rate Loans and may be converted to Eurodollar Loans
pursuant to Section 2.8. Each borrowing under the Revolving  Credit  Commitments
shall be in an amount equal to (x) in the case of Base Rate Loans, $1,000,000 or
a whole multiple thereof (or, if the then aggregate  Available  Revolving Credit
Commitments are less than $1,000,000, such lesser amount) and (y) in the case of
Eurodollar  Loans,  $1,000,000  or a whole  multiple  of  $1,000,000  in  excess
thereof,  provided,  that the Swing Line  Lender may  request,  on behalf of the
Borrower,  borrowings under the Revolving Credit Commitments which are Base Rate
Loans in other  amounts  pursuant to Section  2.2(c).  Upon  receipt of any such
notice from the Borrower,  the  Administrative  Agent shall promptly notify each
Lender  thereof.  Each Lender will make the amount of its pro rata share of each
borrowing of Revolving  Credit Loans available to the  Administrative  Agent for
the account of the Borrower at the Funding  Office prior to 12:00 Noon, New York
City time, on the Borrowing Date requested by the Borrower in funds  immediately
available  to the  Administrative  Agent.  Such  borrowing  will  then  be  made
available to the Borrower by the Administrative  Agent in like funds as received
by the Administrative Agent.

         (b) Whenever the Borrower desires that the Swing Line Lender make Swing
Line Loans it shall give the Swing Line  Lender  irrevocable  telephonic  notice
confirmed promptly in

                                       27

<PAGE>

writing (which  telephonic  notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender not
later  than 1:00 P.M.,  New York City time,  on the  proposed  Borrowing  Date),
specifying  (i) the amount to be borrowed and (ii) the requested  Borrowing Date
(which shall be a Business Day during the Revolving Credit  Commitment  Period).
Each borrowing  under the Swing Line  Commitment  shall be in an amount equal to
$100,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof.  Not later than 3:00
P.M., New York City time, on the Borrowing Date specified in a notice in respect
of Swing  Line  Loans,  the  Swing  Line  Lender  shall  make  available  to the
Administrative  Agent at the Funding Office an amount in  immediately  available
funds  equal to the  amount of the Swing  Line Loan to be made by the Swing Line
Lender. The Administrative Agent shall make the proceeds of such Swing Line Loan
available to the Borrower on such Borrowing Date in immediately available funds.

         (c) The  Swing  Line  Lender,  at any time and from time to time in its
sole and  absolute  discretion  may,  on behalf of the  Borrower  (which  hereby
irrevocably directs the Swing Line Lender to act on its behalf), on one Business
Day's notice  given by the Swing Line Lender no later than 12:00 Noon,  New York
City time, request each Lender to make, and each Lender hereby agrees to make, a
Revolving  Credit Loan,  in an amount equal to such  Lender's  Revolving  Credit
Percentage of the aggregate  amount of the Swing Line Loans (the "Refunded Swing
Line Loans")  outstanding  on the date of such  notice,  to repay the Swing Line
Lender.  Each  Lender  shall  make the  amount  of such  Revolving  Credit  Loan
available  to the  Administrative  Agent at the  Funding  Office in  immediately
available funds, not later than 10:00 A.M., New York City time, one Business Day
after the date of such notice. The proceeds of such Revolving Credit Loans shall
be  immediately  made  available by the  Administrative  Agent to the Swing Line
Lender for application by the Swing Line Lender to the repayment of the Refunded
Swing Line Loans.

         (d) If prior to the time a Revolving  Credit Loan would have  otherwise
been made  pursuant to Section  2.2(c),  one of the events  described in Section
7(f) shall have  occurred and be  continuing  with respect to the Borrower or if
for any  other  reason,  as  determined  by the  Swing  Line  Lender in its sole
discretion,  Revolving  Credit Loans may not be made as  contemplated by Section
2.2(c),  each Lender shall,  on the date such Revolving  Credit Loan was to have
been made pursuant to the notice  referred to in Section 2.2(c) (the  "Refunding
Date"),  purchase  for  cash an  undivided  participating  interest  in the then
outstanding  Swing Line Loans by paying to the Swing Line  Lender an amount (the
"Swing Line  Participation  Amount") equal to (i) such Lender's Revolving Credit
Percentage  times (ii) the sum of the aggregate  principal  amount of Swing Line
Loans then outstanding which were to have been repaid with such Revolving Credit
Loans.

         (e) Whenever, at any time after the Swing Line Lender has received from
any Lender such Lender's Swing Line Participation  Amount, the Swing Line Lender
receives  any payment on account of the Swing Line Loans,  the Swing Line Lender
will   distribute   to  such   Lender  its  Swing  Line   Participation   Amount
(appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period
of time during which such Lender's  participating  interest was  outstanding and
funded and, in the case of  principal  and  interest  payments,  to reflect such
Lender's pro rata portion of such payment if such payment is not  sufficient  to
pay the principal of

                                       28

<PAGE>

and interest on all Swing Line Loans then due); provided,  however,  that in the
event that such  payment  received  by the Swing Line  Lender is  required to be
returned,  such Lender will return to the Swing Line Lender any portion  thereof
previously distributed to it by the Swing Line Lender.

         (f)  Each  Lender's  obligation  to make  the  Revolving  Credit  Loans
referred to in Section 2.2(c) and to purchase  participating  interests pursuant
to Section 2.2(d) shall be absolute and  unconditional and shall not be affected
by  any   circumstance,   including,   without   limitation,   (i)  any  setoff,
counterclaim,  recoupment,  defense  or other  right  which  such  Lender or the
Borrower  may have  against  the Swing Line  Lender,  the  Borrower or any other
Person  for any reason  whatsoever;  (ii) the  occurrence  or  continuance  of a
Default  or an Event of  Default  or the  failure  to  satisfy  any of the other
conditions  specified  in Section 4; (iii) any adverse  change in the  condition
(financial or otherwise) of the Borrower;  (iv) any breach of this  Agreement or
any other  Loan  Document  by the  Borrower,  any other  Loan Party or any other
Lender; or (v) any other circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether or
not similar to any of the foregoing.

         2.3  Repayment  of Loans;  Evidence of Debt.  (a) The  Borrower  hereby
unconditionally  promises to pay to the Administrative  Agent for the account of
the  appropriate  Lender the then unpaid  principal  amount of each Loan of such
Lender on the Revolving  Credit  Termination Date (or such earlier date on which
the Loans  become due and payable  pursuant to Section 7). The  Borrower  hereby
further agrees to pay interest on the unpaid  principal amount of the Loans from
time to time  outstanding  from the date hereof until payment in full thereof at
the rates per annum, and on the dates, set forth in Section 2.10.

         (b) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an
account or  accounts  evidencing  indebtedness  of the  Borrower  to such Lender
resulting from each Loan of such Lender from time to time, including the amounts
of  principal  and  interest  payable  and paid to such Lender from time to time
under this Agreement.

         (c) The Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Borrower, shall maintain
the  Register  pursuant to Section  9.6(d),  and a  subaccount  therein for each
Lender,  in which shall be recorded  (i) the amount of each Loan made  hereunder
and any Note  evidencing  such Loan,  the Type thereof and each Interest  Period
applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable
or to become due and payable  from the  Borrower to each  Lender  hereunder  and
(iii) both the amount of any sum received by the Administrative  Agent hereunder
from the Borrower and each Lender's share thereof.

         (d) The entries  made in the  Register  and the accounts of each Lender
maintained  pursuant  to  Section  2.3(b)  shall,  to the  extent  permitted  by
applicable  law, be prima facie  evidence  of the  existence  and amounts of the
obligations  of the  Borrower  therein  recorded;  provided,  however,  that the
failure of any Lender or the  Administrative  Agent to maintain  the Register or
any such  account,  or any error  therein,  shall not in any  manner  affect the
obligation of the Borrower to repay (with applicable interest) the Loans made to
such Borrower by such Lender in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

                                       29

<PAGE>

         (e) The Borrower  agrees that,  upon the request to the  Administrative
Agent by any  Lender,  the  Borrower  will  execute and deliver to such Lender a
promissory note of the Borrower  evidencing any Revolving  Credit Loans or Swing
Line Loans,  as the case may be, of such Lender,  substantially  in the forms of
Exhibit G-1 and G-2,  respectively,  with appropriate  insertions as to date and
principal amount;  provided that delivery of such notes shall not be a condition
precedent to the making of the Loans on the Closing Date.

         2.4  Commitment  Fees,  etc.  (a)  The  Borrower  agrees  to pay to the
Administrative  Agent for the  account of each Lender a  commitment  fee for the
period  from and  including  the Closing  Date to the last day of the  Revolving
Credit  Commitment  Period,  computed at the  Commitment Fee Rate on the average
daily amount of the Available  Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender during
the period for which payment is made,  payable  quarterly in arrears on the last
day of each March,  June,  September  and December and on the  Revolving  Credit
Termination  Date (or any earlier date of  termination  of the Revolving  Credit
Commitments),  commencing  on the  first of such  dates to occur  after the date
hereof.

         (b) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Syndication Agent the fees in the
amounts and on the dates previously agreed to in writing by the Borrower and the
Syndication Agent.

         (c) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative  Agent the fees in
the  amounts  and on the dates  from time to time  agreed to in  writing  by the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

         2.5  Termination  or  Reduction of Revolving  Credit  Commitments.  The
Borrower shall have the right, upon not less than three Business Days' notice to
the Administrative  Agent (which shall promptly notify each Lender thereof),  to
terminate the Revolving Credit  Commitments or, from time to time, to reduce the
amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments; provided that no such termination or
reduction of Revolving  Credit  Commitments  shall be permitted if, after giving
effect thereto and to any prepayments of the Revolving Credit Loans and/or Swing
Line Loans made on the effective date thereof, the Total Revolving Extensions of
Credit would exceed the Total Revolving Credit  Commitments.  Any such reduction
shall be in an amount equal to  $1,000,000,  or a whole  multiple  thereof,  and
shall reduce permanently the Revolving Credit Commitments then in effect.

         2.6 Optional Prepayments. The Borrower may at any time and from time to
time prepay the Loans,  in whole or in part,  without  premium or penalty,  upon
irrevocable notice delivered to the Administrative Agent at least three Business
Days prior thereto in the case of Eurodollar Loans and at least one Business Day
prior  thereto in the case of Base Rate Loans,  which notice  shall  specify the
date and amount of prepayment and whether the prepayment is of Eurodollar  Loans
or Base Rate Loans;  provided,  that if a Eurodollar  Loan is prepaid on any day
other than the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto,  the Borrower
shall also pay any amounts owing  pursuant to Section 2.16.  Upon receipt of any
such notice the Administrative  Agent shall promptly notify each relevant Lender
thereof.  If any such notice is given, the amount specified in such notice shall
be due and payable on the date specified  therein,  together with (except in the
case of  prepayments  of Base Rate Loans)  accrued  interest to such date on the

                                       30

<PAGE>

amount  prepaid.  Partial  prepayments of Revolving  Credit Loans shall be in an
aggregate  principal  amount of  $1,000,000  or a whole  multiple  thereof,  and
partial  prepayments  of Swing Line  Loans  shall be in an  aggregate  principal
amount of $100,000 or a whole multiple thereof.

         2.7 Mandatory  Prepayments  and Commitment  Reductions.  (a) Subject to
Section 2.7(d), if any Capital Stock shall be issued (excluding Capital Stock of
Holdings issued to Persons who are Permitted  Investors,  provided that prior to
and after giving effect to the proposed issuance, no Default or Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing),  or Indebtedness  incurred, by Holdings,
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries  (excluding any Indebtedness incurred in
accordance  with  Section  6.2 as in effect on the date of this  Agreement),  an
amount equal to the Net Cash  Proceeds  thereof  shall be applied on the date of
such issuance or incurrence  toward the prepayment of the Loans and reduction of
the Revolving Credit Commitments.

         (b) Subject to Section  2.7(d),  if on any date the  Borrower or any of
its Subsidiaries shall receive Net Cash Proceeds from any Asset Sale or Recovery
Event then, unless a Reinvestment  Notice shall be delivered in respect thereof,
an amount equal to such Net Cash  Proceeds  shall be applied on such date toward
the  prepayment  of  the  Loans  and  the  reduction  of  the  Revolving  Credit
Commitments; provided, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, on each Reinvestment
Prepayment  Date,  an amount equal to the  Reinvestment  Prepayment  Amount with
respect  to  the  relevant  Reinvestment  Event  shall  be  applied  toward  the
prepayment of the Loans and the reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitments.

         (c) Subject to Section 2.7(d),  if, for any fiscal year of the Borrower
commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 1999,  there shall be Excess
Cash Flow,  the Borrower  shall,  on the relevant  Excess Cash Flow  Application
Date,  apply 50% of such Excess Cash Flow toward the prepayment of the Loans and
the reduction of the Revolving  Credit  Commitments.  Each such  prepayment  and
commitment  reduction shall be made on a date (an "Excess Cash Flow  Application
Date") no later  than five days  after the  earlier of (i) the date on which the
financial  statements  of the Borrower  referred to in Section  5.1(a),  for the
fiscal year with respect to which such  prepayment  is made,  are required to be
delivered  to the  Lenders  and (ii)  the date  such  financial  statements  are
actually delivered.

         (d)  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing  paragraphs  (a),  (b) and (c), no
reduction  of  Revolving  Credit  Commitments  or  prepayment  of Loans shall be
required by this Section 2.7 until the Term Loans have been repaid in full.

         (e) Amounts to be applied in connection with  prepayments and Revolving
Credit  Commitment  reductions made pursuant to this Section shall be applied to
reduce permanently the Revolving Credit  Commitments.  Any such reduction of the
Revolving Credit Commitments shall be accompanied by prepayment of the Revolving
Credit  Loans  and/or  Swing Line Loans to the  extent,  if any,  that the Total
Revolving  Extensions of Credit exceed the amount of the Total Revolving  Credit
Commitments as so reduced  (provided that if the aggregate  principal  amount of
Loans then  outstanding  is less than the  amount of such  excess  (because  L/C
Obligations  constitute a portion thereof), the Borrower shall, to the extent of
the balance of such excess,

                                       31

<PAGE>

replace outstanding Letters of Credit and/or deposit an amount in cash in a cash
collateral account established with the Administrative  Agent for the benefit of
the Lenders on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and
the relevant  Issuing  Lender).  The amount of any  prepayment  pursuant to this
Section  shall be made  first,  to Base Rate Loans and,  second,  to  Eurodollar
Loans.  Each  prepayment of the Loans under this Section  (except in the case of
Base Rate Loans) shall be  accompanied  by accrued  interest to the date of such
prepayment on the amount prepaid.

         2.8 Conversion  and  Continuation  Options.  (a) The Borrower may elect
from time to time to convert  Eurodollar  Loans to Base Rate Loans by giving the
Administrative  Agent at least two Business  Days' prior  irrevocable  notice of
such election, provided that any such conversion of Eurodollar Loans may only be
made on the last day of an Interest  Period with respect  thereto.  The Borrower
may elect from time to time to convert  Base Rate Loans to  Eurodollar  Loans by
giving the Administrative  Agent at least three Business Days' prior irrevocable
notice of such  election  (which  notice shall specify the length of the initial
Interest Period therefor), provided that no Base Rate Loan may be converted into
a Eurodollar  Loan (i) when any Event of Default has occurred and is  continuing
and the Administrative  Agent has or the Required Lenders have determined in its
or their sole  discretion not to permit such  conversions or (ii) after the date
that is one month prior to the Revolving Credit  Termination  Date. Upon receipt
of any such notice the Administrative  Agent shall promptly notify each relevant
Lender thereof.

         (b) Any Eurodollar Loan may be continued as such upon the expiration of
the then current  Interest  Period with respect  thereto by the Borrower  giving
irrevocable  notice  to  the  Administrative   Agent,  in  accordance  with  the
applicable provisions of the term "Interest Period" set forth in Section 1.1, of
the length of the next Interest Period to be applicable to such Revolving Credit
Loans;  provided that no  Eurodollar  Loan may be continued as such (i) when any
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent has
or the Required  Lenders have  determined in its or their sole discretion not to
permit such  continuations or (ii) after the date that is one month prior to the
Revolving Credit Termination Date, and provided,  further,  that if the Borrower
shall fail to give any required  notice as described  above in this paragraph or
if such  continuation  is not permitted  pursuant to the preceding  proviso such
Revolving  Credit Loans shall be  automatically  converted to Base Rate Loans on
the last day of such then  expiring  Interest  Period.  Upon receipt of any such
notice the  Administrative  Agent shall  promptly  notify each  relevant  Lender
thereof.

         2.9  Minimum  Amounts  and  Maximum  Number  of  Eurodollar   Tranches.
Notwithstanding  anything to the  contrary in this  Agreement,  all  borrowings,
conversions,   continuations  and  optional   prepayments  of  Eurodollar  Loans
hereunder and all  selections  of Interest  Periods  hereunder  shall be in such
amounts and be made pursuant to such  elections so that, (a) after giving effect
thereto,  the aggregate principal amount of the Eurodollar Loans comprising each
Eurodollar  Tranche  shall  be  equal  to  $5,000,000  or a  whole  multiple  of
$1,000,000 in excess thereof and (b) no more than ten Eurodollar  Tranches shall
be outstanding at any one time.

                                       32

<PAGE>

         2.10 Interest Rates and Payment Dates.  (a) Each  Eurodollar Loan shall
bear interest for each day during each Interest Period with respect thereto at a
rate per annum equal to the  Eurodollar  Rate  determined  for such day plus the
Applicable Margin.

         (b) Each Base Rate Loan shall bear  interest  at a rate per annum equal
to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin.

         (c) (i) If all or a  portion  of the  principal  amount  of any Loan or
Reimbursement  Obligations  shall not be paid when due  (whether  at the  stated
maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), all outstanding Loans and Reimbursement
Obligations  (whether or not  overdue)  shall bear  interest at a rate per annum
that is equal to (x) in the case of Loans,  the rate  that  would  otherwise  be
applicable thereto pursuant to the foregoing  provisions of this Section plus 2%
and (y) in the case of  Reimbursement  Obligations,  the rate applicable to Base
Rate Loans plus 2%, and (ii) if all or a portion of any interest  payable on any
Loans and Reimbursement  Obligations  (whether or not overdue) or any commitment
fee or other amount payable hereunder shall not be paid when due (whether at the
stated maturity,  by acceleration or otherwise),  such overdue amount shall bear
interest  at a rate per  annum  equal to the rate then  applicable  to Base Rate
Loans plus 2%, in each case,  with  respect to clauses (i) and (ii) above,  from
the date of such non-payment until such amount is paid in full (after as well as
before judgment).

         (d) Interest shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date,
provided that interest  accruing pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section shall
be payable from time to time on demand.

         2.11  Computation  of  Interest  and  Fees.  (a)  Interest,   fees  and
commissions  payable  pursuant  hereto  shall be  calculated  on the  basis of a
360-day year for the actual days elapsed, except that, with respect to Base Rate
Loans  the rate of  interest  on which is  calculated  on the basis of the Prime
Rate, the interest  thereon shall be calculated on the basis of a 365- (or 366-,
as the case may be) day year for the actual  days  elapsed.  The  Administrative
Agent shall as soon as practicable  notify the Borrower and the relevant Lenders
of each determination of a Eurodollar Rate. Any change in the interest rate on a
Loan  resulting  from a change  in the  Base  Rate or the  Eurocurrency  Reserve
Requirements  shall become effective as of the opening of business on the day on
which such change becomes effective.  The Administrative  Agent shall as soon as
practicable  notify the Borrower and the relevant  Lenders of the effective date
and the amount of each such change in interest rate.

         (b) Each determination of an interest rate by the Administrative  Agent
pursuant to any provision of this  Agreement  shall be conclusive and binding on
the   Borrower  and  the  Lenders  in  the  absence  of  manifest   error.   The
Administrative  Agent  shall,  at the  request of the  Borrower,  deliver to the
Borrower a statement showing the quotations used by the Administrative  Agent in
determining any interest rate pursuant to Section 2.11(a).

                                       33

<PAGE>

         2.12 Inability to Determine Interest Rate. If prior to the first day of
any Interest Period:

         (a) the Administrative Agent shall have determined (which determination
    shall be  conclusive  and  binding  upon the  Borrower)  that,  by reason of
    circumstances  affecting the relevant market,  adequate and reasonable means
    do not exist for  ascertaining the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period,
    or

         (b) the  Administrative  Agent  shall  have  received  notice  from the
    Required Lenders that the Eurodollar Rate determined or to be determined for
    such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such
    Lenders (as conclusively certified by such Lenders) of making or maintaining
    their affected Revolving Credit Loans during such Interest Period,

the Administrative Agent shall give telecopy or telephonic notice thereof to the
Borrower and the relevant  Lenders as soon as  practicable  thereafter.  If such
notice is given (x) any Eurodollar  Loans  requested to be made on the first day
of such  Interest  Period  shall be made as Base Rate Loans,  (y) any  Revolving
Credit Loans that were to have been  converted on the first day of such Interest
Period to  Eurodollar  Loans shall be  continued  as Base Rate Loans and (z) any
outstanding  Eurodollar  Loans shall be  converted,  on the last day of the then
current  Interest Period with respect  thereto,  to Base Rate Loans.  Until such
notice has been withdrawn by the  Administrative  Agent,  no further  Eurodollar
Loans shall be made or continued as such,  nor shall the Borrower have the right
to convert Revolving Credit Loans to Eurodollar Loans.

         2.13  Pro Rata  Treatment  and  Payments.  (a)  Each  borrowing  by the
Borrower of Revolving  Credit Loans hereunder and any reduction of the Revolving
Credit  Commitments  of the  Lenders  shall be made pro  rata  according  to the
respective Revolving Credit Percentages of the Lenders.  Other than with respect
to any  substituted  Lender in  accordance  with Section  2.19,  each payment in
respect of principal or interest in respect of the Revolving Credit Loans,  each
payment in respect of commitment fees payable  hereunder shall be applied to the
amounts of such  obligations  owing to the  Lenders  pro rata  according  to the
respective amounts then due and owing to the Lenders. Each payment in respect of
Reimbursement  Obligations  in respect of any Letter of Credit  shall be made to
the Issuing Lender that issued such Letters of Credit.

         (b) All  payments  (including  prepayments)  to be made by the Borrower
hereunder,  whether on account of principal,  interest, fees or otherwise, shall
be made without  setoff or  counterclaim  and shall be made prior to 12:00 Noon,
New York City time, on the due date thereof to the Administrative Agent, for the
account of the Lenders,  at the Payment  Office,  in Dollars and in  immediately
available funds. The Administrative  Agent shall distribute such payments to the
Lenders  promptly  upon  receipt  in like  funds  as  received.  If any  payment
hereunder (other than payments on the Eurodollar  Loans) becomes due and payable
on a day other than a Business  Day,  such payment shall be extended to the next
succeeding  Business  Day. If any payment on a  Eurodollar  Loan becomes due and
payable  on a day other than a  Business  Day,  the  maturity  thereof  shall be
extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless the result of such extension
would be to extend such payment into another calendar month, in which event

                                       34

<PAGE>

such payment  shall be made on the  immediately  preceding  Business Day. In the
case of any extension of any payment of principal  pursuant to the preceding two
sentences,  interest thereon shall be payable at the then applicable rate during
such extension.

         (c) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified in writing
by any Lender  prior to a  borrowing  that such  Lender will not make the amount
that  would   constitute   its  share  of  such   borrowing   available  to  the
Administrative  Agent, the  Administrative  Agent may assume that such Lender is
making such amount available to the Administrative Agent, and the Administrative
Agent may, in reliance upon such  assumption,  make  available to the Borrower a
corresponding amount. If such amount is not made available to the Administrative
Agent by the required time on the Borrowing Date therefor, such Lender shall pay
to the Administrative  Agent, on demand,  such amount with interest thereon at a
rate equal to the daily  average  Federal  Funds  Effective  Rate for the period
until such Lender makes such amount immediately  available to the Administrative
Agent. A certificate of the  Administrative  Agent  submitted to any Lender with
respect to any amounts  owing under this  paragraph  shall be  conclusive in the
absence of manifest  error. If such Lender's share of such borrowing is not made
available to the Administrative  Agent by such Lender within three Business Days
of such  Borrowing  Date,  the  Administrative  Agent  shall also be entitled to
recover such amount with  interest  thereon at the rate per annum  applicable to
Base Rate Loans under the relevant Facility, on demand, from the Borrower.

         (d) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified in writing
by the Borrower  prior to the date of any payment being made  hereunder that the
Borrower  will  not  make  such  payment  to  the   Administrative   Agent,  the
Administrative  Agent may assume that the Borrower is making such  payment,  and
the  Administrative  Agent may, but shall not be required  to, in reliance  upon
such assumption,  make available to the Lenders their respective pro rata shares
of a  corresponding  amount.  If such payment is not made to the  Administrative
Agent by the Borrower  within three  Business  Days of such required  date,  the
Administrative  Agent shall be entitled to recover,  on demand, from each Lender
to which any amount which was made available pursuant to the preceding sentence,
such amount with interest thereon at a rate per annum equal to the daily average
Federal Funds Effective Rate. Nothing herein shall be deemed to limit the rights
of the Administrative Agent or any Lender against the Borrower.

         2.14  Requirements  of Law. (a) If the adoption of or any change in any
Requirement of Law or in the interpretation or application thereof or compliance
by any Lender with any request or directive  (whether or not having the force of
law) from any central bank or other  Governmental  Authority made  subsequent to
the date hereof:

              (i) shall  subject  any  Lender to any tax of any kind  whatsoever
         with respect to this Agreement,  any Letter of Credit,  any Application
         or any  Eurodollar  Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of
         payments to such  Lender in respect  thereof  (except for  Non-Excluded
         Taxes  covered  by Section  2.15 and  changes in the rate of tax on the
         overall net income of such Lender);

                                       35

<PAGE>


              (ii) shall impose, modify or hold applicable any reserve,  special
         deposit, compulsory loan or similar requirement against assets held by,
         deposits or other liabilities in or for the account of, advances, loans
         or other extensions of credit by, or any other acquisition of funds by,
         any  office  of such  Lender  that  is not  otherwise  included  in the
         determination of the Eurodollar Rate hereunder; or

              (iii) shall impose on such Lender any other condition;

and the result of any of the  foregoing  is to increase the cost to such Lender,
by an amount which such Lender deems to be material, of making, converting into,
continuing  or  maintaining  Eurodollar  Loans or  issuing or  participating  in
Letters of  Credit,  or to reduce any  amount  receivable  hereunder  in respect
thereof,  then, in any such case,  the Borrower  shall promptly pay such Lender,
upon its demand,  any additional amounts necessary to compensate such Lender for
such increased cost or reduced amount receivable. If any Lender becomes entitled
to claim any  additional  amounts  pursuant to this Section,  it shall  promptly
notify the Borrower  (with a copy to the  Administrative  Agent) of the event by
reason of which it has become so entitled.

         (b) If any Lender  shall have  determined  that the  adoption of or any
change  in  any  Requirement  of  Law  regarding  capital  adequacy  or  in  the
interpretation  or  application  thereof  or  compliance  by such  Lender or any
corporation  controlling  such Lender with any  request or  directive  regarding
capital adequacy  (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental
Authority  made  subsequent to the date hereof shall have the effect of reducing
the  rate  of  return  on  such  Lender's  or such  corporation's  capital  as a
consequence of its obligations hereunder to a level below that which such Lender
or such  corporation  could  have  achieved  but for such  adoption,  change  or
compliance  (taking  into  consideration  such  Lender's  or such  corporation's
policies with respect to capital adequacy) by an amount deemed by such Lender to
be  material,  then from time to time,  after  submission  by such Lender to the
Borrower  (with  a copy  to  the  Administrative  Agent)  of a  written  request
therefor,  the  Borrower  shall pay to such  Lender  such  additional  amount or
amounts as will compensate such Lender or such corporation for such reduction.

         (c) A certificate as to any additional amounts payable pursuant to this
Section submitted by any Lender to the Borrower setting out in reasonable detail
the  method of  determination  of such  additional  amounts  (with a copy to the
Administrative  Agent) shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. The
obligations  of  the  Borrower  pursuant  to  this  Section  shall  survive  the
termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts
payable hereunder.

         2.15 Taxes.  (a) All payments made by the Borrower under this Agreement
shall be made free and clear of, and without  deduction or withholding for or on
account of, any present or future income, stamp or other taxes, levies, imposts,
duties,  charges,  fees,  deductions or withholdings,  now or hereafter imposed,
levied, collected, withheld or assessed by any Governmental Authority, excluding
net income  taxes and  franchise  taxes  (imposed  in lieu of net income  taxes)
imposed on any Agent or any Lender as a result of a present or former connection
between  such Agent or such  Lender  and the  jurisdiction  of the  Governmental
Authority  imposing

                                       36

<PAGE>

such tax or any political  subdivision  or taxing  authority  thereof or therein
(other  than any such  connection  arising  solely  from  such  Agent's  or such
Lender's having  executed,  delivered or performed its obligations or received a
payment under, or enforced,  this Agreement or any other Loan Document).  If any
such non-excluded taxes, levies,  imposts,  duties, charges, fees, deductions or
withholdings ("Non-Excluded Taxes") are required to be withheld from any amounts
payable to any Agent or any  Lender  hereunder,  the  amounts so payable to such
Agent or such Lender shall be increased to the extent necessary to yield to such
Agent or such Lender (after payment of all  Non-Excluded  Taxes and Other Taxes)
interest  or any such other  amounts  payable  hereunder  at the rates or in the
amounts specified in this Agreement,  provided, however, that the Borrower shall
not be required to increase any such amounts  payable to any Lender with respect
to any Non-Excluded  Taxes (i) that are attributable to such Lender's failure to
comply with the  requirements  of  paragraph  (d) or (e) of this Section or (ii)
that are United  States  withholding  taxes  imposed on amounts  payable to such
Lender at the time such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement,  except to the
extent  that  such  Lender's  assignor  (if  any) was  entitled,  at the time of
assignment, to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such
Non-Excluded Taxes pursuant to Section 2.15(a).

         (b) In addition, the Borrower shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant
Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

         (c) Whenever any  Non-Excluded  Taxes or Other Taxes are payable by the
Borrower,  as promptly as possible  thereafter  the  Borrower  shall send to the
Administrative  Agent for the account of the  relevant  Agent or Lender,  as the
case may be, a certified copy of an original  official  receipt  received by the
Borrower showing payment thereof.  If the Borrower fails to pay any Non-Excluded
Taxes or Other Taxes when due to the  appropriate  taxing  authority or fails to
remit to the  Administrative  Agent  the  required  receipts  or other  required
documentary  evidence,  the Borrower shall  indemnify the Agents and the Lenders
for any incremental taxes,  interest or penalties that may become payable by any
Agent or any  Lender as a result of any such  failure.  The  agreements  in this
Section 2.15 shall survive the  termination of this Agreement and the payment of
the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

         (d) Each  Lender (or  Transferee)  that is not a citizen or resident of
the United States of America, a corporation, partnership or other entity created
or  organized  in or under  the laws of the  United  States of  America  (or any
jurisdiction  thereof), or any estate or trust that is subject to federal income
taxation  regardless  of the source of its income (a  "Non-U.S.  Lender")  shall
deliver to the  Borrower  and the  Administrative  Agent (and,  in the case of a
Participant,  also to the Lender from which the related participation shall have
been purchased) two copies of either U.S.  Internal Revenue Service Form 1001 or
Form 4224,  or, in the case of a Non-U.S.  Lender  claiming  exemption from U.S.
federal  withholding tax under Section 871(h) or 881(c) of the Code with respect
to payments of  "portfolio  interest" a statement  substantially  in the form of
Exhibit H and a Form W-8,  or any  subsequent  versions  thereof  or  successors
thereto  properly  completed and duly executed by such Non-U.S.  Lender claiming
complete  exemption from, or a reduced rate of, U.S. federal  withholding tax on
all payments by the Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan  Documents.
Such forms shall be delivered by each  Non-U.S.  Lender on or before the date it
becomes a party to this Agreement (or, in the case of any

                                       37

<PAGE>

Participant,  on or  before  the date such  Participant  purchases  the  related
participation).  In addition,  each  Non-U.S.  Lender  shall  deliver such forms
promptly upon the obsolescence or invalidity of any form previously delivered by
such Non-U.S. Lender. Each Non-U.S. Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower at
any time it  determines  that it is no  longer  in a  position  to  provide  any
previously  delivered  certificate  to  the  Borrower  (or  any  other  form  of
certification  adopted  by  the  U.S.  taxing  authorities  for  such  purpose).
Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph,  a Non-U.S.  Lender shall
not be  required  to  deliver  any form  pursuant  to this  paragraph  that such
Non-U.S. Lender is not legally able to deliver.

         (e) A Lender that is  entitled to an  exemption  from or  reduction  of
non-U.S. withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower
is located, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to
payments under this Agreement  shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the
Administrative  Agent),  at the time or times  prescribed by  applicable  law or
reasonably  requested by the  Borrower,  such  properly  completed  and executed
documentation  prescribed by  applicable  law as will permit such payments to be
made without  withholding  or at a reduced  rate,  provided  that such Lender is
legally entitled to complete, execute and deliver such documentation and in such
Lender's reasonable judgment such completion,  execution or submission would not
materially prejudice the legal position of such Lender.

         (f) If the  Administrative  Agent or any  Lender  receives  a refund in
respect of Non-Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes paid by the Borrower,  which in the
good faith  judgment  of such  Lender is  allocable  to such  payment,  it shall
promptly pay such refund,  together  with any other amounts paid by the Borrower
in  connection  with such  refunded  Non-Excluded  Taxes or Other Taxes,  to the
Borrower, net of all out-of-pocket expenses of such Lender incurred in obtaining
such refund, provided, however, that the Borrower agrees to promptly return such
refund to the Administrative Agent or the applicable Lender, as the case may be,
if it receives notice from the  Administrative  Agent or applicable  Lender that
the Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay such refund.

         (g)  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary in this Section,  if the
Internal Revenue Service  determines that a Lender is participating in a conduit
financing  arrangement  as  defined  in  Section  7701(i)  of the  Code  and the
regulations thereunder (a "Conduit Financing  Arrangement"),  then (i) any Taxes
that the Borrower is required to withhold  from payments to such Lender shall be
excluded from the definitions of "Non-Excluded Taxes" and (ii) such Lender shall
indemnify  the  Borrower in full for any and all Taxes for which the Borrower is
held  directly  liable under  Section 1461 of the Code by virtue of such Conduit
Financing Arrangement.  Each Lender represents that it is not participating in a
Conduit Financing Arrangement.

         2.16  Indemnity.  The Borrower  agrees to indemnify  each Lender and to
hold each Lender  harmless from any loss or expense that such Lender may sustain
or incur as a  consequence  of (a) default by the Borrower in making a borrowing
of,  conversion into or continuation of Eurodollar  Loans after the Borrower has
given a notice  requesting  the same in accordance  with the  provisions of this
Agreement,  (b)  default  by the  Borrower  in making any  prepayment  after the
Borrower has given a notice thereof in accordance with the provisions of

                                       38

<PAGE>

this  Agreement or (c) the making of a prepayment  or  conversion  of Eurodollar
Loans  on a day  that is not the last day of an  Interest  Period  with  respect
thereto. Such indemnification may include an amount equal to the excess, if any,
of (i) the amount of interest  that would have  accrued on the amount so prepaid
or converted,  or not so borrowed,  converted or continued,  for the period from
the date of such prepayment or conversion or of such failure to borrow,  convert
or  continue  to the  last day of such  Interest  Period  (or,  in the case of a
failure to borrow,  convert or  continue,  the  Interest  Period that would have
commenced on the date of such  failure) in each case at the  applicable  rate of
interest  for such  Revolving  Credit  Loans  provided  for  herein  (excluding,
however, the Applicable Margin included therein, if any) over (ii) the amount of
interest (as  reasonably  determined  by such Lender) that would have accrued to
such  Lender on such amount by placing  such amount on deposit for a  comparable
period with leading banks in the interbank  eurodollar  market. A certificate as
to any amounts payable pursuant to this Section submitted to the Borrower by any
Lender shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. This covenant shall
survive the  termination  of this  Agreement  and the  payment of the  Revolving
Credit Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

         2.17 Illegality.  Notwithstanding  any other provision  herein,  if the
adoption of or any change in any Requirement of Law or in the  interpretation or
application  thereof  shall make it unlawful  for any Lender to make or maintain
Eurodollar  Loans as contemplated by this Agreement,  (a) the commitment of such
Lender hereunder to make Eurodollar Loans, continue Eurodollar Loans as such and
convert Base Rate Loans to Eurodollar  Loans shall forthwith be canceled and (b)
such Lender's  Revolving Credit Loans then  outstanding as Eurodollar  Loans, if
any, shall be converted  automatically to Base Rate Loans on the respective last
days of the then current  Interest Periods with respect to such Revolving Credit
Loans or within such earlier  period as required by law. If any such  conversion
of a  Eurodollar  Loan  occurs  on a day  which  is not the last day of the then
current  Interest  Period with respect  thereto,  the Borrower shall pay to such
Lender such amounts, if any, as may be required pursuant to Section 2.16.

         2.18  Change of Lending  Office.  Each  Lender  agrees  that,  upon the
occurrence of any event giving rise to the operation of Section 2.14, 2.15(a) or
2.17 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 affected by such event with the
object  of  avoiding  the  consequences  of  such  event;  provided,  that  such
designation  is made on terms that, in the sole  judgment of such Lender,  cause
such Lender and its lending office(s) to suffer no economic, legal or regulatory
disadvantage,  and provided,  further, that nothing in this Section shall affect
or postpone any of the  obligations  of the Borrower or the rights of any Lender
pursuant to Section 2.14, 2.15(a) or 2.17.

         2.19 Substitution of Lenders. Upon the receipt by the Borrower from any
Lender (an "Affected  Lender") of a claim under Section 2.14,  2.15 or 2.17, the
Borrower  may:  (a) request one more of the other  Lenders to acquire and assume
all or part of such  Affected  Lender's  Loans,  Reimbursement  Obligations  and
Revolving Credit Commitment;  or (b) replace such Affected Lender by designating
another Lender or a financial  institution that is willing to acquire such Loans
and  Reimbursement  Obligations  and assume such  Revolving  Credit  Commitment;
provided that (i) such  replacement  does not conflict with any  Requirement  of
Law, (ii) no Event

                                       39

<PAGE>

of  Default  shall  have  occurred  and  be  continuing  at  the  time  of  such
replacement,  (iii)  the  Borrower  shall  repay  (or  the  replacement  bank or
institution  shall purchase,  at par) all Loans and  Reimbursement  Obligations,
accrued  interest and other amounts  owing to such replaced  Lender prior to the
date of  replacement,  (iv) the Borrower shall be liable to such replaced Lender
under Section 2.16 if any Eurodollar Loan owing to such replaced Lender shall be
prepaid  (or  purchased)  other  than on the  last  day of the  Interest  Period
relating  thereto,  (v) the replacement  bank or  institution,  if not already a
Lender, shall be reasonably  satisfactory to the Administrative  Agent, (vi) the
replaced  Lender shall be obligated to make such  replacement in accordance with
the  provisions of this Section 9.6 (provided  that the Borrower or  replacement
Lender shall be obligated to pay the  registration and processing fee) and (vii)
the Borrower  shall pay all  additional  amounts (if any)  required  pursuant to
Section 2.14,  2.15 or 2.17,  as the case may be, to the extent such  additional
amounts were incurred on or prior to the consummation of such replacement.

         2.20 L/C  Commitment.  (a) Subject to the terms and conditions  hereof,
each Issuing  Lender,  in reliance on the  agreements  of the other  Lenders set
forth in Section  2.23(a),  agrees to issue  letters of credit  (the  letters of
credit issued on and after the Closing Date,  together with the Existing Letters
of Credit and the  Existing  Guaranteed  Letters of  Credit,  collectively,  the
"Letters of Credit")  for the account of the Borrower on any Business Day during
the Revolving Credit Commitment Period in such form as may be approved from time
to time by such Issuing  Lender;  provided that no Issuing Lender shall have any
obligation  to issue any  Letter  of  Credit  if,  after  giving  effect to such
issuance,  (i) the L/C  Obligations  would exceed the L/C Commitment or (ii) the
aggregate  amount of the Available  Revolving Credit  Commitments  would be less
than zero.  Each Letter of Credit shall (i) be  denominated  in Dollars and (ii)
expire no later  than the  earlier of (x) the first  anniversary  of its date of
issuance  and (y) the date which is five  Business  Days prior to the  Revolving
Credit Termination Date, provided that any Letter of Credit with a one-year term
may provide for the renewal thereof for additional one-year periods (which shall
in no event extend beyond the date referred to in clause (y) above).

         (b) No  Issuing  Lender  shall at any time be  obligated  to issue  any
Letter of Credit  hereunder if such issuance  would conflict with, or cause such
Issuing  Lender or any L/C  Participant  to exceed  any limits  imposed  by, any
applicable Requirement of Law.

         2.21 Procedure for Issuance of Letter of Credit.  The Borrower may from
time to time  request  that an  Issuing  Lender  issue a  Letter  of  Credit  by
delivering to such Issuing Lender at its address for notices specified herein an
Application therefor,  completed to the reasonable  satisfaction of such Issuing
Lender, and such other certificates,  documents and other papers and information
as such Issuing Lender may reasonably request.  Upon receipt of any Application,
an Issuing Lender will process such Application and the certificates,  documents
and other  papers and  information  delivered to it in  connection  therewith in
accordance with its customary  procedures and shall promptly issue the Letter of
Credit  requested  thereby (but in no event shall any Issuing Lender be required
to issue any Letter of Credit earlier than three Business Days after its receipt
of the Application therefor and all such other certificates, documents and other
papers and information  relating thereto) by issuing the original of such Letter
of Credit to the  beneficiary  thereof or as otherwise  may be agreed to by such
Issuing Lender and the Borrower. Promptly

                                       40

<PAGE>

after issuance by an Issuing  Lender of a Letter of Credit,  such Issuing Lender
shall  furnish a copy of such  Letter of Credit to the  Borrower.  Each  Issuing
Lender shall promptly furnish to the  Administrative  Agent, which shall in turn
promptly furnish to the Lenders, notice of the issuance of each Letter of Credit
issued by it (including the amount thereof).

         2.22 Fees and Other  Charges.  (a) The  Borrower  will pay a fee on the
aggregate  drawable amount of all  outstanding  Letters of Credit at a per annum
rate equal to the  Applicable  Margin then in effect with  respect to  Revolving
Credit Loans that are  Eurodollar  Loans,  shared  ratably among the Lenders and
payable  quarterly  in arrears on each L/C Fee Payment  Date after the  issuance
date.  In addition,  the Borrower  shall pay to each Issuing  Lender for its own
account a  fronting  fee on the  aggregate  drawable  amount of all  outstanding
Letters of Credit  issued by it in an amount to be agreed upon from time to time
between such Issuing  Lender and the Borrower,  payable  quarterly in arrears on
each L/C Fee Payment Date after the Issuance Date.

         (b) In  addition  to the  foregoing  fees,  the  Borrower  shall pay or
reimburse each Issuing  Lender for such normal and customary  costs and expenses
as are  incurred  or charged by such  Issuing  Lender in  issuing,  negotiating,
effecting  payment  under,  amending or  otherwise  administering  any Letter of
Credit.

         2.23 L/C Participations.  (a) Each Issuing Lender irrevocably agrees to
grant and hereby  grants to each L/C  Participant,  and, to induce each  Issuing
Lender to issue Letters of Credit  hereunder,  each L/C Participant  irrevocably
agrees to accept and purchase and hereby accepts and purchases from each Issuing
Lender,  on  the  terms  and  conditions   hereinafter   stated,  for  such  L/C
Participant's  own  account  and risk an  undivided  interest  equal to such L/C
Participant's  Revolving Credit Percentage in each Issuing Lender's  obligations
and rights under and in respect of each Letter of Credit  issued by such Issuing
Lender  hereunder  and the  amount of each  draft  paid by such  Issuing  Lender
thereunder.  Each L/C Participant  unconditionally  and irrevocably  agrees with
each Issuing  Lender that, if a draft is paid under any Letter of Credit by such
Issuing  Lender for which such Issuing  Lender is not  reimbursed in full by the
Borrower in accordance  with the terms of this  Agreement,  such L/C Participant
shall pay to such Issuing  Lender upon demand at such Issuing  Lender's  address
for notices specified herein an amount equal to such L/C Participant's Revolving
Credit Percentage of the amount of such draft, or any part thereof,  that is not
so reimbursed.

         (b) If any  amount  required  to be paid by any L/C  Participant  to an
Issuing  Lender  pursuant  to Section  2.23(a)  in  respect of any  unreimbursed
portion of any payment made by such Issuing Lender under any Letter of Credit is
paid to such  Issuing  Lender  within  three  Business  Days after the date such
payment is due, such L/C Participant  shall pay to such Issuing Lender on demand
an amount equal to the product of (i) such amount,  times (ii) the daily average
Federal Funds  Effective Rate during the period from and including the date such
payment is required to the date on which such payment is  immediately  available
to such Issuing  Lender,  times (iii) a fraction  the  numerator of which is the
number of days that elapse  during such period and the  denominator  of which is
360. If any such amount required to be paid by any L/C  Participant  pursuant to
Section  2.23(a)  is not  made  available  to such  Issuing  Lender  by such L/C
Participant  within three Business Days after the date such payment is due, such
Issuing Lender shall be

                                       41

<PAGE>

entitled  to recover  from such L/C  Participant,  on demand,  such  amount with
interest thereon  calculated from such due date at the rate per annum applicable
to Base Rate Loans. A certificate  of such Issuing  Lender  submitted to any L/C
Participant  with respect to any such amounts  owing under this Section shall be
conclusive in the absence of manifest error.

         (c)  Whenever,  at any time  after an Issuing  Lender has made  payment
under any Letter of Credit and has  received  from any L/C  Participant  its pro
rata share of such  payment in  accordance  with Section  2.23(a),  such Issuing
Lender receives any payment  related to such Letter of Credit (whether  directly
from the Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of collateral applied thereto
by such Issuing  Lender),  or any payment of interest on account  thereof,  such
Issuing  Lender  will  distribute  to such L/C  Participant  its pro rata  share
thereof; provided,  however, that in the event that any such payment received by
such Issuing  Lender  shall be required to be returned by such  Issuing  Lender,
such L/C  Participant  shall return to such Issuing  Lender the portion  thereof
previously distributed by such Issuing Lender to it.

         (d) Each Lender's obligation to purchase,  pursuant to Section 2.23(a),
such Lender's  Revolving Credit Percentage in each Issuing Lender's  obligations
and rights under and in respect of each Letter of Credit  issued by such Issuing
Lender hereunder shall be absolute and  unconditional  and shall not be affected
by  any   circumstance,   including,   without   limitation,   (i)  any  setoff,
counterclaim,  recoupment,  defense  or other  right  which  such  Lender or the
Borrower may have against such Issuing Lender,  the Borrower or any other Person
for any reason whatsoever; (ii) the occurrence or continuance of a Default or an
Event of Default or the failure to satisfy any of the other conditions specified
in Section 4; (iii) any adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise)
of the Borrower; (iv) any breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by
the  Borrower,  any  other  Loan  Party or any  other  Lender;  or (v) any other
circumstance,  happening or event  whatsoever,  whether or not similar to any of
the foregoing.

         2.24 Reimbursement  Obligation of the Borrower.  The Borrower agrees to
reimburse each Issuing Lender on each date on which such Issuing Lender notifies
the  Borrower  of the date and amount of a draft  presented  under any Letter of
Credit and paid by such Issuing  Lender for the amount of (a) such draft so paid
and (b) any taxes,  fees,  charges or other costs or  expenses  incurred by such
Issuing  Lender in  connection  with such payment (the amounts  described in the
foregoing  clauses  (a) and (b) in respect  of any  drawing,  collectively,  the
"Payment Amount"). Each such payment shall be made to such Issuing Lender at its
address for notices  specified  herein in lawful  money of the United  States of
America and in immediately  available  funds.  Interest shall be payable on each
Payment Amount from the date of the applicable  drawing until payment in full at
the rate set forth in (i) until the second  Business Day  following  the date of
the applicable  drawing,  Section 2.10(b) and (ii) thereafter,  Section 2.10(c).
Each  drawing  under any  Letter of Credit  shall  (unless  an event of the type
described  in clause (i) or (ii) of Section  7(f)  shall  have  occurred  and be
continuing with respect to the Borrower,  in which case the procedures specified
in Section  2.23 for  funding by L/C  Participants  shall  apply)  constitute  a
request by the Borrower to the Administrative  Agent for a borrowing pursuant to
Section 2.2 of Base Rate Loans in the amount of such drawing. The Borrowing Date
with respect to such  borrowing  shall be the first date on which a borrowing of
Revolving Credit Loans

                                       42

<PAGE>

could be made, pursuant to Section 2.2, if the Administrative Agent had received
a notice of such  borrowing  at the time of such  drawing  under such  Letter of
Credit.

         2.25 Obligations  Absolute.  The Borrower's  obligations under Sections
2.20  through  2.26  shall  be  absolute  and  unconditional  under  any and all
circumstances and irrespective of any setoff, counterclaim or defense to payment
that the  Borrower  may have or have had  against any  Issuing  Lender,  any L/C
Participant,  any  beneficiary  of a Letter of Credit or any other  Person.  The
Borrower also agrees that each Issuing Lender and the L/C Participant  shall not
be responsible for, and the Borrower's  Reimbursement  Obligations under Section
2.24 shall not be affected by, among other things,  the validity or  genuineness
of documents or of any endorsements thereon, even though such documents shall in
fact prove to be invalid,  fraudulent or forged, or any dispute between or among
the Borrower and any  beneficiary  of any Letter of Credit or any other party to
which such Letter of Credit may be transferred  or any claims  whatsoever of the
Borrower  against  any  beneficiary  of  such  Letter  of  Credit  or  any  such
transferee.  No Issuing Lender or L/C Participant shall be liable for any error,
omission,  interruption  or delay in  transmission,  dispatch or delivery of any
message or advice, however transmitted, in connection with any Letter of Credit,
except for errors or omissions found by a final and nonappealable  decision of a
court of competent  jurisdiction  to have resulted from the gross  negligence or
willful  misconduct of such Issuing Lender.  The Borrower agrees that any action
taken or omitted by an Issuing Lender under or in connection  with any Letter of
Credit issued by it or the related  drafts or documents,  if done in the absence
of gross  negligence or willful  misconduct and in accordance with the standards
or care specified in the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of New York, shall
be binding on the Borrower and shall not result in any liability of such Issuing
Lender or any L/C Participant to the Borrower.

         2.26 Letter of Credit  Payments.  If any draft shall be  presented  for
payment under any Letter of Credit,  the relevant  Issuing Lender shall promptly
notify the Borrower of the date and amount thereof.  The  responsibility  of the
relevant  Issuing Lender to the Borrower in connection  with any draft presented
for payment under any Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing  Lender shall,  in
addition  to any payment  obligation  expressly  provided  for in such Letter of
Credit,  be limited to  determining  that the documents  (including  each draft)
delivered  under such Letter of Credit in connection  with such  presentment are
substantially in conformity with such Letter of Credit.

         2.27 Applications.  To the extent that any provision of any Application
related to any Letter of Credit is inconsistent  with the provisions of Sections
2.20 through  2.26,  the  provisions  of Sections 2.20 through 2.26 shall apply;
provided,  however,  that any term,  condition or  provision of any  Application
which is in addition  to, or the  subject  matter of which is not in, part of or
covered by, the provisions of Sections 2.20 through 2.26 shall not be considered
as being or deemed to be in conflict with or inconsistent with the provisions of
Sections 2.20 through 2.26.

                                       43

<PAGE>

         2.28 Existing  Guaranteed  Letters of Credit.  For purposes of Sections
2.20 through 2.26, the Existing  Guaranteed Letters of Credit shall be deemed to
be Letters of Credit  issued by Heller as Issuing  Lender,  and payments made by
Heller in respect of the L/C  Guarantee  shall be deemed to be payments  made by
Heller pursuant to any draft presented under such Existing Guaranteed Letters of
Credit.


                    SECTION 3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         To induce the Agents and the Lenders to enter into this  Agreement  and
to make the Loans and to issue or participate in Letters of Credit, Holdings and
the Borrower  hereby  jointly and severally  represent and warrant to each Agent
and each Lender that:

         3.1  Financial  Condition.  (a) The  unaudited  pro forma  consolidated
balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at January 2,
1999  (including the notes thereto) (the "Pro Forma Balance  Sheet"),  copies of
which have  heretofore  been furnished to each Lender,  has been prepared giving
effect (as if such events had occurred on such date) to (i) the  consummation of
the Acquisition,  (ii) the Loans to be made hereunder,  if any, and the loans to
be made under the Term Loan Credit Agreement on the Closing Date, and the use of
proceeds  thereof and (iii) the payment of fees and expenses in connection  with
the  foregoing.  The Pro Forma Balance Sheet has been prepared based on the best
information  available to the Borrower as of the date of delivery  thereof,  and
presents  fairly  on a pro forma  basis  the  estimated  financial  position  of
Borrower and its consolidated  Subsidiaries as at January 2, 1999, assuming that
the events  specified in the  preceding  sentence had actually  occurred at such
date.

         (b) The  audited  consolidated  balance  sheets of the  Borrower  as at
December  28,  1996,  January  3, 1998 and  January  2,  1999,  and the  related
consolidated  statements  of income and of cash flows for the fiscal years ended
on such dates, reported on by and accompanied by an unqualified report from KPMG
LLP, present fairly the consolidated  financial  condition of the Borrower as at
such date, and the  consolidated  results of its operations and its consolidated
cash  flows  for  the  respective   fiscal  years  then  ended.   The  unaudited
consolidated  balance sheet of Holdings as at December 31, 1998 presents  fairly
the  consolidated  financial  condition  of Holdings  as at such date.  All such
financial  statements,  including the related schedules and notes thereto,  have
been  prepared in  accordance  with GAAP  applied  consistently  throughout  the
periods involved (except as approved by the  aforementioned  firm of accountants
and disclosed therein).  Holdings, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries do not have
any material Guarantee  Obligations,  contingent liabilities and liabilities for
taxes,  or any  long-term  leases or unusual  forward or long-term  commitments,
including,  without  limitation,  any interest rate or foreign  currency swap or
exchange transaction or other obligation in respect of derivatives, that are not
reflected in the most recent financial statements referred to in this paragraph.
During the period from  January 2, 1999 to and  including  the date hereof there
has been no  Disposition by the Borrower of any material part of its business or
Property.

                                       44

<PAGE>


         (c) The audited  consolidated  balance sheets of the Acquired Assets as
at September 30, 1997 and September 30, 1998, and the consolidated statements of
income  and of cash  flows  for the  fiscal  years  ended  September  30,  1996,
September 30, 1997 and September 30, 1998,  reported on by and accompanied by an
unqualified  report from KPMG LLP,  present  fairly the  consolidated  financial
condition of the Acquired Assets as at such date, and the  consolidated  results
of their operations and their  consolidated cash flows for the respective fiscal
years then ended.  The  unaudited  consolidated  balance  sheets of the Acquired
Assets as at January 3, 1998 and  January 2,  1999,  and the  related  unaudited
consolidated  statements  of income and cash flows for the  three-month  periods
ended on such dates, present fairly the consolidated  financial condition of the
Acquired  Assets  as at  such  date,  and  the  consolidated  results  of  their
operations and their  consolidated  cash flows for the three-month  periods then
ended (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments).

         3.2 No Change.  Since January 2, 1999 there has been no  development or
event that has had or could  reasonably  be expected to have a Material  Adverse
Effect.  Since  September 30, 1998,  there has been no development or event that
has had or could be reasonably be expected to have a material  adverse effect on
the Acquired Assets.

         3.3 Corporate  Existence;  Compliance  with Law. Each of Holdings,  the
Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  (a) is duly organized,  validly  existing and in
good standing under the laws of the  jurisdiction of its  organization,  (b) has
the corporate or business trust power and authority, and the legal right, to own
and operate  its  Property,  to lease the  Property it operates as lessee and to
conduct the business in which it is currently engaged,  (c) is duly qualified as
a foreign  corporation  or business trust and in good standing under the laws of
each  jurisdiction  where its  ownership,  lease or operation of Property or the
conduct of its business  requires  such  qualification  and (d) is in compliance
with  all  Requirements  of Law  except,  in the  case of each of the  foregoing
clauses (c) and (d), to the extent  that the failure to comply  therewith  could
not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         3.4 Corporate Power; Authorization;  Enforceable Obligations. Each Loan
Party has the  corporate or business  trust power and  authority,  and the legal
right,  to make,  deliver and perform the Loan  Documents to which it is a party
and,  in the case of the  Borrower,  to borrow and obtain  other  extensions  of
credit  hereunder.  Each Loan Party has taken all necessary  corporate action to
authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which
it is a party and, in the case of the Borrower,  to authorize the borrowings and
other  extensions of credit on the terms and  conditions of this  Agreement.  No
consent  or  authorization  of,  filing  with,  notice  to or other act by or in
respect  of, any  Governmental  Authority  or any other  Person is  required  in
connection  with the  Acquisition  and the  borrowings  and other  extensions of
credit  hereunder  or with the  execution,  delivery,  performance,  validity or
enforceability of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents,  except (i)
consents,  authorizations,  filings and notices described in Schedule 3.4, which
consents, authorizations, filings and notices have been obtained or made and are
in full force and effect, (ii) the filings referred to in Section 3.19 and (iii)
consents,  notices  and filings  which the  failure to make or obtain  could not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each Loan Document has
been duly  executed and  delivered  on behalf of each Loan Party party  thereto.
This Agreement constitutes, and each other

                                       45

<PAGE>

Loan  Document  upon  execution  will  constitute,  a legal,  valid and  binding
obligation of each Loan Party party thereto,  enforceable against each such Loan
Party in accordance with its terms,  except as enforceability  may be limited by
applicable bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,  moratorium or similar laws
affecting  the  enforcement  of  creditors'  rights  generally  and  by  general
equitable  principles (whether enforcement is sought by proceedings in equity or
at law).

         3.5 No Legal Bar.  The  execution,  delivery  and  performance  of this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents,  the issuance of Letters of Credit,  the
borrowings  hereunder  and the use of the proceeds  thereof will not violate any
Requirement of Law or any  Contractual  Obligation of Holdings,  the Borrower or
any of its  Subsidiaries  and will not result in, or  require,  the  creation or
imposition  of any  Lien  on any of  their  respective  properties  or  revenues
pursuant to any  Requirement of Law or any such  Contractual  Obligation  (other
than the Liens  created by the Security  Documents).  No  Requirement  of Law or
Contractual  Obligation  applicable  to the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries
could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         3.6 No Material Litigation. No litigation,  investigation or proceeding
of or before any  arbitrator  or  Governmental  Authority  is pending or, to the
knowledge of Holdings or the Borrower,  threatened by or against  Holdings,  the
Borrower  or  any  of its  Subsidiaries  or  against  any  of  their  respective
properties  or revenues (a) with respect to any of the Loan  Documents or any of
the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or (b) that could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         3.7  No  Default.  Neither  Holdings,  the  Borrower  nor  any  of  its
Subsidiaries  is in  default  under or with  respect  to any of its  Contractual
Obligations in any respect that could  reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect. No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

         3.8 Ownership of Property;  Liens.  Each of Holdings,  the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries  has title in fee simple to, or a valid leasehold  interest in,
all its real  property,  subject  only to Liens and other  matters  permitted by
Section 6.3, and good title to, or a valid leasehold  interest in, all its other
Property,  and none of such  Property is subject to any Lien except as permitted
by Section 6.3.

         3.9  Intellectual  Property.  To the  knowledge  of  Holdings  and  the
Borrower,  Holdings,  the  Borrower  and each of its  Subsidiaries  owns,  or is
licensed to use,  all  Intellectual  Property  necessary  and  material  for the
conduct of its business as currently conducted. To the knowledge of Holdings and
the Borrower,  except as indicated on Schedule  3.9, no material  claim has been
asserted and is pending by any Person alleging that the use of any  Intellectual
Property  by  Holdings,  the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  infringes  on the
intellectual  property  rights of any Person in any  material  respect  nor does
Holdings or the Borrower know of any valid basis for any such claim.

         3.10 Taxes. Each of Holdings, the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries
has  filed or  caused to be filed all  Federal,  state  and other  material  tax
returns that are required to be filed

                                       46

<PAGE>

and has paid all taxes  shown to be due and  payable  on said  returns or on any
assessments made against it or any of its Property and all other taxes,  fees or
other charges imposed on it or any of its Property by any Governmental Authority
(other than any the amount or validity of which are currently being contested in
good faith by  appropriate  proceedings  and with  respect to which  reserves in
conformity  with GAAP have been provided on the books of Holdings,  the Borrower
or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be); and as of the Closing Date no tax Lien
has been filed, and, to the knowledge of Holdings and the Borrower,  no claim is
being asserted, with respect to any such tax, fee or other charge.

         3.11 Federal  Regulations.  No part of the proceeds of any Loans and no
Letters of Credit will be used for "purchasing" or "carrying" any "margin stock"
within the respective meanings of each of the quoted terms under Regulation U as
now and from time to time  hereafter in effect or for any purpose that  violates
the provisions of the  Regulations  of the Board.  If requested by any Lender or
the Administrative  Agent, the Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent
and each Lender a  statement  to the  foregoing  effect in  conformity  with the
requirements of FR Form G-3 or FR Form U-1 referred to in Regulation U.

         3.12  Labor  Matters.  There are no  strikes  or other  labor  disputes
against  Holdings,  the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  pending or, to the
knowledge of Holdings or the Borrower,  threatened that  (individually or in the
aggregate) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Hours
worked by and payment  made to  employees  of  Holdings,  the  Borrower  and its
Subsidiaries  have not been in violation of the Fair Labor  Standards Act or any
other applicable Requirement of Law dealing with such matters that (individually
or in the  aggregate)  could  reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse
Effect. All payments due from Holdings,  the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
on account of employee health and welfare insurance that (individually or in the
aggregate) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect if not
paid have been paid or  accrued as a  liability  on the books of  Holdings,  the
Borrower or the relevant Subsidiary.

         3.13 ERISA.  Neither a  Reportable  Event nor an  "accumulated  funding
deficiency"  (within  the  meaning of Section  412 of the Code or Section 302 of
ERISA) has occurred during the five-year  period prior to the date on which this
representation  is made or deemed made with  respect to any Plan,  and each Plan
has complied in all material  respects with the  applicable  provisions of ERISA
and the Code. No termination of a Single Employer Plan has occurred, and no Lien
in favor of the PBGC or a Plan has arisen,  during such  five-year  period.  The
present value of all accrued  benefits under each Single Employer Plan (based on
those  assumptions  used to fund  such  Plans)  did not,  as of the last  annual
valuation date prior to the date on which this  representation is made or deemed
made,  exceed the value of the  assets of such Plan  allocable  to such  accrued
benefits  by more  than  $1,000,000.  Neither  the  Borrower  nor  any  Commonly
Controlled Entity has at any time contributed to a Multiemployer Plan.

         3.14  Investment  Company Act; Other  Regulations.  No Loan Party is an
"investment  company",  or a company  "controlled"  by an "investment  company",
within the meaning of the  Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended.  No Loan
Party is subject to

                                       47

<PAGE>

regulation  under any  Requirement of Law (other than Regulation X of the Board)
which limits its ability to incur Indebtedness.

         3.15  Subsidiaries.  (a)  The  Subsidiaries  listed  on  Schedule  3.15
constitute  all the  Subsidiaries  of the Borrower at the date hereof.  Schedule
3.15  sets  forth  as  of  the  Closing  Date  the  name  and   jurisdiction  of
incorporation of each Subsidiary and, as to each such Subsidiary, the percentage
of each class of Capital Stock owned by any Loan Party.

         (b) There are no outstanding  subscriptions,  options, warrants, calls,
rights or other  agreements or commitments  (other than stock options granted to
employees or directors and directors'  qualifying shares) of any nature relating
to any Capital Stock of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

         3.16  Use of  Proceeds.  The  proceeds  of the  Loans  shall be used to
finance  working  capital  needs of the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  in the
ordinary course of business, for Permitted Acquisitions and to refinance certain
existing  Indebtedness of the Borrower.  The Letters of Credit shall be used for
the working capital needs of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

         3.17  Environmental  Matters.  Other  than  exceptions  to  any  of the
following  that could not,  individually  and in the  aggregate,  reasonably  be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect:

              (a) the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries:  (i) are, and within the
         period  of  all  applicable   statutes  of  limitation  have  been,  in
         compliance  with  all  applicable  Environmental  Laws;  (ii)  hold all
         Environmental  Permits  (each  of which is in full  force  and  effect)
         required for any of their current operations or for any property owned,
         leased, or otherwise operated by any of them; (iii) are, and within the
         period  of  all  applicable   statutes  of  limitation  have  been,  in
         compliance with all of their Environmental Permits; and (iv) reasonably
         believe  that:  each of  their  Environmental  Permits  will be  timely
         renewed and complied with; any  additional  Environmental  Permits that
         may be required  of any of them will be timely  obtained  and  complied
         with; and compliance with any  Environmental Law that is or is expected
         to  become  applicable  to any of them  will  be  timely  attained  and
         maintained.

              (b)  Materials  of  Environmental  Concern are not present at, on,
         under,  in, or about any real  property now or, to the knowledge of the
         Borrower and its  Subsidiaries,  formerly owned,  leased or operated by
         the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries,  or, to the  knowledge of the
         Borrower  and  its  Subsidiaries,  at any  other  location  (including,
         without  limitation,  any location to which Materials of  Environmental
         Concern  have  been  sent for  re-use or  recycling  or for  treatment,
         storage,  or disposal)  which could  reasonably be expected to (i) give
         rise to liability of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries  under any
         applicable  Environmental  Law or  otherwise  result  in  costs  to the
         Borrower  or  any of its  Subsidiaries,  or  (ii)  interfere  with  the
         Borrower's or any of its Subsidiaries' continued operations.

                                       48

<PAGE>

              (c) There is no judicial,  administrative,  or arbitral proceeding
         (including  any  notice of  violation  or alleged  violation)  under or
         relating to any  Environmental  Law to which the Borrower or any of its
         Subsidiaries  is, or to the  knowledge  of the  Borrower  or any of its
         Subsidiaries  will be,  named as a party  that is  pending  or,  to the
         knowledge of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, threatened.

              (d) Neither the Borrower nor any of its  Subsidiaries has received
         any written  request for  information,  or been  notified  that it is a
         potentially   responsible  party  under  or  relating  to  the  federal
         Comprehensive Environmental Response,  Compensation,  and Liability Act
         or any similar  Environmental  Law, or with respect to any Materials of
         Environmental Concern.

              (e) Neither the Borrower nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has entered
         into or agreed to any consent  decree,  order,  or  settlement or other
         agreement,  or is subject to any  judgment,  decree,  or order or other
         agreement,  in any judicial,  administrative,  arbitral, or other forum
         for dispute resolution,  relating to compliance with or liability under
         any Environmental Law.

              (f) Neither the Borrower nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has assumed
         or  retained,  by  contract,  any  liabilities  of any  kind,  fixed or
         contingent,  known or  unknown,  under  any  Environmental  Law or with
         respect to any Material of Environmental Concern.

         3.18  Accuracy  of  Information,   etc.  No  statement  or  information
contained  in  this  Agreement,   any  other  Loan  Document,  the  Confidential
Information Memorandum or any other document, certificate or statement furnished
to the  Administrative  Agent or the Lenders or any of them,  by or on behalf of
any Loan Party for use in connection  with the  transactions  contemplated by or
pursuant to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, contained as of the date
such  statement,  information,  document or certificate was so furnished (or, in
the  case of the  Confidential  Information  Memorandum,  as of the date of this
Agreement),  any  untrue  statement  of a  material  fact or  omitted to state a
material  fact  necessary in order to make the  statements  contained  herein or
therein not misleading.  The  projections  and pro forma  financial  information
contained in the materials  referenced above are based upon good faith estimates
and  assumptions  believed by management of the Borrower to be reasonable at the
time made, it being recognized by the Lenders that such financial information as
it relates to future events is not to be viewed as fact and that actual  results
during the period or periods  covered by such financial  information  may differ
from the  projected  results set forth therein by a material  amount.  As of the
date hereof,  the  representations  and warranties  contained in the Acquisition
Documentation  are true and correct in all material  respects.  There is no fact
known to any Loan Party that could  reasonably  be  expected  to have a Material
Adverse Effect that has not been expressly  disclosed  herein, in the other Loan
Documents, in the Confidential Information Memorandum or in any other documents,
certificates  and statements  furnished to the Agents and the Lenders for use in
connection  with the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  and by the other  Loan
Documents or pursuant hereto or thereto.

                                      49

<PAGE>

         3.19 Security Documents.  (a) The Guarantee and Collateral Agreement is
effective to create in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the
Lenders,  a legal,  valid and  enforceable  security  interest in the Collateral
described  therein  and  proceeds  thereof.  In the  case of the  Pledged  Stock
described in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, when any stock certificates
representing such Pledged Stock are delivered to the  Administrative  Agent, and
in the case of the other  Collateral  described in the Guarantee and  Collateral
Agreement,  when  financing  statements  in  appropriate  form are  filed in the
offices specified on Schedule 3.19(a)-1,  (which financing  statements have been
duly completed and executed and delivered to the Administrative  Agent) and such
other filings as are  specified on Schedule 3 to the  Guarantee  and  Collateral
Agreement  (all of which  filings have been duly  completed),  the Guarantee and
Collateral  Agreement  shall  constitute a fully perfected Lien on, and security
interest  in,  all  right,  title  and  interest  of the  Loan  Parties  in such
Collateral and the proceeds thereof, as security for the Obligations (as defined
in the Guarantee and Collateral  Agreement),  in each case prior and superior in
right to any other Person (except,  in the case of Collateral other than Pledged
Stock,  Liens  permitted  by Section  6.3).  Schedule  3.19(a)-2  lists each UCC
Financing Statement that (i) names any Loan Party as debtor and (ii) will remain
on file after the Closing  Date.  Schedule  3.19(a)-3  lists each UCC  Financing
Statement that (i) names any Loan Party as debtor and (ii) will be terminated on
or prior to the Closing Date;  and on or prior to the Closing Date, the Borrower
will have delivered to the  Administrative  Agent,  or caused to be filed,  duly
completed UCC termination  statements,  signed by the relevant secured party, in
respect of each such UCC Financing Statement.

         (b)  Each of the  Mortgages  is  effective  to  create  in favor of the
Administrative  Agent,  for the  benefit  of the  Lenders,  a legal,  valid  and
enforceable  Lien on the  Mortgaged  Properties  described  therein and proceeds
thereof,  and when the Mortgages are filed in the offices  specified on Schedule
3.19(b),  each such Mortgage  shall  constitute a fully  perfected  Lien on, and
security  interest in, all right,  title and interest of the Loan Parties in the
Mortgaged  Properties and the proceeds thereof,  as security for the Obligations
(as defined in the relevant Mortgage),  in each case prior and superior in right
to any  other  Person,  subject  only to Liens and other  matters  permitted  by
Section 6.3.

         3.20 Solvency.  The Borrower is, and the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries
on a consolidated  basis are, and after giving effect to the Acquisition and the
incurrence of all  Indebtedness  and  obligations  being  incurred in connection
herewith and therewith will be and will continue to be, Solvent.

         3.21  Senior   Indebtedness.   The   Obligations   constitute   "Senior
Indebtedness"  of the Borrower  under and as defined in the Senior  Subordinated
Note Indenture. The obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under the Guarantee
and Collateral  Agreement  constitute  "Guarantor  Senior  Indebtedness" of such
Subsidiary  Guarantor  under and as  defined  in the  Senior  Subordinated  Note
Indenture.

         3.22 Regulation H. No Mortgage encumbers improvements which are located
in an area  that has been  identified  by the  Secretary  of  Housing  and Urban
Development as an area having special flood hazards and in which flood insurance
has been made available under the

                                       50

<PAGE>

National Flood Insurance Act of 1968,  except for the Mortgage to be recorded in
Cumberland  County,  Maine which encumbers the B&M Baked Bean facility,  a small
portion of the improvements of which lie in an area of special flood hazard.

         3.23 Year 2000 Matters. Any reprogramming required to permit the proper
functioning,  in and  following  the year 2000,  of (i) the computer  systems of
Holdings and the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  and (ii)  equipment  containing
embedded microchips  (including systems and equipment supplied by others or with
which the systems of Holdings and the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  interface)
and the testing of all such systems and equipment,  as so reprogrammed,  will be
completed  by June 30,  1999.  The cost to  Holdings  and the  Borrower  and its
Subsidiaries of such reprogramming and testing and of the reasonably foreseeable
consequences  of year 2000 to Holdings  and the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries
(including, without limitation,  reprogramming errors and the failure of others'
systems or  equipment)  will not  result in a Default,  an Event of Default or a
Material Adverse Effect. Except for such of the reprogramming referred to in the
preceding sentence as may be necessary,  the computer and management information
systems of Holdings,  the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  are and, with ordinary
course upgrading and  maintenance,  will continue for the term of this Agreement
to be,  sufficient to permit  Holdings and the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries to
conduct their business without Material Adverse Effect.


                         SECTION 4. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

         4.1  Conditions to Initial  Extension of Credit.  The agreement of each
Lender to make its initial  extension of credit is subject to the  satisfaction,
prior to or  concurrently  with the  making of any  extensions  of credit on the
Closing Date, of the following conditions precedent:

         (a) Loan Documents.  The  Administrative  Agent shall have received (i)
    this  Agreement,  executed  and  delivered by a duly  authorized  officer of
    Holdings and the  Borrower,  (ii) the Guarantee  and  Collateral  Agreement,
    executed  and  delivered  by a duly  authorized  officer  of  Holdings,  the
    Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor and (iii) a Mortgage covering each of
    the properties  described on Schedule 1.1,  executed and delivered by a duly
    authorized officer of each party thereto.

         (b)  Acquisition,  etc.  The  following  transactions  shall  have been
    consummated, in each case on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to
    the Lenders:

              (i) Borrower  shall have  acquired  the  Acquired  Assets from The
         Pillsbury  Company  for a  purchase  price not  exceeding  $192,000,000
         pursuant to the  Acquisition  Documentation,  and no provision  thereof
         shall have been waived, amended, supplemented or otherwise modified.

              (ii) The Borrower shall have received additional cash equity in an
         amount at least equal to  $35,000,000  from Holdings  (which,  in turn,
         shall have  received  such  amount  from the Sponsor and or its Control
         Investment Affiliates).

                                       51

<PAGE>

         (c) Pro Forma Balance Sheet;  Financial  Statements.  The Lenders shall
    have  received  the Pro Forma  Balance  Sheet and the  financial  statements
    described in Section 3.1, all of which shall be reasonably satisfactory.

         (d) Approvals.  All governmental and third party approvals necessary in
    connection with the Acquisition,  the financing  contemplated hereby and the
    continuing  operations of Holdings,  the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall
    have been  obtained  and be in full  force and effect  (other  than any such
    approvals which, if not obtained, would not have a Material Adverse Effect);
    all applicable  waiting  periods shall have expired without any action being
    taken or threatened by any competent authority which would restrain, prevent
    or otherwise  impose adverse  conditions on the Acquisition or the financing
    thereof  (other  than any such  conditions  which  would not have a Material
    Adverse  Effect);  and  the  Administrative  Agent  shall  have  received  a
    certificate  of  a  Responsible  Officer  to  the  foregoing  effect,  which
    certificate  shall  also  either  (i)  certify  that no such  approvals  are
    required or (ii) have attached to it copies of any such required approvals.

         (e) Related  Agreements.  The Administrative  Agent shall have received
    (in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent), with a copy
    for each Lender,  true and correct  copies,  certified as to authenticity by
    the Borrower,  of the Acquisition Agreement and the Senior Subordinated Note
    Indenture  and such other  documents  or  instruments  as may be  reasonably
    requested by the Syndication Agent, including, without limitation, a copy of
    any debt instrument,  security agreement or other material contract to which
    the Loan Parties may be a party.

         (f) Fees.  The Lenders,  the  Syndication  Agent,  the Arranger and the
    Administrative  Agent shall have received all fees required to be paid,  and
    all expenses for which  invoices have been presented  (including  reasonable
    fees,  disbursements  and other  charges of counsel  to the  Agents),  on or
    before the Closing Date.  All such amounts will be paid with proceeds of the
    Term Loans made on the  Closing  Date and will be  reflected  in the funding
    instructions given by the Borrower to the Administrative  Agent on or before
    the Closing Date.

         (g)  Business  Plan.  The Lenders  shall have  received a  satisfactory
    business plan for fiscal years 1999-2006 and a satisfactory written analysis
    of the business and prospects of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  for the
    period from the Closing Date through the final maturity of the Term Loans.

         (h) Fixed Charge  Coverage Ratio As of the Closing Date, the Borrower's
    Fixed  Charge  Coverage  Ratio (as defined in the Senior  Subordinated  Note
    Indenture,  and  determined  in  accordance  with Section 4.09 of the Senior
    Subordinated  Note Indenture) shall not be less than 2.0 to 1.0. The Lenders
    shall  have  received  a  certificate  from  the  Borrower   containing  all
    information and calculations  necessary for determining  compliance with the
    foregoing requirement.

                                       52

<PAGE>

         (i) Lien  Searches.  The Lenders  shall have  received the results of a
    recent  lien  search  in each  relevant  jurisdiction  with  respect  to the
    Borrower and its Subsidiaries,  and such search shall reveal no liens on any
    of the assets of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries except for liens permitted
    by Section 6.3 or liens to be  discharged  on or prior to the  Closing  Date
    pursuant to documentation satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

         (j) Environmental Matters. The Administrative Agent shall have received
    a written  environmental  assessment regarding the Portland,  Maine facility
    acquired in the  Acquisition,  prepared by Alden  Environmental  Management,
    Inc. in form, scope, and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent,
    together  with a letter from the  environmental  consultant  permitting  the
    Agents  and  the  Lenders  to  rely on the  environmental  assessment  as if
    addressed to and prepared for each of them. The  Administrative  Agent shall
    also have received the environmental assessments listed on Schedule 4.1(j).

         (k) Closing Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a
    certificate of each Loan Party, dated the Closing Date, substantially in the
    form of Exhibit C, with appropriate insertions and attachments.

         (l) Legal Opinions.  The  Administrative  Agent shall have received the
    following executed legal opinions:

              (i) the legal opinion of Dechert,  Price & Rhoads,  counsel to the
         Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries,  substantially  in the form of Exhibit
         F-1;

              (ii) the legal  opinion of David E.  Schmitt,  Vice  President and
         General Counsel of Pillsbury North America, a division of The Pillsbury
         Company, delivered to the Borrower, accompanied by a reliance letter in
         favor of the Lenders; and

              (iii) the legal opinion of local counsel in each of Maine, Vermont
         and  Louisiana  and of such other  special and local  counsel as may be
         required by the Administrative Agent.

    Each such legal  opinion  shall  cover such other  matters  incident  to the
    transactions  contemplated by this Agreement as the Administrative Agent may
    reasonably require.

         (m) Pledged Stock;  Stock Power.  The  Administrative  Agent shall have
    received the  certificates  representing the shares of Capital Stock pledged
    pursuant to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, together with an undated
    stock power for each such certificate executed in blank by a duly authorized
    officer of the pledgor thereof.

         (n) Filings,  Registrations and Recordings.  Each document  (including,
    without  limitation,   any  Uniform  Commercial  Code  financing  statement)
    required by the Security  Documents or under law or reasonably  requested by
    the Administrative Agent to be filed,

                                       53

<PAGE>

    registered  or  recorded  in order to create in favor of the  Administrative
    Agent,  for the benefit of the Lenders,  a perfected  Lien on the Collateral
    described  therein,  prior and superior in right to any other Person  (other
    than with respect to Liens and other matters expressly  permitted by Section
    6.3), shall be in proper form for filing, registration or recordation.

         (o)  Title  Insurance;   Flood  Insurance.  (i)  If  requested  by  the
    Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall have received,  and the
    title insurance  company issuing the policy referred to in clause (ii) below
    (the "Title  Insurance  Company")  shall have received,  maps or plats of an
    as-built  survey of the sites of the Mortgaged  Properties  certified to the
    Administrative   Agent  and  the  Title   Insurance   Company  in  a  manner
    satisfactory to them, dated a date satisfactory to the Administrative  Agent
    and the Title Insurance Company by an independent professional licensed land
    surveyor  satisfactory to the  Administrative  Agent and the Title Insurance
    Company,  which maps or plats and the  surveys on which they are based shall
    be made in accordance with the Minimum Standard Detail Requirements for Land
    Title  Surveys  jointly  established  and adopted by the American Land Title
    Association  and the American  Congress on Surveying  and Mapping in 1992 or
    any  subsequent  standards  jointly  adopted by such  bodies,  and,  without
    limiting the generality of the foregoing,  there shall be surveyed and shown
    on such maps, plats or surveys, to the extent required by the Administrative
    Agent, the following:  (A) the locations on such sites of all the buildings,
    structures  and other  improvements  and the  established  building  setback
    lines;  (B) the lines of streets  abutting the sites and width thereof;  (C)
    all access and other easements  appurtenant to the sites;  (D) all roadways,
    paths, driveways,  easements,  encroachments and overhanging projections and
    similar encumbrances affecting the sites, whether recorded,  apparent from a
    physical inspection of the sites or otherwise known to the surveyor; (E) any
    encroachments  on any  adjoining  property by the  building  structures  and
    improvements on the sites;  (F) if any site is described as being on a filed
    map,  a legend  relating  the  survey  to said map;  and (G) the flood  zone
    designations, if any, in which the Mortgaged Properties are located.

         (ii) The  Administrative  Agent shall have  received in respect of each
    Mortgaged  Property a mortgagee's  title  insurance  policy (or policies) or
    marked up  unconditional  binder for such insurance.  Each such policy shall
    (A) be in an amount satisfactory to the Administrative  Agent; (B) be issued
    at ordinary  rates;  (C) insure that the Mortgage  insured thereby creates a
    valid first Lien on such  Mortgaged  Property  free and clear of all defects
    and encumbrances,  except as disclosed therein;  (D) name the Administrative
    Agent for the benefit of the Lenders as the  insured  thereunder;  (E) be in
    the form of ALTA Loan Policy - 1970  (Amended  10/17/70  and  10/17/84)  (or
    equivalent policies) to the extent the Title Insurance Company is willing to
    issue  the  same,  otherwise  in the  form of ALTA  Loan  Policy  - 1992 (or
    equivalent policies); (F) contain such endorsements and affirmative coverage
    as the  Administrative  Agent may  reasonably  request  and (G) be issued by
    title companies satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (including any such
    title  companies  acting as co-insurers or reinsurers,  at the option of the
    Administrative Agent). The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence

                                       54

<PAGE>

    satisfactory  to it that all  premiums in respect of each such  policy,  all
    charges for mortgage  recording tax, and all related expenses,  if any, have
    been paid.

         (iii) If  requested by the  Administrative  Agent,  the  Administrative
    Agent shall have  received (A) a policy of flood  insurance  that (1) covers
    any parcel of improved real property that is encumbered by any Mortgage, (2)
    is written in an amount not less than the  outstanding  principal  amount of
    the  indebtedness  secured by such Mortgage that is reasonably  allocable to
    such real  property or the maximum  limit of coverage  made  available  with
    respect  to the  particular  type  of  property  under  the  National  Flood
    Insurance  Act of 1968,  whichever  is less,  and (3) has a term  ending not
    later than the maturity of the Indebtedness secured by such Mortgage and (B)
    confirmation  that the Borrower has received the notice required pursuant to
    Section 208(e)(3) of Regulation H of the Board.

         (iv)  The  Administrative  Agent  shall  have  received  a copy  of all
    recorded  documents  referred to, or listed as  exceptions  to title in, the
    title policy or policies  referred to in clause (ii) above and a copy of all
    other material documents affecting the Mortgaged Properties.

         Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  any items  described  in clauses  (i)
    through  (iv) of this  paragraph  (o) that  pertain  to the  Nealson  Street
    Property  and that are not  delivered on the Closing Date shall be delivered
    in accordance with Section 5.11(b).

         (p) Insurance.  The Administrative  Agent shall have received insurance
    certificates satisfying the requirements of Section 5.3 of the Guarantee and
    Collateral Agreement.

         (q) Leverage Ratio. As of the Closing Date, the ratio of the Borrower's
    Consolidated Total Debt to the Borrower's pro forma Consolidated  EBITDA for
    the four  consecutive  fiscal quarters most recently ended (giving pro forma
    effect to the Acquisition as if it had been  consummated on the first day of
    such period,  with such adjustments as would be permissible under Regulation
    S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission) shall not be greater than 5.5
    to  1.0  (subject  to  adjustment  for  changes  in  purchase  price  of the
    Acquisition and projected  increase in working  capital  associated with the
    Acquisition).  The  Lenders  shall  have  received  a  certificate  from the
    Borrower   containing  all  information  and   calculations   necessary  for
    determining compliance with the foregoing requirement.

         (r) Term Loans.  Concurrently with the making of the initial extensions
    of credit  hereunder on the Closing  Date,  the Term Loan Lenders shall make
    available,  and the Borrower shall borrow, the full amount of the Term Loans
    provided for in the Term Loan Agreement.

         4.2  Conditions  to Each  Extension  of Credit.  The  agreement of each
Lender to make any  extension  of credit  requested to be made by it on any date
(including, without

                                       55

<PAGE>

limitation,  its initial  extension of credit) is subject to the satisfaction of
the following conditions precedent:

         (a)  Representations  and Warranties.  Each of the  representations and
    warranties  made by any Loan Party in or pursuant to this  Agreement  or any
    other Loan  Document  shall be true and correct on and as of such date as if
    made on and as of such date.

         (b) No Default.  No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and
    be  continuing  on such date or after  giving  effect  to the  making of the
    extensions of credit requested to be made on such date.

Each  borrowing  by and issuance of a Letter of Credit on behalf of the Borrower
hereunder shall constitute a  representation  and warranty by the Borrower as of
the date of such  extension  of credit  that the  conditions  contained  in this
Section 4.2 have been satisfied.

                        SECTION 5. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

         Holdings and the Borrower  hereby jointly and severally  agree that, so
long as the Revolving Credit  Commitments remain in effect, any Letter of Credit
remains  outstanding  or any Loan or other  amount is owing to any Lender or any
Agent hereunder, each of Holdings and the Borrower shall and shall cause each of
its Subsidiaries to:

         5.1 Financial Statements. Furnish to each Agent and each Lender:

         (a) as soon as available, but in any event within 90 days after the end
    of each fiscal  year of the  Borrower,  a copy of the  audited  consolidated
    balance sheet of the Borrower and its  consolidated  Subsidiaries  as at the
    end of such year and the related audited  consolidated  statements of income
    and of cash flows for such year,  setting forth in each case in  comparative
    form the figures as of the end of the previous  year,  reported on without a
    "going concern" or like qualification or exception, or qualification arising
    out of the  scope  of the  audit,  by  KPMG,  L.L.P.  or  other  independent
    certified public accountants of nationally recognized standing;

         (b) as soon as available, but in any event not later than 45 days after
    the end of each of the first three quarterly  periods of each fiscal year of
    the Borrower,  the unaudited  consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and
    its consolidated  Subsidiaries as at the end of such quarter and the related
    unaudited  consolidated  statements  of  income  and of cash  flows for such
    quarter and the portion of the fiscal year through the end of such  quarter,
    setting forth in each case in comparative  form the figures as of the end of
    and for the  corresponding  period  in the  previous  year,  certified  by a
    Responsible Officer as being fairly stated in all material respects (subject
    to normal year-end audit adjustments); and

         (c) as soon as available, but in any event not later than 45 days after
    the end of each month  occurring  during each  fiscal  year of the  Borrower
    (other than the third,  sixth,  ninth and twelfth such month), the unaudited
    consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower

                                       56

<PAGE>

    and its  Subsidiaries as at the end of such month and the related  unaudited
    consolidated  statements  of income and of cash flows for such month and the
    portion of the fiscal year through the end of such month,  setting  forth in
    each  case in  comparative  form  the  figures  as of the end of and for the
    corresponding  period  in the  previous  year,  certified  by a  Responsible
    Officer as being fairly stated in all material  respects  (subject to normal
    year-end audit adjustments);

all such  financial  statements  to be  complete  and  correct  in all  material
respects and to be prepared in  reasonable  detail and in  accordance  with GAAP
applied  consistently  throughout the periods  reflected  therein and with prior
periods (except as approved by such accountants or officer,  as the case may be,
and disclosed therein).

         5.2  Certificates;  Other  Information.  Furnish to each Agent and each
Lender, or, in the case of clause (h), to the relevant Lender:

         (a) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred
    to in Section  5.1(a),  a certificate of the  independent  certified  public
    accountants  reporting on such financial  statements  stating that in making
    the examination  necessary therefor no knowledge was obtained of any Default
    or Event of Default, except as specified in such certificate;

         (b) concurrently with the delivery of any financial statements pursuant
    to Section 5.1, (i) a certificate of a Responsible  Officer stating that, to
    the best of such  Responsible  Officer's  knowledge,  each Loan Party during
    such  period  has  observed  or  performed  all of its  covenants  and other
    agreements,  and satisfied every condition,  contained in this Agreement and
    the other Loan Documents to which it is a party to be observed, performed or
    satisfied by it, and that such Responsible Officer has obtained no knowledge
    of any Default or Event of Default  except as specified in such  certificate
    and (ii) in the case of  quarterly  or annual  financial  statements,  (x) a
    Compliance Certificate containing all information and calculations necessary
    for determining  compliance by Holdings,  the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries
    with the provisions of this Agreement referred to therein as of the last day
    of the fiscal  quarter or fiscal year of the  Borrower,  as the case may be,
    and (y) to the extent not previously disclosed to the Administrative  Agent,
    a listing of any county or state  within  the United  States  where any Loan
    Party keeps inventory or equipment and of any Intellectual Property acquired
    by any Loan Party since the date of the most recent list delivered  pursuant
    to this  clause (y) (or,  in the case of the first  such list so  delivered,
    since the Closing Date);

         (c) as soon as available,  and in any event no later than 45 days after
    the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a detailed  consolidated budget
    for the following  fiscal year (including a projected  consolidated  balance
    sheet of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  as of the end of the  following
    fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of projected cash flow,
    projected changes in financial position and projected income),  and, as soon
    as available,  significant revisions, if any, of such budget and projections
    with respect to such fiscal year (collectively,  the  "Projections"),  which

                                       57

<PAGE>

    Projections  shall  in  each  case  be  accompanied  by a  certificate  of a
    Responsible  Officer  stating that such  Projections are based on reasonable
    estimates, information and assumptions and that such Responsible Officer has
    no reason to believe that such  Projections  are  incorrect or misleading in
    any material respect;

         (d)  within  45  days  after  the  end of each  fiscal  quarter  of the
    Borrower, a narrative discussion and analysis of the financial condition and
    results of operations of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  for such fiscal
    quarter and for the period from the  beginning  of the then  current  fiscal
    year to the end of such  fiscal  quarter,  as compared to the portion of the
    Projections  covering  such  periods  and to the  comparable  periods of the
    previous year;

         (e) no later than 10 Business Days prior to the effectiveness  thereof,
    copies of substantially final drafts of any proposed amendment,  supplement,
    waiver or other modification with respect to the Acquisition Agreement;

         (f) within five days after the same are sent,  copies of all  financial
    statements and reports that Holdings or the Borrower sends to the holders of
    any class of its debt  securities or public equity  securities  and,  within
    five days after the same are filed,  copies of all financial  statements and
    reports that the Holdings or Borrower may make to, or file with, the SEC;

         (g) as soon as  possible  and in any event  within 5 days of  obtaining
    knowledge thereof: (i) a description of any development, event, or condition
    that,  individually or in the aggregate with other  developments,  events or
    conditions,  could  reasonably  be  expected to result in the payment by the
    Borrower and its Subsidiaries, in the aggregate, of a Material Environmental
    Amount;  and (ii) any notice that any  governmental  authority  may deny any
    application  for an  Environmental  Permit sought by, or revoke or refuse to
    renew any Environmental  Permit held by, the Borrower which could reasonably
    be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

         (h) promptly,  such additional  financial and other  information as any
    Lender may from time to time reasonably request.

         5.3 Payment of Obligations.  Pay,  discharge or otherwise satisfy at or
before  maturity or before they become  delinquent,  as the case may be, all its
material  obligations  of whatever  nature,  except where the amount or validity
thereof is currently  being  contested in good faith by appropriate  proceedings
and reserves in conformity  with GAAP with respect thereto have been provided on
the books of Holdings, the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be.

         5.4 Conduct of Business  and  Maintenance  of  Existence,  etc. (a) (i)
Preserve,  renew and keep in full force and effect its  corporate  existence and
(ii)  take  all  reasonable  action  to  maintain  all  rights,  privileges  and
franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except,
in each case, as otherwise  permitted by Section 6.4 and except,  in the case of

                                       58

<PAGE>

clause (ii) above,  to the extent that failure to do so could not  reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;  and (b) comply with all Contractual
Obligations and  Requirements of Law except to the extent that failure to comply
therewith could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.

         5.5  Maintenance  of  Property;  Insurance.  (a) Keep all  Property and
systems  useful  and  necessary  in its  business  in  good  working  order  and
condition,  ordinary wear and tear  excepted and (b) maintain  with  financially
sound and  reputable  insurance  companies  insurance  on all its Property in at
least such  amounts and against at least such risks (but  including in any event
public liability,  product  liability and business  interruption) as are usually
insured  against in the same general area by companies  engaged in the same or a
similar business.

         5.6 Inspection of Property;  Books and Records;  Discussions.  (a) Keep
proper books of records and account in which full,  true and correct  entries in
conformity  with GAAP and all  Requirements of Law shall be made of all dealings
and  transactions  in relation to its  business  and  activities  and (b) permit
representatives of any Lender upon reasonable notice to visit and inspect any of
its  properties and examine and make abstracts from any of its books and records
at any reasonable  time and as often as may reasonably be desired and to discuss
the  business,  operations,  properties  and  financial  and other  condition of
Holdings,  the  Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  with  officers and  employees of
Holdings,  the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and with its independent  certified
public accountants.

         5.7 Notices.  Promptly give notice to the Administrative Agent and each
Lender of:

         (a) the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default;

         (b)  any  (i)  default  or  event  of  default  under  any  Contractual
    Obligation  of  Holdings,  the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  or (ii)
    litigation,  investigation or proceeding which may exist at any time between
    Holdings,  the  Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries  and any  Governmental
    Authority,  that in either case, if not cured or if adversely determined, as
    the case may be,  could  reasonably  be expected to have a Material  Adverse
    Effect;

         (c) any litigation or proceeding  affecting  Holdings,  the Borrower or
    any of its  Subsidiaries  in which the amount involved is $1,000,000 or more
    and not covered by insurance  or in which  injunctive  or similar  relief is
    sought;

         (d) the following  events,  as soon as possible and in any event within
    30 days  after the  Borrower  knows or has reason to know  thereof:  (i) the
    occurrence  of any  Reportable  Event with respect to any Plan, a failure to
    make any required  contribution to a Plan, the creation of any Lien in favor
    of  the  PBGC  or a  Plan  or  any  withdrawal  from,  or  the  termination,
    Reorganization  or  Insolvency  of,  any  Multiemployer  Plan  or  (ii)  the
    institution  of proceedings or the taking of any other action by the PBGC or
    the Borrower or any Commonly  Controlled  Entity or any  Multiemployer  Plan
    with respect to the

                                       59

<PAGE>

withdrawal from, or the termination,  Reorganization  or Insolvency of, any Plan
that in any case under clause (i) or (ii) may  reasonably  be expected to result
in liability of more than $1,000,000;

         (e)  any  amendment  or  other  modification  of any  of the  documents
    described in Section 6.9; and

         (f) any  development  or  event  that has had or  could  reasonably  be
    expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Each notice  pursuant to this Section shall be  accompanied  by a statement of a
Responsible  Officer setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein
and stating  what action  Holdings,  the  Borrower  or the  relevant  Subsidiary
proposes to take with respect thereto.

         5.8  Environmental  Laws. (a) Comply in all material respects with, and
ensure  compliance in all material  respects by all tenants and  subtenants,  if
any,  with,  all  applicable  Environmental  Laws,  and obtain and comply in all
material respects with and maintain,  and ensure that all tenants and subtenants
obtain  and  comply in all  material  respects  with and  maintain,  any and all
licenses,  approvals,  notifications,   registrations  or  permits  required  by
applicable Environmental Laws.

         (b) Conduct and  complete  all  investigations,  studies,  sampling and
testing,   and  all  remedial,   removal  and  other  actions   required   under
Environmental  Laws and promptly comply in all material respects with all lawful
orders and directives of all Governmental  Authorities  regarding  Environmental
Laws, or contest such orders and directives by appropriate legal means.

         5.9 Interest Rate  Protection.  In the case of the Borrower,  within 60
days after the Closing Date, enter into Hedge Agreements to the extent necessary
to provide that at least 50% of the sum of the aggregate principal amount of the
Term  Loans and of the  Senior  Subordinated  Notes is subject to either a fixed
interest  rate or interest rate  protection  for a period of not less than three
years,  which  Hedge  Agreements  shall  have  terms and  conditions  reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

         5.10  Additional  Collateral,  etc.  (a) With  respect to any  Property
acquired  after the  Closing  Date by the  Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries
(other than (v) any leasehold  interests in real property,  (w) any Intellectual
Property  to the  extent  creation  of a  security  interest  therein  would  be
contractually  prohibited,  (x)  any  Property  described  in  paragraph  (b) or
paragraph  (c) of this  Section,  (y) any Property  subject to a Lien  expressly
permitted  by Section  6.3(g) and (z) Property  acquired by an Excluded  Foreign
Subsidiary)  as to  which  the  Administrative  Agent,  for the  benefit  of the
Lenders, does not have a perfected Lien, promptly (i) execute and deliver to the
Administrative  Agent such amendments to the Guarantee and Collateral  Agreement
or such other documents as the Administrative Agent deems necessary or advisable
to grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a security
interest in such  Property  and (ii) take all actions  necessary or advisable to
grant to the  Administrative  Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a perfected
first priority security interest in such Property (subject to Liens permitted by

                                       60

<PAGE>

Section 6.3),  including without  limitation,  the filing of Uniform  Commercial
Code  financing  statements  in such  jurisdictions  as may be  required  by the
Guarantee  and  Collateral  Agreement  or by law or as may be  requested  by the
Administrative Agent.

         (b) With  respect to any fee  interest  in any real  property  having a
value (together with  improvements  thereof) of at least $250,000 acquired after
the Closing Date by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any such
real  property  owned  by an  Excluded  Foreign  Subsidiary  subject  to a  Lien
expressly permitted by Section 6.3(g)), promptly (i) execute and deliver a first
priority Mortgage in favor of the  Administrative  Agent, for the benefit of the
Lenders,  covering such real property,  (ii) if requested by the  Administrative
Agent,  provide  the  Lenders  with (x) title and  extended  coverage  insurance
covering such real property in an amount at least equal to the purchase price of
such real  estate as well as a current  ALTA  survey  thereof,  together  with a
surveyor's  certificate  and (y) any  consents or  estoppels  reasonably  deemed
necessary or  advisable  by the  Administrative  Agent in  connection  with such
mortgage  or deed  of  trust,  each  of the  foregoing  in  form  and  substance
reasonably  satisfactory to the  Administrative  Agent and (iii) if requested by
the Administrative  Agent,  deliver to the  Administrative  Agent legal opinions
relating to the matters  described  above,  which  opinions shall be in form and
substance,  and from  counsel,  reasonably  satisfactory  to the  Administrative
Agent.

         (c) With respect to any new  Subsidiary of the Borrower  (other than an
Excluded Foreign  Subsidiary) created or acquired after the Closing Date (which,
for the purposes of this paragraph,  shall include any existing  Subsidiary that
ceases to be an  Excluded  Foreign  Subsidiary),  by the  Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries,  promptly (i) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent such
amendments to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement as the Administrative Agent
deems  necessary  or  advisable to grant to the  Administrative  Agent,  for the
benefit of the Lenders,  a perfected  first  priority  security  interest in the
Capital Stock of such new Subsidiary that is owned by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries,   (ii)  deliver  to  the  Administrative  Agent  the  certificates
representing  such Capital Stock,  together with undated stock powers, in blank,
executed  and  delivered  by a duly  authorized  officer of the Borrower or such
Subsidiary,  as the case may be, (iii) cause such new Subsidiary (A) to become a
party to the  Guarantee  and  Collateral  Agreement and (B) to take such actions
reasonably  necessary or advisable to grant to the Administrative  Agent for the
benefit of the  Lenders a  perfected  first  priority  security  interest in the
Collateral  described in the Guarantee and Collateral  Agreement with respect to
such new Subsidiary (subject to Liens and other matters permitted by Section 6.3
and excluding leasehold interests in real property, and Intellectual Property to
the  extent  creation  of a security  interest  therein  would be  contractually
prohibited),  including,  without  limitation,  the filing of Uniform Commercial
Code  financing  statements  in such  jurisdictions  as may be  required  by the
Guarantee  and  Collateral  Agreement  or by law or as may be  requested  by the
Administrative Agent, and (iv) if requested by the Administrative Agent, deliver
to the  Administrative  Agent legal opinions  relating to the matters  described
above,  which  opinions  shall  be in form  and  substance,  and  from  counsel,
reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

         (d) With  respect to any new  Excluded  Foreign  Subsidiary  created or
acquired  after the Closing  Date by the  Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries,
promptly (i) execute and

                                       61

<PAGE>

deliver  to the  Administrative  Agent  such  amendments  to the  Guarantee  and
Collateral Agreement as the Administrative Agent deems necessary or advisable in
order to grant to the  Administrative  Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders,  a
perfected  first  priority  security  interest in the Capital  Stock of such new
Subsidiary  that is owned by the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  (provided
that in no event shall more than 65% of the total  outstanding  Capital Stock of
any such new  Subsidiary  be required  to be so  pledged),  (ii)  deliver to the
Administrative Agent the certificates  representing such Capital Stock, together
with undated stock powers, in blank, executed and delivered by a duly authorized
officer of the  Borrower or such  Subsidiary,  as the case may be, and take such
other action as may be necessary or, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent,
desirable to perfect the Lien of the Administrative  Agent thereon, and (iii) if
requested by the Administrative Agent, deliver to the Administrative Agent legal
opinions  relating to the matters  described  above,  which opinions shall be in
form  and  substance,   and  from  counsel,   reasonably   satisfactory  to  the
Administrative Agent.

         5.11 Further Assurances.  (a) From time to time execute and deliver, or
cause to be executed and delivered, such additional instruments, certificates or
documents, and take all such actions, as the Administrative Agent may reasonably
request, for the purposes of implementing or effectuating the provisions of this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents,  or of more fully perfecting or renewing
the  rights of the  Administrative  Agent and the  Lenders  with  respect to the
Collateral (or with respect to any additions thereto or replacements or proceeds
thereof or with respect to any other  property or assets  hereafter  acquired by
the Borrower or any Subsidiary which may be deemed to be part of the Collateral)
pursuant hereto or thereto. Upon the exercise by the Administrative Agent or any
Lender of any power,  right,  privilege or remedy  pursuant to this Agreement or
the other Loan  Documents  which  requires  any  consent,  approval,  recording,
qualification or authorization of any Governmental Authority,  the Borrower will
execute  and  deliver,  or  will  cause  the  execution  and  delivery  of,  all
applications,  certifications,  instruments  and other documents and papers that
the  Administrative  Agent or such  Lender may be  required  to obtain  from the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries  for such  governmental  consent,  approval,
recording, qualification or authorization.

         (b) Within 30 days after the Closing Date,  the Borrower  shall deliver
to the  Administrative  Agent each item described in clauses (i) through (iv) of
Section 4.1(o) that pertains to the Nealson Street Property.

         (c) Within 15 days after the Closing Date,  the Borrower  shall deliver
to the  Administrative  Agent an  executed  legal  opinion  of local  counsel in
Maryland,  which  opinion  shall be in form and  substance  satisfactory  to the
Administrative Agent.

                                       62

<PAGE>

                          SECTION 6. NEGATIVE COVENANTS

         Holdings and the Borrower  hereby jointly and severally  agree that, so
long as the Revolving Credit  Commitments remain in effect, any Letter of Credit
remains  outstanding  or any Loan or other  amount is owing to any Lender or any
Agent  hereunder,  the  Borrower  shall  not,  and shall not  permit  any of its
Subsidiaries to, and, in the case of Section 6.16,  Holdings shall not, directly
or indirectly:

         6.1 Financial Condition Covenants.

         (a) Consolidated Leverage Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Leverage Ratio
as at the last day of any  period of four  consecutive  fiscal  quarters  of the
Borrower  ending with any fiscal quarter set forth below to exceed the ratio set
forth below opposite such fiscal quarter:

                                                            Consolidated
                      Fiscal Quarter                       Leverage Ratio
                      --------------                       --------------

                      FQ2  1999                              6.25
                      FQ3  1999                              6.25
                      FQ4  1999                              6.25
                      FQ1  2000                              6.25
                      FQ2  2000                              6.00
                      FQ3  2000                              6.00
                      FQ4  2000                              5.75
                      FQ1  2001                              5.75
                      FQ2  2001                              5.50
                      FQ3  2001                              5.50
                      FQ4  2001                              5.25
                      FQ1  2002                              5.00
                      FQ2  2002                              5.00
                      FQ3  2002                              5.00
                      FQ4  2002                              4.75
                      FQ1  2003                              4.75
                      FQ2  2003                              4.50
                      FQ3  2003                              4.50
                      FQ4  2003                              4.25
                      FQ1  2004                              4.25
                      FQ2  2004                              4.00
                      FQ3  2004                              4.00
                      FQ4  2004                              4.00


         (b) Consolidated  Senior Leverage Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Senior
Leverage  Ratio as at the  last day of any  period  of four  consecutive  fiscal
quarters of the Borrower

                                       63

<PAGE>

ending  with any fiscal  quarter  set forth  below to exceed the ratio set forth
below opposite such fiscal quarter:

                                                        Consolidated Leverage
                      Fiscal Quarter                    Senior Ratio
                      --------------                    ---------------------

                      FQ2  1999                           4.00
                      FQ3  1999                           4.00
                      FQ4  1999                           4.00
                      FQ1  2000                           4.00
                      FQ2  2000                           3.75
                      FQ3  2000                           3.75
                      FQ4  2000                           3.50
                      FQ1  2001                           3.50
                      FQ2  2001                           3.50
                      FQ3  2001                           3.25
                      FQ4  2001                           3.25
                      FQ1  2002                           3.00
                      FQ2  2002                           3.00
                      FQ3  2002                           2.75
                      FQ4  2002                           2.75
                      FQ1  2003                           2.75
                      FQ2  2003                           2.50
                      FQ3  2003                           2.50
                      FQ4  2003                           2.50
                      FQ1  2004                           2.50
                      FQ2  2004                           2.50
                      FQ3  2004                           2.50
                      FQ4  2004                           2.50

         (c)  Consolidated  Interest  Coverage  Ratio.  Permit the  Consolidated
Interest  Coverage Ratio for any period of four  consecutive  fiscal quarters of
the Borrower  ending with any fiscal quarter set forth below to be less than the
ratio set forth below opposite such fiscal quarter:

                                                       Consolidated Interest
                     Fiscal Quarter                    Coverage Ratio
                     --------------                    ---------------------

                      FQ2  1999                          1.75
                      FQ3  1999                          1.75
                      FQ4  1999                          1.75
                      FQ1  2000                          1.75
                      FQ2  2000                          1.75
                      FQ3  2000                          1.75
                      FQ4  2000                          1.75

                                       64

<PAGE>

                      FQ1  2001                          2.00
                      FQ2  2001                          2.00
                      FQ3  2001                          2.00
                      FQ4  2001                          2.00
                      FQ1  2002                          2.00
                      FQ2  2002                          2.25
                      FQ3  2002                          2.25
                      FQ4  2002                          2.25
                      FQ1  2003                          2.25
                      FQ2  2003                          2.25
                      FQ3  2003                          2.50
                      FQ4  2003                          2.50
                      FQ1  2004                          2.50
                      FQ2  2004                          2.50
                      FQ3  2004                          2.50
                      FQ4  2004                          2.50

; provided,  that for the purposes of determining  the ratio described above for
the fiscal quarters of the Borrower ending June 30, 1999, September 30, 1999 and
December 31, 1999,  Consolidated  Interest Expense for the relevant period shall
be deemed to equal  Consolidated  Interest Expense for such fiscal quarter (and,
in the case of the latter two such determinations,  each previous fiscal quarter
commencing after the Closing Date) multiplied by 4, 2 and 4/3, respectively.

         (d) Consolidated  Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.  Permit the Consolidated
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for any period of four  consecutive  fiscal quarters
of the Borrower  ending with any fiscal  quarter set forth below to be less than
the ratio set forth below opposite such fiscal quarter:

                                                       Consolidated Fixed
                     Fiscal Quarter                   Charge Coverage Ratio
                     --------------                   ---------------------

                      FQ2  1999                        1.00
                      FQ3  1999                        1.00
                      FQ4  1999                        1.00
                      FQ1  2000                        1.00
                      FQ2  2000                        1.00
                      FQ3  2000                        1.00
                      FQ4  2000                        1.00
                      FQ1  2001                        1.00
                      FQ2  2001                        1.00
                      FQ3  2001                        1.00
                      FQ4  2001                        1.00
                      FQ1  2002                        1.00
                      FQ2  2002                        1.00
                      FQ3  2002                        1.00

                                       65

<PAGE>

                      FQ4  2002                        1.00
                      FQ1  2003                        1.00
                      FQ2  2003                        1.00
                      FQ3  2003                        1.00
                      FQ4  2003                        1.00
                      FQ1  2004                        1.00
                      FQ2  2004                        1.00
                      FQ3  2004                        1.00
                      FQ4  2004                        1.00

; provided,  that for the purposes of determining  the ratio described above for
the fiscal quarters of the Borrower ending June 30, 1999, September 30, 1999 and
December 31, 1999,  Consolidated  Fixed Charges for the relevant period shall be
deemed to equal  Consolidated Fixed Charges for such fiscal quarter (and, in the
case of the  latter  two  such  determinations,  each  previous  fiscal  quarter
commencing after the Closing Date) multiplied by 4, 2 and 4/3, respectively.

         6.2  Limitation on  Indebtedness.  Create,  incur,  assume or suffer to
exist any Indebtedness, except:

         (a) Indebtedness of any Loan Party pursuant to any Loan Document;

         (b)  Indebtedness  of the Borrower to any  Subsidiary and of any Wholly
    Owned Subsidiary Guarantor to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary;

         (c)  Indebtedness   (including,   without  limitation,   Capital  Lease
    Obligations)  secured by Liens  permitted by Section  6.3(g) in an aggregate
    principal amount not to exceed $5,000,000 at any one time outstanding;

         (d) Indebtedness  outstanding on the date hereof and listed on Schedule
    6.2(d) and any  refinancings,  refundings,  renewals or  extensions  thereof
    (without any increase in the principal  amount  thereof or any shortening of
    the maturity of any principal amount thereof);

         (e) Guarantee  Obligations  made in the ordinary  course of business by
    the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  of  obligations of the Borrower or
    any Subsidiary Guarantor;

         (f)  Indebtedness  of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties under the
    Term Loan Agreement and any promissory notes issued thereunder;

         (g)  (i)  Indebtedness  of  the  Borrower  in  respect  of  the  Senior
    Subordinated   Notes  in  an  aggregate   principal  amount  not  to  exceed
    $120,000,000 and (ii) Guarantee  Obligations of any Subsidiary  Guarantor in
    respect of such Indebtedness;  provided that such Guarantee  Obligations are
    subordinated  to the  obligations  of such  Subsidiary  Guarantor  under the
    Guarantee and Collateral Agreement to the same extent as the

                                       66

<PAGE>

    obligations of the Borrower in respect of the Senior  Subordinated Notes are
    subordinated to the Obligations;

         (h)  Indebtedness  of the Borrower issued to sellers of assets acquired
    in a Permitted Acquisition;  provided, that (i) not more than $10,000,000 in
    aggregate  principal  amount of such  Indebtedness may be outstanding at any
    one time, (ii) such Indebtedness  shall provide for no payment of principal,
    and no  payment  of  interest  other  than  payments  in  kind,  to be  made
    thereunder  until the date which is 91 days after the final maturity date of
    the Term Loans and (iii) such Indebtedness shall be subordinated to the Term
    Loans,   Loans  and  Reimbursement   Obligations  on  terms  and  conditions
    reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

         (i)  Indebtedness   secured  by  Liens  permitted  by  Section  6.3(l);
    provided, that the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness, plus the
    aggregate  principal  amount of  Indebtedness  permitted by Section  6.2(c),
    shall not at any time exceed $10,000,000; and

         (j) other unsecured  Indebtedness,  not included in clauses (a) through
    (i) above, not to exceed $5,000,000 at any time outstanding.

         6.3 Limitation on Liens.  Create,  incur, assume or suffer to exist any
Lien upon any of its Property,  whether now owned or hereafter acquired,  except
for:

         (a) Liens for  taxes not yet due or which are being  contested  in good
    faith by  appropriate  proceedings,  provided  that  adequate  reserves with
    respect  thereto  are  maintained  on  the  books  of  the  Borrower  or its
    Subsidiaries, as the case may be, in conformity with GAAP;

         (b) carriers', warehousemen's,  mechanics', materialmen's, repairmen's,
    landlord's  or other like Liens  arising in the ordinary  course of business
    which  are not  overdue  for a period of more than 30 days or that are being
    contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

         (c) pledges or  deposits  in  connection  with  workers'  compensation,
    unemployment insurance and other social security legislation;

         (d) deposits to secure the performance of bids,  trade contracts (other
    than for borrowed money), leases,  statutory obligations,  surety and appeal
    bonds,  performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in
    the ordinary course of business;

         (e) easements,  rights-of-way,  restrictions,  encroachments  (onto the
    Property or by improvements located on the Property, onto adjoining property
    or rights of way or onto easement areas) and other similar  encumbrances and
    title  defects  incurred in the  ordinary  course of business  that,  in the
    aggregate,  are not  substantial  in  amount  and  which  do not in any case
    materially  detract  from  the  value of the  Property  subject  thereto  or
    materially

                                       67

<PAGE>

    interfere  with the ordinary  conduct of the business of the Borrower or any
    of its Subsidiaries;

         (f) Liens in  existence on the date hereof  listed on Schedule  6.3(f),
    securing  Indebtedness  permitted by Section  6.2(d),  provided that no such
    Lien is spread to cover any  additional  Property after the Closing Date and
    that the amount of Indebtedness secured thereby is not increased;

         (g) Liens securing Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary
    incurred  pursuant to Section 6.2(c) to finance the  acquisition of fixed or
    capital assets,  provided that (i) such Liens shall be created substantially
    simultaneously  with the acquisition of such fixed or capital  assets,  (ii)
    such Liens do not at any time encumber any Property  other than the Property
    financed by such  Indebtedness and (iii) the amount of Indebtedness  secured
    thereby is not increased;

         (h) Liens created pursuant to the Security Documents;

         (i) any interest or title of a lessor  under any lease  entered into by
    the Borrower or any other  Subsidiary in the ordinary course of its business
    and covering only the assets so leased;

         (j) judgment liens which would not create any Event of Default;

         (k)  licenses  of  Intellectual  Property  in the  ordinary  course  of
    business;

         (l) liens on fixed  assets  existing at the time such fixed  assets are
    acquired  in  connection  with a  Permitted  Acquisition  and not created in
    contemplation thereof;

         (m) deposits in an aggregate  amount not to exceed $250,000 made in the
    ordinary course of business to secure liability insurance carriers; and

         (n)  Permitted  Exceptions  (as such term is defined in the  Mortgages)
    which, in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material
    Adverse Effect.

         6.4  Limitation  on  Fundamental   Changes.   Enter  into  any  merger,
consolidation  or  amalgamation,  or liquidate,  wind up or dissolve  itself (or
suffer any liquidation or dissolution),  or Dispose of all or substantially  all
of its Property or business, except that:

         (a) any  Subsidiary  may be  merged  or  consolidated  with or into the
    Borrower  (provided  that the Borrower  shall be the continuing or surviving
    corporation)  or with or into any Subsidiary  Guarantor  (provided that such
    Subsidiary Guarantor shall be the continuing or surviving corporation); and

         (b)  any  Subsidiary  may  Dispose  of any or all of its  assets  (upon
    voluntary  liquidation  or  otherwise)  to the  Borrower  or any  Subsidiary
    Guarantor.

                                       68

<PAGE>


         6.5  Limitation  on  Disposition  of  Property.  Dispose  of any of its
Property (including,  without limitation,  receivables and leasehold interests),
whether  now owned or  hereafter  acquired,  or, in the case of any  Subsidiary,
issue or sell any  shares  of such  Subsidiary's  Capital  Stock to any  Person,
except:

         (a) the  Disposition  of obsolete or worn out  property in the ordinary
    course of business;

         (b) the sale of inventory in the ordinary course of business;

         (c) Dispositions permitted by Section 6.4(b);

         (d) the  sale or  issuance  of any  Subsidiary's  Capital  Stock to the
    Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor;

         (e) the  Disposition of other assets in any fiscal year of the Borrower
    that contributed, in the aggregate, not more than 20% of Consolidated EBITDA
    for the  prior  fiscal  year;  provided,  that (i) in the case of each  such
    Disposition,  the  Borrower  shall  be in  pro  forma  compliance  with  the
    financial  covenants  set forth in Section 6.1 after  giving  effect to such
    Disposition  (determined on the  assumption  that such  Disposition  and the
    repayment of any Indebtedness  resulting therefrom had occurred on the first
    day of the relevant  period measured by such covenants) and (ii) in the case
    of any such  Disposition  yielding Net Cash  Proceeds of $1,000,000 or more,
    the Administrative  Agent shall have received a certificate of a Responsible
    Officer  to the  effect set forth in the  foregoing  clause (i) and  showing
    calculations thereof; and

         (f) any Disposition constituted by a Recovery Event, provided, that the
    requirements of Section 2.7(b) are complied with in connection therewith.

         6.6  Limitation  on  Restricted  Payments.  Declare or pay any dividend
(other than  dividends  payable solely in common stock of the Person making such
dividend)  on, or make any  payment  on  account  of, or set apart  assets for a
sinking or other  analogous  fund for,  the  purchase,  redemption,  defeasance,
retirement or other acquisition of, any Capital Stock of Holdings,  the Borrower
or any  Subsidiary,  whether  now or  hereafter  outstanding,  or make any other
distribution in respect thereof, either directly or indirectly,  whether in cash
or property or in obligations of Holdings,  the Borrower or any  Subsidiary,  or
enter into any derivatives or other transaction with any financial  institution,
commodities or stock exchange or  clearinghouse  (a "Derivatives  Counterparty")
obligating  Holdings,  the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  to make payments to such
Derivatives  Counterparty  as a result of any change in market value of any such
Capital  Stock  (collectively,  "Restricted  Payments"),  except  that  (i)  any
Subsidiary  may make  Restricted  Payments  to the  Borrower  or any  Subsidiary
Guarantor  and (ii) the Borrower may pay  dividends to Holdings (A) in an amount
not to exceed  $100,000 in any fiscal year to be used to pay corporate  overhead
expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business,  (B) in an amount equal to
the Permitted Stock Repurchase  Amount and (C) to permit  repurchase of Holdings
capital  stock from the Sponsor for resale to  management  and  employees of the
Borrower and its

                                       69

<PAGE>

Subsidiaries so long as the proceeds  thereof are immediately  reinvested in the
common equity of the Borrower.

         6.7  Limitation  on  Capital  Expenditures.  Make or commit to make any
Capital  Expenditure,  except (a) Capital  Expenditures  of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries  in the ordinary  course of business not exceeding,  for any fiscal
year set forth below, the amount set forth below opposite such fiscal year:


                Fiscal Year                                 Amount
                -----------                                 -------

                1999                                        $5,500,000
                2000                                        $6,000,000
                2001                                        $6,500,000
                2002                                        $7,000,000
                2003                                        $7,000,000
                2004                                        $7,000,000

provided,  that (i) any such amount referred to above, if not so expended in the
fiscal year for which it is permitted,  may be carried over for  expenditure  in
the next succeeding fiscal year, (ii) Capital Expenditures made pursuant to this
clause (a) during any fiscal  year shall be deemed  made,  first,  in respect of
amounts  permitted  for such  fiscal  year as  provided  in the table  above and
second,  in respect of amounts  carried over from the prior fiscal year pursuant
to  subclause  (i)  above and (iii) the  Borrower  may make  additional  Capital
Expenditures  during  FY 1999 in the form of  Capital  Lease  Obligations  in an
aggregate amount not exceeding  $500,000 and (b) Capital  Expenditures made with
the proceeds of any Reinvestment Deferred Amount.

         6.8 Limitation on  Investments.  Make any advance,  loan,  extension of
credit (by way of guaranty or otherwise) or capital contribution to, or purchase
any Capital Stock, bonds, notes,  debentures or other debt securities of, or any
assets  constituting an ongoing  business from, or make any other investment in,
any other Person (all of the foregoing, "Investments"), except:

         (a) extensions of trade credit in the ordinary course of business;

         (b) investments in Cash Equivalents;

         (c) Investments   arising  in  connection   with  the  incurrence  of
    Indebtedness permitted by Sections 6.2(b) and (e) ;

         (d) loans and advances to  employees  of Holdings,  the Borrower or any
    Subsidiaries of the Borrower in the ordinary course of business  (including,
    without limitation, for travel, entertainment and relocation expenses) in an
    aggregate  amount  for the  Borrower  and  its  Subsidiaries  not to  exceed
    $1,000,000 at any one time outstanding;

         (e) the Acquisition;

                                       70

<PAGE>

         (f) Permitted Acquisitions;

         (g)  Investments  (other  than  those  relating  to the  incurrence  of
    Indebtedness  permitted  by Section  6.8(c)) by the  Borrower  or any of its
    Subsidiaries in the Borrower or any Person that,  prior to such  investment,
    is a Subsidiary Guarantor; and

         (h) Investments in any Subsidiary organized under the laws of Canada in
    an  aggregate  amount  not to  exceed  $200,000  in any  fiscal  year of the
    Borrower;  provided that the aggregate amount of the Investments at any time
    outstanding  pursuant to this clause (h), together with the aggregate amount
    of  investments  made  pursuant  to  clause  (j)(ii)  of the  definition  of
    Permitted Acquisition, shall not exceed $5,000,000.

         6.9  Limitation  on  Optional   Payments  and   Modifications  of  Debt
Instruments,  etc. (a) Make or offer to make any optional or voluntary  payment,
prepayment,  repurchase or redemption of, or otherwise voluntarily or optionally
defease, the Senior Subordinated Notes, or segregate funds for any such payment,
prepayment,  repurchase,  redemption or defeasance, or enter into any derivative
or other transaction with any Derivatives  Counterparty  obligating the Borrower
or any Subsidiary to make payments to such Derivatives  Counterparty as a result
of any  change in market  value of the  Senior  Subordinated  Notes,  (b) amend,
modify or otherwise change, or consent or agree to any amendment,  modification,
waiver or other change to, any of the terms of the Senior  Subordinated Notes or
the  Senior   Subordinated  Note  Indenture  (other  than  any  such  amendment,
modification,  waiver or other  change  which (i) would  extend the  maturity or
reduce the amount of any payment of principal thereof, reduce the rate or extend
the date  for  payment  of  interest  thereon  or relax  any  covenant  or other
restriction  applicable to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and (ii) does
not involve the payment of a consent fee), (c) designate any Indebtedness (other
than the Obligations) as "Designated  Senior  Indebtedness"  for the purposes of
the  Senior  Subordinated  Note  Indenture  or  (d)  amend  its  certificate  of
incorporation in any manner materially adverse to the Lenders.

         6.10  Limitation  on  Transactions  with  Affiliates.  Enter  into  any
transaction,  including,  without  limitation,  any  purchase,  sale,  lease  or
exchange  of  Property,  the  rendering  of any  service  or the  payment of any
management,  advisory or similar fees, with any Affiliate  (other than Holdings,
the  Borrower  or any  Subsidiary  Guarantor)  unless  such  transaction  is (a)
otherwise permitted under this Agreement, (b) in the ordinary course of business
of the  Borrower or such  Subsidiary,  as the case may be, and (c) upon fair and
reasonable  terms no less favorable to the Borrower or such  Subsidiary,  as the
case may be, than it would obtain in a comparable arm's length  transaction with
a Person that is not an Affiliate.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as no
Default or Event of Default  shall be in  existence,  (i) the  Borrower  and its
Subsidiaries may pay to the Sponsor and its Control  Investment  Affiliates fees
and  expenses  pursuant  to a  management  agreement  approved  by the  board of
directors of the Borrower in an aggregate amount not to exceed the lesser of (a)
1.0% of Consolidated  EBITDA for the period in respect of which such fees are to
be paid or (b) the  amount  permitted  to be paid  under the terms of the Senior
Subordinated  Note Indenture;  (ii) the Borrower may pay transaction fees to the
Sponsor or any affiliates thereof in connection with any Permitted  Acquisitions
made by a Loan  Party in an amount  not to  exceed  1% of the total  transaction
value of such Permitted

                                       71

<PAGE>

Acquisitions;  and (iii) the Borrower may pay transaction  fees, in an aggregate
amount  not to  exceed  $2,220,000,  to  the  Sponsor  in  connection  with  the
Acquisition and the acquisition of the Polaner and related brands on February 5,
1999.

         6.11  Limitation on Sales and  Leasebacks.  Enter into any  arrangement
with any Person  providing for the leasing by the Borrower or any  Subsidiary of
real or personal  property which has been or is to be sold or transferred by the
Borrower or such  Subsidiary to such Person or to any other Person to whom funds
have been or are to be advanced by such Person on the security of such  property
or rental obligations of the Borrower or such Subsidiary.

         6.12 Limitation on Changes in Fiscal Periods. Permit the fiscal year of
the Borrower to end on a day other than the  Saturday  nearest to December 31 or
change the Borrower's method of determining fiscal quarters.

         6.13  Limitation on Negative  Pledge  Clauses.  Enter into or suffer to
exist or become  effective any agreement that prohibits or limits the ability of
the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries to create,  incur,  assume or suffer to
exist  any Lien  upon any of its  Property  or  revenues,  whether  now owned or
hereafter acquired,  to secure the Obligations or, in the case of any guarantor,
its  obligations  under the Guarantee and Collateral  Agreement,  other than (a)
this Agreement, the Term Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents and (b) any
agreements  governing  any  purchase  money Liens or Capital  Lease  Obligations
otherwise  permitted  hereby (in which case, any prohibition or limitation shall
only be effective against the assets financed thereby).

         6.14 Limitation on Lines of Business.  Enter into any business,  either
directly or through any  Subsidiary,  except for those  businesses  in which the
Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  are engaged on the date of this Agreement (after
giving effect to the Acquisition) or that are reasonably related thereto.

         6.15 Limitation on Amendments to Acquisition Documentation.  (a) Amend,
supplement or otherwise modify (pursuant to a waiver or otherwise) the terms and
conditions of the indemnities  and licenses  furnished to the Borrower or any of
its  Subsidiaries  pursuant  to the  Acquisition  Documentation  such that after
giving effect  thereto such  indemnities  or licenses  shall be materially  less
favorable  to the  interests  of the Loan  Parties or the Lenders  with  respect
thereto or (b) otherwise  amend,  supplement  or otherwise  modify the terms and
conditions of the Acquisition  Documentation  except to the extent that any such
amendment, supplement or modification could not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.

         6.16  Limitation on  Activities  of Holdings.  In the case of Holdings,
notwithstanding  anything to the  contrary in this  Agreement  or any other Loan
Document,  (a) conduct,  transact or otherwise  engage in, or commit to conduct,
transact or  otherwise  engage in, any business or  operations  other than those
incidental  to its  ownership  of the Capital  Stock of the Borrower and Capital
Stock of other  entities,  (b)  incur,  create,  assume  or  suffer to exist any
Indebtedness  or  other  liabilities  or  financial   obligations,   except  (i)
nonconsensual obligations imposed by operation of law, (ii) pursuant to the Loan
Documents to which it is a party, (iii)

                                       72

<PAGE>

obligations with respect to its Capital Stock, and (iv) Indebtedness of Holdings
issued to sellers of assets  purchased by Holdings or a  Subsidiary  of Holdings
(provided that (A) such  Indebtedness is  subordinated to the Term Loans,  Loans
and  Reimbursement  Obligations,  (B) such  Indebtedness  shall  provide  for no
payment of principal, and no payment of interest other than payments in kind, to
be made thereunder until the date which is 91 days after the final maturity date
of the Term Loans and (C) such Indebtedness shall have no covenants other than a
covenant to pay  principal  and  interest,  covenants not to make any payment in
respect of equity or junior  debt prior to  payment  of such  Indebtedness,  and
customary  informational  covenants,  such as a covenant  to  provide  financial
statements)  or (c) own,  lease,  manage or otherwise  operate any properties or
assets other than cash  equivalents  and shares of Capital Stock of the Borrower
and other entities.

         6.17 Limitation on Withdrawal of Reinvestment  Deferred Amount.  To the
extent that the Borrower,  in calculating  Consolidated  Total Debt,  deducts an
amount  in  respect  of all or any  portion  of the then  outstanding  aggregate
Reinvestment Deferred Amount on deposit in an account subject to the Lien of the
Guarantee and  Collateral  Agreement,  withdraw any such funds from such account
unless,  before and after giving  effect to such  withdrawal,  (a) no Default or
Event of  Default  shall have  occurred  and be  continuing  and (b) each of the
representations  and  warranties  made by any Loan Party in or  pursuant to this
Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be true and correct on and as of such
date as if made on and as of such date.


                          SECTION 7. EVENTS OF DEFAULT

         If any of the following events shall occur and be continuing:

         (a)  The  Borrower  shall  fail  to pay any  principal  of any  Loan or
    Reimbursement  Obligation when due in accordance  with the terms hereof;  or
    the  Borrower  shall fail to pay any  interest on any Loan or  Reimbursement
    Obligation,  or any other amount  payable  hereunder or under any other Loan
    Document,  within five days after any such interest or other amount  becomes
    due in accordance with the terms hereof; or

         (b) Any  representation  or  warranty  made or deemed  made by any Loan
    Party  herein or in any other  Loan  Document  or that is  contained  in any
    certificate, document or financial or other statement furnished by it at any
    time under or in connection  with this  Agreement or any other Loan Document
    shall prove to have been inaccurate in any material  respect on or as of the
    date made or deemed made or furnished; or

         (c) (i) Any Loan Party shall default in the  observance or  performance
    of any  agreement  contained  in clause (i) or (ii) of Section  5.4(a) (with
    respect to Holdings and the Borrower only),  Section 5.7(a) or Section 6, or
    Section 5 of the Guarantee and  Collateral  Agreement,  or (ii) an "Event of
    Default"  under and as defined in any  Mortgage  shall have  occurred and be
    continuing; or

                                       73

<PAGE>

         (d) Any Loan Party shall default in the  observance or  performance  of
    any other  agreement  contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document
    (other than as provided in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Section),  and
    such default shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days; or

         (e) Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall (i) default
    in making  any  payment of any  principal  of any  Indebtedness  (including,
    without limitation,  any Guarantee  Obligation,  but excluding the Loans and
    Reimbursement  Obligations)  on the  scheduled  or  original  due date  with
    respect  thereto;  or (ii)  default in making any payment of any interest on
    any such  Indebtedness  beyond the period of grace, if any,  provided in the
    instrument or agreement under which such Indebtedness was created;  or (iii)
    default in the observance or performance of any other agreement or condition
    relating  to  any  such  Indebtedness  or  contained  in any  instrument  or
    agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event shall
    occur or  condition  exist,  the effect of which  default or other  event or
    condition  is to cause,  or to permit  the  holder  or  beneficiary  of such
    Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or beneficiary)
    to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to become
    due prior to its stated  maturity  or (in the case of any such  Indebtedness
    constituting a Guarantee  Obligation) to become  payable;  provided,  that a
    default,  event or condition  described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of this
    paragraph (e) shall not at any time  constitute an Event of Default  unless,
    at such  time,  one or more  defaults,  events  or  conditions  of the  type
    described in clauses (i),  (ii) and (iii) of this  paragraph  (e) shall have
    occurred and be  continuing  with respect to  Indebtedness  the  outstanding
    principal amount of which exceeds in the aggregate $2,000,000; or

         (f)  (i)  Holdings,  the  Borrower  or any of  its  Subsidiaries  shall
    commence  any case,  proceeding  or other  action (A) under any  existing or
    future law of any jurisdiction, domestic or foreign, relating to bankruptcy,
    insolvency,  reorganization  or relief of debtors,  seeking to have an order
    for  relief  entered  with  respect to it, or  seeking  to  adjudicate  it a
    bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking reorganization,  arrangement,  adjustment,
    winding-up,  liquidation,  dissolution,  composition  or other  relief  with
    respect  to it or its  debts,  or (B)  seeking  appointment  of a  receiver,
    trustee, custodian,  conservator or other similar official for it or for all
    or any substantial part of its assets,  or Holdings,  the Borrower or any of
    its  Subsidiaries  shall make a general  assignment  for the  benefit of its
    creditors;  or (ii) there shall be commenced against Holdings,  the Borrower
    or any of its Subsidiaries any case,  proceeding or other action of a nature
    referred  to in clause (i) above  that (A)  results in the entry of an order
    for  relief  or  any  such   adjudication  or  appointment  or  (B)  remains
    undismissed,  undischarged  or  unbonded  for a period of 60 days;  or (iii)
    there  shall be  commenced  against  Holdings,  the  Borrower  or any of its
    Subsidiaries  any case,  proceeding  or other action  seeking  issuance of a
    warrant of attachment,  execution,  distraint or similar process against all
    or any substantial  part of its assets that results in the entry of an order
    for any such relief that shall not have been vacated,  discharged, or stayed
    or bonded  pending  appeal  within 60 days from the entry  thereof;  or (iv)
    Holdings,  the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries  shall take any action in
    furtherance  of, or indicating its consent to,  approval of, or acquiescence
    in, any of the acts

                                       74

<PAGE>

    set forth in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) above; or (v) Holdings, the Borrower
    or any of its  Subsidiaries  shall  generally not, or shall be unable to, or
    shall admit in writing its  inability  to, pay its debts as they become due;
    or

         (g) (i) Any Person shall  engage in any  "prohibited  transaction"  (as
    defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code)  involving  any
    Plan, (ii) any "accumulated  funding  deficiency" (as defined in Section 302
    of ERISA),  whether or not waived,  shall exist with  respect to any Plan or
    any Lien in favor of the PBGC or a Plan  shall  arise on the  assets  of the
    Borrower or any Commonly  Controlled Entity,  (iii) a Reportable Event shall
    occur with  respect  to, or  proceedings  shall  commence  to have a trustee
    appointed (or a trustee shall be appointed) to administer,  or to terminate,
    any  Single  Employer  Plan,  which  Reportable  Event  or  commencement  of
    proceedings or appointment of a trustee is, in the reasonable opinion of the
    Required  Lenders,  likely  to result  in the  termination  of such Plan for
    purposes of Title IV of ERISA, (iv) any Single Employer Plan shall terminate
    for  purposes  of  Title  IV of  ERISA,  (v) the  Borrower  or any  Commonly
    Controlled  Entity  shall,  or in the  reasonable  opinion  of the  Required
    Lenders is likely to, incur any  liability in  connection  with a withdrawal
    from, or the Insolvency or Reorganization  of, a Multiemployer  Plan or (vi)
    any other similar event or condition  shall occur or exist with respect to a
    Plan  other than in the  ordinary  course of  business;  and in each case in
    clauses (i) through (vi) above,  such event or condition,  together with all
    other such events or conditions,  if any, could, in the sole judgment of the
    Required Lenders,  reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
    or

         (h) One or more judgments or decrees shall be entered against Holdings,
    the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries involving for Holdings, the Borrower
    and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole a liability (not paid or fully covered
    by  insurance as to which the relevant  insurance  company has  acknowledged
    coverage) of $2,000,000 or more, and all such judgments or decrees shall not
    have been vacated,  discharged,  stayed or bonded  pending  appeal within 30
    days from the entry thereof; or

         (i) Any of the Security Documents shall cease, for any reason, to be in
    full force and effect,  or any Loan Party or any Affiliate of any Loan Party
    shall so assert, or any Lien created by any of the Security  Documents shall
    cease to be enforceable and of the same effect and priority  purported to be
    created thereby; or

         (j)  The  guarantee  contained  in  Section  2  of  the  Guarantee  and
    Collateral  Agreement shall cease,  for any reason,  to be in full force and
    effect or any Loan Party or any Affiliate of any Loan Party shall so assert;
    or

         (k) (i) The Permitted  Investors  shall cease to have the power to vote
    or direct the voting of securities  having a majority of the ordinary voting
    power for the  election  of  directors  of Holdings  (determined  on a fully
    diluted  basis);  (ii) the Permitted  Investors shall cease to own of record
    and  beneficially  at  least  51% of the  common  stock of  Holdings,  (iii)
    Holdings  shall  cease  to own and  control,  of  record  and  beneficially,
    directly,  100% of each class of  outstanding  Capital Stock of the Borrower
    free and clear

                                       75

<PAGE>


    of  all  Liens  (except  Liens  created  by  the  Guarantee  and  Collateral
    Agreement); or (iv) a Specified Change of Control shall occur; or

         (l) The  Senior  Subordinated  Notes or the  guarantees  thereof  shall
    cease, for any reason, to be validly  subordinated to the Obligations or the
    obligations of the Subsidiary  Guarantors under the Guarantee and Collateral
    Agreement,  as the case may be, as provided in the Senior  Subordinated Note
    Indenture,  or any Loan Party,  any Affiliate of any Loan Party, the trustee
    in respect of the Senior  Subordinated  Notes or the holders of at least 25%
    in  aggregate  principal  amount of the Senior  Subordinated  Notes shall so
    assert;

then, and in any such event, (A) if such event is an Event of Default  specified
in clause  (i) or (ii) of  paragraph  (f) above with  respect  to the  Borrower,
automatically the Revolving Credit  Commitments shall immediately  terminate and
the Loans hereunder (with accrued interest  thereon) and all other amounts owing
under  this  Agreement  and  the  other  Loan  Documents   (including,   without
limitation, all amounts of L/C Obligations,  whether or not the beneficiaries of
the then  outstanding  Letters of Credit  shall  have  presented  the  documents
required  thereunder) shall immediately become due and payable,  and (B) if such
event is any other Event of Default, either or both of the following actions may
be taken: (i) with the consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent
may, or upon the  request of the  Required  Lenders,  the  Administrative  Agent
shall, by notice to the Borrower declare the Revolving Credit  Commitments to be
terminated   forthwith,   whereupon  the  Revolving  Credit   Commitments  shall
immediately  terminate;  and (ii) with the consent of the Required Lenders,  the
Administrative  Agent may,  or upon the  request of the  Required  Lenders,  the
Administrative  Agent  shall,  by  notice  to the  Borrower,  declare  the Loans
hereunder (with accrued interest thereon) and all other amounts owing under this
Agreement  and the other Loan  Documents  (including,  without  limitation,  all
amounts  of L/C  Obligations,  whether  or not  the  beneficiaries  of the  then
outstanding  Letters  of Credit  shall have  presented  the  documents  required
thereunder)  to  be  due  and  payable  forthwith,   whereupon  the  same  shall
immediately  become due and payable.  With respect to all Letters of Credit with
respect to which presentment for honor shall not have occurred at the time of an
acceleration pursuant to this paragraph, the Borrower shall at such time deposit
in a cash collateral account opened by the Administrative  Agent an amount equal
to the aggregate  then undrawn and  unexpired  amount of such Letters of Credit.
Amounts  held  in  such  cash  collateral   account  shall  be  applied  by  the
Administrative  Agent to the  payment  of drafts  drawn  under  such  Letters of
Credit,  and the unused  portion  thereof after all such Letters of Credit shall
have expired or been fully drawn upon,  if any,  shall be applied to repay other
obligations of the Borrower hereunder and under the other Loan Documents.  After
all such  Letters of Credit  shall have  expired or been fully drawn  upon,  all
Reimbursement Obligations shall have been satisfied and all other obligations of
the Borrower  hereunder and under the other Loan Documents  shall have been paid
in full, the balance,  if any, in such cash collateral account shall be returned
to the Borrower (or such other Person as may be lawfully entitled thereto).

                                       76

<PAGE>

                              SECTION 8. THE AGENTS

         8.1 Appointment. Each Lender hereby irrevocably designates and appoints
the Agents as the agents of such Lender under this  Agreement and the other Loan
Documents,  and each Lender irrevocably authorizes each Agent, in such capacity,
to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and the
other Loan  Documents and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are
expressly  delegated to such Agent by the terms of this  Agreement and the other
Loan  Documents,  together with such other powers as are  reasonably  incidental
thereto.  Notwithstanding  any  provision  to the  contrary  elsewhere  in  this
Agreement,  no Agent  shall have any duties or  responsibilities,  except  those
expressly set forth herein, or any fiduciary  relationship with any Lender,  and
no  implied  covenants,  functions,  responsibilities,  duties,  obligations  or
liabilities  shall be read into this  Agreement  or any other Loan  Document  or
otherwise exist against any Agent.

         8.2  Delegation  of Duties.  Each Agent may  execute  any of its duties
under this  Agreement  and the other  Loan  Documents  by or  through  agents or
attorneys-in-fact  and shall be  entitled  to advice of counsel  concerning  all
matters  pertaining  to such  duties.  No  Agent  shall be  responsible  for the
negligence or misconduct of any agents or attorneys  in-fact selected by it with
reasonable care.

         8.3  Exculpatory  Provisions.  Neither  any  Agent  nor  any  of  their
respective  officers,   directors,   employees,  agents,   attorneys-in-fact  or
affiliates  shall be (i) liable for any action  lawfully  taken or omitted to be
taken by it or such Person  under or in  connection  with this  Agreement or any
other Loan Document (except to the extent that any of the foregoing are found by
a final and nonappealable  decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have
resulted from its or such Person's own gross  negligence or willful  misconduct)
or (ii)  responsible  in any  manner  to any of the  Lenders  for any  recitals,
statements,  representations or warranties made by any Loan Party or any officer
thereof  contained  in this  Agreement  or any  other  Loan  Document  or in any
certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in,
or received by the Agents under or in  connection  with,  this  Agreement or any
other Loan  Document  or for the value,  validity,  effectiveness,  genuineness,
enforceability  or  sufficiency  of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or
for any  failure of any Loan Party a party  thereto to perform  its  obligations
hereunder or  thereunder.  The Agents shall not be under any  obligation  to any
Lender to ascertain or to inquire as to the  observance or performance of any of
the agreements  contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement or any other Loan
Document, or to inspect the properties, books or records of any Loan Party.

         8.4 Reliance by Agents. Each Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall
be fully protected in relying, upon any instrument, writing, resolution, notice,
consent,  certificate,  affidavit,  letter, telecopy, telex or teletype message,
statement,  order or other document or conversation believed by it to be genuine
and  correct  and to have  been  signed,  sent or made by the  proper  Person or
Persons and upon advice and  statements  of legal  counsel  (including,  without
limitation,  counsel to Holdings or the Loan Parties),  independent  accountants
and other  experts  selected  by such  Agent.  The Agents may deem and treat the
payee of any Note as the owner thereof for all purposes  unless a written notice
of assignment,  negotiation  or transfer  thereof shall

                                       77

<PAGE>

have  been  filed  with the  Administrative  Agent.  Each  Agent  shall be fully
justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this  Agreement or any
other Loan Document  unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of
the Required Lenders (or, if so specified by this Agreement,  all Lenders) as it
deems  appropriate or it shall first be indemnified to its  satisfaction  by the
Lenders  against any and all liability and expense  (other than any liability or
expense  arising from its gross  negligence or willful  misconduct)  that may be
incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing  to take any such action.  Each
Agent shall in all cases be fully  protected in acting,  or in  refraining  from
acting,  under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents in accordance  with a
request of the Required  Lenders (or, if so  specified  by this  Agreement,  all
Lenders),  and such  request  and any action  taken or  failure to act  pursuant
thereto  shall be binding  upon all the  Lenders  and all future  holders of the
Loans and L/C Obligations.

         8.5 Notice of Default.  No Agent shall be deemed to have  knowledge  or
notice of the  occurrence  of any Default or Event of Default  hereunder  unless
such Agent has received notice from a Lender, Holdings or the Borrower referring
to this Agreement,  describing such Default or Event of Default and stating that
such notice is a "notice of default". In the event that the Administrative Agent
receives such a notice,  the  Administrative  Agent shall give notice thereof to
the  Lenders.  The  Administrative  Agent shall take such action with respect to
such Default or Event of Default as shall be reasonably directed by the Required
Lenders (or, if so specified by this  Agreement,  all  Lenders);  provided  that
unless and until the  Administrative  Agent shall have received such directions,
the  Administrative  Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action,
or refrain  from taking such  action,  with  respect to such Default or Event of
Default as it shall deem advisable in the best interests of the Lenders.

         8.6  Non-Reliance  on Agents and Other Lenders.  Each Lender  expressly
acknowledges  that  neither  the  Agents nor any of their  respective  officers,
directors,  employees,  agents,  attorneys-in-fact  or affiliates  have made any
representations  or  warranties  to it and  that no act by any  Agent  hereafter
taken, including any review of the affairs of a Loan Party or any affiliate of a
Loan Party,  shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by any
Agent  to any  Lender.  Each  Lender  represents  to the  Agents  that  it  has,
independently and without reliance upon any Agent or any other Lender, and based
on such  documents and  information as it has deemed  appropriate,  made its own
appraisal  of  and  investigation  into  the  business,  operations,   property,
financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Loan Parties and their
affiliates  and  made  its own  decision  to make  its  Revolving  Credit  Loans
hereunder and enter into this  Agreement.  Each Lender also  represents  that it
will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent or any other Lender, and
based on such  documents and  information  as it shall deem  appropriate  at the
time,  continue to make its own credit  analysis,  appraisals  and  decisions in
taking or not taking action under this  Agreement and the other Loan  Documents,
and to make such  investigation as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the
business,   operations,    property,   financial   and   other   condition   and
creditworthiness  of the Loan Parties and their affiliates.  Except for notices,
reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by
the   Administrative   Agent  hereunder,   no  Agent  shall  have  any  duty  or
responsibility  to  provide  any  Lender  with any  credit or other  information
concerning  the  business,   operations,   property,   condition  (financial  or
otherwise), prospects or creditworthiness

                                       78

<PAGE>

of any Loan  Party  or any  affiliate  of a Loan  Party  that may come  into the
possession of such Agent or any of its officers,  directors,  employees, agents,
attorneys-in-fact or affiliates.

         8.7  Indemnification.  The Lenders agree to indemnify each Agent in its
capacity as such (to the extent not  reimbursed  by  Holdings,  the Borrower and
without  limiting the obligation of Holdings or the Borrower to do so),  ratably
according to their respective  Aggregate  Exposure  Percentages in effect on the
date  on  which   indemnification   is  sought   under  this   Section  (or,  if
indemnification  is sought after the date upon which the Commitments  shall have
terminated  and the Loans  shall have been paid in full,  ratably in  accordance
with such Aggregate Exposure  Percentages  immediately prior to such date), from
and against any and all liabilities,  obligations,  losses, damages,  penalties,
actions,  judgments,  suits,  costs,  expenses  or  disbursements  of  any  kind
whatsoever  that may at any time  (including,  without  limitation,  at any time
following  the  payment of the Loans) be imposed  on,  incurred  by or  asserted
against  such Agent in any way  relating to or arising out of, the  Commitments,
this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents or any documents contemplated by
or  referred  to herein or therein or the  transactions  contemplated  hereby or
thereby or any action taken or omitted by such Agent under or in connection with
any of the foregoing; provided that no Lender shall be liable for the payment of
any  portion  of such  liabilities,  obligations,  losses,  damages,  penalties,
actions,  judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements that are found by a
final and  nonappealable  decision of a court of competent  jurisdiction to have
resulted  from  such  Agent's  gross  negligence  or  willful  misconduct.   The
agreements  in this Section shall survive the payment of the Loans and all other
amounts payable hereunder.

         8.8 Agent in Its Individual Capacity. Each Agent and its affiliates may
make loans to, accept deposits from and generally engage in any kind of business
with any Loan Party as though such Agent were not an Agent.  With respect to its
Loans made or renewed by it and with  respect to any Letter of Credit  issued or
participated  in by it, each Agent  shall have the same rights and powers  under
this  Agreement and the other Loan  Documents as any Lender and may exercise the
same as though it were not an Agent,  and the terms "Lender" and "Lenders" shall
include each Agent in its individual capacity.

         8.9  Successor  Agents.   The   Administrative   Agent  may  resign  as
Administrative  Agent  upon 10  days'  written  notice  to the  Lenders  and the
Borrower. If the Administrative Agent shall resign as Administrative Agent under
this  Agreement and the other Loan  Documents,  then the Required  Lenders shall
appoint  from  among  the  Lenders a  successor  agent  for the  Lenders,  which
successor  agent shall (unless an Event of Default under Section 7(a) or Section
7(f) with respect to the Borrower  shall have  occurred  and be  continuing)  be
subject to approval by the Borrower  (which  approval shall not be  unreasonably
withheld or  delayed),  whereupon  such  successor  agent  shall  succeed to the
rights,   powers  and  duties  of  the   Administrative   Agent,  and  the  term
"Administrative  Agent"  shall mean such  successor  agent  effective  upon such
appointment and approval,  and the former Administrative  Agent's rights, powers
and duties as  Administrative  Agent shall be  terminated,  without any other or
further  act or deed on the part of such former  Administrative  Agent or any of
the parties to this Agreement or any holders of the Loans. If no successor agent
has accepted  appointment  as  Administrative  Agent by the date that is 10 days
following a retiring Administrative Agent's notice of resignation,  the retiring

                                       79

<PAGE>

Administrative   Agent's   resignation  shall   nevertheless   thereupon  become
effective,  and the  Lenders  shall  assume and perform all of the duties of the
Administrative  Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders
appoint a successor agent as provided for above.  The Syndication  Agent may, at
any time,  by notice to the  Lenders  and the  Administrative  Agent,  resign as
Syndication  Agent  hereunder,  whereupon the duties,  rights,  obligations  and
responsibilities  of the  Syndication  Agent hereunder  shall  automatically  be
assumed by, and inure to the benefit of, the Administrative  Agent,  without any
further act by the Syndication  Agent, the  Administrative  Agent or any Lender.
After any retiring Agent's  resignation as Agent, the provisions of this Section
8 shall inure to its  benefit as to any actions  taken or omitted to be taken by
it while it was Agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

         8.10 Authorization to Release Liens; Other Actions Relating to Security
Documents. (a) The Administrative Agent is hereby irrevocably authorized by each
of the Lenders to release any Lien  covering any Property of the Borrower or any
of its Subsidiaries  that is the subject of a Disposition  which is permitted by
this  Agreement  and the Term Loan  Agreement or which has been  consented to in
accordance  with Section 9.1 of this  Agreement and Section 9.1 of the Term Loan
Agreement.

         (b) With  respect  to any action  under or in  respect of the  Security
    Documents  that the  provisions  of this  Agreement  permit or  require  the
    Administrative  Agent to take only with the consent,  or upon the direction,
    of all of the  Lenders  or the  Required  Lenders,  as the case may be,  the
    Lenders acknowledge that the Administrative  Agent shall be required to take
    such action only if such action is approved by the Joint Required Lenders.

         8.11 The Arranger,  the  Co-Documentation  Agent and the  Documentation
Agent. Each of the Arranger, the Co-Documentation Agent and Documentation Agent,
in  their   respective   capacities   as  such,   shall   have  no   duties   or
responsibilities,  and shall incur no  liability,  under this  Agreement and the
other Loan Documents.


                            SECTION 9. MISCELLANEOUS

         9.1  Amendments  and Waivers.  Neither this Agreement or any other Loan
Document,  nor any terms  hereof or  thereof,  may be amended,  supplemented  or
modified except in accordance  with the provisions of this Section 9.1.  Subject
to the provisions of the immediately  following  sentence,  the Required Lenders
and each Loan  Party  party to the  relevant  Loan  Document  may,  or (with the
written consent of the Required Lenders) the Agents and each Loan Party party to
the  relevant  Loan  Document  may,  from time to time,  (a) enter into  written
amendments,  supplements or modifications hereto and to the other Loan Documents
(including  amendments  and  restatements  hereof or thereof) for the purpose of
adding any  provisions to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or changing
in any manner the rights of the  Lenders  or of the Loan  Parties  hereunder  or
thereunder or (b) waive, on such terms and conditions as may be specified in the
instrument of waiver,  any of the  requirements  of this  Agreement or the other
Loan  Documents  or any  Default  or  Event  of  Default  and its  consequences;
provided,  however,

                                       80

<PAGE>

that no such waiver and no such amendment,  supplement or modification shall (i)
forgive the principal  amount or extend the final  scheduled date of maturity of
any Loan or Reimbursement  Obligation, or reduce the stated rate of any interest
or fee payable hereunder or extend the scheduled date of any payment thereof, or
increase  the  amount or extend  the  expiration  date of the  Revolving  Credit
Commitment  of any  Lender,  in each case  without  the  consent of each  Lender
directly  affected  thereby;  (ii) amend,  modify or waive any provision of this
Section  or reduce  any  percentage  specified  in the  definition  of  Required
Lenders,  consent to the  assignment  or transfer by the  Borrower of any of its
rights and  obligations  under  this  Agreement  and the other  Loan  Documents,
release  all  or  substantially   all  of  the  Collateral  or  release  all  or
substantially  all of the Guarantors from their guarantee  obligations under the
Guarantee  and  Collateral  Agreement,  in each case  without the consent of all
Lenders;  (iii)  amend,  modify or waive any  provision of Section 8 without the
consent of any Agent directly affected thereby;  (iv) amend, modify or waive any
provision of Section 2.13 without the consent of each Lender  directly  affected
thereby;  or (v) amend,  modify, or waive any provision of Sections 2.20 through
2.27 without the consent of the Issuing Lenders, or of Section 2.1(b) or Section
2.2(b)-(f)  without the consent of the Swing Line  Lender.  Notwithstanding  the
immediately  preceding sentence,  the parties to this Agreement agree, for their
own benefit and for the benefit of the parties to the Term Loan Agreement,  that
(i) the  provisions  of Sections 3, 5, 6 and 7 may be amended,  supplemented  or
modified with, and only with, the consent of the Borrower and the Joint Required
Lenders (whether or not the Required  Lenders shall have consented  thereto) and
compliance  with any of the  requirements  of such  Sections  (or any Default or
Event of Default  resulting  from a failure by the  Borrower to comply with such
requirements)  may be waived  with,  and only  with,  the  consent  of the Joint
Required  Lenders  (whether or not the  Required  Lenders  shall have  consented
thereto),  (ii) subject to the provisions of clause (iv) of this  sentence,  the
provisions of the Security  Documents may be amended,  supplemented  or modified
with,  and only with, the consent of each Loan Party that is a party thereto and
the Joint  Required  Lenders  (whether or not the  Required  Lenders  shall have
consented  thereto) and compliance with any of the requirements of such Sections
(or any Default or Event of Default  resulting  from a failure by any Loan Party
to comply with such requirements) may be waived with, and only with, the consent
of the Joint Required  Lenders  (whether or not the Required  Lenders shall have
consented  thereto),  (iii) the definition of Joint Required  Lenders in Section
1.1 may be amended or otherwise  modified only with the consent of the Borrower,
each Lender and each Term Loan Lender,  (iv) any release of all or substantially
all of the  Collateral,  and  any  release  of all or  substantially  all of the
Guarantors from their guarantee  obligations  under the Guarantee and Collateral
Agreement,  shall, in each case, be effected with, and only with, the consent of
each Lender and each Term Loan Lender, (v) any amendment, modification or waiver
of any provision of Section 2.7 may be effected with, and only with, the consent
of the  Borrower,  the  Required  Lenders,  the  holders of more than 50% of the
aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Tranche A Term Loans  outstanding under
the Term Loan Agreement and the holders of more than 50% of the aggregate unpaid
principal  amount of the  Tranche B Term Loans  outstanding  under the Term Loan
Agreement,  (vi)  any  amendment,  modification  or  waiver  in  respect  of any
provision  of  this  Agreement  effected  pursuant  to  this  sentence  must  be
accompanied by an equivalent amendment, modification or waiver in respect of the
corresponding  provision of the Term Loan  Agreement and (vii) this sentence may
be amended or otherwise  modified  only with the consent of the  Borrower,  each
Lender  and each Term  Loan  Lender.  Any such  waiver  and any such  amendment,

                                       81

<PAGE>

supplement or modification  shall apply equally to each of the Lenders and shall
be binding upon the Loan Parties,  the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and all
future holders of the Loans and L/C Obligations.  In the case of any waiver, the
Loan  Parties,  the  Lenders and the  Administrative  Agent shall be restored to
their former  position and rights  hereunder and under the other Loan Documents,
and any Default or Event of Default  waived  shall be deemed to be cured and not
continuing;  but no such waiver shall extend to any  subsequent or other Default
or Event of Default,  or impair any right consequent  thereon.  Any such waiver,
amendment,  supplement or modification shall be effected by a written instrument
signed by the parties  required to sign pursuant to the foregoing  provisions of
this Section;  provided, that delivery of an executed signature page of any such
instrument  by  facsimile  transmission  shall be  effective  as  delivery  of a
manually  executed  counterpart  thereof.  For  the  avoidance  of  doubt,  this
Agreement may be amended (or amended and restated)  with the written  consent of
the  Required  Lenders,  the  Administrative  Agent and each Loan  Party to each
relevant Loan Document (x) to add one or more  additional  credit  facilities to
this  Agreement  and to  permit  the  extensions  of  credit  from  time to time
outstanding  thereunder  and the accrued  interest  and fees in respect  thereof
(collectively,  the  "Additional  Extensions of Credit") to share ratably in the
benefits  of this  Agreement  and the other Loan  Documents  with the  Revolving
Extensions  of Credit and the accrued  interest and fees in respect  thereof and
(y) to include  appropriately  the Lenders holding such credit facilities in any
determination of the Required  Lenders;  provided,  however,  that (A) no Lender
shall be required to make or participate in such Additional Extensions of Credit
without the consent of such  Lender in its sole  discretion  and (B) unless each
Term Loan  Lender  holding  Tranche B Term Loans  under the Term Loan  Agreement
shall  otherwise  agree,  the  applicable  margin with respect to the Additional
Extensions of Credit shall not exceed the  Applicable  Margin (as defined in the
Term Loan Agreement) for such Tranche B Term Loans.

         9.2  Notices.  All  notices,  requests  and  demands  to  or  upon  the
respective  parties  hereto to be effective  shall be in writing  (including  by
telecopy),  and, unless otherwise expressly provided herein,  shall be deemed to
have been duly given or made when delivered,  or three Business Days after being
deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, or, in the case of telecopy notice, when
received, addressed (a) in the case of Holdings, the Borrower and the Agents, as
follows and (b) in the case of the  Lenders,  as set forth in an  administrative
questionnaire  delivered to the Administrative Agent or, in the case of a Lender
which  becomes  a  party  to  this  Agreement  pursuant  to  an  Assignment  and
Acceptance,  in such  Assignment and Acceptance or (c) in the case of any party,
to such other  address as such party may  hereafter  notify to the other parties
hereto:



         Holdings:                     B&G Foods Holding Corp.
                                       426 Eagle Rock Avenue
                                       Roseland, NJ 07068
                                       Attention:  Chief Financial Officer
                                       Telecopy: 973-228-7461
                                       Telephone: 973-228-2500

                                       82

<PAGE>

         The Borrower:                  B&G Foods, Inc.
                                        426 Eagle Rock Avenue
                                        Roseland, NJ 07068
                                        Attention:  Chief Financial Officer
                                        Telecopy: 973-228-7461
                                        Telephone: 973-228-2500

         The Syndication Agent:         Lehman Commercial Paper Inc.
                                        3 World Financial Center
                                        New York, New York 10285
                                        Attention:  Michael O'Brien
                                        Telecopy:  (212) 526-7691
                                        Telephone:  (212) 526-0437

         The Administrative Agent:      Lehman Commercial Paper Inc.
                                        3 World Financial Center
                                        New York, New York 10285
                                        Attention:  Michael O'Brien
                                        Telecopy:  (212) 526-7691
                                        Telephone:  (212) 526-0437

         Issuing Lender:                As notified by such Issuing Lender, the
                                        Administrative Agent and the Borrower

provided  that any  notice,  request  or  demand to or upon the any Agent or any
Lender shall not be effective until received.

         9.3 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure to exercise and no delay
in exercising,  on the part of the any Agent or any Lender,  any right,  remedy,
power or privilege  hereunder or under the other Loan Documents shall operate as
a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy,
power or privilege  hereunder  preclude any other or further exercise thereof or
the  exercise  of any other  right,  remedy,  power or  privilege.  The  rights,
remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive
of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.

         9.4 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and
warranties  made  hereunder,  in the other Loan  Documents  and in any document,
certificate or statement  delivered  pursuant  hereto or in connection  herewith
shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of the
Loans and other extensions of credit hereunder.

         9.5 Payment of Expenses.  The  Borrower  agrees (a) to pay or reimburse
the Agents for all their reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in
connection with the syndication of the Revolving Credit  Commitments (other than
fees  payable  to  syndicate  members)  and  the  development,  preparation  and
execution of, and any amendment,  supplement or modification  to, this Agreement
and the other Loan Documents and any other documents

                                       83

<PAGE>

prepared  in  connection  herewith or  therewith,  and the  consummation  of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including, without limitation, the
reasonable  fees  and   disbursements  and  other  charges  of  counsel  to  the
Administrative Agent, (b) to pay or reimburse each Lender and each Agent for all
their  costs  and  expenses  incurred  in  connection  with the  enforcement  or
preservation  of any rights under this  Agreement,  the other Loan Documents and
any  such  other  documents,   including,   without  limitation,  the  fees  and
disbursements  of counsel  (including the allocated fees and  disbursements  and
other charges of in-house  counsel) to each Lender and of counsel to the Agents,
(c) to pay, and indemnify and hold harmless each Lender and each Agent from, any
and all recording and filing fees and any and all  liabilities  with respect to,
or resulting from any delay in paying,  stamp,  excise and other taxes,  if any,
which  may be  payable  or  determined  to be  payable  in  connection  with the
execution  and  delivery of, or  consummation  or  administration  of any of the
transactions  contemplated by, or any amendment,  supplement or modification of,
or any waiver or consent under or in respect of, this Agreement,  the other Loan
Documents and any such other  documents,  and (d) to pay, and indemnify and hold
harmless  each  Lender,  each  Agent,  their  respective  affiliates,  and their
respective  officers,  directors,  trustees,  employees,  advisors,  agents  and
controlling persons (each, an "Indemnitee") from and against,  any and all other
liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits,
costs,  expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature  whatsoever with respect
to the execution, delivery, enforcement,  performance and administration of this
Agreement,  the other Loan  Documents and any such other  documents,  including,
without limitation,  any of the foregoing relating to the use of proceeds of the
Loans or the use of the  Letters of Credit or the  violation  of,  noncompliance
with or liability under, any  Environmental  Law applicable to the operations of
Holdings, the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of the Properties and the
fees and  disbursements  and other charges of legal  counsel in connection  with
claims,  actions or proceedings by any Indemnitee against the Borrower hereunder
(all  the  foregoing  in  this  clause  (d),   collectively,   the  "Indemnified
Liabilities"), provided, that the Borrower shall have no obligation hereunder to
any  Indemnitee  with  respect to  Indemnified  Liabilities  to the extent  such
Indemnified  Liabilities  are found by a final and  nonappealable  decision of a
court of competent  jurisdiction  to have resulted from the gross  negligence or
willful  misconduct of such Indemnitee.  Without limiting the foregoing,  and to
the extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower agrees not to assert and to
cause its Subsidiaries not to assert,  and hereby waives and agrees to cause its
Subsidiaries  so to waive,  all rights for  contribution  or any other rights of
recovery with respect to all claims,  demands,  penalties,  fines,  liabilities,
settlements,  damages,  costs and expenses of whatever kind or nature,  under or
related  to  Environmental  Laws,  that any of them  might  have by  statute  or
otherwise  against any  indemnitee.  All amounts due under this Section shall be
payable not later than 30 days after written demand therefor. Statements payable
by the Borrower  pursuant to this Section  shall be submitted to the  Borrower's
chief financial officer (Telephone No. 973-228-2500) (Fax No. 973-228-7461),  at
the address of the Borrower set forth in Section 9.2, or to such other Person or
address as may be hereafter  designated  by the Borrower in a written  notice to
the  Administrative  Agent  (which  shall  promptly  notify  each  Lender).  The
agreements in this Section shall survive repayment of the Revolving Credit Loans
and all other amounts payable hereunder.

         9.6 Successors and Assigns;  Participations  and Assignments.  (a) This
Agreement  shall be  binding  upon and inure to the  benefit  of  Holdings,  the
Borrower,  the Lenders,

                                       84

<PAGE>


the Agents, all future holders of the Loans and their respective  successors and
assigns,  except that the  Borrower may not assign or transfer any of its rights
or  obligations  under this Agreement  without the prior written  consent of the
Agents and each Lender.

         (b) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower,  in accordance
with  applicable  law,  at  any  time  sell  to  one or  more  banks,  financial
institutions or other entities (each, a "Participant")  participating  interests
in any  Revolving  Credit  Loan  owing  to such  Lender,  the  Revolving  Credit
Commitment  of such Lender or any other  interest of such Lender  hereunder  and
under the other Loan  Documents.  In the event of any such sale by a Lender of a
participating  interest to a Participant,  such Lender's  obligations under this
Agreement to the other parties to this Agreement  shall remain  unchanged,  such
Lender shall remain solely responsible for the performance thereof,  such Lender
shall remain the holder of any such Revolving  Credit Loan or any  Reimbursement
Obligation for all purposes  under this Agreement and the other Loan  Documents,
and the Borrower and the Agents shall  continue to deal solely and directly with
such Lender in connection with such Lender's  rights and obligations  under this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents.  In no event shall any Participant under
any such  participation have any right to approve any amendment or waiver of any
provision  of any Loan  Document,  or any consent to any  departure  by any Loan
Party  therefrom,  except to the extent that such  amendment,  waiver or consent
would  reduce the  principal  of, or  interest  on,  the Loans or  Reimbursement
Obligations or any fees payable  hereunder,  release all or substantially all of
the Collateral,  release all or  substantially  all of the Guarantors from their
guarantee obligations under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement,  or postpone
the date of the final maturity of the Loans,  in each case to the extent subject
to such  participation.  The Borrower agrees that if amounts  outstanding  under
this  Agreement  are due or unpaid,  or shall have been  declared  or shall have
become  due and  payable  upon  the  occurrence  of an Event  of  Default,  each
Participant  shall, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, be deemed
to have the right of setoff in respect of its participating  interest in amounts
owing  under  this  Agreement  to  the  same  extent  as if  the  amount  of its
participating  interest  were  owing  directly  to it  as a  Lender  under  this
Agreement,  provided  that,  in purchasing  such  participating  interest,  such
Participant  shall be  deemed  to have  agreed  to share  with the  Lenders  the
proceeds  thereof as provided in Section  9.7(a) as fully as if it were a Lender
hereunder.  The Borrower also agrees that each Participant  shall be entitled to
the benefits of Sections 2.14,  2.15 and 2.16 with respect to its  participation
in the Commitments and the Loans and Reimbursement  Obligations outstanding from
time to time as if it were a Lender; provided that, in the case of Section 2.15,
such  Participant  shall have complied with the requirements of said Section and
provided,  further, that no Participant shall be entitled to receive any greater
amount  pursuant to any such Section than the transferor  Lender would have been
entitled to receive in respect of the amount of the participation transferred by
such transferor Lender to such Participant had no such transfer occurred.

         (c) Any Lender (an  "Assignor")  may, in accordance with applicable law
and upon written notice to the  Syndication  Agent, at any time and from time to
time  assign  to any  Lender  or any  affiliate  or  Approved  Fund  or  Control
Investment Affiliate thereof or, with the consent of the Borrower,  the relevant
Issuing Lender and the Agents (which,  in each case,  shall not be  unreasonably
withheld or delayed),  to an additional  bank,  financial  institution  or other
entity (an "Assignee") all or any part of its rights and obligations  under this
Agreement pursuant to an

                                       85

<PAGE>

Assignment  and  Acceptance,  executed by such Assignee and such Assignor  (and,
where the  consent of the  Borrower  or the Agents is  required  pursuant to the
foregoing  provisions,  by the Borrower and such other Persons) and delivered to
the  Administrative  Agent for its  acceptance  and  recording in the  Register;
provided that no such  assignment  to an Assignee  (other than any Lender or any
affiliate or Approved Fund thereof) shall be in an aggregate principal amount of
less  than  $5,000,000  (other  than in the  case of an  assignment  of all of a
Lender's  interests  under  this  Agreement),  unless  otherwise  agreed  by the
Borrower,  the  Syndication  Agent  and  the  Administrative  Agent.  Upon  such
execution, delivery, acceptance and recording, from and after the effective date
determined  pursuant  to  such  Assignment  and  Acceptance,  (x)  the  Assignee
thereunder  shall  be a  party  hereto  and,  to the  extent  provided  in  such
Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender hereunder
with a Revolving Credit Commitment and/or Loans and other interests as set forth
therein,  and (y) the Assignor  thereunder shall, to the extent provided in such
Assignment and Acceptance, be released from its obligations under this Agreement
(and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance  covering all of an Assignor's
rights and obligations  under this Agreement,  such Assignor shall cease to be a
party hereto except as to Sections  2.14,  2.15,  2.17 and 9.5 in respect of the
period prior to such  effective  date).  Notwithstanding  any  provision of this
Section,  the consent of the Borrower  shall not be required for any  assignment
that  occurs at any time when any Event of Default  shall have  occurred  and be
continuing.

         (d) The Administrative Agent shall, on behalf of the Borrower, maintain
at its  address  referred  to in  Section  9.2 a copy  of  each  Assignment  and
Acceptance  delivered to it and a register (the  "Register") for the recordation
of the names and  addresses of the Lenders and the Revolving  Credit  Commitment
of, and principal  amount of the  Revolving  Extensions of Credit owing to, each
Lender from time to time. The entries in the Register  shall be  conclusive,  in
the absence of manifest error, and the Borrower,  the  Administrative  Agent and
the Lenders  shall treat each Person  whose name is recorded in the  Register as
the owner of the  Revolving  Extensions of Credit and any Notes  evidencing  the
Loans recorded therein for all purposes of this Agreement. Any assignment of any
Loan,  whether  or not  evidenced  by a  Note,  shall  be  effective  only  upon
appropriate  entries with respect  thereto  being made in the Register (and each
Note shall expressly so provide). Any assignment or transfer of all or part of a
Loan evidenced by a Note shall be registered on the Register only upon surrender
for  registration  of assignment or transfer of the Note  evidencing  such Loan,
accompanied by a duly executed Assignment and Acceptance;  thereupon one or more
new  Notes  in the same  aggregate  principal  amount  shall  be  issued  to the
designated  Assignee,  and the old Notes shall be returned by the Administrative
Agent to the Borrower  marked  "canceled".  The Register  shall be available for
inspection by the Borrower or any Lender (with respect to any entry  relating to
such Lender's  Revolving  Extensions of Credit) or Agent at any reasonable  time
and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

         (e) Upon its receipt of an  Assignment  and  Acceptance  executed by an
Assignor and an Assignee (and, in any case where the consent of any other Person
is required by Section 9.6(c),  by each such other Person) together with payment
to the  Administrative  Agent of a  registration  and  processing  fee of $3,500
(except that no such  registration  and  processing  fee shall be payable (y) in
connection  with an  assignment  by or to Lehman  Commercial  Paper Inc.  or any
Affiliate thereof or (z) in the case of an Assignee which is already a Lender or
is an affiliate

                                       86

<PAGE>

or Approved Fund of a Lender or a Person under common management with a Lender),
the  Administrative   Agent  shall  (i)  promptly  accept  such  Assignment  and
Acceptance and (ii) on the effective date determined pursuant thereto record the
information contained therein in the Register and give notice of such acceptance
and recordation to the Lenders, the Agents and the Borrower. On or prior to such
effective date, the Borrower,  at its own expense,  upon request,  shall execute
and  deliver  to the  Administrative  Agent  (in  exchange  for the  Note of the
assigning Lender) a new Note to the order of such Assignee in an amount equal to
the Revolving Credit  Commitment  acquired by it pursuant to such Assignment and
Acceptance and, if the Assignor has retained a Revolving Credit Commitment, upon
request,  a new Note to the  order of the  Assignor  in an  amount  equal to the
Revolving  Credit  Commitment  retained by it hereunder.  Such new Note or Notes
shall be dated the Closing  Date and shall  otherwise be in the form of the Note
or Notes replaced thereby.

         (f) For avoidance of doubt,  the parties to this Agreement  acknowledge
that the  provisions of this Section  concerning  assignments of Loans and Notes
relate only to absolute  assignments  and that such  provisions  do not prohibit
assignments  creating security interests,  including,  without  limitation,  any
pledge or assignment by a Lender of any Loan or Note to any Federal Reserve Bank
in accordance with applicable law.

         9.7 Adjustments; Set-off. (a) Except to the extent that Section 2.19 of
this Agreement  provides for payments to a substituted  Lender, if any Lender (a
"Benefitted Lender") shall at any time receive any payment of all or part of the
Obligations  owing to it, or receive any collateral in respect thereof  (whether
voluntarily or involuntarily,  by set-off,  pursuant to events or proceedings of
the nature referred to in Section 7(f), or otherwise),  in a greater  proportion
than any such payment to or collateral  received by any other Lender, if any, in
respect  of such  other  Lender's  Obligations,  such  Benefitted  Lender  shall
purchase  for cash  from the  other  Lenders a  participating  interest  in such
portion of each such other  Lender's  Obligations,  or shall  provide such other
Lenders with the benefits of any such collateral, as shall be necessary to cause
such  Benefitted  Lender  to  share  the  excess  payment  or  benefits  of such
collateral ratably with each of the Lenders;  provided,  however, that if all or
any portion of such excess payment or benefits is thereafter recovered from such
Benefitted Lender, such purchase shall be rescinded,  and the purchase price and
benefits returned, to the extent of such recovery, but without interest.

         (b) In addition to any rights and  remedies of the Lenders  provided by
law,  each Lender shall have the right,  without prior notice to Holdings or the
Borrower, any such notice being expressly waived by Holdings and the Borrower to
the extent permitted by applicable law, upon any amount becoming due and payable
by the Borrower  hereunder  (whether at the stated maturity,  by acceleration or
otherwise), to set off and appropriate and apply against such amount any and all
deposits  (general or special,  time or demand,  provisional  or final),  in any
currency,  and any other credits,  indebtedness or claims,  in any currency,  in
each case  whether  direct or  indirect,  absolute  or  contingent,  matured  or
unmatured,  at any time  held or owing by such  Lender  or any  branch or agency
thereof to or for the credit or the account of Holdings or the Borrower,  as the
case may be.  Each  Lender  agrees  promptly  to  notify  the  Borrower  and the
Administrative  Agent after any such setoff and application made by such Lender,
provided  that the failure to give such notice  shall not affect the validity of
such setoff and application.

                                       87

<PAGE>

         9.8 Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the
parties to this  Agreement  on any number of separate  counterparts,  and all of
said counterparts  taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same
instrument.  Delivery  of an  executed  signature  page  of  this  Agreement  by
facsimile  transmission  shall be effective  as delivery of a manually  executed
counterpart  hereof.  A set of the  copies of this  Agreement  signed by all the
parties shall be lodged with the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

         9.9 Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective
to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability  without  invalidating the
remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any
jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render  unenforceable such provision in any
other jurisdiction.

         9.10 Integration. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents represent
the entire agreement of Holdings, the Borrower, the Agents, the Arranger and the
Lenders with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof,  and there are no
promises, undertakings, representations or warranties by the Arranger, any Agent
or any Lender  relative to subject  matter  hereof or thereof not  expressly set
forth or referred to herein or in the other Loan Documents.

         9.11 GOVERNING  LAW. THIS  AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND  OBLIGATIONS OF
THE  PARTIES  UNDER THIS  AGREEMENT  SHALL BE  GOVERNED  BY, AND  CONSTRUED  AND
INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

         9.12  Submission  To  Jurisdiction;  Waivers.  Each of Holdings and the
Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally:

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

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

         (c) agrees that service of process in any such action or proceeding may
    be effected by mailing a copy thereof by  registered  or certified  mail (or
    any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to Holdings or the
    Borrower,  as the case may be, at its address set forth in Section 9.2 or at
    such  other  address  of which  the  Administrative  Agent  shall  have been
    notified pursuant thereto;

                                       88

<PAGE>

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

         (e) waives,  to the maximum  extent not prohibited by law, any right it
    may have to claim or recover in any legal action or  proceeding  referred to
    in this Section any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages.

         9.13  Acknowledgments.   Each  of  Holdings  and  the  Borrower  hereby
acknowledges that:

         (a) it has been advised by counsel in the  negotiation,  execution  and
    delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;

         (b) neither the  Arranger,  any Agent nor any Lender has any  fiduciary
    relationship  with or duty to Holdings or the Borrower  arising out of or in
    connection with this Agreement or any of the other Loan  Documents,  and the
    relationship  between the Arranger,  the Agents and the Lenders,  on the one
    hand,  and  Holdings  and the  Borrower,  on the other hand,  in  connection
    herewith or therewith is solely that of debtor and creditor; and

         (c) no joint venture is created  hereby or by the other Loan  Documents
    or otherwise exists by virtue of the transactions  contemplated hereby among
    the Arranger, the Agents and the Lenders or among Holdings, the Borrower and
    the Lenders.

         9.14 Confidentiality. Each of the Agents and the Lenders agrees to keep
confidential  all  non-public  information  provided  to it by  any  Loan  Party
pursuant  to  this   Agreement   that  is  designated  by  such  Loan  Party  as
confidential; provided that nothing herein shall prevent any Agent or any Lender
from disclosing any such  information (a) to the Arranger,  any Agent, any other
Lender or any affiliate or Approved Fund of any thereof,  (b) to any Participant
or Assignee  (each, a  "Transferee")  or prospective  Transferee  that agrees to
comply  with  the  provisions  of  this  Section,  (c) to any of its  employees,
directors,  agents, attorneys,  accountants and other professional advisors, (d)
to  any  financial   institution  that  is  a  direct  or  indirect  contractual
counterparty in swap agreements or such contractual counterparty's  professional
advisor (so long as such  contractual  counterparty or  professional  advisor to
such  contractual  counterparty  agrees  to be bound by the  provisions  of this
Section),  (e)  upon  the  request  or  demand  of  any  Governmental  Authority
(including, without limitation, bank regulatory authorities) having jurisdiction
over  it,  (f) in  response  to any  order of any  court  or other  Governmental
Authority (including, without limitation, bank regulatory authorities) or as may
otherwise be required pursuant to any Requirement of Law, (g) in connection with
any litigation or similar proceeding, (h) that has been publicly disclosed other
than in breach of this  Section,  (i) to the National  Association  of Insurance
Commissioners or any similar  organization or any nationally  recognized  rating
agency that requires access to information about a Lender's investment portfolio
in  connection  with  ratings  issued  with  respect  to such  Lender  or (j) in
connection  with the  exercise of any remedy  hereunder  or under any other Loan
Document.

                                       89

<PAGE>

         9.15  Release  of  Collateral   Security  and  Guarantee   Obligations.
Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary  contained  herein or in the Guarantee
and Collateral Agreement, upon request of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent
shall  (without  notice to or vote or consent of any Lender) take action  having
the effect of releasing any Collateral and/or guarantee obligations provided for
in the  Guarantee  and  Collateral  Agreement to the extent  necessary to permit
consummation,  by the  relevant  Person  in  accordance  with the  terms of this
Agreement  and the other  Loan  Documents,  of any  transaction  not  prohibited
hereunder or under the Revolving Credit Agreement.

         9.16 Accounting  Changes. In the event that any "Accounting Change" (as
defined  below) shall occur and such change results in a change in the method of
calculation of financial covenants,  standards or terms in this Agreement,  then
the Borrower and the  Administrative  Agent agree to enter into  negotiations in
order to amend such provisions of this Agreement so as to equitably reflect such
Accounting  Changes with the desired result that the criteria for evaluating the
Borrower's  financial  condition shall be the same after such Accounting Changes
as if such  Accounting  Changes  had not been  made.  Until such time as such an
amendment  shall  have  been  executed  and  delivered  by  the  Borrower,   the
Administrative   Agent  and  the  Required  Lenders,  all  financial  covenants,
standards  and  terms in this  Agreement  shall  continue  to be  calculated  or
construed as if such Accounting Changes had not occurred.  "Accounting  Changes"
refers to changes in accounting  principles  required by the promulgation of any
rule, regulation, pronouncement or opinion by the Financial Accounting Standards
Board  of  the  American  Institute  of  Certified  Public  Accountants  or,  if
applicable, the SEC.

         9.17  Delivery of Lender  Addenda.  Each initial  Lender shall become a
party to this  Agreement  by  delivering  to the  Administrative  Agent  and the
Syndication  Agent a Lender Addendum duly executed by such Lender,  the Borrower
and each Agent.

         9.18 WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL.  HOLDINGS, THE BORROWER, THE AGENTS AND THE
LENDERS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY  WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL
ACTION OR PROCEEDING  RELATING TO THIS  AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AND
FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.

                                       90

<PAGE>

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


                                            B&G FOODS HOLDINGS CORP.


                                            By: /s/ Robert Cantwell
                                               --------------------------------
                                               Name:  Robert Cantwell
                                               Title: Chief Financial Officer

                                            B&G FOODS, INC.


                                            By: /s/ Robert Cantwell
                                               --------------------------------
                                               Name:  Robert Cantwell
                                               Title: Chief Financial Officer

                                            LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.,
                                            as Arranger


                                            By: /s/ William Gallagher
                                               --------------------------------
                                               Name:  William Gallagher
                                               Title: Authorized Signatory

                                            LEHMAN COMMERCIAL PAPER INC., as
                                              Syndication Agent and as
                                              Administrative Agent


                                            By: /s/ William Gallagher
                                               --------------------------------
                                               Name:  William Gallagher
                                               Title: Authorized Signatory


                                           THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
                                            as Documentation Agent


                                           By: /s/ Vito Michael Ferrone
                                              ---------------------------------
                                              Name:  Vito Michael Ferrone
                                              Title: Vice President


                                       91

<PAGE>


                                           HELLER FINANCIAL, INC.,
                                            as Co-Documentation Agent


                                           By: /s/
                                              ---------------------------------
                                              Name:
                                              Title:


                                       92

<PAGE>


                                                                        Annex A
                                                                        -------


           PRICING GRID FOR REVOLVING CREDIT LOANS AND COMMITMENT FEES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       <S>                               <C>                         <C>                  <C>    

       -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Consolidated Leverage Ratio    Applicable Margin for        Applicable Margin   Commitment Fee
                                         Eurodollar Loans            for Base Rate Loans  Rate
       -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Greater than or equal to 4.75 to            3.125                    2.125                .60
       1.00
       -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Less than 4.75 to 1.00, but                 2.875                    1.875                .60
       greater than or equal to 4.25 to
       1.00
       -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Less than 4.25 to 1.00, but                 2.625                    1.625                .50
       greater than or equal to 3.75 to
       1.00
       -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Less than 3.75 to 1.00, but                 2.375                    1.375                .50
       greater than 3.25 to 1.00
       -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Less than 3.25 to 1.00                      2.125                    1.125                .50
       -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

</TABLE>


Changes in the Applicable  Margin with respect to Loans or in the Commitment Fee
Rate  resulting  from changes in the  Consolidated  Leverage  Ratio shall become
effective on the date (the "Adjustment Date") on which financial  statements are
delivered  to the  Lenders  pursuant  to Section 6.1 (but in any event not later
than the 45th day after the end of each of the first three quarterly  periods of
each fiscal year or the 90th day after the end of each fiscal year,  as the case
may be) and shall remain in effect until the next change to be effected pursuant
to this  paragraph.  If any  financial  statements  referred  to  above  are not
delivered within the time periods  specified  above,  then, until such financial
statements are delivered,  the Consolidated  Leverage Ratio as at the end of the
fiscal  period that would have been  covered  thereby  shall for the purposes of
this Pricing  Grid be deemed to be greater  than 4.75 to 1. In addition,  at all
times  while an Event of Default  shall have  occurred  and be  continuing,  the
Consolidated  Leverage  Ratio  shall for the  purposes of this  Pricing  Grid be
deemed to be  greater  than 4.75 to 1. Each  determination  of the  Consolidated
Leverage  Ratio  pursuant to this Pricing Grid shall be made with respect to the
period of four consecutive  fiscal quarters of the Borrower ending at the end of
the period covered by the relevant financial statements. 

<PAGE>

                                                                         Annex B
                                                                         -------


                      EXISTING GUARANTEED LETTERS OF CREDIT


<PAGE>

                                                                         Annex C
                                                                         -------


                           EXISTING LETTERS OF CREDIT




<PAGE>


                                                                    SCHEDULE 1.1
                                                


                               MORTGAGED PROPERTY


<PAGE>

                                                                    SCHEDULE 3.4


                  CONSENTS, AUTHORIZATIONS, FILINGS AND NOTICES




<PAGE>

                                                                    SCHEDULE 3.9
                                                                    


                          INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CLAIMS



<PAGE>

                                                                   SCHEDULE 3.15


                                  SUBSIDIARIES




<PAGE>
                                                              SCHEDULE 3.19(a)-1


                            UCC FILING JURISDICTIONS

                   Loan Party                  Filing Office
               -----------------           ---------------------




         [Borrower  to list  name of each  Loan  Party  which  is a party to any
Security Document and each filing office in which a UCC financing statement must
be filed in respect of such Loan Party and its collateral]




<PAGE>


                                                              SCHEDULE 3.19(a)-2


                   UCC FINANCING STATEMENTS TO REMAIN ON FILE




<PAGE>

                                                             SCHEDULE 3.19(a)-3


                    UCC FINANCING STATEMENTS TO BE TERMINATED

                                                            

<PAGE>

                                                                SCHEDULE 3.19(b)
                                                                


                          MORTGAGE FILING JURISDICTIONS





<PAGE>

                                                                 SCHEDULE 6.2(d)


                              EXISTING INDEBTEDNESS




<PAGE>

                                                                 SCHEDULE 6.3(f)


                                 EXISTING LIENS








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



                                  $220,000,000

                               TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

                                      among

                            B&G FOODS HOLDINGS CORP.

                                B&G FOODS, INC.,
                                   as Borrower

                               The Several Lenders
                        from Time to Time Parties Hereto,

                              LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.,
                                   as Arranger

                              THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
                             as Documentation Agent

                             HELLER FINANCIAL, INC.,
                            as Co-Documentation Agent

                          LEHMAN COMMERCIAL PAPER INC.,
                              as Syndication Agent

                                       and

                          LEHMAN COMMERCIAL PAPER INC.,
                             as Administrative Agent


                           Dated as of March 15, 1999



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

<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                                                            Page

SECTION 1.  DEFINITIONS........................................................1
         1.1  Defined Terms....................................................1
         1.2  Other Definitional Provisions...................................25

SECTION 2.  AMOUNT AND TERMS OF COMMITMENTS...................................26
         2.1  Term Loan Commitments...........................................26
         2.2  Procedure for Term Loan Borrowing...............................26
         2.3  Repayment of Term Loans.........................................26
         2.4  Repayment of Term Loans; Evidence of Debt.......................27
         2.5  Fees, etc. .....................................................28
         2.6  Optional Prepayments............................................28
         2.7  Mandatory Prepayments and Commitment Reductions.................29
         2.8  Conversion and Continuation Options.............................30
         2.9  Minimum Amounts and Maximum Number of Eurodollar Tranches.......30
         2.10  Interest Rates and Payment Dates...............................31
         2.11  Computation of Interest and Fees...............................31
         2.12  Inability to Determine Interest Rate...........................32
         2.13  Pro Rata Treatment and Payments................................32
         2.14  Requirements of Law............................................34
         2.15  Taxes..........................................................35
         2.16  Indemnity......................................................37
         2.17  Illegality.....................................................38
         2.18  Change of Lending Office.......................................38
         2.19  Substitution of Lenders........................................38

SECTION 3.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES....................................39
         3.1  Financial Condition.............................................39
         3.2  No Change.......................................................40
         3.3  Corporate Existence; Compliance with Law........................40
         3.4  Corporate Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations.........40
         3.5  No Legal Bar....................................................41
         3.6  No Material Litigation..........................................41
         3.7  No Default......................................................41
         3.8  Ownership of Property; Liens....................................41
         3.9  Intellectual Property...........................................41
         3.10  Taxes..........................................................41
         3.11  Federal Regulations............................................42
         3.12  Labor Matters..................................................42
         3.13  ERISA..........................................................42
         3.14  Investment Company Act; Other Regulations......................42
         3.15  Subsidiaries...................................................42
         3.16  Use of Proceeds................................................43
         3.17  Environmental Matters..........................................43
         3.18  Accuracy of Information, etc...................................44
         3.19  Security Documents.............................................44
         3.20  Solvency.......................................................45
         3.21  Senior Indebtedness............................................45

                                       i

<PAGE>

         3.22  Regulation H...................................................45
         3.23  Year 2000 Matters..............................................45

SECTION 4.  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT..............................................46
         4.1  Conditions to Term Loans........................................46

SECTION 5.  AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.............................................51
         5.1  Financial Statements............................................51
         5.2  Certificates; Other Information.................................51
         5.3  Payment of Obligations..........................................53
         5.4  Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence, etc. .........53
         5.5  Maintenance of Property; Insurance..............................53
         5.6  Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions..........53
         5.7  Notices.........................................................54
         5.8  Environmental Laws..............................................54
         5.9  Interest Rate Protection........................................55
         5.10  Additional Collateral, etc.....................................55
         5.11  Further Assurances.............................................56

SECTION 6.  NEGATIVE COVENANTS................................................57
         6.1  Financial Condition Covenants...................................57
         6.2  Limitation on Indebtedness......................................61
         6.3  Limitation on Liens.............................................62
         6.4  Limitation on Fundamental Changes...............................63
         6.5  Limitation on Disposition of Property...........................63
         6.6  Limitation on Restricted Payments...............................64
         6.7  Limitation on Capital Expenditures..............................64
         6.8  Limitation on Investments.......................................65
         6.9  Limitation on Optional Payments and Modifications of 
                Debt Instruments, etc. .......................................66
         6.10  Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates.....................66
         6.11  Limitation on Sales and Leasebacks.............................66
         6.12  Limitation on Changes in Fiscal Periods........................67
         6.13  Limitation on Negative Pledge Clauses..........................67
         6.14  Limitation on Lines of Business................................67
         6.15  Limitation on Amendments to Acquisition Documentation..........67
         6.16  Limitation on Activities of Holdings...........................67
         6.17  Limitation on Withdrawal of Reinvestment Deferred Amount.......68

SECTION 7.  EVENTS OF DEFAULT.................................................68

SECTION 8.  THE AGENTS........................................................71
         8.1  Appointment.....................................................71
         8.2  Delegation of Duties............................................71
         8.3  Exculpatory Provisions..........................................71
         8.4  Reliance by Agents..............................................72
         8.5  Notice of Default...............................................72
         8.6  Non-Reliance on Agents and Other Lenders........................72
         8.7  Indemnification.................................................73
         8.8  Agent in Its Individual Capacity................................73
         8.9  Successor Agents................................................73
         8.10  Authorization to Release Liens; Other Actions Relating to 
               Security Documents.............................................74
         8.11  The Arranger, the Co-Documentation Agent and the 
               Documentation Agent............................................74

                                       ii

<PAGE>

SECTION 9.  MISCELLANEOUS.....................................................75
         9.1  Amendments and Waivers..........................................75
         9.2  Notices.........................................................76
         9.3  No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies..................................77
         9.4  Survival of Representations and Warranties......................78
         9.5  Payment of Expenses.............................................78
         9.6  Successors and Assigns; Participations and Assignments..........79
         9.7  Adjustments; Set-off............................................81
         9.8  Counterparts....................................................82
         9.9  Severability....................................................82
         9.10  Integration....................................................82
         9.11  GOVERNING LAW..................................................82
         9.12  Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers............................82
         9.13  Acknowledgments................................................83
         9.14  Confidentiality................................................83
         9.15  Release of Collateral Security and Guarantee Obligations.......84
         9.16  Accounting Changes.............................................84
         9.17  Delivery of Lender Addenda.....................................84
         9.18  WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL..........................................84



                                      iii

<PAGE>

ANNEXES:

A                     Pricing Grid for Tranche A Term Loans


SCHEDULES:

1.1                   Mortgaged Property
3.4                   Consents, Authorizations, Filings and Notices
3.9                   Intellectual Property Claims
3.15                  Subsidiaries
3.19(a)-1             UCC Filing Jurisdictions
3.19(a)-2             UCC Financing Statements to Remain on File
3.19(a)-3             UCC Financing Statements to be Terminated
3.19(b)               Mortgage Filing Jurisdictions
4.1(j)                Environmental Assessments
6.2(d)                Existing Indebtedness
6.3(f)                Existing Liens


EXHIBITS:

A                     Form of Guarantee and Collateral Agreement
B                     Form of Compliance Certificate
C                     Form of Closing Certificate
D                     Form of Mortgage
E                     Form of Assignment and Acceptance
F-1                   Form of Legal Opinion of Dechert, Price & Rhoads
F-2                   Form of Legal Opinion of Local Counsel
G                     Form of Term Note
H                     Form of Prepayment Option Notice
I                     Form of Exemption Certificate
J                     Form of Lender Addendum




                                       iv

<PAGE>


         TERM  LOAN  AGREEMENT,  dated as of March  15,  1999,  among  B&G FOODS
HOLDINGS CORP., a Delaware corporation ("Holdings"), B&G FOODS, INC., a Delaware
corporation (the "Borrower"), the several banks and other financial institutions
or entities from time to time parties to this Agreement (the "Lenders"),  LEHMAN
BROTHERS INC., as advisor, lead arranger and book manager (in such capacity, the
"Arranger"), THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as documentation agent (in such capacity, the
"Documentation  Agent"),  HELLER FINANCIAL,  INC., as co-documentation agent (in
such capacity, the "Co-Documentation  Agent"),  LEHMAN COMMERCIAL PAPER INC., as
syndication  agent (in such  capacity,  the  "Syndication  Agent"),  and  LEHMAN
COMMERCIAL  PAPER  INC.,  as  administrative   agent  (in  such  capacity,   the
"Administrative Agent").


                              W I T N E S S E T H:


         WHEREAS,  the  Borrower  wishes  to  establish  the  credit  facilities
described  below to provide a portion of the  financing  for (i) the  Borrower's
acquisition of the Heritage  Portfolio of Brands from The Pillsbury  Company and
(ii) the  refinancing of certain  existing  senior secured debt of the Borrower;
and

         WHEREAS,  the  Lenders  are  willing  to make  such  credit  facilities
available upon and subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;

         NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the premises and the agreements
hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

                             SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS

         1.1 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement,  the terms listed in this
Section 1.1 shall have the respective meanings set forth in this Section 1.1.

         "Acquired   Assets":   the  Transferred   Assets  (as  defined  in  the
    Acquisition Agreement).

         "Acquired  Property":  as defined  in the  definition  of  Consolidated
    EBITDA.

         "Acquisition":  the  acquisition  by the  Borrower,  or a wholly  owned
    Subsidiary  of  the  Borrower,  of  the  Acquired  Assets  pursuant  to  the
    Acquisition Agreement.

         "Acquisition Agreement":  the Asset and Stock Purchase Agreement, dated
    as of January 28,  1999,  among The  Pillsbury  Company,  the  Borrower  and
    others.

         "Acquisition  Documentation":  collectively,  the Acquisition Agreement
    and all schedules,  exhibits,  annexes and  amendments  thereto and all side
    letters  and  agreements  affecting  the terms  thereof or  entered  into in
    connection  therewith,  in each case, as amended,  supplemented or otherwise
    modified from time to time.


<PAGE>

         "Adjustment Date": as defined in the Pricing Grid.

         "Administrative Agent": as defined in the preamble hereto.

         "Affiliate":  as to any Person,  any other  Person  which,  directly or
    indirectly,  is in control of, is controlled  by, or is under common control
    with, such Person.  For purposes of this  definition,  "control" of a Person
    means the power,  directly or indirectly,  either to (a) vote 10% or more of
    the securities  having  ordinary  voting power for the election of directors
    (or persons  performing  similar  functions) of such Person or (b) direct or
    cause the direction of the management  and policies of such Person,  whether
    by contract or otherwise.

         "Agents":  the collective  reference to the  Documentation  Agent,  the
    Co-Documentation  Agent, the Syndication Agent and the Administrative Agent.
    "Aggregate  Exposure":  with  respect to any  Lender at any time,  an amount
    equal to (a) until the Closing Date,  the aggregate  amount of such Lender's
    Commitment  at such  time and (b)  thereafter,  the  aggregate  then  unpaid
    principal   amount  of  such  Lender's  Term  Loans.   

         "Aggregate Exposure Percentage" with respect to any Lender at any time,
    the ratio (expressed as a percentage) of such Lender's Aggregate Exposure at
    such  time  to  the  Aggregate   Exposure  of  all  Lenders  at  such  time.

         "Agreement":  this Term Loan  Agreement,  as amended,  supplemented  or
    otherwise modified from time to time.  

         "Applicable Margin": for each Type of Term Loan, the rate per annum set
    forth under the relevant column heading below:  

                                                   Base Rate      Eurodollar  
                                                     Loans          Loans
                                                   ---------      ----------

          Tranche A Term Loans                      2.125%          3.125%
          Tranche B Term Loans                      2.25%           3.25%

    provided,  that on and after the first  Adjustment  Date occurring after the
    completion  of two full fiscal  quarters of the  Borrower  after the Closing
    Date,  the  Applicable  Margin with  respect to Tranche A Term Loans will be
    determined pursuant to the Pricing Grid.

        "Approved Fund": with respect to any Lender that is a fund that invests
    in commercial  loans, any other fund that invests in commercial loans and is
    managed or
 
                                       2

<PAGE>

    advised by the same investment  advisor as such Lender or by an Affiliate of
    such investment advisor.

         "Arranger": as defined in the preamble hereto.

         "Asset  Sale":  any  Disposition  of  Property  or  series  of  related
    Dispositions of Property (excluding any such Disposition permitted by clause
    (a),  (b),  (c) or (d) of  Section  6.5)  which  yields  gross  proceeds  to
    Holdings,  the  Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  (valued at the initial
    principal  amount  thereof in the case of non-cash  proceeds  consisting  of
    notes or other debt  securities  and valued at fair market value in the case
    of other non-cash proceeds) in excess of $1,000,000.

         "Assignee": as defined in Section 9.6(c).

         "Assignment   and   Acceptance":   each   Assignment  and   Acceptance,
    substantially  in the form of Exhibit E, executed and delivered  pursuant to
    Section 9.6.

         "Assignor": as defined in Section 9.6(c).

         "Base  Rate":  for any  day,  a rate per  annum  (rounded  upwards,  if
    necessary,  to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to the  greatest  of (a) the Prime
    Rate in effect on such day,  (b) the Base CD Rate in effect on such day plus
    1% and (c) the Federal Funds  Effective Rate in effect on such day plus 2 of
    1%. For  purposes  hereof:  "Prime Rate" shall mean the rate of interest per
    annum publicly  announced  from time to time by the Reference  Lender as its
    prime or base rate in effect at its  principal  office in New York City (the
    Prime Rate not being  intended to be the lowest rate of interest  charged by
    the Reference  Lender in connection  with  extensions of credit to debtors);
    "Base CD Rate" shall mean the sum of (a) the product of (i) the  Three-Month
    Secondary CD Rate and (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the
    denominator of which is one minus the C/D Reserve Percentage and (b) the C/D
    Assessment  Rate;  and  "Three-Month  Secondary CD Rate" shall mean, for any
    day,  the  secondary  market rate for  three-month  certificates  of deposit
    reported  as being in  effect  on such day (or,  if such day  shall not be a
    Business  Day, the next  preceding  Business  Day) by the Board  through the
    public  information  telephone line of the Federal  Reserve Bank of New York
    (which rate will, under the current  practices of the Board, be published in
    Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15(519) during the week following such
    day),  or, if such rate  shall not be so  reported  on such day or such next
    preceding  Business Day, the average of the secondary market  quotations for
    three-month  certificates of deposit of major money center banks in New York
    City received at  approximately  10:00 A.M., New York City time, on such day
    (or, if such day shall not be a Business Day, on the next preceding Business
    Day) by the Reference Lender from three New York City negotiable certificate
    of deposit dealers of recognized  standing selected by it. Any change in the
    Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the Base CD Rate or the Federal
    Funds Effective Rate shall be effective as of the opening of business on the
    effective  day of such  change  in the Prime  Rate,  the Base CD Rate or the
    Federal Funds Effective Rate, respectively.

                                       3
<PAGE>

         "Base Rate Loans": Term Loans for which the applicable rate of interest
    is based upon the Base Rate.

         "Benefitted Lender": as defined in Section 9.7.

         "Board":  the Board of Governors of the Federal  Reserve  System of the
    United States (or any successor).

         "Borrower": as defined in the preamble hereto.

         "Business  Day":  (i) for all purposes  other than as covered by clause
    (ii)  below,  a day  other  than a  Saturday,  Sunday  or other day on which
    commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to close
    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) and  which is also a day for
    trading by and between banks in Dollar deposits in the interbank  eurodollar
    market.

         "Capital Expenditures": for any period, with respect to any Person, the
    aggregate of all  expenditures by such Person and its  Subsidiaries  for the
    acquisition  or leasing  (pursuant  to a capital  lease) of fixed or capital
    assets  or  additions  to  equipment  (including  replacements,  capitalized
    repairs and  improvements  during such period)  which should be  capitalized
    under  GAAP  on  a  consolidated  balance  sheet  of  such  Person  and  its
    Subsidiaries.

         "Capital Lease Obligations":  as to any Person, the obligations of such
    Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement
    conveying  the right to use) real or  personal  property,  or a  combination
    thereof,  which  obligations are required to be classified and accounted for
    as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and, for the
    purposes of this Agreement, the amount of such obligations at any time shall
    be the capitalized amount thereof at such time determined in accordance with
    GAAP.

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

         "Cash  Equivalents":  (a) marketable direct  obligations  issued by, or
    unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States Government or issued by any
    agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States,
    in each case  maturing  within  one year from the date of  acquisition;  (b)
    certificates  of  deposit,  time  deposits,   eurodollar  time  deposits  or
    overnight  bank  deposits  having  maturities of six months or less from the
    date of acquisition issued by any Lender or by any commercial bank organized
    under the laws of the United States of America or any state  thereof  having
    combined capital and surplus of not less than  $500,000,000;  (c) commercial
    paper of an

                                        4

<PAGE>

    issuer rated at least A-2 by Standard & Poor's Ratings  Services  ("S&P") or
    P-2  by  Moody's  Investors  Service,  Inc.  ("Moody's"),   or  carrying  an
    equivalent  rating by a nationally  recognized rating agency, if both of the
    two named rating  agencies  cease  publishing  ratings of  commercial  paper
    issuers  generally,  and  maturing  within  six  months  from  the  date  of
    acquisition;  (d) repurchase  obligations of any Lender or of any commercial
    bank satisfying the requirements of clause (b) of this definition,  having a
    term of not more than 30 days with  respect  to  securities  issued or fully
    guaranteed or insured by the United States  government;  (e) securities with
    maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition  issued or fully
    guaranteed by any state,  commonwealth or territory of the United States, by
    any  political   subdivision   or  taxing   authority  of  any  such  state,
    commonwealth  or territory or by any foreign  government,  the securities of
    which  state,  commonwealth,   territory,   political  subdivision,   taxing
    authority or foreign government (as the case may be) are rated at least A by
    S&P or A by Moody's;  (f) securities  with  maturities of six months or less
    from the date of acquisition  backed by standby  letters of credit issued by
    any Lender or any commercial bank satisfying the  requirements of clause (b)
    of this  definition;  and (g) shares of money market mutual or similar funds
    which invest  exclusively in assets  satisfying the  requirements of clauses
    (a) through (f) of this  definition.  "C/D Assessment  Rate": for any day as
    applied to any Base Rate Loan, the annual  assessment rate in effect on such
    day that is payable by a member of the Bank Insurance Fund maintained by the
    Federal   Deposit   Insurance   Corporation   (the  "FDIC")   classified  as
    well-capitalized  and  within  supervisory  subgroup  "B"  (or a  comparable
    successor  assessment risk  classification)  within the meaning of 12 C.F.R.
    Section  327.4 (or any successor  provision) to the FDIC (or any  successor)
    for the FDIC's (or such  successor's)  insuring  time deposits at offices of
    such institution in the United States. "C/D Reserve Percentage": for any day
    as applied to any Base Rate Loan, that  percentage  (expressed as a decimal)
    which is in effect on such day, as prescribed by the Board,  for determining
    the maximum reserve requirement for a Depositary  Institution (as defined in
    Regulation  D of the Board as in effect from time to time) in respect of new
    non-personal  time deposits in Dollars having a maturity of 30 days or more.
    "Closing  Date":  the date on which the  conditions  precedent  set forth in
    Section  4.1 shall have been  satisfied,  which date shall be not later than
    March 15, 1999.  "Code":  the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from
    time to time.

         "Co-Documentation Agent": as defined in the preamble hereto.

         "Collateral":  all Property of the Loan Parties, now owned or hereafter
    acquired,  upon which a Lien is  purported  to be  created  by any  Security
    Document.

         "Commitment":  as to any  Lender,  the sum of the  Tranche  A Term Loan
    Commitment  of such  Lender and the Tranche B Term Loan  Commitment  of such
    Lender.

                                       5

<PAGE>

         "Commonly  Controlled Entity": an entity,  whether or not incorporated,
    which is under  common  control  with the  Borrower  within  the  meaning of
    Section  4001 of ERISA or is part of a group that  includes the Borrower and
    that is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

         "Compliance Certificate":  a certificate duly executed by a Responsible
    Officer substantially in the form of Exhibit B.

         "Confidential  Information  Memorandum":  the Confidential  Information
    Memorandum dated February 1999 and furnished to the initial Lenders.

         "Consolidated  Current  Assets":  at any date,  all amounts (other than
    cash and Cash  Equivalents)  which would,  in  conformity  with GAAP, be set
    forth opposite the caption "total current assets" (or any like caption) on a
    consolidated  balance  sheet of the  Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  at such
    date.

         "Consolidated  Current  Liabilities":  at any date,  all  amounts  that
    would,  in conformity  with GAAP, be set forth  opposite the caption  "total
    current  liabilities" (or any like caption) on a consolidated  balance sheet
    of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  at such date,  but  excluding (a) the
    current portion of any Funded Debt of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries and
    (b) without duplication of clause (a) above, all Indebtedness  consisting of
    Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Line Loans to the extent otherwise included
    therein.

         "Consolidated  EBITDA": of any Person for any period,  Consolidated Net
    Income of such Person and its  Subsidiaries  for such period  plus,  without
    duplication and to the extent reflected as a charge in the statement of such
    Consolidated Net Income for such period,  the sum of (a) income tax expense,
    (b)  Consolidated  Interest  Expense of such  Person  and its  Subsidiaries,
    amortization  or  writeoff  of debt  discount  and debt  issuance  costs and
    commissions,   discounts  and  other  fees  and  charges   associated   with
    Indebtedness, (c) depreciation and amortization expense, (d) amortization of
    intangibles  (including,  but not limited  to,  goodwill)  and  organization
    costs, (e) any  extraordinary,  unusual or non-recurring  expenses or losses
    (including,  whether or not  otherwise  includable as a separate item in the
    statement of such  Consolidated Net Income for such period,  losses on sales
    of assets  outside of the  ordinary  course of  business)  and (f) any other
    non-cash charges, and minus, to the extent included in the statement of such
    Consolidated  Net Income for such  period,  the sum of (a)  interest  income
    (except  to  the  extent  deducted  in  determining   Consolidated  Interest
    Expense),  (b) any extraordinary,  unusual or non-recurring  income or gains
    (including,  whether or not  otherwise  includable as a separate item in the
    statement  of such  Consolidated  Net Income for such  period,  gains on the
    sales of assets  outside of the  ordinary  course of  business)  and (c) any
    other non-cash income, all as determined on a consolidated basis;  provided,
    that for purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its
    Subsidiaries for any period,  (i) the  Consolidated  EBITDA of any Person or
    assets  (such  person or  assets an  "Acquired  Property")  acquired  by the
    Borrower or its Subsidiaries during such period shall be included

                                        6

<PAGE>

    on a pro forma  basis for such period  (assuming  the  consummation  of such
    acquisition  and  the  incurrence  or  assumption  of  any  Indebtedness  in
    connection  therewith  occurred  on the  first  day of such  period)  if the
    balance  sheet  of  such  Acquired  Property  as at the  end  of the  period
    preceding  the  acquisition  of  such  Acquired  Property  and  the  related
    consolidated statements of income and stockholders' equity and of cash flows
    for the period in respect of which  Consolidated  EBITDA is to be calculated
    (x) have  been  previously  provided  to the  Administrative  Agent  and the
    Lenders  and (y) either (1) have been  reported  on without a  qualification
    arising  out of the  scope of the  audit  by  independent  certified  public
    accountants  of  nationally  recognized  standing  or (2)  have  been  found
    acceptable by the Administrative  Agent, (ii) the Consolidated EBITDA of any
    assets  Disposed of by the Borrower or its  Subsidiaries  during such period
    shall be  excluded  for  such  period  (assuming  the  consummation  of such
    Disposition and the repayment of any  Indebtedness  in connection  therewith
    occurred  on the first day of such  period)  and  (iii) in  calculating  the
    amount of the Consolidated EBITDA of any Acquired Property to be included on
    a pro forma basis pursuant to the foregoing clause (i) of this proviso,  the
    pro forma expenses of the Acquired Property for the relevant period shall be
    determined in accordance with the Borrower's  customary practices consistent
    with the  methodology  reflected in the Pro Forma  Balance Sheet and related
    financial statements included in the Confidential Information Memorandum.

         "Consolidated  Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio":  for any period, the ratio
    of (a)  Consolidated  EBITDA of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  for such
    period  minus the  aggregate  amount  actually  paid by the Borrower and its
    Subsidiaries  in cash during such period on account of Capital  Expenditures
    to (b) Consolidated Fixed Charges for such period.

         "Consolidated  Fixed  Charges":   for  any  period,  the  sum  (without
    duplication) of (a)  Consolidated  Interest  Expense of the Borrower and its
    Subsidiaries  for such period payable in cash, (b) provision for cash income
    taxes made by the  Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries  on a  consolidated
    basis in respect of such period  (excluding cash taxes payable in respect of
    any gain  recognized in connection  with a  Disposition,  to the extent such
    taxes are paid with proceeds of such Disposition) and (c) scheduled payments
    made during  such  period on account of  principal  of  Indebtedness  of the
    Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries  (including scheduled principal payments
    in respect of the Term Loans).

         "Consolidated  Interest Coverage Ratio":  for any period,  the ratio of
    (a) Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period
    to (b)  Consolidated  Interest  Expense of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
    for such period payable in cash.

         "Consolidated  Interest  Expense":  of any Person for any  period,  (a)
    total  interest  expense  (including  that  attributable  to  Capital  Lease
    Obligations)  of such  Person  and its  Subsidiaries  for such  period  with
    respect to all outstanding  Indebtedness of such Person and its Subsidiaries
    (including,  without limitation,  all commissions,  discounts and other fees
    and  charges  owed by such  Person  with  respect  to  letters of credit and
    bankers'
 
                                       7

<PAGE>

    acceptance  financing and net costs of such Person under Hedge Agreements in
    respect of interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such
    period in accordance  with GAAP) minus (b) the total interest income of such
    Person for such period,  determined in accordance  with GAAP;  provided that
    when the term "Consolidated  Interest Expense" is used in the calculation of
    the Consolidated  Interest Coverage Ratio or Consolidated Fixed Charge Ratio
    for any period,  Consolidated Interest Expense shall include, on a pro forma
    basis,   interest  expense  in  respect  of  any  Indebtedness  incurred  in
    connection with any  acquisition of an Acquired  Property during such period
    (assuming  incurrence of such  Indebtedness at the beginning of such period)
    and shall exclude, on a pro forma basis,  interest expense in respect of any
    Indebtedness  repaid in  connection  with a  Disposition  during such period
    (assuming repayment of such Indebtedness at the beginning of such period).

         "Consolidated Leverage Ratio": as at the last day of any period of four
    consecutive  fiscal quarters,  the ratio of (a)  Consolidated  Total Debt on
    such day to (b) Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for
    such period.

         "Consolidated  Net  Income":   of  any  Person  for  any  period,   the
    consolidated  net income (or loss) of such Person and its  Subsidiaries  for
    such period,  determined on a  consolidated  basis in accordance  with GAAP;
    provided,  that in calculating  Consolidated  Net Income of the Borrower and
    its consolidated  Subsidiaries  for any period,  there shall be excluded (a)
    the income (or deficit) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a
    Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or any of its
    Subsidiaries,  (b) the  income (or  deficit)  of any  Person  (other  than a
    Subsidiary)  in  which  the  Borrower  or  any of  its  Subsidiaries  has an
    ownership  interest,  except to the extent  that any such income is actually
    received by the  Borrower or such  Subsidiary  in the form of  dividends  or
    similar  distributions and (c) the undistributed  earnings of any Subsidiary
    to the  extent  that the  declaration  or payment  of  dividends  or similar
    distributions  by such  Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by the terms
    of any  Contractual  Obligation  (other  than  under any Loan  Document)  or
    Requirement of Law applicable to such Subsidiary.

         "Consolidated  Senior Debt": all Consolidated Total Debt other than the
    Senior Subordinated Notes.

         "Consolidated  Senior Leverage Ratio": as of the last day of any period
    of four consecutive  fiscal quarters,  the ratio of (a) Consolidated  Senior
    Debt  on  such  day to (b)  Consolidated  EBITDA  of the  Borrower  and  its
    Subsidiaries for such period.

         "Consolidated  Total Debt": at any date, the aggregate principal amount
    of all  Funded  Debt of the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  at such  date,
    determined on a consolidated  basis in accordance with GAAP;  provided that,
    for purposes of  calculating  the financial  ratios  referred to in Sections
    6.1(a)  and  (b) on any  date,  an  amount  equal  to the  then  outstanding
    aggregate Reinvestment Deferred Amount on such date may be deducted from the
    amount of Consolidated  Total Debt on such date so long as such Reinvestment
    Deferred  Amount  is on  deposit  in an  account  subject,  pursuant  to the

                                       8

<PAGE>

    Guarantee and Collateral Agreement,  to the sole dominion and control of the
    Administrative  Agent  for  the  ratable  benefit  of the  Lenders  and  the
    Revolving Credit Lenders (it being  understood that the foregoing  deduction
    shall not be made  when  calculating  the  Consolidated  Leverage  Ratio for
    purposes of determining the Applicable Margin).

         "Consolidated Working Capital": at any date, the excess of Consolidated
    Current Assets on such date over  Consolidated  Current  Liabilities on such
    date.

         "Contractual  Obligation":  as to  any  Person,  any  provision  of any
    security  issued by such  Person or of any  agreement,  instrument  or other
    undertaking  to which  such  Person  is a party or by which it or any of its
    Property is bound.

         "Control Investment Affiliate": as to any Person, any other Person that
    (a) directly or indirectly,  is in control of, is controlled by, or is under
    common  control  with,  such  Person  and (b) is  organized  by such  Person
    primarily  for the purpose of making  equity or debt  investments  in one or
    more companies. For purposes of this definition, "control" of a Person means
    the power,  directly or indirectly,  to direct or cause the direction of the
    management and policies of such Person whether by contract or otherwise.

         "Default": any of the events specified in Section 7, whether or not any
    requirement  for the giving of notice,  the lapse of time, or both, has been
    satisfied.

         "Derivatives Counterparty": as defined in Section 6.6.

         "Disposition":  with respect to any Property, any sale, lease, sale and
    leaseback,  assignment,  conveyance,  transfer or other disposition thereof;
    and the terms "Dispose" and "Disposed of" shall have correlative meanings.

         "Documentation Agent": as defined in the preamble hereto.

         "Dollars" and "$": lawful currency of the United States of America.

         "Domestic  Subsidiary":  any Subsidiary of the Borrower organized under
    the laws of any jurisdiction within the United States of America.

         "Environmental  Laws": any and all laws,  rules,  orders,  regulations,
    statutes,  ordinances,  enforceable  guidelines,  codes,  decrees,  or other
    legally enforceable requirements (including, without limitation, common law)
    of any international  authority,  foreign government,  the United States, or
    any state,  local,  municipal or other governmental  authority,  regulating,
    relating  to or  imposing  liability  or  standards  of  conduct  concerning
    protection of the  environment  or of human health,  or employee  health and
    safety, as has been, is now, or may at any time hereafter be, in effect.

                                       9
<PAGE>

         "Environmental  Permits":  any and all  permits,  licenses,  approvals,
    registrations,  notifications,  exemptions and other authorizations required
    under any Environmental Law.

         "ERISA":  the  Employee  Retirement  Income  Security  Act of 1974,  as
    amended from time to time.

         "Eurocurrency  Reserve  Requirements":  for  any  day as  applied  to a
    Eurodollar  Loan, the aggregate  (without  duplication) of the maximum rates
    (expressed as a decimal fraction) of reserve  requirements in effect on such
    day  (including,  without  limitation,  basic,  supplemental,  marginal  and
    emergency  reserves under any regulations of the Board or other Governmental
    Authority  having  jurisdiction  with respect  thereto) dealing with reserve
    requirements  prescribed for eurocurrency  funding (currently referred to as
    "Eurocurrency  Liabilities"  in  Regulation D of the Board)  maintained by a
    member bank of the Federal Reserve System.

         "Eurodollar  Base Rate":  with respect to each day during each Interest
    Period pertaining to a Eurodollar Loan, the rate per annum determined on the
    basis  of the rate  for  deposits  in  Dollars  for a  period  equal to such
    Interest  Period  commencing  on the  first  day  of  such  Interest  Period
    appearing on Page 3750 of the Telerate screen as of 11:00 A.M., London time,
    two Business  Days prior to the beginning of such  Interest  Period.  In the
    event that such rate does not appear on Page 3750 of the Telerate screen (or
    otherwise on such screen),  the "Eurodollar  Base Rate" for purposes of this
    definition  shall  be  determined  by  reference  to such  other  comparable
    publicly  available  service  for  displaying  eurodollar  rates  as  may be
    selected by the Administrative Agent.

         "Eurodollar Loans": Term Loans the rate of interest applicable to which
    is based upon the Eurodollar Rate.

         "Eurodollar Rate": with respect to each day during each Interest Period
    pertaining to a Eurodollar Loan, a rate per annum determined for such day in
    accordance with the following formula (rounded upward to the nearest 1/100th
    of 1%):

                              Eurodollar Base Rate
                      ------------------------------------
                    1.00 - Eurocurrency Reserve Requirements

         "Eurodollar Tranche":  the collective reference to Eurodollar Loans the
    then current Interest Periods with respect to all of which begin on the same
    date and end on the same later date  (whether or not such  Eurodollar  Loans
    shall originally have been made on the same day).

         "Event of Default":  any of the events specified in Section 7, provided
    that any requirement  for the giving of notice,  the lapse of time, or both,
    has been satisfied.

                                       10

<PAGE>

         "Excess Cash Flow": for any fiscal year of the Borrower, the excess, if
    any, of (a) the sum, without duplication, of (i) Consolidated Net Income for
    such fiscal year, (ii) an amount equal to the amount of all non-cash charges
    (including  depreciation  and  amortization)  deducted  in  arriving at such
    Consolidated Net Income, (iii) decreases in Consolidated Working Capital for
    such fiscal year, (iv) an amount equal to the aggregate net non-cash loss on
    the Disposition of Property by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries during such
    fiscal  year  (other  than  sales of  inventory  in the  ordinary  course of
    business),  to the extent  deducted  in arriving  at such  Consolidated  Net
    Income and (v) the net increase during such fiscal year (if any) in deferred
    tax accounts of the Borrower over (b) the sum, without  duplication,  of (i)
    an amount equal to the amount of all non-cash  credits  included in arriving
    at such  Consolidated  Net Income,  (ii) the Specified  Capital  Expenditure
    Amount for such fiscal year,  (iii) the aggregate  amount of all prepayments
    of Revolving Credit Loans during such fiscal year to the extent accompanying
    permanent  optional  reductions of the Revolving Credit  Commitments and all
    optional  prepayments  of the Term Loans during such fiscal  year,  (iv) the
    aggregate  amount of all regularly  scheduled  principal  payments of Funded
    Debt (including, without limitation, the Term Loans) of the Borrower and its
    Subsidiaries  made  during  such  fiscal  year (other than in respect of any
    revolving credit facility to the extent there is not an equivalent permanent
    reduction in commitments thereunder),  (v) increases in Consolidated Working
    Capital for such fiscal  year,  (vi) an amount  equal to the  aggregate  net
    non-cash  gain  on the  Disposition  of  Property  by the  Borrower  and its
    Subsidiaries  during such fiscal year (other than sales of  inventory in the
    ordinary  course of  business),  to the extent  included in arriving at such
    Consolidated Net Income, (vii) an amount equal to the aggregate cash gain on
    the Disposition of Property by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries during such
    fiscal  year  (other  than  sales of  inventory  in the  ordinary  course of
    business)  to the extent (A) included in arriving at such  Consolidated  Net
    Income, and (B) included in any Reinvestment Deferred Amount or applied as a
    Capital  Expenditure during such fiscal year, (viii) the net decrease during
    such fiscal year (if any) in deferred tax accounts of the Borrower, (ix) the
    amount of cash  invested in Permitted  Acquisitions  during such fiscal year
    (excluding  any such Permitted  Acquisition to the extent  financed with the
    proceeds of Indebtedness or any  Reinvestment  Deferred  Amount) and (x) the
    Permitted Stock  Repurchase  Amount for such fiscal year (less the amount of
    proceeds of resales of stock  reinvested in the Borrower  during such fiscal
    year as  contemplated  by the  definition  of  "Permitted  Stock  Repurchase
    Amount" in this Section 1.1).

         "Excess Cash Flow Application Date": as defined in Section 2.7(c).

         "Excluded Foreign  Subsidiaries":  any Foreign Subsidiary in respect of
    which either (i) the pledge of all of the Capital  Stock of such  Subsidiary
    as  Collateral  or  (ii)  the   guaranteeing   by  such  Subsidiary  of  the
    Obligations,  would,  in the good faith judgment of the Borrower,  result in
    adverse tax consequences to the Borrower.

         "Facility":  each of (a) the  Tranche A Term Loan  Commitments  and the
    Tranche A Term Loans made  thereunder  (the "Tranche A Term Loan  Facility")
    and (b) the

                                       11

<PAGE>

    Tranche B Term Loan Commitments and the Tranche B Term Loans made thereunder
    (the "Tranche B Term Loan Facility").

         "Federal Funds Effective  Rate":  for any day, 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 on
    the next  succeeding  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 the day of such  transactions  received by
    the Reference Lender from three federal funds brokers of recognized standing
    selected by it.

         "Foreign  Subsidiary":  any  Subsidiary  of the Borrower  that is not a
    Domestic Subsidiary.

         "Funded Debt": as to any Person, all Indebtedness of such Person of the
    types   described  in  clauses  (a)  through  (e)  of  the   definition   of
    "Indebtedness" in this Section.

         "Funding  Office":  the  office  specified  from  time  to  time by the
    Administrative Agent as its funding office by notice to the Borrower and the
    Lenders.

         "FY":  when used with a numerical year  designation,  means such fiscal
    year (i. e., FY 1999 means  fiscal  year  1999,  which ends on the  Saturday
    nearest to December 31, 1999; and "FQ1", "FQ2 ", "FQ3", and "FQ4", when used
    with a numerical year designation,  means the first, second, third or fourth
    fiscal quarters,  respectively,  of such fiscal year of the Borrower. (e.g.,
    FQ1 1999 means the first fiscal quarter of FY 1999).

         "GAAP":  generally accepted accounting  principles in the United States
    of America  as in effect  from time to time,  except  that for  purposes  of
    Section 6.1,  GAAP shall be  determined  on the basis of such  principles in
    effect on the date hereof and consistent  with those used in the preparation
    of the most  recent  audited  financial  statements  referred  to in Section
    3.1(b).

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

         "Guarantee  and  Collateral  Agreement":  the Guarantee and  Collateral
    Agreement  to be executed and  delivered by Holdings,  the Borrower and each
    Subsidiary  Guarantor,  substantially  in the form of Exhibit A, as the same
    may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

         "Guarantee  Obligation":  as to any Person (the "guaranteeing person"),
    any  obligation  of  (a)  the  guaranteeing  person  or (b)  another  Person
    (including,  without  limitation,  any bank  under any  letter of credit) to
    induce  the  creation  of  which  the  guaranteeing   person  has  issued  a
    reimbursement, counterindemnity or similar obligation,
  
                                       12

<PAGE>

    in either case  guaranteeing  or in effect  guaranteeing  any  Indebtedness,
    leases,  dividends or other  obligations (the "primary  obligations") of any
    other third Person (the "primary  obligor") in any manner,  whether directly
    or  indirectly,   including,  without  limitation,  any  obligation  of  the
    guaranteeing  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 (1)_) for the purchase or payment
    of any such primary  obligation or (2) 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 owner of
    any such  primary  obligation  against  loss in respect  thereof;  provided,
    however,  that the term Guarantee  Obligation shall not include endorsements
    of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business.
    The amount of any Guarantee  Obligation of any guaranteeing  person shall be
    deemed to be the lower of (a) an amount equal to the stated or  determinable
    amount  of the  primary  obligation  in  respect  of  which  such  Guarantee
    Obligation  is made and (b) the maximum  amount for which such  guaranteeing
    person may be liable pursuant to the terms of the instrument  embodying such
    Guarantee Obligation,  unless such primary obligation and the maximum amount
    for  which  such  guaranteeing  person  may be  liable  are  not  stated  or
    determinable, in which case the amount of such Guarantee Obligation shall be
    such  guaranteeing  person's  maximum  reasonably  anticipated  liability in
    respect thereof as determined by the Borrower in good faith.

         "Guarantors":  the collective  reference to Holdings and the Subsidiary
    Guarantors.

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

         "Indebtedness": of any Person at any date, without duplication, (a) all
    indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money,  (b) all obligations of such
    Person for the deferred  purchase price of Property or services  (other than
    trade payables  incurred in the ordinary course of such Person's  business),
    (c) all obligations of such Person evidenced by notes, bonds,  debentures or
    other similar instruments, (d) all indebtedness created or arising under any
    conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to Property
    acquired by such Person  (even  though the rights and remedies of the seller
    or lender  under  such  agreement  in the event of  default  are  limited to
    repossession or sale of such Property), (e) all Capital Lease Obligations of
    such Person, (f) all obligations of such Person, contingent or otherwise, as
    an account party or applicant under acceptance,  letter of credit or similar
    facilities,  (g) all obligations of such Person, contingent or otherwise, to
    purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire for value any Capital Stock of
    such  Person,  (h) all  Guarantee  Obligations  of such Person in respect of
    obligations  of the kind  referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above;  (i)
    all obligations of

                                       13

<PAGE>

    the kind  referred to in clauses  (a)  through (h) above  secured by (or for
    which the holder of such  obligation  has an existing  right,  contingent or
    otherwise,  to be  secured  by) any  Lien on  Property  (including,  without
    limitation,  accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person,  whether or
    not such  Person  has  assumed  or become  liable  for the  payment  of such
    obligation,  (j) for the purposes of Section 7(e) only,  all  obligations of
    such Person in respect of Hedge Agreements and (k) the liquidation  value of
    any preferred  Capital Stock of such Person or its Subsidiaries  held by any
    Person  other than such  Person and its Wholly  Owned  Subsidiaries  if such
    Preferred Capital Stock is mandatorily redeemable prior to the date which is
    91 days after the final scheduled maturity date of the Term Loans.

         "Indemnified Liabilities": as defined in Section 9.5.

         "Indemnitee": as defined in Section 9.5.

         "Insolvency":  with respect to any  Multiemployer  Plan,  the condition
    that such Plan is insolvent within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA.

         "Insolvent": pertaining to a condition of Insolvency.

         "Intellectual  Property":  the  collective  reference  to  all  rights,
    priorities and privileges relating to intellectual property, whether arising
    under United States, multinational or foreign laws or otherwise,  including,
    without  limitation,   copyrights,   copyright  licenses,   patents,  patent
    licenses,   trademarks,   trademark  licenses,   technology,   know-how  and
    processes, and all rights to sue at law or in equity for any infringement or
    other  impairment  thereof,  including the right to receive all proceeds and
    damages therefrom.

         "Interest  Payment Date": (a) as to any Base Rate Loan, the last day of
    each March, June,  September and December to occur while such Base Rate Loan
    is outstanding and the final maturity date of such Base Rate Loan, (b) as to
    any Eurodollar  Loan having an Interest  Period of three months or less, the
    last day of such Interest  Period,  (c) as to any Eurodollar  Loan having an
    Interest Period longer than three months, each day which is three months, or
    a whole multiple  thereof,  after the first day of such Interest  Period and
    the last day of such Interest  Period and (d) as to any Term Loan,  the date
    of any repayment or prepayment made in respect thereof.

         "Interest Period": as to any Eurodollar Loan, (a) initially, the period
    commencing  on the  borrowing or  conversion  date, as the case may be, with
    respect to such  Eurodollar  Loan and ending one,  two,  three or six months
    thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its notice of borrowing or notice
    of  conversion,  as the case may be,  given with  respect  thereto;  and (b)
    thereafter,  each period  commencing  on the last day of the next  preceding
    Interest  Period  applicable  to such  Eurodollar  Loan and ending one, two,
    three or six months  thereafter,  as selected by the Borrower by irrevocable
    notice to the  Administrative  Agent not less than three Business Days prior
    to the last day of the then current Interest

                                       14

<PAGE>

    Period with respect thereto;  provided that, all of the foregoing provisions
    relating to Interest Periods are subject to the following:

              (i) if any Interest  Period would  otherwise  end on a day that is
         not a Business Day, such Interest  Period shall be extended to the next
         succeeding Business Day unless the result of such extension would be to
         carry such Interest  Period into another  calendar month in which event
         such Interest  Period shall end on the immediately  preceding  Business
         Day;

              (ii) any Interest  Period that would  otherwise  extend beyond the
         date final  payment is due on the Tranche A Term Loans or the Tranche B
         Term  Loans,  as the  case  may be,  shall  end on such  due  date,  as
         applicable;

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

              (iv) the  Borrower  shall  select  Interest  Periods  so as not to
         require  a payment  or  prepayment  of any  Eurodollar  Loan  during an
         Interest Period for such Eurodollar Loan.

         "Investments": as defined in Section 6.8.

         "Joint  Required  Lenders":  Lenders  and/or  Revolving  Credit Lenders
    holding  more than 60% of the sum of (a) the  undrawn  Commitments,  (b) the
    undrawn Revolving Credit Commitments, (c) the outstanding Term Loans and (d)
    the Total Revolving Extensions of Credit (as defined in the Revolving Credit
    Agreement).

         "Lehman  Entity":  any of Lehman  Commercial  Paper Inc.  or any of its
    affiliates (including Syndicated Loan Funding Trust).

         "Lender  Addendum":  with  respect  to any  initial  Lender,  a  Lender
    Addendum,  substantially  in the  form  of  Exhibit  J, to be  executed  and
    delivered by such Lender on the Closing Date as provided in Section 9.17.

         "Lenders": as defined in the preamble hereto.

         "Lien":  any  mortgage,  pledge,  hypothecation,   assignment,  deposit
    arrangement,  encumbrance,  lien  (statutory  or  other),  charge  or  other
    security interest or any preference, priority or other security agreement or
    preferential  arrangement  of any  kind  or  nature  whatsoever  (including,
    without limitation,  any conditional sale or other title retention agreement
    and any capital lease having  substantially  the same economic effect as any
    of the foregoing).

                                       15

<PAGE>

         "Loan  Documents":   this  Agreement,   the  Security  Documents,   the
    Syndication Letter and the Notes.

         "Loan  Parties":  Holdings,  the  Borrower and each  Subsidiary  of the
    Borrower which is a party to a Loan Document.

         "Majority Facility Lenders":  with respect to any Facility, the holders
    of more than 50% of the aggregate  unpaid principal amount of the Term Loans
    outstanding under such Facility.

         "Material  Adverse  Effect":  a  material  adverse  effect  on (a)  the
    enforceability  of  the  documents  entered  into  in  connection  with  the
    Acquisition,  (b) the business,  assets,  property,  condition (financial or
    otherwise)  or prospects of the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  taken as a
    whole or (c) the validity or  enforceability of this Agreement or any of the
    other Loan  Documents or the rights or remedies of the Agents or the Lenders
    hereunder or thereunder.

         "Material  Environmental  Amount":  an amount or amounts payable by the
    Borrower  and/or  any of its  Subsidiaries,  in the  aggregate  in excess of
    $500,000  in respect of any one  occurrence,  for:  costs to comply with any
    Environmental Law; costs of any investigation,  and any remediation,  of any
    Material of  Environmental  Concern;  and compensatory  damages  (including,
    without limitation damages to natural resources),  punitive damages,  fines,
    and penalties pursuant to any Environmental Law.

         "Materials  of  Environmental   Concern":  any  gasoline  or  petroleum
    (including  crude  oil or  any  fraction  thereof)  or  petroleum  products,
    polychlorinated   biphenyls,    urea-formaldehyde   insulation,    asbestos,
    pollutants, contaminants,  radioactivity, and any other substances or forces
    of any  kind,  whether  or not any such  substance  or force is  defined  as
    hazardous or toxic under any Environmental  Law, that is regulated  pursuant
    to or could  reasonably  be  expected  to give rise to  liability  under any
    Environmental Law.

         "Mortgaged Properties":  the real properties listed on Schedule 1.1, as
    to which the  Administrative  Agent for the benefit of the Lenders  shall be
    granted a Lien pursuant to the Mortgages.

         "Mortgages":  each of the mortgages and deeds of trust made by any Loan
    Party in favor of, or for the benefit of, the  Administrative  Agent for the
    benefit of the  Lenders,  substantially  in the form of Exhibit D (with such
    changes thereto as shall be advisable  under the law of the  jurisdiction in
    which such mortgage or deed of trust is to be recorded),  as the same may be
    amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

         "Multiemployer Plan": a Plan that is a multiemployer plan as defined in
    Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

                                       16

<PAGE>

         "Nealson  Street   Property":   the  Mortgaged   Property  of  Bloch  &
    Guggenheimer, Inc. located at 202 Nealson Street in Hurlock, Maryland.

         "Net Cash  Proceeds":  (a) in  connection  with any  Asset  Sale or any
    Recovery  Event,  the  proceeds  thereof  in  the  form  of  cash  and  Cash
    Equivalents (including any such proceeds received by way of deferred payment
    of principal pursuant to a note or installment  receivable or purchase price
    adjustment  receivable or otherwise,  but only as and when received) of such
    Asset Sale or Recovery Event,  net of attorneys'  fees,  accountants'  fees,
    investment  banking fees, amounts required to be applied to the repayment of
    Indebtedness  secured by a Lien expressly  permitted  hereunder on any asset
    which is the  subject of such Asset Sale or Recovery  Event  (other than any
    Lien pursuant to a Security  Document) and other customary fees and expenses
    actually  incurred  in  connection  therewith  and  net  of  taxes  paid  or
    reasonably  estimated to be payable as a result  thereof  (after taking into
    account  any  available  tax  credits  or  deductions  and any  tax  sharing
    arrangements)  and (b) in  connection  with any  issuance  or sale of equity
    securities or debt securities or instruments or the incurrence of loans, the
    cash proceeds  received from such issuance or incurrence,  net of attorneys'
    fees, investment banking fees, accountants' fees, underwriting discounts and
    commissions  and other  customary  fees and  expenses  actually  incurred in
    connection therewith.

         "Non-Excluded Taxes": as defined in Section 2.15(a).

         "Non-U.S. Lender": as defined in Section 2.15(d).

         "Notes":  the  collective  reference to each  promissory  note, if any,
    evidencing Term Loans.

         "Obligations":  the unpaid  principal  of and  interest on  (including,
    without  limitation,  interest accruing after the maturity of the Term Loans
    and interest accruing after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy, or the
    commencement of any insolvency,  reorganization or like proceeding, relating
    to the Borrower,  whether or not a claim for  post-filing  or  post-petition
    interest  is  allowed  in such  proceeding)  the Term  Loans  and all  other
    obligations and liabilities of the Borrower to the  Administrative  Agent or
    to any Lender (or, in the case of Specified Hedge Agreements,  any affiliate
    of any Lender), whether direct or indirect,  absolute or contingent,  due or
    to become due, or now existing or hereafter incurred, which may arise under,
    out of, or in connection with, this Agreement,  any other Loan Document, any
    Specified Hedge Agreement or any other document made,  delivered or given in
    connection herewith or therewith, whether on account of principal, interest,
    reimbursement  obligations,  fees, indemnities,  costs, expenses (including,
    without  limitation,  all fees,  charges and disbursements of counsel to the
    Administrative  Agent or to any Lender  that are  required to be paid by the
    Borrower  pursuant hereto) or otherwise;  provided,  that (i) obligations of
    the Borrower or any Subsidiary  under any Specified Hedge Agreement shall be
    secured and guaranteed pursuant to the Security Documents only to the extent
    that,  and  for so  long  as,  the  other  Obligations  are so  secured  and
    guaranteed and (ii) any release of Collateral or guarantors

                                       17

<PAGE>

    effected in the manner  permitted  by this  Agreement  shall not require the
    consent of holders of obligations under Specified Hedge Agreements.

         "Other Taxes": any and all present or future stamp or documentary taxes
    or any other excise or property  taxes,  charges or similar  levies  arising
    from  any  payment  made  hereunder  or  from  the  execution,  delivery  or
    enforcement  of, or otherwise  with respect to, this  Agreement or any other
    Loan Document.

         "Participant": as defined in Section 9.6(b).

         "Payment  Office":  the  office  specified  from  time  to  time by the
    Administrative Agent as its payment office by notice to the Borrower and the
    Lenders.

         "PBGC": the Pension Benefit Guaranty  Corporation  established pursuant
    to Subtitle A of Title IV of ERISA (or any successor).

         "Permitted Acquisition":  any acquisition by the Borrower or any of its
    Subsidiaries of all of the Capital Stock of, or all or substantially  all of
    the assets  constituting  a business  unit of, any other  Person so long as,
    with  respect  to  any  such  acquisition,   the  following  conditions  are
    satisfied:

              (a) no  Default or Event of Default  shall  have  occurred  and be
         continuing or would result from such acquisition;

              (b) after giving effect to such acquisition, the Borrower shall be
         in pro  forma  compliance  with the  financial  covenants  set forth in
         Section 6.1;

              (c) such  acquisition  shall  be  consistent  with the  Borrower's
         stated  management  strategy as in effect on the Closing Date,  and the
         target of such  acquisition  shall be in the same or a similar  line of
         business as the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

              (d) the aggregate  consideration  for such  acquisition  shall not
         exceed (i)  $20,000,000 if such  acquisition is consummated in FY 1999,
         (ii)  $30,000,000  if such  acquisition  is consummated in FY 2000, and
         (iii)  $40,000,000  if  such  acquisition  is  consummated  thereafter;
         provided,  that the foregoing  restrictions in this paragraph (d) shall
         not be applicable to any acquisition if the Consolidated Leverage Ratio
         would be less than or equal to 5.5 to 1.0 after giving pro forma effect
         to such  acquisition  as if it had  occurred  on the  first  day of the
         period measured by the Consolidated Leverage Ratio;

              (e) the  target of such  acquisition  either  (i)  shall  have had
         positive consolidated net income before interest,  taxes,  depreciation
         and amortization, determined in accordance with GAAP ("EBITDA") for the
         period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of such target most recently
         ended prior to the date of

                                       18

<PAGE>

         such acquisition,  or (ii) shall have had positive pro forma EBITDA for
         such period (such pro forma EBITDA to be determined in accordance  with
         the Borrower's  customary  practices  consistent  with the  methodology
         reflected  in  the  Pro  Forma  Balance  Sheet  and  related  financial
         statements included in the Confidential Information Memorandum);

              (f) the Borrower shall have performed reasonable and customary due
         diligence  with  respect to such  acquisition  and the target  thereof,
         including with respect to environmental matters;

              (g) the  Borrower  and/or  the  applicable  Subsidiary  shall have
         obtained all material  third party  consents and approvals  required in
         connection with such acquisition;

              (h)  environmental   audits,   pro  forma  financial   statements,
         appraisals,  if any,  accounting  reviews and  material  due  diligence
         reports  conducted by the  Borrower  with respect to the business to be
         acquired  shall have been  delivered to  Administrative  Agent not less
         than ten Business Days prior to consummation of such acquisition;

              (i) the  Borrower  shall have  reasonably  determined  that it has
         adequate liquidity available for working capital; and

              (j) substantially all of the assets so acquired are located in the
         United  States or Canada or, if such  acquisition  is  structured  as a
         purchase of stock,  the Person so acquired is organized  under the laws
         of a state of the United States,  and  substantially  all of the assets
         owned by such  Person  are  located  in the  United  States or  Canada;
         provided,  that (i) the  Borrower  may  acquire  the  stock of a Person
         organized  under the laws of a state of the United  States whose assets
         are  located,  in whole or in part,  in Puerto Rico or Canada,  if such
         Person becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor and grants a security interest in
         its assets as  contemplated  by Section  5.10 and (ii) the Borrower may
         acquire the stock of any Person organized under the laws of Puerto Rico
         or Canada, so long as the aggregate amount of investments made pursuant
         to this clause (ii),  together  with  Investments  made as permitted by
         Section 6.8(h), does not exceed $5,000,000.

         "Permitted  Investors":  the collective reference to the Sponsor, Bruce
    C. Bruckmann, Harold O. Rosser II, Stephen C. Sherrill, Donald Bruckmann, H.
    Virgil Sherrill,  Nancy Zweng, BCB Partnership,  NAZ Partnership and Paul D.
    Kaminski, and their respective Control Investment Affiliates.

         "Permitted Stock Repurchase Amount":  the amount of Restricted Payments
    made by the  Borrower  to Holdings  and  applied by  Holdings to  repurchase
    Capital  Stock of Holdings  from  officers and  employees of the Borrower in
    connection  with the death,  departure or  termination of employment of such
    officers and employees; provided, that

                                       19

<PAGE>

    (a) the  proceeds  of any  resale  of the  Capital  Stock so  purchased  are
    immediately  reinvested  in the common  equity of the  Borrower  and (b) the
    cumulative amount of such payments from and after the Closing Date, less the
    cumulative  amount of proceeds of such resales  reinvested  in the Borrower,
    shall not at any time exceed $5,000,000.

         "Person": an individual,  partnership,  corporation,  limited liability
    company,   business  trust,  joint  stock  company,  trust,   unincorporated
    association,  joint  venture,  Governmental  Authority  or other  entity  of
    whatever nature.

         "Plan": at a particular time, any employee benefit plan that is covered
    by ERISA and in  respect  of which the  Borrower  or a  Commonly  Controlled
    Entity is (or,  if such plan  were  terminated  at such  time,  would  under
    Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an  "employer"  as defined in Section
    3(5) of ERISA.

         "Prepayment Option Notice": as defined in Section 2.13(d).

         "Pricing Grid": the pricing grid attached hereto as Annex A.

         "Pro Forma Balance Sheet": as defined in Section 3.1(a).

         "Projections": as defined in Section 5.2(c).

         "Property":  any  right  or  interest  in or to  property  of any  kind
    whatsoever,  whether  real,  personal  or  mixed  and  whether  tangible  or
    intangible, including, without limitation, Capital Stock.

         "Recovery  Event":  any  settlement  of or  payment  in  respect of any
    property or casualty insurance claim or any condemnation proceeding relating
    to any asset of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

         "Reference Lender": Bankers Trust Company.

         "Register": as defined in Section 9.6(d).

         "Regulation  U":  Regulation  U of the Board as in effect  from time to
    time.

         "Reimbursement  Obligations":   as  defined  in  the  Revolving  Credit
    Agreement.

         "Reinvestment Deferred Amount": with respect to any Reinvestment Event,
    the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds received by Holdings, the Borrower or any of
    its Subsidiaries in connection  therewith that are not applied to prepay the
    Term Loans  pursuant  to  Section  2.7(b) as a result of the  delivery  of a
    Reinvestment Notice.

         "Reinvestment  Event":  any Asset Sale or Recovery  Event in respect of
    which the Borrower has delivered a Reinvestment Notice.

                                       20

<PAGE>

         "Reinvestment  Notice":  a written  notice  executed  by a  Responsible
    Officer  stating  that no Default or Event of Default  has  occurred  and is
    continuing  and  that  the  Borrower   (directly  or  indirectly  through  a
    Subsidiary) intends and expects to use all or a specified portion of the Net
    Cash  Proceeds  of an Asset Sale or  Recovery  Event to  acquire,  repair or
    restore assets useful in the Borrower's or any Subsidiary's business.

         "Reinvestment  Prepayment  Amount":  with  respect to any  Reinvestment
    Event,  the  Reinvestment  Deferred Amount relating  thereto less any amount
    expended  prior to the  relevant  Reinvestment  Prepayment  Date to acquire,
    repair or  restore  assets  useful  in the  Borrower's  or any  Subsidiary's
    business.

         "Reinvestment Prepayment Date": with respect to any Reinvestment Event,
    the earlier of (a) the date occurring 270 days after such Reinvestment Event
    and (b) the date on which the  Borrower  shall  have  determined  not to, or
    shall have otherwise ceased to, acquire,  repair or restore assets useful in
    the Borrower's or any  Subsidiary's  business with all or any portion of the
    relevant Reinvestment Deferred Amount.

         "Reorganization": with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, the condition
    that such plan is in  reorganization  within the meaning of Section  4241 of
    ERISA.

         "Reportable  Event":  any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of
    ERISA,  other than those events as to which the thirty day notice  period is
    waived under  subsections  .27,  .28, .29, .30, .31, .32, .34 or .35 of PBGC
    Reg. Section 4043.

         "Required  Lenders":  at any time,  the holders of more than 50% of (a)
    until the Closing Date, the Commitments  and (b)  thereafter,  the aggregate
    unpaid principal amount of the Term Loans then outstanding.

         "Required Prepayment Lenders": the Majority Facility Lenders in respect
    of each Facility.

         "Requirement   of  Law":  as  to  any  Person,   the   Certificate   of
    Incorporation and By-Laws or other  organizational or governing documents of
    such Person, and any law, treaty,  rule or regulation or determination of an
    arbitrator  or a  court  or  other  Governmental  Authority,  in  each  case
    applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its Property or to which
    such Person or any of its Property is subject.

         "Responsible Officer": the chief executive officer,  president or chief
    financial  officer  of the  Borrower,  but in any  event,  with  respect  to
    financial matters, the chief financial officer of the Borrower.

         "Restricted Payments": as defined in Section 6.6.

         "Revolving Credit Agreement":  the Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as
    of March 15, 1999,  among the Borrower,  the lenders named  therein,  Lehman
    Commercial

                                       21

<PAGE>

    Paper Inc., as administrative agent, and others, as the same may be amended,
    supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

         "Revolving  Credit  Commitment":  as  defined in the  Revolving  Credit
    Agreement.

         "Revolving  Credit  Facility":   the  credit  facility  made  available
    pursuant to the Revolving Credit Agreement.

         "Revolving  Credit  Lender":  each Lender (as defined in the  Revolving
    Credit Agreement).

         "Revolving Credit Loans": as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

         "SEC": the Securities and Exchange Commission (or successors thereto or
    an analogous Governmental Authority).

         "Security  Documents":  the  collective  reference to the Guarantee and
    Collateral  Agreement,  the  Mortgages  and  all  other  security  documents
    hereafter  delivered  to the  Administrative  Agent  granting  a Lien on any
    Property of any Person to secure the obligations and liabilities of any Loan
    Party  under any Loan  Document  and of any Loan  Party (as  defined  in the
    Revolving  Credit  Agreement)  under any Loan  Document  (as  defined in the
    Revolving Credit Agreement).

         "Senior Subordinated Note Indenture": the Indenture, dated as of August
    11, 1997,  entered into by the Borrower and certain of its  Subsidiaries and
    The Bank of New York,  as Trustee,  in  connection  with the issuance of the
    Senior  Subordinated   Notes,   together  with  all  instruments  and  other
    agreements  entered into by the Borrower or such  Subsidiaries in connection
    therewith,  as the same may be amended,  supplemented or otherwise  modified
    from time to time in accordance with Section 6.9.

         "Senior  Subordinated  Notes":  the subordinated  notes of the Borrower
    issued  pursuant to the Senior  Subordinated  Note Indenture in the original
    aggregate principal amount of $120,000,000.

         "Single  Employer Plan": any Plan that is covered by Title IV of ERISA,
    but which is not a Multiemployer Plan.

         "Solvent":  when used with respect to any Person,  that, as of any date
    of determination, (a) the amount of the "present fair saleable value" of the
    assets of such  Person  will,  as of such  date,  exceed  the  amount of all
    "liabilities of such Person,  contingent or otherwise",  as of such date, as
    such quoted terms are determined in accordance with  applicable  federal and
    state laws governing  determinations  of the insolvency of debtors,  (b) the
    present fair  saleable  value of the assets of such Person will,  as of such
    date,  be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the liability
    of such Person on its debts as such debts become  absolute and matured,  (c)
    such Person will

                                       22

<PAGE>

    not have,  as of such date,  an  unreasonably  small  amount of capital with
    which to conduct its  business,  and (d) such Person will be able to pay its
    debts as they  mature.  For  purposes of this  definition,  (i) "debt" means
    liability  on a "claim",  and (ii)  "claim"  means any (x) 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 (y) right to an equitable remedy
    for breach of  performance  if such breach gives rise to a right to payment,
    whether or not such  right to an  equitable  remedy is reduced to  judgment,
    fixed, contingent,  matured or unmatured,  disputed,  undisputed, secured or
    unsecured.

         "Specified  Capital  Expenditure  Amount":  for any  fiscal  year  (the
    "Calculation  Year"), an amount equal to the amount of Capital  Expenditures
    permitted by Section 6.7 to be made in the  Calculation  Year (including any
    amount carried over from the prior fiscal year), minus (b) the amount of any
    permitted Capital  Expenditures from the prior fiscal year which was carried
    over  into  the  Calculation  Year but not  actually  expended  for  Capital
    Expenditures in the Calculation Year.

         "Specified Change of Control":  a "Change of Control" as defined in the
    Senior Subordinated Note Indenture.

         "Specified  Hedge  Agreement":  any Hedge Agreement (a) entered into by
    (i) the  Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries  and (ii) any  Lender  or any
    affiliate thereof, as counterparty and (b) which has been designated by such
    Lender  and the  Borrower,  by  notice to the  Administrative  Agent and the
    Syndication Agent, as a Specified Hedge Agreement.

         "Sponsor": Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherill & Co., L.P.

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

         "Subsidiary Guarantor":  each Subsidiary of the Borrower other than any
    Excluded Foreign Subsidiary.

         "Swing Line Loans": as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

         "Syndication Letter Agreement":  the letter agreement,  dated as of the
    date hereof, between the Borrower and the Syndication Agent and the Arranger
    relating to the

                                       23

<PAGE>

    syndication of the revolving  credit facility  provided for in the Revolving
    Credit Agreement and of the Term Loan Facilities.

         "Term Loan Facilities":  the collective reference to the Tranche A Term
    Loan Facility and the Tranche B Term Loan Facility.

         "Term Loans": the collective  reference to the Tranche A Term Loans and
    Tranche B Term Loans.

         "Tranche A Term Loan": as defined in Section 2.1.

         "Tranche A Term Loan Commitment":  as to any Lender,  the obligation of
    such Lender, if any, to make a Tranche A Term Loan to the Borrower hereunder
    in a  principal  amount not to exceed the amount set forth under the heading
    "Tranche A Term Loan  Commitment"  opposite such Lender's name on Schedule 1
    to the Lender Addendum  delivered by such Lender, or, as the case may be, in
    the Assignment  and Acceptance  pursuant to which such Lender became a party
    hereto,  as the same may be changed from time to time  pursuant to the terms
    hereof. The original aggregate amount of the Tranche A Term Loan Commitments
    is $70,000,000.

         "Tranche  A Term  Loan  Facility":  as  defined  in the  definition  of
    "Facility" in this Section 1.1.

         "Tranche A Term Loan  Lender":  each  Lender  that has a Tranche A Term
    Loan Commitment or is the holder a Tranche A Term Loan.

         "Tranche A Term Loan  Percentage":  as to Tranche A Term Loan Lender at
    any time, the percentage  which such Lender's Tranche A Term Loan Commitment
    then  constitutes of the aggregate  Tranche A Term Loan  Commitments (or, at
    any time  after  the  Closing  Date,  the  percentage  which  the  aggregate
    principal  amount of such  Lender's  Tranche  A Term  Loan then  outstanding
    constitutes  of the aggregate  principal  amount of the Tranche A Term Loans
    then outstanding).

         "Tranche B Term Loan": as defined in Section 2.1.

         "Tranche B Term Loan Commitment":  as to any Lender,  the obligation of
    such Lender, if any, to make a Tranche B Term Loan to the Borrower hereunder
    in a  principal  amount not to exceed the amount set forth under the heading
    "Tranche B Term Loan  Commitment"  opposite such Lender's name on Schedule 1
    to the Lender Addendum  delivered by such Lender, or, as the case may be, in
    the Assignment  and Acceptance  pursuant to which such Lender became a party
    hereto,  as the same may be changed from time to time  pursuant to the terms
    hereof. The original aggregate amount of the Tranche B Term Loan Commitments
    is $150,000,000.

                                       24

<PAGE>

         "Tranche  B Term  Loan  Facility":  as  defined  in the  definition  of
    "Facility" in this Section 1.1.

         "Tranche B Term Loan  Lender":  each  Lender  that has a Tranche B Term
    Loan Commitment or which is the holder of a Tranche B Term Loan.

         "Tranche B Term Loan  Percentage":  as to any  Lender at any time,  the
    percentage   which  such  Lender's  Tranche  B  Term  Loan  Commitment  then
    constitutes  of the aggregate  Tranche B Term Loan  Commitments  (or, at any
    time after the Closing Date,  the percentage  which the aggregate  principal
    amount of such Lender's Tranche B Term Loan then outstanding  constitutes of
    the   aggregate   principal   amount  of  the  Tranche  B  Term  Loans  then
    outstanding).

         "Transferee": as defined in Section 9.14.

         "Type":  as to any Term  Loan,  its  nature  as a Base  Rate  Loan or a
    Eurodollar Loan.

         "Wholly Owned  Subsidiary":  as to any Person,  any other Person all of
    the Capital Stock of which (other than directors' qualifying shares required
    by law) is owned by such Person  directly  and/or through other Wholly Owned
    Subsidiaries.

         "Wholly Owned Subsidiary Guarantor": any Subsidiary Guarantor that is a
    Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower.

         1.2 Other  Definitional  Provisions.  (a)  Unless  otherwise  specified
therein,  all terms defined in this  Agreement  shall have the defined  meanings
when used in the other Loan Documents or any  certificate or other document made
or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto.

         (b) As used herein and in the other Loan Documents, and any certificate
or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto, accounting terms
relating to Holdings,  the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries not defined in Section
1.1 and  accounting  terms  partly  defined  in Section  1.1,  to the extent not
defined, shall have the respective meanings given to them under GAAP.

         (c) The words  "hereof",  "herein" and "hereunder" and words of similar
import when used in this Agreement  shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and
not to any particular  provision of this  Agreement,  and Section,  Schedule and
Exhibit references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.

         (d) The  meanings  given  to terms  defined  herein  shall  be  equally
applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms.

                                       25

<PAGE>

                   SECTION 2. AMOUNT AND TERMS OF COMMITMENTS

         2.1 Term Loan Commitments.  Subject to the terms and conditions hereof,
(a) each  Tranche A Term  Loan  Lender  severally  agrees to make a term loan (a
"Tranche A Term Loan") to the  Borrower on the Closing  Date in an amount not to
exceed the amount of the Tranche A Term Loan  Commitment  of such Lender and (b)
each Tranche B Term Loan Lender severally agrees to make a term loan (a "Tranche
B Term Loan") to the Borrower on the Closing Date in an amount not to exceed the
amount of the Tranche B Term Loan Commitment of such Lender.  The Term Loans may
from time to time be Eurodollar  Loans or Base Rate Loans,  as determined by the
Borrower and notified to the  Administrative  Agent in accordance  with Sections
2.2 and 2.8.

         2.2  Procedure  for Term Loan  Borrowing.  The Borrower  shall give the
Administrative  Agent  irrevocable  notice (which notice must be received by the
Administrative  Agent prior to 10:00 A.M.,  New York City time, one Business Day
prior to the anticipated Closing Date) requesting that the Lenders make the Term
Loans on the Closing Date and  specifying  the amount to be  borrowed.  The Term
Loans shall  initially  be Base Rate Loans and may be  converted  to  Eurodollar
Loans  after the Closing  Date  pursuant to Section  2.8.  Upon  receipt of such
notice the Administrative  Agent shall promptly notify each Lender thereof.  Not
later than 12:00 Noon, New York City time, on the Closing Date each Lender shall
make  available to the  Administrative  Agent at the Funding Office an amount in
immediately  available  funds equal to the Term Loan or Term Loans to be made by
such Lender. The  Administrative  Agent shall make available to the Borrower the
aggregate  of the amounts  made  available  to the  Administrative  Agent by the
Lenders in like funds.

         2.3  Repayment  of Term  Loans.  (a) The  Tranche  A Term  Loan of each
Tranche  A  Term  Loan  Lender   shall  mature  in  16   consecutive   quarterly
installments,  commencing on June 30, 2000,  each of which shall be in an amount
equal to such Lender's  Tranche A Term Loan Percentage  multiplied by the amount
set forth below opposite such installment:

         Installment                              Principal Amount
         -----------                              ----------------

         June 30, 2000                               $3,750,000
         September 30, 2000                           3,750,000
         December 31, 2000                            3,750,000
         March 31, 2001                               3,750,000
         June 30, 2001                                3,750,000
         September 30, 2001                           3,750,000
         December 31, 2001                            3,750,000
         March 31, 2002                               3,750,000
         June 30, 2002                                5,000,000
         September 30, 2002                           5,000,000
         December 31, 2002                            5,000,000
         March 31, 2003                               5,000,000
         June 30, 2003                                5,000,000

                                       26

<PAGE>

         September 30, 2003                           5,000,000
         December 31, 2003                            5,000,000
         March 31, 2004                               5,000,000

         (b) The Tranche B Term Loan of each  Tranche B Term Loan  Lender  shall
mature in 20 consecutive  quarterly  installments,  commencing on June 30, 2001,
each of which shall be in an amount equal to such  Lender's  Tranche B Term Loan
Percentage multiplied by the amount set forth below opposite such installment:

         Installment                              Principal Amount
         -----------                              ----------------

         June 30, 2001                              $   250,000
         September 30, 2001                             250,000
         December 31, 2001                              250,000
         March 31, 2002                                 250,000
         June 30, 2002                                  250,000
         September 30, 2002                             250,000
         December 31, 2002                              250,000
         March 31, 2003                                 250,000
         June 30, 2003                                  250,000
         September 30, 2003                             250,000
         December 31, 2003                              250,000
         March 31, 2004                                 250,000
         June 30, 2004                               18,000,000
         September 30, 2004                          18,000,000
         December 31, 2004                           18,000,000
         March 31, 2005                              18,000,000
         June 30, 2005                               18,750,000
         September 30, 2005                          18,750,000
         December 31, 2005                           18,750,000
         March 31, 2006                              18,750,000

         (c) In any event,  all unpaid  Obligations  in respect of the Tranche A
Term Loans and the  Tranche B Term  Loans  will be due and  payable on March 31,
2004 and March 31, 2006, respectively.

         2.4 Repayment of Term Loans;  Evidence of Debt. (a) The Borrower hereby
unconditionally  promises to pay to the Administrative  Agent for the account of
the appropriate  Lender the principal amount of each Term Loan of such Lender in
installments according to the amortization schedule set forth in Section 2.3 (or
on such earlier date on which the Term Loans become due and payable  pursuant to
Section 7). The  Borrower  hereby  further  agrees to pay interest on the unpaid
principal  amount of the Term Loans from time to time  outstanding from the date
hereof until  payment in full thereof at the rates per annum,  and on the dates,
set forth in Section 2.10.

                                       27

<PAGE>

         (b) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an
account or  accounts  evidencing  indebtedness  of the  Borrower  to such Lender
resulting  from each Term Loan of such Lender from time to time,  including  the
amounts of principal  and interest  payable and paid to such Lender from time to
time under this Agreement.

         (c) The Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Borrower, shall maintain
the  Register  pursuant to Section  9.6(d),  and a  subaccount  therein for each
Lender,  in which  shall be  recorded  (i) the  amount  of each  Term  Loan made
hereunder  and any Note  evidencing  such Term Loan,  the Type  thereof and each
Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest
due and  payable or to become due and payable  from the  Borrower to each Lender
hereunder  and (iii) both the amount of any sum  received by the  Administrative
Agent hereunder from the Borrower and each Lender's share thereof.

         (d) The entries  made in the  Register  and the accounts of each Lender
maintained  pursuant  to  Section  2.4(b)  shall,  to the  extent  permitted  by
applicable  law, be prima facie  evidence  of the  existence  and amounts of the
obligations  of the  Borrower  therein  recorded;  provided,  however,  that the
failure of any Lender or the  Administrative  Agent to maintain  the Register or
any such  account,  or any error  therein,  shall not in any  manner  affect the
obligation  of the Borrower to repay (with  applicable  interest) the Term Loans
made to such  Borrower  by such  Lender  in  accordance  with the  terms of this
Agreement.

         (e) The Borrower  agrees that,  upon the request to the  Administrative
Agent by any  Lender,  the  Borrower  will  execute and deliver to such Lender a
promissory  note of the  Borrower  evidencing  any Term  Loans  of such  Lender,
substantially  in the form of Exhibit G with  appropriate  insertions as to date
and  principal  amount;  provided  that  delivery  of such notes  shall not be a
condition precedent to the making of the Term Loans on the Closing Date.

         2.5 Fees, etc. (a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Syndication  Agent
the fees in the amounts and on the dates previously  agreed to in writing by the
Borrower and the Syndication Agent.

         (b) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative  Agent the fees in
the  amounts  and on the dates  from time to time  agreed to in  writing  by the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

         2.6  Optional  Prepayments.  (a) The  Borrower may at any time and from
time to time  prepay the Term  Loans,  in whole or in part,  without  premium or
penalty (except as otherwise provided herein), upon irrevocable notice delivered
to the  Administrative  Agent at least three  Business Days prior thereto in the
case of Eurodollar Loans and at least one Business Day prior thereto in the case
of Base Rate Loans, which notice shall specify the date and amount of prepayment
and whether the prepayment is of Eurodollar Loans or Base Rate Loans;  provided,
that if a  Eurodollar  Loan is prepaid on any day other than the last day of the
Interest  Period  applicable  thereto,  the Borrower  shall also pay any amounts
owing   pursuant  to  Section  2.16.   Upon  receipt  of  any  such  notice  the
Administrative  Agent shall promptly notify each relevant Lender thereof. If any
such  notice is given,  the amount  specified  in such  notice  shall be due and
                                       28

<PAGE>

payable on the date specified  therein,  together with accrued  interest to such
date on the amount  prepaid.  Partial  prepayments  of Term Loans shall be in an
aggregate  principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple thereof.  Optional
prepayments  of the Term Loans  shall be applied to the Tranche A Term Loans and
the Tranche B Term Loans  ratably  and to the  installments  thereof  ratably in
accordance with the then outstanding amounts thereof and may not be reborrowed.

         (b) All optional  prepayments  of principal in respect of the Tranche B
Term Loans  during  the two year  period  following  the  Closing  Date shall be
accompanied  by a prepayment  fee equal to (i) if such  prepayment is made on or
prior to the first  anniversary  of the  Closing  Date,  2% of the amount of the
principal  prepaid  and  (ii)  if  such  prepayment  is  made  after  the  first
anniversary of the Closing Date and on or prior to the second anniversary of the
Closing Date, 1% of the amount of the principal prepaid.  Any prepayment of Term
Loans in  connection  with a  refinancing  of the  Facilities  will be deemed to
constitute an optional prepayment.

         2.7 Mandatory  Prepayments  and Commitment  Reductions.  (a) Unless the
Required Prepayment Lenders shall otherwise agree, if any Capital Stock shall be
issued (excluding  Capital Stock of Holdings issued to Persons who are Permitted
Investors,  provided  that  prior to and after  giving  effect  to the  proposed
issuance, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing),
or Indebtedness  incurred, by Holdings,  the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
(excluding any Indebtedness incurred in accordance with Section 6.2 as in effect
on the date of this Agreement), an amount equal to the Net Cash Proceeds thereof
shall  be  applied  on the  date of  such  issuance  or  incurrence  toward  the
prepayment of the Term Loans.

         (b) Unless the Required Prepayment Lenders shall otherwise agree, if on
any date the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall receive Net Cash Proceeds
from any Asset Sale or Recovery Event then,  unless a Reinvestment  Notice shall
be delivered in respect thereof, an amount equal to such Net Cash Proceeds shall
be applied on such date toward the prepayment of the Term Loans; provided, that,
notwithstanding the foregoing,  on each Reinvestment  Prepayment Date, an amount
equal  to the  Reinvestment  Prepayment  Amount  with  respect  to the  relevant
Reinvestment Event shall be applied toward the prepayment of the Term Loans.

         (c) Unless the Required  Prepayment  Lenders shall otherwise agree, if,
for any fiscal  year of the  Borrower  commencing  with the fiscal  year  ending
December 31, 1999,  there shall be Excess Cash Flow, the Borrower  shall, on the
relevant Excess Cash Flow  Application  Date, apply 50% of such Excess Cash Flow
toward the  prepayment of the Term Loans.  Each such  prepayment  and commitment
reduction  shall be made on a date (an "Excess Cash Flow  Application  Date") no
later  than five days after the  earlier of (i) the date on which the  financial
statements of the Borrower  referred to in Section  5.1(a),  for the fiscal year
with respect to which such  prepayment is made,  are required to be delivered to
the Lenders and (ii) the date such financial statements are actually delivered.

         (d)  Each  mandatory  prepayment  required  by this  Section  shall  be
allocated  among the Term Loan  Facilities  pro rata according to the respective
outstanding principal amounts of Term Loans under such Facilities and may not be
reborrowed.  Amounts to be applied in 
                                       29

<PAGE>

connection  with  prepayments  made  pursuant to this Section  shall be applied,
first, to Base Rate Loans and, second,  to Eurodollar  Loans. Each prepayment of
the Term Loans under this Section shall be  accompanied  by accrued  interest to
the date of such prepayment on the amount prepaid.

         2.8 Conversion  and  Continuation  Options.  (a) The Borrower may elect
from time to time to convert  Eurodollar  Loans to Base Rate Loans by giving the
Administrative  Agent at least two Business  Days' prior  irrevocable  notice of
such election, provided that any such conversion of Eurodollar Loans may only be
made on the last day of an Interest  Period with respect  thereto.  The Borrower
may elect from time to time to convert  Base Rate Loans to  Eurodollar  Loans by
giving the Administrative  Agent at least three Business Days' prior irrevocable
notice of such  election  (which  notice shall specify the length of the initial
Interest  Period  therefor);  provided that no Base Rate Loan under a particular
Facility may be converted  into a Eurodollar  Loan (i) when any Event of Default
has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative  Agent has or the Majority
Facility  Lenders in respect of such  Facility  have  determined in its or their
sole  discretion  not to permit such  conversions or (ii) after the date that is
one month prior to the final  scheduled  termination  or  maturity  date of such
Facility.  Upon  receipt  of any such  notice  the  Administrative  Agent  shall
promptly notify each relevant Lender thereof.

         (b) Any Eurodollar Loan may be continued as such upon the expiration of
the then current  Interest  Period with respect  thereto by the Borrower  giving
irrevocable  notice  to  the  Administrative   Agent,  in  accordance  with  the
applicable provisions of the term "Interest Period" set forth in Section 1.1, of
the length of the next  Interest  Period to be  applicable  to such Term  Loans,
provided that no Eurodollar Loan under a particular Facility may be continued as
such (i) when any  Event of  Default  has  occurred  and is  continuing  and the
Administrative  Agent has or the  Majority  Facility  Lenders in respect of such
Facility  have  determined  in its or their sole  discretion  not to permit such
continuations  or (ii)  after  the date  that is one  month  prior to the  final
scheduled termination or maturity date of such Facility, and provided,  further,
that if the Borrower shall fail to give any required  notice as described  above
in this  paragraph  or if such  continuation  is not  permitted  pursuant to the
preceding proviso such Term Loans shall be automatically  converted to Base Rate
Loans on the last day of such then expiring Interest Period. Upon receipt of any
such notice the Administrative  Agent shall promptly notify each relevant Lender
thereof.

         2.9  Minimum  Amounts  and  Maximum  Number  of  Eurodollar   Tranches.
Notwithstanding  anything to the  contrary in this  Agreement,  all  borrowings,
conversions,   continuations  and  optional   prepayments  of  Eurodollar  Loans
hereunder and all  selections  of Interest  Periods  hereunder  shall be in such
amounts and be made pursuant to such  elections so that, (a) after giving effect
thereto,  the aggregate principal amount of the Eurodollar Loans comprising each
Eurodollar  Tranche  shall  be  equal  to  $5,000,000  or a  whole  multiple  of
$1,000,000 in excess thereof and (b) no more than ten Eurodollar  Tranches shall
be outstanding at any one time.

                                       30

<PAGE>

         2.10 Interest Rates and Payment Dates.  (a) Each  Eurodollar Loan shall
bear interest for each day during each Interest Period with respect thereto at a
rate per annum equal to the  Eurodollar  Rate  determined  for such day plus the
Applicable Margin.

         (b) Each Base Rate Loan shall bear  interest  at a rate per annum equal
to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin.

         (c) (i) If all or a portion  of the  principal  amount of any Term Loan
shall not be paid when due (whether at the stated  maturity,  by acceleration or
otherwise),  all outstanding  Term Loans shall bear interest at a rate per annum
that is equal to the rate that would otherwise be applicable thereto pursuant to
the foregoing provisions of this Section plus 2% and (ii) if all or a portion of
any  interest  payable on any Term Loan or any  commitment  fee or other  amount
payable hereunder shall not be paid when due (whether at the stated maturity, by
acceleration  or  otherwise),  such overdue amount shall bear interest at a rate
per  annum  equal to the rate  then  applicable  to Base  Rate  Loans  under the
relevant Facility plus 2% (or, in the case of any such other amounts that do not
relate to a particular  Facility,  the rate then  applicable  to Base Rate Loans
under the  Revolving  Credit  Facility  plus 2%), in each case,  with respect to
clauses (i) and (ii) above,  from the date of such non-payment until such amount
is paid in full (after as well as before judgment).

         (d) Interest shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date,
provided that interest  accruing pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section shall
be payable from time to time on demand.

         2.11  Computation  of  Interest  and  Fees.  (a)  Interest,   fees  and
commissions  payable  pursuant  hereto  shall be  calculated  on the  basis of a
360-day year for the actual days elapsed, except that, with respect to Base Rate
Loans  the rate of  interest  on which is  calculated  on the basis of the Prime
Rate, the interest  thereon shall be calculated on the basis of a 365- (or 366-,
as the case may be) day year for the actual  days  elapsed.  The  Administrative
Agent shall as soon as practicable  notify the Borrower and the relevant Lenders
of each determination of a Eurodollar Rate. Any change in the interest rate on a
Term Loan resulting from a change in the Base Rate or the  Eurocurrency  Reserve
Requirements  shall become effective as of the opening of business on the day on
which such change becomes effective.  The Administrative  Agent shall as soon as
practicable  notify the Borrower and the relevant  Lenders of the effective date
and the amount of each such change in interest rate.

         (b) Each determination of an interest rate by the Administrative  Agent
pursuant to any provision of this  Agreement  shall be conclusive and binding on
the   Borrower  and  the  Lenders  in  the  absence  of  manifest   error.   The
Administrative  Agent  shall,  at the  request of the  Borrower,  deliver to the
Borrower a statement showing the quotations used by the Administrative  Agent in
determining any interest rate pursuant to Section 2.11(a).

                                       31

<PAGE>

         2.12 Inability to Determine Interest Rate. If prior to the first day of
any Interest Period:

              (a)  the   Administrative   Agent  shall  have  determined  (which
         determination  shall be conclusive and binding upon the Borrower) that,
         by reason of circumstances  affecting the relevant market, adequate and
         reasonable  means do not exist for ascertaining the Eurodollar Rate for
         such Interest Period, or

              (b) the  Administrative  Agent shall have received notice from the
         Majority  Facility Lenders in respect of the relevant Facility that the
         Eurodollar Rate determined or to be determined for such Interest Period
         will not  adequately  and fairly  reflect the cost to such  Lenders (as
         conclusively  certified by such Lenders) of making or maintaining their
         affected Term Loans during such Interest Period,

the Administrative Agent shall give telecopy or telephonic notice thereof to the
Borrower and the relevant  Lenders as soon as  practicable  thereafter.  If such
notice is given (x) any Eurodollar Loans under the relevant  Facility  requested
to be made on the first day of such  Interest  Period shall be made as Base Rate
Loans,  (y) any Term Loans under the  relevant  Facility  that were to have been
converted on the first day of such Interest Period to Eurodollar  Loans shall be
continued as Base Rate Loans and (z) any outstanding  Eurodollar Loans under the
relevant  Facility  shall be  converted,  on the  last  day of the then  current
Interest Period with respect thereto,  to Base Rate Loans. Until such notice has
been withdrawn by the  Administrative  Agent, no further  Eurodollar Loans under
the relevant Facility shall be made or continued as such, nor shall the Borrower
have the right to convert Term Loans under the relevant  Facility to  Eurodollar
Loans.

         2.13  Pro Rata  Treatment  and  Payments.  (a)  Each  borrowing  by the
Borrower from the Lenders  hereunder and any reduction of the Commitments of the
Lenders shall be made pro rata according to the  respective  Tranche A Term Loan
Percentages  or  Tranche  B Term  Loan  Percentages,  as the case may be, of the
relevant Lenders.  Each payment (other than prepayments) in respect of principal
or  interest  in respect  of the Term Loans and each  payment in respect of fees
payable  hereunder shall be applied to the amounts of such obligations  owing to
the Lenders pro rata according to the  respective  amounts then due and owing to
the Lenders.

         (b) Other than with respect to any substituted Lender in accordance
with Section 2.19, each payment  (including  each  prepayment) of the Term Loans
outstanding  under any Term Loan Facility shall be allocated among the Term Loan
Lenders  holding such Term Loans pro rata based on the principal  amount of such
Term  Loans  held by such  Term  Loan  Lenders,  and  shall  be  applied  to the
installments  of such Term  Loans pro rata  based on the  remaining  outstanding
principal  amount of such  installments.  Amounts prepaid on account of the Term
Loans may not be reborrowed.

         (c)  Notwithstanding  anything to the  contrary in Section  2.6, 2.7 or
2.13, so long as any Tranche A Term Loans are  outstanding,  each Tranche B Term
Loan Lender  may, at its option,  accept or decline any or all of the portion of
any optional  prepayment or mandatory  

                                       32

<PAGE>

payment applicable to the Tranche B Term Loans of such Lender; accordingly, with
respect to the amount of any  optional  prepayment  described  in Section 2.6 or
mandatory  prepayment  described  in Section 2.7 that is  allocated to Tranche B
Term Loans (such  amounts,  the "Tranche B Prepayment  Amount") at any time when
Tranche A Term Loans remain  outstanding,  the Borrower will, (i) in the case of
any optional  prepayment  which the Borrower  wishes to make,  not later than 10
Business  Days  prior to the date on which  the  Borrower  wishes  to make  such
optional prepayment, and (ii) in the case of any mandatory prepayment of Tranche
B Term Loans  required to be made  pursuant to Section  2.7, in lieu of applying
such  amount to the  prepayment  of Tranche B Term Loans as  provided in Section
2.7,  on the  date  specified  in  Section  2.7 for  such  prepayment,  give the
Administrative   Agent  telephonic   notice  (promptly   confirmed  in  writing)
requesting that the  Administrative  Agent prepare and provide to each Tranche B
Lender a notice (each,  a "Prepayment  Option  Notice") as described  below.  As
promptly as  practicable  after  receiving  such notice from the  Borrower,  the
Administrative  Agent  will send to each  Tranche B Lender a  Prepayment  Option
Notice,  which shall be in the form of Exhibit H, and shall  include an offer by
the Borrower to prepay on the date (each a "Prepayment Date") that is 5 Business
Days after the date of the Prepayment Option Notice,  the relevant Term Loans of
such Lender by an amount equal to the portion of the Prepayment Amount indicated
in such Lender's  Prepayment  Option Notice as being applicable to such Lender's
Tranche B Term Loans. On the Prepayment  Date, (i) the Borrower shall pay to the
Administrative  Agent the aggregate  amount  necessary to prepay that portion of
the  outstanding  relevant Term Loans in respect of which Tranche B Lenders have
accepted prepayment as described above (such Lenders, the "Accepting  Lenders"),
and such amount shall be applied to reduce the Tranche B Prepayment  Amounts, as
applicable,  with respect to each  Accepting  Lender and (ii) the Borrower shall
pay to the  Administrative  Agent an amount  equal to 100% of the portion of the
Tranche B Prepayment  Amount not  accepted by the  Accepting  Lenders,  and such
amount shall be applied to the prepayment of the Tranche A Term Loans.

         (d) All  payments  (including  prepayments)  to be made by the Borrower
hereunder,  whether on account of principal,  interest, fees or otherwise, shall
be made without  setoff or  counterclaim  and shall be made prior to 12:00 Noon,
New York City time, on the due date thereof to the Administrative Agent, for the
account of the Lenders,  at the Payment  Office,  in Dollars and in  immediately
available funds. The Administrative  Agent shall distribute such payments to the
Lenders  promptly  upon  receipt  in like  funds  as  received.  If any  payment
hereunder (other than payments on the Eurodollar  Loans) becomes due and payable
on a day other than a Business  Day,  such payment shall be extended to the next
succeeding  Business  Day. If any payment on a  Eurodollar  Loan becomes due and
payable  on a day other than a  Business  Day,  the  maturity  thereof  shall be
extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless the result of such extension
would be to extend such payment into another calendar month, in which event such
payment shall be made on the immediately  preceding Business Day. In the case of
any  extension  of any  payment  of  principal  pursuant  to the  preceding  two
sentences,  interest thereon shall be payable at the then applicable rate during
such extension.

         (e) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified in writing
by any Lender  prior to a  borrowing  that such  Lender will not make the amount
that  would   constitute   its  share  of  such   borrowing   available  to  the
Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may

                                       33

<PAGE>

assume that such Lender is making such amount  available  to the  Administrative
Agent, and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption,  make
available to the  Borrower a  corresponding  amount.  If such amount is not made
available to the Administrative Agent by the required time on the borrowing date
therefor,  such Lender shall pay to the  Administrative  Agent, on demand,  such
amount with interest  thereon at a rate equal to the daily average Federal Funds
Effective  Rate for the period until such Lender  makes such amount  immediately
available to the Administrative Agent. A certificate of the Administrative Agent
submitted to any Lender with respect to any amounts  owing under this  paragraph
shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest  error. If such Lender's share of
such borrowing is not made available to the Administrative  Agent by such Lender
within three Business Days of such  borrowing  date,  the  Administrative  Agent
shall also be entitled to recover such amount with interest  thereon at the rate
per annum applicable to Base Rate Loans under the relevant Facility,  on demand,
from the Borrower.

         (f) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified in writing
by the Borrower  prior to the date of any payment being made  hereunder that the
Borrower  will  not  make  such  payment  to  the   Administrative   Agent,  the
Administrative  Agent may assume that the Borrower is making such  payment,  and
the  Administrative  Agent may, but shall not be required  to, in reliance  upon
such assumption,  make available to the Lenders their respective pro rata shares
of a  corresponding  amount.  If such payment is not made to the  Administrative
Agent by the Borrower  within three  Business  Days of such required  date,  the
Administrative  Agent shall be entitled to recover,  on demand, from each Lender
to which any amount which was made available pursuant to the preceding sentence,
such amount with interest thereon at a rate per annum equal to the daily average
Federal Funds Effective Rate. Nothing herein shall be deemed to limit the rights
of the Administrative Agent or any Lender against the Borrower.

         2.14  Requirements  of Law. (a) If the adoption of or any change in any
Requirement of Law or in the interpretation or application thereof or compliance
by any Lender with any request or directive  (whether or not having the force of
law) from any central bank or other  Governmental  Authority made  subsequent to
the date hereof:

              (i) shall  subject  any  Lender to any tax of any kind  whatsoever
         with respect to this  Agreement or any  Eurodollar  Loan made by it, or
         change the basis of  taxation  of  payments  to such  Lender in respect
         thereof  (except for  Non-Excluded  Taxes  covered by Section  2.15 and
         changes in the rate of tax on the overall net income of such Lender);

              (ii) shall impose, modify or hold applicable any reserve,  special
         deposit, compulsory loan or similar requirement against assets held by,
         deposits or other liabilities in or for the account of, advances, loans
         or other extensions of credit by, or any other acquisition of funds by,
         any  office  of such  Lender  that  is not  otherwise  included  in the
         determination of the Eurodollar Rate hereunder; or

              (iii) shall impose on such Lender any other condition;

and the result of any of the  foregoing  is to increase the cost to such Lender,
by an amount which such Lender deems to be material, of making, converting into,
continuing or maintaining

                                       34

<PAGE>

Eurodollar  Loans,  or to reduce  any  amount  receivable  hereunder  in respect
thereof,  then, in any such case,  the Borrower  shall promptly pay such Lender,
upon its demand,  any additional amounts necessary to compensate such Lender for
such increased cost or reduced amount receivable. If any Lender becomes entitled
to claim any  additional  amounts  pursuant to this Section,  it shall  promptly
notify the Borrower  (with a copy to the  Administrative  Agent) of the event by
reason of which it has become so entitled.

         (b) If any Lender  shall have  determined  that the  adoption of or any
change  in  any  Requirement  of  Law  regarding  capital  adequacy  or  in  the
interpretation  or  application  thereof  or  compliance  by such  Lender or any
corporation  controlling  such Lender with any  request or  directive  regarding
capital adequacy  (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental
Authority  made  subsequent to the date hereof shall have the effect of reducing
the  rate  of  return  on  such  Lender's  or such  corporation's  capital  as a
consequence of its obligations hereunder to a level below that which such Lender
or such  corporation  could  have  achieved  but for such  adoption,  change  or
compliance  (taking  into  consideration  such  Lender's  or such  corporation's
policies with respect to capital adequacy) by an amount deemed by such Lender to
be  material,  then from time to time,  after  submission  by such Lender to the
Borrower  (with  a copy  to  the  Administrative  Agent)  of a  written  request
therefor,  the  Borrower  shall pay to such  Lender  such  additional  amount or
amounts as will compensate such Lender or such corporation for such reduction.

         (c) A certificate as to any additional amounts payable pursuant to this
Section submitted by any Lender to the Borrower setting out in reasonable detail
the  method of  determination  of such  additional  amounts  (with a copy to the
Administrative  Agent) shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. The
obligations  of  the  Borrower  pursuant  to  this  Section  shall  survive  the
termination  of this  Agreement  and the payment of the Term Loans and all other
amounts payable hereunder.

         2.15 Taxes.  (a) All payments made by the Borrower under this Agreement
shall be made free and clear of, and without  deduction or withholding for or on
account of, any present or future income, stamp or other taxes, levies, imposts,
duties,  charges,  fees,  deductions or withholdings,  now or hereafter imposed,
levied, collected, withheld or assessed by any Governmental Authority, excluding
net income  taxes and  franchise  taxes  (imposed  in lieu of net income  taxes)
imposed on any Agent or any Lender as a result of a present or former connection
between  such Agent or such  Lender  and the  jurisdiction  of the  Governmental
Authority  imposing such tax or any political  subdivision  or taxing  authority
thereof or therein  (other  than any such  connection  arising  solely from such
Agent's or such Lender's having executed, delivered or performed its obligations
or received a payment  under,  or  enforced,  this  Agreement  or any other Loan
Document).  If any such non-excluded taxes, levies,  imposts,  duties,  charges,
fees,  deductions  or  withholdings  ("Non-Excluded  Taxes") are  required to be
withheld  from any  amounts  payable to any Agent or any Lender  hereunder,  the
amounts so payable to such Agent or such Lender shall be increased to the extent
necessary  to  yield  to  such  Agent  or  such  Lender  (after  payment  of all
Non-Excluded  Taxes and Other Taxes)  interest or any such other amounts payable
hereunder at the rates or in the amounts specified in this Agreement,  provided,
however,  that the  Borrower  shall not be required to increase any such amounts
payable  to any  Lender  with  

                                       35

<PAGE>

respect to any  Non-Excluded  Taxes (i) that are  attributable  to such Lender's
failure to comply with the  requirements of paragraph (d) or (e) of this Section
or (ii) that are United States  withholding  taxes imposed on amounts payable to
such Lender at the time such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement, except to
the extent that such  Lender's  assignor (if any) was  entitled,  at the time of
assignment, to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such
Non-Excluded Taxes pursuant to Section 2.15(a).

         (b) In addition, the Borrower shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant
Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

         (c) Whenever any  Non-Excluded  Taxes or Other Taxes are payable by the
Borrower,  as promptly as possible  thereafter  the  Borrower  shall send to the
Administrative  Agent for the account of the  relevant  Agent or Lender,  as the
case may be, a certified copy of an original  official  receipt  received by the
Borrower showing payment thereof.  If the Borrower fails to pay any Non-Excluded
Taxes or Other Taxes when due to the  appropriate  taxing  authority or fails to
remit to the  Administrative  Agent  the  required  receipts  or other  required
documentary  evidence,  the Borrower shall  indemnify the Agents and the Lenders
for any incremental taxes,  interest or penalties that may become payable by any
Agent or any  Lender as a result of any such  failure.  The  agreements  in this
Section 2.15 shall survive the  termination of this Agreement and the payment of
the Term Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

         (d) Each  Lender (or  Transferee)  that is not a citizen or resident of
the United States of America, a corporation, partnership or other entity created
or  organized  in or under  the laws of the  United  States of  America  (or any
jurisdiction  thereof), or any estate or trust that is subject to federal income
taxation  regardless  of the source of its income (a  "Non-U.S.  Lender")  shall
deliver to the  Borrower  and the  Administrative  Agent (and,  in the case of a
Participant,  also to the Lender from which the related participation shall have
been purchased) two copies of either U.S.  Internal Revenue Service Form 1001 or
Form 4224,  or, in the case of a Non-U.S.  Lender  claiming  exemption from U.S.
federal  withholding tax under Section 871(h) or 881(c) of the Code with respect
to payments of  "portfolio  interest" a statement  substantially  in the form of
Exhibit I and a Form W-8,  or any  subsequent  versions  thereof  or  successors
thereto  properly  completed and duly executed by such Non-U.S.  Lender claiming
complete  exemption from, or a reduced rate of, U.S. federal  withholding tax on
all payments by the Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan  Documents.
Such forms shall be delivered by each  Non-U.S.  Lender on or before the date it
becomes a party to this  Agreement  (or, in the case of any  Participant,  on or
before  the date such  Participant  purchases  the  related  participation).  In
addition,  each  Non-U.S.  Lender  shall  deliver such forms  promptly  upon the
obsolescence  or  invalidity of any form  previously  delivered by such Non-U.S.
Lender.  Each Non-U.S.  Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower at any time it
determines  that  it is no  longer  in a  position  to  provide  any  previously
delivered  certificate  to the  Borrower  (or any  other  form of  certification
adopted by the U.S. taxing  authorities for such purpose).  Notwithstanding  any
other  provision of this paragraph,  a Non-U.S.  Lender shall not be required to
deliver any form pursuant to this  paragraph  that such  Non-U.S.  Lender is not
legally able to deliver.

                                       36

<PAGE>

         (e) A Lender that is  entitled to an  exemption  from or  reduction  of
non-U.S. withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower
is located, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to
payments under this Agreement  shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the
Administrative  Agent),  at the time or times  prescribed by  applicable  law or
reasonably  requested by the  Borrower,  such  properly  completed  and executed
documentation  prescribed by  applicable  law as will permit such payments to be
made without  withholding  or at a reduced  rate,  provided  that such Lender is
legally entitled to complete, execute and deliver such documentation and in such
Lender's reasonable judgment such completion,  execution or submission would not
materially prejudice the legal position of such Lender.

         (f) If the  Administrative  Agent or any  Lender  receives  a refund in
respect of Non-Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes paid by the Borrower,  which in the
good faith  judgment  of such  Lender is  allocable  to such  payment,  it shall
promptly pay such refund,  together  with any other amounts paid by the Borrower
in  connection  with such  refunded  Non-Excluded  Taxes or Other Taxes,  to the
Borrower, net of all out-of-pocket expenses of such Lender incurred in obtaining
such refund, provided, however, that the Borrower agrees to promptly return such
refund to the Administrative Agent or the applicable Lender, as the case may be,
if it receives notice from the  Administrative  Agent or applicable  Lender that
the Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay such refund.

         (g)  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary in this Section,  if the
Internal Revenue Service  determines that a Lender is participating in a conduit
financing  arrangement  as  defined  in  Section  7701(i)  of the  Code  and the
regulations thereunder (a "Conduit Financing  Arrangement"),  then (i) any Taxes
that the Borrower is required to withhold  from payments to such Lender shall be
excluded from the definitions of "Non-Excluded Taxes" and (ii) such Lender shall
indemnify  the  Borrower in full for any and all Taxes for which the Borrower is
held  directly  liable under  Section 1461 of the Code by virtue of such Conduit
Financing Arrangement.  Each Lender represents that it is not participating in a
Conduit Financing Arrangement.

         2.16  Indemnity.  The Borrower  agrees to indemnify  each Lender and to
hold each Lender  harmless from any loss or expense that such Lender may sustain
or incur as a  consequence  of (a) default by the Borrower in making a borrowing
of,  conversion into or continuation of Eurodollar  Loans after the Borrower has
given a notice  requesting  the same in accordance  with the  provisions of this
Agreement,  (b)  default  by the  Borrower  in making any  prepayment  after the
Borrower has given a notice  thereof in accordance  with the  provisions of this
Agreement or (c) the making of a prepayment or conversion of Eurodollar Loans on
a day that is not the last day of an Interest Period with respect thereto.  Such
indemnification  may include an amount  equal to the excess,  if any, of (i) the
amount  of  interest  that  would  have  accrued  on the  amount so  prepaid  or
converted, or not so borrowed,  converted or continued,  for the period from the
date of such  prepayment or conversion or of such failure to borrow,  convert or
continue to the last day of such  Interest  Period (or, in the case of a failure
to borrow, convert or continue, the Interest Period that would have commenced on
the date of such  failure) in each case at the  applicable  rate of interest for
such Term Loans provided for herein (excluding,  however,  the Applicable Margin
included  therein,  if any) over  (ii) the  amount of  interest  (as  

                                       37

<PAGE>

reasonably  determined by such Lender) that would have accrued to such Lender on
such  amount by placing  such  amount on deposit  for a  comparable  period with
leading  banks in the  interbank  eurodollar  market.  A  certificate  as to any
amounts payable pursuant to this Section submitted to the Borrower by any Lender
shall be  conclusive  in the  absence of manifest  error.  This  covenant  shall
survive the  termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Term Loans and
all other amounts payable hereunder.

         2.17 Illegality.  Notwithstanding  any other provision  herein,  if the
adoption of or any change in any Requirement of Law or in the  interpretation or
application  thereof  shall make it unlawful  for any Lender to make or maintain
Eurodollar  Loans as contemplated by this Agreement,  (a) the commitment of such
Lender hereunder to make Eurodollar Loans, continue Eurodollar Loans as such and
convert Base Rate Loans to Eurodollar  Loans shall forthwith be canceled and (b)
such Lender's Term Loans then outstanding as Eurodollar  Loans, if any, shall be
converted  automatically  to Base Rate Loans on the respective  last days of the
then  current  Interest  Periods  with respect to such Term Loans or within such
earlier period as required by law. If any such  conversion of a Eurodollar  Loan
occurs on a day which is not the last day of the then  current  Interest  Period
with respect  thereto,  the Borrower  shall pay to such Lender such amounts,  if
any, as may be required pursuant to Section 2.16.

         2.18  Change of Lending  Office.  Each  Lender  agrees  that,  upon the
occurrence of any event giving rise to the operation of Section 2.14, 2.15(a) or
2.17 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 Term Loans affected by such event with
the object of  avoiding  the  consequences  of such event;  provided,  that such
designation  is made on terms that, in the sole  judgment of such Lender,  cause
such Lender and its lending office(s) to suffer no economic, legal or regulatory
disadvantage,  and provided,  further, that nothing in this Section shall affect
or postpone any of the  obligations  of the Borrower or the rights of any Lender
pursuant to Section 2.14, 2.15(a) or 2.17.

         2.19 Substitution of Lenders. Upon the receipt by the Borrower from any
Lender (an "Affected  Lender") of a claim under Section 2.14,  2.15 or 2.17, the
Borrower  may:  (a) request one more of the other  Lenders to acquire and assume
all or part of such Affected Lender's Term Loans and Commitment;  or (b) replace
such Affected  Lender by designating  another Lender or a financial  institution
that is willing to acquire such Term Loans and assume such Commitment;  provided
that (i) such replacement does not conflict with any Requirement of Law, (ii) no
Event of  Default  shall have  occurred  and be  continuing  at the time of such
replacement,  (iii)  the  Borrower  shall  repay  (or  the  replacement  bank or
institution shall purchase,  at par) all Term Loans,  accrued interest and other
amounts owing to such replaced Lender prior to the date of replacement, (iv) the
Borrower  shall be liable to such  replaced  Lender  under  Section  2.16 if any
Eurodollar  Loan owing to such replaced  Lender shall be prepaid (or  purchased)
other than on the last day of the  Interest  Period  relating  thereto,  (v) the
replacement  bank or institution,  if not already a Lender,  shall be reasonably
satisfactory  to the  Administrative  Agent,  (vi) the replaced  Lender shall be
obligated to make such  replacement  in accordance  with the  provisions of this
Section 9.6 (provided that the Borrower or replacement Lender shall be obligated
to pay the registration and processing fee) and (vii) the Borrower shall pay all

                                       38

<PAGE>

additional  amounts (if any) required pursuant to Section 2.14, 2.15 or 2.17, as
the case may be, to the extent such additional amounts were incurred on or prior
to the consummation of such replacement.


                    SECTION 3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         To induce the Agents and the Lenders to enter into this  Agreement  and
to make the Term Loans,  Holdings and the Borrower  hereby jointly and severally
represent and warrant to each Agent and each Lender that:

         3.1  Financial  Condition.  (a) The  unaudited  pro forma  consolidated
balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at January 2,
1999  (including the notes thereto) (the "Pro Forma Balance  Sheet"),  copies of
which have  heretofore  been furnished to each Lender,  has been prepared giving
effect (as if such events had occurred on such date) to (i) the  consummation of
the Acquisition, (ii) the Term Loans to be made hereunder and the loans, if any,
to be made under the Revolving Credit Agreement on the Closing Date, and the use
of proceeds  thereof and (iii) the  payment of fees and  expenses in  connection
with the  foregoing.  The Pro Forma Balance Sheet has been prepared based on the
best information  available to the Borrower as of the date of delivery  thereof,
and presents  fairly on a pro forma basis the  estimated  financial  position of
Borrower and its consolidated  Subsidiaries as at January 2, 1999, assuming that
the events  specified in the  preceding  sentence had actually  occurred at such
date.

         (b) The  audited  consolidated  balance  sheets of the  Borrower  as at
December  28,  1996,  January  3, 1998 and  January  2,  1999,  and the  related
consolidated  statements  of income and of cash flows for the fiscal years ended
on such dates, reported on by and accompanied by an unqualified report from KPMG
LLP, present fairly the consolidated  financial  condition of the Borrower as at
such date, and the  consolidated  results of its operations and its consolidated
cash  flows  for  the  respective   fiscal  years  then  ended.   The  unaudited
consolidated  balance sheet of Holdings as at December 31, 1998 presents  fairly
the  consolidated  financial  condition  of Holdings  as at such date.  All such
financial  statements,  including the related schedules and notes thereto,  have
been  prepared in  accordance  with GAAP  applied  consistently  throughout  the
periods involved (except as approved by the  aforementioned  firm of accountants
and disclosed therein).  Holdings, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries do not have
any material Guarantee  Obligations,  contingent liabilities and liabilities for
taxes,  or any  long-term  leases or unusual  forward or long-term  commitments,
including,  without  limitation,  any interest rate or foreign  currency swap or
exchange transaction or other obligation in respect of derivatives, that are not
reflected in the most recent financial statements referred to in this paragraph.
During the period from  January 2, 1999 to and  including  the date hereof there
has been no  Disposition by the Borrower of any material part of its business or
Property.

         (c) The audited  consolidated  balance sheets of the Acquired Assets as
at September 30, 1997 and September 30, 1998, and the consolidated statements of
income  and of cash  flows  for the  fiscal  years  ended  September  30,  1996,
September 30, 1997 and September 30, 1998,  reported on by and accompanied by an
unqualified  report from KPMG LLP,  present  fairly

                                       39

<PAGE>

the consolidated financial condition of the Acquired Assets as at such date, and
the consolidated  results of their operations and their  consolidated cash flows
for the respective fiscal years then ended. The unaudited  consolidated  balance
sheets of the Acquired Assets as at January 3, 1998 and January 2, 1999, and the
related  unaudited  consolidated  statements  of income  and cash  flows for the
three-month  periods  ended  on such  dates,  present  fairly  the  consolidated
financial condition of the Acquired Assets as at such date, and the consolidated
results  of  their  operations  and  their   consolidated  cash  flows  for  the
three-month periods then ended (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments).

         3.2 No Change.  Since January 2, 1999 there has been no  development or
event that has had or could  reasonably  be expected to have a Material  Adverse
Effect.  Since  September 30, 1998,  there has been no development or event that
has had or could be reasonably be expected to have a material  adverse effect on
the Acquired Assets.

         3.3 Corporate  Existence;  Compliance  with Law. Each of Holdings,  the
Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  (a) is duly organized,  validly  existing and in
good standing under the laws of the  jurisdiction of its  organization,  (b) has
the corporate or business trust power and authority, and the legal right, to own
and operate  its  Property,  to lease the  Property it operates as lessee and to
conduct the business in which it is currently engaged,  (c) is duly qualified as
a foreign  corporation  or business trust and in good standing under the laws of
each  jurisdiction  where its  ownership,  lease or operation of Property or the
conduct of its business  requires  such  qualification  and (d) is in compliance
with  all  Requirements  of Law  except,  in the  case of each of the  foregoing
clauses (c) and (d), to the extent  that the failure to comply  therewith  could
not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         3.4 Corporate Power; Authorization;  Enforceable Obligations. Each Loan
Party has the  corporate or business  trust power and  authority,  and the legal
right,  to make,  deliver and perform the Loan  Documents to which it is a party
and, in the case of the Borrower, to borrow hereunder. Each Loan Party has taken
all  necessary  corporate  action  to  authorize  the  execution,  delivery  and
performance of the Loan Documents to which it is a party and, in the case of the
Borrower,  to  authorize  the  borrowings  on the terms and  conditions  of this
Agreement.  No consent or authorization  of, filing with, notice to or other act
by or in respect of, any Governmental  Authority or any other Person is required
in connection  with the  Acquisition  and the  borrowings  hereunder or with the
execution, delivery,  performance,  validity or enforceability of this Agreement
or any of the other Loan Documents, except (i) consents, authorizations, filings
and notices described in Schedule 3.4, which consents,  authorizations,  filings
and notices  have been  obtained or made and are in full force and effect,  (ii)
the filings referred to in Section 3.19 and (iii) consents,  notices and filings
which the failure to make or obtain could not  reasonably  be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect. Each Loan Document has been duly executed and delivered
on behalf of each Loan Party party thereto. This Agreement constitutes, and each
other Loan Document upon execution will constitute,  a legal,  valid and binding
obligation of each Loan Party party thereto,  enforceable against each such Loan
Party in accordance with its terms,  except as enforceability  may be limited by
applicable bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,  moratorium or similar laws
affecting  the  enforcement  of  creditors'  

                                       40

<PAGE>

rights generally and by general  equitable  principles  (whether  enforcement is
sought by proceedings in equity or at law).

         3.5 No Legal Bar.  The  execution,  delivery  and  performance  of this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents,  the borrowings hereunder and the use of
the proceeds  thereof will not violate any Requirement of Law or any Contractual
Obligation  of Holdings,  the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  and will not
result in, or require,  the creation or  imposition  of any Lien on any of their
respective properties or revenues pursuant to any Requirement of Law or any such
Contractual Obligation (other than the Liens created by the Security Documents).
No Requirement of Law or  Contractual  Obligation  applicable to the Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries  could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.

         3.6 No Material Litigation. No litigation,  investigation or proceeding
of or before any  arbitrator  or  Governmental  Authority  is pending or, to the
knowledge of Holdings or the Borrower,  threatened by or against  Holdings,  the
Borrower  or  any  of its  Subsidiaries  or  against  any  of  their  respective
properties  or revenues (a) with respect to any of the Loan  Documents or any of
the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or (b) that could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         3.7  No  Default.  Neither  Holdings,  the  Borrower  nor  any  of  its
Subsidiaries  is in  default  under or with  respect  to any of its  Contractual
Obligations in any respect that could  reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect. No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

         3.8 Ownership of Property;  Liens.  Each of Holdings,  the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries  has title in fee simple to, or a valid leasehold  interest in,
all its real  property,  subject  only to Liens and other  matters  permitted by
Section 6.3, and good title to, or a valid leasehold  interest in, all its other
Property,  and none of such  Property is subject to any Lien except as permitted
by Section 6.3.

         3.9  Intellectual  Property.  To the  knowledge  of  Holdings  and  the
Borrower,  Holdings,  the  Borrower  and each of its  Subsidiaries  owns,  or is
licensed to use,  all  Intellectual  Property  necessary  and  material  for the
conduct of its business as currently conducted. To the knowledge of Holdings and
the Borrower,  except as indicated on Schedule  3.9, no material  claim has been
asserted and is pending by any Person alleging that the use of any  Intellectual
Property  by  Holdings,  the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  infringes  on the
intellectual  property  rights of any Person in any  material  respect  nor does
Holdings or the Borrower know of any valid basis for any such claim.

         3.10 Taxes. Each of Holdings, the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries
has  filed or  caused to be filed all  Federal,  state  and other  material  tax
returns that are required to be filed and has paid all taxes shown to be due and
payable on said  returns  or on any  assessments  made  against it or any of its
Property and all other taxes,  fees or other charges imposed on it or any of its
Property by any Governmental Authority (other than any the amount or validity of
which are currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and
with respect to which 

                                       41

<PAGE>

reserves in  conformity  with GAAP have been  provided on the books of Holdings,
the  Borrower or its  Subsidiaries,  as the case may be);  and as of the Closing
Date no tax Lien has been filed,  and,  to the  knowledge  of  Holdings  and the
Borrower, no claim is being asserted, with respect to any such tax, fee or other
charge.

         3.11  Federal  Regulations.  No part of the  proceeds of any Term Loans
will be used for  "purchasing"  or  "carrying"  any  "margin  stock"  within the
respective  meanings of each of the quoted  terms under  Regulation U as now and
from time to time  hereafter  in effect or for any  purpose  that  violates  the
provisions of the  Regulations  of the Board.  If requested by any Lender or the
Administrative  Agent, the Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and
each  Lender  a  statement  to the  foregoing  effect  in  conformity  with  the
requirements of FR Form G-3 or FR Form U-1 referred to in Regulation U.

         3.12  Labor  Matters.  There are no  strikes  or other  labor  disputes
against  Holdings,  the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  pending or, to the
knowledge of Holdings or the Borrower,  threatened that  (individually or in the
aggregate) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Hours
worked by and payment  made to  employees  of  Holdings,  the  Borrower  and its
Subsidiaries  have not been in violation of the Fair Labor  Standards Act or any
other applicable Requirement of Law dealing with such matters that (individually
or in the  aggregate)  could  reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse
Effect. All payments due from Holdings,  the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
on account of employee health and welfare insurance that (individually or in the
aggregate) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect if not
paid have been paid or  accrued as a  liability  on the books of  Holdings,  the
Borrower or the relevant Subsidiary.

         3.13 ERISA.  Neither a  Reportable  Event nor an  "accumulated  funding
deficiency"  (within  the  meaning of Section  412 of the Code or Section 302 of
ERISA) has occurred during the five-year  period prior to the date on which this
representation  is made or deemed made with  respect to any Plan,  and each Plan
has complied in all material  respects with the  applicable  provisions of ERISA
and the Code. No termination of a Single Employer Plan has occurred, and no Lien
in favor of the PBGC or a Plan has arisen,  during such  five-year  period.  The
present value of all accrued  benefits under each Single Employer Plan (based on
those  assumptions  used to fund  such  Plans)  did not,  as of the last  annual
valuation date prior to the date on which this  representation is made or deemed
made,  exceed the value of the  assets of such Plan  allocable  to such  accrued
benefits  by more  than  $1,000,000.  Neither  the  Borrower  nor  any  Commonly
Controlled Entity has at any time contributed to a Multiemployer Plan.

         3.14  Investment  Company Act; Other  Regulations.  No Loan Party is an
"investment  company",  or a company  "controlled"  by an "investment  company",
within the meaning of the  Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended.  No Loan
Party is  subject  to  regulation  under  any  Requirement  of Law  (other  than
Regulation X of the Board) which limits its ability to incur Indebtedness.

         3.15  Subsidiaries.  (a)  The  Subsidiaries  listed  on  Schedule  3.15
constitute  all the  Subsidiaries  of the Borrower at the date hereof.  Schedule
3.15  sets  forth  as  of  the  Closing  Date  

                                       42

<PAGE>

the name and  jurisdiction of  incorporation  of each Subsidiary and, as to each
such Subsidiary, the percentage of each class of Capital Stock owned by any Loan
Party.

         (b) There are no outstanding  subscriptions,  options, warrants, calls,
rights or other  agreements or commitments  (other than stock options granted to
employees or directors and directors'  qualifying shares) of any nature relating
to any Capital Stock of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

         3.16 Use of  Proceeds.  The proceeds of the Term Loans shall be used to
finance a portion of the Acquisition and to pay related fees and expenses and to
refinance certain existing Indebtedness of the Borrower.

         3.17  Environmental  Matters.  Other  than  exceptions  to  any  of the
following  that could not,  individually  and in the  aggregate,  reasonably  be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect:

              (a) the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries:  (i) are, and within the
         period  of  all  applicable   statutes  of  limitation  have  been,  in
         compliance  with  all  applicable  Environmental  Laws;  (ii)  hold all
         Environmental  Permits  (each  of which is in full  force  and  effect)
         required for any of their current operations or for any property owned,
         leased, or otherwise operated by any of them; (iii) are, and within the
         period  of  all  applicable   statutes  of  limitation  have  been,  in
         compliance with all of their Environmental Permits; and (iv) reasonably
         believe  that:  each of  their  Environmental  Permits  will be  timely
         renewed and complied with; any  additional  Environmental  Permits that
         may be required  of any of them will be timely  obtained  and  complied
         with; and compliance with any  Environmental Law that is or is expected
         to  become  applicable  to any of them  will  be  timely  attained  and
         maintained.

              (b)  Materials  of  Environmental  Concern are not present at, on,
         under,  in, or about any real  property now or, to the knowledge of the
         Borrower and its  Subsidiaries,  formerly owned,  leased or operated by
         the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries,  or, to the  knowledge of the
         Borrower  and  its  Subsidiaries,  at any  other  location  (including,
         without  limitation,  any location to which Materials of  Environmental
         Concern  have  been  sent for  re-use or  recycling  or for  treatment,
         storage,  or disposal)  which could  reasonably be expected to (i) give
         rise to liability of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries  under any
         applicable  Environmental  Law or  otherwise  result  in  costs  to the
         Borrower  or  any of its  Subsidiaries,  or  (ii)  interfere  with  the
         Borrower's or any of its Subsidiaries' continued operations.

              (c) There is no judicial,  administrative,  or arbitral proceeding
         (including  any  notice of  violation  or alleged  violation)  under or
         relating to any  Environmental  Law to which the Borrower or any of its
         Subsidiaries  is, or to the  knowledge  of the  Borrower  or any of its
         Subsidiaries  will be,  named as a party  that is  pending  or,  to the
         knowledge of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, threatened.

                                       43

<PAGE>

              (d) Neither the Borrower nor any of its  Subsidiaries has received
         any written  request for  information,  or been  notified  that it is a
         potentially   responsible  party  under  or  relating  to  the  federal
         Comprehensive Environmental Response,  Compensation,  and Liability Act
         or any similar  Environmental  Law, or with respect to any Materials of
         Environmental Concern.

              (e) Neither the Borrower nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has entered
         into or agreed to any consent  decree,  order,  or  settlement or other
         agreement,  or is subject to any  judgment,  decree,  or order or other
         agreement,  in any judicial,  administrative,  arbitral, or other forum
         for dispute resolution,  relating to compliance with or liability under
         any Environmental Law.

              (f) Neither the Borrower nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has assumed
         or  retained,  by  contract,  any  liabilities  of any  kind,  fixed or
         contingent,  known or  unknown,  under  any  Environmental  Law or with
         respect to any Material of Environmental Concern.

         3.18  Accuracy  of  Information,   etc.  No  statement  or  information
contained  in  this  Agreement,   any  other  Loan  Document,  the  Confidential
Information Memorandum or any other document, certificate or statement furnished
to the  Administrative  Agent or the Lenders or any of them,  by or on behalf of
any Loan Party for use in connection  with the  transactions  contemplated by or
pursuant to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, contained as of the date
such  statement,  information,  document or certificate was so furnished (or, in
the  case of the  Confidential  Information  Memorandum,  as of the date of this
Agreement),  any  untrue  statement  of a  material  fact or  omitted to state a
material  fact  necessary in order to make the  statements  contained  herein or
therein not misleading.  The  projections  and pro forma  financial  information
contained in the materials  referenced above are based upon good faith estimates
and  assumptions  believed by management of the Borrower to be reasonable at the
time made, it being recognized by the Lenders that such financial information as
it relates to future events is not to be viewed as fact and that actual  results
during the period or periods  covered by such financial  information  may differ
from the  projected  results set forth therein by a material  amount.  As of the
date hereof,  the  representations  and warranties  contained in the Acquisition
Documentation  are true and correct in all material  respects.  There is no fact
known to any Loan Party that could  reasonably  be  expected  to have a Material
Adverse Effect that has not been expressly  disclosed  herein, in the other Loan
Documents, in the Confidential Information Memorandum or in any other documents,
certificates  and statements  furnished to the Agents and the Lenders for use in
connection  with the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  and by the other  Loan
Documents or pursuant hereto or thereto.

         3.19 Security Documents.  (a) The Guarantee and Collateral Agreement is
effective to create in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the
Lenders,  a legal,  valid and  enforceable  security  interest in the Collateral
described  therein  and  proceeds  thereof.  In the  case of the  Pledged  Stock
described in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, when any stock certificates
representing such Pledged Stock are delivered to the  Administrative  Agent, and
in the case of the other  Collateral  described in the Guarantee and  Collateral
Agreement,  when  financing  statements  in  appropriate  form are  filed in the
offices specified on Schedule 3.19(a)-1,  

                                       44

<PAGE>

(which financing  statements have been duly completed and executed and delivered
to the Administrative Agent) and such other filings as are specified on Schedule
3 to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement (all of which filings have been duly
completed),  the Guarantee and  Collateral  Agreement  shall  constitute a fully
perfected  Lien on, and security  interest in, all right,  title and interest of
the Loan Parties in such  Collateral and the proceeds  thereof,  as security for
the Obligations (as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement),  in each
case prior and  superior in right to any other  Person  (except,  in the case of
Collateral other than Pledged Stock,  Liens permitted by Section 6.3).  Schedule
3.19(a)-2  lists each UCC Financing  Statement  that (i) names any Loan Party as
debtor and (ii) will remain on file after the Closing Date.  Schedule  3.19(a)-3
lists each UCC Financing  Statement  that (i) names any Loan Party as debtor and
(ii) will be terminated on or prior to the Closing Date;  and on or prior to the
Closing Date, the Borrower will have delivered to the  Administrative  Agent, or
caused to be filed,  duly completed UCC  termination  statements,  signed by the
relevant secured party, in respect of each such UCC Financing Statement.

         (b)  Each of the  Mortgages  is  effective  to  create  in favor of the
Administrative  Agent,  for the  benefit  of the  Lenders,  a legal,  valid  and
enforceable  Lien on the  Mortgaged  Properties  described  therein and proceeds
thereof,  and when the Mortgages are filed in the offices  specified on Schedule
3.19(b),  each such Mortgage  shall  constitute a fully  perfected  Lien on, and
security  interest in, all right,  title and interest of the Loan Parties in the
Mortgaged  Properties and the proceeds thereof,  as security for the Obligations
(as defined in the relevant Mortgage),  in each case prior and superior in right
to any  other  Person,  subject  only to Liens and other  matters  permitted  by
Section 6.3.

         3.20 Solvency.  The Borrower is, and the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries
on a consolidated  basis are, and after giving effect to the Acquisition and the
incurrence of all  Indebtedness  and  obligations  being  incurred in connection
herewith and therewith will be and will continue to be, Solvent.

         3.21  Senior   Indebtedness.   The   Obligations   constitute   "Senior
Indebtedness"  of the Borrower  under and as defined in the Senior  Subordinated
Note Indenture. The obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under the Guarantee
and Collateral  Agreement  constitute  "Guarantor  Senior  Indebtedness" of such
Subsidiary  Guarantor  under and as  defined  in the  Senior  Subordinated  Note
Indenture.

         3.22 Regulation H. No Mortgage encumbers improvements which are located
in an area  that has been  identified  by the  Secretary  of  Housing  and Urban
Development as an area having special flood hazards and in which flood insurance
has been made available under the National Flood  Insurance Act of 1968,  except
for the Mortgage to be recorded in Cumberland County,  Maine which encumbers the
B&M Baked Bean facility,  a small portion of the improvements of which lie in an
area of special flood hazard.

         3.23 Year 2000 Matters. Any reprogramming required to permit the proper
functioning,  in and  following  the year 2000,  of (i) the computer  systems of
Holdings and the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  and (ii)  equipment  containing
embedded microchips  (including 

                                       45

<PAGE>

systems and  equipment  supplied by others or with which the systems of Holdings
and the Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  interface)  and the testing of all such
systems and equipment,  as so reprogrammed,  will be completed by June 30, 1999.
The cost to Holdings and the Borrower and its Subsidiaries of such reprogramming
and  testing  and of the  reasonably  foreseeable  consequences  of year 2000 to
Holdings and the Borrower and its Subsidiaries  (including,  without limitation,
reprogramming  errors and the failure of others'  systems or equipment) will not
result in a Default,  an Event of Default or a Material  Adverse Effect.  Except
for such of the  reprogramming  referred to in the preceding  sentence as may be
necessary,  the computer and  management  information  systems of Holdings,  the
Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  are and,  with  ordinary  course  upgrading  and
maintenance,  will continue for the term of this Agreement to be,  sufficient to
permit Holdings and the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries to conduct their business
without Material Adverse Effect.

                         SECTION 4. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

         4.1 Conditions to Term Loans.  The agreement of each Lender to make the
Term  Loan or Term  Loans  requested  to be  made by it on the  Closing  Date is
subject to the  satisfaction,  prior to or concurrently  with the making of such
Term Loans on the Closing Date, of the following conditions precedent:

         (a) Loan Documents.  The  Administrative  Agent shall have received (i)
    this  Agreement,  executed  and  delivered by a duly  authorized  officer of
    Holdings and the  Borrower,  (ii) the Guarantee  and  Collateral  Agreement,
    executed  and  delivered  by a duly  authorized  officer  of  Holdings,  the
    Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor and (iii) a Mortgage covering each of
    the properties  described on Schedule 1.1,  executed and delivered by a duly
    authorized officer of each party thereto.

         (b)  Acquisition,  etc.  The  following  transactions  shall  have been
    consummated, in each case on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to
    the Lenders:

              (i) Borrower  shall have  acquired  the  Acquired  Assets from The
         Pillsbury  Company  for a  purchase  price not  exceeding  $192,000,000
         pursuant to the  Acquisition  Documentation,  and no provision  thereof
         shall have been waived, amended, supplemented or otherwise modified.

              (ii) The Borrower shall have received additional cash equity in an
         amount at least equal to  $35,000,000  from Holdings  (which,  in turn,
         shall have  received  such  amount  from the Sponsor and or its Control
         Investment Affiliates).

         (c) Pro Forma Balance Sheet;  Financial  Statements.  The Lenders shall
    have  received  the Pro Forma  Balance  Sheet and the  financial  statements
    described in Section 3.1, all of which shall be reasonably satisfactory.

         (d) Approvals.  All governmental and third party approvals necessary in
    connection with the Acquisition,  the financing  contemplated hereby and the
    continuing
   
                                       46

<PAGE>

    operations of Holdings,  the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  shall have been
    obtained  and be in full force and  effect  (other  than any such  approvals
    which,  if not  obtained,  would not have a Material  Adverse  Effect);  all
    applicable waiting periods shall have expired without any action being taken
    or threatened by any competent  authority which would  restrain,  prevent or
    otherwise  impose  adverse  conditions on the  Acquisition  or the financing
    thereof  (other  than any such  conditions  which  would not have a Material
    Adverse  Effect);  and  the  Administrative  Agent  shall  have  received  a
    certificate  of  a  Responsible  Officer  to  the  foregoing  effect,  which
    certificate  shall  also  either  (i)  certify  that no such  approvals  are
    required or (ii) have attached to it copies of any such required approvals.

         (e) Related  Agreements.  The Administrative  Agent shall have received
    (in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent), with a copy
    for each Lender,  true and correct  copies,  certified as to authenticity by
    the Borrower,  of the Acquisition Agreement and the Senior Subordinated Note
    Indenture  and such other  documents  or  instruments  as may be  reasonably
    requested by the Syndication Agent, including, without limitation, a copy of
    any debt instrument,  security agreement or other material contract to which
    the Loan Parties may be a party.

         (f) Fees.  The Lenders,  the  Syndication  Agent,  the Arranger and the
    Administrative  Agent shall have received all fees required to be paid,  and
    all expenses for which  invoices have been presented  (including  reasonable
    fees,  disbursements  and other  charges of counsel  to the  Agents),  on or
    before the Closing Date.  All such amounts will be paid with proceeds of the
    Term Loans made on the  Closing  Date and will be  reflected  in the funding
    instructions given by the Borrower to the Administrative  Agent on or before
    the Closing Date.

         (g)  Business  Plan.  The Lenders  shall have  received a  satisfactory
    business plan for fiscal years 1999-2006 and a satisfactory written analysis
    of the business and prospects of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  for the
    period from the Closing Date through the final maturity of the Term Loans.

         (h) Fixed Charge  Coverage Ratio As of the Closing Date, the Borrower's
    Fixed  Charge  Coverage  Ratio (as defined in the Senior  Subordinated  Note
    Indenture,  and  determined  in  accordance  with Section 4.09 of the Senior
    Subordinated  Note Indenture) shall not be less than 2.0 to 1.0. The Lenders
    shall  have  received  a  certificate  from  the  Borrower   containing  all
    information and calculations  necessary for determining  compliance with the
    foregoing requirement.

         (i) Lien  Searches.  The Lenders  shall have  received the results of a
    recent  lien  search  in each  relevant  jurisdiction  with  respect  to the
    Borrower and its Subsidiaries,  and such search shall reveal no liens on any
    of the assets of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries except for liens permitted
    by Section 6.3 or liens to be  discharged  on or prior to the  Closing  Date
    pursuant to documentation satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

                                       47

<PAGE>

         (j) Environmental Matters. The Administrative Agent shall have received
    a written  environmental  assessment regarding the Portland,  Maine facility
    acquired in the  Acquisition,  prepared by Alden  Environmental  Management,
    Inc. in form, scope, and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent,
    together  with a letter from the  environmental  consultant  permitting  the
    Agents  and  the  Lenders  to  rely on the  environmental  assessment  as if
    addressed to and prepared for each of them. The  Administrative  Agent shall
    also have received the environmental assessments listed on Schedule 4.1(j).

         (k) Closing Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a
    certificate of each Loan Party, dated the Closing Date, substantially in the
    form of Exhibit C, with appropriate insertions and attachments.

         (l) Legal Opinions.  The  Administrative  Agent shall have received the
    following executed legal opinions:

              (i) the legal opinion of Dechert,  Price & Rhoads,  counsel to the
         Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries,  substantially  in the form of Exhibit
         F-1;

              (ii) the legal  opinion of David E.  Schmitt,  Vice  President and
         General Counsel of Pillsbury North America, a division of The Pillsbury
         Company, delivered to the Borrower, accompanied by a reliance letter in
         favor of the Lenders; and

              (iii) the legal opinion of local counsel in each of Maine, Vermont
         and  Louisiana  and of such other  special and local  counsel as may be
         required by the Administrative Agent.

         Each such legal opinion shall cover such other matters  incident to the
         transactions contemplated by this Agreement as the Administrative Agent
         may reasonably require.

         (m) Pledged Stock;  Stock Power. The  Administrative  Agent shall have
    received the  certificates  representing the shares of Capital Stock pledged
    pursuant to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, together with an undated
    stock power for each such certificate executed in blank by a duly authorized
    officer of the pledgor thereof.

         (n) Filings,  Registrations and Recordings.  Each document  (including,
    without  limitation,   any  Uniform  Commercial  Code  financing  statement)
    required by the Security  Documents or under law or reasonably  requested by
    the  Administrative  Agent to be filed,  registered  or recorded in order to
    create in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders,
    a perfected Lien on the Collateral described therein,  prior and superior in
    right to any  other  Person  (other  than  with  respect  to Liens and other
    matters  expressly  permitted by Section  6.3),  shall be in proper form for
    filing, registration or recordation.

                                       48

<PAGE>

         (o)  Title  Insurance;   Flood  Insurance.  (i)  If  requested  by  the
    Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall have received,  and the
    title insurance  company issuing the policy referred to in clause (ii) below
    (the "Title  Insurance  Company")  shall have received,  maps or plats of an
    as-built  survey of the sites of the Mortgaged  Properties  certified to the
    Administrative   Agent  and  the  Title   Insurance   Company  in  a  manner
    satisfactory to them, dated a date satisfactory to the Administrative  Agent
    and the Title Insurance Company by an independent professional licensed land
    surveyor  satisfactory to the  Administrative  Agent and the Title Insurance
    Company,  which maps or plats and the  surveys on which they are based shall
    be made in accordance with the Minimum Standard Detail Requirements for Land
    Title  Surveys  jointly  established  and adopted by the American Land Title
    Association  and the American  Congress on Surveying  and Mapping in 1992 or
    any  subsequent  standards  jointly  adopted by such  bodies,  and,  without
    limiting the generality of the foregoing,  there shall be surveyed and shown
    on such maps, plats or surveys, to the extent required by the Administrative
    Agent, the following:  (A) the locations on such sites of all the buildings,
    structures  and other  improvements  and the  established  building  setback
    lines;  (B) the lines of streets  abutting the sites and width thereof;  (C)
    all access and other easements  appurtenant to the sites;  (D) all roadways,
    paths, driveways,  easements,  encroachments and overhanging projections and
    similar encumbrances affecting the sites, whether recorded,  apparent from a
    physical inspection of the sites or otherwise known to the surveyor; (E) any
    encroachments  on any  adjoining  property by the  building  structures  and
    improvements on the sites;  (F) if any site is described as being on a filed
    map,  a legend  relating  the  survey  to said map;  and (G) the flood  zone
    designations, if any, in which the Mortgaged Properties are located.

            (ii) The Administrative Agent shall have received in respect of each
    Mortgaged  Property a mortgagee's  title  insurance  policy (or policies) or
    marked up  unconditional  binder for such insurance.  Each such policy shall
    (A) be in an amount satisfactory to the Administrative  Agent; (B) be issued
    at ordinary  rates;  (C) insure that the Mortgage  insured thereby creates a
    valid first Lien on such  Mortgaged  Property  free and clear of all defects
    and encumbrances,  except as disclosed therein;  (D) name the Administrative
    Agent for the benefit of the Lenders as the  insured  thereunder;  (E) be in
    the form of ALTA Loan Policy - 1970  (Amended  10/17/70  and  10/17/84)  (or
    equivalent policies) to the extent the Title Insurance Company is willing to
    issue  the  same,  otherwise  in the  form of ALTA  Loan  Policy  - 1992 (or
    equivalent policies); (F) contain such endorsements and affirmative coverage
    as the  Administrative  Agent may  reasonably  request  and (G) be issued by
    title companies satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (including any such
    title  companies  acting as co-insurers or reinsurers,  at the option of the
    Administrative Agent). The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence
    satisfactory  to it that all  premiums in respect of each such  policy,  all
    charges for mortgage  recording tax, and all related expenses,  if any, have
    been paid.

            (iii) If requested by the  Administrative  Agent, the Administrative
    Agent shall have  received (A) a policy of flood  insurance  that (1) covers
    any parcel of improved real property that is encumbered by any Mortgage, (2)
    is written in an amount not less than the  outstanding  principal  amount of
    the indebtedness secured by such Mortgage that is

                                       49

<PAGE>

    reasonably  allocable to such real property or the maximum limit of coverage
    made  available  with respect to the  particular  type of property under the
    National Flood Insurance Act of 1968,  whichever is less, and (3) has a term
    ending  not later  than the  maturity  of the  Indebtedness  secured by such
    Mortgage  and (B)  confirmation  that the  Borrower  has received the notice
    required pursuant to Section 208(e)(3) of Regulation H of the Board.

            (iv) The  Administrative  Agent  shall  have  received a copy of all
    recorded  documents  referred to, or listed as  exceptions  to title in, the
    title policy or policies  referred to in clause (ii) above and a copy of all
    other material documents affecting the Mortgaged Properties.

         Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  any items  described  in clauses  (i)
    through  (iv) of this  paragraph  (o) that  pertain  to the  Nealson  Street
    Property  and that are not  delivered on the Closing Date shall be delivered
    in accordance with Section 5.11(b).

         (p) Insurance.  The Administrative  Agent shall have received insurance
    certificates satisfying the requirements of Section 5.3 of the Guarantee and
    Collateral Agreement.

         (q)  Representations  and Warranties.  Each of the  representations and
    warranties  made by any Loan Party in or pursuant to this  Agreement  or any
    other Loan Document  shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date
    as if made on and as of such date.

         (r) No Default.  No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and
    be  continuing on such date or after giving effect to the making of the Term
    Loans on the Closing Date.

         (s) Leverage Ratio. As of the Closing Date, the ratio of the Borrower's
    Consolidated Total Debt to the Borrower's pro forma Consolidated  EBITDA for
    the four  consecutive  fiscal quarters most recently ended (giving pro forma
    effect to the Acquisition as if it had been  consummated on the first day of
    such period,  with such adjustments as would be permissible under Regulation
    S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission) shall not be greater than 5.5
    to  1.0  (subject  to  adjustment  for  changes  in  purchase  price  of the
    Acquisition and projected  increase in working  capital  associated with the
    Acquisition).  The  Lenders  shall  have  received  a  certificate  from the
    Borrower   containing  all  information  and   calculations   necessary  for
    determining compliance with the foregoing requirement.

         (t) Revolving  Credit Loans.  Concurrently  with the making of the Term
    Loans  on  the  Closing  Date,  the  Revolving  Credit  Lenders  shall  make
    available,  and the Borrower shall borrow and obtain, the initial extensions
    of credit provided for in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

                                       50

<PAGE>

                        SECTION 5. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

         Holdings and the Borrower  hereby jointly and severally  agree that, so
long as the  Commitments  remain in  effect or any Term Loan or other  amount is
owing to any Lender or any Agent  hereunder,  each of Holdings  and the Borrower
shall and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to:

         5.1 Financial Statements. Furnish to each Agent and each Lender:

         (a) as soon as available, but in any event within 90 days after the end
    of each fiscal  year of the  Borrower,  a copy of the  audited  consolidated
    balance sheet of the Borrower and its  consolidated  Subsidiaries  as at the
    end of such year and the related audited  consolidated  statements of income
    and of cash flows for such year,  setting forth in each case in  comparative
    form the figures as of the end of the previous  year,  reported on without a
    "going concern" or like qualification or exception, or qualification arising
    out of the  scope  of the  audit,  by  KPMG,  L.L.P.  or  other  independent
    certified public accountants of nationally recognized standing;

         (b) as soon as available, but in any event not later than 45 days after
    the end of each of the first three quarterly  periods of each fiscal year of
    the Borrower,  the unaudited  consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and
    its consolidated  Subsidiaries as at the end of such quarter and the related
    unaudited  consolidated  statements  of  income  and of cash  flows for such
    quarter and the portion of the fiscal year through the end of such  quarter,
    setting forth in each case in comparative  form the figures as of the end of
    and for the  corresponding  period  in the  previous  year,  certified  by a
    Responsible Officer as being fairly stated in all material respects (subject
    to normal year-end audit adjustments); and

         (c) as soon as available, but in any event not later than 45 days after
    the end of each month  occurring  during each  fiscal  year of the  Borrower
    (other than the third,  sixth,  ninth and twelfth such month), the unaudited
    consolidated  balance sheets of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries as at the
    end of such  month and the  related  unaudited  consolidated  statements  of
    income and of cash flows for such month and the  portion of the fiscal  year
    through the end of such  month,  setting  forth in each case in  comparative
    form the  figures as of the end of and for the  corresponding  period in the
    previous year,  certified by a Responsible Officer as being fairly stated in
    all material respects (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments);

all such  financial  statements  to be  complete  and  correct  in all  material
respects and to be prepared in  reasonable  detail and in  accordance  with GAAP
applied  consistently  throughout the periods  reflected  therein and with prior
periods (except as approved by such accountants or officer,  as the case may be,
and disclosed therein).

         5.2  Certificates;  Other  Information.  Furnish to each Agent and each
Lender, or, in the case of clause (h), to the relevant Lender:

                                       51

<PAGE>

         (a) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred
    to in Section  5.1(a),  a certificate of the  independent  certified  public
    accountants  reporting on such financial  statements  stating that in making
    the examination  necessary therefor no knowledge was obtained of any Default
    or Event of Default, except as specified in such certificate;

         (b) concurrently with the delivery of any financial statements pursuant
    to Section 5.1, (i) a certificate of a Responsible  Officer stating that, to
    the best of such  Responsible  Officer's  knowledge,  each Loan Party during
    such  period  has  observed  or  performed  all of its  covenants  and other
    agreements,  and satisfied every condition,  contained in this Agreement and
    the other Loan Documents to which it is a party to be observed, performed or
    satisfied by it, and that such Responsible Officer has obtained no knowledge
    of any Default or Event of Default  except as specified in such  certificate
    and (ii) in the case of  quarterly  or annual  financial  statements,  (x) a
    Compliance Certificate containing all information and calculations necessary
    for determining  compliance by Holdings,  the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries
    with the provisions of this Agreement referred to therein as of the last day
    of the fiscal  quarter or fiscal year of the  Borrower,  as the case may be,
    and (y) to the extent not previously disclosed to the Administrative  Agent,
    a listing of any county or state  within  the United  States  where any Loan
    Party keeps inventory or equipment and of any Intellectual Property acquired
    by any Loan Party since the date of the most recent list delivered  pursuant
    to this  clause (y) (or,  in the case of the first  such list so  delivered,
    since the Closing Date);

         (c) as soon as available,  and in any event no later than 45 days after
    the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a detailed  consolidated budget
    for the following  fiscal year (including a projected  consolidated  balance
    sheet of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  as of the end of the  following
    fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of projected cash flow,
    projected changes in financial position and projected income),  and, as soon
    as available,  significant revisions, if any, of such budget and projections
    with respect to such fiscal year (collectively,  the  "Projections"),  which
    Projections  shall  in  each  case  be  accompanied  by a  certificate  of a
    Responsible  Officer  stating that such  Projections are based on reasonable
    estimates, information and assumptions and that such Responsible Officer has
    no reason to believe that such  Projections  are  incorrect or misleading in
    any material respect;

         (d)  within  45  days  after  the  end of each  fiscal  quarter  of the
    Borrower, a narrative discussion and analysis of the financial condition and
    results of operations of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  for such fiscal
    quarter and for the period from the  beginning  of the then  current  fiscal
    year to the end of such  fiscal  quarter,  as compared to the portion of the
    Projections  covering  such  periods  and to the  comparable  periods of the
    previous year;

         (e) no later than 10 Business Days prior to the effectiveness  thereof,
    copies of substantially final drafts of any proposed amendment,  supplement,
    waiver or other modification with respect to the Acquisition Agreement;

                                       52

<PAGE>

         (f) within five days after the same are sent,  copies of all  financial
    statements and reports that Holdings or the Borrower sends to the holders of
    any class of its debt  securities or public equity  securities  and,  within
    five days after the same are filed,  copies of all financial  statements and
    reports that the Holdings or Borrower may make to, or file with, the SEC;

         (g) as soon as  possible  and in any event  within 5 days of  obtaining
    knowledge thereof: (i) a description of any development, event, or condition
    that,  individually or in the aggregate with other  developments,  events or
    conditions,  could  reasonably  be  expected to result in the payment by the
    Borrower and its Subsidiaries, in the aggregate, of a Material Environmental
    Amount;  and (ii) any notice that any  governmental  authority  may deny any
    application  for an  Environmental  Permit sought by, or revoke or refuse to
    renew any Environmental  Permit held by, the Borrower which could reasonably
    be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

         (h) promptly,  such additional  financial and other  information as any
    Lender may from time to time reasonably request.

         5.3 Payment of Obligations.  Pay,  discharge or otherwise satisfy at or
before  maturity or before they become  delinquent,  as the case may be, all its
material  obligations  of whatever  nature,  except where the amount or validity
thereof is currently  being  contested in good faith by appropriate  proceedings
and reserves in conformity  with GAAP with respect thereto have been provided on
the books of Holdings, the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be.

         5.4 Conduct of Business  and  Maintenance  of  Existence,  etc. (a) (i)
Preserve,  renew and keep in full force and effect its  corporate  existence and
(ii)  take  all  reasonable  action  to  maintain  all  rights,  privileges  and
franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except,
in each case, as otherwise  permitted by Section 6.4 and except,  in the case of
clause (ii) above,  to the extent that failure to do so could not  reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;  and (b) comply with all Contractual
Obligations and  Requirements of Law except to the extent that failure to comply
therewith could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.

         5.5  Maintenance  of  Property;  Insurance.  (a) Keep all  Property and
systems  useful  and  necessary  in its  business  in  good  working  order  and
condition,  ordinary wear and tear  excepted and (b) maintain  with  financially
sound and  reputable  insurance  companies  insurance  on all its Property in at
least such  amounts and against at least such risks (but  including in any event
public liability,  product  liability and business  interruption) as are usually
insured  against in the same general area by companies  engaged in the same or a
similar business.

         5.6 Inspection of Property;  Books and Records;  Discussions.  (a) Keep
proper books of records and account in which full,  true and correct  entries in
conformity  with GAAP and all  Requirements of Law shall be made of all dealings
and  transactions  in relation to its  business  and  activities  and (b) permit
representatives of any Lender upon reasonable notice to 

                                       53

<PAGE>

visit and inspect any of its  properties and examine and make abstracts from any
of its books and records at any  reasonable  time and as often as may reasonably
be desired and to discuss the business, operations, properties and financial and
other condition of Holdings, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries with officers and
employees  of  Holdings,   the  Borrower  and  its  Subsidiaries  and  with  its
independent certified public accountants.

         5.7 Notices.  Promptly give notice to the Administrative Agent and each
Lender of:

         (a) the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default;

         (b)  any  (i)  default  or  event  of  default  under  any  Contractual
    Obligation  of  Holdings,  the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  or (ii)
    litigation,  investigation or proceeding which may exist at any time between
    Holdings,  the  Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries  and any  Governmental
    Authority,  that in either case, if not cured or if adversely determined, as
    the case may be,  could  reasonably  be expected to have a Material  Adverse
    Effect;

         (c) any litigation or proceeding  affecting  Holdings,  the Borrower or
    any of its  Subsidiaries  in which the amount involved is $1,000,000 or more
    and not covered by insurance  or in which  injunctive  or similar  relief is
    sought;

         (d) the following  events,  as soon as possible and in any event within
    30 days  after the  Borrower  knows or has reason to know  thereof:  (i) the
    occurrence  of any  Reportable  Event with respect to any Plan, a failure to
    make any required  contribution to a Plan, the creation of any Lien in favor
    of  the  PBGC  or a  Plan  or  any  withdrawal  from,  or  the  termination,
    Reorganization  or  Insolvency  of,  any  Multiemployer  Plan  or  (ii)  the
    institution  of proceedings or the taking of any other action by the PBGC or
    the Borrower or any Commonly  Controlled  Entity or any  Multiemployer  Plan
    with respect to the withdrawal from, or the termination,  Reorganization  or
    Insolvency  of,  any Plan  that in any  case  under  clause  (i) or (ii) may
    reasonably be expected to result in liability of more than $1,000,000;

         (e)  any  amendment  or  other  modification  of any  of the  documents
    described in Section 6.9; and

         (f) any  development  or  event  that has had or  could  reasonably  be
    expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Each notice  pursuant to this Section shall be  accompanied  by a statement of a
Responsible  Officer setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein
and stating  what action  Holdings,  the  Borrower  or the  relevant  Subsidiary
proposes to take with respect thereto.

         5.8  Environmental  Laws. (a) Comply in all material respects with, and
ensure  compliance in all material  respects by all tenants and  subtenants,  if
any,  with,  all  applicable  

                                       54

<PAGE>

Environmental  Laws,  and obtain and comply in all  material  respects  with and
maintain,  and ensure that all tenants and  subtenants  obtain and comply in all
material  respects  with  and  maintain,   any  and  all  licenses,   approvals,
notifications,  registrations  or permits  required by applicable  Environmental
Laws.

         (b) Conduct and  complete  all  investigations,  studies,  sampling and
testing,   and  all  remedial,   removal  and  other  actions   required   under
Environmental  Laws and promptly comply in all material respects with all lawful
orders and directives of all Governmental  Authorities  regarding  Environmental
Laws, or contest such orders and directives by appropriate legal means.

         5.9 Interest Rate  Protection.  In the case of the Borrower,  within 60
days after the Closing Date, enter into Hedge Agreements to the extent necessary
to provide that at least 50% of the sum of the aggregate principal amount of the
Term  Loans and of the  Senior  Subordinated  Notes is subject to either a fixed
interest  rate or interest rate  protection  for a period of not less than three
years,  which  Hedge  Agreements  shall  have  terms and  conditions  reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

         5.10  Additional  Collateral,  etc.  (a) With  respect to any  Property
acquired  after the  Closing  Date by the  Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries
(other than (v) any leasehold  interests in real property,  (w) any Intellectual
Property  to the  extent  creation  of a  security  interest  therein  would  be
contractually  prohibited,  (x)  any  Property  described  in  paragraph  (b) or
paragraph  (c) of this  Section,  (y) any Property  subject to a Lien  expressly
permitted  by Section  6.3(g) and (z) Property  acquired by an Excluded  Foreign
Subsidiary)  as to  which  the  Administrative  Agent,  for the  benefit  of the
Lenders, does not have a perfected Lien, promptly (i) execute and deliver to the
Administrative  Agent such amendments to the Guarantee and Collateral  Agreement
or such other documents as the Administrative Agent deems necessary or advisable
to grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a security
interest in such  Property  and (ii) take all actions  necessary or advisable to
grant to the  Administrative  Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a perfected
first priority security interest in such Property (subject to Liens permitted by
Section 6.3),  including without  limitation,  the filing of Uniform  Commercial
Code  financing  statements  in such  jurisdictions  as may be  required  by the
Guarantee  and  Collateral  Agreement  or by law or as may be  requested  by the
Administrative Agent.

         (b) With  respect to any fee  interest  in any real  property  having a
value (together with  improvements  thereof) of at least $250,000 acquired after
the Closing Date by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any such
real  property  owned  by an  Excluded  Foreign  Subsidiary  subject  to a  Lien
expressly permitted by Section 6.3(g)), promptly (i) execute and deliver a first
priority Mortgage in favor of the  Administrative  Agent, for the benefit of the
Lenders,  covering such real property,  (ii) if requested by the  Administrative
Agent,  provide  the  Lenders  with (x) title and  extended  coverage  insurance
covering such real property in an amount at least equal to the purchase price of
such real  estate as well as a current  ALTA  survey  thereof,  together  with a
surveyor's  certificate  and (y) any  consents or  estoppels  reasonably  deemed
necessary or  advisable  by the  Administrative  Agent in  connection  with such
mortgage  or deed  of  trust,  each  of the  foregoing  in  form  and  substance
reasonably  satisfactory to the  Administrative  Agent and (iii) if requested by
the Administrative  Agent,  deliver to the  Administrative  Agent 

                                       55

<PAGE>

legal opinions relating to the matters described above,  which opinions shall be
in  form  and  substance,  and  from  counsel,  reasonably  satisfactory  to the
Administrative Agent.

         (c) With respect to any new  Subsidiary of the Borrower  (other than an
Excluded Foreign  Subsidiary) created or acquired after the Closing Date (which,
for the purposes of this paragraph,  shall include any existing  Subsidiary that
ceases to be an  Excluded  Foreign  Subsidiary),  by the  Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries,  promptly (i) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent such
amendments to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement as the Administrative Agent
deems  necessary  or  advisable to grant to the  Administrative  Agent,  for the
benefit of the Lenders,  a perfected  first  priority  security  interest in the
Capital Stock of such new Subsidiary that is owned by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries,   (ii)  deliver  to  the  Administrative  Agent  the  certificates
representing  such Capital Stock,  together with undated stock powers, in blank,
executed  and  delivered  by a duly  authorized  officer of the Borrower or such
Subsidiary,  as the case may be, (iii) cause such new Subsidiary (A) to become a
party to the  Guarantee  and  Collateral  Agreement and (B) to take such actions
reasonably  necessary or advisable to grant to the Administrative  Agent for the
benefit of the  Lenders a  perfected  first  priority  security  interest in the
Collateral  described in the Guarantee and Collateral  Agreement with respect to
such new Subsidiary (subject to Liens and other matters permitted by Section 6.3
and excluding leasehold interests in real property, and Intellectual Property to
the  extent  creation  of a security  interest  therein  would be  contractually
prohibited),  including,  without  limitation,  the filing of Uniform Commercial
Code  financing  statements  in such  jurisdictions  as may be  required  by the
Guarantee  and  Collateral  Agreement  or by law or as may be  requested  by the
Administrative Agent, and (iv) if requested by the Administrative Agent, deliver
to the  Administrative  Agent legal opinions  relating to the matters  described
above,  which  opinions  shall  be in form  and  substance,  and  from  counsel,
reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

         (d) With  respect to any new  Excluded  Foreign  Subsidiary  created or
acquired  after the Closing  Date by the  Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries,
promptly (i) execute and deliver to the Administrative  Agent such amendments to
the  Guarantee  and  Collateral  Agreement  as the  Administrative  Agent  deems
necessary or advisable in order to grant to the  Administrative  Agent,  for the
benefit of the Lenders,  a perfected  first  priority  security  interest in the
Capital Stock of such new Subsidiary that is owned by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries  (provided  that in no  event  shall  more  than  65% of the  total
outstanding  Capital  Stock of any  such new  Subsidiary  be  required  to be so
pledged), (ii) deliver to the Administrative Agent the certificates representing
such Capital Stock,  together with undated stock powers, in blank,  executed and
delivered by a duly authorized  officer of the Borrower or such  Subsidiary,  as
the case may be,  and take  such  other  action as may be  necessary  or, in the
opinion  of the  Administrative  Agent,  desirable  to  perfect  the Lien of the
Administrative  Agent  thereon,  and (iii) if  requested  by the  Administrative
Agent,  deliver to the  Administrative  Agent  legal  opinions  relating  to the
matters described above, which opinions shall be in form and substance, and from
counsel, reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

         5.11 Further Assurances.  (a) From time to time execute and deliver, or
cause to be executed and delivered, such additional instruments, certificates or
documents, and take all 

                                       56

<PAGE>

such  actions,  as the  Administrative  Agent may  reasonably  request,  for the
purposes of implementing  or  effectuating  the provisions of this Agreement and
the other Loan Documents,  or of more fully perfecting or renewing the rights of
the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with respect to the Collateral (or with
respect to any additions  thereto or  replacements  or proceeds  thereof or with
respect to any other  property or assets  hereafter  acquired by the Borrower or
any Subsidiary which may be deemed to be part of the Collateral) pursuant hereto
or thereto.  Upon the exercise by the Administrative  Agent or any Lender of any
power,  right,  privilege or remedy pursuant to this Agreement or the other Loan
Documents  which requires any consent,  approval,  recording,  qualification  or
authorization  of any  Governmental  Authority,  the  Borrower  will execute and
deliver,  or will  cause  the  execution  and  delivery  of,  all  applications,
certifications,   instruments   and  other   documents   and  papers   that  the
Administrative  Agent or such Lender may be required to obtain from the Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries for such governmental consent,  approval,  recording,
qualification or authorization.

         (b) Within 30 days after the Closing Date,  the Borrower  shall deliver
to the  Administrative  Agent each item described in clauses (i) through (iv) of
Section 4.1(o) that pertains to the Nealson Street Property.

         (c) Within 15 days after the Closing Date,  the Borrower  shall deliver
to the  Administrative  Agent an  executed  legal  opinion  of local  counsel in
Maryland,  which  opinion  shall be in form and  substance  satisfactory  to the
Administrative Agent.


                          SECTION 6. NEGATIVE COVENANTS

         Holdings and the Borrower  hereby jointly and severally  agree that, so
long as the  Commitments  remain in  effect or any Term Loan or other  amount is
owing to any Lender or any Agent  hereunder,  the Borrower  shall not, and shall
not  permit  any of its  Subsidiaries  to,  and,  in the case of  Section  6.16,
Holdings shall not, directly or indirectly:

         6.1 Financial Condition Covenants.

         (a) Consolidated Leverage Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Leverage Ratio
as at the last day of any  period of four  consecutive  fiscal  quarters  of the
Borrower  ending with any fiscal quarter set forth below to exceed the ratio set
forth below opposite such fiscal quarter:

                                                 Consolidated
         Fiscal Quarter                         Leverage Ratio
         --------------                         --------------

         FQ2  1999                                    6.25
         FQ3  1999                                    6.25
         FQ4  1999                                    6.25
         FQ1  2000                                    6.25
         FQ2  2000                                    6.00
         FQ3  2000                                    6.00
                                       57

<PAGE>

         FQ4  2000                                    5.75
         FQ1  2001                                    5.75
         FQ2  2001                                    5.50
         FQ3  2001                                    5.50
         FQ4  2001                                    5.25
         FQ1  2002                                    5.00
         FQ2  2002                                    5.00
         FQ3  2002                                    5.00
         FQ4  2002                                    4.75
         FQ1  2003                                    4.75
         FQ2  2003                                    4.50
         FQ3  2003                                    4.50
         FQ4  2003                                    4.25
         FQ1  2004                                    4.25
         FQ2  2004                                    4.00
         FQ3  2004                                    4.00
         FQ4  2004                                    4.00
         FQ1  2005                                    4.00
         FQ2  2005                                    4.00
         FQ3  2005                                    4.00
         FQ4  2005                                    4.00

         (b) Consolidated  Senior Leverage Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Senior
Leverage  Ratio as at the  last day of any  period  of four  consecutive  fiscal
quarters  of the  Borrower  ending  with any fiscal  quarter  set forth below to
exceed the ratio set forth below opposite such fiscal quarter:

                                                Consolidated Leverage
         Fiscal Quarter                            Senior Ratio  
         --------------                            ------------

         FQ2  1999                                    4.00
         FQ3  1999                                    4.00
         FQ4  1999                                    4.00
         FQ1  2000                                    4.00
         FQ2  2000                                    3.75
         FQ3  2000                                    3.75
         FQ4  2000                                    3.50
         FQ1  2001                                    3.50
         FQ2  2001                                    3.50
         FQ3  2001                                    3.25
         FQ4  2001                                    3.25
         FQ1  2002                                    3.00
         FQ2  2002                                    3.00
         FQ3  2002                                    2.75
         FQ4  2002                                    2.75
         
                                       58

<PAGE>

         FQ1  2003                                    2.75
         FQ2  2003                                    2.50
         FQ3  2003                                    2.50
         FQ4  2003                                    2.50
         FQ1  2004                                    2.50
         FQ2  2004                                    2.50
         FQ3  2004                                    2.50
         FQ4  2004                                    2.50
         FQ1  2005                                    2.50
         FQ2  2005                                    2.50
         FQ3  2005                                    2.50
         FQ4  2005                                    2.50

         (c)  Consolidated  Interest  Coverage  Ratio.  Permit the  Consolidated
Interest  Coverage Ratio for any period of four  consecutive  fiscal quarters of
the Borrower  ending with any fiscal quarter set forth below to be less than the
ratio set forth below opposite such fiscal quarter:

                                             Consolidated Interest
         Fiscal Quarter                          Coverage Ratio    
         --------------                          -------------

         FQ2  1999                                    1.75
         FQ3  1999                                    1.75
         FQ4  1999                                    1.75
         FQ1  2000                                    1.75
         FQ2  2000                                    1.75
         FQ3  2000                                    1.75
         FQ4  2000                                    1.75
         FQ1  2001                                    2.00
         FQ2  2001                                    2.00
         FQ3  2001                                    2.00
         FQ4  2001                                    2.00
         FQ1  2002                                    2.00
         FQ2  2002                                    2.25
         FQ3  2002                                    2.25
         FQ4  2002                                    2.25
         FQ1  2003                                    2.25
         FQ2  2003                                    2.25
         FQ3  2003                                    2.50
         FQ4  2003                                    2.50
         FQ1  2004                                    2.50
         FQ2  2004                                    2.50
         FQ3  2004                                    2.50
         FQ4  2004                                    2.50
         FQ1  2005                                    2.50

                                       59

<PAGE>

         FQ2  2005                                    2.50
         FQ3  2005                                    2.50
         FQ4  2005                                    2.50

; provided,  that for the purposes of determining  the ratio described above for
the fiscal quarters of the Borrower ending June 30, 1999, September 30, 1999 and
December 31, 1999,  Consolidated  Interest Expense for the relevant period shall
be deemed to equal  Consolidated  Interest Expense for such fiscal quarter (and,
in the case of the latter two such determinations,  each previous fiscal quarter
commencing after the Closing Date) multiplied by 4, 2 and 4/3, respectively.

         (d) Consolidated  Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.  Permit the Consolidated
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for any period of four  consecutive  fiscal quarters
of the Borrower  ending with any fiscal  quarter set forth below to be less than
the ratio set forth below opposite such fiscal quarter:

                                               Consolidated Fixed
         Fiscal Quarter                       Charge Coverage Ratio
         --------------                       ---------------------

         FQ2  1999                                    1.00
         FQ3  1999                                    1.00
         FQ4  1999                                    1.00
         FQ1  2000                                    1.00
         FQ2  2000                                    1.00
         FQ3  2000                                    1.00
         FQ4  2000                                    1.00
         FQ1  2001                                    1.00
         FQ2  2001                                    1.00
         FQ3  2001                                    1.00
         FQ4  2001                                    1.00
         FQ1  2002                                    1.00
         FQ2  2002                                    1.00
         FQ3  2002                                    1.00
         FQ4  2002                                    1.00
         FQ1  2003                                    1.00
         FQ2  2003                                    1.00
         FQ3  2003                                    1.00
         FQ4  2003                                    1.00
         FQ1  2004                                    1.00
         FQ2  2004                                    1.00
         FQ3  2004                                    1.00
         FQ4  2004                                    1.00
         FQ1  2005                                    1.00
         FQ2  2005                                    1.00
         FQ3  2005                                    1.00
         FQ4  2005                                    1.00

                                       60

<PAGE>

; provided,  that for the purposes of determining  the ratio described above for
the fiscal quarters of the Borrower ending June 30, 1999, September 30, 1999 and
December 31, 1999,  Consolidated  Fixed Charges for the relevant period shall be
deemed to equal  Consolidated Fixed Charges for such fiscal quarter (and, in the
case of the  latter  two  such  determinations,  each  previous  fiscal  quarter
commencing after the Closing Date) multiplied by 4, 2 and 4/3, respectively.

         6.2  Limitation on  Indebtedness.  Create,  incur,  assume or suffer to
exist any Indebtedness, except:

         (a) Indebtedness of any Loan Party pursuant to any Loan Document;

         (b)  Indebtedness  of the Borrower to any  Subsidiary and of any Wholly
    Owned Subsidiary Guarantor to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary;

         (c)  Indebtedness   (including,   without  limitation,   Capital  Lease
    Obligations)  secured by Liens  permitted by Section  6.3(g) in an aggregate
    principal amount not to exceed $5,000,000 at any one time outstanding;

         (d) Indebtedness  outstanding on the date hereof and listed on Schedule
    6.2(d) and any  refinancings,  refundings,  renewals or  extensions  thereof
    (without any increase in the principal  amount  thereof or any shortening of
    the maturity of any principal amount thereof);

         (e) Guarantee  Obligations  made in the ordinary  course of business by
    the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  of  obligations of the Borrower or
    any Subsidiary Guarantor;

         (f)  Indebtedness  of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties under the
    Revolving Credit Agreement and any promissory notes issued thereunder;

         (g)  (i)  Indebtedness  of  the  Borrower  in  respect  of  the  Senior
    Subordinated   Notes  in  an  aggregate   principal  amount  not  to  exceed
    $120,000,000 and (ii) Guarantee  Obligations of any Subsidiary  Guarantor in
    respect of such Indebtedness;  provided that such Guarantee  Obligations are
    subordinated  to the  obligations  of such  Subsidiary  Guarantor  under the
    Guarantee and Collateral  Agreement to the same extent as the obligations of
    the Borrower in respect of the Senior Subordinated Notes are subordinated to
    the Obligations;

         (h)  Indebtedness  of the Borrower issued to sellers of assets acquired
    in a Permitted Acquisition;  provided, that (i) not more than $10,000,000 in
    aggregate  principal  amount of such  Indebtedness may be outstanding at any
    one time, (ii) such Indebtedness  shall provide for no payment of principal,
    and no  payment  of  interest  other  than  payments  in  kind,  to be  made
    thereunder  until the date which is 91 days after the final maturity date of
    the Term Loans and (iii) such Indebtedness shall be subordinated to 

                                       61

<PAGE>

    the Term Loans,  Revolving Credit Loans,  Swing Line Loans and Reimbursement
    Obligations  on  terms  and  conditions   reasonably   satisfactory  to  the
    Administrative Agent;

         (i)  Indebtedness   secured  by  Liens  permitted  by  Section  6.3(l);
    provided, that the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness, plus the
    aggregate  principal  amount of  Indebtedness  permitted by Section  6.2(c),
    shall not at any time exceed $10,000,000; and

         (j) other unsecured  Indebtedness,  not included in clauses (a) through
    (i) above, not to exceed $5,000,000 at any time outstanding.

         6.3 Limitation on Liens.  Create,  incur, assume or suffer to exist any
Lien upon any of its Property,  whether now owned or hereafter acquired,  except
for:

         (a) Liens for  taxes not yet due or which are being  contested  in good
    faith by  appropriate  proceedings,  provided  that  adequate  reserves with
    respect  thereto  are  maintained  on  the  books  of  the  Borrower  or its
    Subsidiaries, as the case may be, in conformity with GAAP;

         (b) carriers', warehousemen's,  mechanics', materialmen's, repairmen's,
    landlord's  or other like Liens  arising in the ordinary  course of business
    which  are not  overdue  for a period of more than 30 days or that are being
    contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

         (c) pledges or  deposits  in  connection  with  workers'  compensation,
    unemployment insurance and other social security legislation;

         (d) deposits to secure the performance of bids,  trade contracts (other
    than for borrowed money), leases,  statutory obligations,  surety and appeal
    bonds,  performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in
    the ordinary course of business;

         (e) easements,  rights-of-way,  restrictions,  encroachments  (onto the
    Property or by improvements located on the Property, onto adjoining property
    or rights of way or onto easement areas) and other similar  encumbrances and
    title  defects  incurred in the  ordinary  course of business  that,  in the
    aggregate,  are not  substantial  in  amount  and  which  do not in any case
    materially  detract  from  the  value of the  Property  subject  thereto  or
    materially  interfere  with the  ordinary  conduct  of the  business  of the
    Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;

         (f) Liens in  existence on the date hereof  listed on Schedule  6.3(f),
    securing  Indebtedness  permitted by Section  6.2(d),  provided that no such
    Lien is spread to cover any  additional  Property after the Closing Date and
    that the amount of Indebtedness secured thereby is not increased;

         (g) Liens securing Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary
    incurred  pursuant to Section 6.2(c) to finance the  acquisition of fixed or
    capital assets, provided 

                                       62

<PAGE>

    that (i) such Liens shall be created  substantially  simultaneously with the
    acquisition of such fixed or capital  assets,  (ii) such Liens do not at any
    time  encumber  any  Property  other  than  the  Property  financed  by such
    Indebtedness  and (iii) the amount of  Indebtedness  secured  thereby is not
    increased;

         (h) Liens created pursuant to the Security Documents;

         (i) any interest or title of a lessor  under any lease  entered into by
    the Borrower or any other  Subsidiary in the ordinary course of its business
    and covering only the assets so leased;

         (j) judgment liens which would not create any Event of Default;

         (k)  licenses  of  Intellectual  Property  in the  ordinary  course  of
    business;

         (l) liens on fixed  assets  existing at the time such fixed  assets are
    acquired  in  connection  with a  Permitted  Acquisition  and not created in
    contemplation thereof;

         (m) deposits in an aggregate  amount not to exceed $250,000 made in the
    ordinary course of business to secure liability insurance carriers; and

         (n)  Permitted  Exceptions  (as such term is defined in the  Mortgages)
    which, in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material
    Adverse Effect.

         6.4  Limitation  on  Fundamental   Changes.   Enter  into  any  merger,
consolidation  or  amalgamation,  or liquidate,  wind up or dissolve  itself (or
suffer any liquidation or dissolution),  or Dispose of all or substantially  all
of its Property or business, except that:

         (a) any  Subsidiary  may be  merged  or  consolidated  with or into the
    Borrower  (provided  that the Borrower  shall be the continuing or surviving
    corporation)  or with or into any Subsidiary  Guarantor  (provided that such
    Subsidiary Guarantor shall be the continuing or surviving corporation); and

         (b)  any  Subsidiary  may  Dispose  of any or all of its  assets  (upon
    voluntary  liquidation  or  otherwise)  to the  Borrower  or any  Subsidiary
    Guarantor.

         6.5  Limitation  on  Disposition  of  Property.  Dispose  of any of its
Property (including,  without limitation,  receivables and leasehold interests),
whether  now owned or  hereafter  acquired,  or, in the case of any  Subsidiary,
issue or sell any  shares  of such  Subsidiary's  Capital  Stock to any  Person,
except:

         (a) the  Disposition  of obsolete or worn out  property in the ordinary
    course of business;

         (b) the sale of inventory in the ordinary course of business;

                                       63

<PAGE>

         (c) Dispositions permitted by Section 6.4(b);

         (d) the  sale or  issuance  of any  Subsidiary's  Capital  Stock to the
    Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor;

         (e) the  Disposition of other assets in any fiscal year of the Borrower
    that contributed, in the aggregate, not more than 20% of Consolidated EBITDA
    for the  prior  fiscal  year;  provided,  that (i) in the case of each  such
    Disposition,  the  Borrower  shall  be in  pro  forma  compliance  with  the
    financial  covenants  set forth in Section 6.1 after  giving  effect to such
    Disposition  (determined on the  assumption  that such  Disposition  and the
    repayment of any Indebtedness  resulting therefrom had occurred on the first
    day of the relevant  period measured by such covenants) and (ii) in the case
    of any such  Disposition  yielding Net Cash  Proceeds of $1,000,000 or more,
    the Administrative  Agent shall have received a certificate of a Responsible
    Officer  to the  effect set forth in the  foregoing  clause (i) and  showing
    calculations thereof; and

         (f) any Disposition constituted by a Recovery Event, provided, that the
    requirements of Section 2.7(b) are complied with in connection therewith.

         6.6  Limitation  on  Restricted  Payments.  Declare or pay any dividend
(other than  dividends  payable solely in common stock of the Person making such
dividend)  on, or make any  payment  on  account  of, or set apart  assets for a
sinking or other  analogous  fund for,  the  purchase,  redemption,  defeasance,
retirement or other acquisition of, any Capital Stock of Holdings,  the Borrower
or any  Subsidiary,  whether  now or  hereafter  outstanding,  or make any other
distribution in respect thereof, either directly or indirectly,  whether in cash
or property or in obligations of Holdings,  the Borrower or any  Subsidiary,  or
enter into any derivatives or other transaction with any financial  institution,
commodities or stock exchange or  clearinghouse  (a "Derivatives  Counterparty")
obligating  Holdings,  the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  to make payments to such
Derivatives  Counterparty  as a result of any change in market value of any such
Capital  Stock  (collectively,  "Restricted  Payments"),  except  that  (i)  any
Subsidiary  may make  Restricted  Payments  to the  Borrower  or any  Subsidiary
Guarantor  and (ii) the Borrower may pay  dividends to Holdings (A) in an amount
not to exceed  $100,000 in any fiscal year to be used to pay corporate  overhead
expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business,  (B) in an amount equal to
the Permitted Stock Repurchase  Amount and (C) to permit  repurchase of Holdings
capital  stock from the Sponsor for resale to  management  and  employees of the
Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  so long as the proceeds  thereof are immediately
reinvested in the common equity of the Borrower.

         6.7  Limitation  on  Capital  Expenditures.  Make or commit to make any
Capital  Expenditure,  except (a) Capital  Expenditures  of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries  in the ordinary  course of business not exceeding,  for any fiscal
year set forth below, the amount set forth below opposite such fiscal year:

                                       64

<PAGE>

         Fiscal Year                                  Amount
         -----------                                  ------

         1999                                       $5,500,000
         2000                                       $6,000,000
         2001                                       $6,500,000
         2002                                       $7,000,000
         2003                                       $7,000,000
         2004                                       $7,000,000
         2005                                       $7,000,000

provided,  that (i) any such amount referred to above, if not so expended in the
fiscal year for which it is permitted,  may be carried over for  expenditure  in
the next succeeding fiscal year, (ii) Capital Expenditures made pursuant to this
clause (a) during any fiscal  year shall be deemed  made,  first,  in respect of
amounts  permitted  for such  fiscal  year as  provided  in the table  above and
second,  in respect of amounts  carried over from the prior fiscal year pursuant
to  subclause  (i)  above and (iii) the  Borrower  may make  additional  Capital
Expenditures  during  FY 1999 in the form of  Capital  Lease  Obligations  in an
aggregate amount not exceeding  $500,000 and (b) Capital  Expenditures made with
the proceeds of any Reinvestment Deferred Amount.

         6.8 Limitation on  Investments.  Make any advance,  loan,  extension of
credit (by way of guaranty or otherwise) or capital contribution to, or purchase
any Capital Stock, bonds, notes,  debentures or other debt securities of, or any
assets  constituting an ongoing  business from, or make any other investment in,
any other Person (all of the foregoing, "Investments"), except:

         (a) extensions of trade credit in the ordinary course of business;

         (b) investments in Cash Equivalents;

         (c)   Investments   arising  in  connection   with  the  incurrence  of
    Indebtedness permitted by Sections 6.2(b) and (e);

         (d) loans and advances to  employees  of Holdings,  the Borrower or any
    Subsidiaries of the Borrower in the ordinary course of business  (including,
    without limitation, for travel, entertainment and relocation expenses) in an
    aggregate  amount  for the  Borrower  and  its  Subsidiaries  not to  exceed
    $1,000,000 at any one time outstanding;

         (e) the Acquisition;

         (f) Permitted Acquisitions;

         (g)  Investments  (other  than  those  relating  to the  incurrence  of
    Indebtedness  permitted  by Section  6.8(c)) by the  Borrower  or any of its
    Subsidiaries in the Borrower or any Person that,  prior to such  investment,
    is a Subsidiary Guarantor; and

                                       65

<PAGE>

         (h) Investments in any Subsidiary organized under the laws of Canada in
    an  aggregate  amount  not to  exceed  $200,000  in any  fiscal  year of the
    Borrower;  provided that the aggregate amount of the Investments at any time
    outstanding  pursuant to this clause (h), together with the aggregate amount
    of  investments  made  pursuant  to  clause  (j)(ii)  of the  definition  of
    Permitted Acquisition, shall not exceed $5,000,000.

         6.9  Limitation  on  Optional   Payments  and   Modifications  of  Debt
Instruments,  etc. (a) Make or offer to make any optional or voluntary  payment,
prepayment,  repurchase or redemption of, or otherwise voluntarily or optionally
defease, the Senior Subordinated Notes, or segregate funds for any such payment,
prepayment,  repurchase,  redemption or defeasance, or enter into any derivative
or other transaction with any Derivatives  Counterparty  obligating the Borrower
or any Subsidiary to make payments to such Derivatives  Counterparty as a result
of any  change in market  value of the  Senior  Subordinated  Notes,  (b) amend,
modify or otherwise change, or consent or agree to any amendment,  modification,
waiver or other change to, any of the terms of the Senior  Subordinated Notes or
the  Senior   Subordinated  Note  Indenture  (other  than  any  such  amendment,
modification,  waiver or other  change  which (i) would  extend the  maturity or
reduce the amount of any payment of principal thereof, reduce the rate or extend
the date  for  payment  of  interest  thereon  or relax  any  covenant  or other
restriction  applicable to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and (ii) does
not involve the payment of a consent fee), (c) designate any Indebtedness (other
than the Obligations) as "Designated  Senior  Indebtedness"  for the purposes of
the  Senior  Subordinated  Note  Indenture  or  (d)  amend  its  certificate  of
incorporation in any manner materially adverse to the Lenders.

         6.10  Limitation  on  Transactions  with  Affiliates.  Enter  into  any
transaction,  including,  without  limitation,  any  purchase,  sale,  lease  or
exchange  of  Property,  the  rendering  of any  service  or the  payment of any
management,  advisory or similar fees, with any Affiliate  (other than Holdings,
the  Borrower  or any  Subsidiary  Guarantor)  unless  such  transaction  is (a)
otherwise permitted under this Agreement, (b) in the ordinary course of business
of the  Borrower or such  Subsidiary,  as the case may be, and (c) upon fair and
reasonable  terms no less favorable to the Borrower or such  Subsidiary,  as the
case may be, than it would obtain in a comparable arm's length  transaction with
a Person that is not an Affiliate.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as no
Default or Event of Default  shall be in  existence,  (i) the  Borrower  and its
Subsidiaries may pay to the Sponsor and its Control  Investment  Affiliates fees
and  expenses  pursuant  to a  management  agreement  approved  by the  board of
directors of the Borrower in an aggregate amount not to exceed the lesser of (a)
1.0% of Consolidated  EBITDA for the period in respect of which such fees are to
be paid or (b) the  amount  permitted  to be paid  under the terms of the Senior
Subordinated  Note Indenture;  (ii) the Borrower may pay transaction fees to the
Sponsor or any affiliates thereof in connection with any Permitted  Acquisitions
made by a Loan  Party in an amount  not to  exceed  1% of the total  transaction
value of such Permitted Acquisitions; and (iii) the Borrower may pay transaction
fees,  in an  aggregate  amount  not to exceed  $2,220,000,  to the  Sponsor  in
connection  with the  Acquisition and the acquisition of the Polaner and related
brands on February 5, 1999.

         6.11  Limitation on Sales and  Leasebacks.  Enter into any  arrangement
with any Person  providing for the leasing by the Borrower or any  Subsidiary of
real or personal  property 

                                       66

<PAGE>

which  has  been  or is to be  sold  or  transferred  by the  Borrower  or  such
Subsidiary  to such Person or to any other Person to whom funds have been or are
to be  advanced  by such  Person  on the  security  of such  property  or rental
obligations of the Borrower or such Subsidiary.

         6.12 Limitation on Changes in Fiscal Periods. Permit the fiscal year of
the Borrower to end on a day other than the  Saturday  nearest to December 31 or
change the Borrower's method of determining fiscal quarters.

         6.13  Limitation on Negative  Pledge  Clauses.  Enter into or suffer to
exist or become  effective any agreement that prohibits or limits the ability of
the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries to create,  incur,  assume or suffer to
exist  any Lien  upon any of its  Property  or  revenues,  whether  now owned or
hereafter acquired,  to secure the Obligations or, in the case of any guarantor,
its  obligations  under the Guarantee and Collateral  Agreement,  other than (a)
this Agreement,  the Revolving Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents and
(b)  any  agreements  governing  any  purchase  money  Liens  or  Capital  Lease
Obligations  otherwise  permitted  hereby (in which  case,  any  prohibition  or
limitation shall only be effective against the assets financed thereby).

         6.14 Limitation on Lines of Business.  Enter into any business,  either
directly or through any  Subsidiary,  except for those  businesses  in which the
Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  are engaged on the date of this Agreement (after
giving effect to the Acquisition) or that are reasonably related thereto.

         6.15 Limitation on Amendments to Acquisition Documentation.  (a) Amend,
supplement or otherwise modify (pursuant to a waiver or otherwise) the terms and
conditions of the indemnities  and licenses  furnished to the Borrower or any of
its  Subsidiaries  pursuant  to the  Acquisition  Documentation  such that after
giving effect  thereto such  indemnities  or licenses  shall be materially  less
favorable  to the  interests  of the Loan  Parties or the Lenders  with  respect
thereto or (b) otherwise  amend,  supplement  or otherwise  modify the terms and
conditions of the Acquisition  Documentation  except to the extent that any such
amendment, supplement or modification could not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.

         6.16  Limitation on  Activities  of Holdings.  In the case of Holdings,
notwithstanding  anything to the  contrary in this  Agreement  or any other Loan
Document,  (a) conduct,  transact or otherwise  engage in, or commit to conduct,
transact or  otherwise  engage in, any business or  operations  other than those
incidental  to its  ownership  of the Capital  Stock of the Borrower and Capital
Stock of other  entities,  (b)  incur,  create,  assume  or  suffer to exist any
Indebtedness  or  other  liabilities  or  financial   obligations,   except  (i)
nonconsensual obligations imposed by operation of law, (ii) pursuant to the Loan
Documents to which it is a party,  (iii) obligations with respect to its Capital
Stock,  and (iv)  Indebtedness of Holdings issued to sellers of assets purchased
by Holdings or a Subsidiary of Holdings  (provided that (A) such Indebtedness is
subordinated  to the Term Loans,  Revolving  Credit Loans,  Swing Line Loans and
Reimbursement Obligations, (B) such Indebtedness shall provide for no payment of
principal,  and no payment of interest  other than  payments in kind, to be made
thereunder  until the date which is 91 days after the final maturity date of the
Term  Loans and (C) such  Indebtedness  shall  

                                       67

<PAGE>

have no covenants other than a covenant to pay principal and interest, covenants
not to make any  payment in respect of equity or junior debt prior to payment of
such Indebtedness,  and customary informational covenants, such as a covenant to
provide financial statements) or (c) own, lease, manage or otherwise operate any
properties or assets other than cash  equivalents and shares of Capital Stock of
the Borrower and other entities.

         6.17 Limitation on Withdrawal of Reinvestment  Deferred Amount.  To the
extent that the Borrower,  in calculating  Consolidated  Total Debt,  deducts an
amount  in  respect  of all or any  portion  of the then  outstanding  aggregate
Reinvestment Deferred Amount on deposit in an account subject to the Lien of the
Guarantee and  Collateral  Agreement,  withdraw any such funds from such account
unless,  before and after giving  effect to such  withdrawal,  (a) no Default or
Event of  Default  shall have  occurred  and be  continuing  and (b) each of the
representations  and  warranties  made by any Loan Party in or  pursuant to this
Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be true and correct on and as of such
date as if made on and as of such date.

                          SECTION 7. EVENTS OF DEFAULT

         If any of the following events shall occur and be continuing:

         (a) The Borrower  shall fail to pay any principal of any Term Loan when
    due in accordance  with the terms hereof;  or the Borrower shall fail to pay
    any  interest on any Term Loan,  or any other  amount  payable  hereunder or
    under any other Loan  Document,  within five days after any such interest or
    other amount becomes due in accordance with the terms hereof; or

         (b) Any  representation  or  warranty  made or deemed  made by any Loan
    Party  herein or in any other  Loan  Document  or that is  contained  in any
    certificate, document or financial or other statement furnished by it at any
    time under or in connection  with this  Agreement or any other Loan Document
    shall prove to have been inaccurate in any material  respect on or as of the
    date made or deemed made or furnished; or

         (c) (i) Any Loan Party shall default in the  observance or  performance
    of any  agreement  contained  in clause (i) or (ii) of Section  5.4(a) (with
    respect to Holdings and the Borrower only),  Section 5.7(a) or Section 6, or
    Section 5 of the Guarantee and  Collateral  Agreement,  or (ii) an "Event of
    Default"  under and as defined in any  Mortgage  shall have  occurred and be
    continuing; or

         (d) Any Loan Party shall default in the  observance or  performance  of
    any other  agreement  contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document
    (other than as provided in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Section),  and
    such default shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days; or

         (e) Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall (i) default
    in making  any  payment of any  principal  of any  Indebtedness  (including,
    without limitation,  any Guarantee Obligation, but excluding the Term Loans)
    on the scheduled or original due

                                       68

<PAGE>

    date with  respect  thereto;  or (ii)  default in making any  payment of any
    interest  on any such  Indebtedness  beyond  the  period of  grace,  if any,
    provided in the instrument or agreement  under which such  Indebtedness  was
    created;  or (iii)  default in the  observance or  performance  of any other
    agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or contained in any
    instrument or agreement  evidencing,  securing or relating  thereto,  or any
    other event shall occur or condition  exist,  the effect of which default or
    other event or condition is to cause, or to permit the holder or beneficiary
    of such  Indebtedness  (or a trustee  or agent on  behalf of such  holder or
    beneficiary)  to  cause,  with  the  giving  of  notice  if  required,  such
    Indebtedness  to become due prior to its stated  maturity or (in the case of
    any  such  Indebtedness  constituting  a  Guarantee  Obligation)  to  become
    payable;  provided,  that a default,  event or condition described in clause
    (i), (ii) or (iii) of this paragraph (e) shall not at any time constitute an
    Event of Default  unless,  at such  time,  one or more  defaults,  events or
    conditions  of the type  described  in clauses  (i),  (ii) and (iii) of this
    paragraph  (e)  shall  have  occurred  and be  continuing  with  respect  to
    Indebtedness  the  outstanding  principal  amount  of which  exceeds  in the
    aggregate $2,000,000; or

         (f)  (i)  Holdings,  the  Borrower  or any of  its  Subsidiaries  shall
    commence  any case,  proceeding  or other  action (A) under any  existing or
    future law of any jurisdiction, domestic or foreign, relating to bankruptcy,
    insolvency,  reorganization  or relief of debtors,  seeking to have an order
    for  relief  entered  with  respect to it, or  seeking  to  adjudicate  it a
    bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking reorganization,  arrangement,  adjustment,
    winding-up,  liquidation,  dissolution,  composition  or other  relief  with
    respect  to it or its  debts,  or (B)  seeking  appointment  of a  receiver,
    trustee, custodian,  conservator or other similar official for it or for all
    or any substantial part of its assets,  or Holdings,  the Borrower or any of
    its  Subsidiaries  shall make a general  assignment  for the  benefit of its
    creditors;  or (ii) there shall be commenced against Holdings,  the Borrower
    or any of its Subsidiaries any case,  proceeding or other action of a nature
    referred  to in clause (i) above  that (A)  results in the entry of an order
    for  relief  or  any  such   adjudication  or  appointment  or  (B)  remains
    undismissed,  undischarged  or  unbonded  for a period of 60 days;  or (iii)
    there  shall be  commenced  against  Holdings,  the  Borrower  or any of its
    Subsidiaries  any case,  proceeding  or other action  seeking  issuance of a
    warrant of attachment,  execution,  distraint or similar process against all
    or any substantial  part of its assets that results in the entry of an order
    for any such relief that shall not have been vacated,  discharged, or stayed
    or bonded  pending  appeal  within 60 days from the entry  thereof;  or (iv)
    Holdings,  the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries  shall take any action in
    furtherance  of, or indicating its consent to,  approval of, or acquiescence
    in, any of the acts set forth in clause (i),  (ii),  or (iii) above;  or (v)
    Holdings,  the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  shall generally not, or
    shall be unable to, or shall  admit in  writing  its  inability  to, pay its
    debts as they become due; or

         (g) (i) Any Person shall  engage in any  "prohibited  transaction"  (as
    defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code)  involving  any
    Plan, (ii) any "accumulated  funding  deficiency" (as defined in Section 302
    of ERISA),  whether or not waived,  shall exist with  respect to any Plan or
    any Lien in favor of the PBGC or a Plan  shall  arise on the  assets  of the
    Borrower or any Commonly Controlled Entity, (iii) a 

                                       69

<PAGE>

    Reportable Event shall occur with respect to, or proceedings  shall commence
    to have a trustee appointed (or a trustee shall be appointed) to administer,
    or to  terminate,  any  Single  Employer  Plan,  which  Reportable  Event or
    commencement  of  proceedings  or  appointment  of  a  trustee  is,  in  the
    reasonable  opinion  of  the  Required  Lenders,  likely  to  result  in the
    termination of such Plan for purposes of Title IV of ERISA,  (iv) any Single
    Employer  Plan shall  terminate  for purposes of Title IV of ERISA,  (v) the
    Borrower or any  Commonly  Controlled  Entity  shall,  or in the  reasonable
    opinion  of the  Required  Lenders  is likely  to,  incur any  liability  in
    connection with a withdrawal from, or the Insolvency or Reorganization of, a
    Multiemployer  Plan or (vi) any other similar event or condition shall occur
    or exist  with  respect  to a Plan  other  than in the  ordinary  course  of
    business;  and in each case in clauses (i) through (vi) above, such event or
    condition, together with all other such events or conditions, if any, could,
    in the sole judgment of the Required Lenders, reasonably be expected to have
    a Material Adverse Effect; or

         (h) One or more judgments or decrees shall be entered against Holdings,
    the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries involving for Holdings, the Borrower
    and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole a liability (not paid or fully covered
    by  insurance as to which the relevant  insurance  company has  acknowledged
    coverage) of $2,000,000 or more, and all such judgments or decrees shall not
    have been vacated,  discharged,  stayed or bonded  pending  appeal within 30
    days from the entry thereof; or

         (i) Any of the Security Documents shall cease, for any reason, to be in
    full force and effect,  or any Loan Party or any Affiliate of any Loan Party
    shall so assert, or any Lien created by any of the Security  Documents shall
    cease to be enforceable and of the same effect and priority  purported to be
    created thereby; or

         (j)  The  guarantee  contained  in  Section  2  of  the  Guarantee  and
    Collateral  Agreement shall cease,  for any reason,  to be in full force and
    effect or any Loan Party or any Affiliate of any Loan Party shall so assert;
    or

         (k) (i) The Permitted  Investors  shall cease to have the power to vote
    or direct the voting of securities  having a majority of the ordinary voting
    power for the  election  of  directors  of Holdings  (determined  on a fully
    diluted  basis);  (ii) the Permitted  Investors shall cease to own of record
    and  beneficially  at  least  51% of the  common  stock of  Holdings,  (iii)
    Holdings  shall  cease  to own and  control,  of  record  and  beneficially,
    directly,  100% of each class of  outstanding  Capital Stock of the Borrower
    free and clear of all Liens  (except  Liens  created  by the  Guarantee  and
    Collateral Agreement); or (iv) a Specified Change of Control shall occur; or

         (l) The  Senior  Subordinated  Notes or the  guarantees  thereof  shall
    cease, for any reason, to be validly  subordinated to the Obligations or the
    obligations of the Subsidiary  Guarantors under the Guarantee and Collateral
    Agreement,  as the case may be, as provided in the Senior  Subordinated Note
    Indenture,  or any Loan Party,  any Affiliate of any Loan Party, the trustee
    in respect of the Senior Subordinated Notes or the holders of

                                       70

<PAGE>

    at least 25% in aggregate  principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Notes
    shall so assert;

then, and in any such event, (A) if such event is an Event of Default  specified
in clause  (i) or (ii) of  paragraph  (f) above with  respect  to the  Borrower,
automatically  the Commitments  shall  immediately  terminate and the Term Loans
hereunder (with accrued interest thereon) and all other amounts owing under this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall immediately become due and payable,
and (B) if such  event is any  other  Event of  Default,  either  or both of the
following actions may be taken:  with the consent of the Required  Lenders,  the
Administrative  Agent may,  or upon the  request of the  Required  Lenders,  the
Administrative  Agent shall,  by notice to the Borrower,  declare the Term Loans
hereunder (with accrued interest thereon) and all other amounts owing under this
Agreement  and  the  other  Loan  Documents  to be due  and  payable  forthwith,
whereupon the same shall immediately become due and payable.

                             SECTION 8. THE AGENTS

         8.1 Appointment. Each Lender hereby irrevocably designates and appoints
the Agents as the agents of such Lender under this  Agreement and the other Loan
Documents,  and each Lender irrevocably authorizes each Agent, in such capacity,
to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and the
other Loan  Documents and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are
expressly  delegated to such Agent by the terms of this  Agreement and the other
Loan  Documents,  together with such other powers as are  reasonably  incidental
thereto.  Notwithstanding  any  provision  to the  contrary  elsewhere  in  this
Agreement,  no Agent  shall have any duties or  responsibilities,  except  those
expressly set forth herein, or any fiduciary  relationship with any Lender,  and
no  implied  covenants,  functions,  responsibilities,  duties,  obligations  or
liabilities  shall be read into this  Agreement  or any other Loan  Document  or
otherwise exist against any Agent.

         8.2  Delegation  of Duties.  Each Agent may  execute  any of its duties
under this  Agreement  and the other  Loan  Documents  by or  through  agents or
attorneys-in-fact  and shall be  entitled  to advice of counsel  concerning  all
matters  pertaining  to such  duties.  No  Agent  shall be  responsible  for the
negligence or misconduct of any agents or attorneys  in-fact selected by it with
reasonable care.

         8.3  Exculpatory  Provisions.  Neither  any  Agent  nor  any  of  their
respective  officers,   directors,   employees,  agents,   attorneys-in-fact  or
affiliates  shall be (i) liable for any action  lawfully  taken or omitted to be
taken by it or such Person  under or in  connection  with this  Agreement or any
other Loan Document (except to the extent that any of the foregoing are found by
a final and nonappealable  decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have
resulted from its or such Person's own gross  negligence or willful  misconduct)
or (ii)  responsible  in any  manner  to any of the  Lenders  for any  recitals,
statements,  representations or warranties made by any Loan Party or any officer
thereof  contained  in this  Agreement  or any  other  Loan  Document  or in any
certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in,
or received by the Agents under or in  connection  with,  this  Agreement or any

                                       71

<PAGE>

other Loan  Document  or for the value,  validity,  effectiveness,  genuineness,
enforceability  or  sufficiency  of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or
for any  failure of any Loan Party a party  thereto to perform  its  obligations
hereunder or  thereunder.  The Agents shall not be under any  obligation  to any
Lender to ascertain or to inquire as to the  observance or performance of any of
the agreements  contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement or any other Loan
Document, or to inspect the properties, books or records of any Loan Party.

         8.4 Reliance by Agents. Each Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall
be fully protected in relying, upon any instrument, writing, resolution, notice,
consent,  certificate,  affidavit,  letter, telecopy, telex or teletype message,
statement,  order or other document or conversation believed by it to be genuine
and  correct  and to have  been  signed,  sent or made by the  proper  Person or
Persons and upon advice and  statements  of legal  counsel  (including,  without
limitation,  counsel to Holdings or the Loan Parties),  independent  accountants
and other  experts  selected  by such  Agent.  The Agents may deem and treat the
payee of any Note as the owner thereof for all purposes  unless a written notice
of assignment,  negotiation  or transfer  thereof shall have been filed with the
Administrative Agent. Each Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing
to take any action  under this  Agreement or any other Loan  Document  unless it
shall first receive such advice or concurrence  of the Required  Lenders (or, if
so specified by this Agreement, all Lenders) as it deems appropriate or it shall
first be  indemnified  to its  satisfaction  by the Lenders  against any and all
liability  and expense  (other than any  liability  or expense  arising from its
gross negligence or willful  misconduct) that may be incurred by it by reason of
taking or continuing  to take any such action.  Each Agent shall in all cases be
fully protected in acting,  or in refraining  from acting,  under this Agreement
and the other  Loan  Documents  in  accordance  with a request  of the  Required
Lenders (or, if so specified by this Agreement,  all Lenders),  and such request
and any action  taken or failure to act pursuant  thereto  shall be binding upon
all the Lenders and all future holders of the Term Loans.

         8.5 Notice of Default.  No Agent shall be deemed to have  knowledge  or
notice of the  occurrence  of any Default or Event of Default  hereunder  unless
such Agent has received notice from a Lender, Holdings or the Borrower referring
to this Agreement,  describing such Default or Event of Default and stating that
such notice is a "notice of default". In the event that the Administrative Agent
receives such a notice,  the  Administrative  Agent shall give notice thereof to
the  Lenders.  The  Administrative  Agent shall take such action with respect to
such Default or Event of Default as shall be reasonably directed by the Required
Lenders (or, if so specified by this  Agreement,  all  Lenders);  provided  that
unless and until the  Administrative  Agent shall have received such directions,
the  Administrative  Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action,
or refrain  from taking such  action,  with  respect to such Default or Event of
Default as it shall deem advisable in the best interests of the Lenders.

         8.6  Non-Reliance  on Agents and Other Lenders.  Each Lender  expressly
acknowledges  that  neither  the  Agents nor any of their  respective  officers,
directors,  employees,  agents,  attorneys-in-fact  or affiliates  have made any
representations  or  warranties  to it and  that no act by any  Agent  hereafter
taken, including any review of the affairs of a Loan Party or any affiliate of a
Loan Party,  shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by any
Agent  to any  Lender.  Each  Lender  represents  to the  Agents  that  it  has,
independently and without reliance upon any Agent or any other Lender, and based
on such  documents and  
                                       72

<PAGE>

information  as it  has  deemed  appropriate,  made  its  own  appraisal  of and
investigation  into the  business,  operations,  property,  financial  and other
condition and creditworthiness of the Loan Parties and their affiliates and made
its own decision to make its Term Loans hereunder and enter into this Agreement.
Each Lender also represents  that it will,  independently  and without  reliance
upon any Agent or any other Lender,  and based on such documents and information
as it shall  deem  appropriate  at the  time,  continue  to make its own  credit
analysis,  appraisals  and  decisions in taking or not taking  action under this
Agreement and the other Loan  Documents,  and to make such  investigation  as it
deems  necessary  to inform  itself as to the  business,  operations,  property,
financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Loan Parties and their
affiliates.  Except for notices,  reports and other documents expressly required
to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative  Agent hereunder,  no Agent
shall have any duty or  responsibility  to provide any Lender with any credit or
other  information  concerning  the business,  operations,  property,  condition
(financial or otherwise), prospects or creditworthiness of any Loan Party or any
affiliate of a Loan Party that may come into the possession of such Agent or any
of its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates.

         8.7  Indemnification.  The Lenders agree to indemnify each Agent in its
capacity as such (to the extent not  reimbursed  by  Holdings,  the Borrower and
without  limiting the obligation of Holdings or the Borrower to do so),  ratably
according to their respective  Aggregate  Exposure  Percentages in effect on the
date  on  which   indemnification   is  sought   under  this   Section  (or,  if
indemnification  is sought after the date upon which the Commitments  shall have
terminated  and the  Term  Loans  shall  have  been  paid in  full,  ratably  in
accordance with such Aggregate  Exposure  Percentages  immediately prior to such
date), from and against any and all liabilities,  obligations,  losses, damages,
penalties,  actions,  judgments,  suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any
kind whatsoever that may at any time (including, without limitation, at any time
following the payment of the Term Loans) be imposed on,  incurred by or asserted
against  such Agent in any way  relating to or arising out of, the  Commitments,
this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents or any documents contemplated by
or  referred  to herein or therein or the  transactions  contemplated  hereby or
thereby or any action taken or omitted by such Agent under or in connection with
any of the foregoing; provided that no Lender shall be liable for the payment of
any  portion  of such  liabilities,  obligations,  losses,  damages,  penalties,
actions,  judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements that are found by a
final and  nonappealable  decision of a court of competent  jurisdiction to have
resulted  from  such  Agent's  gross  negligence  or  willful  misconduct.   The
agreements  in this Section  shall survive the payment of the Term Loans and all
other amounts payable hereunder.

         8.8 Agent in Its Individual Capacity. Each Agent and its affiliates may
make loans to, accept deposits from and generally engage in any kind of business
with any Loan Party as though such Agent were not an Agent.  With respect to its
Term  Loans made or renewed  by it,  each Agent  shall have the same  rights and
powers under this  Agreement and the other Loan  Documents as any Lender and may
exercise  the same as though it were not an Agent,  and the terms  "Lender"  and
"Lenders" shall include each Agent in its individual capacity.

         8.9  Successor  Agents.   The   Administrative   Agent  may  resign  as
Administrative  Agent  upon 10  days'  written  notice  to the  Lenders  and the
Borrower. If the Administrative Agent 

                                       73

<PAGE>

shall resign as  Administrative  Agent under this  Agreement  and the other Loan
Documents,  then the  Required  Lenders  shall  appoint from among the Lenders a
successor agent for the Lenders, which successor agent shall (unless an Event of
Default  under  Section 7(a) or Section 7(f) with respect to the Borrower  shall
have occurred and be continuing)  be subject to approval by the Borrower  (which
approval  shall  not  be  unreasonably  withheld  or  delayed),  whereupon  such
successor  agent  shall  succeed  to  the  rights,  powers  and  duties  of  the
Administrative  Agent,  and the term  "Administrative  Agent"  shall  mean  such
successor  agent effective upon such  appointment  and approval,  and the former
Administrative  Agent's rights,  powers and duties as Administrative Agent shall
be  terminated,  without  any other or  further  act or deed on the part of such
former  Administrative  Agent or any of the  parties  to this  Agreement  or any
holders of the Term Loans.  If no successor  agent has accepted  appointment  as
Administrative  Agent  by  the  date  that  is  10  days  following  a  retiring
Administrative  Agent's  notice  of  resignation,  the  retiring  Administrative
Agent's  resignation  shall  nevertheless  thereupon become  effective,  and the
Lenders shall assume and perform all of the duties of the  Administrative  Agent
hereunder  until such time, if any, as the Required  Lenders appoint a successor
agent as provided for above.  The Syndication  Agent may, at any time, by notice
to the  Lenders  and the  Administrative  Agent,  resign  as  Syndication  Agent
hereunder, whereupon the duties, rights, obligations and responsibilities of the
Syndication Agent hereunder shall  automatically be assumed by, and inure to the
benefit of, the Administrative Agent, without any further act by the Syndication
Agent,  the  Administrative  Agent or any  Lender.  After any  retiring  Agent's
resignation  as Agent,  the  provisions  of this  Section  8 shall  inure to its
benefit as to any actions  taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Agent
under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

         8.10 Authorization to Release Liens; Other Actions Relating to Security
Documents. (a) The Administrative Agent is hereby irrevocably authorized by each
of the Lenders to release any Lien  covering any Property of the Borrower or any
of its Subsidiaries  that is the subject of a Disposition  which is permitted by
this Agreement and the Revolving Credit Agreement or which has been consented to
in  accordance  with  Section  9.1 of  this  Agreement  and  Section  9.1 of the
Revolving Credit Agreement.

         (b) With  respect  to any action  under or in  respect of the  Security
Documents  that  the  provisions  of  this  Agreement   permit  or  require  the
Administrative  Agent to take only with the consent,  or upon the direction,  of
all of the  Lenders or the  Required  Lenders,  as the case may be, the  Lenders
acknowledge that the Administrative  Agent shall be required to take such action
only if such action is approved by the Joint Required Lenders.

         8.11 The Arranger,  the  Co-Documentation  Agent and the  Documentation
Agent. Each of the Arranger,  the Co-Documentation  Agent, and the Documentation
Agent,  in  their  respective  capacities  as  such,  shall  have no  duties  or
responsibilities,  and shall incur no  liability,  under this  Agreement and the
other Loan Documents.

                                       74

<PAGE>

                            SECTION 9. MISCELLANEOUS

         9.1  Amendments  and Waivers.  Neither this Agreement or any other Loan
Document,  nor any terms  hereof or  thereof,  may be amended,  supplemented  or
modified except in accordance  with the provisions of this Section 9.1.  Subject
to the provisions of the immediately  following  sentence,  the Required Lenders
and each Loan  Party  party to the  relevant  Loan  Document  may,  or (with the
written consent of the Required Lenders) the Agents and each Loan Party party to
the  relevant  Loan  Document  may,  from time to time,  (a) enter into  written
amendments,  supplements or modifications hereto and to the other Loan Documents
(including  amendments  and  restatements  hereof or thereof) for the purpose of
adding any  provisions to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or changing
in any manner the rights of the  Lenders  or of the Loan  Parties  hereunder  or
thereunder or (b) waive, on such terms and conditions as may be specified in the
instrument of waiver,  any of the  requirements  of this  Agreement or the other
Loan  Documents  or any  Default  or  Event  of  Default  and its  consequences;
provided,  however,  that no such waiver and no such  amendment,  supplement  or
modification  shall  (i)  forgive  the  principal  amount  or  extend  the final
scheduled  date of maturity of any Term Loan,  extend the scheduled  date of any
amortization  payment in respect of any Term Loan, reduce the stated rate of any
interest or fee payable  hereunder or extend the  scheduled  date of any payment
thereof,  or increase the amount or extend the expiration date of any Commitment
of any Lender, in each case without the consent of each Lender directly affected
thereby; (ii) amend, modify or waive any provision of this Section or reduce any
percentage   specified  in  the  definition  of  Required  Lenders  or  Required
Prepayment Lenders, consent to the assignment or transfer by the Borrower of any
of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents,
release  all  or  substantially   all  of  the  Collateral  or  release  all  or
substantially  all of the Guarantors from their guarantee  obligations under the
Guarantee  and  Collateral  Agreement,  in each case  without the consent of all
Lenders;  (iii) reduce the  percentage  specified in the  definition of Majority
Facility Lenders with respect to any Facility without the written consent of all
Lenders  under such  Facility;  (iv)  amend,  modify or waive any  provision  of
Section 8 without the consent of any Agent directly affected thereby; (v) amend,
modify or waive any provision of Section 2.13 without the consent of each Lender
directly affected  thereby;  or (vi) amend Section 2.6(b) or 2.13(c) without the
consent of the Majority  Facility  Lenders of the Tranche B Term Loan  Facility.
Notwithstanding  the  immediately  preceding  sentence,   the  parties  to  this
Agreement agree, for their own benefit and for the benefit of the parties to the
Revolving  Credit  Agreement,  that (i) the provisions of Sections 3, 5, 6 and 7
may be amended, supplemented or modified with, and only with, the consent of the
Borrower and the Joint  Required  Lenders  (whether or not the Required  Lenders
shall have consented  thereto) and compliance  with any of the  requirements  of
such  Sections (or any Default or Event of Default  resulting  from a failure by
the  Borrower to comply with such  requirements)  may be waived  with,  and only
with,  the consent of the Joint  Required  

                                       75

<PAGE>

Lenders (whether or not the Required Lenders shall have consented thereto), (ii)
subject to the provisions of clause (iv) of this sentence, the provisions of the
Security Documents may be amended, supplemented or modified with, and only with,
the consent of each Loan Party that is a party  thereto  and the Joint  Required
Lenders (whether or not the Required  Lenders shall have consented  thereto) and
compliance  with any of the  requirements  of such  Sections  (or any Default or
Event of Default  resulting from a failure by any Loan Party to comply with such
requirements)  may be waived  with,  and only  with,  the  consent  of the Joint
Required  Lenders  (whether or not the  Required  Lenders  shall have  consented
thereto),  (iii) the definition of Joint Required  Lenders in Section 1.1 may be
amended or otherwise modified only with the consent of the Borrower, each Lender
and each Revolving Credit Lender,  (iv) any release of all or substantially  all
of the Collateral, and any release of all or substantially all of the Guarantors
from their guarantee  obligations under the Guarantee and Collateral  Agreement,
shall, in each case, be effected with, and only with, the consent of each Lender
and each Revolving Credit Lender,  (v) any amendment,  modification or waiver of
any provision of Section 2.7 may be effected with, and only with, the consent of
the  Borrower,  the Required  Prepayment  Lenders and Revolving  Credit  Lenders
holding  more  than  50%  of  the  aggregate  amount  of  the  Revolving  Credit
Commitments  then in effect (or, if the Revolving  Credit  Commitments have been
terminated,  the  Total  Revolving  Extensions  of  Credit  (as  defined  in the
Revolving   Credit   Agreement)  then   outstanding)  and  (vi)  any  amendment,
modification  or waiver in respect of any provision of this  Agreement  effected
pursuant  to this  sentence  must be  accompanied  by an  equivalent  amendment,
modification  or  waiver  in  respect  of  the  corresponding  provision  of the
Revolving  Credit  Agreement and (vii) this sentence may be amended or otherwise
modified only with the consent of the Borrower,  each Lender and each  Revolving
Credit  Lender.   Any  such  waiver  and  any  such  amendment,   supplement  or
modification  shall  apply  equally to each of the  Lenders and shall be binding
upon the Loan  Parties,  the Lenders,  the  Administrative  Agent and all future
holders of the Term Loans.  In the case of any  waiver,  the Loan  Parties,  the
Lenders and the Administrative  Agent shall be restored to their former position
and rights  hereunder  and under the other Loan  Documents,  and any  Default or
Event of Default waived shall be deemed to be cured and not  continuing;  but no
such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default,
or impair any right consequent thereon. Any such waiver,  amendment,  supplement
or modification  shall be effected by a written instrument signed by the parties
required to sign pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section; provided,
that delivery of an executed  signature page of any such instrument by facsimile
transmission  shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed  counterpart
thereof.  For the avoidance of doubt,  this Agreement may be amended (or amended
and  restated)  with  the  written   consent  of  the  Required   Lenders,   the
Administrative  Agent and each Loan Party to each  relevant Loan Document (x) to
add one or more additional credit facilities to this Agreement and to permit the
extensions of credit from time to time  outstanding  thereunder  and the accrued
interest and fees in respect thereof  (collectively,  the "Additional Extensions
of Credit") to share  ratably in the  benefits of this  Agreement  and the other
Loan Documents with the Term Loans and the accrued  interest and fees in respect
thereof  and (y) to  include  appropriately  the  Lenders  holding  such  credit
facilities in any determination of the Required Lenders and Required  Prepayment
Lenders;  provided,  however,  that  (A) no  such  amendment  shall  permit  the
Additional  Extensions of Credit to share ratably with or with preference to the
Term Loans in the  application of mandatory  prepayments  without the consent of
the  Required  Prepayment  Lenders,  (B) no Lender  shall be required to make or
participate in such Additional  Extensions of Credit without the consent of such
Lender in its sole  discretion  and (C) unless  each  Tranche B Term Loan Lender
shall  otherwise  agree,  the  applicable  margin with respect to the Additional
Extensions of Credit shall not exceed the  Applicable  Margin for Tranche B Term
Loans.

                  9.2 Notices. All notices,  requests and demands to or upon the
respective  parties  hereto to be effective  shall be in writing  (including  by
telecopy),  and, unless otherwise expressly provided herein,  shall be deemed to
have been duly given or made when delivered,  or three Business Days after being
deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, or, in the case of telecopy 

                                       76

<PAGE>

notice, when received,  addressed (a) in the case of Holdings,  the Borrower and
the Agents,  as follows and (b) in the case of the  Lenders,  as set forth in an
administrative  questionnaire  delivered to the Administrative  Agent or, in the
case of a  Lender  which  becomes  a  party  to this  Agreement  pursuant  to an
Assignment and Acceptance,  in such Assignment and Acceptance or (c) in the case
of any party,  to such other address as such party may  hereafter  notify to the
other parties hereto:

         Holdings:                          B&G Foods Holding Corp.
                                            426 Eagle Rock Avenue
                                            Roseland, NJ 07068
                                            Attention:  Chief Financial Officer
                                            Telecopy: 973-228-7461
                                            Telephone: 973-228-2500

         The Borrower:                      B&G Foods, Inc.
                                            426 Eagle Rock Avenue
                                            Roseland, NJ 07068
                                            Attention:  Chief Financial Officer
                                            Telecopy: 973-228-7461
                                            Telephone: 973-228-2500

         The Syndication Agent:             Lehman Commercial Paper Inc.3 World
                                            Financial Center
                                            New York, New York 10285
                                            Attention:  Michael O'Brien
                                            Telecopy:  (212) 526-7691
                                            Telephone:  (212) 526-0437

         The Administrative Agent:          Lehman Commercial Paper Inc.3 World
                                            Financial Center
                                            New York, New York 10285
                                            Attention:  Michael O'Brien
                                            Telecopy:  (212) 526-7691
                                            Telephone:  (212) 526-0437


provided  that any  notice,  request  or  demand to or upon the any Agent or any
Lender shall not be effective until received.

         9.3 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure to exercise and no delay
in exercising,  on the part of the any Agent or any Lender,  any right,  remedy,
power or privilege  hereunder or under the other Loan Documents shall operate as
a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy,
power or privilege  hereunder  preclude any other or further exercise thereof or
the  exercise  of any other  right,  remedy,  power or  privilege.  The  rights,
remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive
of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.

                                       77

<PAGE>

         9.4 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and
warranties  made  hereunder,  in the other Loan  Documents  and in any document,
certificate or statement  delivered  pursuant  hereto or in connection  herewith
shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of the
Term Loans and other extensions of credit hereunder.

         9.5 Payment of Expenses.  The  Borrower  agrees (a) to pay or reimburse
the Agents for all their reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in
connection  with the  syndication of the Facilities  (other than fees payable to
syndicate  members) and the  development,  preparation and execution of, and any
amendment,  supplement  or  modification  to, this  Agreement and the other Loan
Documents and any other documents prepared in connection  herewith or therewith,
and the  consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  and  thereby,
including,  without limitation,  the reasonable fees and disbursements and other
charges of counsel to the  Administrative  Agent,  (b) to pay or reimburse  each
Lender and each Agent for all their costs and  expenses  incurred in  connection
with the enforcement or  preservation  of any rights under this  Agreement,  the
other  Loan  Documents  and  any  such  other  documents,   including,   without
limitation,  the fees and disbursements of counsel (including the allocated fees
and  disbursements  and other charges of in-house counsel) to each Lender and of
counsel to the Agents,  (c) to pay, and  indemnify and hold harmless each Lender
and each Agent  from,  any and all  recording  and  filing  fees and any and all
liabilities  with  respect  to, or  resulting  from any delay in paying,  stamp,
excise and other taxes, if any, which may be payable or determined to be payable
in  connection   with  the  execution  and  delivery  of,  or   consummation  or
administration  of any of the  transactions  contemplated  by, or any amendment,
supplement or modification  of, or any waiver or consent under or in respect of,
this Agreement,  the other Loan Documents and any such other documents,  and (d)
to pay,  and  indemnify  and  hold  harmless  each  Lender,  each  Agent,  their
respective  affiliates,  and their  respective  officers,  directors,  trustees,
employees, advisors, agents and controlling persons (each, an "Indemnitee") from
and  against,  any and all  other  liabilities,  obligations,  losses,  damages,
penalties,  actions,  judgments,  suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any
kind or nature whatsoever with respect to the execution, delivery,  enforcement,
performance and  administration of this Agreement,  the other Loan Documents and
any such other documents,  including,  without limitation,  any of the foregoing
relating  to the  use of  proceeds  of  the  Term  Loans  or the  violation  of,
noncompliance  with or liability under, any  Environmental Law applicable to the
operations of Holdings,  the  Borrower,  any of its  Subsidiaries  or any of the
Properties and the fees and  disbursements and other charges of legal counsel in
connection  with claims,  actions or proceedings  by any Indemnitee  against the
Borrower  hereunder  (all the  foregoing in this clause (d),  collectively,  the
"Indemnified Liabilities"), provided, that the Borrower shall have no obligation
hereunder to any  Indemnitee  with  respect to  Indemnified  Liabilities  to the
extent  such  Indemnified  Liabilities  are found by a final  and  nonappealable
decision of a court of competent  jurisdiction  to have  resulted from the gross
negligence  or willful  misconduct  of such  Indemnitee.  Without  limiting  the
foregoing,  and to the extent  permitted by applicable  law, the Borrower agrees
not to assert and to cause its Subsidiaries not to assert, and hereby waives and
agrees to cause its Subsidiaries so to waive, all rights for contribution or any
other rights of recovery with respect to all claims, demands,  penalties, fines,
liabilities,  settlements,  damages,  costs and  expenses  of  whatever  kind or
nature,  under or related to Environmental  Laws, that any of them might have by
statute or otherwise against any indemnitee.  All amounts due under this Section
shall  be  payable  not  later  than  30 days  after  written  demand  therefor.
Statements  payable by the Borrower  pursuant to this Section 

                                       78

<PAGE>

shall be submitted to the  Borrower's  chief  financial  officer  (Telephone No.
973-228-2500) (Fax No.  973-228-7461),  at the address of the Borrower set forth
in  Section  9.2,  or to  such  other  Person  or  address  as may be  hereafter
designated  by the  Borrower  in a written  notice to the  Administrative  Agent
(which shall promptly notify each Lender).  The agreements in this Section shall
survive repayment of the Term Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

         9.6 Successors and Assigns;  Participations  and Assignments.  (a) This
Agreement  shall be  binding  upon and inure to the  benefit  of  Holdings,  the
Borrower,  the  Lenders,  the Agents,  all future  holders of the Term Loans and
their respective successors and assigns, except that the Borrower may not assign
or transfer any of its rights or obligations  under this  Agreement  without the
prior written consent of the Agents and each Lender.

         (b) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower,  in accordance
with  applicable  law,  at  any  time  sell  to  one or  more  banks,  financial
institutions or other entities (each, a "Participant")  participating  interests
in any Term Loan owing to such  Lender,  any  Commitment  of such  Lender or any
other interest of such Lender  hereunder and under the other Loan Documents.  In
the  event  of any  such  sale by a  Lender  of a  participating  interest  to a
Participant, such Lender's obligations under this Agreement to the other parties
to this  Agreement  shall remain  unchanged,  such Lender  shall  remain  solely
responsible for the performance thereof,  such Lender shall remain the holder of
any such Term Loan for all  purposes  under  this  Agreement  and the other Loan
Documents,  and the Borrower  and the Agents  shall  continue to deal solely and
directly  with  such  Lender  in  connection   with  such  Lender's  rights  and
obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. In no event shall
any  Participant  under any such  participation  have any right to  approve  any
amendment or waiver of any provision of any Loan Document, or any consent to any
departure by any Loan Party therefrom, except to the extent that such amendment,
waiver or consent  would reduce the principal of, or interest on, the Term Loans
or  any  fees  payable  hereunder,  release  all  or  substantially  all  of the
Collateral,  release  all or  substantially  all of the  Guarantors  from  their
guarantee obligations under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement,  or postpone
the date of the final  maturity  of the Term  Loans,  in each case to the extent
subject to such  participation.  The Borrower agrees that if amounts outstanding
under this  Agreement  and the Term Loans are due or unpaid,  or shall have been
declared or shall have become due and payable upon the occurrence of an Event of
Default,  each Participant  shall, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable
law,  be deemed to have the right of  setoff  in  respect  of its  participating
interest  in amounts  owing  under this  Agreement  to the same extent as if the
amount of its participating interest were owing directly to it as a Lender under
this Agreement,  provided that, in purchasing such participating  interest, such
Participant  shall be  deemed  to have  agreed  to share  with the  Lenders  the
proceeds  thereof as provided in Section  9.7(a) as fully as if it were a Lender
hereunder.  The Borrower also agrees that each Participant  shall be entitled to
the benefits of Sections 2.14,  2.15 and 2.16 with respect to its  participation
in the  Commitments  and the Term Loans  outstanding  from time to time as if it
were a Lender;  provided  that,  in the case of Section 2.15,  such  Participant
shall have complied with the requirements of said Section and provided, further,
that no Participant  shall be entitled to receive any greater amount pursuant to
any such Section than the transferor  Lender would have been entitled to receive
in respect of the amount of the  participation  transferred  by such  transferor
Lender to such Participant had no such transfer occurred.

                                       79

<PAGE>

         (c) Any Lender (an  "Assignor")  may, in accordance with applicable law
and upon written notice to the  Syndication  Agent, at any time and from time to
time  assign  to any  Lender  or any  affiliate  or  Approved  Fund  or  Control
Investment Affiliate thereof or, with the consent of the Borrower and the Agents
(which, in each case, shall not be unreasonably  withheld or delayed)  (provided
the consent of the Borrower need not be obtained with respect to any  assignment
of Term Loans), to an additional bank, financial institution or other entity (an
"Assignee") all or any part of its rights and  obligations  under this Agreement
pursuant to an  Assignment  and  Acceptance,  executed by such Assignee and such
Assignor  (and,  where the  consent of the  Borrower  or the Agents is  required
pursuant to the foregoing  provisions,  by the Borrower and such other  Persons)
and delivered to the  Administrative  Agent for its  acceptance and recording in
the Register;  provided that no such  assignment to an Assignee  (other than any
Lender or any  affiliate  or Approved  Fund  thereof)  shall be in an  aggregate
principal  amount  of  less  than  $5,000,000  (other  than  in the  case  of an
assignment  of  all  of a  Lender's  interests  under  this  Agreement),  unless
otherwise agreed by the Borrower,  the Syndication Agent and the  Administrative
Agent.  Any such assignment  need not be ratable as among the  Facilities.  Upon
such execution, delivery, acceptance and recording, from and after the effective
date determined  pursuant to such  Assignment and  Acceptance,  (x) the Assignee
thereunder  shall  be a  party  hereto  and,  to the  extent  provided  in  such
Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender hereunder
with a Commitment  and/or Term Loans as set forth therein,  and (y) the Assignor
thereunder  shall, to the extent provided in such Assignment and Acceptance,  be
released  from its  obligations  under this  Agreement  (and,  in the case of an
Assignment and Acceptance  covering all of an Assignor's  rights and obligations
under this  Agreement,  such Assignor shall cease to be a party hereto except as
to  Sections  2.14,  2.15,  2.17 and 9.5 in respect of the period  prior to such
effective date).  Notwithstanding any provision of this Section,  the consent of
the Borrower  shall not be required for any  assignment  that occurs at any time
when any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

         (d) The Administrative Agent shall, on behalf of the Borrower, maintain
at its  address  referred  to in  Section  9.2 a copy  of  each  Assignment  and
Acceptance  delivered to it and a register (the  "Register") for the recordation
of the names and addresses of the Lenders and the  Commitment  of, and principal
amount of the Term Loans owing to, each Lender from time to time. The entries in
the Register  shall be  conclusive,  in the absence of manifest  error,  and the
Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose
name is  recorded  in the  Register as the owner of the Term Loans and any Notes
evidencing the Term Loans recorded  therein for all purposes of this  Agreement.
Any  assignment of any Term Loan,  whether or not evidenced by a Note,  shall be
effective only upon  appropriate  entries with respect thereto being made in the
Register (and each Note shall expressly so provide).  Any assignment or transfer
of all or part of a Term Loan  evidenced  by a Note shall be  registered  on the
Register only upon surrender for  registration  of assignment or transfer of the
Note  evidencing such Term Loan,  accompanied by a duly executed  Assignment and
Acceptance;  thereupon  one or more new  Notes in the same  aggregate  principal
amount shall be issued to the  designated  Assignee,  and the old Notes shall be
returned by the  Administrative  Agent to the Borrower  marked  "canceled".  The
Register  shall be available for  inspection by the Borrower or any Lender (with
respect  to any entry  relating  to such  Lender's  Term  Loans) or Agent at any
reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

                                       80

<PAGE>

         (e) Upon its receipt of an  Assignment  and  Acceptance  executed by an
Assignor and an Assignee (and, in any case where the consent of any other Person
is required by Section 9.6(c),  by each such other Person) together with payment
to the  Administrative  Agent of a  registration  and  processing  fee of $3,500
(except that no such  registration  and  processing  fee shall be payable (y) in
connection  with an  assignment  by or to Lehman  Commercial  Paper Inc.  or any
Affiliate thereof or (z) in the case of an Assignee which is already a Lender or
is an affiliate or Approved Fund of a Lender or a Person under common management
with a  Lender),  the  Administrative  Agent  shall  (i)  promptly  accept  such
Assignment and Acceptance  and (ii) on the effective  date  determined  pursuant
thereto record the information contained therein in the Register and give notice
of such acceptance and recordation to the Lenders,  the Agents and the Borrower.
On or prior to such  effective  date,  the  Borrower,  at its own expense,  upon
request,  shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent (in exchange for
the applicable  Notes of the assigning  Lender) a new Note or Notes to the order
of such Assignee in an amount equal to the applicable  Term Loans acquired by it
pursuant to such  Assignment  and  Acceptance  and, if the Assignor has retained
Term Loans, upon request, a new Note or Notes to the order of the Assignor in an
amount equal to the  applicable  Term Loans  retained by it hereunder.  Such new
Note or Notes shall be dated the Closing Date and shall otherwise be in the form
of the Note or Notes replaced thereby.

         (f) For avoidance of doubt,  the parties to this Agreement  acknowledge
that the  provisions of this Section  concerning  assignments  of Term Loans and
Notes  relate  only to  absolute  assignments  and that such  provisions  do not
prohibit assignments creating security interests, including, without limitation,
any  pledge or  assignment  by a Lender of any Term Loan or Note to any  Federal
Reserve Bank in accordance with applicable law.

         9.7 Adjustments;  Set-off. (a) Except to the extent that this Agreement
provides for  payments to be allocated to a particular  Lender or to the Lenders
under a  particular  Facility and except to the extent that Section 2.19 of this
Agreement  provides  for  payments  to a  substituted  Lender,  if any Lender (a
"Benefitted Lender") shall at any time receive any payment of all or part of the
Obligations  owing to it, or receive any collateral in respect thereof  (whether
voluntarily or involuntarily,  by set-off,  pursuant to events or proceedings of
the nature referred to in Section 7(f), or otherwise),  in a greater  proportion
than any such payment to or collateral  received by any other Lender, if any, in
respect  of such  other  Lender's  Obligations,  such  Benefitted  Lender  shall
purchase  for cash  from the  other  Lenders a  participating  interest  in such
portion of each such other  Lender's  Obligations,  or shall  provide such other
Lenders with the benefits of any such collateral, as shall be necessary to cause
such  Benefitted  Lender  to  share  the  excess  payment  or  benefits  of such
collateral ratably with each of the Lenders;  provided,  however, that if all or
any portion of such excess payment or benefits is thereafter recovered from such
Benefitted Lender, such purchase shall be rescinded,  and the purchase price and
benefits returned, to the extent of such recovery, but without interest.

         (b) In addition to any rights and  remedies of the Lenders  provided by
law,  each Lender shall have the right,  without prior notice to Holdings or the
Borrower, any such notice being expressly waived by Holdings and the Borrower to
the extent permitted by applicable law, upon any amount becoming due and payable
by the Borrower  hereunder  (whether at the stated maturity,  by acceleration or
otherwise), to set off and appropriate and apply against such amount any and all
deposits  (general or special,  time or demand,  provisional  or final),  in any
currency,  

                                       81

<PAGE>

and any other credits,  indebtedness or claims,  in any currency,  in
each case  whether  direct or  indirect,  absolute  or  contingent,  matured  or
unmatured,  at any time  held or owing by such  Lender  or any  branch or agency
thereof to or for the credit or the account of Holdings or the Borrower,  as the
case may be.  Each  Lender  agrees  promptly  to  notify  the  Borrower  and the
Administrative  Agent after any such setoff and application made by such Lender,
provided  that the failure to give such notice  shall not affect the validity of
such setoff and application.

         9.8 Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the
parties to this  Agreement  on any number of separate  counterparts,  and all of
said counterparts  taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same
instrument.  Delivery  of an  executed  signature  page  of  this  Agreement  by
facsimile  transmission  shall be effective  as delivery of a manually  executed
counterpart  hereof.  A set of the  copies of this  Agreement  signed by all the
parties shall be lodged with the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

         9.9 Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective
to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability  without  invalidating the
remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any
jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render  unenforceable such provision in any
other jurisdiction.

         9.10 Integration. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents represent
the entire agreement of Holdings, the Borrower, the Agents, the Arranger and the
Lenders with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof,  and there are no
promises, undertakings, representations or warranties by the Arranger, any Agent
or any Lender  relative to subject  matter  hereof or thereof not  expressly set
forth or referred to herein or in the other Loan Documents.

         9.11 GOVERNING  LAW. THIS  AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND  OBLIGATIONS OF
THE  PARTIES  UNDER THIS  AGREEMENT  SHALL BE  GOVERNED  BY, AND  CONSTRUED  AND
INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

         9.12  Submission  To  Jurisdiction;  Waivers.  Each of Holdings and the
Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally:

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

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

         (c) agrees that service of process in any such action or proceeding may
be effected by mailing a copy thereof by  registered  or certified  mail (or any
substantially  

                                       82

<PAGE>

similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to Holdings or the Borrower, as the case
may be, at its  address  set forth in Section  9.2 or at such  other  address of
which the Administrative Agent shall have been notified pursuant thereto;

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

         (e) waives,  to the maximum  extent not prohibited by law, any right it
may have to claim or recover in any legal  action or  proceeding  referred to in
this Section any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages.

         9.13  Acknowledgments.   Each  of  Holdings  and  the  Borrower  hereby
acknowledges that:

         (a) it has been advised by counsel in the  negotiation,  execution  and
delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;

         (b) neither the  Arranger,  any Agent nor any Lender has any  fiduciary
relationship  with or duty to  Holdings  or the  Borrower  arising  out of or in
connection  with this  Agreement  or any of the other  Loan  Documents,  and the
relationship between the Arranger,  the Agents and the Lenders, on the one hand,
and Holdings and the  Borrower,  on the other hand,  in  connection  herewith or
therewith is solely that of debtor and creditor; and

         (c) no joint venture is created  hereby or by the other Loan  Documents
or otherwise exists by virtue of the transactions  contemplated hereby among the
Arranger,  the Agents and the Lenders or among  Holdings,  the  Borrower and the
Lenders.

         9.14 Confidentiality. Each of the Agents and the Lenders agrees to keep
confidential  all  non-public  information  provided  to it by  any  Loan  Party
pursuant  to  this   Agreement   that  is  designated  by  such  Loan  Party  as
confidential; provided that nothing herein shall prevent any Agent or any Lender
from disclosing any such  information (a) to the Arranger,  any Agent, any other
Lender or any affiliate or Approved Fund of any thereof,  (b) to any Participant
or Assignee  (each, a  "Transferee")  or prospective  Transferee  that agrees to
comply  with  the  provisions  of  this  Section,  (c) to any of its  employees,
directors,  agents, attorneys,  accountants and other professional advisors, (d)
to  any  financial   institution  that  is  a  direct  or  indirect  contractual
counterparty in swap agreements or such contractual counterparty's  professional
advisor (so long as such  contractual  counterparty or  professional  advisor to
such  contractual  counterparty  agrees  to be bound by the  provisions  of this
Section),  (e)  upon  the  request  or  demand  of  any  Governmental  Authority
(including, without limitation, bank regulatory authorities) having jurisdiction
over  it,  (f) in  response  to any  order of any  court  or other  Governmental
Authority (including, without limitation, bank regulatory authorities) or as may
otherwise be required pursuant to any Requirement of Law, (g) in connection with
any litigation or similar proceeding, (h) that has been publicly disclosed other
than in breach of this  Section,  (i) to the National  Association  of Insurance
Commissioners or any similar  organization or any nationally  recognized  rating
agency that requires access to information about a Lender's 

                                       83

<PAGE>

investment  portfolio in  connection  with  ratings  issued with respect to such
Lender or (j) in connection  with the exercise of any remedy  hereunder or under
any other Loan Document.

         9.15  Release  of  Collateral   Security  and  Guarantee   Obligations.
Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary  contained  herein or in the Guarantee
and Collateral Agreement, upon request of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent
shall  (without  notice to or vote or consent of any Lender) take action  having
the effect of releasing any Collateral and/or guarantee obligations provided for
in the  Guarantee  and  Collateral  Agreement to the extent  necessary to permit
consummation,  by the  relevant  Person  in  accordance  with the  terms of this
Agreement  and the other  Loan  Documents,  of any  transaction  not  prohibited
hereunder or under the Revolving Credit Agreement.

         9.16 Accounting  Changes. In the event that any "Accounting Change" (as
defined  below) shall occur and such change results in a change in the method of
calculation of financial covenants,  standards or terms in this Agreement,  then
the Borrower and the  Administrative  Agent agree to enter into  negotiations in
order to amend such provisions of this Agreement so as to equitably reflect such
Accounting  Changes with the desired result that the criteria for evaluating the
Borrower's  financial  condition shall be the same after such Accounting Changes
as if such  Accounting  Changes  had not been  made.  Until such time as such an
amendment  shall  have  been  executed  and  delivered  by  the  Borrower,   the
Administrative   Agent  and  the  Required  Lenders,  all  financial  covenants,
standards  and  terms in this  Agreement  shall  continue  to be  calculated  or
construed as if such Accounting Changes had not occurred.  "Accounting  Changes"
refers to changes in accounting  principles  required by the promulgation of any
rule, regulation, pronouncement or opinion by the Financial Accounting Standards
Board  of  the  American  Institute  of  Certified  Public  Accountants  or,  if
applicable, the SEC.

         9.17  Delivery of Lender  Addenda.  Each initial  Lender shall become a
party to this  Agreement  by  delivering  to the  Administrative  Agent  and the
Syndication  Agent a Lender Addendum duly executed by such Lender,  the Borrower
and each Agent.

         9.18 WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL.  HOLDINGS, THE BORROWER, THE AGENTS AND THE
LENDERS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY  WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL
ACTION OR PROCEEDING  RELATING TO THIS  AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AND
FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.

                                       84

<PAGE>

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


                                            B&G FOODS HOLDINGS CORP.


                                            By: /s/ Robert Cantwell
                                               --------------------------------
                                               Name:  Robert Cantwell
                                               Title: Chief Financial Officer

                                            B&G FOODS, INC.


                                            By: /s/ Robert Cantwell
                                               --------------------------------
                                               Name:  Robert Cantwell
                                               Title: Chief Financial Officer

                                            LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.,
                                            as Arranger


                                            By: /s/ William Gallagher
                                               --------------------------------
                                               Name:  William Gallagher
                                               Title: Authorized Signatory

                                            LEHMAN COMMERCIAL PAPER INC., as
                                              Syndication Agent and as
                                              Administrative Agent


                                            By: /s/ William Gallagher
                                               --------------------------------
                                               Name:  William Gallagher
                                               Title: Authorized Signatory


                                           THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
                                            as Documentation Agent


                                           By: /s/ Vito Michael Ferrone
                                              ---------------------------------
                                              Name:  Vito Michael Ferrone
                                              Title: Vice President


                                       85

<PAGE>


                                           HELLER FINANCIAL, INC.,
                                            as Co-Documentation Agent


                                           By: /s/ Robert M. Reeg
                                              ---------------------------------
                                              Name:  Robert M. Reeg
                                              Title: Assistant Vice President


                                       86



<PAGE>

                                                                         Annex A
                                                                         -------

                    PRICING GRID FOR TRANCHE A TERM LOANS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                <S>                           <C>                        <C>    

               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Consolidated Leverage Ratio   Applicable Margin for      Applicable Margin for Base
                                              Eurodollar Loans           Rate Loans
               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Greater than or equal to 4.75            3.125                        2.125
               to 1.00
               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Less than 4.75 to 1.00, but              2.875                        1.875
               greater than or equal to 4.25
               to 1.00
               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Less than 4.25 to 1.00, but              2.625                        1.625
               greater than or equal to 3.75
               to 1.00
               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Less than 3.75 to 1.00, but              2.375                        1.375
               greater than 3.25 to 1.00
               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Less than 3.25 to 1.00                   2.125                        1.125
               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

</TABLE>


Changes in the Applicable  Margin with respect to Tranche A Term Loans resulting
from changes in the  Consolidated  Leverage Ratio shall become  effective on the
date (the "Adjustment Date") on which financial  statements are delivered to the
Lenders  pursuant  to Section  6.1 (but in any event not later than the 45th day
after the end of each of the first three  quarterly  periods of each fiscal year
or the 90th day after the end of each fiscal year, as the case may be) and shall
remain  in  effect  until  the  next  change  to be  effected  pursuant  to this
paragraph.  If any  financial  statements  referred  to above are not  delivered
within the time periods specified above,  then, until such financial  statements
are  delivered,  the  Consolidated  Leverage  Ratio as at the end of the  fiscal
period  that would have been  covered  thereby  shall for the  purposes  of this
Pricing Grid be deemed to be greater  than 4.75 to 1. In addition,  at all times
while  an  Event  of  Default  shall  have  occurred  and  be  continuing,   the
Consolidated  Leverage  Ratio  shall for the  purposes of this  Pricing  Grid be
deemed to be  greater  than 4.75 to 1. Each  determination  of the  Consolidated
Leverage  Ratio  pursuant to this Pricing Grid shall be made with respect to the
period of four consecutive  fiscal quarters of the Borrower ending at the end of
the period covered by the relevant financial statements.


<PAGE>

                                                                    SCHEDULE 1.1


                               MORTGAGED PROPERTY





<PAGE>

                                                                    SCHEDULE 3.4


                  CONSENTS, AUTHORIZATIONS, FILINGS AND NOTICES





<PAGE>

                                                                    SCHEDULE 3.9


                          INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CLAIMS







<PAGE>

                                                                   SCHEDULE 3.15


                                  SUBSIDIARIES




<PAGE>

                                                              SCHEDULE 3.19(a)-1


                            UCC FILING JURISDICTIONS

                    Loan Party                  Filing Office
                    -----------                 -------------



                  [Borrower  to list name of each Loan Party which is a party to
any Security Document and each filing office in which a UCC financing  statement
must be filed in respect of such Loan Party and its collateral]



<PAGE>

                                                              SCHEDULE 3.19(a)-2


                   UCC FINANCING STATEMENTS TO REMAIN ON FILE






<PAGE>

                                                              SCHEDULE 3.19(a)-3


                    UCC FINANCING STATEMENTS TO BE TERMINATED





<PAGE>

                                                                SCHEDULE 3.19(b)


                          MORTGAGE FILING JURISDICTIONS






<PAGE>

                                                                 SCHEDULE 6.2(d)


                              EXISTING INDEBTEDNESS






<PAGE>

                                                                 SCHEDULE 6.3(f)


                                 EXISTING LIENS








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


                       GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT


                                     made by

                           B & G FOODS HOLDINGS CORP.


                                B & G FOODS, INC.


                         and certain of its Subsidiaries


                                   in favor of


                          LEHMAN COMMERCIAL PAPER INC.
                             as Administrative Agent



                           Dated as of March 15, 1999


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




<PAGE>


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                               Page
<S>           <C>                                                                                              <C>

SECTION 1.  DEFINED TERMS.........................................................................................2
         1.1  Definitions.........................................................................................2
         1.2  Other Definitional Provisions.......................................................................6

SECTION 2.  GUARANTEE.............................................................................................6
         2.1  Guarantee...........................................................................................6
         2.2  Right of Contribution...............................................................................7
         2.3  No Subrogation......................................................................................7
         2.4  Amendments, etc. with respect to the Borrower Obligations...........................................8
         2.5  Guarantee Absolute and Unconditional................................................................8
         2.6  Reinstatement.......................................................................................9
         2.7  Payments............................................................................................9

SECTION 3.  GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST............................................................................9

SECTION 4.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.......................................................................10
         4.1  Representations in Credit Agreement................................................................10
         4.2  Title; No Other Liens..............................................................................10
         4.3  Perfected First Priority Liens.....................................................................10
         4.4  Chief Executive Office.............................................................................11
         4.5  Inventory and Equipment............................................................................11
         4.6  Farm Products......................................................................................11
         4.7  Pledged Securities.................................................................................11
         4.8  Receivables........................................................................................11
         4.9  Contracts..........................................................................................11
         4.10  Intellectual Property.............................................................................12
         4.11  Vehicles..........................................................................................13

SECTION 5.  COVENANTS............................................................................................13
         5.1  Covenants in the Term Loan Agreement and the Revolving Credit Agreement............................13
         5.2  Delivery of Instruments and Chattel Paper..........................................................13
         5.3  Maintenance of Insurance...........................................................................13
         5.4  Payment of Obligations.............................................................................14
         5.5  Maintenance of Perfected Security Interest; Further Documentation..................................14
         5.6  Changes in Locations, Name, etc....................................................................14
         5.7  Notices............................................................................................15
         5.8  Pledged Securities.................................................................................15
         5.9  Receivables........................................................................................16
         5.10  Contracts.........................................................................................16
         5.11  Intellectual Property.............................................................................16

SECTION 6.  REMEDIAL PROVISIONS..................................................................................18
         6.1  Certain Matters Relating to Receivables............................................................18
         6.2  Communications with Obligors; Grantors Remain Liable...............................................18
         6.3  Pledged Stock......................................................................................19
         6.4  Proceeds to be Turned Over To Administrative Agent.................................................20


                                       i


<PAGE>


                                                                                                               Page

         6.5  Application of Proceeds............................................................................20
         6.6  Code and Other Remedies............................................................................21
         6.7  Registration Rights................................................................................21
         6.8  Waiver; Deficiency.................................................................................22

SECTION 7.  THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT.............................................................................22
         7.1  Administrative Agent's Appointment as Attorney-in-Fact, etc........................................22
         7.2  Duty of Administrative Agent.......................................................................24
         7.3  Execution of Financing Statements..................................................................24
         7.4  Authority of Administrative Agent..................................................................24

SECTION 8.  MISCELLANEOUS........................................................................................25
         8.1  Amendments in Writing..............................................................................25
         8.2  Notices............................................................................................25
         8.3  No Waiver by Course of Conduct; Cumulative Remedies................................................25
         8.4  Enforcement Expenses; Indemnification..............................................................25
         8.5  Successors and Assigns.............................................................................25
         8.6  Set-Off............................................................................................26
         8.7  Counterparts.......................................................................................26
         8.8  Severability.......................................................................................26
         8.9  Section Headings...................................................................................26
         8.10  Integration.......................................................................................26
         8.11  GOVERNING LAW.....................................................................................26
         8.12  Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers...............................................................27
         8.13  Acknowledgments...................................................................................27
         8.14  Additional Grantors...............................................................................27
         8.15  Releases..........................................................................................27
         8.16  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL..............................................................................29

</TABLE>

                                       ii


<PAGE>


                                     FORM OF
                       GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT


         GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT, dated as of March 15, 1999, made by
each of the signatories hereto (together with any other entity that may become a
party hereto as provided herein, the "Grantors"),  in favor of LEHMAN COMMERCIAL
PAPER INC., as Administrative Agent (as defined below).


                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, B&G Foods Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation ("Holdings"),
and B&G Foods, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), are parties to (i)
the Term Loan Agreement, dated as of March 15, 1999 (as amended, supplemented or
otherwise  modified  from time to time,  the "Term  Loan  Agreement"),  with the
several banks and other financial institutions from time to time parties thereto
(the "Term Loan Lenders"),  Lehman  Brothers Inc., as Arranger,  The Bank of New
York, as Documentation Agent, Heller Financial, Inc., as Co-Documentation Agent,
Lehman Commercial Paper Inc., as Syndication  Agent, and Lehman Commercial Paper
Inc., as administrative agent and (ii) the Revolving Credit Agreement,  dated as
of March 15, 1999 (as amended,  supplemented or otherwise  modified from time to
time, the "Revolving Credit  Agreement";  together with the Term Loan Agreement,
the "Credit Agreement"), with the several banks and other financial institutions
from time to time parties thereto (the "Revolving Credit Lenders"; together with
the Term Loan Lenders, the "Lenders"), Lehman Brothers Inc., as Arranger, Lehman
Commercial  Paper  Inc.,  as  Syndication  Agent,  The  Bank  of  New  York,  as
Documentation  Agent,  Heller Financial,  Inc., as  Co-Documentation  Agent, and
Lehman Commercial Paper Inc., as administrative  agent (Lehman  Commercial Paper
Inc.,  in its  capacity  as  administrative  agent  pursuant  to the  Term  Loan
Agreement and the Revolving Credit Agreement, the "Administrative Agent");

         WHEREAS,  pursuant to the Term Loan Agreement and the Revolving  Credit
Agreement, the Lenders have severally agreed to make extensions of credit to the
Borrower upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein;

         WHEREAS,  the Borrower is a member of an affiliated  group of companies
that includes each other Grantor;

         WHEREAS,  the proceeds of the  extensions of credit under the Term Loan
Agreement and the Revolving  Credit Agreement will be used in part to enable the
Borrower  to make  valuable  transfers  to one or more of the other  Grantors in
connection with the operation of their respective businesses;

         WHEREAS,  the  Borrower  and the other  Grantors are engaged in related
businesses, and each Grantor will derive substantial direct and indirect benefit
from the making of the  extensions  of credit under the Term Loan  Agreement and
the Revolving Credit Agreement; and

         WHEREAS,  it is a condition  precedent to the obligation of the Lenders
to make their  respective  extensions  of credit to the Borrower  under the Term
Loan Agreement and the Revolving  Credit  Agreement that the Grantors shall have
executed  and  delivered  this  Agreement  to the  Administrative  Agent for the
ratable benefit of the Lenders;



<PAGE>


         NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  premises and to induce the
Administrative  Agent and the Lenders to enter into the Term Loan  Agreement and
the  Revolving  Credit  Agreement  and to  induce  the  Lenders  to  make  their
respective extensions of credit to the Borrower thereunder,  each Grantor hereby
agrees with the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, as
follows:


                            SECTION 1.  DEFINED TERMS

         1.1  Definitions.  (a) Unless otherwise defined  herein, terms  defined
in the Term Loan  Agreement or the  Revolving  Credit  Agreement and used herein
shall  have  the  meanings  given  to them in the  Term  Loan  Agreement  or the
Revolving  Credit  Agreement,  as the case may be, and the following terms which
are defined in the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the State of New York on
the  date  hereof  are used  herein  as so  defined:  Accounts,  Chattel  Paper,
Documents,  Equipment,  Farm  Products,  Instruments,  Inventory and  Investment
Property.

         (b)  The following terms shall have the following meanings:

         "Agreement":  this Guarantee and Collateral Agreement,  as the same may
    be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

         "Borrower Hedge Agreement Obligations": the collective reference to all
    obligations and liabilities of the Borrower (including,  without limitation,
    interest  accruing at the then  applicable  rate  provided in any  Specified
    Hedge  Agreement  after the filing of any  petition  in  bankruptcy,  or the
    commencement of any insolvency,  reorganization or like proceeding, relating
    to the Borrower,  whether or not a claim for  post-filing  or  post-petition
    interest is allowed in such  proceeding)  to any Lender or any  Affiliate of
    any Lender,  whether direct or indirect,  absolute or contingent,  due or to
    become due, or now  existing or hereafter  incurred,  which may arise under,
    out of, or in connection  with, any Specified  Hedge  Agreement or any other
    document  made,  delivered or given in  connection  therewith,  in each case
    whether on account of principal, interest,  reimbursement obligations, fees,
    indemnities,  costs, expenses or otherwise  (including,  without limitation,
    all fees and disbursements of counsel to the Lenders that are required to be
    paid  by the  Borrower  pursuant  to  the  terms  of  any  of the  foregoing
    agreements).

         "Borrower  Obligations":  the collective  reference to (i) the Borrower
    Revolving Credit Obligations, (ii) the Borrower Term Loan Obligations, (iii)
    the Borrower Hedge Agreement  Obligations,  but only to the extent that, and
    only so long as, the Borrower  Revolving Credit Obligations and the Borrower
    Term Loan Obligations are secured and guaranteed  pursuant hereto,  and (iv)
    all other  obligations  and  liabilities of the Borrower,  whether direct or
    indirect,  absolute or contingent,  due or to become due, or now existing or
    hereafter  incurred,  which may arise under,  out of, or in connection with,
    this Agreement (including, without limitation, all fees and disbursements of
    counsel to the  Administrative  Agent or to the Lenders that are required to
    be paid by the Borrower pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

         "Borrower Revolving Credit  Obligations":  the collective  reference to
    the unpaid  principal of and interest on the Revolving  Credit Loans,  Swing
    Line  Loans and  Reimbursement  Obligations  and all other  obligations  and
    liabilities  of  the  Borrower  (including,  without  limitation,   interest
    accruing  at the then  applicable  rate  provided  in the  Revolving  Credit
    Agreement after the maturity of the Revolving Credit Loans, Swing Line Loans
    and  Reimbursement  Obligations and interest accruing at the then applicable
    rate  provided in the  Revolving  Credit  Agreement  after the filing of any
    petition  in  bankruptcy, or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganiza-
    tion or like proceeding, relating to the Borrower, whether or not a


                                       2


<PAGE>


    claim  for  post-filing  or  post-petition  interest  is  allowed  in such
    proceeding)  to the  Administrative  Agent or any Revolving  Credit  Lender,
    whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, or
    now existing or  hereafter  incurred,  which may arise under,  out of, or in
    connection  with, the Revolving Credit  Agreement,  the other Loan Documents
    referred to in the Revolving Credit  Agreement,  any Letter of Credit or any
    other document  made,  delivered or given in connection  therewith,  in each
    case whether on account of principal,  interest,  reimbursement obligations,
    fees,  indemnities,   costs,  expenses  or  otherwise  (including,   without
    limitation,  all fees and  disbursements  of counsel  to the  Administrative
    Agent or to the Revolving Credit Lenders that are required to be paid by the
    Borrower pursuant to the terms of any of the foregoing agreements).

         "Borrower  Term Loan  Obligations":  the  collective  reference  to the
    unpaid principal of and interest on the Term Loans and all other obligations
    and liabilities of the Borrower  (including,  without  limitation,  interest
    accruing at the then  applicable rate provided in the Term Loan Agreement on
    the Term Loans and interest accruing at the then applicable rate provided in
    the Term Loan Agreement  after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy,  or
    the  commencement  of any  insolvency,  reorganization  or like  proceeding,
    relating  to  the  Borrower,  whether  or not a  claim  for  post-filing  or
    post-petition  interest is allowed in such proceeding) to the Administrative
    Agent or any Term Loan  Lender,  whether  direct or  indirect,  absolute  or
    contingent,  due or to become due, or now  existing or  hereafter  incurred,
    which  may  arise  under,  out of,  or in  connection  with,  the Term  Loan
    Agreement,  the other Loan Documents referred to in the Term Loan Agreement,
    or any other document made, delivered or given in connection  therewith,  in
    each  case  whether  on  account  of  principal,   interest,   reimbursement
    obligations,  fees,  indemnities,  costs,  expenses or otherwise (including,
    without   limitation,   all  fees  and   disbursements  of  counsel  to  the
    Administrative  Agent or to the Term Loan  Lenders  that are  required to be
    paid  by the  Borrower  pursuant  to  the  terms  of  any  of the  foregoing
    agreements).

         "Collateral": as defined in Section 3.

         "Collateral  Account":   any  collateral  account  established  by  the
    Administrative Agent as provided in Section 6.1 or 6.4.

         "Commitments":  the collective reference to the Commitments (as defined
    in the Term Loan Agreement) and the Revolving Credit Commitments (as defined
    in the Revolving Credit Agreement).

         "Contracts":  the contracts and agreements listed in Schedule 7, as the
    same may be amended,  supplemented or otherwise  modified from time to time,
    including,  without  limitation,  (i) all  rights of any  Grantor to receive
    moneys due and to become due to it thereunder  or in  connection  therewith,
    (ii) all rights of any Grantor to damages  arising  thereunder and (iii) all
    rights of any Grantor to perform and to exercise all remedies thereunder.

         "Copyrights":  (i) all copyrights  arising under the laws of the United
    States,  any other country or any  political  subdivision  thereof,  whether
    registered or unregistered and whether published or unpublished  (including,
    without   limitation,   those  listed  in  Schedules   6.1  and  6.2),   all
    registrations  and recordings  thereof,  and all  applications in connection
    therewith, including, without limitation, all registrations,  recordings and
    applications in the United States  Copyright  Office,  and (ii) the right to
    obtain all renewals thereof.


                                       3


<PAGE>


         "Copyright  Licenses":  any  written  agreement  naming any  Grantor as
    licensor  or  licensee  (including,  without  limitation,  those  listed  in
    Schedules 6.1 and 6.2),  granting any right under any Copyright,  including,
    without limitation, the grant of rights to manufacture,  distribute, exploit
    and sell materials derived from any Copyright,  excluding any such agreement
    that prohibits the granting of a security interest therein.

         "General  Intangibles":  all  "general  intangibles"  as  such  term is
    defined in Section  9-106 of the  Uniform  Commercial  Code in effect in the
    State of New York on the date hereof and, in any event,  including,  without
    limitation,  with  respect  to  any  Grantor,  all  contracts,   agreements,
    instruments and indentures in any form, and portions thereof,  to which such
    Grantor is a party or under  which  such  Grantor  has any  right,  title or
    interest  or to which  such  Grantor  or any  property  of such  Grantor  is
    subject,  as the same  may from  time to time be  amended,  supplemented  or
    otherwise modified,  including,  without limitation,  (i) all rights of such
    Grantor to  receive  moneys  due and to become  due to it  thereunder  or in
    connection  therewith,  (ii) all rights of such  Grantor to damages  arising
    thereunder  and (iii) all rights of such  Grantor to perform and to exercise
    all  remedies  thereunder,  in each  case to the  extent  the  grant by such
    Grantor of a security  interest  pursuant  to this  Agreement  in its right,
    title and interest in such contract,  agreement,  instrument or indenture is
    not prohibited by such contract, agreement,  instrument or indenture without
    the  consent of any other party  thereto,  would not give any other party to
    such contract, agreement, instrument or indenture the right to terminate its
    obligations  thereunder,  or is  permitted  with  consent  if all  necessary
    consents to such grant of a security  interest  have been  obtained from the
    other parties  thereto (it being  understood that the foregoing shall not be
    deemed to obligate such Grantor to obtain such consents); provided, that the
    foregoing limitation shall not affect,  limit,  restrict or impair the grant
    by such  Grantor of a security  interest  pursuant to this  Agreement in any
    Receivable or any money or other amounts due or to become due under any such
    contract, agreement, instrument or indenture.

         "Guarantor Obligations": with respect to any Guarantor, all obligations
    and  liabilities  of such  Guarantor  which may arise under or in connection
    with this Agreement (including,  without limitation, Section 2) or any other
    Loan  Document to which such  Guarantor is a party,  in each case whether on
    account  of  guarantee   obligations,   reimbursement   obligations,   fees,
    indemnities,  costs, expenses or otherwise  (including,  without limitation,
    all fees and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative  Agent or to the
    Lenders that are required to be paid by such Guarantor pursuant to the terms
    of this Agreement or any other Loan Document).

         "Guarantors":  the collective  reference to each Grantor other than the
    Borrower.

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

         "Intellectual  Property":  the  collective  reference  to  all  rights,
    priorities and privileges relating to intellectual property, whether arising
    under United States, multinational or foreign laws or otherwise,  including,
    without limitation, the Copyrights, the Copyright Licenses, the Patents, the
    Patent Licenses,  the Trademarks and the Trademark Licenses,  and all rights
    to sue at law or in equity for any infringement or other impairment thereof,
    including the right to receive all proceeds and damages therefrom; provided,
    however,  that for each Grantor,  "Intellectual  Property" shall not include
    any of the  foregoing  items to the extent such item would be excluded  from
    the definition of General Intangibles; provided, further, that the foregoing
    limitation  shall


                                       4


<PAGE>


    not  affect,  limit,  restrict  or  impair  the grant by such  Grantor  of a
    security  interest pursuant to this Agreement in any Receivable or any money
    or other amounts due or to become due under any such item.

         "Intercompany  Note":  any promissory note evidencing loans made by any
    Grantor to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries.

         "Issuers":  the  collective  reference  to  each  issuer  of a  Pledged
    Security.

         "Loan  Documents":  the collective  reference to the Loan Documents (as
    defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement and the Loan Documents (as defined
    in the Term Loan Agreement).

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

         "Obligations":   (i)  in  the  case  of  the  Borrower,   the  Borrower
    Obligations,  and  (ii)  in  the  case  of  each  Guarantor,  its  Guarantor
    Obligations.

         "Patents":  (i) all  letters  patent of the  United  States,  any other
    country or any political  subdivision  thereof,  all reissues and extensions
    thereof, including,  without limitation, any of the foregoing referred to in
    Schedules  6.1 and 6.2,  (ii) all  applications  for  letters  patent of the
    United  States or any other  country and all  divisions,  continuations  and
    continuations-in-part  thereof,  including,  without limitation,  any of the
    foregoing  referred  to in  Schedules  6.1 and 6.2,  and (iii) all rights to
    obtain any reissues or extensions of the foregoing.

         "Patent License":  all agreements,  whether written or oral,  providing
    for the grant by or to any Grantor of any right to manufacture,  use or sell
    any invention  covered in whole or in part by a Patent,  including,  without
    limitation,  any of the  foregoing  referred  to in  Schedules  6.1 and 6.2,
    excluding  any such  agreement  that  expressly  prohibits the granting of a
    security interest therein.

         "Pledged  Notes":  all  promissory  notes  listed  on  Schedule  2, all
    Intercompany  Notes  at  any  time  issued  to any  Grantor  and  all  other
    promissory  notes  issued to or held by any Grantor  (other than  promissory
    notes issued in connection with extensions of trade credit by any Grantor in
    the ordinary course of business).

         "Pledged Securities": the collective reference to the Pledged Notes and
    the Pledged Stock.

         "Pledged  Stock":  the shares of Capital  Stock  listed on  Schedule 2,
    together with any other shares, stock certificates, options or rights of any
    nature  whatsoever in respect of the Capital Stock of any Person that may be
    issued or granted to, or held by, any  Grantor  while this  Agreement  is in
    effect.

         "Proceeds":  all "proceeds" as such term is defined in Section 9-306(1)
    of the  Uniform  Commercial  Code in  effect in the State of New York on the
    date  hereof and,  in any event,  shall  include,  without  limitation,  all
    dividends or other income from the Pledged  Securities,  collections thereon
    or distributions or payments with respect thereto.


                                       5


<PAGE>


         "Receivable":  any right to  payment  for  goods  sold or leased or for
    services  rendered,  whether or not such right is evidenced by an Instrument
    or  Chattel  Paper and  whether  or not it has been  earned  by  performance
    (including, without limitation, any Account).

         "Securities Act": the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

         "Specified  Hedge  Agreement":  any Hedge Agreement (a) entered into by
    (i) the  Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries  and (ii) any  Lender  or any
    affiliate thereof, as counterparty and (b) which has been designated by such
    Lender  and the  Borrower,  by  notice to the  Administrative  Agent and the
    Syndication Agent, as a Specified Hedge Agreement.

         "Trademarks": (i) all trademarks, trade names, corporate names, company
    names,  business names,  fictitious  business names,  trade styles,  service
    marks,  logos and other  source or business  identifiers,  and all  goodwill
    associated  therewith,  now existing or hereafter  adopted or acquired,  all
    registrations  and recordings  thereof,  and all  applications in connection
    therewith,  whether in the United States  Patent and Trademark  Office or in
    any similar office or agency of the United States,  any State thereof or any
    other country or any political  subdivision  thereof, or otherwise,  and all
    common-law rights related thereto, including, without limitation, any of the
    foregoing referred to in Schedules 6.1 and 6.2, and (ii) the right to obtain
    all renewals thereof.

         "Trademark License": any agreement,  whether written or oral, providing
    for the  grant  by or to any  Grantor  of any  right  to use any  Trademark,
    including, without limitation, any of the foregoing referred to in Schedules
    6.1 and 6.2,  excluding  any such  agreement  that  expressly  prohibits the
    granting of a security interest therein.

         "Vehicles":  all cars, trucks, trailers,  construction and earth moving
    equipment and other  vehicles  covered by a certificate  of title law of any
    state and all tires and other appurtenances to any of the foregoing.

         1.2 Other  Definitional  Provisions.  (a) The words "hereof", "herein",
"hereto" and "hereunder" and words of similar import when used in this Agreement
shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular  provision of
this Agreement, and Section and Schedule references are to this Agreement unless
otherwise specified.

         (b) The  meanings  given  to terms  defined  herein  shall  be  equally
applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms.

         (c) Where the context requires, terms relating to the Collateral or any
part thereof, when used in relation to a Grantor,  shall refer to such Grantor's
Collateral or the relevant part thereof.


                              SECTION 2. GUARANTEE

         2.1  Guarantee.   (a)  Each  of  the  Guarantors  hereby,  jointly  and
severally,  unconditionally  and irrevocably,  guarantees to the  Administrative
Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Lenders and their  respective  successors,
indorsees,  transferees  and  assigns,  the  prompt  and  complete  payment  and
performance  by the  Borrower  when due  (whether  at the  stated  maturity,  by
acceleration or otherwise) of the Borrower Obligations.


                                       6


<PAGE>


         (b)  Anything herein  or in any other  Loan  Document  to the  contrary
notwithstanding, the maximum liability of each Guarantor hereunder and under the
other Loan Documents shall in no event exceed the amount which can be guaranteed
by such  Guarantor  under  applicable  federal  and state laws  relating  to the
insolvency  of  debtors  (after  giving  effect  to the  right  of  contribution
established in Section 2.2).

         (c) Each Guarantor agrees that the Borrower Obligations may at any time
and from time to time  exceed  the  amount of the  liability  of such  Guarantor
hereunder  without  impairing  the  guarantee  contained  in this  Section  2 or
affecting  the rights and  remedies  of the  Administrative  Agent or any Lender
hereunder.

         (d) The  guarantee  contained  in this  Section 2 shall  remain in full
force and effect until  (subject to  reinstatement  pursuant to Section 2.6) all
the  Borrower  Obligations  and the  obligations  of each  Guarantor  under  the
guarantee  contained in this  Section 2 shall have been  satisfied by payment in
full,  no Letter of Credit shall be  outstanding  and the  Commitments  shall be
terminated, notwithstanding that from time to time during the term of the Credit
Agreement the Borrower may be free from any Borrower Obligations.

         (e) No payment made by the Borrower, any of the  Guarantors,  any other
guarantor or any other  Person or received or  collected  by the  Administrative
Agent  or any  Lender  from  the  Borrower,  any of the  Guarantors,  any  other
guarantor  or any other  Person by virtue  of any  action or  proceeding  or any
set-off  or  appropriation  or  application  at any time or from time to time in
reduction  of or in  payment  of the  Borrower  Obligations  shall be  deemed to
modify,  reduce,  release or otherwise  affect the  liability  of any  Guarantor
hereunder which shall,  notwithstanding any such payment (other than any payment
made by such  Guarantor  in respect of the Borrower  Obligations  or any payment
received  or  collected   from  such   Guarantor  in  respect  of  the  Borrower
Obligations),  remain  liable for the  Borrower  Obligations  up to the  maximum
liability of such Guarantor  hereunder until (subject to reinstatement  pursuant
to Section 2.6) the Borrower  Obligations  are paid in full, no Letter of Credit
shall be outstanding and the Commitments are terminated.

         2.2 Right of Contribution. Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees that
to the  extent  that a  Subsidiary  Guarantor  shall  have  paid  more  than its
proportionate  share of any payment made hereunder,  such  Subsidiary  Guarantor
shall be entitled to seek and  receive  contribution  from and against any other
Subsidiary  Guarantor  hereunder which has not paid its  proportionate  share of
such payment. Each Subsidiary Guarantor's right of contribution shall be subject
to the terms and  conditions of Section 2.3. The  provisions of this Section 2.2
shall in no respect limit the  obligations  and  liabilities  of any  Subsidiary
Guarantor  to the  Administrative  Agent and the  Lenders,  and each  Subsidiary
Guarantor  shall remain liable to the  Administrative  Agent and the Lenders for
the full amount guaranteed by such Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder.

         2.3  No Subrogation.  Notwithstanding any payment made by any Guarantor
hereunder  or any  set-off  or  application  of  funds of any  Guarantor  by the
Administrative  Agent  or any  Lender,  no  Guarantor  shall be  entitled  to be
subrogated  to any of the  rights  of the  Administrative  Agent  or any  Lender
against  the  Borrower  or any other  Guarantor  or any  collateral  security or
guarantee or right of offset held by the Administrative  Agent or any Lender for
the payment of the  Borrower  Obligations,  nor shall any  Guarantor  seek or be
entitled to seek any  contribution  or  reimbursement  from the  Borrower or any
other Guarantor in respect of payments made by such Guarantor  hereunder,  until
all amounts owing to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders by the Borrower on
account of the Borrower  Obligations are paid in full, no Letter of Credit shall
be outstanding and the  Commitments are terminated.  If any amount shall be paid
to any Guarantor on account of such  subrogation  rights at any time when all of
the


                                       7


<PAGE>


Borrower Obligations shall not have been paid in full, such amount shall be held
by such  Guarantor  in  trust  for the  Administrative  Agent  and the  Lenders,
segregated from other funds of such Guarantor, and shall, forthwith upon receipt
by such Guarantor,  be turned over to the Administrative Agent in the exact form
received  by  such   Guarantor   (duly   indorsed  by  such   Guarantor  to  the
Administrative  Agent,  if  required),   to  be  applied  against  the  Borrower
Obligations,  whether matured or unmatured,  in such order as the Administrative
Agent may determine.

         2.4  Amendments,  etc.  with respect to the Borrower Obligations.  Each
Guarantor shall remain obligated  hereunder  notwithstanding  that,  without any
reservation  of rights  against any Guarantor  and without  notice to or further
assent  by any  Guarantor,  any  demand  for  payment  of  any  of the  Borrower
Obligations made by the  Administrative  Agent or any Lender may be rescinded by
the  Administrative  Agent or such  Lender and any of the  Borrower  Obligations
continued,  and the Borrower  Obligations,  or the liability of any other Person
upon or for any part thereof,  or any collateral  security or guarantee therefor
or right of offset with respect thereto,  may, from time to time, in whole or in
part, be renewed, extended, amended, modified, accelerated, compromised, waived,
surrendered  or released  by the  Administrative  Agent or any  Lender,  and the
Credit  Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any other documents  executed
and delivered in connection therewith may be amended, modified,  supplemented or
terminated,  in whole or in part, as the  Administrative  Agent (or the Required
Lenders  or all  Lenders,  as the case may be) may deem  advisable  from time to
time, and any collateral security, guarantee or right of offset at any time held
by the  Administrative  Agent or any  Lender  for the  payment  of the  Borrower
Obligations may be sold, exchanged, waived, surrendered or released. Neither the
Administrative  Agent nor any  Lender  shall  have any  obligation  to  protect,
secure,  perfect or insure any Lien at any time held by it as  security  for the
Borrower  Obligations  or for the  guarantee  contained in this Section 2 or any
property subject thereto.

         2.5  Guarantee Absolute and Unconditional.   Each Guarantor  waives any
and all  notice of the  creation,  renewal,  extension  or accrual of any of the
Borrower  Obligations  and notice of or proof of reliance by the  Administrative
Agent or any Lender upon the guarantee contained in this Section 2 or acceptance
of the guarantee contained in this Section 2; the Borrower Obligations,  and any
of them,  shall  conclusively  be  deemed to have been  created,  contracted  or
incurred,  or  renewed,  extended,  amended  or  waived,  in  reliance  upon the
guarantee contained in this Section 2; and all dealings between the Borrower and
any of the  Guarantors,  on the one hand, and the  Administrative  Agent and the
Lenders, on the other hand, likewise shall be conclusively presumed to have been
had or consummated  in reliance upon the guarantee  contained in this Section 2.
Each Guarantor waives diligence,  presentment,  protest,  demand for payment and
notice of default or nonpayment to or upon the Borrower or any of the Guarantors
with respect to the Borrower Obligations.  Each Guarantor understands and agrees
that  the  guarantee  contained  in this  Section  2  shall  be  construed  as a
continuing,  absolute, reasonable and unconditional guarantee of payment without
regard to (a) the validity or  enforceability of the Term Loan Agreement and the
Revolving  Credit  Agreement  or any other Loan  Document,  any of the  Borrower
Obligations or any other collateral  security  therefor or guarantee or right of
offset  with  respect  thereto  at any  time  or from  time to time  held by the
Administrative  Agent or any Lender,  (b) any defense,  set-off or  counterclaim
(other  than a  defense  of  payment  or  performance)  which may at any time be
available to or be asserted by the  Borrower,  any Guarantor or any other Person
against the  Administrative  Agent or any Lender, or (c) any other  circumstance
whatsoever  (with or without  notice to or  knowledge  of the  Borrower  or such
Guarantor) which constitutes,  or might be construed to constitute, an equitable
or legal  discharge of the Borrower  for the  Borrower  Obligations,  or of such
Guarantor  under the guarantee  contained in this Section 2, in bankruptcy or in
any other instance.  When making any demand hereunder or otherwise  pursuing its
rights and remedies hereunder against any Guarantor, the Administrative Agent or
any Lender may, but shall be under no obligation to, make a similar demand on or
otherwise  pursue such rights and remedies as it may have against the  Borrower,
any other  Guarantor or any other Person or 

                                       8
<PAGE>

against any collateral security or guarantee for the Borrower Obligations or any
right of offset with  respect  thereto,  and any  failure by the  Administrative
Agent or any Lender to make any such  demand,  to pursue  such  other  rights or
remedies or to collect any payments  from the Borrower,  any other  Guarantor or
any other Person or to realize upon any such collateral security or guarantee or
to exercise any such right of offset, or any release of the Borrower,  any other
Guarantor  or any other  Person or any such  collateral  security,  guarantee or
right of offset,  shall not relieve any Guarantor of any obligation or liability
hereunder,  and shall not  impair or affect the  rights  and  remedies,  whether
express, implied or available as a matter of law, of the Administrative Agent or
any Lender against any Guarantor. For the purposes hereof "demand" shall include
the commencement and continuance of any legal proceedings.

         2.6  Reinstatement.  The  guarantee contained  in this  Section 2 shall
continue to be effective,  or be reinstated,  as the case may be, if at any time
payment, or any part thereof, of any of the Borrower Obligations is rescinded or
must otherwise be restored or returned by the Administrative Agent or any Lender
upon the insolvency, bankruptcy,  dissolution,  liquidation or reorganization of
the Borrower or any  Guarantor,  or upon or as a result of the  appointment of a
receiver,  intervenor or conservator  of, or trustee or similar officer for, the
Borrower or any Guarantor or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise,
all as though such payments had not been made.

         2.7  Payments.  Each  Guarantor  hereby  guarantees that payments here-
under will be paid to the  Administrative  Agent without set-off or counterclaim
in Dollars  at the office of the  Administrative  Agent  located at the  Payment
Office specified in the Term Loan Agreement or the Revolving  Credit  Agreement,
as the case may be.


                     SECTION 3.  GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST

         Each Grantor hereby assigns and transfers to the Administrative  Agent,
for the ratable  benefit of the Lenders and hereby grants to the  Administrative
Agent,  for the ratable benefit of the Lenders,  a security  interest in, all of
the  following  property  now owned or at any time  hereafter  acquired  by such
Grantor  or in  which  such  Grantor  now has or at any time in the  future  may
acquire  any right,  title or  interest  (collectively,  the  "Collateral"),  as
collateral security for the prompt and complete payment and performance when due
(whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of such Grantor's
Obligations:

         (a)  all Accounts;

         (b)  all Chattel Paper;

         (c)  all Contracts;

         (d)  all Documents;

         (e)  all Equipment (other than Vehicles);

         (f)  all General Intangibles;

         (g)  all Instruments;

         (h)  all Intellectual Property;


                                       9


<PAGE>


         (i)  all Inventory;

         (j)  all Pledged Securities;

         (k)  all Investment Property;

         (l)  all deposit accounts and other bank accounts;

         (m)  all books and records pertaining to the Collateral; and

         (n) to the extent not otherwise included,  all Proceeds and products of
    any and all of the  foregoing  and all  collateral  security and  guarantees
    given by any Person with respect to any of the foregoing.


                   SECTION 4.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         To induce the  Administrative  Agent and the  Lenders to enter into the
Term Loan Agreement and the Revolving Credit Agreement and to induce the Lenders
to make their respective  extensions of credit to the Borrower thereunder,  each
Grantor  hereby  represents  and warrants to the  Administrative  Agent and each
Lender that:

         4.1 Representations in Credit Agreement. In the case of each Guarantor,
the  representations  and  warranties  set  forth in  Section 3 of the Term Loan
Agreement and Section 3 of the Revolving Credit Agreement as they relate to such
Guarantor or to the Loan Documents to which such  Guarantor is a party,  each of
which is hereby incorporated herein by reference,  are true and correct, and the
Administrative  Agent and each Lender  shall be entitled to rely on each of them
as if they were fully set forth  herein,  provided  that each  reference in each
such  representation  and warranty to the Borrower's  knowledge  shall,  for the
purposes of this Section  4.1, be deemed to be a reference  to such  Guarantor's
knowledge.

        4.2  Title;  No Other Liens.  Except for the  security  interest granted
to the  Administrative  Agent for the ratable benefit of the Lenders pursuant to
this  Agreement  and the other  Liens  permitted  to exist or be incurred on the
Collateral by the Term Loan Agreement and the Revolving Credit  Agreement,  such
Grantor owns each item of the Collateral  free and clear of any and all Liens or
claims of others. No financing  statement or other public notice with respect to
all or any part of the  Collateral is on file or of record in any public office,
except  such as have been filed in favor of the  Administrative  Agent,  for the
ratable  benefit of the Lenders,  pursuant to this Agreement or as are permitted
by the Term Loan Agreement and the Revolving Credit Agreement.

         4.3 Perfected  First Priority  Liens.  The security  interests  granted
pursuant to this Agreement (a) upon  completion of the filings and other actions
specified on Schedule 3 (which,  in the case of all filings and other  documents
referred to on said Schedule, have been delivered to the Administrative Agent in
completed and duly executed  form),  will constitute  valid  perfected  security
interests in all of the Collateral subject hereto on the date hereof in favor of
the Administrative  Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, as collateral
security for such  Grantor's  Obligations,  enforceable  in accordance  with the
terms hereof against all creditors of such Grantor and any Persons purporting to
purchase any Collateral from such Grantor,  and (b) are prior to all other Liens
on the  Collateral  in  existence on the date hereof  except for (i)  unrecorded
Liens permitted by the Term Loan Agreement and


                                       10


<PAGE>


the  Revolving  Credit  Agreement  which  have  priority  over the  Liens on the
Collateral by operation of law and (ii) Liens described on Schedule 8.

         4.4  Chief  Executive  Office.  On  the date  hereof,   such  Grantor's
jurisdiction of organization  and the location of such Grantor's chief executive
office or sole place of business are specified on Schedule 4.

         4.5  Inventory and Equipment. On the date hereof, the Inventory and the
Equipment (other than mobile goods) are kept at the locations listed on Schedule
5.

         4.6  Farm  Products.  None of  the  Collateral  constitutes,  or is the
Proceeds of, Farm Products.

         4.7  Pledged  Securities.  (a) The shares of Pledged  Stock  pledged by
such Grantor  hereunder  constitute  all the  issued  and  outstanding shares of
all classes of the Capital Stock of each Issuer owned by such Grantor.

         (b)  All the  shares of the Pledged Stock  have  been duly and  validly
issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.

         (c)  Each of the Intercompany Notes  constitutes  the legal,  valid and
binding  obligation  of  the  obligor  with  respect  thereto,   enforceable  in
accordance with its terms, and, to such Grantor's  knowledge,  each of the other
Pledged Notes constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the obligor
with respect  thereto,  enforceable in accordance  with its terms, in each case,
subject  to  the  effects  of  bankruptcy,  insolvency,  fraudulent  conveyance,
reorganization,  moratorium  and other  similar  laws  relating to or  affecting
creditors' rights generally, general equitable principles (whether considered in
a proceeding in equity or at law) and an implied covenant of good faith and fair
dealing. No obligor with respect to any Pledged Note has any defense,  offset or
contribution regarding payment of such Pledged Note.

         (d)  Such Grantor is the record and beneficial owner of, and  has  good
and marketable title to, the Pledged Securities pledged by it hereunder, free of
any and all Liens or options in favor of, or claims of, any other Person, except
the  security  interest  created by this  Agreement  and liens  permitted by the
Credit Agreement which attach to such Pledged  Securities without such Grantor's
consent.

         4.8  Receivables.  (a) No amount payable  to such  Grantor  under or in
connection  with any  Receivable is evidenced by any Instrument or Chattel Paper
which has not been delivered to the Administrative  Agent in accordance with the
requirements hereof.

         (b)  On the date hereof, none of the obligors on any  Receivables  is a
Governmental Authority.

         (c)  The amounts  represented by such Grantor to the Lenders from  time
to time  as  owing to such  Grantor in respect of the  Receivables  will at such
times be accurate.

         4.9  Contracts.  (a) No consent of any  party (other than such Grantor)
to any Contract is required,  or purports to be required, in connection with the
execution,  delivery and performance of this Agreement,  other than (i) consents
which  shall have been  obtained  prior to the date hereof and are in full force
and effect and (ii) consents the failure of which to obtain could not reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.


                                       11


<PAGE>


         (b)  On the  date  hereof,  each  Contract to  which such  Grantor is a
party is in full force and effect  against such  Grantor and, to such  Grantor's
knowledge, constitutes a valid and legally enforceable obligation of the parties
thereto,   subject  to  the  effects  of  bankruptcy,   insolvency,   fraudulent
conveyance,  reorganization,  moratorium  and other  similar laws relating to or
affecting  creditors' rights generally,  general equitable  principles  (whether
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and an implied  covenant of good
faith and fair dealing.

         (c) No consent or  authorization  of, filing with or other act by or in
respect  of any  Governmental  Authority  is  required  in  connection  with the
execution,  delivery,  performance,  validity  or  enforceability  of any of the
Contracts  by any party  thereto  other  than  those  (i)  which  have been duly
obtained, made or performed, are in full force and effect and do not subject the
scope of any such Contract to any material adverse  limitation,  either specific
or general in nature,  or (ii) the  failure of which to obtain,  make or perform
could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         (d) On the date  hereof,  neither such Grantor nor (to the best of such
Grantor's  knowledge) any of the other parties to the Contracts is in default in
the performance or observance of any of the terms thereof.

         (e) On the date hereof,  the right,  title and interest of such Grantor
in,  to and  under the  Contracts  are not  subject  to any  defenses,  offsets,
counterclaims or claims.

         (f)  On  the  date   hereof,   such   Grantor  has   delivered  to  the
Administrative Agent a complete and correct copy of each Contract, including all
amendments, supplements and other modifications thereto.

         (g) No amount  payable to such Grantor under or in connection  with any
Contract is  evidenced  by any  Instrument  or Chattel  Paper which has not been
delivered  to the  Administrative  Agent in  accordance  with  the  requirements
hereof.

         (h) On the  date  hereof,  none of the  parties  to any  Contract  is a
Governmental Authority.

         4.10  Intellectual  Property.  (a)  Schedules  6.1 and 6.2  list,  with
respect to all  Intellectual  Property  owned by such Grantor in its own name on
the date hereof,  all patents,  registrations and applications  relating thereto
and,  to the  best  of  such  Grantor's  knowledge,  all  material  unregistered
Intellectual Property.

         (b) On the date hereof,  all material  Intellectual  Property is valid,
subsisting,  unexpired,  has not been  abandoned  and, to the  knowledge of such
Grantor,  is enforceable and does not infringe the intellectual  property rights
of any other Person.

         (c) Except as set forth in Schedule  6.1 and 6.2,  on the date  hereof,
none of the  Intellectual  Property is the subject of any licensing or franchise
agreement pursuant to which such Grantor is the licensor or franchisor.

         (d)  No  holding,  decision  or  judgment  has  been  rendered  by  any
Governmental Authority which would limit, cancel or question the validity of, or
such Grantor's  rights in, any  Intellectual  Property in any respect that could
reasonably  be  expected  to have a Material  Adverse  Effect,  except that with
respect to the Intellectual Property listed on Schedule 6.2, such representation
is to the knowledge of such Grantor.


                                     12


<PAGE>


         (e) No action or  proceeding  is pending,  or, to the knowledge of such
Grantor, threatened, on the date hereof (i) seeking to limit, cancel or question
the validity of any Intellectual  Property or such Grantor's  ownership interest
therein, or (ii) which, if adversely  determined,  would have a Material Adverse
Effect on the value of any  Intellectual  Property,  except that with respect to
the Intellectual  Property listed on Schedule 6.2, such representation is to the
knowledge of such Grantor.

         4.11  Vehicles.  On the date hereof,  the  aggregate  book value of all
Vehicles owned by all Grantors is less than $1,000,000.


                              SECTION 5. COVENANTS

         Each Grantor covenants and agrees with the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders that,  from and after the date of this Agreement  until the  Obligations
shall have been paid in full, no Letter of Credit shall be  outstanding  and the
Commitments shall have terminated:

         5.1  Covenants  in the Term Loan  Agreement  and the  Revolving  Credit
Agreement.  In the case of each  Guarantor,  such Guarantor shall take, or shall
refrain  from  taking,  as the case may be, each action that is  necessary to be
taken or not  taken,  as the case may be, so that no Default or Event of Default
is caused by the  failure to take such  action or to refrain  from  taking  such
action by such Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries.

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

         5.3  Maintenance  of Insurance.  (a) Such Grantor will  maintain,  with
financially sound and reputable  companies,  insurance policies (i) insuring the
Inventory,  Equipment and Vehicles  against loss by fire,  explosion,  theft and
such other  casualties as may be reasonably  satisfactory to the  Administrative
Agent and (ii) to the extent reasonably  requested by the Administrative  Agent,
insuring such Grantor against  liability for personal injury and property damage
relating  to  such   Inventory,   Equipment   and   Vehicles,   and  naming  the
Administrative  Agent for the ratable  benefit of the Lenders,  as an additional
insured  party or loss payee,  such  policies to be in such form and amounts and
having such  coverage as are  customary in the same  general area for  companies
engaged in the same or a similar business as such Grantor.

         (b) All such insurance shall (i) provide that no cancellation, material
reduction in amount or material  change in coverage  thereof  shall be effective
until at least 30 days  after  receipt  by the  Administrative  Agent of written
notice  thereof,  (ii) name the  Administrative  Agent as an additional  insured
party or loss payee, (iii) if reasonably requested by the Administrative  Agent,
include a breach of warranty  clause and (iv) be reasonably  satisfactory in all
other respects to the Administrative Agent.

         (c) The  Borrower  shall  deliver to the  Administrative  Agent and the
Lenders a report of a reputable  insurance broker with respect to such insurance
substantially   concurrently   with  the   delivery  by  the   Borrower  to  the
Administrative  Agent of its audited  financial  statements for each fiscal year
and such supplemental  reports with respect thereto as the Administrative  Agent
may from time to time reasonably request.


                                       13


<PAGE>


         (d)  So  long  as no  Event  of  Default  shall  have  occurred  and be
continuing,  all casualty  payments  shall be paid to the  relevant  Grantor for
application pursuant to Section 2.7 of the Credit Agreement.

         5.4 Payment of  Obligations.  Such  Grantor  will pay and  discharge or
otherwise satisfy at or before maturity or before they become delinquent, as the
case may be, all taxes,  assessments and governmental  charges or levies imposed
upon the Collateral or in respect of income or profits therefrom, as well as all
claims of any kind (including,  without limitation,  claims for labor, materials
and  supplies)  against or with respect to the  Collateral,  except that no such
charge  need be paid if the  amount  or  validity  thereof  is  currently  being
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings,  reserves in conformity with
GAAP with respect  thereto  have been  provided on the books of such Grantor and
such  proceedings  could  not  reasonably  be  expected  to  result in the sale,
forfeiture  or loss of any material  portion of the  Collateral  or any material
interest therein.

         5.5 Maintenance of Perfected Security Interest;  Further Documentation.
(a) Such Grantor shall maintain the security  interest created by this Agreement
as a perfected  security  interest  having at least the  priority  described  in
Section  4.3 and shall  defend  such  security  interest  against the claims and
demands of all Persons whomsoever.

         (b) Such  Grantor  will  furnish  to the  Administrative  Agent and the
Lenders from time to time  statements  and  schedules  further  identifying  and
describing  the  Collateral  and  such  other  reports  in  connection  with the
Collateral as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, all in reasonable
detail.

         (c) At any time and from time to time,  upon the written request of the
Administrative Agent, and at the sole expense of such Grantor, such Grantor will
promptly  and  duly  execute  and  deliver,  and  have  recorded,  such  further
instruments  and documents and take such further  actions as the  Administrative
Agent may reasonably request for the purpose of obtaining or preserving the full
benefits  of  this  Agreement  and of the  rights  and  powers  herein  granted,
including,  without  limitation,  the filing of any  financing  or  continuation
statements  under the Uniform  Commercial Code (or other similar laws) in effect
in any jurisdiction with respect to the security interests created hereby.

         5.6 Changes in Locations, Name, etc. Such Grantor will not, except upon
10 days' prior written  notice to the  Administrative  Agent and delivery to the
Administrative  Agent of (a) all additional  executed  financing  statements and
other documents reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to maintain the
validity,  perfection and priority of the security interests provided for herein
and (b) if applicable, a written supplement to Schedule 5 showing any additional
location at which Inventory or Equipment shall be kept:

         (i) permit any of the  Inventory  or Equipment to be kept at a location
    other than those listed on Schedule 5;

         (ii) change the location of its chief executive office or sole place of
    business from that referred to in Section 4.4; or

         (iii)  change its name,  identity  or  corporate  structure  to such an
    extent that any financing  statement  filed by the  Administrative  Agent in
    connection with this Agreement would become misleading.


                                       14


<PAGE>


         5.7 Notices.  Such Grantor will advise the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders promptly, in reasonable detail, of:

         (a) any Lien (other than  security  interests  created  hereby or Liens
permitted  under the Credit  Agreement)  on any of the  Collateral  which  would
adversely affect the ability of the Administrative  Agent to exercise any of its
remedies hereunder; and

         (b) of the  occurrence  of any other event which  could  reasonably  be
expected  to have a  material  adverse  effect  on the  aggregate  value  of the
Collateral or on the security interests created hereby.

         5.8 Pledged  Securities.  (a) If such Grantor shall become  entitled to
receive or shall receive any stock certificate  (including,  without limitation,
any  certificate  representing a stock dividend or a distribution  in connection
with any  reclassification,  increase or reduction of capital or any certificate
issued in connection  with any  reorganization),  option or rights in respect of
the Capital Stock of any Issuer,  whether in addition to, in substitution of, as
a  conversion  of, or in  exchange  for,  any shares of the  Pledged  Stock,  or
otherwise in respect thereof, such Grantor shall accept the same as the agent of
the  Administrative  Agent  and the  Lenders,  hold the  same in  trust  for the
Administrative  Agent and the  Lenders and  deliver  the same  forthwith  to the
Administrative  Agent in the exact form received,  duly indorsed by such Grantor
to the Administrative  Agent, if required,  together with an undated stock power
covering  such  certificate  duly executed in blank by such Grantor and with, if
the Administrative Agent so requests,  signature  guaranteed,  to be held by the
Administrative  Agent,  subject to the terms hereof,  as  additional  collateral
security  for the  Obligations.  Any sums paid upon or in respect of the Pledged
Securities  upon the liquidation or dissolution of any Issuer shall be paid over
to the Administrative Agent to be held by it hereunder as additional  collateral
security for the  Obligations,  and in case any distribution of capital shall be
made on or in  respect  of the  Pledged  Securities  or any  property  shall  be
distributed  upon or with  respect to the  Pledged  Securities  pursuant  to the
recapitalization or reclassification of the capital of any Issuer or pursuant to
the reorganization  thereof, the property so distributed shall, unless otherwise
subject to a perfected  security interest in favor of the  Administrative  Agent
for the benefit of the Lenders,  be delivered to the Administrative  Agent to be
held by it hereunder as additional  collateral security for the Obligations.  If
any sums of money or property so paid or  distributed  in respect of the Pledged
Securities  shall be received by such Grantor,  such Grantor  shall,  until such
money or property is paid or delivered to the  Administrative  Agent,  hold such
money or property in trust for the Lenders,  segregated from other funds of such
Grantor, as additional  collateral  security for the Obligations;  provided that
the Grantors may pay cash dividends as permitted by the Credit Agreement.

         (b) Without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, such
Grantor  will not (i) vote to enable,  or take any other  action to permit,  any
Issuer to issue any stock or other equity  securities  of any nature or to issue
any other  securities  convertible  into or  granting  the right to  purchase or
exchange for any stock or other equity  securities  of any nature of any Issuer,
(ii) sell,  assign,  transfer,  exchange,  or otherwise dispose of, or grant any
option with  respect  to, the Pledged  Securities  or Proceeds  thereof  (except
pursuant to a transaction  expressly  permitted by the Credit Agreement),  (iii)
create, incur or permit to exist any Lien or option in favor of, or any claim of
any Person with respect to, any of the Pledged  Securities or Proceeds  thereof,
or any  interest  therein,  except for the  security  interests  created by this
Agreement  and liens  permitted  by the Credit  Agreement  which  attach to such
Pledged  Securities  without  such  Grantor's  consent  or (iv)  enter  into any
agreement or undertaking restricting the right or ability of such Grantor or the
Administrative  Agent to sell, assign or transfer any of the Pledged  Securities
or Proceeds thereof.


                                       15


<PAGE>


         (c) In the case of each Grantor which is an Issuer,  such Issuer agrees
that (i) it will be bound by the terms of this Agreement relating to the Pledged
Securities  issued by it and will comply  with such terms  insofar as such terms
are applicable to it, (ii) it will notify the  Administrative  Agent promptly in
writing of the occurrence of any of the events  described in Section 5.8(a) with
respect to the Pledged  Securities  issued by it and (iii) the terms of Sections
6.3(c) and 6.7 shall apply to it, mutatis mutandis,  with respect to all actions
that may be required of it pursuant to Section 6.3(c) or 6.7 with respect to the
Pledged Securities issued by it.

         5.9  Receivables.  (a) Other than in the  ordinary  course of  business
consistent with its past practice, such Grantor will not (i) grant any extension
of the  time of  payment  of any  Receivable,  (ii)  compromise  or  settle  any
Receivable  for less than the full  amount  thereof,  (iii)  release,  wholly or
partially,  any Person liable for the payment of any Receivable,  (iv) allow any
credit or discount  whatsoever  on any  Receivable  or (v) amend,  supplement or
modify any  Receivable  in any  manner  that  could  adversely  affect the value
thereof.

         (b) Such  Grantor will  deliver to the  Administrative  Agent a copy of
each material demand,  notice or document received by it that questions or calls
into  doubt the  validity  or  enforceability  of more than 5% of the  aggregate
amount of the then outstanding Receivables.

         5.10  Contracts.  (a) Such  Grantor  will  perform  and  comply  in all
material respects with all its obligations under the Contracts,  except where it
is contesting,  in good faith and by appropriate proceedings,  its obligation to
perform.

         (b) Such  Grantor  will  not  amend,  modify,  terminate  or waive  any
provision of any Contract in any manner  which could  reasonably  be expected to
materially adversely affect the value of such Contract as Collateral.

         (c) Such Grantor will exercise  promptly and diligently  each and every
material  right which it may have under each  Contract  (other than any right of
termination) in accordance with its reasonable business judgment.

         (d) Such  Grantor will  deliver to the  Administrative  Agent a copy of
each material demand,  notice or document  received by it relating in any way to
any Contract that questions the validity or enforceability of such Contract.

         5.11 Intellectual  Property. (a) Such Grantor (either itself or through
licensees) will (i) continue to use each material Trademark in order to maintain
such  Trademark  in full force free from any claim of  abandonment  for non-use,
except in connection with Dispositions  permitted pursuant to Section 6.5 of the
Term Loan  Agreement and Section 6.5 of the  Revolving  Credit  Agreement,  (ii)
maintain as in the past the quality of products and services  offered under such
Trademark,  (iii) use such Trademark with the appropriate notice of registration
and all other notices and legends  required by applicable  Requirements  of Law,
and (iv) not adopt or use any mark which is  confusingly  similar or a colorable
imitation of such Trademark  unless the  Administrative  Agent,  for the ratable
benefit of the Lenders,  shall obtain a perfected security interest in such mark
pursuant to this Agreement.

         (b) Such Grantor (either itself or through licensees),  with respect to
Intellectual  Property that it, in its reasonable business judgment,  regards as
material,  will not (and not permit any licensee or  sublicensee  thereof to) do
any act or knowingly  omit to do any act whereby any (i) material  Trademark may
become  invalidated  or impaired  in any way,  (ii)  material  Patent may become
forfeited,  abandoned or dedicated to the public,  or (iii) material  portion of
the Copyrights may become invalidated or otherwise


                                       16


<PAGE>


impaired or fall into the public domain.  Such Grantor (either itself or through
licensees)  will not do any act,  or omit to do any act,  whereby  any  material
Patent may become forfeited, abandoned or dedicated to the public.

         (c) Such Grantor  (either itself or through  licensees) will not do any
act that  knowingly  uses any  material  Intellectual  Property to infringe  the
intellectual property rights of any other Person.

         (d) Such Grantor will notify the  Administrative  Agent and the Lenders
immediately  if it  knows,  or has  reason  to  know,  that any  application  or
registration  relating to any  Intellectual  Property that it, in its reasonable
business  judgment,  regards as  material,  may become  forfeited,  abandoned or
dedicated to the public, or of any material adverse determination or development
(including,  without  limitation,  the  institution  of,  or any  such  material
determination  or development in, any proceeding in the United States Patent and
Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or any court or tribunal in
any country)  regarding  such  Grantor's  ownership  of, or the validity of, any
material  Intellectual  Property or such Grantor's right to register the same or
to own and maintain the same.

         (e) To the extent a breach of Sections  5.11(a),  (b), (c) or (d) would
result in an Event of Default, it shall not be considered an Event of Default if
such breach is cured within 30 days after written notice from the Administrative
Agent and results in no Material  Adverse  Affect to the  affected  Intellectual
Property.

         (f)  Whenever  such  Grantor,  either by itself or  through  any agent,
employee,  licensee or designee,  shall file an application for the registration
of any Intellectual Property with the United States Patent and Trademark Office,
the United States  Copyright Office or any similar office or agency in any other
country or any political subdivision thereof, as applicable,  such Grantor shall
report such filing to the Administrative Agent within 30 Business Days after the
last day of the fiscal  quarter  in which  such  filing  occurs,  provided  that
failure  to give  notice  shall not be deemed an Event of  Default  if notice is
given with reasonable time such that there is no Material  Adverse Effect.  Upon
written  request of the  Administrative  Agent,  such Grantor  shall execute and
deliver, and have recorded, any and all agreements,  instruments, documents, and
papers as the  Administrative  Agent may  reasonably  request  to  evidence  the
Administrative  Agent's and the  Lenders'  security  interest in any  Copyright,
Patent or Trademark  and the goodwill  and general  intangibles  of such Grantor
relating thereto or represented thereby.

         (g) Consistent with such Grantor's  reasonable business judgment,  such
Grantor  will  take all  reasonable  and  necessary  steps,  including,  without
limitation,  in any  proceeding  before the United  States  Patent and Trademark
Office,  the United States  Copyright  Office or any similar office or agency in
any other  country or any  political  subdivision  thereof,  as  applicable,  to
maintain and pursue each application  (and to obtain the relevant  registration)
and to  maintain  each  registration  of  the  material  Intellectual  Property,
including, without limitation, filing of applications for renewal, affidavits of
use and affidavits of incontestability.

         (h) In the event  that any  Grantor  becomes  aware  that any  material
Intellectual Property is infringed, misappropriated or diluted by a third party,
such Grantor shall (i) take such actions as such Grantor shall  reasonably  deem
appropriate under the  circumstances to protect such  Intellectual  Property and
(ii) if such  Intellectual  Property is of  material  economic  value,  promptly
notify  the   Administrative   Agent  after  it  learns   thereof  and  sue  for
infringement,  misappropriation  or dilution,  to seek  injunctive  relief where
appropriate  and  to  recover  any  and  all  damages  for  such   infringement,
misappropriation or dilution.

                                       17
<PAGE>

                         SECTION 6. REMEDIAL PROVISIONS

         6.1 Certain  Matters  Relating to Receivables.  (a) The  Administrative
Agent shall have the right to make test  verifications of the Receivables in any
manner and through any medium that it reasonably considers  advisable,  and each
Grantor shall furnish all such assistance and information as the  Administrative
Agent may require in connection  with such test  verifications.  At any time and
from time to time, upon the Administrative Agent's request and at the expense of
the relevant Grantor, such Grantor shall cause independent public accountants or
others satisfactory to the Administrative Agent to furnish to the Administrative
Agent reports  showing  reconciliations,  aging and test  verifications  of, and
trial balances for, the Receivables, but not more frequently than annually if no
Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;  provided, however, that
if no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Administrative
Agent may not contact any obligor under any Receivable in its own name.

         (b) The Administrative  Agent hereby authorizes each Grantor to collect
such Grantor's Receivables,  subject to the Administrative Agent's direction and
control, and the Administrative Agent may curtail or terminate said authority at
any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default.
If required by the  Administrative  Agent at any time after the  occurrence  and
during the continuance of an Event of Default, any payments of Receivables, when
collected by any Grantor,  (i) shall be forthwith (and, in any event, within two
Business  Days)  deposited  by such  Grantor  in the exact form  received,  duly
indorsed  by  such  Grantor  to  the  Administrative  Agent  if  required,  in a
Collateral  Account  maintained  under  the sole  dominion  and  control  of the
Administrative  Agent, subject to withdrawal by the Administrative Agent for the
account of the Lenders only as provided in Section 6.5, and (ii) until so turned
over,  shall be held by such Grantor in trust for the  Administrative  Agent and
the Lenders,  segregated from other funds of such Grantor.  Each such deposit of
Proceeds  of  Receivables  shall  be  accompanied  by a  report  identifying  in
reasonable detail the nature and source of the payments included in the deposit.

         (c) At the Administrative  Agent's request,  each Grantor shall deliver
to the  Administrative  Agent all original and other documents  evidencing,  and
relating to, the agreements and transactions which gave rise to the Receivables,
including,  without  limitation,  all  original  orders,  invoices  and shipping
receipts.

         6.2  Communications  with Obligors;  Grantors  Remain  Liable.  (a) The
Administrative  Agent in its own name or in the name of  others  may at any time
after  the  occurrence  and  during  the  continuance  of an  Event  of  Default
communicate  with obligors under the Receivables and parties to the Contracts to
verify  with them to the  Administrative  Agent's  satisfaction  the  existence,
amount and terms of any Receivables or Contracts.

         (b) Upon the request of the Administrative  Agent at any time after the
occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each Grantor shall
notify  obligors  on the  Receivables  and  parties  to the  Contracts  that the
Receivables and the Contracts have been assigned to the Administrative Agent for
the ratable benefit of the Lenders and that payments in respect thereof shall be
made directly to the Administrative Agent.

         (c) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, each Grantor shall
remain liable under each of the Receivables and Contracts to observe and perform
all  the  conditions  and  obligations  to  be  observed  and  performed  by  it
thereunder,  all in  accordance  with the  terms of any  agreement  giving  rise
thereto.  Neither  the  Administrative  Agent  nor any  Lender  shall  have  any
obligation  or liability  under any  Receivable  (or any  agreement  giving rise
thereto)  or  Contract  by reason of or  arising  out of this  Agreement  or the
receipt  by the  Administrative  Agent or any  Lender  of any  payment  relating
thereto, nor

                                       18
<PAGE>

shall the  Administrative  Agent or any  Lender be  obligated  in any  manner to
perform  any  of the  obligations  of  any  Grantor  under  or  pursuant  to any
Receivable  (or any  agreement  giving rise  thereto) or  Contract,  to make any
payment,  to make any inquiry as to the nature or the sufficiency of any payment
received  by it or as to  the  sufficiency  of  any  performance  by  any  party
thereunder,  to  present or file any  claim,  to take any action to enforce  any
performance  or to  collect  the  payment  of any  amounts  which  may have been
assigned to it or to which it may be entitled at any time or times.

         6.3 Pledged  Stock.  (a) Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred
and be continuing  and the  Administrative  Agent shall have given notice to the
relevant  Grantor  of  the   Administrative   Agent's  intent  to  exercise  its
corresponding rights pursuant to Section 6.3(b), each Grantor shall be permitted
to receive  all cash  dividends  paid in respect  of the  Pledged  Stock and all
payments made in respect of the Pledged  Notes,  in each case paid in the normal
course of business of the relevant Issuer and consistent with past practice,  to
the  extent  permitted  in the Term  Loan  Agreement  and the  Revolving  Credit
Agreement,  and to exercise all voting and corporate  rights with respect to the
Pledged Securities;  provided,  however, that no vote shall be cast or corporate
right  exercised or other action taken which would impair the  Collateral in any
material  respect or which would result in any violation of any provision of the
Term Loan Agreement,  Revolving  Credit  Agreement,  this Agreement or any other
Loan Document.

         (b) If an  Event of  Default  shall  occur  and be  continuing  and the
Administrative  Agent shall give notice of its intent to exercise such rights to
the relevant Grantor or Grantors,  (i) the  Administrative  Agent shall have the
right to receive any and all cash dividends,  payments or other Proceeds paid in
respect  of  the  Pledged  Securities  and  make  application   thereof  to  the
Obligations  in the order set forth in Section  6.5,  and (ii) any or all of the
Pledged Securities shall be registered in the name of the  Administrative  Agent
or its  nominee,  and the  Administrative  Agent or its nominee  may  thereafter
exercise (x) all voting,  corporate and other rights  pertaining to such Pledged
Securities at any meeting of  shareholders  of the relevant Issuer or Issuers or
otherwise and (y) any and all rights of  conversion,  exchange and  subscription
and  any  other  rights,  privileges  or  options  pertaining  to  such  Pledged
Securities  as if  it  were  the  absolute  owner  thereof  (including,  without
limitation,  the right to exchange at its  discretion any and all of the Pledged
Securities upon the merger, consolidation,  reorganization,  recapitalization or
other fundamental  change in the corporate  structure of any Issuer, or upon the
exercise by any Grantor or the Administrative  Agent of any right,  privilege or
option pertaining to such Pledged Securities,  and in connection therewith,  the
right to deposit  and deliver  any and all of the  Pledged  Securities  with any
committee, depositary, transfer agent, registrar or other designated agency upon
such  terms and  conditions  as the  Administrative  Agent may  determine),  all
without  liability except to account for property  actually  received by it, but
the Administrative  Agent shall have no duty to any Grantor to exercise any such
right, privilege or option and shall not be responsible for any failure to do so
or delay in so doing.

         (c) Each Grantor  hereby  authorizes  and instructs  each Issuer of any
Pledged  Securities  pledged by such  Grantor  hereunder  to (i) comply with any
instruction  received by it from the  Administrative  Agent in writing  that (x)
states  that an Event of  Default  has  occurred  and is  continuing  and (y) is
otherwise in accordance with the terms of this  Agreement,  without any other or
further instructions from such Grantor, and each Grantor agrees that each Issuer
shall be fully protected in so complying,  and (ii) unless  otherwise  expressly
permitted  hereby,  pay any  dividends  or other  payments  with  respect to the
Pledged Securities directly to the Administrative Agent.

         6.4 Proceeds to be Turned Over To Administrative  Agent. In addition to
the rights of the Administrative  Agent and the Lenders specified in Section 6.1
with respect to payments of Receivables,  if an Event of Default shall occur and
be continuing, all Proceeds received by any Grantor

                                       19
<PAGE>


consisting  of cash,  checks  and other  near-cash  items  shall be held by such
Grantor in trust for the Administrative  Agent and the Lenders,  segregated from
other funds of such Grantor, and shall,  forthwith upon receipt by such Grantor,
be turned over to the  Administrative  Agent in the exact form  received by such
Grantor  (duly  indorsed  by  such  Grantor  to  the  Administrative  Agent,  if
required).  All Proceeds received by the Administrative Agent hereunder shall be
held by the  Administrative  Agent in a Collateral  Account maintained under its
sole dominion and control.  All Proceeds while held by the Administrative  Agent
in a  Collateral  Account  (or by such  Grantor in trust for the  Administrative
Agent and the Lenders) shall continue to be held as collateral  security for all
the  Obligations  and shall not  constitute  payment  thereof  until  applied as
provided in Section 6.5.

         6.5 Application of Proceeds. At such intervals as may be agreed upon by
the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, or, if an Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing,  at any time at the Administrative Agent's election,
the  Administrative  Agent may apply  all or any part of  Proceeds  constituting
Collateral,  whether or not held in any Collateral Account,  and any proceeds of
the  guarantee  set forth in Section 2, in  payment  of the  Obligations  in the
following order:

          First,   to  pay   incurred  and  unpaid  fees  and  expenses  of  the
     Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents;

          Second,  to the  Administrative  Agent,  for application by it towards
     payment of amounts  then due and owing and  remaining  unpaid in respect of
     the Obligations, pro rata among the Lenders according to the amounts of the
     Obligations then due and owing and remaining unpaid to the Lenders;

          Third,  to the  Administrative  Agent,  for  application by it towards
     prepayment of the Obligations,  pro rata among the Lenders according to the
     amounts of the Obligations then held by the Lenders;

          Fourth,  to the  Administrative  Agent,  for application by it towards
     replacement  of  outstanding  Letters of Credit and/or deposit an amount in
     cash in a cash collateral account established with the Administrative Agent
     for the benefit of the Lenders on terms and conditions  satisfactory to the
     Administrative Agent and the applicable Issuing Lender; and

          Fifth,  any balance of such Proceeds  remaining  after the Obligations
     shall have been paid in full, no Letters of Credit shall be outstanding and
     the Commitments shall have terminated shall be paid over to the Borrower or
     to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same.

         6.6 Code and Other Remedies.  If an Event of Default shall occur and be
continuing, the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, may exercise, in
addition to all other rights and remedies  granted to them in this Agreement and
in any other  instrument  or agreement  securing,  evidencing or relating to the
Obligations,  all rights and remedies of a secured  party under the New York UCC
or any other  applicable law.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
the  Administrative  Agent,  without  demand  of  performance  or other  demand,
presentment,  protest,  advertisement  or notice of any kind  (except any notice
required by law  referred  to below) to or upon any Grantor or any other  Person
(all and each of which demands, defenses,  advertisements and notices are hereby
waived), may in such circumstances forthwith collect,  receive,  appropriate and
realize upon the  Collateral,  or any part thereof,  and/or may forthwith  sell,
lease,  assign, give option or options to purchase,  or otherwise dispose of and
deliver  the  Collateral  or any  part  thereof  (or  contract  to do any of the
foregoing),  in one or more parcels at public or private  sale or sales,  at any
exchange,  broker's board or office of the Administrative Agent or any Lender or
elsewhere  upon such terms and  conditions as it may deem  advisable and at such
prices as 

                                       20
<PAGE>


it may  deem  best,  for  cash  or on  credit  or for  future  delivery  without
assumption of any credit risk. The Administrative Agent or any Lender shall have
the right upon any such public sale or sales,  and, to the extent  permitted  by
law,  upon any such private sale or sales,  to purchase the whole or any part of
the  Collateral  so sold,  free of any  right or  equity  of  redemption  in any
Grantor,  which  right or equity is hereby  waived and  released.  Each  Grantor
further  agrees,  at  the  Administrative   Agent's  request,  to  assemble  the
Collateral and make it available to the Administrative Agent at places which the
Administrative Agent shall reasonably select, whether at such Grantor's premises
or elsewhere.  The  Administrative  Agent shall apply the proceeds of any action
taken by it pursuant to this Section 6.6, after  deducting all reasonable  costs
and expenses of every kind incurred in connection therewith or incidental to the
care or  safekeeping  of any of the  Collateral  or in any way  relating  to the
Collateral or the rights of the Administrative  Agent and the Lenders hereunder,
including, without limitation,  reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements, to
the  payment  in  whole  or in part of the  Obligations,  in such  order  as the
Administrative  Agent may elect,  and only after such  application and after the
payment  by  the  Administrative  Agent  of any  other  amount  required  by any
provision of law, including, without limitation,  Section 9-504(1)(c) of the New
York UCC, need the Administrative  Agent account for the surplus, if any, to any
Grantor.  To the extent  permitted by applicable  law,  each Grantor  waives all
claims,  damages and demands it may acquire against the Administrative  Agent or
any Lender arising out of the exercise by them of any rights  hereunder.  If any
notice of a proposed sale or other  disposition of Collateral  shall be required
by law, such notice shall be deemed  reasonable  and proper if given at least 10
days before such sale or other disposition.

         6.7  Registration   Rights.  (a)  If  the  Administrative  Agent  shall
determine to exercise its right to sell any or all of the Pledged Stock pursuant
to  Section  6.6,  and  if in the  opinion  of the  Administrative  Agent  it is
necessary or advisable to have the Pledged Stock,  or that portion thereof to be
sold,  registered  under the  provisions  of the  Securities  Act,  the relevant
Grantor will cause the Issuer thereof to (i) execute and deliver,  and cause the
directors  and  officers  of such  Issuer  to  execute  and  deliver,  all  such
instruments and documents, and do or cause to be done all such other acts as may
be, in the  opinion of the  Administrative  Agent,  necessary  or  advisable  to
register  the  Pledged  Stock,  or that  portion  thereof to be sold,  under the
provisions  of the  Securities  Act,  (ii) use its  best  efforts  to cause  the
registration  statement  relating  thereto  to  become  effective  and to remain
effective for a period of one year from the date of the first public offering of
the  Pledged  Stock,  or that  portion  thereof  to be sold,  and (iii) make all
amendments thereto and/or to the related prospectus which, in the opinion of the
Administrative  Agent,  are necessary or advisable,  all in conformity  with the
requirements  of the  Securities  Act  and  the  rules  and  regulations  of the
Securities and Exchange Commission  applicable  thereto.  Each Grantor agrees to
cause such Issuer to comply with the  provisions of the securities or "Blue Sky"
laws of any and all jurisdictions which the Administrative Agent shall designate
and to make  available  to its  security  holders,  as soon as  practicable,  an
earnings statement (which need not be audited) which will satisfy the provisions
of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act.

         (b) Each Grantor recognizes that the Administrative Agent may be unable
to effect a public  sale of any or all the Pledged  Stock,  by reason of certain
prohibitions  contained in the Securities Act and  applicable  state  securities
laws or  otherwise,  and may be compelled to resort to one or more private sales
thereof  to a  restricted  group of  purchasers  which will be obliged to agree,
among  other  things,  to acquire  such  securities  for their own  account  for
investment  and not with a view to the  distribution  or  resale  thereof.  Each
Grantor  acknowledges and agrees that any such private sale may result in prices
and  other  terms  less  favorable  than if such  sale  were a public  sale and,
notwithstanding  such circumstances,  agrees that any such private sale shall be
deemed to have been made in a commercially reasonable manner. The Administrative
Agent shall be under no  obligation  to delay a sale of any of the Pledged Stock
for the period of time  necessary to permit the Issuer  thereof to register such

                                       21
<PAGE>


securities for public sale under the Securities Act, or under  applicable  state
securities laws, even if such Issuer would agree to do so.

         (c) Each  Grantor  agrees to use its best  efforts to do or cause to be
done all such other acts as may be  necessary  to make such sale or sales of all
or any  portion of the  Pledged  Stock  pursuant  to this  Section 6.7 valid and
binding and in compliance with any and all other applicable Requirements of Law.
Each Grantor  further agrees that a breach of any of the covenants  contained in
this Section 6.7 will cause irreparable injury to the  Administrative  Agent and
the  Lenders,  that the  Administrative  Agent and the Lenders  have no adequate
remedy at law in respect of such  breach and,  as a  consequence,  that each and
every covenant  contained in this Section 6.7 shall be specifically  enforceable
against such  Grantor,  and such Grantor  hereby waives and agrees not to assert
any defenses against an action for specific performance of such covenants except
for a defense that no Event of Default has occurred.

         6.8 Waiver;  Deficiency.  Each Grantor  waives and agrees not to assert
any rights or  privileges  which it may acquire  under  Section 9-112 of the New
York UCC. Each Grantor shall remain liable for any deficiency if the proceeds of
any sale or other  disposition  of the Collateral  are  insufficient  to pay its
Obligations  and the fees and  disbursements  of any  attorneys  employed by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender to collect such deficiency.


                       SECTION 7. THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

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

               (i) in the name of such  Grantor or its own name,  or  otherwise,
          take possession of and indorse and collect any checks,  drafts, notes,
          acceptances or other  instruments  for the payment of moneys due under
          any Receivable or Contract or with respect to any other Collateral and
          file any claim or take any other action or  proceeding in any court of
          law or equity or otherwise  deemed  appropriate by the  Administrative
          Agent for the purpose of collecting  any and all such moneys due under
          any  Receivable  or Contract or with  respect to any other  Collateral
          whenever payable;

               (ii)  in the  case  of any  Intellectual  Property,  execute  and
          deliver,  and  have  recorded,  any and all  agreements,  instruments,
          documents  and  papers  as the  Administrative  Agent may  request  to
          evidence the Administrative Agent's and the Lenders' security interest
          in such Intellectual Property and the goodwill and general intangibles
          of such Grantor relating thereto or represented thereby;

               (iii) pay or  discharge  taxes  and Liens  levied or placed on or
          threatened against the Collateral, effect any repairs or any insurance
          called for by the terms of this  Agreement  and pay all or any part of
          the premiums therefor and the costs thereof;

                                       22

<PAGE>

               (iv) execute, in connection with any sale provided for in Section
          6.6 or 6.7, any  indorsements,  assignments  or other  instruments  of
          conveyance or transfer with respect to the Collateral; and

               (v)(1)  direct any party liable for any payment  under any of the
          Collateral  to make payment of any and all moneys due or to become due
          thereunder   directly   to  the   Administrative   Agent   or  as  the
          Administrative Agent shall direct; (2) ask or demand for, collect, and
          receive  payment of and receipt  for,  any and all moneys,  claims and
          other  amounts  due or to  become  due at any  time in  respect  of or
          arising out of any  Collateral;  (3) sign and  indorse  any  invoices,
          freight  or express  bills,  bills of  lading,  storage  or  warehouse
          receipts, drafts against debtors, assignments,  verifications, notices
          and other  documents in  connection  with any of the  Collateral;  (4)
          commence and prosecute any suits,  actions or proceedings at law or in
          equity  in  any  court  of  competent   jurisdiction  to  collect  the
          Collateral  or any  portion  thereof and to enforce any other right in
          respect of any Collateral;  (5) defend any suit,  action or proceeding
          brought  against  such Grantor  with  respect to any  Collateral;  (6)
          settle,  compromise or adjust any such suit, action or proceeding and,
          in  connection  therewith,  give such  discharges  or  releases as the
          Administrative  Agent may deem appropriate;  (7) assign any Copyright,
          Patent or Trademark  (along with the goodwill of the business to which
          any such  Copyright,  Patent or Trademark  pertains),  throughout  the
          world for such term or terms, on such conditions,  and in such manner,
          as the  Administrative  Agent shall in its sole discretion  determine;
          and (8) generally,  sell, transfer, pledge and make any agreement with
          respect to or otherwise  deal with any of the  Collateral as fully and
          completely as though the Administrative  Agent were the absolute owner
          thereof for all purposes, and do, at the Administrative Agent's option
          and such  Grantor's  expense,  at any time, or from time to time,  all
          acts and things  which the  Administrative  Agent deems  necessary  to
          protect,   preserve   or   realize   upon  the   Collateral   and  the
          Administrative Agent's and the Lenders' security interests therein and
          to effect the intent of this  Agreement,  all as fully and effectively
          as such Grantor might do.

         Anything in this Section  7.1(a) to the contrary  notwithstanding,  the
Administrative Agent agrees that it will not exercise any rights under the power
of attorney provided for in this Section 7.1(a) unless an Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing.

         (b)  If  any  Grantor  fails  to  perform  or  comply  with  any of its
agreements  contained herein, the Administrative  Agent, at its option following
notice to such Grantor of such failure, but without any obligation so to do, may
perform or comply,  or otherwise  cause  performance  or  compliance,  with such
agreement.

         (c) The expenses of the  Administrative  Agent  incurred in  connection
with actions  undertaken as provided in this Section 7.1, together with interest
thereon at a rate per annum equal to the rate per annum at which  interest would
then be  payable  on past due  Revolving  Credit  Loans that are Base Rate Loans
under  the  Revolving  Credit  Agreement,  from  the  date  of  payment  by  the
Administrative  Agent to the date reimbursed by the relevant  Grantor,  shall be
payable by such Grantor to the Administrative Agent on demand.

         (d) Each Grantor hereby ratifies all that said attorneys shall lawfully
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. All powers, authorizations and agencies
contained in this  Agreement  are coupled  with an interest and are  irrevocable
until this Agreement is terminated and the security interests created hereby are
released.

         7.2 Duty of Administrative Agent. The Administrative  Agent's sole duty
with  respect to the  custody,  safekeeping  and  physical  preservation  of the
Collateral  in its  possession,  under  Section  9-

                                       23
<PAGE>


207 of the New  York  UCC or  otherwise,  shall  be to deal  with it in the same
manner as the  Administrative  Agent  deals with  similar  property  for its own
account.  Neither  the  Administrative  Agent,  any  Lender  nor  any  of  their
respective officers, directors,  employees or agents shall be liable for failure
to demand,  collect or realize  upon any of the  Collateral  or for any delay in
doing so or shall be under any  obligation  to sell or otherwise  dispose of any
Collateral  upon the request of any  Grantor or any other  Person or to take any
other action  whatsoever with regard to the Collateral or any part thereof.  The
powers  conferred  on the  Administrative  Agent and the Lenders  hereunder  are
solely to protect the  Administrative  Agent's and the Lenders' interests in the
Collateral  and shall not impose any duty upon the  Administrative  Agent or any
Lender to exercise any such  powers.  The  Administrative  Agent and the Lenders
shall be accountable  only for amounts that they actually receive as a result of
the  exercise  of such  powers,  and  neither  they nor any of  their  officers,
directors,  employees or agents shall be  responsible to any Grantor for any act
or failure to act  hereunder,  except for their own gross  negligence or willful
misconduct.

         7.3 Execution of Financing Statements. Pursuant to Section 9-402 of the
New  York  UCC and  any  other  applicable  law,  each  Grantor  authorizes  the
Administrative  Agent to file or record financing statements and other filing or
recording  documents or instruments  with respect to the Collateral  without the
signature of such Grantor in such form and in such offices as the Administrative
Agent reasonably determines appropriate to perfect the security interests of the
Administrative Agent under this Agreement.  A photographic or other reproduction
of this Agreement  shall be sufficient as a financing  statement or other filing
or recording document or instrument for filing or recording in any jurisdiction.

         7.4 Authority of Administrative  Agent. Each Grantor  acknowledges that
the rights and responsibilities of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement
with respect to any action taken by the Administrative  Agent or the exercise or
non-exercise by the Administrative Agent of any option,  voting right,  request,
judgment or other right or remedy  provided  for herein or  resulting or arising
out of this  Agreement  shall,  as  between  the  Administrative  Agent  and the
Lenders,  be  governed  by the Term  Loan  Agreement  and the  Revolving  Credit
Agreement and by such other  agreements  with respect  thereto as may exist from
time to time among  them,  but,  as  between  the  Administrative  Agent and the
Grantors,  the Administrative Agent shall be conclusively  presumed to be acting
as agent for the Lenders with full and valid authority so to act or refrain from
acting,  and no Grantor  or other  Person  (except a Lender)  shall be under any
obligation, or entitlement, to make any inquiry respecting such authority.


                            SECTION 8. MISCELLANEOUS

         8.1  Amendments  in Writing.  None of the terms or  provisions  of this
Agreement may be waived,  amended,  supplemented or otherwise modified except in
accordance  with Section 9.1 of the Term Loan  Agreement  and Section 9.1 of the
Revolving Credit Agreement.

         8.2  Notices.  All  notices,  requests  and  demands  to  or  upon  the
Administrative  Agent or any Grantor  hereunder  shall be effected in the manner
provided  for in Section 9.2 of the Term Loan  Agreement  and Section 9.2 of the
Revolving Credit Agreement;  provided that any such notice, request or demand to
or upon any Guarantor shall be addressed to such Guarantor at its notice address
set forth on Schedule 1.

         8.3 No Waiver by Course of Conduct;  Cumulative  Remedies.  Neither the
Administrative  Agent  nor any  Lender  shall by any act  (except  by a  written
instrument pursuant to Section 8.1), delay, indulgence, omission or otherwise be
deemed to have waived any right or remedy hereunder or to have acquiesced in any
Default  or  Event  of  Default.  No  failure  to  exercise,  nor any  delay  in
exercising,  on the part of the  Administrative  Agent or any Lender, any right,
power or privilege  

                                       24

<PAGE>

hereunder  shall operate as a waiver thereof.  No single or partial  exercise of
any right,  power or  privilege  hereunder  shall  preclude any other or further
exercise  thereof or the  exercise of any other  right,  power or  privilege.  A
waiver  by the  Administrative  Agent  or any  Lender  of any  right  or  remedy
hereunder  on any one  occasion  shall not be construed as a bar to any right or
remedy which the Administrative Agent or such Lender would otherwise have on any
future occasion. The rights and remedies herein provided are cumulative,  may be
exercised  singly or  concurrently  and are not exclusive of any other rights or
remedies provided by law.

         8.4 Enforcement Expenses; Indemnification. (a) Each Guarantor agrees to
pay or reimburse each Lender and the Administrative  Agent for all its costs and
expenses  incurred in  collecting  against such  Guarantor  under the  guarantee
contained in Section 2 or otherwise  enforcing  or  preserving  any rights under
this  Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Guarantor is a party,
including,  without limitation, the fees and disbursements of counsel (including
the  allocated  fees and  expenses  of  in-house  counsel) to each Lender and of
counsel to the Administrative Agent.

         (b) Each Guarantor agrees to pay, and to save the Administrative  Agent
and the Lenders  harmless  from,  any and all  liabilities  with  respect to, or
resulting from any delay in paying,  any and all stamp,  excise,  sales or other
taxes which may be payable or  determined  to be payable  with respect to any of
the Collateral or in connection  with any of the  transactions  contemplated  by
this Agreement.

         (c) Each Guarantor agrees to pay, and to save the Administrative  Agent
and the Lenders  harmless from, any and all  liabilities,  obligations,  losses,
damages, penalties,  actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements
of any kind or  nature  whatsoever  with  respect  to the  execution,  delivery,
enforcement,  performance and administration of this Agreement to the extent the
Borrower  would be  required  to do so  pursuant to Section 9.5 of the Term Loan
Agreement and Section 9.5 of the Revolving Credit Agreement.

         (d) The  agreements  in this  Section  shall  survive  repayment of the
Obligations  and all other amounts  payable under the Term Loan  Agreement,  the
Revolving Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

         8.5  Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement  shall be binding upon the
successors  and  assigns of each  Grantor  and shall inure to the benefit of the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders and their successors and assigns;  provided
that  no  Grantor  may  assign,  transfer  or  delegate  any  of its  rights  or
obligations  under  this  Agreement  without  the prior  written  consent of the
Administrative Agent.

         8.6  Set-Off.   Each  Grantor   hereby   irrevocably   authorizes   the
Administrative  Agent and each Lender at any time and from time to time while an
Event of Default shall have occurred and be  continuing,  without notice to such
Grantor or any other  Grantor,  any such notice being  expressly  waived by each
Grantor,  to set off and appropriate and apply any and all deposits  (general or
special, time or demand,  provisional or final), in any currency,  and any other
credits, indebtedness or claims, in any currency, in each case whether direct or
indirect,  absolute or  contingent,  matured or  unmatured,  at any time held or
owing by the  Administrative  Agent or such  Lender to or for the  credit or the
account  of  such  Grantor,   or  any  part  thereof  in  such  amounts  as  the
Administrative  Agent or such  Lender may elect,  against  and on account of the
obligations and liabilities of such Grantor to the Administrative  Agent or such
Lender   hereunder   and  claims  of  every  nature  and   description   of  the
Administrative  Agent or such Lender  against  such  Grantor,  in any  currency,
whether  arising  hereunder,  under the Term Loan  Agreement  and the  Revolving
Credit  Agreement,   under  any  other  Loan  Document  or  otherwise,   as  the
Administrative Agent or such Lender may elect, whether or not the Administrative
Agent  or any  Lender  has  made  any  demand  for  payment  and  although  such
obligations, liabilities and claims may be

                                       25

<PAGE>


contingent or unmatured.  The Administrative  Agent and each Lender shall notify
such  Grantor  promptly  of any such  set-off  and the  application  made by the
Administrative  Agent or such Lender of the proceeds thereof,  provided that the
failure to give such notice  shall not affect the  validity of such  set-off and
application.  The rights of the Administrative  Agent and each Lender under this
Section  are in  addition  to other  rights  and  remedies  (including,  without
limitation,  other  rights of set-off)  which the  Administrative  Agent or such
Lender may have.

         8.7 Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the
parties to this Agreement on any number of separate  counterparts  (including by
telecopy),  and all of said  counterparts  taken  together  shall be  deemed  to
constitute one and the same instrument.

         8.8  Severability.  Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited
or  unenforceable  in  any  jurisdiction  shall,  as to  such  jurisdiction,  be
ineffective  to the  extent  of such  prohibition  or  unenforceability  without
invalidating  the  remaining  provisions  hereof,  and any such  prohibition  or
unenforceability   in  any   jurisdiction   shall  not   invalidate   or  render
unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

         8.9 Section  Headings.  The Section headings used in this Agreement are
for convenience of reference only and are not to affect the construction  hereof
or be taken into consideration in the interpretation hereof.

         8.10 Integration. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents represent
the agreement of the  Grantors,  the  Administrative  Agent and the Lenders with
respect to the subject  matter  hereof and  thereof,  and there are no promises,
undertakings,  representations or warranties by the Administrative  Agent or any
Lender  relative to subject matter hereof and thereof not expressly set forth or
referred to herein or in the other Loan Documents.

         8.11 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT  SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED
AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

         8.12  Submission  To   Jurisdiction;   Waivers.   Each  Grantor  hereby
irrevocably and unconditionally:

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

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

          (c) agrees that  service of process in any such  action or  proceeding
     may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered  or certified  mail
     (or any  substantially  similar  form of mail),  postage  prepaid,  to such
     Grantor at its address  referred to in Section 8.2 or at such other address
     of which  the  Administrative  Agent  shall  have  been  notified  pursuant
     thereto;

                                       26

<PAGE>

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

          (e) waives,  to the maximum extent not prohibited by law, any right it
     may have to claim or recover in any legal action or proceeding  referred to
     in this Section any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages.

         8.13 Acknowledgments. Each Grantor hereby acknowledges that:

          (a) it has been advised by counsel in the  negotiation,  execution and
     delivery of this  Agreement  and the other Loan  Documents to which it is a
     party;

          (b) neither the Administrative  Agent nor any Lender has any fiduciary
     relationship  with or duty to any Grantor  arising out of or in  connection
     with  this  Agreement  or  any  of  the  other  Loan  Documents,   and  the
     relationship between the Grantors,  on the one hand, and the Administrative
     Agent and the  Lenders,  on the  other  hand,  in  connection  herewith  or
     therewith is solely that of debtor and creditor; and

          (c) no joint venture is created  hereby or by the other Loan Documents
     or otherwise exists by virtue of the transactions contemplated hereby among
     the Lenders or among the Grantors and the Lenders.

         8.14  Additional  Grantors.  Each  Subsidiary  of the Borrower  that is
required to become a party to this  Agreement  pursuant  to Section  5.10 of the
Term Loan  Agreement and Section 5.10 of the Revolving  Credit  Agreement  shall
become a Grantor for all purposes of this  Agreement upon execution and delivery
by such Subsidiary of an Assumption Agreement in the form of Annex 1 hereto.

         8.15  Releases.  (a) At such  time  as the  Borrower  Revolving  Credit
Obligations,  the  Borrower  Term Loan  Obligations  and any  obligations  owing
pursuant  to this  Agreement  shall  have been  indefeasibly  paid in full,  the
Commitments  have been terminated and no Letters of Credit shall be outstanding,
the  Collateral  shall be  released  from the  Liens  created  hereby,  and this
Agreement and all obligations (other than those expressly stated to survive such
termination)  of the  Administrative  Agent  and each  Grantor  hereunder  shall
terminate,  all without  delivery of any instrument or performance of any act by
any party, and all rights to the Collateral shall revert to the Grantors. At the
request and sole  expense of any Grantor  following  any such  termination,  the
Administrative  Agent shall deliver to such Grantor any  Collateral  held by the
Administrative  Agent  hereunder,  and execute and deliver to such  Grantor such
documents as such Grantor shall reasonably request to evidence such termination.

         (b) If any of the  Collateral  shall be sold,  transferred or otherwise
disposed of by any Grantor in a transaction permitted by the Term Loan Agreement
and the  Revolving  Credit  Agreement,  then the  Administrative  Agent,  at the
request  and sole  expense of such  Grantor,  shall  execute and deliver to such
Grantor all releases or other  documents  reasonably  necessary or desirable for
the release of the Liens created hereby on such  Collateral.  At the request and
sole expense of the Borrower,  a Subsidiary Guarantor shall be released from its
obligations hereunder in the event that all the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary
Guarantor shall be sold,  transferred or otherwise  disposed of in a transaction
permitted  by the  Term  Loan  Agreement  and the  Revolving  Credit  Agreement;
provided that the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative  Agent, at
least ten  Business  Days prior to the date of the proposed  release,  a written
request for release identifying the relevant Subsidiary  Guarantor and the terms
of the sale or other  disposition  in  reasonable  detail,  including  the price
thereof and any expenses in connection 

                                       27

<PAGE>

therewith,  together  with a  certification  by the  Borrower  stating that such
transaction  is in  compliance  with the Term Loan  Agreement  and the Revolving
Credit  Agreement and the other Loan  Documents.  

                                       28

<PAGE>


         8.16  WAIVER  OF  JURY  TRIAL.  EACH  GRANTOR  HEREBY  IRREVOCABLY  AND
UNCONDITIONALLY  WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING
TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  each of the undersigned has caused this Guarantee
and Collateral  Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first
above written.


                                        B & G FOODS, INC.


                                        By: /s/
                                           ------------------------
                                           Title:


                                        B & G FOODS HOLDINGS CORP.


                                        By: /s/
                                           ------------------------
                                           Title:


                                        BGH  HOLDINGS, INC.


                                        By: /s/
                                           ------------------------
                                           Title:


                                        BLOCH & GUGGENHEIMER, INC.


                                        By: /s/
                                           ------------------------
                                           Title:


                                        ROSELAND DISTRIBUTION COMPANY


                                        By: /s/
                                           ------------------------
                                           Title:

                                       29

<PAGE>

                                        BURNS & RICKER, INC.


                                        By: /s/
                                           -----------------------
                                           Title:


                                        RWBV ACQUISITION CORP.


                                        By: /s/
                                           ------------------------
                                           Title:


                                        TRAPPEY'S FINE FOODS, INC.


                                        By: /s/
                                           ------------------------
                                           Title:


                                        MAPLE GROVE FARMS OF VERMONT, INC.


                                        By: /s/
                                           ------------------------
                                           Title:


                                        HERITAGE ACQUISITION CORP.


                                        By: /s/
                                           ------------------------
                                           Title:


                                        WILLIAM UNDERWOOD COMPANY


                                        By: /s/
                                           ------------------------
                                           Title:



                                       30


<PAGE>

                                                                      Schedule 1


                         NOTICE ADDRESSES OF GUARANTORS


<PAGE>


                                                                      Schedule 2


                        DESCRIPTION OF PLEDGED SECURITIES


Pledged Stock:

   Issuer       Class of Stock        Stock Certificate No.        No. of Shares
   ------       --------------        ---------------------        -------------










Pledged Notes:

   Issuer                           Payee                     Principal Amount
   ------                           -----                     ----------------












<PAGE>

                                                                      Schedule 3


                            FILINGS AND OTHER ACTIONS
                     REQUIRED TO PERFECT SECURITY INTERESTS


                         Uniform Commercial Code Filings
                         -------------------------------


         [List each office where a financing statement is to be filed]*




                          Patent and Trademark Filings
                          ----------------------------


                               [List all filings]




                     Actions with respect to Pledged Stock**
                     ---------------------------------------




                                  Other Actions
                                  -------------


                      [Describe other actions to be taken]



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

*    Note that  perfection  of  security  interests  in patents  and  trademarks
     requires filings under the UCC in the jurisdictions  where filings would be
     made for general intangibles, as well as fling in the U.S. Copyright Office
     and the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.

**   If the  interest  of a Grantor in Pledged  Stock  appears on the books of a
     financial intermediary, the procedures for creation of the pledge specified
     in 8-313(h) of the New York UCC will have to be followed.  These procedures
     involve notification to the financial intermediary.

<PAGE>

                                                                      Schedule 4

       LOCATION OF JURISDICTION OF ORGANIZATION AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICE


                    Grantor                       Location
                    -------                       --------


<PAGE>

                                                                      Schedule 5
                                                                      


                       LOCATION OF INVENTORY AND EQUIPMENT



                    Grantor                       Locations
                    -------                       ---------


<PAGE>


                                                                      Schedule 6


                        COPYRIGHTS AND COPYRIGHT LICENSES




                           PATENTS AND PATENT LICENSES




                        TRADEMARKS AND TRADEMARK LICENSES



<PAGE>

                                                                      Schedule 7
                                                                      

                                    CONTRACTS


<PAGE>


                                                                      Schedule 8
                                                                      


                              EXISTING PRIOR LIENS


<PAGE>


                           ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND CONSENT


         The undersigned hereby acknowledges  receipt of a copy of the Guarantee
and Collateral  Agreement dated as of March 15, 1999 (the "Agreement"),  made by
the Grantors parties thereto for the benefit of Lehman Commercial Paper Inc., as
Administrative   Agent.   The   undersigned   agrees  for  the  benefit  of  the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders as follows:

         1. The  undersigned  will notify the  Administrative  Agent promptly in
writing of the  occurrence of any of the events  described in Section  5.8(a) of
the Agreement.

         2. The  terms  of  Sections  6.7 of the  Agreement  shall  apply to it,
mutatis  mutandis,  with  respect  to all  actions  that may be  required  of it
pursuant to Section 6.7 of the Agreement.

                              [NAME OF ISSUER]



                              By  /s/
                                 -----------------------------

                              Title
                                    -----------------------------

                              Address for Notices:

                              ------------------------------------
                              ------------------------------------
                              Fax:
                                   -------------------------------


<PAGE>


                                                                      Annex 1 to
                                              Guarantee and Collateral Agreement



         ASSUMPTION  AGREEMENT,  dated as of  ________________,  _____,  made by
______________________________,  a  ______________  corporation (the "Additional
Grantor"), in favor of LEHMAN COMMERCIAL PAPER INC., as administrative agent (in
such capacity,  the  "Administrative  Agent") for the banks and other  financial
institutions  (the  "Lenders")  parties to the Term Loan Agreement and Revolving
Credit  Agreement  referred to below.  All capitalized  terms not defined herein
shall  have  the  meaning  ascribed  to them in such  Term  Loan  Agreement  and
Revolving Credit Agreement.


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


         WHEREAS, B & G FOODS, INC. (the "Borrower"), B & G FOODS HOLDINGS CORP.
("Holdings") the Lenders and the  Administrative  Agent have entered into a Term
Loan  Agreement  and  Revolving  Credit  Agreement,  dated as of March 15,  1999
(respectively, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time,
the "Term Loan Agreement" and the "Revolving  Credit  Agreement";  collectively,
the "Credit Agreements");

         WHEREAS,  in connection  with the Credit  Agreements,  the Borrower and
certain of its Affiliates (other than the Additional  Grantor) have entered into
the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement,  dated as of March 15, 1999 (as amended,
supplemented  or  otherwise  modified  from  time to time,  the  "Guarantee  and
Collateral  Agreement") in favor of the  Administrative  Agent,  for the ratable
benefit of the Lenders;

         WHEREAS, the Term Loan Agreement and Revolving Credit Agreement require
the  Additional  Grantor  to  become a party  to the  Guarantee  and  Collateral
Agreement; and

         WHEREAS,  the Additional Grantor has agreed to execute and deliver this
Assumption  Agreement in order to become a party to the Guarantee and Collateral
Agreement;

         NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED:

         Guarantee and Collateral  Agreement.  By executing and delivering  this
Assumption Agreement, the Additional Grantor, as provided in Section 8.14 of the
Guarantee and Collateral Agreement,  hereby becomes a party to the Guarantee and
Collateral  Agreement as a Grantor  thereunder with the same force and effect as
if originally named therein as a Grantor and, without limiting the generality of
the foregoing,  hereby  expressly  assumes all  obligations and liabilities of a
Grantor  thereunder.  The  information  set forth in Annex 1-A  hereto is hereby
added to the information set forth in Schedules ____________*** to the Guarantee
and Collateral Agreement.  The Additional Grantor hereby represents and warrants
that,  with  respect  to  itself,  each of the  representations  and  warranties
contained in Section 4 of the  Guarantee  and  Collateral  Agreement is true and
correct  on and as the date  hereof  (after  giving  effect  to this  Assumption
Agreement) as if made on and as of such date.


- -------------------
*** Refer to each Schedule which needs to be supplemented.

<PAGE>

         GOVERNING  LAW.  THIS  ASSUMPTION  AGREEMENT  SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND
CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

         IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,   the  undersigned  has  caused  this  Assumption
Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

                                         [ADDITIONAL GRANTOR]



                                         By: /s/
                                             ---------------------------
                                             Name:
                                             Title:




                                        2

WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>



B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

     <ARTICLE>                                                5
     <MULTIPLIER>                                             1,000
            
     <S>                                                      <C>
     <PERIOD-TYPE>                                                  3-MOS
     <FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                        JAN-01-2000
     <PERIOD-START>                                           JAN-03-1999
     <PERIOD-END>                                             APR-03-1999
     <CASH>                                                           926
     <SECURITIES>                                                       0
     <RECEIVABLES>                                                 21,354
     <ALLOWANCES>                                                  (1,143)
     <INVENTORY>                                                   61,098
     <CURRENT-ASSETS>                                              88,825
     <PP&E>                                                        42,152
     <DEPRECIATION>                                                (8,271)
     <TOTAL-ASSETS>                                               460,150
     <CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                         28,776
     <BONDS>                                                      343,774
                                                   0
                                                             0
     <COMMON>                                                           0
     <OTHER-SE>                                                    55,445
     <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                               460,150
     <SALES>                                                       56,480
     <TOTAL-REVENUES>                                              56,480
     <CGS>                                                         32,711
     <TOTAL-COSTS>                                                 19,443
     <OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                   0
     <LOSS-PROVISION>                                                   0
     <INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                             5,061
     <INCOME-PRETAX>                                                 (735)
     <INCOME-TAX>                                                    (360)
     <INCOME-CONTINUING>                                             (375)
     <DISCONTINUED>                                                     0
     <EXTRAORDINARY>                                                    0
     <CHANGES>                                                          0
     <NET-INCOME>                                                    (375)
     <EPS-PRIMARY>                                                      0
     <EPS-DILUTED>                                                      0
             



</TABLE>


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