WATKINS JOHNSON CO
10-Q, 1996-10-30
SPECIAL INDUSTRY MACHINERY, NEC
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                                    FORM 10-Q

                UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   -----------


            [ X ] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                For the quarterly period ended September 27, 1996

                                       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 1-5631

                             WATKINS-JOHNSON COMPANY
             -----------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



          CALIFORNIA                                       94-1402710
- ------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of                        (I.R.S. Employer 
 incorporation or organization)                        Identification No.)



 3333 Hillview Avenue, Palo Alto, California                94304-1223
- ------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
  (Address of principal executive offices)                  (Zip Code)



                                 (415) 493-4141
          -------------------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)



Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (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,  and (2) has been subject to such filing  requirements
for the past 90 days. Yes X . No   .
                         ---    ---

Common  stock,  no par  value,  outstanding  as of  September 27, 1996 8,325,000
shares

                                     Page 1
<PAGE>


                          PART I--FINANCIAL INFORMATION


Item 1.  Financial Statements

         The   interim    financial    statements   are   unaudited;    however,
         Watkins-Johnson  Company  believes that all adjustments  necessary to a
         fair  statement of results for such interim  periods have been included
         and all such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature.  The results
         for the nine months  ended  September  27,  1996,  are not  necessarily
         indicative of the results for the full year 1996.

         Supplementary information to the financial statements:

               A dividend of twelve cents per share was declared and paid during
               the third quarter of 1996 and 1995.

               Net income per share is computed  based on the  weighted  average
               number of common and common  equivalent  shares  (dilutive  stock
               options) outstanding during the period, see Exhibit 11.

         The  consolidated  financial  statements  required  by  Rule  10-01  of
         Regulation S-X are included in this report beginning on the next page.

                                     Page 2
<PAGE>

<TABLE>

                                         WATKINS-JOHNSON COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                          CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS*
                             For the periods ended September 27, 1996 and September 29, 1995

<CAPTION>

                                                         Three Months Ended           Nine Months Ended
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)        1996           1995           1996           1995
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                 <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>        
Sales                                               $    94,962    $    95,550    $   344,151    $   290,537
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Costs and expenses:                              
         Cost of goods sold                              60,921         54,978        222,712        168,439
         Selling and administrative                      16,535         17,565         62,428         56,386
         Research and development                        13,629         11,217         44,661         35,379
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         91,085         83,760        329,801        260,204
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income from operations                                    3,877         11,790         14,350         30,333
Interest and other income (expense)--net                    784            455            768          1,346
Interest expense                                           (556)          (232)        (1,169)          (638)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income from operations before Federal and        
    foreign income taxes                                  4,105         12,013         13,949         31,041
Federal and foreign income taxes                         (1,273)        (3,103)        (4,325)        (9,002)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income                                          $     2,832    $     8,910    $     9,624    $    22,039
============================================================================================================ 
                                              
Fully diluted net income per share            
    (difference between fully diluted and     
    primary earnings per share is not               $       .33    $       .98    $      1.12    $      2.48
    material)                                 
Average common and equivalent shares          
    outstanding                                       8,458,000      9,083,000      8,560,000      8,881,000
                                              
                                           
*Unaudited
</TABLE>

                                     Page 3
<PAGE>

<TABLE>

                         WATKINS-JOHNSON COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                      As of September 27, 1996 and December 31, 1995

<CAPTION>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
(Dollars in thousands)                                              1996*         1995
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>                                                               <C>          <C>
ASSETS

Current assets:
    Cash and equivalents                                          $  14,772    $  34,556
    Receivables                                                     103,313       86,311
    Inventories:
        Finished goods                                                5,896        3,623
        Work in process                                              42,028       45,092
        Raw materials and parts                                      35,490       31,120
    Other                                                            15,033       16,263
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
    Total current assets                                            216,532      216,965
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Property, plant, and equipment                                      226,279      185,379
    Accumulated depreciation and amortization                      (126,421)    (120,243)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
    Property, plant, and equipment--net                              99,858       65,136
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Other assets                                                         15,638        5,573
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                                                                  $ 332,028    $ 287,674
=========================================================================================

LIABILITIES AND SHAREOWNERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities:
    Payables                                                      $  26,226    $  23,162
    Accrued liabilities                                              64,803       51,590
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
    Total current liabilities                                        91,029       74,752
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Long-term obligations                                                40,154       21,669
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Shareowners' equity:
    Common stock                                                     37,788       34,307
    Retained earnings                                               163,057      156,946
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
    Total shareowners' equity                                       200,845      191,253
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                                                                  $ 332,028    $ 287,674
=========================================================================================


*Unaudited
</TABLE>
                                          Page 4
<PAGE>

<TABLE>

                        WATKINS-JOHNSON COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                         CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS*
         For the periods ended September 27, 1996 and September 29, 1995
<CAPTION>

                                                                   Nine Months Ended
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in thousands)                                     1996                 1995
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                               <C>         <C>
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

    Net Income                                           $  9,624             $ 22,039
    Reconciliation of net income to cash flows
        Depreciation and amortization                       8,782                7,325
        Net changes in:
           Receivables                                    (17,002)              (9,841)
           Inventories                                     (3,579)             (10,355)
           Other assets                                     1,043               (3,280)
           Accruals and payables                            9,828                5,227
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Net cash provided by operating activities               8,696               11,114
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

    Additions of property, plant, and equipment           (43,774)             (19,186)
    Restricted plant construction funds                    (9,878)
    Other                                                     289                  680
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Net cash (used) in investing activities               (53,363)             (18,506)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

    Long-term borrowing                                    21,219
    Proceeds from issuance of stock                         3,482               12,467
    Dividends paid                                         (2,973)              (2,855)
    Other                                                   3,155                  546
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Net cash provided by financing activities              24,883               10,158
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents           (19,784)               2,766
Cash and equivalents at beginning of period                34,556               34,469
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash and equivalents at end of period                    $ 14,772             $ 37,235
=======================================================================================

*Unaudited
</TABLE>

                                        Page 5
<PAGE>


                          PART I--FINANCIAL INFORMATION


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

         Financial Condition

         During the first  three  quarters  of 1996,  the  company's  operations
         required  additional  cash to finance strong working  capital needs and
         infrastructure  expansion. Cash and equivalents decreased $19.8 million
         from  $34.6  million  to $14.8  million.  Although  net income was $9.6
         million,  net cash provided by operations trailed by nearly $1 million,
         reflecting the need to fund working capital,  particularly  receivables
         and  inventory.  The slowdown in business in the third  quarter  caused
         working  capital  needs to ease from  their  peak  level of the  second
         quarter and they are  anticipated to decline  further for the remainder
         of the year.  As a result,  the  company  paid off the $10  million  in
         borrowings  under the company's  $100 million  line-of-credit  which we
         reported  at  the  end  of  the  second  quarter.  The  company  is now
         forecasting  an  insignificant  drawdown  on its  credit  line  for the
         remainder  of 1996.  During  the first  three  quarters  of 1996,  $3.5
         million was provided by stock  issuances  from stock  option  exercises
         which offsets the $3 million in dividends paid.

         Despite the slowdown in business anticipated for the remainder of 1996,
         the company  invested  $43.8 million in new capital plant and equipment
         in order to support  long-term growth for the  semiconductor  equipment
         and wireless communications operations. Long-term financing up to about
         $30 million is anticipated  for the  construction of a new facility and
         related capital  equipment in Kawasaki,  Japan,  for the  Semiconductor
         Equipment Group. The total cost of the project was initially  projected
         to be $38  million,  but due to the  slowdown  in the chip  market  the
         amount of capital  equipment in the facility will be reduced.  Thus far
         $18.4 million has been incurred on the project.  During the year,  over
         $21 million in external financing was funded for the land and building.
         The amount  funded is  denominated  in Yen, of which  approximately  $9
         million is  amortizable  over 15 years,  bearing  interest at 2.5%. The
         additional  funding  calls for a balloon  payment in 10 years,  bearing
         interest at 3.1%.

         Current Operations and Business Outlook

         Semiconductor Equipment Group

         Shipments  of  chemical-vapor-deposition  systems  declined  from their
         record level in the second quarter,  reflecting the universal  downturn
         in the  semiconductor-equipment  industry.  During  the third  quarter,
         Semiconductor  Equipment  Group sales  accounted  for only 62% of total
         company revenue compared to 71% in the second quarter. Orders also fell
         below  expectations,  and many customers  delayed future deliveries for
         one or two quarters  for systems  already on order.  Although  revenues
         were  nearly the same as in the third  quarter of 1995,  orders for the
         third  quarter of 1996 were down 65%  compared  to the same period last
         year with the current quarter book-to-bill ratio at less than 0.5 to 1.

         Although  the  long  range  industry  forecast  for  the  semiconductor
         industry  remains  bright,  management  sees a  continuing  soft orders
         picture for  semiconductor  equipment for the remainder of the year and
         into 1997.  With the current DRAM  oversupply  and  resulting 75% price
         declines,  customers  have been  reviewing  their  capacity and capital
         expansion  plans.  Even for fabs where customers are definitely  moving
         forward,  they appear to be delaying  orders until they must be placed.
         At the end of the quarter,  the  Semiconductor  Equipment Group further
         reduced its staff and is working to reduce and control other costs. The
         group's  current  expenses are sized  break-even  at a revenue level of
         about $45  million  per  quarter.  Looking  forward,  with the  present
         backlog and low third quarter orders, the group is expected to be below
         the  break-even  point  for the  coming  fourth  quarter  and force the
         company into a loss position for that quarter.  The company  expects to
         continue to reduce costs if the market slump deepens, but will maintain
         the core strength  needed to respond  quickly to increased  demand when
         the market turns upward again.

                                     Page 6

<PAGE>

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

         The group  continues to be on schedule with the  construction  of a new
         36,000-square-foot  facility in Japan which will serve  primarily as an
         applications   laboratory  for  the  cooperative   development  of  new
         deposition  processes  with  all  Asia-Pacific  customers.   Management
         expects  to be  moving  in some  equipment  by the  end of the  year in
         preparation  for early 1997  occupancy.  The company is  reviewing  the
         planned  personnel  and  equipment  growth  rate in  light  of the chip
         slowdown.  We will keep  expenses  on the  facility  to a minimum,  yet
         consistent  with the mission of establishing a direct quality impact in
         Japan.

         It now is apparent  that the group has developed a new platform for the
         company and that the WJ-2000P  high-density-plasma (HDP) process module
         is the introductory product for this platform. We are developing a road
         map for additional process modules, adding to the cluster tool platform
         capabilities.   The   WJ-2000P   high-density-plasma   reactor,   first
         introduced  in July 1995,  is aimed at devices  such as the 256 Megabit
         DRAM and 7th generation microprocessors expected to enter production in
         the 1998-1999  timeframe.  We are  positioning  this tool to expand our
         overall semiconductor  equipment market. The HDP tools are not intended
         to replace current lines.  The group believes their current  continuous
         deposition  platform  tools will have good sales  performance  into the
         quarter-micron   process   era   and   beyond.   WJ-999   and   WJ-1000
         atmospheric-pressure  systems lead the market for  premetal  dielectric
         films while the HDP  systems are  designed to compete in the market for
         intermetal  dielectric layer films,  especially for the smaller feature
         sizes expected for future chip designs.  We have had several successful
         sample  runs for  various  customers  and are now  starting  the  first
         beta-site  experiment phase with the initial work at our facility while
         the  customer  prepares  its  facility.   Looking  forward,  we  expect
         customers to be placing small orders for their engineering  efforts for
         late 1997 delivery.

         It is recognized that the semiconductor equipment business is cyclical,
         and uncertainty  increases  significantly  when  projecting  demand for
         semiconductor  equipment  products  more than 6 months into the future.
         The semiconductor market may slow more than currently anticipated, thus
         requiring additional  downsizing and associated  reductions in profits.
         In  addition,  inherent  risks and  uncertainties  associated  with the
         development of the WJ-2000P could cause delays in its  availability for
         sale and expected revenues.

         Wireless Communications

         The  company's  range of products for the  wireless  telecommunications
         industry  showed  strength  in the third  quarter,  exceeding  previous
         levels. The company's technological  leadership in microwave integrated
         circuits,  multifunction  assembly  integration  and wideband  receiver
         design   gives  its  products  a  technical   edge  in  many   wireless
         communications  applications.  The company  continues to receive orders
         for  high-fidelity  cellular fraud RF receiver  modules with over 5,100
         receivers  ordered  this  quarter,  bringing  the  total to over  7,500
         ordered this year. They are being delivered smoothly with good customer
         satisfaction. The company booked additional orders in the third quarter
         for its advanced converter  assemblies used in personal  communications
         systems (PCS).

         Current research and development effort centers on the development of a
         demonstration  base station to exhibit wide-band DSP systems technology
         meeting  carrier  desires to see an open  systems  approach to the base
         station  design.  Looking  forward,  laboratory test prototypes will be
         placed with two  customers  in the fourth  quarter.  If these tests are
         successful, field trials are expected in early 1997.

                                     Page 7

<PAGE>

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

         Although our wireless  communications  segment  showed  strength in the
         third  quarter,   customer  demand  for  components  and  subassemblies
         continues to be softer than  expected due to the slow  build-out of the
         PCS  infrastructure.  Slowness  by  certain  customers  to obtain  base
         station site permits from various  municipalities  and to move existing
         users of PCS frequency  bands to other  frequencies is preventing  them
         form  erecting base  stations as quickly as earlier  predictions.  This
         slowdown  of  the  telecom  market  will  lead  to  lower-than-expected
         revenues  and  disproportionately  larger  loss  because  of  the  high
         research and development  spending associated with entering the telecom
         market.

         Government Electronics

         The company's government  electronics operations enjoyed a good quarter
         for orders.  Bookings for  intelligence  receiver  and  signal-analysis
         equipment were healthy as the company  captured  orders at the close of
         the  government  fiscal year.  The success of the  company's  microwave
         subsystems  production  capabilities  as  demonstrated  on the Advanced
         Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile project (AMRAAM), has led several prime
         contractors  to show interest in the company taking over the production
         of modules which they produce internally.  These order wins will assist
         the  government   electronics  segment  in  stabilizing  future  sales.
         Production  ramping is now  beginning  on the two wins of such  modules
         reported last quarter.

         Management continues to review costs to improve profitability. Although
         shipments  and profit  levels were  adversely  effected this quarter by
         converting  to a new  MRP  (materials  requirement  planning)  computer
         system,  it is clear that the  system  will  contribute  to our goal of
         improving   profitability,   although  we  may  not  see  this  benefit
         immediately.

         Third Quarter 1996 Compared to Third Quarter 1995

         Semiconductor  Equipment Group sales and wireless  communications sales
         increased 3.7% and 64.1%,  respectively,  while government  electronics
         sales  decreased  22.2%,  resulting in overall  company sales remaining
         flat.  Although  government  electronics  sales decreased due mostly to
         inefficiencies  discussed  above,  orders were  higher.  Gross  margins
         decreased  from  42.5% to 35.9% due mostly to an  increased  fixed cost
         base  associated  with  earlier  anticipation  of higher  semiconductor
         equipment   revenue  growth  and   inefficiencies   in  the  government
         electronics  segment  stemming  from the  conversion to a new materials
         planning computer system. Selling and administrative expenses decreased
         slightly as a percentage of sales due mostly to cost cutting efforts in
         the government  electronics segment and lower foreign sales commissions
         resulting  from our direct  sales  efforts.  Research  and  development
         expenses  increased  from  11.7% to 14.4%  of sales  due to  continuing
         efforts  to  develop  next-generation  products,  particularly  for the
         Semiconductor  Equipment  Group and  wireless  communications  segment.
         Although  research and development  costs are at a historical high, the
         company is at critical  points on key  developmental  programs on which
         management  believes the earnings  growth  opportunities  outweighs the
         near term  benefits of slowing  the  development  efforts.  As business
         slows for the  remainder  of the year we will need to review other less
         critical research and development  projects and prioritize them. Due to
         the above  factors,  third  quarter 1996 net income  decreased by 68.2%
         compared to the same period in 1995.

                                     Page 8

                                      <PAGE>

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

         Third Quarter  Year-to-Date 1996 Compared to Third Quarter Year-to-Date
         1995

         Semiconductor  Equipment Group sales and wireless  communications sales
         increased 41.9% and 31.6%,  respectively,  while government electronics
         sales  decreased  21.2%,  resulting in an overall  company  increase of
         18.5%. The $22.1 million decrease in government  electronics  sales was
         due in part to the  divestiture of certain  product lines in the second
         quarter of 1995. Gross margins  decreased from 42% to 35.3% due in part
         to termination costs,  inventory  write-offs,  and early 1996 expansion
         efforts in  anticipation  of  increased  business by the  Semiconductor
         Equipment Group. Although selling and administrative expenses decreased
         as a  percentage  of sales  expenses  were higher due to the  increased
         volume and  infrastructure  development  for  higher  1996 sales we had
         projected  earlier.  Research and development  expenses  increased from
         12.2% to 13% of sales.  Due to the above  factors,  net  income for the
         first  three  quarters  of 1996  decreased  56.3%  compared to the same
         period in 1995.

         Risks and Uncertainties That May Affect Future Results

         Statements  included  in  "Management's   Discussion  and  Analysis  of
         Financial Condition and Results of Operations" which are not historical
         facts  are   forward-looking   statements   that   involve   risks  and
         uncertainties that may materially affect future results,  including but
         not limited to: product demand and market  acceptance risks, the effect
         of economic conditions, the impact of competitive products and pricing,
         product development,  commercialization and technological difficulties,
         capacity and supply  constraints or difficulties,  business cycles, the
         results of financing  efforts,  actual purchases under agreements,  the
         effect of the company's  accounting  policies,  U.S.  Government export
         policies, geographic concentrations, natural disasters and other risks.

                                     Page 9
<PAGE>

                           PART II--OTHER INFORMATION


Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

         a.    A list  of the  exhibits  required  to be  filed  as part of this
               report  is set  forth in the  Exhibit  Index,  which  immediately
               precedes such exhibits. The exhibits are number according to Item
               601 of Regulation  S-K.  Exhibits  incorporated by reference to a
               prior filing are designated by an asterisk.

         b.    Report on Form 8-K was  filed on  October  1,  1996.  The  report
               contains the company's Rights Agreement dated as of September 30,
               1996 Between  Watkins-Johnson Company and ChaseMellon Shareholder
               Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent.



                                    Page 10

<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES



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.





                                                 WATKINS-JOHNSON COMPANY
                                                 -----------------------
                                                      (Registrant)



Date: October 30, 1996          By:  /s/          W. Keith Kennedy, Jr.
      ----------------               -------------------------------------------
                                                  W. Keith Kennedy, Jr.
                                         President and Chief Executive Officer







Date: October 30, 1996          By:  /s/            Scott G. Buchanan
      ----------------               -------------------------------------------
                                                    Scott G. Buchanan
                                      Vice President and Chief Financial Officer


                                    Page 11
<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


The  Exhibits  below  are  numbered  according  to Item 601 of  Regulation  S-K.
Exhibits  incorporated  by  reference  to a prior  filing are  designated  by an
asterisk.


        Exhibit
         Number               Exhibit
        -------               -------

          10                  Material Contracts:

          10-a                Watkins-Johnson  Company Credit Agreement covering
                              the period of November 30, 1995  through  December
                              8, 1998, ABN-AMRO BANK N.V. as Agent.

          10-b                Loan  Agreement  dated  as  of  February  9,  1996
                              (English   Translation)  between   Watkins-Johnson
                              International Japan K.K. and The Bank of Yokohama,
                              LTD  (Includes   Loan  Guaranty   Agreement   with
                              Watkins-Johnson Company dated January 31, 1996).

          10-c                Loan Agreement  dated as of June 12, 1996 (English
                              Translation) between Watkins-Johnson International
                              Japan  K.K.   and  The  Japan   Development   Bank
                              (Includes    Loan    Guaranty    Agreement    with
                              Watkins-Johnson Company dated June 12, 1996).

          10-d              * Shareowners'   Rights   Agreement   dated   as  of
                              September 30, 1996 Between Watkins-Johnson Company
                              and ChaseMellon  Shareholder Services,  L.L.C., as
                              Rights Agent (Report on Form 8-K, filed on October
                              1, 1996, Commission File No.1-5631).


          11                  Statement re Computation of Per Share Earnings.

          27                  Financial Data Schedule


                                    Page 12


                               INDEX TO DOCUMENTS

                             WATKINS-JOHNSON COMPANY

                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                          Dated as of November 30, 1995

                               ABN-AMRO BANK N.V.
                                    as Agent

Tab No.
- -------

1.       Credit Agreement

         Schedule 1: Commitments and Commitment Percentages

         Schedule 2: Investment Policy

         Schedule 3: Existing Liens

         Schedule 4: Subsidiaries

         Schedule 5: Litigation

         Schedule 6: Certain Environmental Matters

         Exhibit A: Form of Note

         Exhibit B: Form of Compliance Certificate

                  Schedule 1 to the Compliance Certificate

         Exhibit C: Form of Opinion of Counsel to the Borrower

         Exhibit D: Form of Auditor's Letter

2.       Notes 

         ABN-AMRO Bank N.V. ($30,000,000)

         Union Bank ($20,000,000)

         First National Bank of Boston ($17,500,000)

         First National Bank of Maryland ($17,500,000)


         Bank of America National Trust and
                               Savings Association ($15,000,000)


                                       1.


<PAGE>


                                                                  Execution Copy


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



                            WATKINS-JOHNSON COMPANY

                                 $100,000,000.00

                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                          Dated as of November 30, 1995





                               ABN AMRO BANK N.V.,

                      as Agent, Arranger and Issuing Bank



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


<PAGE>

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                                                            Page
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ARTICLE I        DEFINITIONS ..............................................    1
    
 SECTION 1.01    Certain Defined Terms ....................................    1
 SECTION 1.02    Accounting Terms; GAAP Changes ...........................   14
                 (a)   Accounting Terms ...................................   14
                 (b)   GAAP Changes .......................................   14
 SECTION 1.03    Interpretation ...........................................   14

ARTICLE II       THE LOANS ................................................   15

 SECTION 2.01    The Loans ................................................   15
 SECTION 2.02    Borrowing Procedure ......................................   16
                 (a)   Notice to the Agent ................................   16
                 (b)   Notice to the Banks ................................   16
                 (c)   Net Funding ........................................   16
 SECTION 2.03    Non-Receipt of Funds .....................................   17
 SECTION 2.04    Lending Officies .........................................   17
 SECTION 2.05    Evidence of Indebtedness .................................   17
                 (a)   Notes ..............................................   17
                 (b)   Recordkeeping ......................................   17
 SECTION 2.06    Minimum Amounts ..........................................   17
 SECTION 2.07    Required Notice ..........................................   18


ARTICLE III      THE LETTERS OF CREDIT ....................................   18

 SECTION 3.01    The Letter of Credit Subfacility .........................   18
                 (a)   Letters of Credit ..................................   18
                 (b)   Conditions to Issuance .............................   19
 SECTION 3.02    Issuance, Amendment and Renewal of Letters of Credit .....   20
                 (a)   Notice to Issuing Bank of Issuance Request .........   20
                 (b)   Issuance of Letters of Credit ......................   20
                 (c)   Notice to Issuing Bank of Amendment Request ........   20
                 (d)   Notice to Issuing Bank of Renewal Request ..........   21
                 (e)   Expiry of Letters of Credit ........................   21
                 (f)   Conflicts with L/C-Related Documents ...............   22


                                       i.


<PAGE>

                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----

 SECTION 3.03    Participations, Drawings and Reimbursements ..............   22
                 (a)   Participations of Banks in Letters of Credit .......   22
                 (b)   Drawing and Reimbursement ..........................   22
                 (c)   Funding by Banks ...................................   22
                 (d)   L/C Unreimbursed Draws .............................   23
                 (e)   Obligation of Banks Absolute .......................   23
 SECTION 3.04    Repayment of Participations ..............................   23
 SECTION 3.05    Role of the Issuing Bank .................................   24
                 (a)   No Responsibility of Issuing Bank ..................   24
                 (b)   No Liability of Agent/IB-Related Persons ...........   24
 SECTION 3.06    Obligations of Borrower Absolute .........................   25
 SECTION 3.07    Cash Collateral Pledge ...................................   26
 SECTION 3.08    Letter of Credit Fees ....................................   26
                 (a)   Certain Letter of Credit Fees ......................   26
                 (b)   Certain Additional Fees and Charges ................   27
                 (c)   Fees Nonrefundable .................................   27
 SECTION 3.09    Uniform Customs and Practice .............................   27


ARTICLE IV       INTEREST AND FEES; CONVERSION OR
                 CONTINUATION .............................................   27

 SECTION 4.01    Interest .................................................   27
                 (a)   Interest Rate ......................................   27
                 (b)   Interest Periods ...................................   28
                 (c)   Interest Payment Dates .............................   28
                 (d)   Notice to the Borrower and the Banks ...............   29
 SECTION 4.02    Default Rate of Interest .................................   29
 SECTION 4.03    Fees .....................................................   29
                 (a)   Commitment Fee .....................................   29
                 (b)   Agency and Arranger's Fee ..........................   29
                 (c)   Fees Nonrefundable .................................   29
 SECTION 4.04    Computations .............................................   29
 SECTION 4.05    Conversion or Continuation ...............................   30
                 (a)   Election ...........................................   30
                 (b)   Automatic Conversion ...............................   30
                 (c)   Notice to the Agent ................................   30
                 (d)   Notice to the Banks ................................   31
 SECTION 4.06    Highest Lawful Rate ......................................   31


                                      ii.

                            
<PAGE>

                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----

ARTICLE V        REDUCTION OF COMMITMENTS; REPAYMENT;
                 PREPAYMENT ...............................................   31

 SECTION 5.01    Reduction or Termination of the Commitments ..............   31
                 (a)   Optional Reduction or Termination ..................   31
                 (b)   Notice .............................................   31
                 (c)   Adjustment of Commitment Fee; No Reinstatement .....   31
 SECTION 5.02    Repayment of the Loans ...................................   32
 SECTION 5.03    Prepayments ..............................................   32
                 (a)   Optional Prepayments ...............................   32
                 (b)   Notice; Application ................................   32


ARTICLE VI       YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY ..........................   32

 SECTION 6.01    Inability to Determine Rates .............................   32
 SECTION 6.02    Funding Losses ...........................................   32
 SECTION 6.03    Regulatory Changes .......................................   33
                 (a)   Increased Costs ....................................   33
                 (b)   Capital Requirements ...............................   33
                 (c)   Requests ...........................................   34
 SECTION 6.04    Illegality ...............................................   34
 SECTION 6.05    Funding Assumptions ......................................   34
 SECTION 6.06    Obligation to Mitigate ...................................   34


ARTICLE VII      PAYMENTS .................................................   35

 SECTION 7.01    Pro Rata Treatment .......................................   35
 SECTION 7.02    Payments .................................................   35
                 (a)   Payments ...........................................   35
                 (b)   Authorization to Agent .............................   35
                 (c)   Extension ..........................................   35
 SECTION 7.03    Taxes ....................................................   35
                 (a)   No Reduction of Payments ...........................   35
                 (b)   Deduction or Withholding; Tax Receipts .............   36
                 (c)   Indemnity ..........................................   36
                 (d)   Forms 1001 and 4224 ................................   36
                 (e)   Mitigation .........................................   36
 SECTION 7.04    Non-Receipt of Funds .....................................   37
 SECTION 7.05    Sharing of Payments ......................................   37


                                      iii.


<PAGE>

                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----

ARTICLE VIII     CONDITIONS PRECEDENT .....................................   37

 SECTION 8.01    Conditions Precedent to the Effectiveness of Agreement ...   37
                 (a)   Fees and Expenses ..................................   38
                 (b)   Loan Documents .....................................   38
                 (c)   Additional Closing Documents and Actions ...........   38
                 (d)   Corporate Documents ................................   38
                 (e)   Legal Opinions .....................................   39
                 (f)   Auditor's Letter ...................................   39
 SECTION 8.02    Conditions Precedent to All Credit Extensions ............   39
                 (a)   Notice .............................................   39
                 (b)   Material Adverse Effect ............................   39
                 (c)   Representations and Warranties; No Default .........   39
                 (d)   Additional Documents ...............................   40


ARTICLE IX       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES ...........................   40

 SECTION 9.01    Representations and Warranties ...........................   40
                 (a)   Organization and Powers ............................   40
                 (b)   Authorization; No Conflict .........................   40
                 (c)   Binding Obligation .................................   40
                 (d)   Consents ...........................................   40
                 (e)   No Defaults ........................................   41
                 (f)   Title to Properties; Liens .........................   41
                 (g)   Litigation .........................................   41
                 (h)   Compliance with Environmental Laws .................   41
                 (i)   Governmental Regulation ............................   41
                 (j)   ERISA ..............................................   41
                 (k)   Subsidiaries .......................................   42
                 (l)   Margin Regulations .................................   42
                 (m)   Taxes ..............................................   42
                 (n)   Patents and Other Rights ...........................   42
                 (o)   Insurance ..........................................   42
                 (p)   Financial Statements ...............................   43
                 (q)   Liabilities ........................................   43
                 (r)   Labor Disputes, Etc. ...............................   43
                 (s)   Disclosure .........................................   43


                                       iv.

<PAGE>

                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----

ARTICLE X        COVENANTS ................................................   43

 SECTION 10.01   Reporting Covenants ......................................   43
                 (a)   Financial Statements and Other Reports .............   43
                 (b)   Additional Information .............................   45
 SECTION 10.02   Financial Covenants ......................................   46
                 (a)   Leverage Ratio .....................................   46
                 (b)   Minimum Consolidated Net Worth .....................   47
                 (c)   Quick Ratio ........................................   47
                 (d)   Profitability ......................................   47
                 (e)   Senior Debt to Total Capitalization ................   47
 SECTION 10.03   Additional Affirmative Covenants .........................   47
                 (a)   Preservation of Existence, Etc. ....................   47
                 (b)   Payment of Taxes, Etc. .............................   47
                 (c)   Maintenance of Insurance ...........................   47
                 (d)   Keeping of Records and Books of Account ............   48
                 (e)   Inspection Rights ..................................   48
                 (f)   Compliance with Laws, Etc. .........................   48
                 (g)   Maintenance of Properties, Etc. ....................   48
                 (h)   Licenses ...........................................   48
                 (i)   Action Under Environmental Laws ....................   49
                 (j)   Use of Proceeds ....................................   49
                 (k)   Further Assurances and Additional Acts .............   49
 SECTION 10.04   Negative Covenants .......................................   49
                 (a)   Liens; Negative Pledges ............................   49
                 (b)   Change in Nature of Business .......................   49
                 (c)   Restrictions on Fundamental Changes ................   49
                 (d)   Sales of Assets ....................................   50
                 (e)   Loans and Investments ..............................   51
                 (f)   Distributions ......................................   51
                 (g)   Transactions with Related Parties ..................   52
                 (h)   Hazardous Substances ...............................   52
                 (i)   Accounting Changes .................................   52
                 (j)   Regulations G, T, U, and X .........................   52


ARTICLE XI       EVENTS OF DEFAULT ........................................   53

 SECTION 11.01   Events of Default ........................................   53
                 (a)   Payments ...........................................   53
                 (b)   Representations and Warranties .....................   53


                                       v.


<PAGE>

                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----

                 (c)   Failure by Borrower to Perform Certain Covenants ...   53
                 (d)   Failure by Borrower to Perform Other Covenants .....   53
                 (e)   Bankruptcy .........................................   53
                 (f)   Involuntary Bankruptcy .............................   54
                 (g)   Default Under Other Indebtedness ...................   54
                 (h)   Judgments ..........................................   54
                 (i)   ERISA ..............................................   54
                 (j)   Dissolution, Etc. ..................................   55
                 (k)   Material Adverse Change ............................   55
                 (l)   Change in Ownership or Control .....................   55
 SECTION 11.02   Effect of Event of Default ...............................   55


ARTICLE XII      THE AGENT ................................................   56

 SECTION 12.01   Authorization and Action .................................   56
 SECTION 12.02   Limitation on Liability; Notices .........................   56
                 (a)   Limitation on Liability of Agent and Issuing Bank ..   56
                 (b)   Notices ............................................   57
 SECTION 12.03   Agent and Affiliates .....................................   57
 SECTION 12.04   Notice of Defaults .......................................   57
 SECTION 12.05   Non-Reliance on Agent and Issuing Bank ...................   58
                 (a)   Non-Reliance .......................................   58
                 (b)   Bank Consent .......................................   58
 SECTION 12.06   Indemnification ..........................................   58
 SECTION 12.07   Delegation of Duties .....................................   59
 SECTION 12.08   Successor Agent ..........................................   59

ARTICLE XIII     MISCELLANEOUS ............................................   60

 SECTION 13.01   Amendments and Waivers ...................................   60
 SECTION 13.02   Notices ..................................................   61
                 (a)   Notices ............................................   61
                 (b)   Facsimile and Telephonic Notice ....................   61
 SECTION 13.03   No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies ...........................   62
 SECTION 13.04   Costs and Expenses; Indemnification ......................   62
                 (a)   Costs and Expenses .................................   62
                 (b)   Indemnification ....................................   62
                 (c)   Other Charges ......................................   63
 SECTION 13.05   Right of Set-Off .........................................   63


                                      vi.
    

<PAGE>

                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----

 SECTION 13.06   Survival .................................................   63
 SECTION 13.07   Obligations Several ......................................   64
 SECTION 13.08   Benefits of Agreement ....................................   64
 SECTION 13.09   Binding Effect; Assignment ...............................   64
                 (a)   Binding Effect .....................................   64
                 (b)   Assignments and Participations .....................   64
 SECTION 13.10   Governing Law ............................................   66
 SECTION 13.11   Waiver of Jury Trial .....................................   66
 SECTION 13.12   Limitation on Liability ..................................   66
 SECTION 13.13   Entire Agreement .........................................   66
 SECTION 13.14   Interpretation ...........................................   67
 SECTION 13.15   Severability .............................................   67
 SECTION 13.16   Counterparts .............................................   67


SCHEDULES

Schedule 1  Commitments and Commitment Percentages (Section 1)
Schedule 2  Investment Policy (Section 1)
Schedule 3  Existing Liens (Section 1)
Schedule 4  Subsidiaries (Section 9.01(k))
Schedule 5  Litigation (Section 9.01(g))
Schedule 6  Certain Environmental Matters (Section 9.01(h))

EXHIBITS

Exhibit A           Form of Note
Exhibit B           Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit C           Form of Opinion of Counsel to the Borrower
Exhibit D           Form of Auditor's Letter



                                      vii.


<PAGE>

                                CREDIT AGREEMENT


                  THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of November
30, 1995, is made among Watkins-Johnson  Company, a California  corporation (the
"Borrower"),  the financial  institutions  listed on the signature pages of this
Agreement  under the  heading  "BANKS"  (each a "Bank"  and,  collectively,  the
"Banks"),  ABN AMRO  Bank  N.V.,  as  letter  of  credit  issuing  bank (in such
capacity,  the "Issuing  Bank"),  and ABN AMRO Bank N.V., as agent for the Banks
hereunder (in such capacity, the "Agent").

                  The Borrower has requested that the Banks,  and the Banks have
agreed  to,  make a  revolving  credit  facility  (including  a letter of credit
subfacility)  available  to the  Borrower,  upon the  terms and  subject  to the
conditions set forth in this Agreement.

                  Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                                    ARTICLE I
                                   DEFINITIONS

                  SECTION 1.01 Certain  Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement
(including in the recitals hereof), the following terms shall have the following
meanings:

                  "ABN" means ABN AMRO Bank N.V.

                  "Adjusted  LIBO Rate" means for each Interest  Period the rate
per annum (rounded upward, if necessary,  to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) determined
by the Agent pursuant to the following formula:

           Adjusted LIBO.                                LIBO Rate
                                   =        ------------------------------------
           Rate                             100% - Eurodollar Reserve Percentage

The Adjusted LIBO Rate shall be adjusted  automatically as of the effective date
of any change in the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage.

                  "Affiliate"  means any Person which,  directly or  indirectly,
controls,  is controlled by or is under common control with another Person.  For
purposes of the  foregoing,  "control" with respect to any Person shall mean the
possession,  directly or indirectly, of the power (i) to vote 10% or more of the
securities  having  ordinary  voting power for the election of directors of such
Person,  or (ii) to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies
of such  Person,  whether  through  the  ownership  of voting  securities  or by
contract or otherwise.

                  "Agent" has the meaning set forth in the introduction to  this
Agreement.

                                       1.


<PAGE>

                  "Agent/IB-Related Persons" means ABN as Agent and Issuing Bank
and any  successor  Agent  arising  under  Section  12.08,  together  with their
respective  Affiliates,  and the  officers,  directors,  employees,  agents  and
attorneys-in-fact of such Persons and Affiliates.

                  "Agent's Account" means the account of the Agent maintained at
the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (ABA No. 026009580; for account of ABN AMRO
Bank San Francisco) bearing the number 651001054541 or such other account as the
Agent from time to time may  designate  in a written  notice to the Borrower and
the Banks.

                  "Applicable  Margin" means, as determined  under Section 4.04,
the applicable "Pricing Margin" set forth below opposite such range:

                  Debt/EBITDA Ratio                       Pricing Margin
                  -----------------                       --------------

                  greater than or
                  equal to 1.00 to 1.00                   1.00%

                  less than
                  1.00 to 1.00                            0.75%

                  "Banks" has the meaning  specified in the introductory  clause
hereto.  References to the Banks shall include references to ABN in its capacity
as the Issuing Bank.

                  "Bankruptcy Code" means the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978.

                  "Base Rate" means, for any day, the higher of:

                  (a) the Prime Commercial Lending Rate of ABN as announced from
time to time by ABN at its Chicago office; and

                  (b) one-half percent per annum above the latest Federal  Funds
Rate.

                  Any change in the Prime  Commercial  Lending Rate announced by
ABN shall take effect at the opening of  business  on the day  specified  in the
public  announcement  of such change.  Each change in the  interest  rate on the
Loans or Other  Obligations  bearing interest at the Base Rate based on a change
in the Base Rate shall be effective as of the  effective  date of such change in
the Base Rate.

                  "Base Rate Loan" means a Loan bearing interest  based  on  the
Base Rate. 

                  "Borrower"  has the meaning set forth in the  recitals to this
Agreement.

                  "Borrower's  Account"  means  the  account   of  the  Borrower
maintained at Bank of America National  Trust  and  Savings Association, bearing
the number 14847-


                                       2.


<PAGE>

04040,  or such other account as the Borrower from time to time shall  designate
in a written  notice to the Agent for the deposit of funds  borrowed  under this
Agreement.

                  "Borrowing" means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Loans
made at any one time to the  Borrower  from the Banks  pursuant to Article II or
Article III.

                  "Business  Day" means a day (i) other than Saturday or Sunday,
and (ii) on which  commercial banks are open for business in New York, New York,
and San Francisco, California.

                  "Capital Lease" means,  for any Person,  any lease of property
(whether  real,  personal or mixed) in respect of which such Person is liable as
lessee and which, in accordance with GAAP, would, at the time a determination is
made, be required to be recorded as a capital lease.

                  "Closing Date" means the effective date of this Agreement,  on
or prior to which the conditions  precedent set forth in Section 8.01 shall have
been satisfied or waived by all of the Banks.

                  "Commitment"  means,  when used with  reference to any Bank at
the time any determination  thereof is to be made, the amount set forth opposite
the name of such Bank on  Schedule 1, as from time to time  reduced  pursuant to
Section 5.01, or, where the context so requires,  the obligation of such Bank to
make  Loans up to such  amount  on the terms  and  conditions  set forth in this
Agreement.

                  "Commitment  Percentage" means, as to any Bank, the percentage
equivalent of such Bank's Commitment divided by the aggregate  Commitments.  The
initial  Commitment  Percentage  of each Bank is set forth  opposite such Bank's
name in Schedule 1 under the heading "Commitment Percentage."

                  "Compliance  Certificate" means a certificate of a Responsible
Officer  of the  Borrower,  in  substantially  the form of  Exhibit B, with such
changes  thereto  as the  Agent or any Bank  may  from  time to time  reasonably
request.

                  "Consolidated  Adjusted  Current Assets" means, as of any date
of  determination,  the sum of cash,  cash  equivalents,  Permitted  Investments
having a term of less  than one year,  and net  accounts  receivable  (including
unbilled  accounts  receivable  in an amount not  exceeding  $5,000,000)  of the
Borrower  and  its  Subsidiaries  on a  consolidated  basis,  as  determined  in
accordance with GAAP.

                  "Consolidated  Adjusted Current Liiabilities" means, as of any
date of determination,  without duplication,  the sum of (a) current liabilities
and (b)  outstanding  Indebtedness  under  any  revolving  line of credit of the
Borrower  and  its  Subsidiaries  on a  consolidated  basis,  as  determined  in
accordance with GAAP.

                                       3.


<PAGE>

                 "Consolidated  EBITDA" means, for any period,  Consolidated Net
Income  plus  Consolidated   Interest  Expense  plus  income  tax  expense  plus
depreciation expense and amortization expense which were deducted in determining
Consolidated Net Income,  of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated
basis, as determined in accordance with GAAP.

                 "Consolidated Interest Expense" means, for any period, interest
expense  (including that attributable to Capital Leases) of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries on a consolidated  basis, and all commissions,  discounts and other
fees and charges owed with respect to standby  letters of credit,  as determined
in accordance with GAAP.

                 "Consolidated Net Income" means, for any period, the net income
of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  on a  consolidated  basis for such period
taken as a single accounting period, as determined in accordance with GAAP.

                 "Consolidated   Net   Worth"   means,   as  of  any   date   of
determination, Consolidated Total Assets minus Consolidated Total Liabilities.

                 "Consolidated  Tangible  Net  Worth"  means,  as of any date of
determination,  Consolidated  Total Assets minus Consolidated Total Liabilities,
minus  (i) all  assets  which  would  be  classified  as  intangible  assets  in
accordance with GAAP, including goodwill,  organizational expense,  research and
development  expense,  patent  applicatiom,  patents,  trademarks,  trade names,
brands,  copyrights,  trade secrets,  customer lists,  licenses,  franchises and
covenants not to compete;  (ii) all unamortized  debt discount and expense;  and
(iii) all treasury stock.

                 "Consolidated   Total  Assets"   means,   as  of  any  date  of
determination,  the  total  assets of the Borrower  and  its  Subsidiaries  on a
consolidated basis, as determined in accordance with GAAP.

                 "Consolidated  Total  Liabilities"  means,  as of any  date  of
determination,  the total  liabilities of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a
consolidated  basis, as determined in accordance with GAAP, plus all off-balance
sheet  liabilities  (including,  without  limitation,  Indebtedness  of the type
described in clause (vi) of the definition of "Indebtedness."

                 "Credit  Extension"  means  each  of  (a)  the  making  of  any
Revolving  Loans  hereunder;  (b) the  continuation  or  conversion  of any Loan
pursuant to Section 4.05;  (c) the issuance of any Letters of Credit  hereunder;
and (d) the amendment or renewal of any Letters of Credit hereunder.

                 "Debt/EBITDA  Ratio" means the ratio of (a) consolidated Funded
Debt of the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  as of the last  day of any  fiscal
quarter of the  Borrower  to (b)  Consolidated  EBITDA for the four  consecutive
fiscal quarters  ending with such fiscal  quarter,  as  determined in accordance
with GAAP.

                                       4.


<PAGE>

                  "Default"  means an Event of Default or an event or  condition
which with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute an Event of Default.

                  "Dollars"  and  the  sign  "$"  each means lawful money of the
United States.

                  "Effective  Amount"  means (i) with  respect to any  Revolving
Loans on any date the  aggregate  outstanding  principal  amount  thereof  after
giving effect to any Borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Revolving Loans
occurring on such date; and (ii) with respect to any outstanding L/C Obligations
on any date the amount of such L/C  Obligations on such date after giving effect
to any issuances, amendments and renewals of Letters of Credit occurring on such
date and any other changes in the aggregate  amount of the L/C Obligations as of
such date,  including as a result of any  reimbursements  of outstanding  unpaid
drawings  under any Letters of Credit or any  reductions  in the maximum  amount
available for drawing under Letters of Credit taking effect on such date.

                  "Environmental  Laws" means all federal,  state or local laws,
statutes, common law duties, rules, regulations,  ordinances and codes, together
with all administrative orders, directives,  requests, licenses,  authorizations
and  permits  of,  and  agreements  with  (including   consent   decrees),   any
Governmental  Authorities,  in each case  relating to or imposing  liability  or
standards  of  conduct  concerning  public  health,   safety  and  environmental
protection  matters,   including  the  Comprehensive   Environmental   Response,
Compensation  and  Liability  Act of 1980,  the Clean Air Act, the Federal Water
Pollution  Control  Act of 1972,  the Solid  Waste  Disposal  Act,  the  Federal
Resource  Conservation and Recovery Act, the Toxic  Substances  Control Act, the
Emergency  Planning and Community  Right-to-Know  Act, the California  Hazardous
Waste Control Law, the California Solid Waste Management,  Resource Recovery and
Recycling  Act, the California  Water Code and the California  Health and Safety
Code.

                  "ERISA" means the Employee  Retirement  Income Security Act of
1974, including (unless the context otherwise requires) any rules or regulations
promulgated thereunder.

                  "ERISA  Affiliate" means any trade or business (whether or not
incorporated) which is under common control with the Borrower within the meaning
of Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA and Sections 414(b), (c) and (m) of the Internal
Revenue Code.

                  "ERISA  Event" means (i) a Reportable  Event with respect to a
Pension  Plan;  (ii) a withdrawal by the Borrower from a Pension Plan subject to
Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial  employer
(as defined in Section  4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations  which
is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (iii) the filing
of a notice of intent to  terminate,  the  treatment  of a plan  amendment  as a
termination  under  Section  4041 or  4041A  of  ERISA  or the  commencement  of
proceedings  by the PBGC to  terminate  a Pension  Plan  subject  to Title IV of
ERISA; (iv) a failure by the Borrower to make

                                       5.


<PAGE>

required contributions to a Pension Plan or other Plan subject to Section 412 of
the Code;  (v) an event or  condition  which might  reasonably  be  expected  to
constitute  grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the  termination  of, or the
appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan; (vi) the imposition of
any  liability  under Title IV of ERISA,  other than PBGC  premiums  due but not
delinquent  under  Section  4007 of  ERISA,  upon  the  Borrower;  or  (vii)  an
application  for a funding  waiver or an  extension of any  amortization  period
pursuant to Section 412 of the Code with respect to any Pension Plan.

                  "Eurodollar  Reserve  Percentage"  means the  maximum  reserve
requirement  percentage  (including  any  ordinary,  supplemental,  marginal and
emergency  reserves),  if any, as determined by the Agent, then applicable under
Regulation  D in respect  of  Eurocurrency  funding  (currently  referred  to as
"Eurocurrency  Liabilities") of a member bank in the Federal Reserve System with
deposits exceeding $1,000,000,000.

                 "Event of Default" has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01.

                  "Event  of  Loss"  means  with  respect  to any  asset  of the
Borrower or its Subsidiaries any of the following:  (i) any loss, destruction or
damage  of such  asset;  (ii)  any  pending  or  threatened  institution  of any
proceedings  for the  condemnation  or  seizure of such asset or of any right of
eminent domain; or (iii) any actual condemnation, seizure or taking, by exercise
of the power of eminent domain or otherwise,  of such asset,  or confiscation of
such asset or requisition of the use of such asset.

                  "Federal  Funds Rate"  means,  for any day, the rate per annum
(rounded upward, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%), as determined by the
Agent,  equal to the weighted  average of the rates on overnight  Federal  funds
transactions  with  members of the Federal  Reserve  System  arranged by Federal
funds  brokers,  as published  for any day of  determination  (or if such day of
determination is not a Business Day, for the next preceding Business Day) by the
Federal  Reserve Bank of New York,  or, if such rate is not so published for any
day which is a Business Day, the average of the  quotations for such day on such
transactions  received  by  the  Agent  from  three  Federal  funds  brokers  of
recognized standing selected by the Agent.

                  "Final Maturity Date" means December 8, 1998.

                  "FRB"  means the Board of  Governors  of the  Federal  Reserve
System, or any entity succeeding to any of its principal functions.

                  "Funded Debt" means,  without duplication, (a) Indebtedness of
the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries and (b) off-balance  sheet  liabilities
(other than  obligations  under  standby  performance  letters of credit) of the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

                 "GAAP" means generally  accepted  accounting  principles in the
U.S. as in effect from time to time.


                                       6.


<PAGE>

                 "Governmental  Authority"  means any federal,  state,  local or
other  governmental  department,  commission,  board,  bureau,  agency,  central
bank,  court,  tribunal  or other  instrumentality  or  authority,  domestic  or
foreign,   exercising   executive,   legislative,    judicial,   regulatory   or
administrative functions of or pertaining to government.

                 "Guaranty  Obligation"  means,  as applied to any  Person,  any
direct or  indirect  liability,  contingent  or  otherwise,  of that Person with
respect  to any  Indebtedness,  lease,  dividend,  letter  of  credit  or  other
obligation  (the  "primary   obligations")   of  another  Person  (the  "primary
obligor"),  including any obligation of that Person (i) to purchase,  repurchase
or  otherwise  acquire  such primary  obligations  or any property  constituting
direct or indirect  security  therefor,  or (ii) to advance or provide funds (A)
for the payment or discharge of any such primary obligation,  or (B) to maintain
working  capital  or equity  capital of the  primary  obligor  or  otherwise  to
maintain the net worth or solvency or any balance sheet item, level of income or
financial  condition  of the primary  obligor,  or (iii) to  purchase  property,
securities  or services  primarily  for the purpose of assuring the owner of any
such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of
such primary obligation, or (iv) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the holder
of any such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof.

                 "Hazardous  Substances" means any hazardous or toxic substance,
material or waste, defined, listed,  classified or regulated as such in or under
any Environmental  Laws,  including  asbestos,  petroleum or petroleum  products
(including  gasoline,  crude  oil  or  any  fraction  thereof),  polychlorinated
biphenyls and ureaformaldehyde insulation.

                 "IRS" means the  Internal  Revenue  Service,  or any  successor
thereto.

                 "Indebtedness"  means, for any Person:  (i) all indebtedness or
other obligations of such Person for borrowed money or for the deferred purchase
price of property or services;  (ii)  all obligations evidenced by notes, bonds,
debentures or similar instruments,  including  obligations so evidenced incurred
in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses;  (iii) 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); (iv)
all obligations under Capital Leases; (v) all reimbursement or other obligations
of such Person under or in respect of letters of credit and bankers acceptances,
and all net  obligations in respect of Rate  Contracts;  (vi) all obligations of
such Person with respect to accounts receivable sold, assigned or transferred by
such Person, to the extent they were sold, assigned or transferred with recourse
to such Person;  (vii) all Guaranty  Obligations;  and (vi) all  indebtedness of
another  Person  secured by any Lien upon or in property owned by the Person for
whom Indebtedness is being determined, whether or not such Person has assumed or
become liable for the payment of such indebtedness of such other Person.


                                       7.


<PAGE>

                 "Insolvency  Proceeding"  means  any  proceeding  of  the  type
described in Section 11.01(e) or (f).

                  "Interest Payment Date" means a date specified for the payment
of interest pursuant to Section 4.01(c).

                 "Interest  Period"  means,  with respect to any LIBOR Loan, the
period determined in accordance with Section 4.01(b) applicable thereto.

                  "Internal  Revenue  Code" means the  Internal  Revenue Code of
1986, including (unless the context otherwise requires) any rules or regulations
promulgated thereunder.

                 "Issuing Bank" has the meaning set forth in the introduction to
this Agreement.

                  "L/C  Advance"  means  each  Bank's  participation  in any L/C
Unreimbursed Draw in accordance with its Commitment Percentage.

                  "L/C  Amendment  Application"  means an  application  form for
amendments of outstanding  standby  letters of credit as shall at any time be in
use at the Issuing Bank, as the Issuing Bank shall request.

                  "L/C Application" means such application form for issuances of
standby letters of credit as shall at any time be in use at the Issuing Bank, as
the Issuing Bank shall request.

                  "L/C Commitment"  means,  when used with reference to any Bank
at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the obligation of such Bank
to participate  in Letters of Credit issued or  outstanding  pursuant to Article
III and to make L/C Advances,  in an aggregate  amount not to exceed on any date
the  amount  set  forth  opposite  such  Bank's  name  under  the  heading  "L/C
Commitment"  on  Schedule  1, as from time to time  reduced  pursuant to Section
5.01;  provided  that each  Bank's L/C  Commitment  is a part of its  Commitment
rather than a separate, independent commitment.

                 "L/C  Obligations"  means  at any  time  the  sum  of  (a)  the
aggregate  undrawn  amount of all Letters of Credit,  plus (b) the amount of all
unreimbursed   drawings   under  all  Letters  of  Credit,   including  all  L/C
Unreimbursed Draws.

                  "L/C-Related  Documents"  means (i) the  Letters of Credit and
(ii)  the  L/C  Applications,  the L/C  Amendment  Applications  and  any  other
document,  agreement  and  instrument  executed  and  delivered  by the Borrower
relating to any Letter of Credit,  including any of the Issuing Bank's  standard
form documents for letter of credit issuances.


                                       8.


<PAGE>

                  "L/C  Unreimbursed  Draw" means a drawing  under any Letter of
Credit which shall not have been  reimbursed on the date when made nor converted
into a Borrowing of Revolving Loans, as provided in Section 3.03(b).

                  "Lending Office" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04.

                  "Letters of Credit" means any standby  letter of credit issued
by the Issuing Bank pursuant to Article III.

                  "LIBO Rate" means,  for each  Interest  Period with respect to
LIBOR  Loans  comprising  part of the same  Borrowing,  the  rate  per  annum as
determined by the Agent to be the arithmetic mean (rounded  upwards if necessary
to the nearest 1/16 of one percent) of the rates per annum appearing on Telerate
Page 3750 (or any successor  publication) on the second LIBOR Business Day prior
to the commencement of such Interest Period at or about 11:00 a.m. (London time)
(for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) for a term comparable to
such Interest Period and in an amount  approximately  equal to the amount of the
LIBOR Loan to be made or funded by the Agent as part of such  Borrowing.  If for
any reason rates are not available as provided in the  preceding  sentence,  the
rate to be used shall be the rate per annum at which Dollar deposits are offered
to the Agent in the  London  interbank  eurodollar  market on the  second  LIBOR
Business Day prior to the commencement of such Interest Period at or about 11:00
a.m.  (London time) for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period and in
an amount  approximately  equal to the  amount  of the LIBOR  Loan to be made or
funded by the Agent as part of such Borrowing.

                  "LIBOR Business Day" means a Business Day on which dealings in
Dollar deposits are carried on in the London interbank market.

                  "LIBOR Loan" means a Revolving Loan bearing  interest based on
the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

                  "Lien" means any  mortgage,  deed of trust,  pledge,  security
interest,   assignment,   deposit  arrangement,   charge  or  encumbrance,  lien
(statutory  or  other),  or  other  preferential   arrangement   (including  any
conditional  sale or other title  retention  agreement,  or any financing  lease
having  substantially  the same  economic  effect as any of the foregoing or any
agreement to give any security interest).

                  "Loan"  means  an  extension  of  credit,  in  the  form  of a
Revolving Loan or L/C Advance,  by a Bank to the Borrower pursuant to Article II
or III.

                  "Loan Documents" means this Agreement, the Notes and all other
certificates,  documents, agreements and instruments delivered to the Agent, the
Issuing Bank and the Banks under or in connection with this  Agreement,  and all
L/C-Related Documents.


                                       9.


<PAGE>

                 "Majority  Banks"  means at any  time  Banks  holding  at least
66-2/3% of the then aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Revolving Loans and
L/C Obligations,  or, if neither such principal amount nor Letters of Credit are
then outstanding, Banks having at least 66-2/3% of the aggregate Commitments.

                  "Material  Adverse Effect" means (i) a material adverse change
in, or a material  adverse effect upon, the  operations,  business,  properties,
condition  (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Borrower or the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (ii) a material impairment of the ability
of the Borrower to perform under any Loan Document or any loan document relating
to any Indebtedness  described in Section 11.01(g);  or (iii) a material adverse
effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of any Loan
Document.

                  "Material   Subsidiaries"   means  all   Subsidiaries  of  the
Borrower, but excluding each of the following:  Watkins Johnson Limited, Watkins
Johnson (UK) Ltd., Watkins Johnson Associates and Watkins Johnson Environmental;
provided,  however,  that  each  such  Subsidiary  shall be  deemed a  "Material
Subsidiary"  from and after any time that  such  Subsidiary's  (a) total  assets
exceed $100,000 or (b) net income per year exceeds $1,000,000.

                 "Minimum Amount" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.06.

                 "Multiemployer  Plan" means  a "multiemployer  plan" as defined
in Sections 3(37) and 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

                  "Note" means a Promissory Note of the Borrower  payable to the
order of a Bank, in substantially the form of Exhibit A.

                 "Notice" means a Notice of Borrowing, a Notice of Conversion or
Continuation or a Notice of Prepayment.

                 "Notice  of  Borrowing"  has the  meaning  set forth in Section
2.02(a).

                 "Notice of  Conversion  or  Continuation"  has the  meaning set
forth in Section 4.05(c).

                 "Notice of  Prepayment"  has the  meaning  set forth in Section
5.03(b).

                  "Obligations"  means the  indebtedness,  liabilities and other
obligations of the Borrower to the Agent or any Bank under or in connection with
the Loan Documents,  including all Loans, all interest accrued thereon, all fees
due under this  Agreement and all other  amounts  payable by the Borrower to the
Agent  or  any  Bank  thereunder  or in  connection  therewith,  whether  now or
hereafter  existing  or arising,  and whether due or to become due,  absolute or
contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, determined or undetermined.


                                       10.


<PAGE>

                 "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty  Corporation,  or any
successor thereto.

                 "Pension  Plan"  means  a pension  plan (as  defined in Section
3(2) of ERISA)  subject to Title IV of ERISA,  which the  Borrower  sponsors  or
maintains,   or  to  which  it  makes,  is  making,  or  is  obligated  to  make
contributions,  or in the case of a  multiple  employer  plan (as  described  in
Section  4064(a)  of  ERISA)  has  made  contributions  at any time  during  the
immediately preceding five plan years.

                  "Performance  Letter of Credit"  means a  performance  standby
letter of credit  which, for risk-based capital purposes,  is characterized as a
transaction-related contingency and subject  to a credit conversion factor of 50
percent in accordance  with the risk-based  capital  adequacy  guidelines of the
FRB, as determined by the Issuing Bank in its sole discretion.

                  "Permitted  Investments"  means any investment by the Borrower
meeting the  standards  prescribed by the Board of Directors of the Borrower for
the types of securities  which are permitted for  investment by the Company,  as
set forth in the  resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Borrower  adopted
on February 27, 1995 and attached hereto as Schedule 2.

                  "Permitted Liens" means:

                           (i)  security interests and deeds of  trust that  may
at any time be  granted  in favor of the Agent on behalf of the Banks;

                           (ii) liens, security  interests  and  encumbrances in
existence  as  of  the  date  of this  Agreement listed on Schedule  3,  and any
substitutions  or  renewals  thereof, provided  that the principal amount of the
obligations secured thereby is not increased;

                           (iii)  liens for current taxes, assessments  or other
governmental  charges  which  are  not  delinquent or remain payable without any
penalty;

                           (iv) liens in connection  with workers' compensation,
unemployment  insurance or other social  security obligations;

                           (v) mechanics',  workers', materialmen's, landlords',
carriers' or other like liens  arising  in  the  ordinary  and  normal course of
business with respect to obligations which are not due;

                           (vi) purchase money security interests in personal or
real property hereafter acquired when the  security  interest  does  not  extend
beyond the property purchased;

                                       11.


<PAGE>

                           (vii) construction liens in favor  of a  construction
lender when the lien does not extend beyond the improvements  being  constructed
and the underlying real property; and

                           (viii) liens arising in connection  with  any sale of
accounts receivable permitted under  Section  10.04(d),  when  the lien does not
extend beyond the accounts receivable so sold.

                  "Person" means an individual,  corporation,  limited liability
company,  partnership, joint venture, trust,  unincorporated organization or any
other entity of whatever nature or any Governmental Authority.

                  "Plan"  means an employee  benefit plan (as defined in Section
3(3) of  ERISA)  which  the  Borrower  sponsors  or  maintains,  or to which the
Borrower makes, is making, or is obligated to make  contributions,  and includes
any Pension Plan.

                  "Premises"  means  any and all real  property,  including  all
buildings  and   improvements   now  or   hereafter   located  thereon  and  all
appurtenances  thereto, now or hereafter owned, leased,  occupied or used by the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

                  "Rate Contracts" means interest rate swaps,  caps,  floors and
collars, currency swaps, or other similar financial products designed to provide
protection against fluctuations in interest, currency or exchange rates.

                  "Regulation D" means Regulation D of the FRB.

                 "Regulatory  Change"  has the  meaning  set  forth  in  Section
6.03(a).

                  "Reportable  Event"  means  any of the  events  set  forth  in
Section 4043(b) of ERISA or the regulations promulgated  thereunder,  other than
any such  event for which the 30-day  notice  requirement  under  ERISA has been
waived in regulations issued by the PBGC.

                 "Required  Notice  Date" has the  meaning  set forth in Section
2.07.
                  "Responsible  Officer" means, with respect to any Person,  the
chief  executive  officer,  the president,  the chief  financial  officer or the
treasurer of such  Person,  or any other  senior  officer of such Person  having
substantially  the same  authority  and  responsibility;  or,  with  respect  to
compliance  with  financial  covenants,  the  chief  financial  officer  or  the
treasurer of such Person,  or any other senior  officer of such Person  involved
principally in the financial  administration or controllership  function of such
Person and having substantially the same authority and responsibility.

                 "Revolving Loan" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01.


                                       12.


<PAGE>

                 "SEC" means the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission,  or any
successor thereto.

                 "Senior Debt" means all Funded Debt but excluding  Subordinated
Debt.

                  "Subordinated  Debt" means Indebtedness of the Borrower or any
Subsidiary under which principal payments will become due and payable no earlier
than  the  first  anniversary  of the  Final  Maturity  Date  and are  otherwise
subordinated  on terms and  conditions  reasonably  acceptable  to the  Majority
Banks.

                  "Subsidiary" means any corporation, limited liability company,
association,  partnership, joint venture or other business  entity of which more
than 50% of the voting  stock or other  equity  interest  is owned  directly  or
indirectly by any Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person
or a combination thereof.

                  "Taxes" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.03.

                  "Termination Event" means any of the following:

                          (i) with respect to a Pension Plan, a reportable event
described in Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations  issued thereunder (other
than a reportable event not subject to the provisions  for  30-day notice to the
PBGC under such regulations);

                          (ii)  the  withdrawal  of  the  Borrower  or an  ERISA
Affiliate  from a  Pension  Plan  during a plan  year in which  the  withdrawing
employer  was a  "substantial  employer"  as defined in  Section  4001(a)(2)  or
4062(e) of ERISA;

                          (iii) the taking of any actions (including the  filing
of a notice of intent to terminate) by the Borrower,  an  ERISA  Affiliate,  the
PBGC,  a Plan  Administrator,  or any other Person  to  terminate a Pension Plan
or the  treatment  of a Plan  amendment as a termination of a Pension Plan under
Section 4041 of ERISA;

                           (iv) any  other  event  or   condition   which  might
constitute  grounds  under  Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the
appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan; or

                           (v) the  complete  or   partial  withdrawal   of  the
Borrower or an ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan.

                 "Total   Capitalization"   means  the  sum  of   Senior   Debt,
Consolidated Tangible Net Worth and Subordinated Debt.

                  "UCP" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.09.


                                       13.


<PAGE>

                  "Unfunded  Pension  Liability"  means  the  excess of a Plan's
benefit  liabilities under Section  4001(a)(16) of ERISA, over the current value
of that Plan's assets,  determined in accordance with the  assumptions  used for
funding the Plan  pursuant to Section  412 of the Code for the  applicable  plan
year.

                 "United  States"  and "U.S."  each  means the United  States of
America.

                  SECTION 1.02 Accounting Terms; GAAP Changes.

                  (a) Accounting Terms.  Unless otherwise defined or the context
otherwise  requires,  all accounting terms not expressly defined herein shall be
construed, and all accounting determinations and computations required under the
Loan Documents shall be made, in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied.

                  (b) GAAP  Changes.  If any  changes in GAAP from those used in
the  preparation  of the  financial  statements  referred to in Section  9.01(p)
("GAAP Changes") hereafter occasioned by the promulgation of rules, regulations,
pronouncements and opinions by or required by the Financial Accounting Standards
Board of the American  Institute of Certified Public  Accountants (or successors
thereto or agencies with similar  functions) result in a change in the method of
calculation of, or in different  components in, any of the financial  covenants,
definitional  provisions,  standards or other terms or conditions  found in this
Agreement,  (i) the parties hereto agree to enter into negotiations with respect
to  amendments  to this  Agreement  to  conform  those  covenants,  definitional
provisions,  standards or other terms and  conditions as criteria for evaluating
the Borrower's  financial  condition and performance to  substantially  the same
criteria as were  effective  prior to such GAAP  Change,  and (ii) the  Borrower
shall  be  deemed  to be in  compliance  with  the  affected  covenant  or other
provision  during the 60-day period following any such GAAP Change if and to the
extent that the Borrower would have been in compliance  therewith  under GAAP as
in effect immediately prior to such GAAP Change;  provided,  however,  that this
Section  1.02(b) shall not be deemed to require the  Borrower,  the Agent or the
Banks to agree to modify  any  provision  of this  Agreement  or any other  Loan
Document to reflect any such GAAP  Change  and,  if the  parties,  in their sole
discretion,  fail to reach agreement on such  modifications  prior to the end of
the 60-day period  referred to in clause (ii), the terms of this Agreement shall
remain unchanged and the compliance of the Borrower with the covenants and other
provisions contained herein shall, upon the expiration of such 60-day period, be
calculated in accordance with GAAP-giving effect to such GAAP Change.

                 SECTION 1.03 Interpretation.  In the Loan Documents,  except to
the extent the context otherwise requires:

                          (i) Any reference to an Article, a Section, a Schedule
or an Exhibit is a reference to an article or section  thereof, or a schedule or
an exhibit thereto,  respectively, and to a subsection  or  a  clause is, unless
otherwise  stated, a reference to a subsection or a  clause  of  the  Section or
subsection in which the reference appears.


                                       14.


<PAGE>

                          (ii) The   words    "hereof,"   "herein,"    "hereto,"
"hereunder" and the like mean and refer to this  Agreement  or  any  other  Loan
Document  as  a  whole  and  not  merely  to  the   specific  Article,  Section,
subsection, paragraph or clause in which the respective word appears.

                          (iii) The meaning of  defined  terms  shall be equally
applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined.

                          (iv) The words "including," "includes"  and  "include"
shall be deemed to be followed by the words "without limitation."

                          (v) References to  agreements  and  other  contractual
instruments shall be deemed  to  include  all subsequent  amendments  and  other
modifications  thereto,  but  only  to  the  extent  such  amendments  and other
modifications  are not prohibited by the terms of the Loan Documents.

                          (vi) References to statutes  or  regulations are to be
construed as including all statutory and  regulatory  provisions  consolidating,
amending or replacing the statute or regulation referred to.

                          (vii) Any table of contents, captions and headings are
for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the construction  of this
Agreement or any other Loan Document.

                          (viii)    In the computation of periods of time from a
specified date to a later  specified  date,  the  word  "from"  means  "from and
including";  the words "to" and "until" each  mean  "to  but excluding"; and the
word "through" means "to and including."

                           (ix) The use of a word of any  gender  shall  include
each of the masculine, feminine and neuter genders.

                                   ARTICLE II
                                    THE LOANS

                 SECTlON  2.01 The Loans.  Each  Bank severally  agrees,  on the
terms and  conditions  hereinafter set forth, to make  revolving  loans  (each a
"Revolving Loan" and, collectively,  the "Revolving Loans") to the Borrower from
time to time on any  Business  Day during the period from the Closing Date until
the  Final  Maturity  Date,  in an  aggregate  principal  amount  up to but  not
exceeding at any time outstanding  such Bank's  Commitment;  provided,  that the
Effective  Amount of all Revolving  Loans plus the  Effective  Amount of all L/C
Obligations  shall not exceed the aggregate  Commitments;  and provided further,
that  the  Effective  Amount  of the  Revolving  Loans  of  any  Bank  plus  the
participation of such Bank in the Effective Amount of all L/C Obligations  shall
not exceed such Bank's  Commitment.  Within the foregoing  limits and subject to
the other terms and  conditions  hereof,  during such  period the  Borrower  may
borrow, repay


                                       15.


<PAGE>

the Revolving  Loans in whole or in part, and reborrow,  all in accordance  with
the terms and conditions hereof.

                  SECTION 2.02 Borrowing Procedure.

                  (a) Notice to the  Agent.  Each  Borrowing  shall be made upon
written or  telephonic  notice (in the latter case  to be confirmed  promptly in
writing)  from the Borrower to the Agent,  which notice shall be received by the
Agent not later than 10:00 A.M.  (California  time) on the Required Notice Date.
Each such notice (a "Notice of Borrowing") shall, except as provided in Sections
6.01 and 6.04, be irrevocable  and binding on the Borrower,  shall refer to this
Agreement and shall specify: (A) the proposed date of the Borrowing, which shall
be a Business Day (or a LIBOR Business Day, for  Borrowings  consisting of LIBOR
Loans);  (B) whether the  Borrowing  consists of Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Loans;
(C) the aggregate  amount of the Borrowing,  which shall be in a Minimum Amount;
(D) if the  Borrowing  consists of any LIBOR Loans,  the duration of the initial
Interest Period with respect thereto;  and (E) payment instructions with respect
to the funds to be made available to the Borrower as a result of such Borrowing.
If  any Notice of  Borrowing  shall fail to specify the duration of the Interest
Period for any Borrowing  comprised of LIBOR Loans, the Borrower shall be deemed
to have selected an Interest Period of three months.

                  (b) Notice to the Banks. The Agent shall give each Bank prompt
notice by  telephone  (confirmed  promptly in writing) or by  facsimile  of each
Borrowing,  specifying the  information  contained in the Borrower's  Notice and
such Bank's  ratable  portion of the Borrowing.  On the date of each  Borrowing,
each Bank shall make available such Bank's ratable portion of such Borrowing, in
accordance with its Commitment Percentage,  in same day or immediately available
funds,  to the  Agent  for the  Agent's  Account,  not  later  than  12:00  Noon
(California  time).  Upon fulfillment of the applicable  conditions set forth in
Article VIII and after receipt by the Agent of any such funds,  and unless other
payment  instructions  are provided by the  Borrower,  the Agent shall make such
funds  available to the Borrower by crediting the  Borrower's  Account with same
day or immediately available funds on such Borrowing date, unless on the date of
the Borrowing all or any portion of the proceeds  thereof shall then be required
to be applied to the reimbursement of any outstanding  drawings under Letters of
Credit  pursuant to Section 3.03, in which case such proceeds or portion thereof
shall be applied to the reimbursement of such Letter of Credit drawings.

                  (c) Net Funding.  If any Bank shall make a new Loan  hereunder
on a day on which the  Borrower  is to repay  all or any part of an  outstanding
Loan from such Bank,  such Bank shall apply the proceeds of its new Loan to make
such payment,  and only an amount equal to the  difference  (if any) between the
amount being  borrowed  and the amount  being repaid shall be made  available by
such Bank to the  Agent as  provided  in  subsection  (b),  or  remitted  by the
Borrower to the Agent as provided in 7.02, as the case may be.


                                       16.


<PAGE>

                  SECTION 2.03 Non-Receipt of Funds. Unless the Agent shall have
received  notice from a Bank prior to the date of any  Borrowing  that such Bank
shall not make  available  to the Agent  such  Bank's  ratable  portion  of such
Borrowing,  the Agent may assume that such Bank has made such portion  available
to the Agent on the date of such  Borrowing in accordance  with Section  2.02(b)
and the Agent may, in  reliance  upon such  assumption,  make  available  to the
Borrower  on such date a  corresponding  amount.  If and to the extent such Bank
shall not have so made such ratable  portion  available to the Agent,  such Bank
and the Borrower  severally agree to repay to the Agent forthwith on demand such
corresponding  amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date
such  amount is made  available  to the  Borrower  until the date such amount is
repaid to the Agent,  at the Federal Funds Rate. If such Bank shall repay to the
Agent such  corresponding  amount,  such amount so repaid shall  constitute such
Bank's Loan as part of such Borrowing for purposes of this Agreement.

                  SECTION 2.04 Lending Offices.  The Loans made by each Bank may
be made  from and  maintained  at such  offices  of such Bank  (each a  "Lending
Office")  as such  Bank may from  time to time  designate  (whether  or not such
office is specified on the  signature  pages  hereof).  A Bank shall not elect a
Lending  Office (other than that set forth on the signature  pages hereof) that,
at the time of making such election, increases the amounts which would have been
payable by the Borrower to such Bank under this Agreement in the absence of such
election.  With  respect to LIBOR Loans made from and  maintained  at any Bank's
foreign offices,  the obligation of the Borrower to repay such LIBOR Loans shall
nevertheless  be to such Bank and  shall,  for all  purposes  of this  Agreement
(including  for  purposes of the  definition  of the term  "Majority  Banks") be
deemed made or maintained by it, for the account of any such office.

                  SECTION 2.05 Evidence of Indebtedness.

                  (a) Notes. As additional  evidence of the  Indebtedness of the
Borrower to each Bank resulting from the Revolving  Loans made by such Bank, the
Borrower  shall  execute and  deliver for the account  of each Bank  pursuant to
Article  VIII a  Note,  dated  the  Closing  Date,  setting  forth  such  Bank's
Commitment as the maximum principal amount thereof.

                  (b)  Recordkeeping.  Each Bank  shall  record in its  internal
records the date and amount of each Loan made,  each  conversion  to a different
interest  rate,  each  relevant  Interest  Period,  the amount of principal  and
interest due and payable from time to time  hereunder,  each payment thereof and
the resulting unpaid principal  balance of such Loan. Any such recordation shall
be  rebuttable  presumptive  evidence  of the  accuracy  of the  information  so
recorded.  Any failure so to record or any error in doing so shall not, however,
limit or  otherwise  affect the obligations of the Borrower  hereunder and under
any Note to pay any amount owing with respect to the Loan.

                  SECTION  2.06  Minimum  Amounts.  Any  Borrowing,  conversion,
continuation,  Commitment  reduction or prepayment of Revolving  Loans hereunder
shall be in an  aggregate  amount  determined  as follows  (each such  specified
amount a


                                       17.


<PAGE>

"Minimum  Amount"): (i) any  Borrowing or partial  prepayment of Base Rate Loans
shall be in the amount of  $250,000  or a greater  amount  which is an  integral
multiple of $50,000; (ii) any Borrowing,  continuation or partial prepayment of,
or  conversion  into,  LIBOR  Loans  shall be in the amount of  $2,500,000  or a
greater  amount  which is an integral  multiple of  $100,000;  (iii) any partial
Commitment  reduction under Section 5.01(a) shall be in the amount of $5,000,000
or a greater amount which is an integral  multiple of  $1,000,000;  and (iv) any
partial L/C Commitment reduction under Section 5.01(a) shall be in the amount of
$2,000,000 or a greater amount which is an integral multiple of $1,000,000.

                  SECTION 2.07 Required  Notice.  Any Notice  hereunder shall be
given not later than the date determined  as follows (each such specified date a
"Required  Notice  Date"):  (i) any Notice with  respect to a  Borrowing  of, or
conversion  into, Base Rate Loans shall be given at least one Business Day prior
to the date of the  proposed  borrowing  or  conversion;  (ii) any  Notice  with
respect to any Borrowing or  continuation  of, or conversion  into,  LIBOR Loans
shall be  given at least  three  LIBOR  Business  Days  prior to the date of the
proposed Borrowing, conversion or continuation; (iii) any Notice with respect to
any prepayment  under Section  5.03(a) with respect to a Base Rate Loan shall be
given  at least one  Business Day prior to the date of the proposed  prepayment;
(iv) any Notice  with  respect to any  prepayment  under  Section  5.03(a)  with
respect to a LIBOR Loan shall be given at least three LIBOR  Business Days prior
to the date of the  proposed  prepayment;  (v) any  Notice  with  respect to any
Commitment reduction under Section 5.01(a) shall be given at least five Business
Days  prior to the proposed  reduction date; (vi) any notice with respect to the
issuance  of any Letter of Credit  shall be given at least three  Business  Days
prior to the proposed  issuance  date;  and (vii) any notice with respect to the
amendment  or  renewal  of any  Letter of Credit  shall be given at least  three
Business Days prior to the proposed amendment or renewal date.


                                   ARTICLE III
                              THE LETTERS OF CREDIT

                  SECTION 3.01   The Letter of Credit Subfacility.

                  (a) Letters of Credit. On the terms and conditions hereinafter
set  forth,  (i) the  Issuing  Bank  hereby  agrees (A) from time to time on any
Business Day during the period from the Closing Date to the Final  Maturity Date
to issue  Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower in  accordance  with
Section 3.02(a),  and to amend or renew Letters of Credit  previously  issued by
it, in accordance with subsections  3.02(c) and 3.02(d),  in an aggregate amount
not to exceed at any time the aggregate L/C Commitments, and (B) to honor drafts
under the Letters of Credit;  and (ii) the Banks  severally agree to participate
in Letters of Credit issued for the account of the Borrower;  provided, that the
Issuing  Bank  shall not be  obligated  to issue any Letter of Credit if (1) the
Effective  Amount  of all L/C  Obligations  plus  the  Effective  Amount  of all
Revolving Loans shall exceed the aggregate Commitments, (2) the participation of
any Bank in the  Effective  Amount  of all L/C  Obligations  plus the  Effective
Amount of the


                                       18.


<PAGE>

Revolving  Loans of such Bank shall  exceed such Bank's  Commitment,  or (3) the
Effective Amount of L/C Obligations  shall exceed the aggregate L/C Commitments.
Within the  foregoing  limits,  and subject  to the other  terms and  conditions
hereof,  the  Borrower's  ability  to obtain  Letters  of Credit  shall be fully
revolving,  and,  accordingly,  the Borrower may,  during the foregoing  period,
obtain  Letters of Credit to replace  Letters  of Credit  which have  expired or
which have been drawn upon and reimbursed.

                 (b) Conditions to Issuance.  The Issuing Bank shall be under no
obligation to issue, amend or reinstate any Letter of Credit if:

                           (i) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental
Authority  or  arbitrator  shall by its terms  purport to enjoin or restrain the
Issuing Bank from issuing, amending or reinstating such Letter of Credit, or any
law, rule or regulation applicable to the Issuing Bank or any request, guideline
or  directive  (whether  or not having  the force of law) from any  Governmental
Authority with  jurisdiction  over the Issuing Bank shall  prohibit,  or request
that the Issuing Bank refrain from, the issuance,  amendment or reinstatement of
letters of credit  generally  or such  Letter of Credit in  particular  or shall
impose  upon the  Issuing  Bank  with  respect  to such  Letter  of  Credit  any
restriction,  reserve or capital  requirement (for which the Issuing Bank is not
otherwise  compensated)  not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon
the Issuing Bank any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable
on the Closing Date and which the Issuing  Bank in good faith deems  material to
it;

                           (ii) the Issuing  Bank has  received  written  notice
from any Bank, the Agent or the Borrower, at least one Business Day prior to the
requested date of issuance, amendment or reinstatement of such Letter of Credit,
that one or more of the applicable  conditions  contained in Article VIII is not
then satisfied;

                           (iii)  the  expiry  date of any  requested  Letter of
Credit is (A) more than  three  years  after the date of  issuance,  unless  the
Majority Banks have approved such expiry date in writing, provided that a Letter
of Credit may state that the expiry date thereof is extendible for an additional
term as shall be  satisfactory  to the Issuing Bank (either upon prior notice or
automatically) so long as the next succeeding additional term at any time is not
more than one year; or (B) after the Final Maturity Date;

                           (iv) any requested  Letter of Credit does not provide
for drafts, or is not otherwise in form and substance  acceptable to the Issuing
Bank;

                           (v) the issuance, amendment or renewal of a Letter of
Credit shall violate any applicable policies of the Issuing Bank;

                           (vi) any  Letter  of  Credit  is for the  purpose  of
supporting the issuance of any letter of credit by any other Person;


                                       19.


<PAGE>

                           (vii) such Letter of Credit, if a Performance  Letter
of Credit,  is to be used for a purpose  other than to  support  the  Borrower's
performance  obligations  under contracts of sale,  including  obligations under
contracts of sale with respect to equipment  sold by the Borrower  pending final
acceptance of such equipment by the buyer; or

                           (viii)  such  Letter of Credit  is  denominated  in a
currency other than Dollars.

                  SECTION 3.02    Issuance, Amendment and Renewal of Letters of
Credit.

                 (a) Notice to Issuing Bank of Issuance Request.  Each Letter of
Credit  shall be issued upon the  irrevocable  written  request of the  Borrower
received by the Issuing Bank (with a copy sent by the Borrower to the Agent) not
later than the Required  Notice Date. Each such request for issuance of a Letter
of Credit  shall be in  writing,  in the form of an L/C  Application,  and shall
specify in form and detail  satisfactory  to the Issuing Bank:  (i) the proposed
date of issuance of the Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business  Day);  (ii)
the face amount of the Letter of Credit;  (iii) the expiry date of the Letter of
Credit; (iv) the name and address of the beneficiary  thereof; (v) the documents
to be  presented  by the  beneficiary  of the  Letter  of  Credit in case of any
drawing thereunder; (vi) the full text of any certificate to be presented by the
beneficiary in case of any drawing  thereunder;  and (vii) such other matters as
the Issuing  Bank may require in  accordance  with the Issuing  Bank's usual and
customary business practices.

                  (b) Issuance of Letters of Credit. Unless the Issuing Bank has
received notice on or before the Business Day immediately preceding the date the
Issuing Bank is to issue,  amend or renew a requested  Letter of Credit from the
Agent (i) directing the Issuing Bank not to issue, amend or renew such Letter of
Credit because such issuance,  amendment or renewal is not then permitted  under
Section  3.01(a) as a result of the limitations set forth in clauses (1) through
(3)  thereof  or  clause  (iii) of  Section  3.01(b);  or (ii)  that one or more
conditions  specified in Article VIII are not then satisfied;  then,  subject to
the terms and  conditions hereof, the Issuing Bank shall, on the requested date,
issue a Letter of Credit  for the  account of the  Borrower  or amend or renew a
Letter of Credit,  as the case may be, in  accordance  with the  Issuing  Bank's
usual and customary  business  practices.  The Issuing Bank shall  promptly give
notice  to each  Bank of each  issuance,  amendment  or  renewal  of a Letter of
Credit, but the Issuing Bank's failure to give any such notice shall not relieve
any Bank from its  obligations  under this Article III or  otherwise  under this
Agreement.

                  (c) Notice to Issuing Bank of Amendment Request.  From time to
time  while a Letter of Credit is  outstanding  and  prior to the Final Maturity
Date, the Issuing Bank shall,  upon the written request of the Borrower received
by the  Issuing  Bank (with a copy sent by the  Borrower to the Agent) not later
than the Required Notice Date, amend any Letter  of  Credit  issued  by it. Each
such request for amendment of a Letter


                                       20.


<PAGE>

of Credit shall be made in writing, in the form of an L/C Amendment Application,
and shall specify in form and detail satisfactory  to  the Issuing Bank: (i) the
Letter of Credit to be  amended;  (ii) the  proposed  date of  amendment  of the
Letter  of Credit  (which  shall be a  Business  Day);  (iii) the  nature of the
proposed amendment;  and (iv) such other matters as the Issuing Bank may require
in accordance  with the Issuing Bank's usual and customary  business  practices.
The Issuing Bank shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit, and
shall not permit the  amendment of a Letter of Credit,  if: (A) the Issuing Bank
would  have no  obligation  at such time to issue  such  Letter of Credit in its
amended form under the terms of this  Agreement;  or (B) the  beneficiary of any
such Letter of Credit does not accept the  proposed  amendment  to the Letter of
Credit.

                  (d) Notice to Issuing  Bank of Renewal  Request.  The  Issuing
Bank and the Banks agree that, while a Letter of Credit is outstanding and prior
to the Final  Maturity  Date, at the option of the Borrower and upon the written
request of the  Borrower  received by the Issuing  Bank (with a copy sent by the
Borrower to the Agent) not later than the Required Notice Date, the Issuing Bank
shall be entitled to authorize the renewal of any Letter of Credit issued by it.
Each such request for renewal of a Letter of Credit shall be made in writing, in
the form of an L/C Amendment  Application,  and shall specify in form and detail
satisfactory  to the Issuing Bank: (i) the Letter of Credit to be renewed;  (ii)
the  proposed  date of  notification  of renewal of the Letter of Credit  (which
shall be a Business Day); (iii) the revised expiry date of the Letter of Credit;
and (iv) such other  matters as the Issuing Bank may  require.  The Issuing Bank
shall be under no  obligation  so to renew any Letter of  Credit,  and shall not
permit any renewal  (including any automatic renewal of a Letter of Credit),  in
each case with  respect to any Letter of Credit under which the Issuing Bank may
elect not to renew,  if: (A) the Issuing Bank would have no  obligation  at such
time to issue or amend such Letter of Credit in its renewed form under the terms
of this Agreement;  or (B) the beneficiary of any such Letter of Credit does not
accept the proposed renewal of the Letter of Credit.  If any outstanding  Letter
of Credit  shall  provide  that it shall be  automatically  renewed  unless  the
beneficiary  thereof  receives  notice from the Issuing Bank that such Letter of
Credit  shall not be renewed,  and if at the time of renewal  the  Issuing  Bank
would be entitled to authorize the automatic renewal of such Letter of Credit in
accordance  with this  subsection  (d) upon the request of the  Borrower but the
Issuing Bank shall not have  received  any L/C  Amendment  Application  from the
Borrower with respect to such renewal or other written direction by the Borrower
with  respect thereto,  the Issuing Bank shall nonetheless be permitted to allow
such Letter of Credit to renew,  and the Borrower and the Banks hereby authorize
such  renewal,  and,  accordingly,  the  Issuing  Bank  shall be  deemed to have
received an L/C Amendment Application from the Borrower requesting such renewal.

                  (e) Expiry of Letters of Credit.  The Issuing Bank may, at its
election (or shall,  when required by the Agent at the direction of the Majority
Banks), deliver any notices of termination or other communications to any Letter
of Credit  beneficiary or  transferee,  or take any other action as necessary or
appropriate,  at any time and from time to time,  in order to cause  the  expiry
date of such Letter of Credit to be a date not


                                       21.


<PAGE>

later than the Final Maturity  Date,  subject  in all  cases to the terms of the
Letter of Credit.

                 (f) Conflicts with L/C-Related Documents.  This Agreement shall
control in the event of any conflict with any  L/C-Related  Document (other than
any Letter of Credit).

                 SECTION 3.03    Participations, Drawings and Reimbursements.

                 (a)  Participations of Banks in Letters of Credit.  Immediately
upon the  issuance of each Letter of Credit,  the  Issuing  Bank shall be deemed
irrevocably  to have sold and  transferred  to each  Bank  without  recourse  or
warranty,  and  each  Bank  shall be  deemed  to,  and  hereby  irrevocably  and
unconditionally  agrees to,  purchase and accept from the Issuing Bank, for such
Bank's own account and risk, an undivided  interest and a participation  in such
Letter of Credit (and each drawing thereunder) in an amount equal to the product
of (i) the  Commitment  Percentage of such Bank,  times (ii) the maximum  amount
available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of a drawing,
the amount of such drawing). For purposes of Section 3.01(a), each issuance of a
Letter of Credit  shall be deemed to utilize the  Commitment  of each Bank by an
amount equal to the amount of such participation.

                 (b) Drawing and Reimbursement.  In the event of any request for
a drawing under a Letter of Credit by the beneficiary  thereof, the Issuing Bank
shall  immediately  notify  the  Borrower  and the  Agent.  The  Borrower  shall
reimburse the Issuing Bank prior to 10:00 a.m.  (California  time), on each date
that any amount is paid by the  Issuing  Bank under any Letter of Credit,  in an
amount  equal to the  amount  paid by the  Issuing  Bank on such date under such
Letter of Credit.  In the event the Borrower shall fail to reimburse the Issuing
Bank for the full amount of any drawing under any Letter of Credit by 10:00 a.m.
(California  time) on the same date such drawing is honored by the Issuing Bank,
the Issuing Bank shall  promptly  notify the Agent and the Agent shall  promptly
notify the Borrower and each Bank thereof  (including  the amount of the drawing
and such Bank's Commitment Percentage thereof), and the Borrower shall be deemed
to have  requested  that Base Rate Loans be made by the Banks to be disbursed on
the date of payment by the Issuing Bank under such Letter of Credit,  subject to
the  amount of the  unutilized  portion  of the  Commitment  and  subject to the
conditions set forth in clauses (b) and (c) of Section 8.02. The Borrower hereby
directs  that the  proceeds  of any such Loans  deemed to be made by it shall be
used to pay its reimbursement obligations in respect of any such drawing. Solely
for the purposes of making such Loans, the Minimum Amount  limitations set forth
in Section 2.06 shall not be applicable. Any notice given by the Issuing Bank or
the Agent pursuant hereto may be telephonic if immediately confirmed in writing;
provided  that the lack of such an immediate  confirmation  shall not affect the
conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.

                 (c)  Funding  by Banks.  Each Bank  shall  upon  receipt of any
notice pursuant to subsection (b) make available to the Agent for the account of
the Issuing


                                       22.


<PAGE>

Bank an amount in Dollars and in same day or immediately  available  funds equal
to its  Commitment  Percentage  of the  amount  of the  drawing,  whereupon  the
participating  Banks shall  (subject to  subsection  (e)) each be deemed to have
made a Revolving  Loan  consisting  of a Base Rate Loan to the  Borrower in that
amount.  If any Bank so notified  shall fail to make  available to the Agent for
the account of the Issuing Bank the amount of such Bank's Commitment  Percentage
of the amount of the  drawing by no later than 12:00 noon  (California  time) on
the date such  drawing  was  honored  by the  Issuing  Bank (the  "Participation
Date"),  then  interest  shall  accrue on such  Bank's  obligation  to make such
payment,  from the Participation Date to the date such Bank makes such  payment,
at a rate per annum equal to (i) the  Federal  Funds Rate in effect from time to
time during the period  commencing on the  Participation  Date and ending on the
date three Business Days thereafter,  and (ii) thereafter at the Base Rate as in
effect from time to time. The Agent shall promptly give notice of the occurrence
of the  Participation  Date, but failure of the Agent to give any such notice on
the  Participation  Date or in sufficient time to enable any Bank to effect such
payment on such date shall not relieve such Bank from its obligations under this
Section 3.03.

                  (d) L/C Unreimbursed  Draws.  With respect to any unreimbursed
drawing that is not converted into Revolving Loans consisting of Base Rate Loans
because of the Borrower's failure to satisfy the conditions set forth in clauses
(b) and (c) of  Section  8.02 or for any other  reason,  the  Borrower  shall be
obligated to the Issuing Bank for an L/C Unreimbursed Draw in the amount of such
drawing,  which  L/C  Unreimbursed  Draw  shall be due and  payable  on  demand,
together with interest, and shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the
Base Rate,  plus 2% per annum,  and each  Bank's  payment  to the  Issuing  Bank
pursuant  to  subsection   (c)  shall  be  deemed  payment  in  respect  of  its
participation in such L/C Unreimbursed  Draw and shall constitute an L/C Advance
from  such Bank in  satisfaction  of its  participation  obligation  under  this
Section 3.03.

                  (e) Obligation of Banks  Absolute.  Each Bank's  obligation in
accordance with this Agreement to make the Revolving  Loans or L/C Advances,  as
contemplated  by this Section  3.03,  as a result of a drawing under a Letter of
Credit  shall be  absolute  and  unconditional  and shall not be affected by any
circumstance,  including (i) any set-off,  counterclaim,  recoupment, defense or
other right which such Bank may have against the Issuing  Bank,  the Borrower or
any other Person for any reason  whatsoever;  (ii) the occurrence or continuance
of a Default,  an Event of Default or a Material  Adverse  Effect;  or (iii) any
other circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any
of the foregoing.

                  SECTION 3.04 Repayment of Participations. Upon (and only upon)
receipt  by the Agent for the  account  of the  Issuing  Bank of funds  from the
Borrower (i) in  reimbursement of any payment made by the Issuing Bank under the
Letter of Credit with respect to which any Bank has  theretofore  paid the Agent
for the account of the Issuing Bank for such Bank's  participation in the Letter
of Credit pursuant to Section 3.03, or (ii) in payment of interest thereon,  the
Agent shall pay to each Bank, in the same funds  as those  received by the Agent
for the account of the Issuing Bank, the


                                       23.


<PAGE>

amount of such Bank's Commitment  Percentage of such funds, and the Issuing Bank
shall receive the amount of the Commitment  Percentage of such funds of any Bank
that did not so pay the Agent for the account of the Issuing  Bank. If the Agent
or the Issuing  Bank is  required at any time to return to the  Borrower or to a
trustee,  receiver,  liquidator,  custodian,  or any official in any  Insolvency
Proceeding, any portion of the payments made by the Borrower in reimbursement of
a payment made under the Letter of Credit or interest thereon,  each Bank shall,
on demand of the Agent,  forthwith  return to the Agent or the Issuing  Bank the
amount of its  Commitment  Percentage of any amounts so returned by the Agent or
the Issuing Bank plus interest  thereon from the date such demand is made to the
date such amounts are returned by such Bank to the Agent or the Issuing Bank, at
a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate in effect from time to time.

                 SECTION 3.05       Role of the Issuing Bank.

                 (a) No  Responsibility  of  Issuing  Bank.  Each  Bank  and the
Borrower agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, the Issuing
Bank shall not have any  responsibility  to obtain any document  (other than any
sight draft,  certificates and other documents  expressly required by the Letter
of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such
document  or the  authority  of the  Person  executing  or  delivering  any such
document.  The Borrower hereby assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any
beneficiary  or  transferee  with  respect  to its use of any  Letter of Credit;
provided,  however,  that  this  assumption  is not  intended to, and shall not,
preclude the Borrower's pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against
the  beneficiary  or  transferee  at  law  or  under  any  other  agreement.  No
Agent/IB-Related Person, nor any of the respective correspondents,  participants
or assignees of the Issuing Bank,  shall be liable or responsible for any of the
matters  described  in  clauses  (i)  through  (vi) of Section  3.06;  provided,
however,  anything in such  clauses to the  contrary  notwithstanding,  that the
Borrower may have a claim against the Issuing Bank,  and the Issuing Bank may be
liable to the Borrower, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as
opposed to  consequential  or exemplary,  damages suffered by the Borrower which
the Borrower  proves were caused by the Issuing  Bank's  willful  misconduct  or
gross  negligence or the Issuing Bank's willful  failure to pay under any Letter
of Credit after the  presentation  to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and
certificate(s)  or other  document(s)  strictly  complying  with the  terms  and
conditions of a Letter of Credit.  In  furtherance  and not in limitation of the
foregoing:  (i) the Issuing Bank may accept  documents that appear on their face
to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation,  regardless of
any notice or information  to the contrary;  and (ii) the Issuing Bank shall not
be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or
assigning or  purporting  to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights
or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove
to be invalid or ineffective for any reason.

                 (b)   No   Liability   of    Agent/IB-Related    Persons.    No
Agent/IB-Related Person nor any of the respective  correspondents,  participants
or assignees of the Issuing Bank shall be liable to any Bank for: (i) any action
taken or omitted in connection


                                       24.


<PAGE>

herewith at the request or  with  the  approval  of  the  Banks  (including  the
Majority Banks, as applicable); (ii) any action taken or omitted  in the absence
of  gross  negligence  or  willful  misconduct;  or  (iii)  the  due  execution,
effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any L/C-Related Document.

                  SECTION 3.06 Obligations of Borrower Absolute. The obligations
of the Borrower under this Agreement and any  L/C-Related  Document to reimburse
the Issuing  Bank for a drawing  under a Letter of Credit,  and to repay any L/C
Unreimbursed  Draw and any  drawing  under a Letter  of  Credit  converted  into
Revolving  Loans,  shall be  unconditional  and  irrevocable,  and shall be paid
strictly  in  accordance  with the terms of this  Agreement  and each such other
L/C-Related Document under all circumstances, including the following:

                           (i)    any lack of validity or enforceability of this
Agreement or any L/C-Related Document;

                           (ii)  any  change  in the  time,  manner  or place of
payment  of,  or in any  other  term of,  all or any of the  obligations  of the
Borrower in respect of any Letter of Credit or any other  amendment or waiver of
or any consent to departure  from all or any of the  L/C-Related  Documents,  in
each case in accordance with the terms of  this  Agreement  and each L/C Related
Document;

                           (iii) the existence of any claim, set-off, defense or
other right that the Borrower may have at any time  against any  beneficiary  or
any  transferee  of any  Letter  of  Credit  (or  any  Person  for whom any such
beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the Issuing Bank or any other
Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated
hereby or by the L/C-Related Documents or any unrelated transaction;

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

                           (v) any payment by the Issuing  Bank under any Letter
of Credit against  presentation  of a draft,  certificate or other document that
does not strictly comply with the terms of any Letter of Credit;  or any payment
made by the Issuing Bank under any Letter of Credit to any Person  purporting to
be a trustee in  bankruptcy,  debtor-in-possession,  assignee for the benefit of
creditors,  liquidator,  receiver or other representative of or successor to any
beneficiary or any transferee of any Letter of Credit,  including any arising in
connection with any bankruptcy,  reorganization or other insolvency  proceeding;
or

                           (vi) any exchange,  release or  non-perfection of any
collateral,  or any release or  amendment  or waiver of or consent to  departure
from any other  guarantee,  for all or any of the obligations of the Borrower in
respect of any Letter of Credit.


                                       25.


<PAGE>

                  SECTION 3.07 Cash Collateral  Pledge.  Upon the request of the
Agent,  if the Issuing Bank has honored any full or partial  drawing  request on
any Letter of Credit and such drawing has resulted in an L/C  Unreimbursed  Draw
hereunder,  the Borrower shall  immediately  pay over cash in an amount equal to
the L/C Obligations to the Agent for the benefit of the Banks, to be held by the
Agent as cash collateral subject to the terms of this Section 3.07. Such amount,
together with any amount received by the Agent in respect of outstanding Letters
of Credit pursuant to Section 11.02,  when received by the Agent,  shall be held
by the  Agent  as cash  collateral  for  the  reimbursement  obligations  of the
Borrower  under this  Agreement in  respect of the L/C  Obligations  and for the
other Obligations. Such cash collateral shall not bear interest. Amounts held in
such cash collateral  account shall be applied by the Agent to the reimbursement
of the  Issuing  Bank for any  payment  made by it of  drafts  drawn  under  the
outstanding  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.  After all such
Letters  of  Credit  shall  have  expired  or been  fully  drawn  upon,  all L/C
Obligations  shall have been satisfied and all other Obligations of the Borrower
hereunder  shall  have  been paid in full,  the  balance,  if any,  in such cash
collateral account shall be returned to the Borrower. The Borrower hereby grants
the  Agent  (for  itself  and on behalf of and for the  ratable  benefit  of the
Issuing Bank and the Banks) a security interest in all such cash collateral. The
Borrower  shall  execute  such further  agreements,  documents,  instruments  or
financing  statements  as the Agent  reasonably  deems  necessary in  connection
therewith.

                 SECTION 3.08    Letter of Credit Fees.

                 (a) Certain  Letter of Credit Fees.  The Borrower  shall pay to
the  Agent  for the  account  of each of the  Banks a letter  of  credit  fee as
follows:

                        (i) with respect to each  Performance  Letter of Credit,
the  Borrower  shall pay a letter of credit fee equal to

                                (A) 0.50% per annum of the average daily maximum
amount available to be drawn on such Letter of Credit,  during  any  period when
the Debt/EBITDA  Ratio (determined in accordance with Section 4.04)  is  greater
than or equal to 1.00 to 1.00, or

                                (B) 0.40% per annum of the average daily maximum
amount  available to be drawn on  such  outstanding  Letter  of  Credit,  during
any  period  when the Debt/EBITDA  Ratio (determined  in accordance with Section
4.04) is less than 1.00 to 1.00; and

                        (ii) with  respect to each Letter of Credit other than a
Performance Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall  pay  a  letter  of  credit fee
equal to

                                (A) 1.00% per annum of the average daily maximum
amount available to be drawn on such Letter  of Credit, during any  period  when
the


                                       26.


<PAGE>

Debt/EBITDA  Ratio  (determined in accordance with Section 4.04) is greater than
or equal to 1.00 to 1.00, or

                                (B) 0.75% per annum of the average daily maximum
amount available to be drawn on such Letter of Credit,  during  any  period when
the Debt/EBITDA  Ratio (determined in accordance with Section 4.04) is less than
1.00 to 1.00;

provided,  that the Borrower  shall pay a minimum per annum fee of $250 for each
Letter of Credit.

                  Such letter of credit fee shall be due and  payable  quarterly
in  arrears on the last  Business  Day of each  calendar  quarter  during  which
Letters of Credit are  outstanding,  commencing on the first such quarterly date
to occur after the Closing Date,  through the Final Maturity Date (or such later
date upon which the outstanding Letters of Credit shall expire),  with the final
payment to be made on the Final Maturity Date (or such expiration date).

                 (b) Certain Additional Fees and Charges. The Borrower shall pay
to the Issuing  Bank upon the  issuance  of each Letter of Credit  (other than a
Performance  Letter of  Credit) a fronting  fee of 0.125% of the  stated  amount
thereof.  The Borrower shall pay to the Issuing Bank from time to time on demand
the normal  issuance,  presentation,  amendment and other  processing  fees, and
other  standard  costs and  charges,  of the  Issuing  Bank  relating to standby
letters of credit as from time to time in effect.

                 (c) Fees Nonrefundable. All fees and charges payable under this
Section 3.08 shall be nonrefundable.

                  SECTION 3.09 Uniform Customs and Practice. The Uniform Customs
and  Practice  for  Documentary  Credits  as  most  recently  published  by  the
International Chamber of Commerce ("UCP") shall in all respects be deemed a part
of this Article III as if incorporated  herein and shall apply to the Letters of
Credit.

                                   ARTICLE IV
                  INTEREST AND FEES; CONVERSION OR CONTINUATION

                  SECTION 4.01 Interest.

                  (a)  Interest  Rate.  The Borrower  shall  pay interest on the
unpaid  principal  amount of each Revolving Loan from the date of such Revolving
Loan until the maturity thereof, at the following rates:

                           (i) during such periods as such Revolving  Loan  is a
Base Rate Loan, at a rate per annum equal at all times to the Base Rate; and


                                       27.


<PAGE>

                           (ii) during such periods as such Revolving  Loan is a
LIBOR Loan, at a rate per annum equal at all times during each  Interest  Period
for such LIBOR Loan to the Adjusted  LIBO Rate for such Interest Period plus the
Applicable Margin.

                 (b) Interest Periods.  The initial and each subsequent Interest
Period shall be a period of one, two, three or six months.  The determination of
Interest Periods shall be subject to the following provisions:

                           (i) in  the  case  of immediately successive Interest
Periods, each successive Interest Period shall commence on the  day on which the
next preceding Interest Period expires;

                           (ii) if  any  Interest  Period  would  otherwise  end
on a day  which is not a LIBOR  Business  Day,  that Interest  Period  shall  be
extended to the next  succeeding  LIBOR  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
LIBOR Business Day;

                           (iii) no  Interest  Period  shall  extend  beyond the
Final Maturity Date;

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

                           (v) there shall be no more than  12  Interest Periods
in effect at any one time.

                 (c) Interest Payment Dates.  Subject to Section 4.02,  interest
on the Revolving Loans shall be payable in arrears at the following times:

                           (i) interest on each Base  Rate Loan shall be payable
quarterly on the last  day  of  each  calendar  quarter,  on  the  date  of  any
prepayment or conversion of any such Base Rate Loan, and at maturity; and

                           (ii)  interest on each LIBOR Loan shall be payable on
the last day of each Interest  Period for such LIBOR Loan,  provided that (A) in
the case of any Interest Period which is greater than three months,  interest on
such LIBOR Loan shall be payable on the date three months after the beginning of
such Interest  Period and on the last day of such Interest Period and (B) if any
prepayment,  conversion,  or continuation is effected other than on the last day
of such  Interest  Period,  accrued  interest on such LIBOR Loan shall be due on
such prepayment,  conversion or continuation  date as to the principal amount of
such LIBOR Loan prepaid, converted or continued.


                                       28.


<PAGE>

                  (d) Notice to the Borrower and the Banks.  Each  determination
by the  Agent  hereunder  of a rate  of  interest  and  of any  change  therein,
including any changes in (i) the  Applicable  Margin,  (ii) the Base Rate during
any  periods  in which  Base Rate  Loans shall  be  outstanding,  and  (iii) the
Eurodollar  Reserve  Percentage (if any) during any periods in which LIBOR Loans
shall be outstanding, shall be conclusive and binding in the absence of manifest
error on the parties  hereto and shall be promptly  notified by the Agent to the
Borrower  and the Banks.  Such notice shall set forth in  reasonable  detail the
basis for any such determination or change. The failure of the Agent to give any
such  notice  specified  in this  subsection  shall not  affect  the  Borrower's
obligation to pay such interest or fees.

                  SECTION 4.02  Default Rate of Interest.  In the event that any
amount of  principal  of or interest on any Loan,  or any other  amount  payable
hereunder or under the Loan Documents,  is not paid in full when due (whether at
stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise),  the Borrower shall pay interest
on such unpaid  principal,  interest or other amount,  from the date such amount
becomes due until the date such amount is paid in full,  payable on demand, at a
rate per annum equal at all times to the Base Rate plus 2%.

                  SECTION 4.03 Fees.

                  (a)  Commitment  Fee. The Borrower  agrees to pay to the Agent
for the  account  of each Bank a  commitment  fee on the  average  daily  unused
portion  (taking into account  outstanding  Revolving  Loans and outstanding L/C
Obligations)  of such Bank's  Commitment as in effect from time to time from the
Closing Date until the Final  Maturity  Date at the rate of (A) 0.35% per annum,
for any period when the  Debt/EBITDA  Ratio is greater  than or equal to 1.00 to
1.00 or (B) 0.25% per annum,  for any period when the Debt/EBITDA  Ratio is less
than  1.00 to 1.00,  in each  case  payable  quarterly  in  arrears  on the last
Business Day of each calendar quarter in each year, commencing on the first such
date after the Closing Date,  and on the earlier of the date such  Commitment is
terminated hereunder or the Final Maturity Date.

                  (b) Agency  and Arranger's  Fee. The Borrower agrees to pay to
the  Agent for its own  account  such fee for  agency  and  arranger's  services
rendered by it as shall be  separately  agreed upon between the Borrower and the
Agent.

                 (c) Fees  Nonrefundable.  All fees  payable  under this Section
4.03 shall be nonrefundable.

                  SECTION  4.04  Computations.  Each  change  in the  Applicable
Margin, the applicable  commitment fee or the applicable letter of credit fee as
a result of a change in the  Debt/EBITDA  Ratio shall  become  effective  on the
first  day of the  month  following  the  month  in which  financial  statements
reporting  such  change  are  required  to  be  delivered  pursuant  to  Section
10.01(a)(i). All computations of interest based upon the Base Rate shall be made
on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days,  as the case may be,  for the  actual
number of days occurring in the period for which such interest is


                                       29.


<PAGE>

payable.  All  computations  of the commitment  fee, letter of credit fee and of
interest  based  upon the  Federal  Funds Rate or LIBO Rate shall be made on the
basis of a year of 360 days  for the  actual  number  of days  occurring  in the
period for which  such  commitment  fee,  letter of credit  fee or  interest  is
payable, which results in more interest being paid than if computed on the basis
of a 365-day year.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  if any Loan is repaid on the
same day on which it is made,  such day shall be included in computing  interest
on such Loan.

                  SECTION 4.05 Conversion or Continuation.

                  (a) Election. The Borrower may elect (i) to convert all or any
part of outstanding Base Rate Loans into LIBOR Loans; or (ii) to continue all or
any part of a Loan with one type of interest  rate as such;  provided,  however,
that if the aggregate  amount of LIBOR Loans in respect of any  Borrowing  shall
have been reduced,  by payment,  prepayment, or conversion of part thereof to be
less than  $2,500,000,  such LIBOR Loans shall  automatically  convert into Base
Rate  Loans,  and on and after such date the right of the  Borrower  to continue
such Loans as, and convert  such Loans into,  LIBOR Loans shall  terminate.  The
continued or converted Base Rate and LIBOR Loans shall be allocated to the Banks
ratably  in  accordance  with  their  respective Commitments.  Any conversion or
continuation  of  LIBOR  Loans  shall  be made on the  last  day of the  current
Interest Period for such LIBOR Loans. No outstanding  Loan may be converted into
or continued as a LIBOR Loan if any Default has occurred and is continuing.

                  (b)  Automatic  Conversion.  On the last  day of any  Interest
Period for any LIBOR Loans, such LIBOR Loans shall, if not repaid, automatically
convert  into Base Rate  Loans  unless  the  Borrower  shall  have made a timely
election to continue such LIBOR Loans as such for an additional  Interest Period
or to convert such LIBOR Loans, in each case as provided in subsection (a).

                  (c) Notice to the Agent. The conversion or continuation of any
Loans  contemplated  by subsection  (a) shall be made upon written or telephonic
notice  (in the  latter  case to be  confirmed  promptly  in  writing)  from the
Borrower  to the Agent,  which  notice  shall be received by the Agent not later
than 10:00 A.M.  (California time) on the Required Notice Date. Each such notice
(a "Notice of Conversion or Continuation") shall, except as provided in Sections
6.01 and 6.04, be irrevocable  and binding on the Borrower,  shall refer to this
Agreement  and  shall  specify:  (i)  the  proposed  date of the  conversion  or
continuation,  which  shall be a  Business  Day (or a LIBOR  Business  Day,  for
conversions into or continuations  of LIBOR Loans);  (ii) the outstanding  Loans
(or parts  thereof)  to be  converted  into or  continued  as Base Rate or LIBOR
Loans;  (iii) the  aggregate  amount of the Loans  which are the subject of such
continuation  or  conversion,  which shall be in a Minimum  Amount;  (iv) if the
conversion  or  continuation  consists of any LIBOR  Loans,  the duration of the
Interest Period with respect thereto; and (v) that no Default exists hereunder.


                                       30.


<PAGE>

                  (d) Notice to the Banks. The Agent shall give each Bank prompt
notice by telephone  (confirmed  promptly in writing) or by facsimile of (i) the
proposed  conversion or  continuation  of any Loans,  specifying the information
contained in the Borrower's  Notice and such Bank's ratable  portion  thereof or
(ii), if timely  notice was not received  from the Borrower,  the details of any
automatic conversion under subsection (b).

                  SECTION  4.06  Highest  Lawful  Rate.  Anything  herein to the
contrary), notwithstanding,  if during any period for which interest is computed
hereunder,  the applicable  interest rate,  together with all fees,  charges and
other payments which are treated as interest under  applicable  law, as provided
for herein or in any other Loan  Document,  would  exceed  the  maximum  rate of
interest which may be charged,  contracted for, reserved,  received or collected
by any Bank in connection with this Agreement under applicable law (the "Maximum
Rate"),  the Borrower  shall not be obligated to pay, and such Bank shall not be
entitled to charge, collect, receive, reserve or take, interest in excess of the
Maximum Rate, and during any such  period the interest  payable  hereunder shall
be limited to the Maximum Rate.

                                    ARTICLE V
                            REDUCTION OF COMMITMENTS;
                              REPAYMENT; PREPAYMENT

                  SECTION 5.01 Reduction or Termination of the Commitments.

                  (a) Optional Reduction or Termination.  The Borrower may, upon
prior  notice  to the Agent as  provided  herein,  terminate  in whole or reduce
ratably in part,  as of the date  specified by the Borrower in such notice,  any
then  unused   portion  of  the  respective   Commitments   (including  the  L/C
Commitments);  provided,  however,  that each  partial  reduction  shall be in a
Minimum  Amount;  and  provided  further,  however,  that no such  reduction  or
termination  shall be permitted if the Effective  Amount of Revolving  Loans and
L/C Obligations would exceed the amount of the aggregate Commitments  thereafter
in effect. The amount of any such Commitment  reductions shall not be applied to
the L/C  Commitments  unless  otherwise  specified by the Borrower.  All accrued
commitment and letter of credit fees to, but not  including,  the effective date
of any such reduction or  termination  shall be payable on the effective date of
such reduction or termination.

                  (b) Notice.  The Agent  shall give each Bank prompt  notice of
any termination or reduction of its Commitments under this Section 5.01.

                  (c) Adjustment of Commitment Fee;  No Reinstatement.  From the
effective date of any reduction or termination prior to the Final Maturity Date,
the commitment fee payable under Section  4.03(a) shall be computed on the basis
of the Commitments as so reduced or terminated.  Once reduced or terminated, the
Commitments may not be increased or otherwise reinstated.


                                       31.


<PAGE>

                  SECTION 5.02  Repayment  of  the  Loans.  The  Borrower  shall
repay to the Banks in full on the Final  Maturity Date the  aggregate  principal
amount of the Loans outstanding on such date.

                  SECTION 5.03 Prepayments.

                 (a) Optional  Prepayments.  The Borrower may, upon prior notice
to the Agent not later than the  Required  Notice Date,  prepay the  outstanding
amount of the Loans in whole or ratably  in part,  without  premium or  penalty;
provided that any  prepayments  of LIBOR Loans other than on the last day of the
applicable Interest Period shall be subject to Section 6.02. Partial prepayments
shall be in Minimum Amounts.

                  (b) Notice; Application. The notice given of any prepayment (a
"Notice of Prepayment")  shall specify the date and amount of the prepayment and
whether the prepayment is of Base Rate or LIBOR Loans or a combination  thereof,
and if of a combination thereof the amount of the prepayment  allocable to each.
Upon receipt of the Notice of Prepayment  the Agent shall  promptly  notify each
Bank thereof. If the Notice of Prepayment is given, the Borrower shall make such
prepayment and the prepayment  amount  specified in such Notice shall be due and
payable on the date specified therein, with accrued interest to such date on the
amount prepaid.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                         YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

                  SECTION 6.01 Inability to Determine  Rates. If the Agent shall
determine  that  adequate and  reasonable  means do not exist to  ascertain  the
Adjusted LIBO Rate, or the Majority Banks shall determine that the Adjusted LIBO
Rate does not accurately  reflect the cost to the Banks of making or maintaining
LIBOR Loans, then the Agent shall give telephonic notice (promptly  confirmed in
writing) to the Borrower and each Bank of such determination.  Such notice shall
specify the basis for such  determination  and shall, in the absence of manifest
error, be conclusive and binding for all purposes. Thereafter, the obligation of
the Banks to make or maintain LIBOR Loans hereunder shall be suspended until the
Agent (upon the  instructions of the Majority  Banks) revokes such notice.  Upon
receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any Notice then submitted by it.
If the Borrower  does not revoke such Notice,  the Banks shall make,  convert or
continue  Loans,  as proposed by the  Borrower,  in the amount  specified in the
Notice  submitted by the  Borrower,  but such Loans shall be made,  converted or
continued as Base Rate Loans instead of LIBOR Loans.

                  SECTION  6.02 Funding  Losses.  In addition to such amounts as
are required to be paid by the Borrower  pursuant to Section 6.03,  the Borrower
shall compensate each Bank, promptly upon receipt of such Bank's written request
made to the  Borrower  (with a copy to the  Agent),  for all  losses,  costs and
expenses  (including  any loss or expense  incurred  by such Bank in  obtaining,
liquidating or re-employing deposits or


                                       32.


<PAGE>

other  funds to fund or  maintain  its LIBOR  Loans),  if any,  which  such Bank
sustains:  (i) if the Borrower  repays,  converts or prepays any LIBOR Loan on a
date other than the last day of an Interest  Period for such LIBOR Loan (whether
as a result of an optional  prepayment,  mandatory  prepayment,  a  payment as a
result of  acceleration  or  otherwise);  (ii) if the Borrower fails to borrow a
LIBOR Loan after giving its Notice  (other than as a result of the  operation of
Section 6.01 or 6.04); (iii) if the Borrower fails to convert into or continue a
LIBOR Loan after giving its Notice  (other than as a result of the  operation of
Section  6.01 or 6.04);  or (iv) if the  Borrower  fails to prepay a LIBOR  Loan
after giving its Notice of Prepayment.  Any such request for compensation  shall
set forth the basis for requesting such  compensation  and shall, in the absence
of manifest error, be conclusive and binding for all purposes.

                  SECTON 6.03 Regulatory Changes.

                  (a) Increased  Costs.  If after the date hereof,  the adoption
of, or any change in, any  applicable  law,  role or  regulation,  or any change
therein,  or any change in the  interpretation or administration  thereof by any
Governmental Authority charged with the interpretation or administration thereof
(a "Regulatory  Change"), or compliance by any Bank (or its Lending Office) with
any request,  guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of
any Governmental  Authority shall impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve,
special deposit or similar  requirement  (including any such requirement imposed
by the Board of Governors of the Federal  Reserve  System,  but  excluding  with
respect to any LIBOR Loan any such  requirement  included in the  calculation of
the Adjusted LIBO Rate) against assets of,  deposits with or for the account of,
or credit extended by, any Bank's Lending Office or shall impose on any Bank (or
its  Lending  Office) or the  interbank  eurodollar  market any other  condition
affecting  any Bank's LIBOR Loans or its  obligation  to make LIBOR Loans or its
other  obligations  hereunder,  and the  result  of any of the  foregoing  is to
increase  the cost to such Bank (or its  Lending  Office) of agreeing to make or
making,  funding or maintaining any Loan or participating in any L/C Obligation,
or  increase  the cost to any  Issuing  Bank of  agreeing to issue or issuing or
maintaining  any Letter of Credit or of agreeing  to make or making,  funding or
maintaining  any unpaid  drawing  under any  Letter of Credit,  or to reduce the
amount of any sum received or receivable by such Bank (or its Lending Office) or
such Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect thereto, by an amount deemed
by such Bank to be material, then from time to time, within 15 days after demand
by such Bank (with a copy to the  Agent),  the  Borrower  shall pay to such Bank
such additional  amounts as  shall  compensate such Bank for such increased cost
or  reduction;  provided,  however,  that no Bank  shall be  entitled  to obtain
compensation  with  respect to any period prior to one year prior to making such
demand.

                  (b) Capital  Requirements.  If any  Bank shall have determined
that any Regulatory  Change regarding  capital  adequacy,  or compliance by such
Bank (or any corporation controlling such Bank), with any request,  guideline or
directive regarding capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) of
any Governmental Authority, has or shall have the effect of reducing the rate of
return on such Bank's or such  corporation's  capital as a  consequence  of such
Bank's obligations hereunder to a


                                       33.


<PAGE>

level below that which such Bank or such corporation would have achieved but for
such adoption,  change or compliance  (taking into  consideration such Bank's or
corporation's policies with respect to capital adequacy), by an amount deemed by
such Bank to be material,  then from time to time,  within  15 days after demand
by such Bank (with a copy to the  Agent),  the  Borrower  shall pay to such Bank
such additional amounts (to the extent such additional amounts are not reflected
in the Base Rate or the Adjusted  LIBO Rate) as shall  compensate  such Bank for
such reduction.

                  (c)  Requests.  Any request for  compensation  by a Bank under
this Section 6.03 shall set forth the basis of calculation thereof and shall, in
the absence of manifest  error,  be conclusive and binding for all purposes.  In
determining  the amount of such  compensation,  such Bank may use any reasonable
averaging and attribution methods.

                  SECTION 6.04  Illegality.  If any Bank shall determine that it
has become  unlawful,  as a result of any  Regulatory  Change,  for such Bank to
make,  convert into or maintain LIBOR Loans as  contemplated  by this Agreement,
such Bank shall  promptly  give  notice of such  determination  to the  Borrower
(through the Agent), and (i) the obligation of such Bank to make or convert into
LIBOR  Loans  shall  be  suspended   until  such  Bank  gives  notice  that  the
circumstances  causing such  suspension no longer  exist;  and (ii) each of such
Bank's  outstanding  LIBOR Loans shall,  if requested by such Bank,  be convened
into a Base Rate Loan not later  than upon  expiration  of the  Interest  Period
related to such LIBOR Loan,  or, if earlier,  on such date as may be required by
the applicable  Regulatory  Change,  as shall be specified in such request.  Any
such  determination  shall,  in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and
binding for all purposes.

                  SECTlON  6.05  Funding  Assumptions.  Solely for  purposes  of
calculating  amounts payable by the Borrower to the Banks under this Article VI,
each  LIBOR Loan made by a Bank (and any  related  reserve,  special  deposit or
similar  requirement)  shall be  conclusively  deemed to have been funded at the
LIBO Rate used in  determining  the Adjusted  LIBO Rate for such LIBOR Loan by a
matching  deposit or other  borrowing in the interbank  eurodollar  market for a
comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such LIBOR Loan is
in fact so funded.

                  SECTION 6.06  Obligation to Mitigate. Each Bank agrees that as
promptly as  practicable  after it becomes  aware of the  occurrence of an event
that would entitle it to give notice pursuant to Section 6.03(a) or 6.04, and in
any  event if so  requested  by the  Borrower,  each Bank  shall use  reasonable
efforts to make,  fund or  maintain  its  affected LIBOR Loans  through  another
Lending  Office if as a result  thereof the increased  costs would be avoided or
materially reduced or the illegality would thereby cease to exist and if, in the
reasonable  opinion of such Bank,  the making,  funding or  maintaining  of such
LIBOR Loans through such other Lending Office would not in any material  respect
be  disadvantageous  to such Bank or  contrary  to such  Bank's  normal  banking
practices.


                                       34.


<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE VII
                                    PAYMENTS

                  SECTION 7.01 Pro Rata Treatment. Except as otherwise  provided
in this Agreement,  each Borrowing hereunder,  each Commitment  reduction,  each
payment (including each prepayment) by the Borrower on account of the principal,
interest,  drawings  under Letters of Credit,  fees and other  amounts  required
hereunder shall be made without set-off or counterclaim and, except as otherwise
expressly  provided with respect to drawings  under Letters of Credit,  shall be
made ratably in accordance with the Commitment  Percentages.  Each conversion or
continuation  of  Loans  shall  also be made  ratably  in  accordance  with  the
Commitment Percentages.

                  SECTION 7.02 Payments.

                  (a) Payments.  The Borrower  shall make each payment under the
Loan Documents,  unconditionally in full without set-off,  counterclaim or other
defense,  not later than 11:00 A.M. (California time) on the day when due to the
Agent in Dollars and in same day or immediately  available funds, to the Agent's
Account.  The Agent  shall on such date  distribute  like funds  relating to the
payment on account of principal, interest, drawings under Letters of Credit, the
letter of credit fee,  commitment fee or any other amounts  payable to the Banks
or to the Issuing Bank, as the case may be,  ratably  (except as a result of the
operation  of  Article  IV) to the Banks in  accordance  with  their  Commitment
Percentages, or to the Issuing Bank, as the case may be.

                  (b)  Authorization  to Agent.  The Agent may (but shall not be
obligated  to),  and the Borrower  hereby  authorizes  the Agent to,  charge any
deposit  account of the Borrower  with the Agent for  the amount of such payment
which is not made by the time  specified  in  subsection  (a).  The Agent  shall
promptly notify the Borrower after charging any such account.

                  (c) Extension.  Whenever any payment hereunder shall be stated
to be due, or whenever  any Interest  Payment  Date or any other date  specified
hereunder  would  otherwise  occur,  on a day other than a Business  Day,  then,
except as  otherwise  provided  herein,  such  payment  shall be made,  and such
Interest Payment Date or other date shall occur, on the next succeeding Business
Day,  and  such  extension  of time  shall  in  such  case  be  included  in the
computation  of payment of  interest,  letter of credit  fee or  commitment  fee
hereunder.

                  SECTION 7.03 Taxes.

                  (a)  No  Reduction  of Payments.  The  Borrower  shall pay all
amounts  of  principal,  interest,  fees and  other  amounts  due under the Loan
Documents  free and clear of, and without  reduction  for or on account of,  any
present and future taxes, levies, imposts,  duties, fees, assessments,  charges,
deductions or withholdings and all liabilities  with respect thereto  excluding,
in the case of each Bank and the Agent, income and franchise taxes imposed on it
by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such Bank or


                                       35.


<PAGE>

the  Agent is  organized  or in which its  principal  executive  offices  may be
located or any political  subdivision or taxing  authority  thereof  or therein,
and by the  jurisdiction  of  such  Bank's  Lending  Office  and  any  political
subdivision or taxing authority  thereof or therein (all such nonexcluded taxes,
levies, imposts, duties, fees, assessments,  charges,  deductions,  withholdings
and liabilities being hereinafter referred to as "Taxes"). If any Taxes shall be
required by law to be deducted or withheld from any payment,  the Borrower shall
increase the amount paid so that the respective  Bank or the Agent receives when
due (and is  entitled to  retain),  after  deduction  or  withholding  for or on
account  of such Taxes  (including  deductions  or  withholdings  applicable  to
additional sums payable under this Section 7.03), the full amount of the payment
provided for in the Loan Documents.

                  (b) Deduction or  Withholding;  Tax Receipts.  If the Borrower
makes any  payment  hereunder  in respect of which it is required by law to make
any  deduction  or  withholding,  it shall pay the full amount to be deducted or
withheld to the relevant taxation or other authority within the time allowed for
such payment under  applicable law and promptly  thereafter shall furnish to the
Agent (for itself or for  redelivery  to the Bank to or for the account of which
such  payment was made) an original or  certified  copy of a receipt  evidencing
payment thereof, together with such other information and documents as the Agent
or any Bank (through the Agent) may reasonably request.

                  (c) Indemnity.  If any Bank or the Agent is required by law to
make any payment on account of Taxes,  or any liability in respect of any Tax is
imposed,  levied or assessed  against any Bank or the Agent,  the Borrower shall
indemnify  the Agent and the Banks for and against  such  payment or  liability,
together with any incremental  taxes,  interest or penalties,  and all costs and
expenses,  payable or incurred in connection therewith,  including Taxes imposed
on amounts  payable  under this  Section  7.03,  whether or not such  payment or
liability was correctly or legally  asserted.  A certificate of the Agent or any
Bank as to the amount of any such  payment  shall,  in the  absence of  manifest
error, be conclusive and binding for all purposes.

                  (d) Forms 1001 and 4224. Each Bank that is incorporated  under
the laws of any jurisdiction  outside the United States agrees to deliver to the
Agent and the Borrower on or prior to the Closing Date,  and in a timely fashion
thereafter,  Form 1001,  Form 4224 or such other documents and forms of the IRS,
duly executed and  completed by such Bank,  as are required  under United States
law to establish such Bank's status for United States withholding tax purposes.

                  (e)   Mitigation.   Each  Bank  agrees  that  as  promptly  as
practicable  after it  becomes  aware of the  occurrence  of an event that would
cause the  Borrower  to make any  payment  in respect of Taxes to such Bank or a
payment in  indemnification  with  respect to any Taxes,  and in any event if so
requested  by the  Borrower  following  such  occurrence,  each  Bank  shall use
reasonable efforts to make, fund or maintain its affected Loan (or relevant part
thereof)  through  another  Lending Office if as a result thereof the additional
amounts so payable by the Borrower  would be avoided or  materially  reduced and
if, in the reasonable  opinion of such Bank, the making,  funding or maintaining
of such Loan (or relevant part thereof)  through such other Lending Office would
not in any


                                       36.


<PAGE>

material respect be disadvantageous  to  such  Bank  or contrary  to such Bank's
normal banking practices.

                  SECTION 7.04 Non-Receipt of Funds. Unless the Agent shall have
received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any  payment is due
to any of the Banks  hereunder that the Borrower shall not make such  payment in
full,  the Agent may assume that the  Borrower  has made such payment in full to
the Agent on such date and the Agent  may,  in  reliance  upon such  assumption,
cause to be  distributed  to each Bank on such due date an  amount  equal to the
amount then due such Bank.  If and to the extent the Borrower  shall not have so
made such  payment  in full to the  Agent,  each Bank  shall  repay to the Agent
forthwith on demand such amount  distributed to such Bank together with interest
thereon,  for each day from the date  such  amount is  distributed  to such Bank
until the date such Bank repays such amount to the  Agent, at  the Federal Funds
Rate.

                  SECTION 7.05 Sharing of Payments. If any Bank shall obtain any
payment (whether  voluntary,  involuntary,  through the exercise of any right of
set-off,  or  otherwise) on account of the Loans made by it (other than pursuant
to a provision  hereof  providing  for non-pro rata  treatment) in excess of its
ratable  share of  payments  on account of the Loans  obtained by all the Banks,
such Bank shall forthwith  advise the Agent of the receipt of such payment,  and
within five Business Days of such receipt purchase from the other Banks (through
the Agent),  without recourse,  such participations in the Loans made by them as
shall be necessary  to cause such  purchasing  Bank to share the excess  payment
ratably  with each of  them;  provided,  however,  that if all or any portion of
such excess payment is thereafter recovered by or on behalf of the Borrower from
such  purchasing  Bank,  the purchase  shall be rescinded and the purchase price
restored to the extent of such  recovery,  but without  interest.  The  Borrower
agrees that any Bank so purchasing a participation from another Bank pursuant to
this Section 7.05 may exercise all its rights of payment (including the right of
set-off)  with respect to such  participation  as fully as if such Bank were the
direct  creditor  of the  Borrower  in the  amount  of  such  participation.  No
documentation  other than notices and the like  referred to in this Section 7.05
shall be required to implement the terms of this Section  7.05.  The Agent shall
keep records  (which shall be conclusive  and binding in the absence of manifest
error) of  participations  purchased  pursuant to this Section 7.05 and shall in
each case notify the Banks following any such purchases.

                                  ARTICLE VIII
                              CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

                  SECTION  8.01  Conditions  Precedent to the  Effectiveness  of
Agreement.  The  obligation  of each Bank to make its initial  Credit  Extension
hereunder  shall  be  subject  to the  satisfaction  of  each  of the  following
conditions precedent on or before the Closing Date:


                                       37.


<PAGE>

                  (a) Fees and  Expenses.  The Borrower  shall have paid (i) all
fees then due in  accordance  with Section 4.03 and (ii) all invoiced  costs and
expenses then due in accordance with Section 13.04(a).

                  (b) Loan  Documents.  The Agent shall have received the Notes,
executed by the Borrower,  and (in  sufficient  copies for each of the Banks and
the Borrower) counterparts of this Agreement executed by all the parties hereto.

                 (c) Additional  Closing Documents and Actions.  The Agent shall
have received the following,  in form and substance  satisfactory to it and each
Bank:
                           (i) evidence of completion to the satisfaction of the
Agent and each Bank of such investigations, reviews and  audits  with respect to
the Borrower and its operations as the Agent or any Bank may deem appropriate;

                           (ii)   certificates   of   one   or  more  nationally
recognized insurance brokers or other insurance specialists  acceptable  to  the
Agent,  dated as of a recent date prior to the Closing   Date,  stating that all
insurance  required  under this  Agreement is in full force and effect;

                           (iii)   if   applicable,   evidence   that   all  (A)
authorizations  or approvals of any Governmental  Authority and (B) approvals or
consents  of any  other  Person,  required  in  connection  with the  execution,
delivery and performance of the Loan Documents shall have been obtained;

                           (iv) (in sufficient copies for the Banks) the audited
consolidated  balance sheet of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries as at December
31,  1994,  and the related  consolidated  statements  of income,  shareholders'
equity  and cash  flows  for the  fiscal  year  then  ended,  and the  unaudited
consolidated  balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at September
29,  1995,  and the related  consolidated  statements  of income,  shareholders'
equity and cash flows, for the quarter then ended and the nine-month period then
ended; and

                           (v) a  certificate  of a  Responsible  Officer of the
Borrower,  dated the Closing  Date,  stating  that (A) the  representations  and
warranties  contained in Section 9.01 and in the other Loan  Documents  are true
and correct on and as of the date of such  certificate  as though made on and as
of such  date and (B) on and as of the  Closing  Date,  no  Default  shall  have
occurred and be continuing.

                 (d)  Corporate  Documents.  The Agent shall have  received  the
following, in form and substance satisfactory to it and each Bank:

                           (i) certified  copies of the certificate or articles,
as the case may be, of incorporation of the Borrower, together with certificates
as to good  standing  and tax  status,  from  the  Secretary  of  State or other
Governmental Authority, as applicable,  of the Borrower's state of incorporation
and certificates from the Secretary of State or


                                       38.


<PAGE>

other Governmental  Authority,  as applicable,  of Maryland and each other state
where the Borrower is qualified  to do business as a foreign  corporation  as to
the Borrower's status as a foreign  corporation and tax status, each dated as of
a recent date prior to the Closing Date;

                           (ii) a  certificate  of the  Secretary  or  Assistant
Secretary of the Borrower,  dated the Closing Date, certifying (A) copies of the
bylaws of the  Borrower  and the  resolutions  of the Board of  Directors of the
Borrower  authorizing  the  execution,  delivery  and  performance  of the  Loan
Documents and (B) the  incumbency,  authority and  signatures of each officer of
the Borrower  authorized to execute and deliver the Loan  Documents and act with
respect thereto, upon which certificate the Agent and the Banks may conclusively
rely until the Agent shall have received a further  certificate of the Secretary
or an  Assistant  Secretary of the Borrower  cancelling  or amending  such prior
certificate.

                 (e) Legal  Opinions.  The Agent shall have received the opinion
of Richard G. Bell, General Counsel to the Borrower,  dated the Closing Date, in
substantially the form of Exhibit C.

                  (f) Auditor's  Letter.  The Agent shall have received a letter
from Deloitte & Touche LLP  substantially in the form of Exhibit D, acknowledged
and agreed to by the Borrower and such auditors.

                  SECTION 8.02  Conditions  Precedent to All Credit  Extensions.
The  obligation  of each  Bank to make  any  Credit  Extension  to be made by it
hereunder   (including  its  initial   Credit   Extension)  is  subject  to  the
satisfaction  of the  following  conditions  precedent  on the  relevant  Credit
Extension date:

                  (a)  Notice.  The  Agent  shall  have  received  a  Notice  of
Borrowing; or in the case of any issuance, amendment or renewal of any Letter of
Credit, the Issuing Bank and the Agent shall have received an L/C Application or
L/C Amendment Application, as required under Section 3.02.

                 (b)  Material  Adverse  Effect.  On and as of the  date of such
Credit Extension, there shall have occurred no Material Adverse Effect since the
date of this Agreement.

                  (c) Representations and Warranties; No Default. On the date of
such Credit  Extension  date, both before and after giving effect thereto and to
the application of proceeds  therefrom:.  (i) the representations and warranties
contained in Section 9.01 and in the other Loan Documents shall be true, correct
and complete on and as of the date of such Credit  Extension date as though made
on and  as of such date (giving  effect to (A) such updates of Schedule 4 as the
Borrower may have delivered to the Agent prior to such Credit Extension date and
(B) with  respect to  Section  9.01(q),  the most  recent  financial  statements
delivered to the Agent in  compliance  with Section  10.01(a)(ii));  and (ii) no
Default shall have occurred and be continuing or shall result


                                       39.


<PAGE>

from such  Credit  Extension.  The  giving  of  any  Notice  of  Borrowing,  the
submission  of  any  L/C  Application  or L/C  Amendment  Application,  and  the
acceptance  by  the  Borrower of the proceeds of each  Borrowing  following  the
Closing Date,  shall each be deemed a  certification  to the Agent and the Banks
that on and as of the date of such Credit Extension such statements are true.

                  (d) Additional  Documents.  The Agent shall have received,  in
form and substance  satisfactory  to it, such  additional  approvals,  opinions,
documents and other information as the Agent or any Bank (through the Agent) may
reasonably request.

                                   ARTICLE IX
                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

                  SECTION  9.01  Representations  and  Warranties.  The Borrower
represents and warrants to each Bank and the Agent that:

                  (a)  Organization  and Powers.  Each of the  Borrower  and its
Subsidiaries  is a  corporation  duly  organized,  validly  existing and in good
standing under the law of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, is qualified to
do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the failure so
to qualify or be in good standing would result in a Material  Adverse Effect and
has all  requisite  power  and  authority  to own its  assets  and  carry on its
business and, with respect to the Borrower, to execute,  deliver and perform its
obligations under the Loan Documents.

                  (b) Authorization;  No Conflict.  The execution,  delivery and
performance by the Borrower of the Loan  Documents have been duly  authorized by
all  necessary  corporate  action  of the  Borrower  and do not and will not (i)
contravene  the terms of the  certificate  or  articles,  as the case may be, of
incorporation  and the  bylaws  of the  Borrower  or  result  in a breach  of or
constitute  a default  under any  indenture  or loan or credit  agreement or any
other  agreement,  lease or  instrument  to which the  Borrower is a party or by
which it or its properties may be bound or affected;  (ii) violate any provision
of any law, role, regulation,  order, writ, judgment,  injunction, decree or the
like binding on or affecting the Borrower;  or (iii) result in, or require,  the
creation or imposition of any Lien upon or with respect to any of the properties
of the Borrower.

                  (c) Binding Obligation. The Loan Documents constitute, or when
delivered  under  this  Agreement  will  Constitute,  legal,  valid and  binding
obligations of the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with
their respective terms.

                  (d) Consents. No authorization,  consent,  approval,  license,
exemption of, or filing or registration  with, any  Governmental  Authority,  or
approval  or consent of any other  Person,  is required  for the due  execution,
delivery or performance by the Borrower of any of the Loan Documents.


                                       40.


<PAGE>

                 (e)   No  Defaults.   Neither  the  Borrower  nor  any  of  its
Subsidiaries  is in  default  under any  material  contract,  lease,  agreement,
judgment,  decree  or  order  to  which  it is a  party  or by  which  it or its
properties may be bound.

                  (f)  Title  to  Properties;   Liens.   The  Borrower  and  its
Subsidiaries  have  good  and  marketable  title  to,  or valid  and  subsisting
leasehold  interests in, their properties and assets,  and there is no Lien upon
or with respect to any of such properties or assets, except for Permitted Liens.

                  (g)  Litigation.  Except as set forth on Schedule 5, there are
no  actions,  suits or  proceedings  pending  or, to the best of the  Borrower's
knowledge,   threatened  against  or  affecting  the  Borrower  or  any  of  its
Subsidiaries or the properties of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries before
any Governmental  Authority or arbitrator  which if determined  adversely to the
Borrower or any such Subsidiary would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (h) Compliance with Environmental Laws. Except as set forth on
Schedule 6, to the best of Borrower's knowledge after due investigation, (i) the
properties  of the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  do not contain and have not
previously  contained  (at,  under,  or about any such  property)  any Hazardous
Substances  or  other  contamination  (A)  in  amounts  or  concentrations  that
constitute or constituted a violation of, or could give rise to liability under,
any  Environmental  Laws, in either case where such violation or liability could
reasonably be expected to result in a Material  Adverse Effect,  (B) which could
interfere  with the  continued  operation of such  property,  or (c) which could
materially  impair the fair  market  value  thereof;  and (ii) there has been no
transportation  or disposal of  Hazardous  Substances  from,  nor any release or
threatened  release of  Hazardous  Substances  at or from,  any  property of the
Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries in violation of or in any manner could give
rise to  liability  under  any  Environmental  Laws,  where  such  violation  or
liability,  individually  or in the aggregate,  could  reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (i) Governmental  Regulation.  Neither the Borrower nor any of
its  Subsidiaries  is subject to  regulation  under the Public  Utility  Holding
Company Act of 1935, the Federal Power Act, the Investment  Company Act of 1940,
the  Interstate  Commerce  Act,  any state  public  utilities  code or any other
federal  or  state  statute  or   regulation   limiting  its  ability  to  incur
Indebtedness.

                 (j) ERISA.  Except as  specifically  disclosed  to the Banks in
writing  prior to the  Closing  Date:  (i)  each  Plan is in  compliance  in all
material  respects  with  the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other
federal or state law;  (ii) there are no pending,  or to the best  knowledge  of
Borrower,  threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any governmental
authority,  with respect to any Plan which has resulted or could  reasonably  be
expected  to  result  in a  Material  Adverse  Effect;  (iii)  there has been no
prohibited  transaction or other violation of the fiduciary  responsibility rule
with  respect to any Plan which could  reasonably  result in a Material  Adverse
Effect; (iv) no ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur


                                       41.


<PAGE>

with respect to any Pension Plan;  (v) no Pension Plan has any Unfunded  Pension
Liability;  (vi) the Borrower has not incurred, nor does it reasonably expect to
incur,  any  liability  under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan
(other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA);  (vii)
no trade or business (whether or not incorporated  under common control with the
Borrower  within the  meaning of Section  414(b),  (c),  (m) or (o) of the Code)
maintains  or  contributes  to any Pension Plan or other Plan subject to Section
412 of the Code;  and (viii) neither the Borrower or entity under common control
with  the  Borrower  in the  preceding  sentence  has  ever  contributed  to any
multiemployer plan within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

                  (k) Subsidiaries. The name, capital structure and ownership of
each Subsidiary of the Borrower on the date of this Agreement is as set forth in
Schedule 4. All of the outstanding  capital stock of, or other interest in, each
such  Subsidiary has been validly issued,  and is fully paid and  nonassessable.
Except as set forth in such Schedule, on the date of this Agreement the Borrower
has no material equity interest in any Person.

                  (1) Marin  Regulations.  The  Borrower  is not  engaged in the
business of extending  credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying  "margin
stock"  (within the meaning of  Regulations  G or U of the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System of the United States). No part of the proceeds of the
Loans or other  extensions of credit hereunder will be used to purchase or carry
any margin stock or to extend  credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or
carrying any margin stock.

                  (m) Taxes. Each of the  Borrower and its Subsidiaries has duly
filed all tax and  information  returns  required to be filed,  and has paid all
taxes,  fees,  assessments  and other  governmental  charges or levies that have
become due and  payable,  except to the extent  such taxes or other  charges are
being contested in good faith and are adequately  reserved against in accordance
with GAAP.

                  (n) Patents and Other  Rights.  Each of the  Borrower  and its
Subsidiaries possesses all permits,  franchises,  licenses, patents, trademarks,
trade names, service marks, copyrights and all rights with respect thereto, free
from burdensome restrictions, that are necessary for the ownership,  maintenance
and operation of its business.  Neither the Borrower nor any such  Subsidiary is
in violation of any rights of others with respect to the foregoing, except where
such  violation  is not  reasonably  expected  to result in a  Material  Adverse
Effect.

                  (o)  Insurance.   The  properties  of  the  Borrower  and  its
Subsidiaries  are insured in such amounts,  with such  deductibles  and covering
such risks as is customarily  carried by companies engaged in similar businesses
and owning  similar  properties  in the  localities  where the  Borrower or such
Subsidiary operates, and such insurance is maintained with financially sound and
reputable  insurance  companies or pursuant to a plan or plans or self-insurance
to such extent as is usual for  companies of similar size engaged in the same or
similar businesses and owning similar properties,


                                       42.


<PAGE>


                  (p) Financial  Statements.  The audited  consolidated  balance
sheet of the Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  as at December  31, 1994,  and the
related  consolidated  statements of income, shareholders' equity and cash flows
for the fiscal year then ended, and the unaudited  consolidated balance sheet of
the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  as at  September  29, 1995,  and the related
consolidated statements of income,  shareholders' equity and cash flows, for the
quarter  then ended and the  nine-month  period then  ended,  are  complete  and
correct and fairly  present the  financial  condition  of the  Borrower  and its
Subsidiaries  as at such dates and the results of operations of the Borrower and
its  Subsidiaries  for the periods covered by such  statements,  in each case in
accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject, in the case of the September
29, 1995 financial statements, to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of
notes. Since December 31, 1994, there has been no Material Adverse Effect.

                  (q)   Liabilities.   Neither  the  Borrower  nor  any  of  its
Subsidiaries  has any material  liabilities,  fixed or contingent,  that are not
reflected in the  financial  statements  referred to in  subsection  (p), in the
notes  thereto  or  otherwise  disclosed  in  writing  to the Banks,  other than
liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business since December 31, 1994.

                  (r) Labor  Disputes,  Etc.  There are no strikes,  lockouts or
other labor disputes against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or, to the
best of the Borrower's  knowledge,  threatened against or affecting the Borrower
which may result in a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (s) Disclosure. None of the representations or warranties made
by the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries in the Loan Documents as of the date
of such representations and warranties,  and none of the statements contained in
each  exhibit or report  furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries  to the Agent and the Banks in connection  with the Loan Documents,
contains  any untrue  statement of a material  fact or omits any  material  fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements  made therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.

                                    ARTICLE X
                                    COVENANTS

                  SECTION  10.01  Reporting  Covenants.  So  long  as any of the
Obligations shall remain unpaid,  any Letter of Credit shall remain  outstanding
or any Bank shall have any Commitment, the Borrower agrees that:

                 (a) Financial  Statements and Other Reports.  The Borrower will
furnish to the Agent in sufficient copies for distribution to the Banks:

                           (i) as soon as  available  and  in  any event  within
60 days  after  the end of the  first three  fiscal quarters of each fiscal year
of the Borrower, a consolidated


                                       43.


<PAGE>


balance  sheet  of the  Borrower  and  its  Subsidiaries  as of the  end of such
quarter, and  the  related  consolidated  statements  of  income,  shareholders'
equity and cash  flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such quarter and
the portion of the fiscal  year  through  the end of such  quarter,  prepared in
accordance with GAAP consistently  applied, all in reasonable detail and setting
forth in  comparative  form the  figures  for the  corresponding  period  in the
preceding fiscal year,  together with a certificate of a Responsible  Officer of
the Borrower stating that such financial statements fairly present the financial
condition of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  as at such date and the results
of operations of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries for the period ended on such
date and have  been  prepared  in  accordance  with GAAP  consistently  applied,
subject to changes resulting from normal,  year-end audit adjustments and except
for the absence of notes;

                           (ii) as soon as available and in any event within 120
days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower,  a consolidated  balance
sheet of the  Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  as of the end of such fiscal year,
and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders' equity and cash
flows of the Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  for such fiscal year,  prepared in
accordance with GAAP consistently applied, all in reasonable  detail and setting
forth in comparative  form the figures for the previous  fiscal year, and (A) in
the case of such  consolidated  financial  statements,  accompanied  by a report
thereon of Deloitte & Touche LLP or another firm of independent certified public
accountants of recognized  national  standing  acceptable to the Majority Banks,
which  report  shall be  unqualified  as to scope of audit or the  status of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries as a going concern, together with a certificate of
such independent public accountants  stating that (1) their audit examination of
the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  has included a review of the terms of this
Agreement as they relate to accounting matters;  (2) in the course of such audit
examination,  which audit was conducted by such  accountants in accordance  with
generally  accepted  auditing  standards,  such  accountants  have  obtained  no
knowledge that any Default has occurred and is  continuing,  or, if such Default
has occurred and is  continuing,  indicating the nature  thereof;  provided that
such  accountants  shall  not be  liable  by  reason  of any  failure  to obtain
knowledge  of any  Default  that would not be  disclosed  in the course of their
audit examination;  and (3) based on their audit examination nothing has come to
their  attention which causes them to believe that the  matters set forth in the
Compliance  Certificate  delivered  pursuant to clause (iii) for the  applicable
fiscal year with respect to compliance  with the provisions of Section 10.02 and
subsection  (f) of Section 10.04 are not stated in accordance  with the terms of
this Agreement;
       
                           (iii) together with the financial statements required
pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii),  a  Compliance  Certificate  of a  Responsible
Officer as of the end of the applicable accounting period; and

                           (iv)  promptly  after the  giving,  sending or filing
thereof,  copies  of all  reports,  if any,  which  the  Borrower  or any of its
Subsidiaries  sends to the  holders  of its  respective  capital  stock or other
securities and of all reports or filings,  if any, by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries with the SEC or any national securities exchange.


                                       44.


<PAGE>


                  (b) Additional  Information.  The Borrower wi11 furnish to the
Agent:

                           (i)  promptly  after the  Borrower  has  knowledge or
becomes  aware  thereof,   notice  of  the  occurrence  of  any  Event  of  Loss
with respect to its property or assets aggregating $1,000,000 or more (in excess
of amounts covered by third-party insurance);

                           (ii)  promptly  after the Borrower  has  knowledge or
becomes aware thereof, notice of the occurrence or existence of any Default;

                           (iii)  prompt  written  notice  of (A)  any  proposed
acquisition  of  stock,  assets  or  property  by  the  Borrower  or  any of its
Subsidiaries  that could  reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect due to environmental  liability under  Environmental Laws, and (B)(1) any
spillage, leakage, discharge,  disposal,  leaching,  migration or release of any
Hazardous Substances required to be reported to any Governmental Authority under
applicable  Environmental Laws, and (2) all actions,  suits, claims,  notices of
violation,  hearings,  investigations or proceedings  pending, or to the best of
the Borrower's knowledge, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any of
its  Subsidiaries  or  with  respect  to the  ownership,  use,  maintenance  and
operation  of  the  Premises,   relating  to  Environmental  Laws  or  Hazardous
Substances  and which  could  reasonably  be  expected  to result in a  Material
Adverse Effect;

                           (iv) prompt written  notice of each action,  suit and
proceeding before any Governmental  Authority or arbitrator  pending,  or to the
best of the Borrower's  knowledge,  threatened against or affecting the Borrower
or any of its  Subsidiaries  which (A) if adversely  determined would involve an
aggregate  liability  of  $1,000,000  or more in excess of  amounts  covered  by
third-party insurance, or (B) otherwise may have a Material Adverse Effect;

                           (v)  promptly  after the  Borrower  has  knowledge or
becomes aware thereof,  (A) notice of the occurrence of any  Termination  Event,
together with a copy of any notice of such  Termination  Event to the PBGC,  and
(B) the details  concerning any action taken or proposed to be taken by the IRS,
PBGC, Department of Labor or other Person with respect thereto;

                           (vi)  promptly upon the  commencement  or increase of
contributions  to, the adoption of, or an amendment  to,  a Plan by the Borrower
or an ERISA  Affiliate,  if such  commencement  or  increase  of  contributions,
adoption,  or amendment could reasonably be expected to result in a net increase
in unfunded liability to Borrower or an ERISA Affiliate in excess of $1,000,000,
a calculation of the net increase in unfunded liability;

                           (vii) promptly after filing or receipt thereof by the
Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate, copies of the following:


                                       45.


<PAGE>

                  (A) any notice  received  from the PBGC of intent to terminate
or have a trustee appointed to administer any Pension Plan;

                  (B) any notice  received  from the sponsor of a  Multiemployer
Plan  concerning the  imposition,  delinquent  payment,  or amount of withdrawal
liability;

                  (c) any  demand by the PBGC  under  Subtitle  D of Title IV of
ERISA; and

                  (D)  any  notice   received   from  the  IRS   regarding   the
disqualification  of a Plan  intended  to qualify  under  Section  401(a) of the
Internal Revenue Code;

                           (viii) the information regarding insurance maintained
by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as required under Section 10.03(c);

                           (ix)  within  3.0 days of the date  thereof,  or,  if
earlier,  on the  date of  delivery  of any  financial  statements  pursuant  to
subsection  (a),  notice  of any  material  change  in  accounting  policies  or
financial reporting practices by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;

                           (x) promptly after the occurrence thereof,  notice of
any labor controversy  resulting in or threatening to result in any strike, work
stoppage,  boycott,  shutdown  or other  material  labor  disruption  against or
involving  the  Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries  which  could  result in a
Material Adverse Effect;

                           (xi) prompt written notice of any other  condition or
event which has resulted,  or that could reasonably be expected to result,  in a
Material Adverse Effect; and

                           (xii)   such   other   information   respecting   the
operations,  properties,  business or condition  (financial or otherwise) of the
Borrower or its  Subsidiaries  as any Bank  (through the Agent) may from time to
time reasonably request.

Each notice  pursuant to this  subsection  (b) shall be accompanied by a written
statement by a Responsible  Officer of the Borrower setting forth details of the
occurrence referred to therein, and stating what action the Borrower proposes to
take with respect thereto.

                  SECTION  10.02  Financial  Covenants.  So  long  as any of the
Obligations shall remain unpaid,  any Letter of Credit shall remain  outstanding
or any Bank shall have any Commitment, the Borrower agrees that:

                 (a)  Leverage  Ratio.  The  Borrower  will  maintain a ratio of
Consolidated Total Liabilities to Consolidated  Tangible Net Worth as of the end
of each of the Borrower's fiscal quarters of not more than 1.0 to 1.0;


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<PAGE>

                  (b) Minimum Consolidated Net Worth. The Borrower will maintain
Consolidated  Net Worth as of the end of each of the Borrower's  fiscal quarters
of not less than  $135,000,000  plus 100% of the net  proceeds  received  by the
Borrower or any Subsidiary from the sale or issuance of equity securities to any
Person other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary after June 30, 1995 plus 50% of
positive  Consolidated Net Income, if any, for each fiscal quarter elapsed after
June 30, 1995;

                 (c)  Quick  Ratio.  The  Borrower  will  maintain  a  ratio  of
Consolidated   Adjusted   Current  Assets  to  Consolidated   Adjusted   Current
Liabilities of not less than 1.0 to 1.0 as of the end of any fiscal quarter;

                  (d)  Profitability.  During  any  period  of four  consecutive
fiscal quarters, the Borrower, on a consolidated basis, shall not incur (a) more
than two quarterly  net or operating  losses or (b) net or  operating losses  in
excess  of  $10,000,000  in the  aggregate  for  any  one or two  quarters.  The
Borrower,  on a consolidated  basis,  shall be profitable for any period of four
consecutive fiscal quarters; and

                  (e) Senior Debt to Total  Capitalization.  The  Borrower  will
maintain  a ratio of Senior  Debt to Total  Capitalization  (i) of not more than
0.40 to 1.0, as of the end of each of the Borrower's fiscal quarters in 1995 and
1996,  and (ii) of not  more  than  0.375  to 1.0,  as of the end of each of the
Borrower's fiscal quarters thereafter.

                  SECTION 10.03 Additional Affirmative Covenants. So long as any
of the  Obligations  shall  remain  unpaid,  any Letter of Credit  shall  remain
outstanding or any Bank shall have any Commitment, the Borrower agrees that:

                  (a)  Preservation  of Existence,  Etc. The Borrower  will, and
will cause each of its  Material  Subsidiaries  to,  maintain  and  preserve its
corporate  existence,  its rights to  transact  business  and all other  rights,
franchises  and  privileges  necessary  or desirable in the normal course of its
business  and  operations  and  the  ownership  of  its  properties,  except  in
connection with transactions permitted by Section 10.04(c) and (d).

                  (b)  Payment of Taxes,  Etc. The Borrower will, and will cause
each of its  Material  Subsidiaries  to,  pay and  discharge  all  taxes,  fees,
assessments  and  governmental  charges  or levies  imposed  upon it or upon its
properties or assets prior to the date on which penalties  attach  thereto,  and
all lawful claims for labor,  materials  and supplies  which,  if unpaid,  might
become a Lien upon any  properties or assets of the Borrower or any  Subsidiary,
except to the extent such taxes,  fees,  assessments or governmental  charges or
levies,  or such  claims,  are  being  contested  in good  faith by  appropriate
proceedings and are adequately reserved against in accordance with GAAP.

                  (c)  Maintenance  of Insurance.  The Borrower  will,  and will
cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to, carry and maintain in full force and
effect,  at its own expense and with financially  sound and reputable  insurance
companies,  insurance in such amounts,  with such  deductibles and covering such
risks as is  customarily  carried  by  companies  engaged in the same or similar
businesses and owning similar properties in the


                                       47.


<PAGE>


localities  where the  Borrower or such  Subsidiary  operates,  including  fire,
extended coverage, business interruption,  public liability, property damage and
worker's  compensation.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  the  Borrower and its
Subsidiaries may maintain a plan or plans of  self-insurance  to such extent and
coveting  such risks as is usual for  companies  of similar  size engaged in the
same or similar  businesses and owning similar  properties.  Upon the request of
the Agent or any Bank,  the Borrower  shall  furnish the Agent from time to time
with full information as to the insurance carried by it. All insurance  policies
required  under  this  subsection  (c)  shall  provide  that  they  shall not be
terminated or cancelled nor shall any such policy be materially  changed without
at least 30 days' prior written notice to the Borrower and the Agent.

                  (d)  Keeping of Records  and Books of  Account.  The  Borrower
will,  and will cause each of its  Subsidiaries  to, keep  adequate  records and
books of account,  in which  complete  entries will be made in  accordance  with
GAAP,   reflecting   all  financial   transactions   of  the  Borrower  and  its
Subsidiaries.

                  (e)  Inspection  Rights.  Upon  reasonable  prior notice,  the
Borrower will at any reasonable  time and from time to time permit the Agent and
the  Banks or any of their  respective  agents or  representatives  to visit and
inspect any of the properties of the Borrower and its Material  Subsidiaries and
to  examine  and make  copies of and  abstracts  from the  records  and books of
account of the  Borrower  and its  Material  Subsidiaries,  and to  discuss  the
business affairs,  finances and accounts of the Borrower and any such Subsidiary
with any of the  officers,  employees  or  accountants  of the  Borrower or such
Subsidiary.

                  (f)  Compliance  with Laws,  Etc. The Borrower  will, and will
cause  each  of  its  Subsidiaries  to,  comply  with  the  requirements  of all
applicable laws,  rules,  regulations and orders of any  Governmental  Authority
(including all Environmental  Laws) and the terms of any indenture,  contract or
other  instrument to which it may be a party or under which it or its properties
may be bound,  except in each case if noncompliance  therewith is not reasonably
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (g)  Maintenance  of  Properties,  Etc. The Borrower will, and
will cause each of its Material  Subsidiaries  to,  maintain and preserve all of
its properties necessary or useful in the proper conduct of its business in good
working  order and condition in  accordance  with the general  practice of other
corporations of similar character and size, ordinary wear and tear excepted.

                  (h) Licenses.  The Borrower  will,  and will cause each of its
Material Subsidiaries  to,  obtain and  maintain all  licenses,  authorizations,
consents,  filings,  exemptions,  registrations and other governmental approvals
necessary in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan
Documents,  the  consummation of the  transactions  therein  contemplated or the
operation and conduct of its business and ownership of its properties.


                                       48.


<PAGE>

                  (i) Action Under  Environmental  Laws.  The Borrower will, and
will cause each of its  Subsidiaries  to, upon becoming aware of the presence of
any Hazardous Substance or the existence of  any environmental  liability  under
applicable Environmental Laws with respect to the Premises, take all actions, at
their cost and expense,  as shall be necessary or advisable to  investigate  and
clean up the condition of the Premises,  including all removal,  containment and
remedial  actions,  and restore the Premises to a condition in  compliance  with
applicable Environmental Laws.

                 (j) Use of Proceeds.  The Borrower will use the proceeds of the
Loans solely for general corporate purposes.

                 (k) Further  Assurances and Additional  Acts. The Borrower will
execute,  acknowledge,  deliver,  file, notarize and register at its own expense
all such further agreements, instruments, certificates, documents and assurances
and perform such acts as the Agent or the Majority Banks shall  reasonably  deem
necessary or appropriate to effectuate the purposes of the Loan  Documents,  and
promptly  provide the Agent with evidence of the foregoing  satisfactory in form
and substance to the Agent or the Majority Banks.

                 SECTON  10.04  Negative  Covenants.  So  long  as  any  of  the
Obligations shall remain unpaid,  any Letter of Credit shall remain  outstanding
or any Bank shall have any Commitment, the Borrower agrees that:

                  (a)  Liens; Negative Pledges.

                           (i) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of
its  Subsidiaries to, create,  incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon or
with respect to any of its properties,  revenues or assets, whether now owned or
hereafter acquired, other than Permitted Liens.

                           (ii) The  Borrower  will not, and will not permit any
of its  Subsidiaries to, enter into any agreement (other than this Agreement and
any other Loan Document) prohibiting the creation or assumption of any Lien upon
any of its  properties,  revenues  or  assets,  whether  now owned or  hereafter
acquired.

                  (b) Change in Nature of Business.  The Borrower  will not, and
will not permit  any of its  Subsidiaries  to,  engage in any  material  line of
business  substantially  different from those lines of business carried on by it
at the date hereof.

                  (c)  Restrictions  on Fundamental  Changes.  The Borrower will
not, and will not permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to, merge with or consolidate
into, or acquire all or substantially all of the assets of, any Person, or sell,
transfer,  lease or  otherwise  dispose of (whether in one  transaction  or in a
series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets, except that:


                                       49.


<PAGE>

                           (i) any of the Borrower's  wholly owned  Subsidiaries
may merge with,  consolidate  into or transfer all or  substantially  all of its
assets to another of the Borrower's wholly owned Subsidiaries or to the Borrower
and in connection therewith such Subsidiary may be liquidated or dissolved;

                           (ii) the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries may sell
or dispose of assets in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d);

                           (iii) the  Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries  may
make any investment permitted by subsection (e); and

                           (iv) the Borrower may merge with or consolidate  into
any other Person,  provided that (A) the Borrower is the surviving  corporation,
and (B) no such  merger or  consolidation  shall be made  while  there  exists a
Default or if a Default would occur as a result thereof.

                  (d) Sales of  Assets.  The  Borrower  will  not,  and will not
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, convey, sell, lease,  transfer,  or otherwise
dispose of, or part with control of (whether in one  transaction  or a series of
transactions)  any assets  (including  any shares of stock in any  Subsidiary or
other Person), except:

                           (i) sales or other  dispositions  of inventory in the
ordinary course of business;

                           (ii)  sales or  other  dispositions  in the  ordinary
course of business of assets which have become worn out or obsolete or which are
promptly being replaced;

                           (iii)  sales  of  accounts  receivable  to  financial
institutions not affiliated with the Borrower,  provided that (A) the applicable
discount rate shall be no greater than 15% per annum at any time, (B) the amount
of all accounts receivable  permitted to be sold in any fiscal quarter shall not
exceed 35% of the Borrower's total accounts receivable, determined as of the end
of the next  preceding  fiscal quarter (or fiscal year, as the case may be), and
no more  than 50% of such  accounts  receivable  permitted  to be sold  shall be
domestic  accounts  receivable of the Borrower;  and (c) the sole  consideration
received for such sales shall be cash;

                           (iv) the sale of the  property  located at 2525 North
First Street,  San Jose,  California and the property  located at Dedworth Road,
Oakley Green, Windsor, Berkshire, England; and

                           (v) sales or other dispositions of assets outside the
ordinary course of business which do not constitute Substantial Assets.

For  purposes of clause (v), a sale,  lease,  transfer or other  disposition  of
assets shall be deemed to be of  "Substantial  Assets" if such assets  conveyed,
sold, leased, transferred or


                                       50.


<PAGE>

otherwise disposed of in any fiscal year of the Borrower (other than assets sold
in the ordinary course of business or pursuant to clauses (iii) or (iv)),  shall
exceed  7-1/2% of  Consolidated  Total Assets as determined as of the end of the
next preceding fiscal year of the Borrower.

                  (e) Loans and Investments. The Borrower will not, and will not
permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to,  purchase or otherwise  acquire the capital
stock, assets,  obligations or other securities of or any interest in any Person
(including  by merger or  consolidation),  or otherwise  extend any credit to or
make any additional investments in any Person, other than in connection with:

                           (i)  extensions  of credit in the nature of  accounts
receivable  or notes  receivable  arising from the sales of goods or services in
the ordinary course of business;

                           (ii) Permitted Investments;

                           (iii)  additional  purchases of or investments in the
stock of Subsidiaries; or

                           (iv)  purchases  of or  investments  in  the  capital
stock,  assets,  obligations or other securities of or interest in other Persons
not  exceeding  in any fiscal  year of the  Borrower  an amount  equal to 20% of
Consolidated Net Worth,  determined as of the last day of the fiscal quarter (or
fiscal year) of the Borrower most recently ended, as to all such  investments in
the aggregate within such year.

                  (f) Distributions.

                           (i)  The  Borrower   will  not  declare  or  pay  any
dividends in respect of the  Borrower's  capital  stock,  or  purchase,  redeem,
retire or otherwise  acquire for value any of its capital stock now or hereafter
outstanding,  return  any  capital  to its  shareholders  as  such,  or make any
distribution  of  assets  to its  shareholders  as such,  or  permit  any of its
Subsidiaries to purchase,  redeem,  retire,  or otherwise  acquire for value any
stock of the Borrower, except that the Borrower may:

                                    (A)  declare   and  deliver   dividends  and
distributions  payable  only in common  stock of the Borrower;

                                    (B) declare and deliver cash dividends in an
amount not to exceed  $7,000,000 in any fiscal year of the Borrower;

                                    (C) purchase,  redeem,  retire, or otherwise
acquire  shares  of  its  capital  stock  with  the  proceeds  received  from  a
substantially concurrent issue of new shares of its capital stock; and


                                       51.


<PAGE>

                                    (D)  purchase  shares of its  capital  stock
from time to time,  in  connection  with the  issuance of shares of such capital
stock to its employees  under the  Borrower's  employee stock option plans or to
the members of its board of  directors;  provided that the number of such shares
purchased shall not at any time, in the aggregate,  exceed the aggregate  number
of such shares issued to such employees and board members.

                           (ii) The Borrower  will not permit any  Subsidiary of
the  Borrower to grant or otherwise  agree to or suffer to exist any  consensual
restrictions  on the ability of such  Subsidiary to pay dividends and make other
distributions to the Borrower,  or to pay any Indebtedness  owed to the Borrower
or transfer properties and assets to the Borrower.

                  (g) Transactions with Related Parties.  The Borrower will not,
and will not  permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to,  enter into any  transaction,
including  the  purchase,  sale or exchange of property or the  rendering of any
services,  with any  Affiliate,  any officer or  director  thereof or any Person
which beneficially owns or holds 5% or more of the equity  securities,  or 5% or
more of the equity interest,  thereof (a "Related Party"), or enter into, assume
or suffer to exist, or permit any Subsidiary to enter into,  assume or suffer to
exist,  any employment or consulting  contract with any Related Party,  except a
transaction  or contract  which is in the ordinary  course of the  Borrower's or
such Subsidiary's  business and which is upon fair and reasonable terms not less
favorable  to the  Borrower  or  such  Subsidiary  than  it  would  obtain  in a
comparable arm's length transaction with a Person not a Related Party.

                  (h) Hazardous Substances.  The Borrower will not, and will not
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, use, generate,  manufacture,  install, treat,
release, store or dispose of any Hazardous Substances, except in compliance with
all applicable Environmental Laws.

                  (i)  Accounting  Changes.  The Borrower will not, and will not
suffer or permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to,  make any  significant  change in
accounting treatment or reporting practices,  except as required or permitted by
GAAP,  or change the fiscal year of the  Borrower or of any of its  consolidated
Subsidiaries.

                  (j)  Regulations  G, T, U, and X. The Borrower  shall not, and
shall not permit any of its  Subsidiaries to, use any portion of the proceeds of
any Loans or  extensions of credit  hereunder,  directly or  indirectly,  (i) to
purchase or carry margin stock (within the meanings of  Regulations G, T, U, and
X of the FRB), (ii) to repay or otherwise refinance indebtedness of the Borrower
or others  incurred to purchase or carry any such margin stock,  (iii) to extend
credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any such margin stock,  or (iv)
to acquire any security in any transaction  that  is subject to Section 13 or 14
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.


                                       52.


<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE XI
                                EVENTS OF DEFAULT

                 SECTON 11.01  Events of Default.  Any of the  following  events
which shall occur shall constitute an "Event of Default":

                  (a) Payments.  The Borrower shall fail to pay when due (i) any
amount of  principal  of any Loan or Note or any  amount  of any L/C  Obligation
(other  than an  amount  deemed  to be made or  converted  into a  Borrowing  of
Revolving Loans under Section 3.03(b)),  and such failure continues for a period
of three days after the due date,  or (ii) any  interest  on any Loan or Note or
any fee or other  amount  payable  hereunder  or  under  any of the  other  Loan
Documents,  and such failure  continues  for a period of five days after the due
date.

                  (b)  Representations  and Warranties.  Any  representation  or
warranty by the Borrower under or in connection  with the Loan  Documents  shall
prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made.

                 (c)  Failure by  Borrower  to Perform  Certain  Covenants.  The
Borrower  shall  fail to  perform or observe  any term,  covenant  or  agreement
contained in Section 10.02 or Section 10.04.

                  (d)  Failure by  Borrower  to  Perform  Other  Covenants.  The
Borrower  shall  fail to  perform or observe  any term,  covenant  or  agreement
contained  in this  Agreement  or any  other  Loan  Document  on its  part to be
performed or observed (other than those described in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c)
above) and any such failure shall remain unremedied for a period of 20 days from
the occurrence thereof (unless the Majority Banks determine that such failure is
not capable of remedy,  in which case the Event of Default shall occur upon such
failure,  or unless the Majority  Banks,  in their sole  discretion,  shall have
determined  that more time is  required  to  effect a cure  and,  in their  sole
discretion,  shall have granted, in writing, an additional period for such cure;
provided  that the Borrower  shall have  commenced  such cure within such 20-day
period).

                  (e) Bankruptcy.  The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall
admit in writing  its  inability  to, or shall fail  generally  or be  generally
unable to, pay its debts  (including  its payrolls) as such debts become due, or
shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or the Borrower or
any such Subsidiary shall file a voluntary  petition in bankruptcy or a petition
or answer seeking  reorganization,  to effect a plan or other  arrangement  with
creditors or any other relief under the Bankruptcy Code or under any other state
or federal law  relating to  bankruptcy  or  reorganization  granting  relief to
debtors,  whether now or hereafter in effect,  or shall file an answer admitting
the  jurisdiction  of the court and the material  allegations of any involuntary
petition  filed  against  the  Borrower or any such  Subsidiary  pursuant to the
Bankruptcy  Code or any such other state or federal  law; or the Borrower or any
such Subsidiary shall be adjudicated a bankrupt, or shall make an assignment for
the benefit of creditors,  or shall apply for or consent to the  appointment  of
any custodian, receiver or trustee for all or


                                       53.


<PAGE>

any substantial  part of the Borrower's or any such  Subsidiary's  property,  or
shall take any action to authorize  any of the actions or events set forth above
in this  subsection;  or any order  for  relief  shall be  entered  against  the
Borrower  or  any  such  Subsidiary  in any  involuntary  proceeding  under  the
Bankruptcy  Code or any such other  state or  federal  law  referred  to in this
subsection (e).

                  (f)  Involuntary Bankruptcy.  An involuntary petition is filed
under any bankruptcy or similar  statute against the Borrower or any Subsidiary,
or a receiver, trustee, liquidator,  assignee, custodian,  sequestrator or other
similar  official is  appointed  to take  possession  of the  properties  of the
Borrower or any Subsidiary;  provided, however, that such Event of Default shall
be deemed  cured if such  petition or  appointment  is set aside or withdrawn or
ceases  to be in  effect  within  60  days  from  the  date of  said  filing  or
appointment.

                  (g) Default Under Other  Indebtedness.  The Borrower or any of
its  Subsidiaries  shall fail (i) to make any  payment of any  principal  of, or
interest or premium on, any Indebtedness (other than in respect of the Loans) in
an  aggregate  principal  amount  outstanding  of at least  $2,000,000  when due
(whether by scheduled maturity,  required  prepayment,  acceleration,  demand or
otherwise) and such failure shall continue after the applicable grace period, if
any,  specified in the agreement or instrument  relating to such Indebtedness as
of the date of such failure, or (ii) to perform or observe any term, covenant or
condition  on its part to be  performed  or  observed  under  any  agreement  or
instrument  relating to any such Indebtedness,  when required to be performed or
observed,  and such failure shall continue after the applicable grace period, if
any, specified in such agreement or instrument, if the effect of such failure to
perform or  observe is to  accelerate,  or to permit  the  acceleration  of, the
maturity of such Indebtedness;  or any such Indebtedness shall be declared to be
due and payable,  or required to be prepaid (other than by a regularly scheduled
required prepayment), prior to the stated maturity thereof.

                  (h)  Judgments.  (i) A final judgment or order for the payment
of money of  $2,000,000 or more in excess of the amount  covered by  third-party
insurance shall be rendered  against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and
shall not be paid or otherwise  satisfied  within 20 days after such judgment or
order is entered;  or (ii) any non-monetary  judgment or order shall be rendered
against the Borrower or any such  Subsidiary  which  has or would  reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

                  (i) ERISA.  (i) an ERISA Event  shall occur with  respect to a
Pension  Plan which  has resulted or could  reasonably  be expected to result in
liability of the Borrower under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan or PBGC in
an aggregate  amount in excess of $2,000,000;  (ii) the commencement or increase
of  contributions  to, or the adoption of or the  amendment of a Pension Plan by
the Borrower which has resulted or could  reasonably be expected to result in an
increase in Unfunded  Pension  Liability among all Pension Plans in an aggregate
amount  in  excess  of  $2,000,000;  or  (iii)  any of the  representations  and
warranties contained in Section 5.12 hereof shall


                                       54.


<PAGE>

cease to be true and correct which, individually or in combination, has resulted
or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (j) Dissolution,  Etc. The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
shall (i) liquidate, wind up or dissolve (or suffer any liquidation,  wind-up or
dissolution),  except to the extent expressly  permitted by Section 10.04,  (ii)
suspend its operations  other than in the ordinary course of business,  or (iii)
take any  corporate  action to authorize  any of the actions or events set forth
above in this subsection (j).

                 (k) Material  Adverse Change.  A material adverse change in the
business,  results of  operations  or condition  (financial or otherwise) of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries, shall have occurred.

                  (l) Change in Ownership or Control.  (i) Any Person, or two or
more Persons acting in concert, shall acquire beneficial ownership,  directly or
indirectly,  or  shall  enter  into  a  contract  or  arrangement  (A)  for  the
acquisition of the securities of the Borrower (or other  securities  convertible
into such  securities)  representing 20% or more of the combined voting power of
all securities of the Borrower entitled to vote in the election of directors, or
(B) which  upon  consummation  will  result in its or their  acquisition  of, or
control over,  securities of the Borrower (or other securities  convertible into
such  securities)  representing  30% or more of the combined voting power of all
securities  of the Borrower  entitled to vote in the election or  directors;  or
(ii)  during any period of up to 12  consecutive  months,  commencing  after the
Closing Date,  individuals  who at the  beginning of such  12-month  period were
directors of the Borrower shall cease for any reason to constitute a majority of
the Board of  Directors  of the  Borrower,  unless the  Persons  replacing  such
individuals were nominated by the Board of Directors of the Borrower.

                 SECTION  11.02  Effect  of Event of  Default.  If any  Event of
Default shall occur and be  continuing,  the Agent shall,  at the request of the
Majority Banks, or may, with the consent of the Majority Banks,  (i) (A) declare
the Commitments of the Banks (other than their  respective L/C Commitments  with
respect to  outstanding  Letters of Credit) and any  obligations  of the Issuing
Bank to issue, amend or renew Letters of Credit, to be terminated, whereupon the
same shall forthwith  terminate,  and (B) declare an amount equal to the maximum
aggregate  amount that is or at any time  thereafter  may become  available  for
drawing under any outstanding  Letters of Credit (whether or not any beneficiary
shall have presented,  or shall be entitled at such time to present,  the drafts
or other  documents  required  to draw  under  such  Letters  of  Credit)  to be
immediately due and payable;  and declare the entire unpaid  principal amount of
the Loans and the Notes,  all interest  accrued and unpaid thereon and all other
Obligations to be forthwith due and payable,  whereupon such amount with respect
to Letters of Credit, the Loans and the Notes, all such accrued interest and all
such other  Obligations  shall become and be forthwith due and payable,  without
presentment,  demand,  protest or  further notice  of any kind, all of which are
hereby expressly waived by the Borrower;  provided that if an event described in
Section 11.01(e) or (f) shall occur, the result which would otherwise occur only
upon giving of notice by the Agent to the Borrower as


                                       55.


<PAGE>

specified in this clause (i) shall occur  automatically,  without  the giving of
any such notice;  and (ii) whether or not the actions  referred to in clause (i)
have been taken,  proceed to enforce all other rights and remedies  available to
the Agent and the Banks under the Loan Documents and applicable law.

                                   ARTICLE XII
                                    THE AGENT

                  SECTION  12.01  Authorization  and  Action.  Each Bank  hereby
appoints ABN as Agent and  authorizes  the Agent to take such action as agent on
its behalf and to  exercise  such  powers and  perform  such  duties  under this
Agreement  and the other Loan  Documents  as are  delegated  to the Agent by the
terms hereof or thereof,  together with such powers as are reasonably incidental
thereto.  The duties and obligations of the Agent are strictly  limited to those
expressly   provided   for  herein,   and  no  implied   covenants,   functions,
responsibilities,  duties,  obligations or  liabilities  shall be read into this
Agreement or otherwise  exist against the Agent. As to any matters not expressly
provided for by the Loan Documents (including  enforcement of the Loan Documents
or collection of any amounts due thereunder), the Agent shall not be required to
exercise any discretion or take any action,  but shall be  required to act or to
refrain  from acting (and shall be fully  protected  in so acting or  refraining
from acting) upon the instructions of the Majority Banks, and such  instructions
shall be  binding  upon all Banks;  provided,  however,  that  except for action
expressly required of the Agent hereunder, the Agent shall in all cases be fully
justified in failing or refusing to act under any Loan Document  unless it shall
be  indemnified to its  satisfaction  by the Banks against any and all liability
and expense  which may be incurred by reason of taking or continuing to take any
such  action,  and that the Agent shall not in any event be required to take any
action  which  exposes the Agent to  liability  or which is contrary to any Loan
Document or  applicable  law.  Nothing in any Loan Document  shall,  or shall be
construed  to,  constitute  the Agent a trustee or fiduciary for any Bank or the
Issuing Bank. In performing its functions and duties hereunder,  the Agent shall
act  solely  as the agent of the  Banks  and does not  assume  and shall  not be
deemed to have assumed any obligation towards or relationship of agency or trust
with or for the Borrower.

                 SECTION 12.02 Limitation on Liability; Notices.

                 (a) Limitation on Liability of Agent and Issuing Bank.  None of
the Agent/IB-Related  Persons shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to
be taken by it or them under or in connection with any Loan Document, except for
its or their own gross negligence or willful  misconduct.  Without limitation of
the generality of the foregoing, the Agent (i) may treat a Bank as the holder of
its Loan for all purposes  hereof  unless and until the Agent  receives  written
notice of the assignment  thereof signed by such Bank and the Agent receives the
written agreement of the assignee that such assignee is bound hereby as it would
have been if it had been an  original  Bank party  hereto,  in each case in form
satisfactory  to the  Agent,  (ii) may  consult  with legal  counsel  (including
counsel to the Borrower, independent public accountants and other experts


                                       56.


<PAGE>

selected  by it and shall not be liable  for any  action  taken or omitted to be
taken  in good  faith  by it in  accordance  with the  advice  of such  counsel,
accountants or experts, and (iii) shall incur no liability  to any Bank under or
in respect of any Loan Document by acting upon any notice, consent, certificate,
telegram, facsimile, telex or teletype message, statement or other instrument or
writing  believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent by the proper  party or
parties or by acting upon any  representation or  warranty  made or deemed to be
made hereunder or under any other Loan Document.  Further, neither the Agent nor
the Issuing Bank (A) makes any warranty or  representation to any Bank and shall
not be  responsible  to  any  Bank  for  the  accuracy  or  completeness  of any
information,  exhibit  or  report  furnished  under any Loan  Document,  for any
statements,  warranties  or  representations  (whether  written or oral) made or
deemed made in or in connection with any Loan Documents, (B) shall have any duty
to ascertain or to inquire as to the  performance  or  observance  of any of the
terms,  covenants or conditions of this  Agreement or any other Loan Document on
the part of the Borrower or any other Person or to inspect the  property,  books
or records of the Borrower or any other Person,  or (c) shall be  responsible to
any Bank for the due execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness,
sufficiency,  value  or  collectibility  of this  Agreement  or any  other  Loan
Document.

                  (b) Notices.  Promptly upon receipt  thereof,  the Agent shall
forward to each Bank originals or copies,  as specified in this Agreement or any
other  Loan  Document,  of  all  agreements,  instruments,  opinions,  financial
statements,  notices and other documents  delivered by the Borrower or any other
Person to the Agent pursuant to any Loan Document for distribution to the Banks.
Except for any of the foregoing  expressly required to be furnished to the Banks
by the Agent hereunder,  the Agent shall not have any duty or  responsibility to
provide any Bank with any credit or other  information  concerning the business,
operations,   property,   condition  (financial  or  otherwise),   prospects  or
creditworthiness of the Borrower which may come into the possession of the Agent
or any of its  officers,  directors,  employees,  agents,  attorneys-in-fact  or
Affiliates.

                  SECTON  12.03  Agent  and  Affiliates.  With  respect  to  its
Commitment,  the Loans made by it, the Notes issued to it, any Letters of Credit
issued by it, and all other  Obligations  owing to it as a Bank, the Agent shall
have the same rights and powers  under the Loan  Documents as any other Bank and
may  exercise  the same as though it were not the Agent;  and the term "Bank" or
"Banks" shall,  unless otherwise expressly  indicated,  include the Agent in its
individual capacity. The Agent and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend
money to,  issue  letters of credit  for the  account  of, act as trustee  under
indentures of and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower and
any  Affiliate  thereof,  all as if the Agent were not the Agent  hereunder  and
without any duty to account therefor to the Banks.

                  SECTON 12.04 Notice of Defaults. The Agent shall not be deemed
to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of a Default hereunder (other than
nonpayment of principal of or interest on the Loans or of any fees or any of its
costs and  expenses)  unless  the  Agent has  actual  knowledge  thereof  or has
received notice in


                                       57.


<PAGE>

writing from a Bank or the Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such
event or  condition  and  expressly  stating  that such  notice is a "notice  of
default."  Should the Agent receive such notice of the  occurrence of a Default,
the Agent shall promptly give notice thereof to the Banks.  The Agent  thereupon
shall  take such  action  with  respect to such  Default as shall be  reasonably
directed by the Majority Banks;  provided that, unless and until the Agent shall
have  received  such  directions,  the Agent may (but shall not be obligated to)
take such  action,  or refrain  from taking such  action,  with  respect to such
Default as it shall deem advisable in the best interests of the Banks.

                 SECTON 12.05 Non-Reliance on Agent and Issuing Bank.

                  (a) Non-Reliance. Each Bank has itself been, and will continue
to be, based on such  documents and  information  as it has deemed  appropriate,
solely   responsible   for  making  its  own   independent   appraisal   of  and
investigations  into  the  financial  condition,  creditworthiness,   condition,
affairs,  status  and  nature  of the  Borrower  or  any  of  its  Subsidiaries.
Accordingly,  each Bank  confirms to the Agent and the Issuing  Bank that it has
not relied, and will not hereafter rely, on the Agent or the Issuing Bank (i) to
check  or  inquire  on  such  Bank's  behalf  into  the  adequacy,  accuracy  or
completeness  of any  information  provided by the  Borrower or any other Person
under or in  connection  with  the Loan  Documents  or the  transactions  herein
contemplated  (whether  or  not  such  information  has  been  or  is  hereafter
distributed to such Bank by the Agent or the Issuing Bank), or (ii) to assess or
keep   under   review  on  such   Bank's   behalf   the   financial   condition,
creditworthiness,  condition,  affairs,  status or nature of the Borrower or any
Subsidiary.

                 (b) Bank Consent.  For purposes of determining  compliance with
the conditions  specified in Sections 8.01 and 8.02, each Bank that has executed
this Agreement  shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to
be  satisfied  with  each document or other matter either sent or made available
by the Agent to such Bank for consent, approval,  acceptance or satisfaction, or
required  thereunder  to  be  consented  to or  approved  by  or  acceptable  or
satisfactory  to the Bank,  unless an officer of the Agent  responsible  for the
transactions  contemplated by the Loan Documents shall have received notice from
the Bank prior to the  applicable  Credit  Extension  specifying  its  objection
thereto and either (i) such objection shall not have been withdrawn by notice to
the Agent to that effect on or prior to the Credit Extension date or (ii) if any
Borrowing or other Credit Extension has been requested,  the Bank shall not have
made,  or shall  not  make,  available  to the  Agent on or prior to the  Credit
Extension date the Bank's ratable portion thereof.

                  SECTION  12.06  Indemnification.  The Banks agree to indemnify
each  Agent/IB-Related  Person (to the extent not  reimbursed by the  Borrower),
ratably  according to their respective Commitment Percentages,  against and hold
each of them harmless from any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, claims,
damages, penalties,  actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements
of  any  kind  or  nature   whatsoever,   including  the  reasonable   fees  and
disbursements of counsel to such  Agent/IB-Related  Person (including  allocated
costs of internal counsel), which may be imposed


                                       58.


<PAGE>

on,  incurred  by, or asserted  against any  Agent/IB-Related  Person in any way
relating to or arising out of the Loan Documents, the use or intended use of the
proceeds of the Loans,  the Letters of Credit or the  transactions  contemplated
hereby or thereby or any action taken or omitted by any Agent/IB-Related  Person
in connection  with any of the foregoing;  provided that no Bank shall be liable
for any portion of such liabilities,  obligations,  losses,  damages, penalties,
actions,  judgments,  suits, costs, expenses or disbursements to the extent they
are  found by a final  decision  of a court of  competent  jurisdiction  to have
resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any Agent/IB-Related
Person. Without limitation of the foregoing,  each Bank agrees to reimburse each
Agent/IB-Related  Person  promptly upon demand for such Bank's  ratable share of
any costs and expenses or other charges  incurred by the Agent, the Issuing Bank
or their respective  Affiliates and payable by the Borrower  pursuant to Section
13.04(a) or any other Loan Document,  in each case to the extent that the Agent,
the Issuing  Bank or their  respective  Affiliates  is not  reimbursed  for such
expenses or charges, or payment of such fee is not made, by the Borrower.

                  SECTION  12.07  Delegation  of Duties.  The Agent may,  in its
discretion,  employ  from time to time one or more  agents or  attorneys-in-fact
(including  any of the Agent's  Affiliates) to perform any of the Agent's duties
under the Loan Documents.  The Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence
or misconduct of any agents or attorneys-in-fact  selected by it with reasonable
care.

                  SECTON 12.08 Successor  Agent.  Subject to the appointment and
acceptance of a successor Agent as provided  below,  the Agent may resign at any
time by giving  written  notice thereof to the Banks and the Borrower and may be
removed at any time with or without cause by the Majority  Banks.  Upon any such
resignation  or removal,  the  Majority  Banks shall have the right to appoint a
successor  Agent,   subject  (unless  a  Default  shall  have  occurred  and  be
continuing)  to  the  consent  of  the  Borrower,  which  consent  shall  not be
unreasonably  withheld, and the Banks shall use their best efforts so to appoint
a successor  Agent.  If no  successor  Agent shall have been so appointed by the
Majority Banks, and shall have accepted such  appointment,  within 30 days after
the retiring  Agent's  giving of notice of  resignation  or the Majority  Banks'
removal of the retiring  Agent,  the retiring Agent may, on behalf of the Banks,
appoint a successor  Agent,  which in each case shall be (a) a bank organized or
licensed  under the laws of the United  States or of any state  thereof,  or any
Affiliate  of such bank,  and having a combined  capital and surplus of at least
$100,000,000  and (b) unless a Default  shall have  occurred and be  continuing,
reasonably acceptable to the Borrower.  Upon the effectiveness of the acceptance
of any appointment as Agent hereunder by a successor Agent, such successor Agent
shall  thereupon  succeed  to and become  vested  with all the  rights,  powers,
privileges, duties and obligations of the retiring Agent, and the retiring Agent
shall be discharged  from its duties and  obligations  under the Loan Documents.
After any  retiring  Agent's  resignation  or removal  hereunder  as Agent,  the
provisions  of this  Article  XII shall  inure to its  benefit as to any actions
taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Agent under the Loan Documents.


                                       59.


<PAGE>

                                  ARTICLE XIII
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

                  SECTION  13.01  Amendments  and  Waivers.  Except as otherwise
provided herein or in any other Loan Document, (i) no amendment to any provision
of this  Agreement  or any of the  other  Loan  Documents  shall in any event be
effective  unless the same shall be in writing  and signed by the  Borrower  (or
other party  thereto),  the Agent and the Majority  Banks (or the Agent with the
written consent of the Majority  Banks);  and (ii) no waiver of any provision of
this  Agreement or any other Loan  Document,  or consent to any departure by the
Borrower or other party  therefrom,  shall in any event be effective  unless the
same shall be in writing and signed by the Agent and the Majority  Banks (or the
Agent with the consent of the Majority  Banks).  Any such  amendment,  waiver or
consent  shall be effective  only in the specific  instance and for the specific
purpose  for which  given.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing  provisions  of this
Section 13.01,

                  (A) any term or provision of any such other Loan  Document may
be amended without the agreement or consent of, or prior notice to, the Borrower
or other party  thereto,  to the extent such Loan Document  provides for notices
without the agreement or consent of the Borrower or such other party,

                  (B) any term or  provision  of  Article  XII  (other  than the
provisions  of Section  12.08  pertaining  to Borrower  consent)  may be amended
without the agreement or consent of, or prior notice to, the Borrower; and

                  (C)  unless in  writing  and signed by all of the Banks (or by
the Agent with the written  consent of all the Banks),  no amendment,  waiver or
consent shall do any of the following:

                           (1) increase  the   amount,  or  extend  the   stated
expiration or termination date, of the Commitments of the Banks;

                           (2) reduce  the  principal  of,  or  interest on, the
Loans or any fee or other amount  payable to the Banks hereunder;

                           (3) postpone  any  date  fixed  for  any  payment  in
respect of principal of, or interest on, the Loans  or  any  fee or other amount
payable to the Banks hereunder;

                           (4) change the definition of  "Majority  Banks" or an
definition or provision of this Agreement requiring  the  approval  of  Majority
Banks or some other specified amount of Banks;

                           (5) consent  to  the  assignment  or  transfer by the
Borrower of any of its rights and obligations  under the Loan Documents;


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<PAGE>


                           (6) amend,  modify or waive the provisions of Section
7.01, 7.05 or 13.07; or

                           (7) amend,  modify  or  waive  the provisions of this
Section 13.01; and

                  (D) no amendment,  waiver or consent shall,  unless in writing
and signed by the Agent in addition to the Banks  required  hereinabove  to take
such  action,  affect the rights,  obligations  or duties of the Agent under any
Loan Document; and

                  (E) no amendment,  waiver or consent shall,  unless in writing
and signed by the Issuing Bank in addition to the Banks required  hereinabove to
take such  action,  affect the rights or duties of such  Issuing Bank under this
Agreement or any L/C-Related Document to which it is a party.

                  SECTON 13.02 Notices.

                  (a) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for
hereunder and under the other Loan  Documents  shall,  unless  otherwise  stated
herein, be in writing (including by facsimile  transmission) and mailed, sent or
delivered to the respective  parties hereto at or to their respective  addresses
or facsimile  numbers set forth below their names on the signature pages hereof,
or at or to such other address or facsimile number as shall be designated by any
party in a written  notice to the other  parties  hereto.  All such  notices and
communications shall be effective (i) if delivered by hand, when delivered; (ii)
if sent by mail,  upon the earlier of the date of receipt or five  Business Days
after  deposit  in  the  mail,  first  class  (or  air  mail,  with  respect  to
communications  to be sent to or from the United States),  postage prepaid;  and
(iii) if sent by facsimile  transmission,  when sent;  provided,  however,  that
notices and  communications  to the Agent shall not be effective  until actually
received by the Agent,  and notices to the Issuing Bank  pursuant to Article III
shall not be effective until actually received by such Issuing Bank.

                  (b) Facsimile and Telephonic Notice. The Borrower acknowledges
and agrees that the agreement of the Agent and the Banks herein and in any other
Loan  Document to receive  certain  notices by telephone and facsimile is solely
for the convenience and at the request of the Borrower.  The Agent and the Banks
shall be  entitled to rely on the  authority  of any Person  purporting  to be a
Person  authorized  by the  Borrower  to give such  notice and the Agent and the
Banks shall not have any liability to the Borrower or other Person on account of
any action  taken or not taken by the Agent and the Banks in reliance  upon such
telephonic  or facsimile  notice.  The  obligation  of the Borrower to repay the
Loans, the drawings under Letters of Credit and the other  Obligations shall not
be  affected  in any way or to any  extent by any  failure  by the Agent and the
Banks to receive written  confirmation of any telephonic or facsimile  notice or
the  receipt by the Agent and the Banks of a  confirmation  which is at variance
with the terms  understood  by the Agent  and the Banks to be  contained  in the
telephonic or facsimile notice.


                                       61.


<PAGE>

                  SECTION 13.03 No Waiver;  Cumulative  Remedies.  No failure on
the part of the Agent or any Bank to exercise,  and no delay in exercising,  any
right,  remedy,  power or privilege  under any Loan Document  shall operate as a
waiver  thereof,  nor shall any single or partial  exercise  of any such  right,
remedy, power or privilege preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the
exercise  of  any other  right,  remedy,  power  or  privilege.  The  rights and
remedies  under the Loan  Documents  are  cumulative  and not  exclusive  of any
rights,  remedies,  powers and privileges that may otherwise be available to the
Agent or any Bank.

                  SECTON 13.04 Costs and Expenses; Indemnification.

                 (a) Costs and Expenses.  The Borrower  agrees to pay on demand,
whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby shall be consummated:

                           (i) the reasonable  out-of-pocket  costs and expenses
of the Agent, the Issuing Bank and any of their respective  Affiliates,  and the
reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to  the Agent and the Issuing Bank,
in  connection  with  the  negotiation,  preparation,  execution,  delivery  and
administration  of the Loan  Documents,  and any  amendments,  modifications  or
waivers of the terms thereof; and

                           (ii) all costs and expenses of the Agent, the Issuing
Bank,  their  respective  Affiliates and the Banks,  and the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel  (including  allocated costs of internal  counsel),  in
connection with (A) any Default,  (B) the  enforcement or attempted  enforcement
of, and preservation of any rights or interests  under, the Loan Documents,  and
(C) any  out-of-court  workout  or other  refinancing  or  restructuring  or any
bankruptcy case,  including any losses,  reasonable costs and expenses sustained
by the Agent,  the  Issuing  Bank and any Bank as a result of any failure by the
Borrower to perform or observe its obligations contained in the Loan Documents.

                  (b)   Indemnification.   Whether   or  not  the   transactions
contemplated  hereby  shall  be  consummated,  the  Borrower  hereby  agrees  to
indemnify the Agent,  each Bank,  any Affiliate  thereof,  and their  respective
directors,  officers,  employees,  agents,  counsel and other  advisors (each an
"Indemnified  Person") against, and hold each of them harmless from, any and all
liabilities,   obligations,   losses,  claims,  damages,   penalties,   actions,
judgments,  suits,  costs,  expenses  or  disbursements  of any  kind or  nature
whatsoever,  including the reasonable  fees and  disbursements  of counsel to an
Indemnified Person (including allocated costs of internal counsel), which may be
imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against any Indemnified  Person, (i) by any
Governmental  Authority  or other third party in any way  relating to or arising
out of any of the Loan Documents, the Letters of Credit, the use or intended use
of the proceeds of the Loans or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby,
(ii) with respect to any investigation,  litigation or other proceeding relating
to any of the foregoing, irrespective of whether the Indemnified Person shall be
designated  a party  thereto,  or (iii) in any way relating to or arising out of
the use, generation, manufacture,  installation, treatment, storage or presence,
or the spillage, leakage, leaching, migration, dumping, deposit,


                                       62.


<PAGE>


discharge,  disposal or release,  at any time, of any Hazardous  Substances  on,
under, at or from any premises owned or occupied by the Borrower,  including any
personal   injury   or  property  damage  suffered  by   any  Person,   and  any
investigation,   site  assessment,   environmental  audit,   feasibility  study,
monitoring,  clean-up, removal, containment,  restoration,  remedial response or
remedial work undertaken by or on behalf of any Indemnified  Person at any time,
voluntarily or  involuntarily,  with respect to such premises (the  "Indemnified
Liabilities"); provided that the Borrower shall not be liable to any Indemnified
Person for any portion of such  Indemnified  Liabilities  to the extent they are
found by a final decision of a court of competent  jurisdiction to have resulted
from such Indemnified Person's gross negligence or willful misconduct. If and to
the  extent  that  the  foregoing   indemnification   is  for  any  reason  held
unenforceable,  the  Borrower  agrees to make the  maximum  contribution  to the
payment  and  satisfaction  of  each of the  Indemnified  Liabilities  which  is
permissible under applicable law.

                  (c) Other Charges.  The Borrower agrees to indemnify the Agent
and each of the Banks  against and hold each of them  harmless  from any and all
present and future stamp,  transfer,  documentary and other such taxes,  levies,
fees,  assessments  and other charges made by any  jurisdiction by reason of the
execution, delivery, performance and enforcement of the Loan Documents.

                  SECTON  13.05 Right of Set-Off.  Upon (i) the  occurrence  and
during the  continuance  of any Event of Default  and (ii)  obtaining  the prior
written  consent of the Agent,  each Bank hereby is  authorized  at any time and
from  time to time,  without  notice to the  Borrower  (any  such  notice  being
expressly  waived by the  Borrower),  to set off and apply any and all  deposits
(general or special, time or demand,  provisional or final) at any time held and
other  indebtedness  at any time  owing by such Bank to or for the credit or the
account of the Borrower  against any and all of the  Obligations of the Borrower
now or hereafter  existing  under this  Agreement and the other Loan  Documents,
irrespective  of whether or not such Bank shall have made any demand  under this
Agreement or any such other Loan Document and although such  Obligations  may be
unmatured.  Each Bank agrees promptly to notify the Borrower (through the Agent)
after any such  set-off and  application  made by such Bank;  provided  that the
failure to give such notice  shall not affect the  validity of such  set-off and
application. The rights of each Bank under this Section 13.05 are in addition to
other rights and remedies  (including  other rights of set-off)  which such Bank
may have.

                  SECTION   13.06    Survival.   All   covenants,    agreements,
representations  and warranties made in any Loan Documents shall,  except to the
extent otherwise  provided  therein,  survive the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, the making of the Credit Extensions and the execution and delivery of
the Notes, and shall continue in full force and effect so long as the Banks have
any Commitments,  any Loans or Letters of Credit remain outstanding or any other
Obligations  remain unpaid or any  obligation to perform any other act under any
Loan  Document  remains  unsatisfied.  Without  limiting the  generality  of the
foregoing,  the obligations of the Borrower under Sections 6.02,  6.03, 7.03 and
13.04,  and of the  Banks  under  Sections  7.03  and  12.06,  and  all  similar
obligations  under the other Loan Documents  (including  all  obligations to pay
costs and


                                      63.


<PAGE>

expenses and all indemnity  obligations),  shall  survive the  repayment of  the
Loans,  the  termination  of the  Letters of Credit and the  termination  of the
Commitments.

                  SECTION 13.07  Obligations  Several.  The  obligations  of the
Banks under the Loan Documents are several. The failure of any Bank or the Agent
to  carry out its obligations thereunder shall not relieve any other Bank or the
Agent  of any  obligation  thereunder,  nor  shall  any  Bank  or the  Agent  be
responsible  for  the  obligations  of, or any action  taken or omitted  by, any
other Person  hereunder or  thereunder.  Nothing  contained in any Loan Document
shall be deemed to cause any Bank or the Agent to be  considered a partner of or
joint venturer with any other Bank or Banks, the Agent or the Borrower.

                  SECTION 13.08  Benefits of Agreement.  The Loan  Documents are
entered into for the sole protection and benefit of the parties hereto and their
successors  and  assigns,  and no other  Person  shall be a direct  or  indirect
beneficiary of, or shall have any direct or indirect cause of action or claim in
connection with, any Loan Document.

                  SECTION 13.09 Binding Effect; Assignment.

                  (a) Binding Effect. This Agreement shall become effective when
it shall have been executed by the Borrower,  the Issuing Bank and the Agent and
when the Agent shall have been notified by each Bank that such Bank has executed
it and  thereafter  shall  be  binding  upon,  inure  to the  benefit  of and be
enforceable by the Borrower, the Issuing Bank, the Agent and each Bank and their
respective successors and assigns.

                  (b)  Assignments  and  Participations.  The Borrower shall not
have the right to assign its rights and obligations hereunder or under the other
Loan  Documents  or any  interest  herein or therein  without the prior  written
consent  of  the  Banks.  Each  Bank  may  sell,   assign,   transfer  or  grant
participations  in all or any  portion of such  Bank's  rights  and  obligations
hereunder  and under  the  other  Loan  Documents  to any Bank or other  bank or
financial institution on the basis set forth below in this subsection (b).

                           (i) Any  assignment by a Bank shall be subject to the
prior  written  consent  of  the  Issuing  Bank,  which  consent  shall  not  be
unreasonably withheld.  Except in the case of assignments to an Affiliate of any
Bank or to another Bank,  any  assignment  shall be subject to the prior written
consent of the Agent and Bank and, at all times other than during the  existence
of an Event of Default, the Borrower, which consents, in each case, shall not be
unreasonably withheld. Each partial assignment shall be in an amount of at least
$5,000,000,  and, after giving effect to such  assignment,  the assigning Bank's
Commitment shall not be less than $10,000,000.

                           (ii) In the event of any such assignment,  unless and
until (A) the  conditions  for the  Agent's  treating  such  assignee  as a Bank
pursuant to clause (i) of Section  12.02(a) shall have been  satisfied,  (B) the
Agent shall have received payment of an administrative transfer charge of $2,500
from the assigning Bank or the assignee, and


                                       64.


<PAGE>

(c) the Agent and the Borrower  shall have  received all tax forms and documents
required under Section 7.03(d),  such assignee shall not be entitled to exercise
the rights of a Bank  under this  Agreement  and the other Loan  Documents  with
respect to such  assignment and the Agent shall not be obligated to make payment
of any amount to which such assignee may become entitled  thereunder  other than
to the assigning Bank.  Subject to  satisfaction of the foregoing  conditions in
connection with any assignment,  upon the  effectiveness  of such assignment the
assignee  shall be deemed a "Bank" for all  purposes of this  Agreement  and the
other Loan Documents with respect to the rights and obligations  assigned to it,
and the obligations of the assigning Bank so assigned shall thereupon terminate.

                           (iii) In connection with any partial assignment, upon
the  request of the  assigning  Bank or the  assignee,  (A) the  Borrower  shall
execute and deliver  substitute  Notes to the  assigning  Bank or the  assignee,
dated the  effective  date of such  assignment,  setting  forth  the  respective
Commitments of such assigning Bank and assignee as the maximum  principal amount
thereof,  and containing other  appropriate  insertions,  and the assigning Bank
shall  thereupon  return  the  Notes  previously  held  by it;  and  (B) if such
assignment  occurs prior to the Final  Maturity Date,  this  Agreement  shall be
deemed  amended  to  reflect  the  adjustment  of the  Commitments  of the Banks
resulting therefrom.

                           (iv) Except in the case of a grant of a participation
to an Affiliate of any Bank or to any other Bank, the grant of any participation
shall be subject  to the prior  written  consent of the Agent and,  at all times
other than during the  existence  of an Event of Default,  the  Borrower  (which
consents, in each case, shall not be unreasonably withheld). In the event of any
grant of a  participation,  the granting Bank shall remain a "Bank" for purposes
of this Agreement, the Borrower, the other Banks, the Issuing Bank and the Agent
shall  continue to deal solely and directly  with such Bank in  connection  with
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and no Bank shall transfer or grant
any  participating  interest  under which the  participant  shall have rights to
approve  any  amendment  to, or any  consent or waiver  with  respect  to,  this
Agreement  or any other  Loan  Document,  except to the extent  such  amendment,
consent or waiver would require  unanimous consent as described in clause (c) of
Section 13.01. In the case of any such participation,  the participant shall not
have  any of the  rights  of a Bank  under  this  Agreement  or the  other  Loan
Documents,  except that the  participant  shall (A) be deemed to have a right of
setoff under Section 13.05 in respect of its participation to the same extent as
if it were a "Bank"  hereunder,  provided  that  such  participant shall also be
considered a "Bank" for purposes of Section 7.05; and (B) such participant shall
also be entitled to the benefits of Sections 6.02,  6.03,  7.03 and 13.04.  Each
participating interest shall be in  an amount of at least $5,000,000, and, after
giving effect to such participation,  the amount of the granting Bank's retained
interest shall be at least $10,000,000.

                           (v) The Borrower  agrees that in connection  with any
such grant  or assignment,  such Bank may deliver to the prospective participant
or assignee financial  statements and other relevant information relating to the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries.


                                       65.


<PAGE>

                  SECTON 13.10 Governing Law. THIS  AGREEMENT  SHALL BE GOVERNED
BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA EXCEPT,
IN THE CASE OF ARTICLE III, TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH LAWS ARE  INCONSISTENT  WITH
THE UCP.

                  SECTION  13.11 Waiver of Jury Trial.  THE  BORROWER, THE BANKS
AND THE AGENT HEREBY AGREE TO WAIVE THEIR RESPECTIVE  RIGHTS  TO A TRIAL BY JURY
OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION  BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS
AGREEMENT,  THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS  CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR
THEREBY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR OTHER LITIGATION OF ANY TYPE BROUGHT BY ANY
OF THE  PARTIES  AGAINST ANY OTHER PARTY OR  PARTIES,  WHETHER  WITH  RESPECT TO
CONTRACT  CLAIMS,  TORT CLAIMS,  OR OTHERWISE.  THE BORROWER,  THE BANKS AND THE
AGENT  HEREBY  AGREE THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION  SHALL BE TRIED BY A
COURT TRIAL  WITHOUT A JURY.  WITHOUT IN ANY WAY  LIMITING  THE  FOREGOING,  THE
PARTIES FURTHER AGREE THAT THEIR  RESPECTIVE  RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IS WAIVED
BY OPERATION OF THIS SECTION AS TO ANY ACTION, COUNTERCLAIM, OR OTHER PROCEEDING
WHICH SEEKS, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, TO CHALLENGE THE VALIDITY OR ENFORCEABILITY OF
THIS AGREEMENT OR THE OTHER LOAN  DOCUMENTS OR ANY PROVISION  HEREOF OR THEREOF.
THIS WAIVER SHALL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS,  RENEWALS,  SUPPLEMENTS OR
MODIFICATIONS  TO THIS  AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN  DOCUMENTS.  A COPY OF THIS
SECTION 13.11 MAY BE FILED WITH ANY COURT AS  WRITTEN  EVIDENCE OF THE WAIVER OF
THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY AND CONSENT TO TRIAL BY  COURT.  THIS  SECTION  13.11
MAY NOT BE AMENDED,  MODIFIED,  TERMINATED  OR WAIVED  EXCEPT BY A WRITING WHICH
MAKES SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO THIS SECTION 13.11.

                  SECTION 13.12 Limitation on Liability.  No claim shall be made
by the Borrower or its Affiliates  against the Agent,  the Banks or any of their
respective  Affiliates,  directors,  employees,  attorneys  or  agents  for  any
special,  indirect,  exemplary,  consequential or punitive damages in respect of
any breach or wrongful  conduct  (whether or not the claim  therefor is based on
contract, tort or duty imposed by law), in connection with, arising out of or in
any way related to the  transactions  contemplated  by the Loan Documents or any
act or omission or event  occurring in  connection  therewith;  and the Borrower
hereby  waives,  releases and agrees not to sue upon any such claim for any such
damages,  whether or not accrued and whether or not known or  suspected to exist
in its favor.

                  SECTON 13.13  Entire Agreement. The Loan Documents reflect the
entire agreement among the Borrower, the Banks and the Agent with respect to the
matters  set forth  herein  and  therein  and  supersede  any prior  agreements,
commitments,  drafts,  communications,  discussions and understandings,  oral or
written, with respect thereto.


                                       66.


<PAGE>

                  SECTION  13.14  Interpretation.  The  Loan  Documents  are the
result of  negotiations  between and have been reviewed by counsel to the Agent,
the  Borrower  and other  parties,  and are the product of all parties  thereto.
Accordingly,  the Loan Documents shall not be construed against any of the Banks
or the Agent  merely  because of the  Agent's or any Bank's  involvement  in the
preparation thereof.

                  SECTION 13.15 Severability.  Whenever possible, each provision
of the Loan Documents shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and
valid under all applicable laws and regulations.  If, however,  any provision of
any of the Loan  Documents  shall be prohibited by or invalid under any such law
or regulation in any jurisdiction,  it shall, as to such jurisdiction, be deemed
modified to conform to the minimum  requirements of such law or regulation,  or,
if for any  reason it is not deemed so  modified,  it shall be  ineffective  and
invalid only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity  without  affecting
the remaining provisions of such Loan Document, or the validity or effectiveness
of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

                  SECTION 13.16 Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in
any  number  of  counterparts  and  by  different  parties  hereto  in  separate
counterparts, each of which when so executed -----------------------------------










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


                                       67.


<PAGE>

shall  be  deemed  to be an  original  and all of  which  taken  together  shall
constitute but one and the same agreement.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this
Agreement, as of the date first above written.


                                           THE BORROWER

                                           WATKINS-JOHNSON COMPANY


                                           By /s/ Scott G. Buchanan
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Title: Vice President and CFO


                                           By /s/ W. Keith Kennedy
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Title: President and CEO

                                           Address:

                                           3333 Hillview Avenue
                                           Palo Alto, California 94304-1223
                                           Attn.: Treasurer
                                           Fax No.: (415) 813-2960


<PAGE>


                                           THE AGENT

                                           ABN AMRO BANK N.V.


                                           By /s/ Robin S. Yim
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Title: Vice President
 
               
                                           By /s/ Robert N. Hartinger
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Title: Group Vice President


                                           Address:

                                           101 California Street, Suite 4550
                                           San Francisco, California 94111-5812
                                           Attn.: Robin S. Yim
                                           Fax No.: (415) 362-3524


<PAGE>


                                           THE BANKS

                                           ABN AMRO BANK N.V., as Bank and
                                           Issuing Bank


                                           By /s/ Robin S. Yim
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Title: Vice President


                                           By /s/ Robert N. Hartinger
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Title: Group Vice President

                                           Address for Notices:

                                           355 Madison Avenue
                                           New York, New York 10017
                                           Attn.: Linda Boardman
                                           Fax No.: (212) 682-0364


                                           Lending Office:

                                           101 California Street, #4550
                                           San Francisco, CA 94111


<PAGE>


                                           UNION BANK


                                           By /s/ Wade Schlueter
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Title: Wade Schlueter
                                                    Vice President
                                           Address for Notices:

                                           1980 Saturn Street
                                           P.O. Box 30770
                                           Monterey Park, CA 90030-0866
                                           Attn.: Mercy Martinez
                                                  Note Department
                                           Fax No.: (213) 724-6198


                                           Lending Office:

                                           350 California Street (H-1040)
                                           San Francisco, CA 94104


<PAGE>

                                           THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF
                                           BOSTON


                                           By /s/ Daniel F. Wheeler
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Title: Division Executive

                                           Address for Notices:

                                           High Technology Division
                                           100 Federal Street
                                           Mail Stop 01-08-04
                                           Boston, MA 02110
                                           Attn.: Daniel F. Wheeler
                                           Fax No. (617) 434-0819

                                           With a Copy to:

                                           435 Tasso Street
                                           Suite 250
                                           Palo Alto, CA 94301
                                           Attn. Maia D. Heymann
                                           Fax No. (415) 853-1425

                                           Lending Office:

                                           100 Federal Street
                                           Boston, MA 02110


<PAGE>

                                           THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK
                                           OF MARYLAND


                                           By /s/ Carol A. Dalton
                                             -----------------------------------
                                                  Carol A. Dalton
                                                  Vice President

                                           Address for Notices:

                                           National Division, 18th Floor
                                           25 South Charles Street; 101745
                                           Baltimore, MD 21201
                                           Attn.: Carol A. Dalton
                                           Fax No. (415) 244-4294

                                           Lending Office:

                                           25 South Charles Street; 101745
                                           Baltimore, MD 21201


<PAGE>

                                           BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL
                                           TRUST AND SAVINGS
                                           ASSOCIATION


                                           By /s/ Christopher R. Gerhard
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Title: Vice President

                                           Address for Notices:

                                           Corporate Banking-High Technology-
                                                 Palo Alto #3537
                                           530 Lytton Avenue, 2nd Floor
                                           Palo Alto, CA 94301
                                           Attn.: Debra G. Staiger
                                                  Assistant Vice President
                                           Fax No.: (415) 853-4687

                                           Lending Office:

                                           1850 Gateway Boulevard, Fourth Floor
                                           Concord, CA 94520


<PAGE>


<TABLE>

                                   Schedule 1
                              to Credit Agreement

                    (Commitment and Commitment Percentages)

<CAPTION>

Bank                                                          Commitment    L/C Commitment    Commitment Percentage
- ----                                                          ----------    --------------    ---------------------
<S>                                                          <C>             <C>                      <C>

ABN AMRO Bank N.V.                                           $ 30,000,000    $ 6,000,000              30.0%

Union Bank                                                   $ 20,000,000    $ 4,000,000              20.0%

The First National Bank of Boston                            $ 17,500,000    $ 3,500,000              17.5%

The First Natinal Bank of Maryland                           $ 17,500,000    $ 3,500,000              17.5%

Bank of America National Trust and Savings Association       $ 15,000,000    $ 3,000,000              15.0%


TOTALS                                                       $100,000,000    $20,000,000              100%
</TABLE>


<PAGE>


                                   Schedule 2
                               to Credit Agreement

                               (Investment Policy)




                                 [see attached]









<PAGE>


                         CERTIFIED COPY OF RESOLUTON OF
                             THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
                           OF WATKINS-JOHNSON COMPANY

WHEREAS, the need exists for Watkins-Johnson  Company ("the Company") to conduct
banking  and  financing  operations,  with the  provisions  as  outlined  in the
memorandum  dated  February  15,  1995 from  Scott G.  Buchanan  to the Board of
Directors.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that in order to conduct the banking and financial
operations of the Company,  certain Designated Officers,  which are the Chairman
of the Board, the President, the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and
the Treasurer, are granted the following authorities:

1)       Any  Designated  Officer is authorized to open and close  accounts with
         brokers and  financial  institutions  in the name of the Company or its
         subsidiaries,  and to withdraw  funds  from any such  account by check,
         draft,  wire transfer,  electronic funds transfer,  or other orders for
         payment of money issued in the name of the Company or its subsidiaries.
         Any two Designated  Officers acting jointly and in writing may delegate
         to others the  authority  to  withdraw  funds from any such  account by
         check, draft, wire transfer, electronic funds transfer, or other orders
         for  payment  of   money  issued  in the  name  of the  Company  or its
         subsidiaries,  with  such  controls  and  limitations  as they may find
         appropriate.  Any Designated Officer is authorized to sign safekeeping,
         money  transfer,   facsimile  signature,   and  similar  agreements  as
         appropriate to conduct the business of the Company.

2)       Any  Designated  Officer  is  authorized  to  invest the  funds  of the
         Company or its subsidiaries in readily marketable financial instruments
         denominated in U.S.  Dollars.  Financial  instruments shall be rated by
         Standard  and Poors or  Moody's  with  either  an A1 or  P1  short-term
         rating  and/or an AA  long-term  rating or an  equivalent  rating  from
         another rating agency.

         No  investment  shall be made in any security  with a maturity  of over
         three years provided that the overall  maturity  schedule be maintained
         in  order to meet  the  anticipated  cash  needs  of the  Company.  All
         investment  holdings  shall  also have  enough  liquidity  to allow for
         prompt  transactions  at minimum cost. The Company shall,  in no event,
         invest  more  than  $5  Millon,  or  10% of  the  investment  portfolio
         (whichever  is  greater),  with  any one  issuer  except  for the  U.S.
         Government or any agency thereof (where there is no limit on the amount
         invested).   The  Company  shall  in  no  event  invest  in  derivative
         instruments.

         The  types of  securities  which are  permitted  for  investment  shall
         include  (but not be limited to) the  following  obligations,  provided
         that they meet the credit quality stated above:

         a)       Direct obligations of, and obligations  fully  guaranteed  by,
                  the  U.S. Government, its agencies and instrumentalities.

         b)       Obligations  of  state,  county  or local governmental  bodies
                  within  the   United  States  including  but  not  limited  to
                  municipal-auction-preferred  stock  with maximum maturities of
                  six months and with the highest credit rating.


<PAGE>

                  In  addition,   any  supporting  bank  letters  of  credit  or
                  guarantees  of  these  securities  must  be  from a  financial
                  institution  whose debt rating  meets the credit  criteria set
                  out above.

         c)       Debt  securities  of  U. S. corporations,  such  as commercial
                  paper,  floating-rate  notes,  medium-term  notes,  bonds, and
                  auction-preferred stock whose dividend  rate  is set via Dutch
                  Auction.

                  In  addition,   any  supporting  bank  letters  of  credit  or
                  guarantees  of  these  securities  must  be  from a  financial
                  institution  whose debt rating  meets the credit  criteria set
                  out above.

         d)       Bankers acceptances,  certificates  of deposit, time deposits,
                  bonds and notes offered by major U.S. and foreign  banks whose
                  obligations meet the credit criteria set out above.

         e)       Repurchase  agreements  of  up to seven days maturity that are
                  fully collateralized by  securities as listed in a) through d)
                  that meet the credit criteria set out above, and  are  entered
                  into with financial  institutions  whose obligations also meet
                  the credit criteria set out above.

         f)       Any other securities with similar characteristics.

         g)       Money market funds that invest in securities deemed acceptable
                  for outright purchase according to the terms of this policy.

         An "Analysis of  Investments"  shall be prepared  monthly by Accounting
         and shall cover all marketable securities outstanding.

         Any two Designated Officers acting jointly and in writing  may delegate
         to others the authority  to invest  the  funds  of the  Company  or its
         subsidiaries within the limits as outlined above.

3)       The Chairman or President,  together with either the Vice President and
         Chief Financial Officer or the Treasurer,  are authorized to commit the
         credit of the  Company or its  subsidiaries  on a secured or  unsecured
         basis,  and to execute notes or such other  documents or instruments as
         may be required for payment of amounts borrowed or in  satisfaction  of
         credit facilities established.  This authority shall include but not be
         restricted to leases and contingent  liabilities  such as guarantees or
         letter of credit lines.  Total secured and unsecured credit  facilities
         available to the Company shall at no time exceed the equivalent of $125
         Millon. While only the Chairman or the President,  acting together with
         either the Vice President and Chief Financial  Offier or the Treasurer,
         may  initially  commit the credit of the  Company,  any two  Designated
         Officers  acting  jointly and in writing may delegate to others limited
         authority for loan  drawdowns,  security  agreements,  letter of credit
         applications, and similar actions.

4)       Any Designated  Officer is authorized to enter into contracts to buy or
         sell foreign  currencies,  limited for operational and hedging purposes
         only.  Any two  Designated  Officers  acting  jointly or in writing may
         delegate this foreign currency exchange authority to others,  with such
         controls and limitations as they may find appropriate.


<PAGE>

                                   Schedule 3
                               to Credit Agreement

                                (Existing Liens)

UCC-1 Financing Statement No. 88312607 filed December 15, 1988:

         Lease of PBX Equipment.  Lessor/Secured Party: Fleet Credit Corporation
as  assignee of Signal  Capital  Corporation,  as assignee of Argonaut  Computer
Sales, Inc.

UCC-1 Financing Statement No. 91234808 filed November 4, 1991:

         Lease of PBX Equipment.  Lessor/Secured Party: First  Security  Bank of
Utah, as Trustee,  and Icon Cash Flow Partners,  L.P., Series D, as assignees of
Pactel Finance.

UCC-1 Financing Statement No. 93239602 filed November 29, 1993:

         Lease of PBX Equipment.  Lessor/Secured Party: Icon Cash Flow Partners,
L.P., Series D.

UCC-1 Financing Statement No. 91117537 filed May 30, 1991:

         Lease of computer equipment.  Lessor/Secured Party: Manufacturers Bank,
as assignee of Skyline Computer Corporation.

Tax lien filed  April 11,  1991 in  office of  County  Recorder,  San  Francisco
County,  San Francisco,  California against Watkins Johnson Co. shows an address
for the  taxpayer  in San  Francisco,  California  (not the  Borrower's)  and an
Identifying Number for the taxpayer that is not the Borrower's.  The Borrower is
attempting to correct this apparently  erroneous filing,  and denies that it has
any outstanding tax liability relating to this filing.




<PAGE>

<TABLE>
                                   Schedule 4
                              to Credit Agreement

                                 (Subsidiaries)

<CAPTION>
                                                      Jurisdiction of
Name of Subsidiary                                    Incorporation         Capital Structure; Ownership
- ------------------                                    ---------------       ----------------------------

<S>                                                   <C>                   <C>
Watkins-Johnson Associates                            California            Wholly owned subsidiary of Watkins-Johnson Company

Watkins-Johnson Environmental, Inc.                   California            Wholly owned subsidiary of Watkins-Johnson Company

Watkins-Johnson Europe, Ltd.                          United Kingdom        Wholly owned subsidiary of Watkins-Johnson International

Watkins-Johnson FSC                                   Guam                  Wholly owned subsidiary of Watkins-Johnson Company

Watkins-Johnson International                         California            Wholly owned subsidiary of Watkins-Johnson Company

Watkins-Johnson International Japan, K.K.             Japan                 Wholly owned subsidiary of Watkins-Johnson International

Watkins-Johnson International Korea, Ltd.             Korea                 Wholly owned subsidiary of Watkins-Johnson International

Watkins-Johnson International Singapore Pte., Ltd.    Singapore             Wholly owned subsidiary of Watkins-Johnson International

Watkins-Johnson International Taiwan                  Taiwan                Wholly owned subsidiary of Watkins-Johnson International

Watkins-Johnson Italiana, S.p.A.                      Italy                 Wholly owned subsidiary of Watkins-Johnson International

Watkins-Johnson Limited                               California            Wholly owned subsidiary of Watkins-Johnson Company
</TABLE>


<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE 5


Litigation and Asserted Claims

1.    In 1991 the Borrower entered into a fixed price contract, MPO Contract No.
MDA 904-91-C-3061 with the Maryland  Procurement Office at Fort George G. Meade,
Maryland for  forty-five  (45) digitally  refreshed  displays  (DRD's),  with an
option to purchase  twenty-three (23) additional units. The option was exercised
fully and the total contract value was $2,102,575. A certificate of current cost
or pricing  data was  executed on January 31,  1991 and was  transmitted  to the
government on that date.  Based upon a post-award  audit,  the Defense  Contract
Audit Agency  ("DCAA")  issued two reports  dated  September 24 and November 10,
1993,  recommending a price adjustment to the contract of $558,317.00,  alleging
noncompliance  with the provisions of the Truth in Negotiations  Act ("TINA") 10
U.S.  Code  Section  2306(a).  The basis of the  alleged  noncompliance  was the
Borrower's  decision to purchase  certain parts used in the  manufacture  of the
DRD's from outside vendors rather than fabricating them internally. In 1994, the
Borrower  responded  that while the decision to purchase the parts resulted in a
cost savings to the Borrower,  there was no knowledge of such potential  savings
because the Borrower had  received no responses to requests for quotation at the
time the cost data was prepared and certified.  The  procurement  office has not
issued a final  decision  in the  matter  following  receipt  of the  Borrower's
response to the audit reports. If an adverse decision is rendered,  the Borrower
will  vigorously  contest the same and believes it has a  meritorious  position.
Nonetheless,  it is not yet  possible  to predict the outcome of such an adverse
decision.

         2. A claim of defective  pricing was, in 1994,  asserted by the DCAA in
connection  with Contract  F33600-87-G-5039,  Delivery  Order No. 2. In an audit
report dated August 10, 1992 DCAA took the position that the Borrower had failed
to provide certain "actual lot history" cost data to the Contracting  Officer in
connection with the negotiation of the delivery order price. DCAA contended that
this alleged failure  constituted  defective pricing and that the contract price
should therefore be reduced


<PAGE>

                                       -2-


in the amount of  $1,040,247.  The Borrower  responded to DCAA's audit report in
November 1992 and then heard nothing  further from the procuring  activity,  the
Wright-Patterson  Air Force Base  ("WPAFB"),  Dayton,  OH,  concerning  the DCAA
allegation  until it  received a letter  from WPAFB  Contracting  Officer  dated
November  21,  1994,  which  indicated  that he intended to find that  defective
pricing had  occurred in the amount  recommended  by DCAA unless WJ were able to
provide  additional  rebuttal that persuaded him to the contrary.  Such rebuttal
has been submitted and nothing further has been received from the government.

         3. On  October  31,  1993,  the U.S.  District  Court for the  Northern
District of  California  entered a Consent  Decree in the case  entitled  United
States of America vs. Watkins-Johnson Borrower, No. C91-20423. Prior to entry of
the Consent Decree, the Borrower conducted a Remedial  Investigation/Feasibility
Study  ("RI/FS")  which was submitted to and approved by the U.S.  Environmental
Protection  Agency  ("EPA").  The  RI/FS  had  been  undertaken  pursuant  to an
administrative  consent  agreement with the EPA. The Consent  Decree  negotiated
between the Borrower and the EPA sets forth the remedial action to be undertaken
by the Borrower in clearing up  contamination  which  occurred at the Borrower's
Scotts Valley facility.  The Decree also specifies  penalties to be incurred for
failure to timely submit required  reports or to complete the cleanup.  There is
no action or report by the Borrower presently  pending,  which is late, or which
would  otherwise  give rise to a penalty.  In 1991,  the Borrower  established a
reserve for expected costs  associated with the cleanup effort,  and nothing has
occurred since that time which would cause the Borrower to change that reserve.

         4. The  California  EPA issued an order  finding that the Borrower is a
responsible  party  for  groundwater   contamination  which  flows  through  the
Borrower's  Palo  Alto  Plant  site and on the site  itself.  A number  of other
companies in the area as well as Stanford University,  the land owner, have been
included  in the order  which  required  the  responsible  parties to conduct an
investigation  into the cause of the  contamination.  The order further required
the  parties  to  submit   recommendations  on  the  actions  to  remediate  the
contamination.  This regional  order applies to what has been  designated by the
State as the "Hillview/Porter Site." The primary sources of contamination


<PAGE>

                                       -3-


were found to have migrated onto Borrower property from off-site.  Subsequent to
a mediation among the responsible parties to the Hillview/Porter site, a formula
for  allocation  of  costs  for   investigation   and  remediation  based  on  a
determination  of  liability  for such costs was  developed.  The parties are in
compliance  with orders  relating to this cleanup  effort.  In 1991 the Borrower
established  a reserve for  expected  costs  associated  with this  effort,  and
nothing has  occurred  since that time which would cause the  Borrower to change
that reserve.

         5.  The  California   EPA  also  ordered   responsible  or  potentially
responsible parties to the Hillview/Porter site, in addition to participating in
the total site remediation,  to investigate and remediate  contamination that is
specific to their properties ("site  specific").  The State has, in that regard,
ordered  the   Borrower  to  take   necessary   measures  to  clean  up  certain
contamination  which the State  believes  was caused by the  Borrower and not by
contaminants  flowing  on-site  from other  sources.  The  Borrower has likewise
established  a reserve for  expected  costs  associated  with this  effort,  and
nothing has  occurred  since that time which would cause the  Borrower to change
that reserve.

         6. On December 30, 1994,  Dennis E. Shaw, an employee at the Borrower's
Gaithersburg,  Maryland  facility  filed suit in U.S.  District  Court,  for the
District of Maryland, case number DKC-94-3632,  alleging discrimination based on
race and age, breach of contract,  infliction of emotional and physical distress
and retaliation for opposing unlawful employment practices.  The plaintiff seeks
damages  according to proof for failure to promote him, that any resulting award
be doubled,  for $250,000 in damages for emotional  distress and mental anguish,
for  $100,000 for injury to  reputation  and  $500,000 in punitive  damages.  He
further  seeks an  injunction  to end  practices  he  alleges  are  improper  or
unlawful.  The  Borrower  has  retained  Covington  and Burling to assist in the
defense of the suit. A motion for summary judgment is pending.  Even if the same
is not  granted,  the  likelihood  of a  material  unfavorable  result is deemed
remote.

         7.  On  February  26,  1992  the  DCAA  held an  exit  conference  with
representatives  of the  Borrower  to  present  preliminary  audit  findings  on
Purchase Order No. 6-991010-B-F2 issued by Hughes


<PAGE>

                                       -4-


Aircraft Borrower and Purchase Order  No.  75-R###-##-####  and  2561  issued by
Raytheon Corporation. Both of these contracts are for Lot  III data links and RF
processors in the AMRAAM missile program.

         The DCAA  contends  that the  Borrower  failed to provide data that was
current,  complete  and  accurate  as of the  date of final  agreement  on price
between the  government  and the prime  contractors,  Hughes and  Raytheon.  The
preliminary  findings  indicate  claims in the amount of  $141,168 on the Hughes
contract and $566,541 on the Raytheon contract. The Raytheon amount has now been
finalized by DCAA at $520,211. The Borrower filed a reply to the findings issued
by DCAA. A contracting  officer's final decision has not been issued. We believe
the Borrower has meritorious defenses to the DCAA allegations.

         8. A dispute with the Naval Air Warfare Center ("NAWC"),  Pt. Mugu, CA,
has arisen under Contract N00123-87-C-0059. For several years NAWC had taken the
position that certain frequency monitoring and direction-finding  equipment that
the Borrower had supplied to NAWC in 1991 had failed to  demonstrate  compliance
with  Contract  requirements.  On  August  25,  1994 NAWC  issued a  Contracting
Officer's final decision  terminating the Contract for default.  On September 6,
1994 the Borrower submitted a certified claim to NAWC for payment of the balance
due under the  Contract  in the  amount of  $620,030.  On  November  9, 1994 the
Borrower  filed an appeal from the default  termination  decision with the Armed
Services Board of Contract Appeals  ("ASBCA").  NAWC has issued a final decision
in response to the Borrower's  September 6, 1994 claim denying the claim and the
Borrower  also filed an appeal  with the ASBCA from that  final  decision.  NAWC
filed a claim  against the Borrower for return of the progress  payments made to
the  Borrower  under the  Contract  in the amount of  $1,699,802.  Discovery  is
pending. A material adverse result is unlikely.

To  our knowledge,  there are no material  unasserted  claims or assessments not
disclosed  here which are probable of  assertion  against the  Borrower,  and if
asserted,  would  have  at  least a  reasonable  possibility  of an  unfavorable
outcome.


<PAGE>




                                   Schedule 6
                               to Credit Agreement

                         (Certain Environmental Matters)

The company remains in compliance with the remedial action plans being monitored
by various  regulatory  agencies at its Scotts  Valley and Palo Alto  sites.  In
1994, the company reached agreement with the other potential responsible parties
regarding  allocations  of the  remediation  costs at the Palo  Alto  site.  The
company is involved,  as a dc minimus  party,  in four  remediation  projects at
disposal  sites  used in the past.  None of these  four  sites are  material  in
nature.

In l991,  the company  recorded a $15 million  charge for estimated  remediation
actions and cleanup costs. No additional provision has been recorded since 1991.
Expenditures  of $2,727,000,  $1,676,000,  and $1,581,000  were incurred for the
years 1994, 1993. and 1992,  respectively.  While the timing and ultimate amount
of expenditures  of restoring the sites cannot be predicted with certainty,  the
company  believes that the provision  taken is adequate  based on facts known at
this  time.  Changes  in  environmental  regulations,  improvements  in  cleanup
technology and discovery of additional  information  concerning  these sites and
other sites could affect the estimated costs in the future

In  addition  to the above  environmental  matters,  the  company is involved in
various  legal  actions  which  arose in the  ordinary  course  of its  business
activities.  Although  the  environmental  provision  was  not  reduced  by  any
potential  recoveries from insurers or other  responsible  parties,  the company
will continue to vigorously pursue such recoveries. Except for the environmental
provision  noted  above,  the company  believes  the final  resolution  of these
matters  should not have a material  impact on its results of  operations,  cash
flows, and financial position.

<PAGE>

                                    Exhibit A
                               to Credit Agreement

                                  FORM OF NOTE

$___________________                                   Dated December ____, 1995


                  FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned WATKINS-JOHNSON COMPANY, a
California corporation (the "Borrower"),  HEREBY UNCONDITIONALLY PROMISES TO PAY
to the order of  ______________________  (the "Bank" on the Final  Maturity Date
the principal sum of ____________________ DOLLARS  ($______________________) or,
if less,  the aggregate  outstanding  principal  amount of the Loans made by the
Bank to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement referred to below.

                  The  Borrower  further  promises to pay  interest on the Loans
outstanding  hereunder from time to time at the interest  rates,  and payable on
the dates, set forth in the Credit Agreement.

                  Both principal and interest are payable in lawful money of the
United States of America and in same day or immediately  available  funds to ABN
AMRO Bank  N.V.,  as Agent  under the Credit  Agreement  (the  "Agent"),  at 101
California Street, Suite 4550, San Francisco, California 94111, or at such other
address as the Agent may designate from time to time.

                  The Bank  shall  record the date and amount of each Loan made,
each conversion to a different interest rate, each relevant Interest Period, the
amount of principal  and  interest due and payable from time to time  hereunder,
each payment thereof and the resulting unpaid principal  balance hereof,  in the
Bank's  internal   records,   and  any  such  recordation  shall  be  rebuttable
presumptive  evidence of the accuracy of the information so recorded;  provided,
however,  that the  Bank's  failure  so to record  shall not limit or  otherwise
affect the obligations of the Borrower  hereunder and under the Credit Agreement
to repay the principal of and interest on the Revolving Loans.

                  This  promissory  note is one of the Notes referred to in, and
is subject to and entitled to the benefits of, the Credit  Agreement dated as of
November 30, 1995 (as amended,  modified, renewed or extended from time to time,
the "Credit  Agreement") among the Borrower,  the financial  institutions  named
therein as Banks  (including the Bank),  the letter of credit issuing bank named
therein as the Issuing Bank, and the Agent.  Capitalized terms used herein shall
have the respective meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement.

                                        1

<PAGE>

                  The  Credit  Agreement  provides,   among  other  things,  for
acceleration  (which in certain cases shall be automatic) of the maturity hereof
upon the occurrence of certain stated events, in each case without  presentment,
demand, protest or further notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly
waived.

                  This  promissory  note is subject to prepayment in whole or in
part as provided in the Credit Agreement.

                  THIS  PROMISSORY  NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND  CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

                                 WATKINS-JOHNSON COMPANY

                                 By: ____________________________________

                                 Title: _________________________________

                                 By: ____________________________________

                                 Title: _________________________________




                                        2
<PAGE>


                                    EXHIBIT B
                             to the Credit Agreement

                         FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

ABN AMRO Bank N.V., as Agent 
101 California Street, Suite 4550 
San Francisco, CA 94111

                  Re: Watkins-Johnson Company
                      -----------------------

Gentlemen:

                  This Compliance  Certificate is made and delivered pursuant to
the Credit  Agreement  dated as of  November  30,  1995 (as  amended,  modified,
renewed  or  extended  from  time  to  time,  the  "Credit   Agreement")   among
Watkins-Johnson  Company (the "Borrower"),  certain financial institutions named
therein as Banks, the letter of credit issuing bank named therein as the Issuing
Bank and ABN AMRO Bank N.V.,  as Agent,  and  reference is made thereto for full
particulars of the matters described therein. All capitalized terms used in this
Compliance  Certificate and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings
assigned to them in the Credit Agreement. This Compliance Certificate relates to
the accounting period ending _____________, 199_.

                  I  am  the  vice  president  and  [chief  financial   officer]
[treasurer]  [controller]  of the  Borrower.  I have  reviewed  the terms of the
Credit  Agreement and I have made, or caused to be made under my supervision,  a
detailed  review of the  transactions  and  conditions  of the  Borrower and its
Subsidiaries   during  such  accounting   period.  I  hereby  certify  that  the
information  set forth on  Schedule I hereto  (and on any  additional  schedules
hereto setting forth further supporting  detail) is true,  accurate and complete
as of the end of such  accounting  period.  Schedule  I uses  certain  shorthand
terminology  for  convenience  and should be read in connection  with the fuller
language  in  detail  set  forth in the  Credit  Agreement.  In the event of any
inconsistency  between  Schedule  I and the Credit  Agreement,  the terms of the
Credit Agreement shall govern.

                  I hereby  further  certify  that (i) as of the date  hereof no
Default has occurred and is  continuing,  and (ii) on and as of the date hereof,
there has  occurred  no  Material  Adverse  Effect  since the date of the Credit
Agreement,  except  in each case as may be set  forth in a  separate  attachment
hereto  describing in detail the nature of each condition or event  constituting
an exception to the foregoing statements, the period


<PAGE>

during  which it has  existed  and the action  which the  Borrower  is taking or
proposes to take with respect to each such condition or event.

                  IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned  officer has signed this
Compliance Certificate this _________  day of ___________________, 199_______.


                                              _______________________________
                                                Vice President and [Chief 
                                                Financial Officer] [Treasurer]
                                                [Controller]

<PAGE>

<TABLE>

                                   SCHEDULE I
                          to the Compliance Certificate

Dated _________________________, 19____

For the fiscal quarter ended _________________, 199____

<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                     <C>               <C>                 <C>
Section 10.02(a)--Leverage Ratio                                                           Actual             Required/Permitted
- --------------------------------                                                           ------             ------------------

(A)        Consolidated Total Liabilities (including off-balance                           $___________
           sheet liabilities)

(B)        Consolidated Tangible Net Worth calculation:
           Consolidated Total Assets                                   $___________
           minus Consolidated Total Liabilities                        $___________
           minus intangible assets                                     $___________
           minus unamortized debt discount and expense                 $___________
           minus treasury stock                                        $___________
           Consolidated Tangible Net Worth                                                 $___________

Ratio of (A) to (B)                                                                         ___________        Not more than
                                                                                                               1.0 to 1.0

Section 10.02(b)--
Minimum Consolidated Net Worth
- ------------------------------

(A)        Consolidated Net Worth calculation:
           Consolidated Total Assets                                   $___________
           minus Consolidated Total Liabilities                        $___________
           Consolidated Net Worth                                                          $___________

(B)        Minimum Consolidated Net Worth calculation:
           beginning minimum                                           $135,000,000
           plus 100% of net proceeds from sale or issuance             $___________
           of equity securities after 6/30/95
           plus 50% of positive Consolidated Net Income after          $___________
           June 30, 1995 (on quarterly basis)
           Minimum Consolidated Net Worth                                                                     Not less than
                                                                                                              $___________

                                       1.
<PAGE>

Section 10.02(c)--Quick Ratio                                                             Actual               Required/Permitted
- -----------------------------                                                             ------               ------------------

(A)        Consolidated Adjusted Current Assets calculation:
           Cash and cash equivalents                                   $___________
           plus short term investments                                 $___________
           plus net accounts receivable (including unbilled            $___________
           accounts receivable up to $5,000,000)
           Consolidated Adjusted Current Assets                                           $___________

(B)        Consolidated Adjusted Current Liabilities
           calculation:
           Current liabilities                                         $___________
           Outstanding revolver indebtedness                           $___________
           Consolidated Adjusted Current Liabilities                                      $___________
Ratio of (A) to (B)                                                                                           Not less than
                                                                                           _____to_____       1.0 to 1.0
Section 10.02(d)--Profitability
- -------------------------------

   (A)     Income [or loss] this quarter                                                  $___________
           Income [or loss] prior three quarters:

   (B)     _______________________________________                                        $___________

   (C)     _______________________________________                                        $___________

   (D)     _______________________________________                                        $___________

   (E)     Income [or loss] four quarters                                                 $___________        No more than two
                                                                                                              losses; no more
                                                                                                              than $10,000,000
                                                                                                              aggregate losses in
                                                                                                              any one or two
                                                                                                              quarters; profitable
                                                                                                              over four quarters


                                       2.


<PAGE>

Section 10.02(e)--Senior Debt Total Capitalization                                         Actual              Required/Permitted
- -------------------------------------------------                                          ------              ------------------
(A)        Senior Debt calculation:
           Indebtedness                                                $___________
           plus off-balance sheet liabilities                          $___________
           minus Subordinated Debt                                     $___________
           Senior Debt                                                                    $___________

(B)        Total Capitalization calculation:
           Senior Debt                                                 $___________
           plus Consolidated Tangible Net Worth (from                  $___________
           ss.10.02(a))
           plus Subordinated Debt                                      $___________
           Total Capitalization                                                           $___________

Ratio of (A) to (B)
                                                                                                            Not more than 0.40 
                                                                                                            to 1.0 for 1995 and 
                                                                                                            1996; Not more than
                                                                                                            0.375 to 1.0 thereafter

Section 4.04--Debt/EBITDA Ratio
- -------------------------------
(A)        Consolidated Funded Debt calculation:
           Indebtedness                                                $___________
           plus off-balance sheet liabilities (other than              $___________
           obligations under standby letters of credit)
           Consolidated Funded Debt                                                       $___________

(B)        Consolidated EBITDA calculation:
           EBITDA for period ending
           __________________________, 199___:

            (1)     Consolidated Net Income                            $___________
            (2)     plus Consolidated Interest Expense                 $___________
            (3)     plus income tax expense                            $___________
            (4)     plus amortization expense                          $___________

                                              
                                       3.
<PAGE>


                                                                                          Actual              Required/Permitted
                                                                                          ------              ------------------

EBITDA for period ending
           __________________________, 199___:
          (1)       Consolidated Net Income                            $___________
          (2)       plus Consolidated Interest Expense                 $___________
          (3)       plus, income tax expense                           $___________
          (4)       plus amortization expense                          $___________
                                                                        
          EBITDA for period ending
          __________________________, 199___:
          (1)       Consolidated Net Income                            $___________
          (2)       plus Consolidated Interest Expense                 $___________
          (3)       plus income tax expense                            $___________
          (4)       plus amortization expense                          $___________
                                                                        
          EBITDA for period ending
          __________________________, 199___:
          (1)       Consolidated Net Income                            $___________
          (2)       plus Consolidated Interest Expense                 $___________
          (3)       plus income tax expense                            $___________
          (4)       plus amortization expense                          $___________
                                                                        
(A)    Consolidated EBITDA for four quarters ending                                        $___________
        __________________________, 199___:

Ratio of (A) to (B)                                                                         ___________
</TABLE>

                                       4.
<PAGE>

                        Exhibit C to the Credit Agreement

                             WATKINS-JOHNSON COMPANY

                              3333 HILLVIEW AVENUE
                             STANFORD RESEARCH PARK
                        PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA 94304-1223
                                 (415) 813-2570
                            FACSIMILE (415) 813-2578

RICHARD G BELL
Vice President
    and
General Counsel

                                December 8, 1995

To each of the Banks named in the
     Credit Agreement referred to below, and
     ABM AMRO Bank N.V.,
     as Agent for such Banks

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         The   undersigned   is  Vice   President   and   General   Counsel  for
Watkins-Johnson Company, a California corporation (the "Borrower"). I have acted
as  counsel  in  connection  with  the  execution  and  delivery  of the  Credit
Agreement,  dated as of November  30, 1995 (the "Credit  Agreement"),  among the
Borrower,  the  several  financial  institutions  named  therein  as Banks  (the
"Banks"),  the letter of credit  issuing bank named  therein as the Issuing Bank
(the "Issuing Bank"), and ABN AMRO Bank N.V., as Agent for the Banks.

         This opinion is provided to the Agent and the Banks pursuant to Section
8.01(e) of the Credit Agreement.  Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein
have the respective meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement.

         In  connection  with this opinion  letter,  we have  examined  executed
copies  of  the  Credit  Agreement  and  the  Notes  (collectively,   the  "Loan
Documents"),  the  articles of  incorporation  and by-laws of the  Borrower,  as
amended to date; and the records of proceedings of the Board of Directors of the
Borrower during or by which resolutions were adopted relating to matters covered
by this  opinion and  certificates  of  officers  of the  Borrower as to certain
factual  matters.  In addition to  California,  the  Borrower is qualified to do
business in the states of Arizona, Florida, Illinois, and Maryland. Of these

<PAGE>

Page 2

states, the Borrower has manufacturing facilities in California and Maryland. In
the remaining  states listed,  the Borrower  either  maintains or has previously
maintained  an  office  or  has  transacted   sufficient   business  to  require
qualification. We have examined the documents described as "certificates of good
standing" from all of these states.

         In addition,  we have made such other  investigations as we have deemed
necessary to enable us to express the  opinions  hereinafter  set forth.  In the
course of this  examination we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures of
persons  signing the Loan Documents on behalf of parties  thereto other than the
Borrower, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the
conformity to authentic original  documents of all documents  submitted to us as
certified, conformed or photostatic copies.

         Based upon the  foregoing,  and  further  subject  to the  assumptions,
qualifications  and exceptions set forth below, we hereby advise you that in our
opinion:

         1. The Borrower is a corporation  duly organized,  validly existing and
in good standing under the laws of the State of California and has the corporate
power  and  authority  to own or  lease,  as the case may be,  and  operate  its
properties and to carry on its business as it is now conducted.  The Borrower is
qualified as a foreign  corporation  and in good  standing in each  jurisdiction
where its  ownership,  lease or  operation  of  property  or the  conduct of its
business requires such  qualification,  except to the extent that the failure to
be so qualified and in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

         2. The Borrower has the  corporate  power and  authority  to enter into
and perform the Loan Documents,  and has taken all necessary corporate action to
authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which
it is a party.

         3. No  authorization,  consent,  approval,  license,  exemption  of, or
filing or registration with, any Governmental  Authority, or approval or consent
of any other person, is required for the due execution,  delivery or performance
by the Borrower of the Loan Documents to which it is a party.

<PAGE>

Page 3

         4. The Loan  Documents  to which the Borrower is a party are the legal,
valid and binding  obligations of the Borrower  enforceable against the Borrower
in accordance with their respective terms.

         5. The execution,  delivery and performance by the Borrower of the Loan
Documents  to  which it is a party  do not and  will  not (I)  violate  or be in
conflict with any provision of the articles of  incorporation  or by-laws of the
Borrower,  (ii)  violate or be in  conflict  with any law or  regulation  having
applicability to the Borrower, (iii) violate or contravene any judgment, decree,
injunction,  writ or order of any court, or any arbitrator or other governmental
Authority, having jurisdiction over the Borrower or the Borrower's properties or
by which the  Borrower  may be bound,  or (iv)  violate  or  conflict  with,  or
constitute a default under or result in the  termination  of, or accelerate  the
performance  required by, any indenture,  any loan or credit  agreement,  or any
other  agreement for borrowed  money or any other material  agreement,  lease or
instrument  to which the  Borrower  is a party or by which it or the  Borrower's
properties  may be bound,  or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the
assets or  properties  of the  Borrower  except as  contemplated  under the Loan
Documents.

         6.  Except as set  forth in  Schedule  5 to the  Credit  Agreement,  no
litigation or other  proceedings are pending or threatened  against the Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries or their properties  before any court,  arbitrator or
Governmental  Authority  with  respect  to  the  Loan  Documents  or  which,  if
determined adversely to the Borrower or such Subsidiary, would be likely to have
a Material Adverse Effect.

         7. The extension of credit under the Credit  Agreement does not violate
the  provisions  of  Regulations  G, T, U or X of the Board of  Governors of the
Federal Reserve System.

         8. The  Borrower  is  not  an  "investment  Borrower,"  or a  Borrower
"controlled" by an "investment  Borrower,"  within the meaning of the Investment
Borrower Act of 1940, as amended.

<PAGE>
Page 4

         Our  opinion  set  forth  in  paragraph  4  above  is  subject  to  the
qualification  that the  enforceability  of the Loan Documents may be limited by
bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,  moratorium  and  other  similar  laws
relating to or  affecting  creditors'  rights  generally  and by general  equity
principles.

         We express no opinion  herein  concerning any law other than the law of
the State of California,  the federal law of the United States,  and the laws of
the states  listed in the third  paragraph  of this  letter;  provided  that our
opinion in  Paragraph  1 as to due  qualification  of the  Borrower as a foreign
cooperation is based solely on certificates of public officials in such states.

         This letter has been  furnished  to you at the request of the  Borrower
pursuant to Section  8.01(e) of the Credit  Agreement for your use in connection
with the Credit Agreement, and may not be relied upon by you or any other person
for any other purpose without our consent;  provided any Bank may deliver a copy
to any  Assignee  or  Participant  of  such  Bank,  and  any  such  Assignee  or
Participant shall be entitled to rely hereon.

                                            Very truly yours,
                
                                            /s/ Richard G. Bell

<PAGE>

                                      NOTE
                                      ----

$30,000,000                                              Dated December 8, 1995

                  FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned WATKINS-JOHNSON COMPANY, a
California corporation (the "Borrower"),  HEREBY UNCONDITIONALLY PROMISES TO PAY
to the order of ABN AMRO BANK N.V.  (the "Bank") on the Final  Maturity Date the
principal sum of THIRTY MILLION DOLLARS ($30,000,000) or, if less, the aggregate
outstanding  principal  amount  of the  Loans  made by the Bank to the  Borrower
pursuant to the Credit Agreement referred to below.

                  The  Borrower  further  promises to pay  interest on the Loans
outstanding  hereunder from time to time at the interest  rates,  and payable on
the dates, set forth in the Credit Agreement.

                  Both principal and interest are payable in lawful money of the
United States of America and in same day or immediately  available  funds to ABN
AMRO Bank  N.V.,  as Agent  under the Credit  Agreement  (the  "Agent"),  at 101
California Street, Suite 4550, San Francisco, California 94111, or at such other
address as the Agent may designate from time to time.

                  The Bank  shall  record the date and amount of each Loan made,
each conversion to a different interest rate, each relevant Interest Period, the
amount of principal  and  interest due and payable from time to time  hereunder,
each payment thereof and the resulting unpaid principal  balance hereof,  in the
Bank's  internal   records,   and  any  such  recordation  shall  be  rebuttable
presumptive  evidence of the accuracy of the information so recorded;  provided,
however,  that the  Bank's  failure  so to record  shall not limit or  otherwise
affect the obligations of the Borrower  hereunder and under the Credit Agreement
to repay the principal of and interest on the Revolving Loans.

                  This  promissory  note is one of the Notes referred to in, and
is subject to and entitled to the benefits of, the Credit  Agreement dated as of
November 30, 1995 (as amended,  modified, renewed or extended from time to time,
the "Credit  Agreement") among the Borrower,  the financial  institutions  named
therein as Banks  (including the Bank),  the letter of credit issuing bank named
therein as the Issuing Bank, and the Agent.  Capitalized terms used herein shall
have the respective meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement.

                  The  Credit  Agreement  provides,   among  other  things,  for
acceleration  (which in certain cases shall be automatic) of the maturity hereof
upon the occurrence of

                                        1
<PAGE>

certain  stated events,  in each case without  presentment,  demand,  protest or
further notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived.

                  This  promissory  note is subject to prepayment in whole or in
part as provided in the Credit Agreement.

                  THIS  PROMISSORY  NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND  CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

                                            WATKINS-JOHNSON COMPANY

                                            By:     /s/ Scott G. Buchanan
                                                   -----------------------------
                                            Title:      Vice President and CFO
                                                   -----------------------------
                                            By:     /s/ W. Keith Kennedy 
                                                   -----------------------------
                                            Title:      President and CEO
                                                   -----------------------------


                                        2
<PAGE>

                                      NOTE
                                      ----

$20,000,000                                              Dated December 8, 1995

                  FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned WATKINS-JOHNSON COMPANY, a
California corporation (the "Borrower"),  HEREBY UNCONDITIONALLY PROMISES TO PAY
to the order of UNION BANK (the "Bank") on the Final Maturity Date the principal
sum  of  TWENTY  MILLION  DOLLARS  ($20,000,000)  or,  if  less,  the  aggregate
outstanding  principal  amount  of the  Loans  made by the Bank to the  Borrower
pursuant to the Credit Agreement referred to below.

                  The  Borrower  further  promises to pay  interest on the Loans
outstanding  hereunder from time to time at the interest  rates,  and payable on
the dates, set forth in the Credit Agreement.

                  Both principal and interest are payable in lawful money of the
United States of America and in same day or immediately  available  funds to ABN
AMRO Bank  N.V.,  as Agent  under the Credit  Agreement  (the  "Agent"),  at 101
California Street, Suite 4550, San Francisco, California 94111, or at such other
address as the Agent may designate from time to time.

                  The Bank  shall  record the date and amount of each Loan made,
each conversion to a different interest rate, each relevant Interest Period, the
amount of principal  and  interest due and payable from time to time  hereunder,
each payment thereof and the resulting unpaid principal  balance hereof,  in the
Bank's  internal   records,   and  any  such  recordation  shall  be  rebuttable
presumptive  evidence of the accuracy of the information so recorded;  provided,
however,  that the  Bank's  failure  so to record  shall not limit or  otherwise
affect the obligations of the Borrower  hereunder and under the Credit Agreement
to repay the principal of and interest on the Revolving Loans.

                  This  promissory  note is one of the Notes referred to in, and
is subject to and entitled to the benefits of, the Credit  Agreement dated as of
November 30, 1995 (as amended,  modified, renewed or extended from time to time,
the "Credit  Agreement") among the Borrower,  the financial  institutions  named
therein as Banks  (including the Bank),  the letter of credit issuing bank named
therein as the Issuing Bank, and the Agent.  Capitalized terms used herein shall
have the respective meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement.

                  The  Credit  Agreement  provides,   among  other  things,  for
acceleration  (which in certain cases shall be automatic) of the maturity hereof
upon the occurrence of


                                       1
<PAGE>

certain  stated events,  in each case without  presentment,  demand,  protest or
further notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived.

                  This  promissory  note is subject to prepayment in whole or in
part as provided in the Credit Agreement.

                  THIS  PROMISSORY  NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND  CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.


                                        WATKINS-JOHNSON COMPANY               
                                                                              
                                        By:     /s/ Scott G. Buchanan
                                               -----------------------------  
                                        Title:      Vice President and CFO     
                                               -----------------------------  
                                        By:     /s/ W. Keith Kennedy    
                                               -----------------------------   
                                        Title:      President and CEO         
                                               -----------------------------  

                                        2
<PAGE>                                                                        

                                      NOTE
                                      ----

$17,500,000                                              Dated December 8, 1995

                  FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned WATKINS-JOHNSON COMPANY, a
California corporation (the "Borrower"),  HEREBY UNCONDITIONALLY PROMISES TO PAY
to the order of THE FIRST  NATIONAL  BANK OF BOSTON  (the  "Bank")  on the Final
Maturity  Date the  principal  sum of SEVENTEEN  MILLION  FIVE HUNDRED  THOUSAND
DOLLARS ($17,500,000) or, if less, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of
the Loans made by the Bank to the  Borrower  pursuant  to the  Credit  Agreement
referred to below.

                  The  Borrower  further  promises to pay  interest on the Loans
outstanding  hereunder from time to time at the interest  rates,  and payable on
the dates, set forth in the Credit Agreement.

                  Both principal and interest are payable in lawful money of the
United States of America and in same day or immediately  available  funds to ABN
AMRO Bank  N.V.,  as Agent  under the Credit  Agreement  (the  "Agent"),  at 101
California Street, Suite 4550, San Francisco, California 94111, or at such other
address as the Agent may designate from time to time.

                  The Bank  shall  record the date and amount of each Loan made,
each conversion to a different interest rate, each relevant Interest Period, the
amount of principal  and  interest due and payable from time to time  hereunder,
each payment thereof and the resulting unpaid principal  balance hereof,  in the
Bank's  internal   records,   and  any  such  recordation  shall  be  rebuttable
presumptive  evidence of the accuracy of the information so recorded;  provided,
however,  that the  Bank's  failure  so to record  shall not limit or  otherwise
affect the obligations of the Borrower  hereunder and under the Credit Agreement
to repay the principal of and interest on the Revolving Loans.

                  This  promissory  note is one of the Notes referred to in, and
is subject to and entitled to the benefits of, the Credit  Agreement dated as of
November 30, 1995 (as amended,  modified, renewed or extended from time to time,
the "Credit  Agreement") among the Borrower,  the financial  institutions  named
therein as Banks  (including the Bank),  the letter of credit issuing bank named
therein as the Issuing Bank, and the Agent.  Capitalized terms used herein shall
have the respective meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement.

                  The  Credit  Agreement  provides,   among  other  things,  for
acceleration  (which in certain cases shall be automatic) of the maturity hereof
upon the occurrence of


                                        1
<PAGE>

certain  stated events,  in each case without  presentment,  demand,  protest or
further notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived.

                  This  promissory  note is subject to prepayment in whole or in
part as provided in the Credit Agreement.

                  THIS  PROMISSORY  NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND  CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

                                        WATKINS-JOHNSON COMPANY               
                                                                              
                                        By:     /s/ Scott G. Buchanan      
                                               -----------------------------  
                                        Title:      Vice President and CFO     
                                               -----------------------------  
                                        By:     /s/ W. Keith Kennedy        
                                               -----------------------------  
                                        Title:      President and CEO         
                                               -----------------------------  


                                        2
<PAGE>

                                      NOTE
                                      ----

$17,500,000                                               Dated December 8, 1995

                  FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned WATKINS-JOHNSON COMPANY, a
California corporation (the "Borrower"),  HEREBY UNCONDITIONALLY PROMISES TO PAY
to the order of THE FIRST  NATIONAL  BANK OF MARYLAND  (the "Bank") on the Final
Maturity  Date the  principal  sum of SEVENTEEN  MILLION  FIVE HUNDRED  THOUSAND
DOLLARS ($17,500,000) or, if less, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of
the Loans made by the Bank to the  Borrower  pursuant  to the  Credit  Agreement
referred to below.

                  The  Borrower  further  promises to pay  interest on the Loans
outstanding  hereunder from time to time at the interest  rates,  and payable on
the dates, set forth in the Credit Agreement.

                  Both principal and interest are payable in lawful money of the
United States of America and in same day or immediately  available  funds to ABN
AMRO Bank  N.V.,  as Agent  under the Credit  Agreement  (the  "Agent"),  at 101
California Street, Suite 4550, San Francisco, California 94111, or at such other
address as the Agent may designate from time to time.

                  The Bank  shall  record the date and amount of each Loan made,
each conversion to a different interest rate, each relevant Interest Period, the
amount of principal  and  interest due and payable from time to time  hereunder,
each payment thereof and the resulting unpaid principal  balance hereof,  in the
Bank's  internal   records,   and  any  such  recordation  shall  be  rebuttable
presumptive  evidence of the accuracy of the information so recorded;  provided,
however,  that the  Bank's  failure  so to record  shall not limit or  otherwise
affect the obligations of the Borrower  hereunder and under the Credit Agreement
to repay the principal of and interest on the Revolving Loans.

                  This  promissory  note is one of the Notes referred to in, and
is subject to and entitled to the benefits of, the Credit  Agreement dated as of
November 30, 1995 (as amended,  modified, renewed or extended from time to time,
the "Credit  Agreement") among the Borrower,  the financial  institutions  named
therein as Banks  (including the Bank),  the letter of credit issuing bank named
therein as the Issuing Bank, and the Agent.  Capitalized terms used herein shall
have the respective meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement.

                  The  Credit  Agreement  provides,   among  other  things,  for
acceleration  (which in certain cases shall be automatic) of the maturity hereof
upon the occurrence of

                                       1
<PAGE>

certain  stated events,  in each case without  presentment,  demand,  protest or
further notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived.

                  This  promissory  note is subject to prepayment in whole or in
part as provided in the Credit Agreement.

                  THIS  PROMISSORY  NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND  CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.


                                        WATKINS-JOHNSON COMPANY               
                                                                              
                                        By:     /s/ Scott G. Buchanan      
                                               -----------------------------  
                                        Title:     Vice President and CFO     
                                               -----------------------------  
                                        By:    /s/ W. Keith Kennedy    
                                               -----------------------------  
                                        Title:     President and CEO         
                                               -----------------------------  


                                        2
<PAGE>

                                      NOTE
                                      ----

$15,000,000                                              Dated December 8, 1995

                  FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned WATKINS-JOHNSON COMPANY, a
California corporation (the "Borrower"),  HEREBY UNCONDITIONALLY PROMISES TO PAY
to the order of BANK OF AMERICA  NATIONAL  TRUST AND  SAVINGS  ASSOCIATION  (the
"Bank") on the Final Maturity Date the principal sum of FIFTEEN  MILLION DOLLARS
($15,000,000)  or, if less, the aggregate  outstanding  principal  amount of the
Loans made by the Bank to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement referred
to below.

                  The  Borrower  further  promises to pay  interest on the Loans
outstanding  hereunder from time to time at the interest  rates,  and payable on
the dates, set forth in the Credit Agreement.

                  Both principal and interest are payable in lawful money of the
United States of America and in same day or immediately  available  funds to ABN
AMRO Bank  N.V.,  as Agent  under the Credit  Agreement  (the  "Agent"),  at 101
California Street, Suite 4550, San Francisco, California 94111, or at such other
address as the Agent may designate from time to time.

                  The Bank  shall  record the date and amount of each Loan made,
each conversion to a different interest rate, each relevant Interest Period, the
amount of principal  and  interest due and payable from time to time  hereunder,
each payment thereof and the resulting unpaid principal  balance hereof,  in the
Bank's  internal   records,   and  any  such  recordation  shall  be  rebuttable
presumptive  evidence of the accuracy of the information so recorded;  provided,
however,  that the  Bank's  failure  so to record  shall not limit or  otherwise
affect the obligations of the Borrower  hereunder and under the Credit Agreement
to repay the principal of and interest on the Revolving Loans.

                  This  promissory  note is one of the Notes referred to in, and
is subject to and entitled to the benefits of, the Credit  Agreement dated as of
November 30, 1995 (as amended,  modified, renewed or extended from time to time,
the "Credit  Agreement") among the Borrower,  the financial  institutions  named
therein as Banks  (including the Bank),  the letter of credit issuing bank named
therein as the Issuing Bank, and the Agent.  Capitalized terms used herein shall
have the respective meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement.

                  The  Credit  Agreement  provides,   among  other  things,  for
acceleration  (which in certain cases shall be automatic) of the maturity hereof
upon the occurrence of

                                        1
<PAGE>

certain  stated events,  in each case without  presentment,  demand,  protest or
further notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived.

                  This  promissory  note is subject to prepayment in whole or in
part as provided in the Credit Agreement.

                  THIS  PROMISSORY  NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND  CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.


                                        WATKINS-JOHNSON COMPANY               
                                                                              
                                        By:     /s/ Scott G. Buchanan
                                               -----------------------------  
                                        Title:      Vice President and CFO     
                                               -----------------------------  
                                        By:     /s/ W. Keith Kennedy        
                                               -----------------------------   
                                        Title:      President and CEO         
                                               -----------------------------  


                                        2



                                  (Translation)

                               Loan Agreement Deed

                                                         Dated: February 9, 1996

To: The Bank of Yokohama, Ltd.

      Borrower: Watkins-Johnson International Japan K.K.
                D-842, 2-1, Sakado 3-chome
                Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki

                (stamp signature and seal)
                --------------------------
                Stephen E. Chelberg
                Representative Director

Article 1.
     The  Borrower  hereby  agrees to perform in  accordance  with the terms and
conditions set forth in the Agreement of Bank Transactions  separately  executed
and  delivered to the Bank of  Yokohama,  Ltd.  (hereinafter  referred to as the
"Bank").  The Borrower  hereby  confirms that, in accordance with the Summary of
Loans hereinafter  provided,  the Bank has lent the Borrower the funds described
below, and the Borrower has received such funds.

Article 2.
(1)  With regard to any and all  obligations  which the  Borrower may owe to the
     Bank under this  Agreement,  the  Guarantor  shall be jointly and severally
     liable with the Borrower for the performance of such  obligations,  and the
     Guarantor  hereby  agrees  to abide by the  terms  and  conditions  of this
     Agreement in addition to those of the

<PAGE>

     Agreement of Bank  Transactions  separately  executed and  delivered to the
     Bank by the  Borrower  with regard to the  performance  of any and all such
     obligations.
(2)  Even if the Bank,  at its  discretion,  modifies  or  releases  either  the
     security or other guarantees it has received, the Guarantor shall not claim
     exemption from any of its obligations. 
(3)  The  Guarantor  shall  not set  off its  obligations  by using  either  the
     Borrower's deposits and/or other credits against the Bank.
(4)  If and  when  the  Guarantor  performs  any of its  obligations  under  the
     Guarantee,  the Guarantor  shall then not exercise any rights obtained from
     the Bank by  subrogation  without the prior approval of the Bank as long as
     transactions  between the Borrower and the Bank  continue.  Upon the Bank's
     demand,  the  Guarantor  shall  assign such rights and priority to the Bank
     without compensation.
(5)  If the Guarantor has already  executed and delivered  other  guarantees for
     the Borrower's  transactions  with the Bank, such other guarantees shall in
     no way be modified by this Guarantee.

Summary of Loans
     Amount                           One Billion Yen (Y1,000,000,000)
     Maturity Date                    January 20, 2011
     Purpose of Borrowing             Plant and equipment fund (for
                                      land purchases)

<PAGE>


     Interest                         Rate Fixed rate of two point five  percent
                                      (2.5%) per annum.

     Repayment                        The  Borrower  shall  repay  the  Loan  in
                                      installments, and each of the installments
                                      other than the final  installment shall be
                                      of an amount  equal to Five  Million  Nine
                                      Hundred Twenty Thousand Yen  (Y5,920,000),
                                      which  are  scheduled  to be  paid  on the
                                      twentieth   (20th)   day  of  each   month
                                      commencing  on January 20,  1997,  and the
                                      final  installment,  of an amount equal to
                                      Five Million Four Hundred  Forty  Thousand
                                      Yen (Y5,440,000),  shall be payable on the
                                      Maturity Date.

     Payment of Interest              The first payment of interest, which shall
                                      consist of the amount accrued  between the
                                      date of this Agreement and March 20, 1997,
                                      shall  be  made  upon   March  20,   1997.
                                      Thereafter,  payment of  interest  accrued
                                      between each payment date shall be made on
                                      the twentieth (20th) day of
<PAGE>

                                      each month in arrears.

                                      Interest shall be computed per diem on the
                                      basis of 365-days per year.

         If any payment of the  principal of, or interest on, the Loan falls due
on a  non-business  day of the  Bank,  such  payment  shall  be made on the next
succeeding business day.

<PAGE>

                                     [LOGO]

                             WATKINS-JOHNSON COMPANY

 3333 Hillview Avenue, Stanford Research Park, Palo Alto, California 94304-1223
        Telephone: (415) 493-4141 Fax: (415) 813-~2402 TWX: 910-373-1253

                             AGREEMENT OF GUARANTEE

To:      Bank of Yokohama

                                                                   

         In regard to any and all obligations of  Watkins-Johnson  International
Japan,  K.K.  (hereinafter  referred to as "the  Principle") may owe the Bank of
Yokohama Ltd.  (hereinafter  referred to as "your Bank") as a result of the Loan
of which amount is 1,000,000,000 yen made on the 31st day of January 1996:

Watkins-Johnson  Company (hereinafter  referred to as "the Guarantor") do hereby
agree to the terms and  conditions  set forth in Agreement of Bank  Transactions
and the Agreement of the Loans on Deed separately executed and delivered to your
Bank by the Principle, shall be jointly and severally liable with the Principle,
and shall not cause any trouble or inconvenience to your Bank.

         The Guarantee  Period shall commence on the date hereof and continue in
force until the expiration of the above  mentioned  agreements  between the Bank
and the Principle.

Dated this 31 day of January, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety Six.

Revenue Stamp

By Watkins-Johnson Company:

Signature: /s/ W. Keith Kennedy               Signature: /s/ Scott G. Buchanan
           --------------------                          ---------------------

Name: W. Keith Kennedy                        Name: Scott G. Buchanan

Title: President                              Title:    Vice President and
                                                         Chief Financial Officer

(All  questions  that may arise within or without courts of law in regard to the
meaning of the words,  provisions and  stipulations  of this Agreement  shall be
decided in accordance with the Japanese text)




                                  (Translation)

                               Loan Aqreement Deed
                               -------------------

     This  document  certifies  that the  Japan  Development  Bank  (hereinafter
referred  to as the  "Bank")  has  loaned  the funds set forth in the  following
summary of loans  (hereinafter  referred to as the "Summary") to Watkins-Johnson
International Japan K.K. (hereinafter  referred to as the "Borrower"),  and that
the Borrower has acknowledged  both the Summary and the terms and conditions set
forth in the Annex (hereinafter  referred to as the "Conditions"),  and that the
Borrower has received such funds.

     The execution,  validity,  interpretation and performance of this Agreement
shall be governed by the laws of Japan.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties hereto have executed one original of this
Agreement  in  Japanese,  and the Bank shall keep the  original and the Borrower
shall keep a copy thereof respectively.

Dated: June 12, 1996

                      A: The Japan Development Bank
                          9-1, Otemachi 1-chom
                          Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

                          (stamp signature and seal) 
                          --------------------------
                          Yoshihiko Yoshino
                          Governor

                       B: Watkins-Johnson International
                           Japan K.K.
                           D-842, 2-1, Sakado 3-chome,
                           Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa

                           (stamp signature and seal)
                           --------------------------
                           Stephen E. Chelberg
                           Representative Director

                                           


<PAGE>


                                Summary of Loans

Principal: One Billion Three Hundred Fifty Million Yen (Y1,350,000,000)

        Name of and  expenses  for the  project  for which the loan is  required
(hereinafter  referred to as the "Project"):

     Construction of Technology Center for Semiconductor-Manufacturing Equipment
Two Billion Seven Hundred Million Yen (Y2,700,000,000)

Repayment of the principal:
     The full repayment shall be made on the 28th day of November, 2006.

Interest  rate:
     Three point one percent (3.1%) per annum  (subject to per diem  calculation
on the basis of 365 days per year).

Method of payment of interest:
     The first  payment  shall be made on the 28th day of  November,  1996,  and
thereafter  payment  shall be made on the 28th day of May and  November  of each
year. Interest accrued between each payment date shall be paid at the end of the
accrual period.

<PAGE>




ANNEX

                              Terms and Conditions

(Purpose of the Borrowed Funds)

Article 1.
         The Borrower  shall perform the Project in accordance  with the Project
plan as it exists as of the date of this  Agreement  and shall use the  borrowed
money under this Agreement only for such Project.

(Installment Schedule for Payment of the Borrowed Funds)

Article 2.
         The  Borrower  shall  initially  keep the  borrowed  funds  under  this
Agreement  on deposit with the Bank and the Bank shall  deliver  such  deposited
funds  (hereinafter  referred to as the  "Deposited  Funds") to the  Borrower in
installments based upon the progress of the Project, the payment of expenses for
the Project and related matter.
         2. When the Borrower  withdraws the Deposited  Funds from the Bank, the
Borrower shall, in advance,  notify the Bank of such payment of expenses for the
Project and other  related  matters in a form  prescribed  by the Bank and shall
obtain the Bank's consent to such withdrawal.
         3.  The  Bank  shall  pay no  interest  on the  Deposited  Funds to the
Borrower, and the Borrower shall pay no interest on the borrowed money up to the
amount of the Deposited Funds in the Bank.

         4.  The Borrower shall not assign or create a pledge on


<PAGE>


the right to deliver the Deposited Funds to a third party.

(Delivery of the Deposited Funds by Bank Transfer)

Article 3.
     If the Bank delivers the Deposited  Funds under this  Agreement by transfer
to the Borrower's bank account,  then the delivery of the Deposited Funds to the
Borrower shall be deemed to be fulfilled upon completion of the Bank's procedure
requesting the transfer of the Deposited  Funds to the Borrower's  bank account.
Even if the Borrower  thereafter  suffers a loss for reasons  including  but not
limited to accidents or  procedural  delays which occur after  completion of the
Bank's procedure and for which the Bank is not  responsible,  the Borrower shall
not then demand compensation from or make other claims on the Bank.

(Repayment of the Obligations by Bank Transfer)

Article 4.
     If the Borrower  repays its  obligations  by transfer to the Bank's account
with checks, notes or other securities (hereinafter  collectively referred to as
"Securities"),  the Borrower  shall then ensure that the  Securities are paid in
full by the due dates of the Borrower's obligations.

(Repayment of the Obligations by Delivering Securities)

Article 5.
     If the Borrower  repays its obligations by delivering the Securities to the
Bank, such Securities shall be negotiable

<PAGE>


for  settlement  through the  clearing  house  consented  to by the Bank and the
Borrower  shall ensure that the  Securities are paid in full by the due dates of
the Borrower's obligations.
     2. If any of the  Securities in the preceding  paragraph is dishonored  and
returned to the Borrower by the Bank,  then the Borrower agrees that the Bank is
not  responsible  for taking any steps to preserve  any rights  relating to such
Securities.

(Prepayment)

Article 6.
     If the  expenses  for the Project  decrease to less than those set forth in
the Summary  (hereinafter  referred  to as the  "Summary  Amount")  because of a
change in the  Project  plan or other  reasons,  and the Bank so  requests,  the
Borrower shall then,  notwithstanding the maturity date of the loan set forth in
the Summary,  prepay the borrowed money under this Agreement in proportion equal
to the percentage of the reduction of the Summary Amount.
     2. If the Bank finds that the  fulfillment of the Project's aim is rendered
impracticable  because  the  decreased  amount  referred  to  in  the  preceding
paragraph  amounts to a substantial  percentage of the Summary  Amount,  and the
Bank so requests,  the Borrower  shall then prepay the borrowed  money  received
under this Agreement in full.
     3. If (i) the Borrower  does not perform the Project  without a justifiable
reason,  despite the Bank's  instructions,  even after a reasonable period which
the Bank has deemed

<PAGE>


necessary for performance of the Project, or (ii) if the Borrower does not apply
the money  delivered  under paragraph 1 of Article 2 to satisfy the payments due
for the expenses of the Project,  or (iii) if the Bank finds that the purpose of
the Project  will not be  completed on the ground that the Borrower has assigned
or leased an object which the Borrower  obtained as a result of the Project to a
third party  immediately after the Borrower obtained it or for other reasons and
the Bank so requests, the Borrower shall then, notwithstanding the maturity date
set  forth in the  Summary,  prepay  the  borrowed  money  received  under  this
Agreement to the Bank either in whole or in part.
     4. The Borrower may prepay the borrowed money under this Agreement in whole
or in part with the Bank's prior consent.
     5. In addition to the  preceding  paragraph,  the  Borrower  may prepay the
borrowed  money  under  this  Agreement  in whole or in part by giving  the Bank
written  notice of  prepayment  at least  ninety  (90) days prior to the date of
prepayment.
     6. In case the preceding paragraph applies, the Borrower may not cancel the
prepayment  without  the  Bank's  consent  after  the  Bank's  receipt  of  such
prepayment notice.

Article 7.
     When the Borrower  prepays the borrowed  money,  the Borrower shall pay the
amounts set forth in each of the following upon such prepayment:
     (1) Interest on the prepaid amount accrued up until the
<PAGE>


date of such prepayment.
     (2) In case of the  prepayment  arising under  paragraph 5 of the preceding
Article, if the interest rate under this Agreement  (hereinafter  referred to as
the "Agreed Interest Rate") exceeds the Bank's standard  interest rate as of the
date of such  prepayment  (hereinafter  referred  to as the  "Standard  Interest
Rate"), in addition to the preceding item, the difference between (i) the amount
equal to interest  which is calculated on the basis of the Agreed  Interest Rate
on the prepaid amount for the period during the date of such  prepayment and the
maturity  date set forth in the  Summary  and (ii) the amount  equal to interest
which is  calculated  on the basis of the  Standard  Interest  Rate for the same
period (with the method of such calculation to be determined by the Bank).

Article 8.
     The Bank may set off the  Deposited  Funds  against  any  funds,  including
interest  thereon and any other obligation  pertaining to such funds,  which the
Borrower should prepay.

(Appropriation of Repayment)

Article 9.
     (i) If the Borrower  prepays the borrowed money under this Agreement to the
Bank in part, or (ii) if the Bank sets off the Deposited Funds against the funds
which the Borrower should prepay under this Agreement, or (iii) if the amount of
the repayment of obligations under this Agreement or under other loan agreements
between the Bank and the Borrower is




<PAGE>


less than the amount which the Borrower should repay under such agreements, then
the Bank may  appropriate  the amount due in such manner as decided  upon by the
Bank.

(Inspection of Books, Etc.)

Article 10.
     The Bank may at any time  inspect  the status of the Project as well as the
Borrower's  assets,  documents,  books and  other  materials  as the Bank  deems
necessary based on reasonable grounds,  such as to confirm the use of the loaned
funds under this Agreement or for the preservation of the Bank' s rights.
     2. The  Borrower  shall  offer  assistance  as  needed  to the Bank for the
inspection set forth in the preceding paragraph.

(Matters to be Filed)

Article 11.
     If the. Borrower changes its name, corporate name, address, representative,
filed seal or other matters filed with the Bank,  the Borrower shall then notify
the Bank thereof in writing forthwith.

(Matters to be Reported)

Article 12.
     The Borrower  shall report to the Bank,  in  accordance  with the method as
instructed  by the Bank,  the  matters  mentioned  in (1) and (2) below upon the
Bank's  request and the matter  mentioned  in (3) below  without  delay upon the
occurrence of

<PAGE>


such event.
     (1)  Progress  status of the Project and payment  status of the expenses of
the Project.
     (2) Each  settlement  of account  (including  mid-year  settlements  if the
company/companies  which  choose(s)  yearly  settlement  make(s) such a mid-year
settlement) and decisions as to dividends  (including  interim dividends) of the
Borrower  and  Watkins   Johnson  Company   (hereinafter   referred  to  as  the
"Guarantor").
     (3) Other important events concerning management, finance or business.

(Acceleration of Payment)

Article 13.
     If any one of the following events should occur and be continuing,  and the
Bank so requests,  the Borrower's obligations to the Bank shall then immediately
become due and payable and the Borrower shall forthwith pay the entire amount of
its obligations under this Agreement.
     (1) When the  Borrower  does not perform the Project and uses the  borrowed
money under this Agreement for a purpose other than that of the Project;
     (2) When  the  Borrower  fails  to  perform  any of its  obligations  under
Articles 11 or 12 and  continues  not to perform  such  obligations  despite the
Bank's  request,  or  when  the  Borrower  makes  a false  statement  or  report
thereunder;
     (3) When the  Borrower  fails to pay any part of the  principal or interest
under this Agreement;

<PAGE>


     (4) When the Borrower  fails to perform any of its  obligations  under this
Agreement other than those set forth in each of the preceding items, or fails to
perform any of its obligations to the Bank under any other agreements;
     (5) When the Borrower dishonors any note or check;
     (6)  When an  order  or  notice  of  provisional  attachment,  preservative
attachment or attachment  with respect to the Deposited Funds is issued or given
to the Borrower;
     (7) When attachment with respect to assets which the Borrower  furnishes or
agrees to furnish to the Bank as security is made;
     (8) When the Borrower or the Guarantor  stops payment or an  application is
filed by or against the Borrower or the Guarantor for  bankruptcy,  composition,
corporate reorganization or corporate arrangement;
     (9) When the  Borrower or the  Guarantor  is  dissolved  or its business is
closed;
     (10) When any event  reasonably  requiring the  preservation  of the Bank's
rights other than those set forth in each of the  preceding  items occurs to the
Borrower;
     (11) When the Guarantor fails to perform any of its  obligations  under the
guaranty agreement with the Bank dated June 12, 1996 (hereinafter referred to as
the "Guaranty Agreement" in this Article) and, if the Bank reasonably determines
that  such  failure  can be cured,  such  failure  to  perform  such  obligation
continues unremedied for a period of thirty (30) days; or
     (12) When any event of default occurs under or in

<PAGE>


connection  with  any  obligation of  the Guarantor to the Bank other than those
incurred under the Guaranty Agreement.

(Security)

Article 14.
     The  Borrower  shall,  upon a request by the Bank based on  reasonable  and
probable cause to preserve the Bank's rights under this  Agreement,  furnish the
Bank with  security  or  additional  security  as may be  approved  by the Bank,
whether or not there is any security or a guarantor  under this Agreement or any
other agreements.

(Execution of Notarial Deed)

Article 15.
     The  Borrower  shall,  at any  time  upon  the  Bank's  request  (with  the
Guarantor,  if the Bank so  instructs),  commission a notary public in Japan and
take  all  necessary   actions  to  execute  a  notarial   deed   containing  an
acknowledgement  of the  obligations  under this  Agreement  and a statement  of
acceptance of enforcement thereof.

(Burden of Expenses)

Article 16.
     The Borrower  shall bear any expenses for  preparation  of this  Agreement,
registration,  and all other expenses in connection with the performance of this
Agreement.

<PAGE>


(Post Default Interest)

Article 17.
     The Borrower shall pay post default interest  equivalent to 14.5% per annum
(subject  to per diem  calculation  on the  basis  of 365 days per  year) on the
principal, interest and any other amounts payable in the event of default of any
payment obligation, or on advance money the Bank paid for the expenses under the
preceding Article.

(Court Jurisdiction)

Article 18.
     In the event of any  litigation or  controversies  in connection  with this
Agreement,  the  Borrower  hereby  submits  and  consents  to the  non-exclusive
jurisdiction of the Tokyo District Court.


<PAGE>


                               Guaranty Agreement

                                                               Date: 29 May 1996

To: Mr. Yoshihiko Yoshino, Governor
    The Japan Development Bank

     The undersigned (hereinafter referred to as the "Guarantor"),  after having
accepted  the  following  terms  and  conditions,   hereby  guarantees  all  the
obligations of Watkins-Johnson  International Japan K.K.(hereinafter referred to
as the "Debtor") to The Japan Development Bank (hereinafter  referred to as "the
Bank")  arising out of the agreement made by and between the Bank and the Debtor
dated June 12, 1996  (hereinafter  referred  to as the  "Original  Agreement"),
certain basic provisions of which are more fully described in Attachment A.

Article 1.
     The  Guarantor  hereby  confirms  the  obligations  of the Debtor under the
Original  Agreement,  and agrees to each  article and  paragraph of the Original
Agreement.

Article 2.
     1. The Guarantor shall be jointly and severally responsible with the Debtor
(this Guaranty being  Rentaihosho  under the laws of Japan) for the full payment
to the Bank of the  entire  amount of the  Debtor's  obligations  under,  and in
accordance  with the terms  of,  the  Original  Agreement,  notwithstanding  the
validity or invalidity of the agreement on  commissioning  guaranty entered into
by and between the Debtor and the Guarantor.  Even if any change or amendment is
made to the  Original  Agreement,  the  Guarantor  shall  perform  its  guaranty
obligations in

<PAGE>


accordance with the Debtor's obligations as changed thereby.

     2. The  Guarantor  shall  not  claim  any  exemption  from its  obligations
hereunder even if there occurs any increase, decrease, replacement,  release of,
or any other  change with  respect to the  security  described  in the  Original
Agreement.

Article 3.
     In the event the Guarantor performs its guaranty obligations, any rights it
acquires from the Bank by virtue of subrogation  shall not be exercised  without
the Bank's  consent until the Debtor has paid in full all of its  obligations to
the Bank under the Original  Agreement,  as it may be amended from time to time.
Further,  upon the  Bank's  request,  such  rights or ranking  thereof  shall be
assigned  to the Bank free of charge and all the  procedures  required  therefor
shall be taken.

Article 4.
     On or prior to the date of the  execution of this Guaranty  Agreement,  the
Bank shall have  confirmed  that the  Guarantor is able to provide the documents
listed in Attachment B and has executed those  documents to which it is a party;
and all such documents shall be dated the date of the execution of this Guaranty
Agreement and shall otherwise be in form and substance satisfactory to the Bank.
In any event,  the Bank shall have received the  originals of such  documents at
its Tokyo head office by the date to be designated by the Bank.

Article 5.
     If any change occurs in the name, the authorized signatories (including the
specimen signature(s)  thereof), the address, or any other matters designated by
the  Bank,  notification  thereof  shall  immediately  be  given  to the Bank in
writing,  and such change shall  become  effective  upon receipt  thereof by the
Bank.


<PAGE>


Article 6.
     All expenses incurred in the preparation of this Guaranty Agreement and all
other expenses  otherwise  incurred in connection  with the  performance of this
Guaranty Agreement shall be borne by the Guarantor.

Article 7.
     1. This Guaranty  Agreement shall be deemed to be a contractual  obligation
under,  and shall be governed by and  construed  and  interpreted  in accordance
with, the laws of Japan.
     2.  In the  event  of any  litigation  in  connection  with  this  Guaranty
Agreement,  the  Guarantor  hereby  submits and  consents  to the  non-exclusive
jurisdiction  of the Tokyo  District  Court.  The Guarantor  hereby  irrevocably
appoints Stephen E. Chelberg, Tokyo, Japan  as  its  agent to receive service of
process in Japan in connection with any suit,  action or proceeding  relating to
this  Guaranty  Agreement.  In the event that agent  ceases to be able to act as
agent of the Guarantor hereunder or ceases to have an office in Tokyo, Japan and
the Guarantor  fails to appoint a successor  agent  acceptable to the Bank,  the
Guarantor agrees that the Bank shall automatically serve as its agent to receive
service of process in Japan.
     3.  Nothing  herein  shall in any way be deemed to limit the ability of the
Bank to obtain jurisdiction over the Guarantor in such other jurisdictions,  and
in such manner, as may be permitted by applicable law.

Article 8.
     The Guarantor agrees that this Guaranty  Agreement shall be binding upon it
and its successors and assigns and may not be assigned without the prior written
consent of the Bank.


<PAGE>


  Article 9.
     This Guaranty Agreement shall be prepared in English.



                                                Watkins-Johnson Company
                                                
                                                By /s/ W. Keith Kennedy
                                                  ---------------------
                                                  Name: W. Keith Kennedy
                                                  Title: President and Chief
                                                         Executive Officer

                                                  Address: 3333 Hillview Ave.
                                                           Palo Alto, CA 94304

                                                  /s/ Scott G. Buchanan
                                                  -----------------------
                                                  Name: Scott G. Buchanan
                                                  Title: Vice President and
                                                         Chief Financial
                                                         Officer


<PAGE>


ATTACHMENT A

                    Description of the Original Agreement and
                         Summary of Borrowing Conditions

The Original Agreement:
         Date:
         Parties: The Japan Development Bank and
                  Watkins-Johnson International Japan K.K.

Summary of the Borrowing Conditions thereof
(1)     Principal:
        Yen 1,350,000,000-

(2)     Project for which the loan is required:
        Construction  of  Technology   Center  for   Semiconductor-Manufacturing
        Equipment

(3)     Repayment schedule of principal:
        The repayment shall be made in full on the 28th day of November, 2006,

(4)     Interest rate:
        3.2% per annum (subject to per diem calculation on the basis of 365 days
        a year.)

(5)     Method of payment of interest:
        The first  payment  shall be made on the 28th day of November,  1996 and
        thereafter  payment shall be made on the 28th day of May and November of
        every year.  Interest  accrued between each payment day shall be paid at
        the end of the accrual period.


<PAGE>


ATTACHMENT B

                       Documents Required Under Article 4

1.   Copies,  certified by a duly  authorized  officer of the Guarantor,  of the
     Guarantor's articles of incorporation and by-laws.

2.   Copy,  certified  by a  duly  authorized  officer  of the  Guarantor,  of a
     resolution  of the  board  of  directors  of the  Guarantor  approving  and
     authorizing  the  execution,  delivery,  and  performance  of the  Guaranty
     Agreement by the  Guarantor and  authorizing  specified  officer(s)  and/or
     other  representative(s)  of the  Guarantor  to  execute  and  deliver  the
     Guaranty Agreement on behalf of the Guarantor.

3.   A certificate  signed by a duly  authorized  officer of the Guarantor as to
     the incumbency of those officers or other  representatives of the Guarantor
     authorized to sign the Guaranty Agreement and as to the specimen signatures
     of such persons.





                                   EXHIBIT 11
<TABLE>

                                         WATKINS-JOHNSON COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                        COMPUTATION OF NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE
                                     (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)


The following  table  illustrates  the potential  dilution of outstanding  stock
options on net income per share computations:
<CAPTION>

                                                               Three Months Ended                            Nine Months Ended
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Sept. 27, 1996         Sept. 29, 1995        Sept. 27, 1996         Sept. 29, 1995
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                            <C>                  <C>                     <C>                   <C>
For primary net income per share:

    Weighted average shares outstanding          8,321,000             8,079,000              8,242,000             7,877,000

    Equivalent shares--dilutive stock
        options--based on treasury stock
        method using average market price
                                                   137,000               939,000                315,000               939,000
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total                                        8,458,000             9,018,000              8,557,000             8,816,000
=================================================================================================================================

For fully diluted net income per share:

    Weighted average shares outstanding          8,321,000             8,079,000              8,242,000             7,877,000

    Equivalent shares--dilutive stock
        options--based on treasury stock
        method using greater of closing
        market price or average price              137,000             1,004,000                318,000             1,004,000
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total                                        8,458,000             9,083,000              8,560,000             8,881,000
=================================================================================================================================

Net income                                     $     2,832          $      8,910            $     9,624           $    22,039
=================================================================================================================================

Primary net income per share                   $       .33          $        .99            $      1.12           $      2.50
=================================================================================================================================

Fully diluted net income per share             $       .33          $        .98            $      1.12           $      2.48
=================================================================================================================================

<FN>
This   calculation  is  submitted  in  accordance   with  Regulation  S-K,  Item 601(b)(11).
</FN>
</TABLE>

                                    Page 13

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                     5
<MULTIPLIER>                                  1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                 JUN-29-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-27-1996
<CASH>                                          14,772
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  103,313
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                     83,414
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               216,532
<PP&E>                                         215,531
<DEPRECIATION>                                 126,421
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 332,028
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           91,029
<BONDS>                                         40,154
<COMMON>                                        37,788
                                0
                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                     163,057
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   332,028
<SALES>                                         94,962
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                94,962
<CGS>                                           60,921
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   91,085
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                  (784)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 556
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  4,105
<INCOME-TAX>                                     1,273
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              2,832
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     2,832
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .33
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .33
        


</TABLE>


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