HUTTIG BUILDING PRODUCTS INC
10-Q, 2000-05-15
LUMBER & OTHER CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
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                                  UNITED STATES

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    Form 10-Q

             QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                    For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2000
                            Commission file number 1-14982

                         HUTTIG BUILDING PRODUCTS, INC.

             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                       Delaware                   43-0334550

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

                           Lakeview Center, Suite 400

                          14500 South Outer Forty Road

                          Chesterfield, Missouri 63017

          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

                                 (314) 216-2600

              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

           Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

       Common Stock, par value $.01 per share    New York Stock Exchange
            Preferred Share Purchase Rights      New York Stock Exchange

                (Title of each class)           (Name of each exchange on which
                                                           registered)

        Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

    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  (or for such  shorter  period  that the
registrant was required to file such reports),  and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for at least the past 90 days. Yes [ X] No [ ]

    The  number  of  shares  of Common  Stock  outstanding  on May 12,  2000 was
20,563,823 shares.

<PAGE>

PART I.     FINANCIAL INFORMATION

                                                                       Page No.

Item 1.  Financial Statements

         Consolidated Balance Sheets as of  March 31, 2000 and
         December 31, 1999                                                3-4

         Consolidated Statements of  Income for the three months ended
         March 31, 2000 and 1999                                          5

         Consolidated Statement of Stockholder's Equity for the three
         months ended March 31, 2000 and 1999                             6

         Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months
         ended March 31, 2000 and 1999                                    7

         Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.                      8-9

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
         and Results of Operations                                        9-12

Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk       12

PART II.   OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                                 12

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                 HUTTIG BUILDING PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                        (in thousands, except per share data)
<CAPTION>
                                                                   March 31,       December 31,
                                                                     2000              1999
                                                                 (unaudited)
                                                                ---------------   ---------------
<S>                                                             <C>               <C>
ASSETS

CURRENT ASSETS:
  Cash                                                                 $ 8,041           $ 6,794
  Accounts receivable, net                                             124,661           116,602
  Inventories                                                           88,200            78,133
  Prepaid expenses                                                       4,368             2,788
  Deferred tax asset                                                     1,301             1,247
                                                                ---------------   ---------------
           Total current assets                                        226,571           205,564
                                                                ---------------   ---------------

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT -
At cost:
  Land                                                                   6,983             7,324
  Buildings and improvements                                            33,739            36,660
  Machinery and equipment                                               27,784            28,764
                                                                ---------------   ---------------
           Gross property, plant and equipment                          68,506            72,748
  Less accumulated depreciation                                         30,393            33,207
                                                                ---------------   ---------------
           Property, plant and equipment - net                          38,113            39,541
                                                                ---------------   ---------------

OTHER ASSETS:
  Costs in excess of net assets acquired, net                           38,352            38,952
  Other                                                                  3,244             3,656
  Deferred income taxes                                                 13,320            13,638
                                                                ---------------   ---------------

           Total other assets                                           54,916            56,246
                                                                ---------------   ---------------
TOTAL                                                                 $319,600          $301,351
                                                                ===============   ===============
<FN>


                 see notes to consolidated financial statements
</FN>
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                 HUTTIG BUILDING PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                       (in thousands, except per share data)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               March 31,       December 31,
                                                                 2000              1999
                                                             (unaudited)
                                                            ---------------   ---------------
<S>                                                         <C>               <C>
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

CURRENT LIABILITIES:
  Current maturities of long-term debt                               $ 263             $ 263
  Accounts payable - trade and collections as agents                88,096            72,478
   Income taxes payable                                              6,341             5,765
  Accrued payrolls                                                   7,169             9,226
   Accrued insurance                                                 6,178             6,164
  Accrued liabilities                                               17,403            15,448
                                                            ---------------   ---------------

           Total current liabilities                               125,450           109,344
                                                            ---------------   ---------------

NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES:
  Other long-term debt                                             121,051           121,817
  Accrued postretirement benefits                                    2,089             2,089
  Deferred credit                                                        -               798
                                                            ---------------   ---------------

           Total non-current liabilities                           123,140           124,704
                                                            ---------------   ---------------

 COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 9)

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
  Preferred shares; $.01 par (5,000,000 shares authorized)
  Common shares; At March 31, 2000 - $.01 par (50,000,000
    shares authorized - 20,866,145 shares issued); At
    December 31, 1999 - no par value (50,000,000 shares
    authorized - 20,797,812 shares issued)                             209               208
  Additional paid-in capital on common stock                        33,356            33,051
  Retained earnings                                                 39,132            35,438
  Unearned compensation - restricted stock                            (556)             (263)
                                                            ---------------   ---------------
  Less:  Treasury shares (278,433 shares at cost)                   (1,131)           (1,131)
                                                            ---------------   ---------------

           Total shareholders' equity                               71,010            67,303
                                                            ---------------   ---------------

TOTAL                                                             $319,600          $301,351
                                                            ===============   ===============

<FN>

                 see notes to consolidated financial statements
</FN>
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                 HUTTIG BUILDING PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                        CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

                          FOR QUARTERS ENDED MARCH 31,

                                   (UNAUDITED)

                    (in thousands, except per share data)
<CAPTION>
                                                                          2000                 1999
                                                                   -------------------   ------------------
<S>                                                                <C>                   <C>
NET SALES                                                                   $ 281,946            $ 174,775
                                                                   -------------------   ------------------

OPERATING COSTS AND EXPENSES:
  Cost of sales                                                               227,760              140,064
  Operating expenses                                                           47,861               29,079
  Depreciation and amortization                                                 1,764                1,646
  Restructuring provision                                                       1,233                    -
  Loss (gain) on disposal of capital assets                                    (5,110)                 (14)
                                                                   -------------------   ------------------

           Total operating costs and expenses                                 273,508              170,775
                                                                   -------------------   ------------------

OPERATING PROFIT                                                                8,438                4,000
                                                                   -------------------   ------------------

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
  Interest expense - Crane                                                                          (1,899)
  Interest expense - net of interest income of $40 and
       $0 in 2000and 1999 respectively                                         (2,229)                 (34)
  Other miscellaneous - net                                                         -                  (40)
                                                                   -------------------   ------------------
           Total other expense - net                                           (2,229)              (1,973)

INCOME BEFORE TAXES                                                             6,209                2,027
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES                                                      2,515                  795
                                                                   -------------------   ------------------

NET INCOME                                                                    $ 3,694              $ 1,232
                                                                   ===================   ==================

NET INCOME PER BASIC SHARE                                                     $ 0.18               $ 0.09
AVERAGE BASIC SHARES OUTSTANDING (Thousands)                                   20,588               14,260

NET INCOME PER DILUTED SHARE                                                   $ 0.18               $ 0.09
AVERAGE DILUTED SHARES OUTSTANDING (Thousands)                                 20,588               14,260

<FN>

                 see notes to consolidated financial statements
</FN>
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
                 HUTTIG BUILDING PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

            CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY

                                   (UNAUDITED)


                                 (In Thousands)
<CAPTION>
                                Common Shares       Additional                       Unearned          Treasury            Total
                                Outstanding,        Paid-In           Retained     Compensation -       Shares,        Shareholders'
                                at Par Value        Capital           Earnings    Restricted Stock      at Cost           Equity
                                ------------     --------------     -------------   ------------     -------------     -------------
<S>                             <C>              <C>                <C>             <C>              <C>               <C>
Balance at December 31, 1998            $ 10              $ 746          $ 40,699                                           $ 41,455

Net Income                                                                  1,232                                              1,232
                                ------------     --------------     -------------   ------------     -------------     -------------

Balance at March 31, 1999               $ 10              $ 746          $ 41,931                                           $ 42,687
                                =============    ==============     =============   ============     =============     =============



Balance at December 31, 1999           $ 208           $ 33,051          $ 35,438        $ (263)         $ (1,131)          $ 67,303

Net Income                                                                  3,694                                              3,694

Restricted stock issued, net
     of amortization expense               1                305                            (293)                                  13
                                -------------    --------------     -------------   ------------     -------------     -------------


Balance at March 31, 2000              $ 209           $ 33,356          $ 39,132        $ (556)         $ (1,131)          $ 71,010
                                =============    ==============     =============   ============     =============     =============

<FN>


                 see notes to consolidated financial statements
</FN>
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

<TABLE>

                 HUTTIG BUILDING PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                                   (UNAUDITED)
                                 (In Thousands)
<CAPTION>

                                                                                  Three Months Ended March 31,
                                                                                   2000                   1999
                                                                             -----------------      -----------------
<S>                                                                             <C>                    <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
     Net Income                                                                       $ 3,694                $ 1,232
     Gain on disposal of capital assets                                                (5,110)                   (14)
     Depreciation                                                                       1,051                    892
     Amortization                                                                         713                    754
     Deferred Taxes                                                                       264                   (117)
     Accrued postretirement benefits                                                        -                    155
     Changes in operating assets and liabilities
       (exclusive of acquisitions):
          Accounts receivable                                                          (8,059)                 4,364
          Inventories                                                                 (11,222)                  (743)
          Other current assets                                                         (1,274)                  (459)
          Accounts payable                                                             15,618                 (8,280)
          Accrued liabilities                                                             397                 (1,676)
          Other                                                                             6                    (56)
                                                                             -----------------      -----------------

                Total cash provided (used) from operating activities                   (3,922)                (3,948)
                                                                             -----------------      -----------------

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
     Capital expenditures                                                              (1,221)                (2,724)
     Proceeds from disposition of capital assets                                        7,156                     85
                                                                             -----------------      -----------------

                Total cash provided (used) from investing activities                    5,935                 (2,639)
                                                                             -----------------      -----------------

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
     Repayment of long-term debt                                                          (66)                  (126)
     Repayment of revolving credit agreement                                             (700)                     -
                                                                             -----------------      -----------------

                Total cash provided (used) from financing activities                     (766)                  (126)
                                                                             -----------------      -----------------

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH                                                         1,247                 (6,713)
CASH, BEGINNING OF PERIOD                                                               6,794                  9,423
                                                                             -----------------      -----------------

CASH, END OF PERIOD                                                                   $ 8,041                $ 2,710
                                                                             =================      =================


SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
     Interest paid                                                                    $ 2,227                $ 1,947
                                                                             =================      =================

     Income taxes paid                                                                $ 1,893                $ 2,446
                                                                             =================      =================


<FN>


                 see notes to consolidated financial statements
</FN>
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                 HUTTIG BUILDING PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                   (UNAUDITED)

                                 (In Thousands)

1.       BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The  consolidated  financial  statements  included  herein have been prepared by
Huttig  Building  Products,  Inc. (the  "Company" or "Huttig") on a consolidated
basis,  without audit,  pursuant to the rules and  regulations of the Securities
and Exchange  Commission.  Certain information and footnote disclosures normally
included in the consolidated  financial  statements  prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant
to the rules and  regulations  of the Securities  and Exchange  Commission.  The
Company  believes  that the  disclosures  are  adequate to make the  information
presented not misleading.  It is recommended that these  consolidated  financial
statements  be read in  conjunction  with  the  audited  consolidated  financial
statements and notes thereto  included in the Company's  latest Annual Report on
Form 10-K. This financial  information  reflects,  in the opinion of management,
all adjustments  consisting of only adjustments  necessary to present fairly the
results for the interim periods.

The consolidated  results of operations and resulting cash flows for the interim
periods  presented are not  necessarily  indicative of the results that might be
expected  for the full year.  Due to the seasonal  nature of Huttig's  business,
profitability  is usually lower in the Company's  first and fourth quarters than
in the second and third quarters.

2. RESERVE ACTIVITY

In December  1999,  the Company  established a reserve for  restructuring  costs
expected to be incurred  under a strategic  plan to  consolidate  and  integrate
various branch operations and support  functions.  In the first quarter of 2000,
the Company recorded an additional restructuring charge of $1,806 as a result of
a change in the estimate of the restructuring costs.

The activity in the  restructuring  reserve for the three months ended March 31,
2000 is summarized as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  Inventory           Lease           Workforce
                                 Adjustments       Terminations       Reduction          Other           Total
                                ---------------  -----------------   -------------  -----------------  ------------
<S>                             <C>              <C>                 <C>            <C>                <C>
Balance at December 31, 1999         $ 2,210            $ 1,752           $ 494              $ 829       $ 5,285
Plus: Additional charges                 573                 70             373                790         1,806
Less: Costs incurred                   1,696                380              29                 99         2,204
                                ---------------  -----------------   -------------  -----------------  ------------

Balance at March 31, 2000            $ 1,087            $ 1,442           $ 838            $ 1,520       $ 4,887
                                ===============  =================   =============  =================  ============
</TABLE>



In December  1999 the  Company  established  a reserve for costs  expected to be
incurred  in  connection  with the  acquisition  of  Rugby  USA  ("Rugby").  The
acquisition of Rugby was accounted for by the purchase method and,  accordingly,
this reserve was included in the allocation of the acquisition costs. During the
first quarter, the Company made a change in estimate of the costs expected to be
incurred which resulted in an increase to the reserve and a reallocation  of the
acquisition cost.

The  activity  in this  reserve  for the three  months  ended  March 31, 2000 is
summarized as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  Inventory           Lease           Workforce
                                 Adjustments       Terminations       Reduction          Other           Total
                                ---------------  -----------------   -------------  -----------------  ------------
<S>                             <C>              <C>                 <C>            <C>                <C>
Balance at December 31, 1999         $ 1,001            $ 2,150           $ 591              $ 965       $ 4,707
Plus: Additional charges               1,155                                                    91         1,246
Less: Costs incurred                     410                                430                180         1,020
                                ---------------  -----------------   -------------  -----------------  ------------

Balance at March 31, 2000            $ 1,746            $ 2,150           $ 161              $ 876       $ 4,933
                                ===============  =================   =============  =================  ============
</TABLE>



As a result of the change in estimate  during the first  quarter,  the  deferred
credit  balance of $798 at  December  31,  1999 was reduced to zero at March 31,
2000 and assets increased by $448.

<PAGE>

3. DEBT Debt consisted of the following at March 31, 2000 and December 31, 1999:
                                                March 31,       December 31,
                                                  2000               1999
                                              --------------    ---------------
Revolving credit agreement                        $ 120,000          $ 120,700
Industrial revenue bond                                  75                272
Capital lease obligations                               977              1,108
                                              --------------    ---------------
     Total debt                                     121,052            122,080
Less: current portion                                   263                263
                                              --------------    ---------------
Long-term debt                                    $ 120,789          $ 121,817
                                              ==============    ===============

During April 2000, the Company closed on a new $200,000 secured revolving credit
facility.  The rate on the  facility is LIBOR plus a variable  rate based on the
Company's ratio of debt to earnings before  interest,  taxes,  depreciation  and
amortization ("EBITDA").  The proceeds from the facility were used to retire the
previously existing $125,000 facility and a $25,000 term loan.

ITEM 2 -- MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
          RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

General

Huttig Building  Products,  Inc. is one of the largest domestic  distributors of
building materials used principally in new residential  construction and in home
improvement, remodeling and repair work. Its products are distributed through 73
distribution  centers  serving  45 states,  principally  to  building  materials
dealers (who, in turn, supply the end-user),  directly to professional  builders
and  large  contractors,  and  to  home  centers,  national  buying  groups  and
industrial  and  manufactured  housing  builders.  The  Company's  American Pine
Products  manufacturing  facility,  located  in  Prineville,   Oregon,  produces
softwood  moldings.  Approximately  19% of American Pine's sales are to Huttig's
distribution centers.

The following table sets forth the Company's sales, by product classification as
a percentage  of net sales,  for the quarters  ended March 31, 2000 and 1999:

                                              Percent of Total Net Sales
                                              --------------------------
Product Classification:                          2000           1999
                                              ------------   ------------

     Doors                                            33%            35%
     Specialty Building Materials                     27%            22%
     Lumber & Other Commodity Materials               17%            13%
     Windows                                          12%            16%
     Moldings                                         11%            13%
                                              ------------   ------------
       Total Net Product Sales                       100%           100%
                                              ============   ============

On December 16, 1999, Crane Co. ("Crane") distributed to its  stockholders (the
"Spin-Off") all of the Company's  outstanding  common stock,  par value $.01 per
share (the "Common Stock"). Immediately after the Spin-Off, Huttig completed the
acquisition  of Rugby in exchange for 6,546 newly issued shares of Huttig common
stock.  Rugby is also a distributor  of building  materials.  For its year ended
December 31, 1999, Rugby USA's revenues were approximately $458,000.


Results from Operations

First Quarter of 2000 Compared to First Quarter of 1999

Net  sales for the three  months  ended  March  31,  2000 were  $281,946,  a 61%
increase from the first quarter of 1999 when sales were  $174,775.  The increase
is primarily  attributable to acquisitions  completed  during the second half of
1999, the largest of which was Rugby in December of 1999.  Also  contributing to
the higher  revenue was a 4%  increase  in same store sales over the  comparable
prior year period.

Gross profit, as a percentage of net sales, declined from 19.9% to 19.2% for the
three months  ended March 31, 1999 and 2000,  respectively.  Excluding  one-time
charges included in the cost of sales, gross profit as a percentage of net sales
would have been 19.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2000.

<PAGE>

Total operating costs and expenses,  excluding cost of sales,  gains on disposal
and the  restructuring  provision,  were $49,625 in the first quarter of 2000 as
compared to $30,725 in the first quarter of 1999. The increase was primarily due
to  recurring  costs  associated  with an increase  in the size of the  business
resulting from the  acquisitions  which were completed during the second half of
1999. These operating  expenses,  as a percentage of net sales, were flat during
the comparable periods.

Included in total  operating  costs and expenses in the first quarter of 2000 is
$1,806 for the  restructuring  plan that was  initiated  in  December  1999 (see
footnote  3). This  expense was  recorded as a result of a change in estimate of
the costs expected to be incurred for the restructuring.  Management anticipates
that the restructuring will be complete by the end of 2000.

Gains on disposal of assets  increased  $5,096 from the first quarter of 1999 to
the first quarter of 2000. This increase is due primarily to gains from the sale
of property resulting from the consolidation of facilities.

Net  interest  expense  increased  to $2,229 in the first  quarter  of 2000 from
$1,973  in the same  period  of 1999,  primarily  due to  borrowings  under  the
Company's revolving line of credit to support working capital requirements.

Income taxes were provided at estimated  annual effective tax rates of 40.5% and
39.2% for the quarter ended March 31, 2000 and 1999, respectively.

As a result of the foregoing  factors,  net income increased by $2,462, or 200%,
to $3,694. Net income increased to 1% of net sales in the first quarter of 2000,
up slightly from the same quarter of the prior year.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Huttig has  historically  depended  primarily on the cash generated from its own
operations to finance its needs.  The  combination of income from operations and
cash  generation  from  improved  working  capital  management  has been used to
finance capital  expenditures  and seasonal working capital needs. The Company's
working capital requirements are generally greatest in the first eight months of
the year and Huttig  generates cash from working capital  reductions in the last
four months of the year.

In the three months ended March 31, 2000, cash increased by $1,247 compared to a
decrease of $6,713 in the prior year comparable  period. The improvement was due
primarily due to $7,156 in proceeds from the disposition of capital assets and a
$4,280 improvement in cash provided from operating activities.

In the  first  quarter,  2000  capital  expenditures  of  $1,221  were  financed
primarily by cash generated from the disposition of assets.

At March 31, 2000,  the Company had  commitments  of $1,103  million for capital
improvements.

Financing

At March 31, 2000 the Company had a $125,000  revolving  facility with Bank One,
as agent,  and other  banks.  The rate on the facility was LIBOR plus a variable
rate  based on the  Company's  ratio of debt to  EBITDA.  On April 25,  2000 the
Company closed on a new $200,000  secured credit  facility with Chase  Manhattan
Bank as agent.  The current rate on the new is LIBOR plus 175 basis points.  The
proceeds  from the facility  were used to retire the $125,000  Bank One facility
and a $25,000 term note with Chase Manhattan Bank.

The Company  believes  that cash,  funds  generated  from  operations  and funds
available under its new secured credit  agreement will provide  sufficient funds
to meet its currently anticipated requirements.

Restructuring and Acquisition Activities

During the quarter ended March 31, 2000 the Company  recorded,  as a result of a
change in estimate, an increase to the restructuring reserve of $1,806 for lease
terminations,  severance,  inventory  impairment and other costs associated with
the closing and/or consolidation of Company distribution facilities. These costs
are  included in the cost of sales and  operating  expenses for the three months
ended March 31, 2000.

<PAGE>

During the quarter  ended March 31, 2000,  the Company made a change in estimate
of acquisition  related costs which  increased the reserve by $1,246.  Under the
purchase  method  of  accounting,   this  resulted  in  a  reallocation  of  the
acquisition  price and a deferred  credit of $798 which  existed at December 31,
1999 was reduced to zero at March 31, 2000 and assets increased by $448.

The  Company  believes  that  closing  the  eight  duplicate  Hutting  and Rugby
distribution  centers and the former Rugby corporate  office and executing other
strategic  initiatives  resulting from the  acquisition  will,  when  completed,
reduce the ongoing cost  structure  of the Company by an  estimated  $15 million
annually. Rugby was acquired in December 1999.

During the first quarter of fiscal 2000,  Huttig completed three  consolidations
in markets where the Rugby  acquisition  created  duplicate  facilities  thereby
reducing  the number of  facilities  from 76 at December 31, 1999 to 73 at March
31,  2000.  The  Company  continues  to  service  the  markets  where  duplicate
facilities  were closed . The former Rugby  headquarters  in Alpharetta,  GA was
also closed during the first quarter,  with all job functions transferred either
to  Huttig's  headquarters  in St.  Louis,  MO or to other  branches.  Headcount
decreased by 5% from 3,237 at December 31, 1999 to 3,090 at March 31, 2000.

Effects of Inflation

As Huttig continues to grow, its  manufacturing  operations should decrease as a
percentage  of its overall  business  and any impact of  inflation  is lessened.
Furthermore, management believes that, to the extent inflation affects its costs
in the future  and  competitive  conditions  permit,  Huttig  can  offset  these
increased costs by increasing sales prices.

Cyclicality and Seasonality

Huttig's  sales  depend  heavily on the  strength of the  national and local new
residential  construction  and home  improvement  and  remodeling  markets.  The
strength  of  these  markets  depends  on new  housing  starts  and  residential
renovation  projects,  which are a  function  of many  factors  beyond  Huttig's
control,  including interest rates,  employment levels,  availability of credit,
prices of commodity wood products and consumer  confidence.  Future downturns in
the markets that Huttig serves could have a material  adverse effect on Huttig's
operating results or financial condition. In addition, because these markets are
sensitive to cyclical changes in the economy in general, future downturns in the
economy could have a material adverse effect on Huttig's financial condition and
results of operations.

Huttig's  first  quarter  and,  to a lesser  extent,  its  fourth  quarter,  are
typically  adversely affected by winter construction cycles and weather patterns
in colder  climates as the level of activity  in the new  construction  and home
improvement  markets  decreases.  Because much of Huttig's  overhead and expense
remains  relatively fixed throughout the year, its profits also tend to be lower
during the first and fourth quarters.  The effects of winter weather patterns on
Huttig's   business  are  offset   somewhat  by  the  increase  in   residential
construction  activity  during the same period in the deep South,  Southwest and
Southern  California markets in which Huttig  participates.  It is expected that
these seasonal variations will continue in the future.

Environmental Regulation

Huttig  is  subject  to  federal,   state  and  local   environmental  laws  and
regulations.  Huttig has been identified as a potentially  responsible  party in
connection with the clean up of contamination at two sites. In addition, some of
Huttig's  distribution  centers  are  located  in areas  of  current  or  former
industrial activity where environmental contamination may have occurred, and for
which Huttig, among others,  could be held responsible.  Huttig does not believe
that its  contribution to the clean up of the two sites will be material or that
there are any  material  environmental  liabilities  at any of its  distribution
center locations.  Huttig believes that it is in compliance with applicable laws
and  regulations  regulating  the  discharge  of hazardous  substances  into the
environment.  However, there can be no assurance that environmental  liabilities
of Huttig or the  combined  company will not have a material  adverse  effect on
Huttig's financial condition or results of operations.

Year 2000

Huttig  successfully  completed  its Year 2000  remediation  plan in the fall of
1999. The plan included  assessment of business critical systems and the upgrade
or replacement  of those systems that were  determined to be Year 2000 affected.
Also  completed was an assessment of the Year 2000  readiness of key vendors and
customers.  As of this date, Huttig has experienced no significant problems as a
result  of the Year  2000  date  change  and,  based  upon  testing  and  system
validation   studies  conducted  in  1999,   management  does  not  foresee  any
significant  future  problems or costs related to the Year 2000  millennium date
change.  However,  it is possible that problems  have gone  undetected,  or that
other dates in the year 2000 may further affect  computer  software and systems.
The Company is  currently  unable to assess  completely  whether  its  products,
internal computer  systems,  or the operation of its software or the software of
third parties  contains errors or faults with respect to the Year 2000.  Unknown
errors or defects  that  affect the  operation  of the  Company's  software  and
systems or those of third  parties  could  result in a delay or loss of revenue,
interruption  of  services,  cancellation  of customer  contracts,  diversion of
development  resources,  damage to  reputation,  increased  service and warranty
costs and litigation costs, any of which could harm the Company's business.

<PAGE>

Caution

Certain  statements  made in this  Form  10-Q  may  constitute  "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the Private  Securities  Litigation Reform Act
of 1995.  Such  forward-looking  statements  involve  known and  unknown  risks,
uncertainties  and other factors that may cause the actual results,  performance
or achievements of the Company, or industry results, to be materially  different
from any future  results,  performance or  achievements  expressed or implied by
such forward-looking  statements. Such factors are discussed in detail in Huttig
Building  Products,  Inc. Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999.  Given
these uncertainties, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such
forward-looking  statements.  The Company disclaims any obligation to update any
such factors or to publicly  announce the results of any revisions to any of the
forward-looking  statements  contained in the Annual Report on Form 10-K or this
Form 10-Q except as required by law.

ITEM 3--QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Huttig  has  exposure  to market  risk as it  relates  to  effects of changes in
interest  rates.  The  Company  had  $120,000  and  $0  of  variable  rate  debt
outstanding  at March 31, 2000 and 1999,  respectively.  Subsequent to March 31,
2000,  the Company  entered into interest rate swap  contracts that provides for
fixed interest rates on a majority of the Company's variable rate borrowing that
were outstanding at March 31, 2000.

Huttig currently does not hold or issue derivative instruments.  Huttig does not
generate  significant income from non-U.S.  sources and accordingly,  changes in
foreign  currency  exchange  rates do not generally  have a direct effect on the
Company's financial position. All transactions are denominated in U.S. dollars.

Huttig is subject to  periodic  fluctuations  in the price of wood  commodities.
Profitability  is influenced by these changes as prices change  between the time
Huttig buys and sells the wood. In addition,  to the extent  changes in interest
rates affect the housing and remodeling market, Huttig would be affected by such
changes.

                          PART II -- OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

(a)      Exhibits

Exhibit Number             Description

3.1      Restated Certificate of Incorporation (Incorporated by reference to
                           Exhibit 3.1 of the Company's Registration Statement
                           on Form 10 filed with the Commission on September
                           21, 1999).
3.2      Bylaws of the Company (Incorporated by reference to Amendment No. 4
                           of the Company's Registration Statement on Form 10
                           filed with Commission on December 6, 1999).
4.1      Credit  Agreement  dated April 25,  2000  between the Company and
                           Chase  Manhattan  Bank,  as agent for the
                           lenders  named  therein,  and  the  Lenders. (Filed
                           herewith).

4.2      Form of Revolving Loan Note dated April 25, 2000 in favor of certain
                           lenders. (Filed herewith).
4.3      Schedule to Form of Revolving Loan Note dated April 25, 2000 in favor
                           of certain lenders. (Filed herewith).
4.4      Amendment No. 1 to Rights Agreement between the Company and ChaseMellon
                           Shareholder Services, L.L.C.
                           (Incorporated  by  reference  from Exhibit 4.1 to the
                           Company's  Current Report on Form 10-K filed with the
                           Commission on March 6, 2000). (Filed herewith)

11                         Statement Re: Computation of Earnings Per Share
27                         Financial Data Schedule. (Filed herewith).

<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.

                              HUTTIG BUILDING PRODUCTS, INC.
                              -----------------------------------------------
                              (Registrant)

Date:  May 12, 2000            /s/ Barry J.Kulpa
                              -------------------------------------------------
                              Barry J. Kulpa
                              President, Chief Executive Officer
                              And Director (Principal Executive Officer)

Date:  May 12, 2000            /s/ Gregory D. Lambert
                              -------------------------------------------------
                              Greg Lambert
                              Vice President -- Administration
                              Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
                              (Principal Financial Officer)

<PAGE>

Exhibit 4.1  Credit Agreement

                                 CONFORMED COPY

                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                   dated as of

                                 April 25, 2000,

                                      among

                         HUTTIG BUILDING PRODUCTS, INC.,
                                  as Borrower,

                            The Lenders Party Hereto,

                           THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
                            as Administrative Agent,

                              BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
                              as Syndication Agent,

                                       and

                              FIRSTAR BANK, N.A.,
                             as Documentation Agent

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

                               CHASE SECURITIES INC.,
                                   as Arranger

                                   [6701-063]

<PAGE>

                              TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            Page
ARTICLE I      Definitions


SECTION 1.01.  Defined Terms                                                   1
SECTION 1.02.  Classification of Loans and Borrowings                         23
SECTION 1.03.  Terms Generally                                                23
SECTION 1.04.  Accounting Terms; GAAP                                         24


ARTICLE II     The Credits

SECTION 2.01.  Commitments                                                    24
SECTION 2.02.  Loans and Borrowings                                           25
SECTION 2.03.  Requests for Revolving Borrowings                              25
SECTION 2.04.  Swingline Loans                                                26
SECTION 2.05.  Letters of Credit                                              28
SECTION 2.06.  Funding of Borrowings                                          34
SECTION 2.07.  Interest Elections                                             34
SECTION 2.08.  Termination and Reduction of Commitments                       36
SECTION 2.09.  Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt                           37
SECTION 2.10.  Prepayment of Loans                                            38
SECTION 2.11.  Fees                                                           39
SECTION 2.12.  Interest                                                       40
SECTION 2.13.  Alternate Rate of Interest                                     41
SECTION 2.14.  Increased Costs                                                42
SECTION 2.15.  Break Funding Payments                                         44
SECTION 2.16.  Taxes                                                          44
SECTION 2.17.  Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Setoffs     46
SECTION 2.18.  Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders                 48

<PAGE>

ARTICLE III    Representations and Warranties

SECTION 3.01.  Organization; Powers                                           49
SECTION 3.02.  Authorization; Enforceability                                  49
SECTION 3.03.  Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts                           50
SECTION 3.04.  Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change                50
SECTION 3.05.  Properties                                                     50
SECTION 3.06.  Litigation and Environmental Matters                           51
SECTION 3.07.  Compliance with Laws and Agreements                            51
SECTION 3.08.  Investment and Holding Company Status                          51
SECTION 3.09.  Taxes                                                          52
SECTION 3.10.  ERISA                                                          52
SECTION 3.11.  Disclosure                                                     52
SECTION 3.12.  Subsidiaries                                                   53
SECTION 3.13.  Insurance                                                      53
SECTION 3.14.  Labor Matters                                                  53
SECTION 3.15.  Security Documents                                             53
SECTION 3.16.  Year 2000 Compliance                                           54


ARTICLE IV     Conditions

SECTION 4.01.  Effective Date                                                 55
SECTION 4.02.  Each Credit Event                                              57


ARTICLE V      Affirmative Covenants

SECTION 5.01.  Financial Statements and Other Information                     58
SECTION 5.02.  Notices of Material Events                                     60
SECTION 5.03.  Information Regarding Collateral                               60
SECTION 5.04.  Existence; Conduct of Business                                 61
SECTION 5.05.  Payment of Obligations                                         61
SECTION 5.06.  Maintenance of Properties                                      61
SECTION 5.07.  Insurance                                                      62
SECTION 5.08.  Casualty and Condemnation                                      62
SECTION 5.09.  Books and Records; Inspection                                  62
SECTION 5.10.  Compliance with Laws                                           62
SECTION 5.11.  Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit                          63
SECTION 5.12.  Additional Subsidiaries                                        63
SECTION 5.13.  Further Assurances                                             63

ARTICLE VI     Negative Covenants

SECTION 6.01.  Indebtedness; Certain Equity Securities                        65
SECTION 6.02.  Liens                                                          66
SECTION 6.03.  Fundamental Changes                                            67
SECTION 6.04.  Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions      68
SECTION 6.05.  Asset Sales                                                    69
SECTION 6.06.  Hedging Agreements                                             70
SECTION 6.07.  Restricted Payments; Certain Payments of Indebtedness          70
SECTION 6.08.  Transactions with Affiliates                                   71
SECTION 6.09.  Restrictive Agreements                                         71
SECTION 6.10.  Amendment of Material Documents                                72
SECTION 6.11.  Sale and Lease-Back Transactions                               72
SECTION 6.12.  Leverage Ratio                                                 72
SECTION 6.13.  Interest Expense Coverage Ratio                                72
SECTION 6.14.  Consolidated Net Worth                                         73

<PAGE>

ARTICLE VII

Events of Default                                                             73


ARTICLE VIII

The Administrative Agent                                                      76


ARTICLE IX

Miscellaneous

SECTION 9.01.  Notices                                                        79
SECTION 9.02.  Waivers; Amendments                                            80

SECTION 9.03.  Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver                             82
SECTION 9.04.  Successors and Assigns                                         84
SECTION 9.05.  Survival                                                       87
SECTION 9.06.  Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness                       87
SECTION 9.07.  Severability                                                   88
SECTION 9.08.  Right of Setoff                                                88
SECTION 9.09.  Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process     88
SECTION 9.10.  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL                                           89
SECTION 9.11.  Headings                                                       90
SECTION 9.12.  Confidentiality                                                90
SECTION 9.13.  Interest Rate Limitation                                       91

 SCHEDULES:

Schedule 2.01             --       Commitments
Schedule 3.06             --       Disclosed Matters
Schedule 3.12             --       Subsidiaries
Schedule 3.13             --       Insurance
Schedule 6.01             --       Existing
Indebtedness
Schedule 6.02             --       Existing Liens
Schedule 6.04             --       Existing Investments
Schedule 6.05(c)          --       Designated Facilities
Schedule 6.08             --       Affiliate
Transactions
Schedule 6.09             --       Existing
Restrictions


EXHIBITS:

Exhibit A                 --       Form of Assignment and Acceptance
Exhibit B                 --       Form of Opinion of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP
Exhibit C                 --       Form of Indemnity, Subrogation and
                                           Contribution Agreement

Exhibit D                 --       Form of Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement
Exhibit E                 --       Form of Pledge Agreement
Exhibit F                 --       Form of Security Agreement

<PAGE>

CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of April 25, 2000, among HUTTIG BUILDING PRODUCTS,
INC., a Delaware corporation, the LENDERS party hereto, THE CHASE MANHATTAN
BANK, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as
Syndication Agent, and FIRSTAR BANK, N.A., as Documentation Agent.


The parties hereto agree as follows:

                                    ARTICLE I

                                   Definitions

SECTION 1.01.  Defined Terms.  As used in this Agreement, the following terms
have the meanings specified below:

"ABR",  when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing,  refers to whether such
Loan, or the Loans  comprising  such Borrowing,  are bearing  interest at a rate
determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.

"Adjusted  LIBO Rate" means,  with respect to any  Eurodollar  Borrowing for any
Interest Period, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards,  if necessary,  to
the  next  1/16 of 1%)  equal to (a) the LIBO  Rate  for  such  Interest  Period
multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate.

"Administrative  Agent"  means The Chase  Manhattan  Bank,  in its  capacity  as
administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder.

"Administrative  Questionnaire" means an Administrative  Questionnaire in a form
supplied by the Administrative Agent.

"Affiliate"  means,  with  respect to a specified  Person,  another  Person that
directly,  or  indirectly  through  one or more  intermediaries,  Controls or is
Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.

"Aggregate Available Amount" means, at any time, the aggregate Available Amounts
at such time with respect to all Specified  Dispositions  that have been made at
or prior to such time.

 "Alternate  Base  Rate"  means,  for any  day,  a rate per  annum  equal to the
greatest  of (a) the Prime  Rate in effect on such day,  (b) the Base CD Rate in
effect on such day plus 1% and (c) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on
such day plus 1/2 of 1%. Any change in the  Alternate  Base Rate due to a change
in the Prime Rate, the Base CD Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be
effective  from and  including  the  effective  date of such change in the Prime
Rate, the Base CD Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate, respectively.

"Applicable Percentage" means, with respect to any Lender, the percentage of the
total Commitments  represented by such Lender's  Commitment.  If the Commitments
have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined based
upon the Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments.

"Applicable  Rate" means,  for any day with respect to any ABR Loan,  Eurodollar
Loan, or with respect to the commitment fees payable hereunder,  as the case may
be,  the  applicable  rate per annum  set forth  below  under the  caption  "ABR
Spread", "Eurodollar Spread" or "Commitment Fee Rate", as the case may be, based
upon the Leverage Ratio as of the most recent  determination date, provided that
until the delivery to the Administrative  Agent, pursuant to Section 5.01(a), of
the Borrower's  consolidated  financial  statements  for the  Borrower's  fiscal
quarter  ending  on  December  31,  2000,  the  "Applicable  Rate"  shall be the
applicable rate per annum set forth below in Category 1; provided,  further that
the Applicable  Rate with respect to the commitment fees shall be the applicable
rate per annum set forth  below  under the  caption  "Commitment  Fee Rate" less
0.125%  at any  time  that  the  sum of the  Revolving  Exposures  (disregarding
Swingline  Exposures)  for all  Lenders  is  greater  than 50% of the sum of the
Revolving Commitments for all Lenders at such time:

Leverage Ratio:
                                                    ABR
                                                  Spread
                                                Eurodollar
                                                  Spread
                                              Commitment Fee
                                                   Rate

<PAGE>

Category 1

Greater than or equal to 2.00 to 1.00
0.75%
1.75%
0.50%

Category 2

Less than 2.00 to 1.00
0.50
1.50%
0.50%

 For purposes of the foregoing, (a) the Leverage Ratio shall be determined as of
the end of each  fiscal  quarter of the  Borrower's  fiscal  year based upon the
Borrower's  consolidated  financial  statements  delivered  pursuant  to Section
5.01(a)  or (b) and (b) each  change in the  Applicable  Rate  resulting  from a
change in the Leverage Ratio shall be effective during the period  commencing on
and  including  the  first  Business  Day  after  the  date of  delivery  to the
Administrative Agent of such consolidated  financial statements  indicating such
change and ending on the date  immediately  preceding the effective  date of the
next such  change,  provided  that the  Leverage  Ratio shall be deemed to be in
Category  1 (i) at any  time  that an  Event  of  Default  has  occurred  and is
continuing or (ii) if the Borrower fails to deliver the  consolidated  financial
statements  required to be delivered  by it pursuant to Section  5.01(a) or (b),
during the period from the  expiration  of the time for delivery  thereof  until
such consolidated financial statements are delivered.

"Arranger" means Chase Securities Inc.

"Assessment  Rate" means,  for any day, the annual  assessment rate in effect on
such day that is payable by a member of the Bank  Insurance  Fund  classified as
"well-capitalized"   and  within  supervisory  subgroup  "B"  (or  a  comparable
successor risk classification)  within the meaning of 12 C.F.R. Part 327 (or any
successor provision) to the Federal Deposit Insurance  Corporation for insurance
by such  Corporation  of time  deposits  made in dollars at the  offices of such
member in the United States;  provided that if, as a result of any change in any
law, rule or  regulation,  it is no longer  possible to determine the Assessment
Rate as aforesaid,  then the Assessment  Rate shall be such annual rate as shall
be determined by the  Administrative  Agent to be  representative of the cost of
such insurance to the Lenders.

"Assignment and Acceptance" means an assignment and acceptance entered into by a
Lender and an assignee  (with the consent of any party whose consent is required
by Section  9.04),  and  accepted by the  Administrative  Agent,  in the form of
Exhibit A or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

"Availability  Period" means the period from and including the Effective Date to
but excluding the earlier of the Maturity  Date and the date of  termination  of
the Commitments.

 "Available  Amount" means,  with respect to any Net Cash Proceeds received from
any  Specified  Disposition,  (a) at any time on or before the Cutoff  Date with
respect  thereto,  an amount equal to the portion of such Net Cash Proceeds that
has not been applied prior to such time to effect a Permitted  Acquisition,  and
(b) at any time after such Cutoff Date, zero.

"Base CD Rate" means the sum of (a) the Three-Month Secondary CD Rate multiplied
by the Statutory Reserve Rate plus (b) the Assessment Rate.

"Board" means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United
States of America.

"Borrower" means Huttig Building Products, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

"Borrowing"  means (a)  Revolving  Loans of the same Type,  made,  converted  or
continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurodollar  Loans,  as to which a
single Interest Period is in effect or (b) a Swingline Loan.

"Borrowing Request" means a request by the Borrower for a Revolving Borrowing in
accordance with Section 2.03.

"Business  Day"  means  any day that is not a  Saturday,  Sunday or other day on
which  commercial  banks in New York City are  authorized  or required by law to
remain closed;  provided that, when used in connection  with a Eurodollar  Loan,
the term  "Business  Day" shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open
for dealings in dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

"Capital  Expenditures"  means,  for any period,  (a) the additions to property,
plant and  equipment  and other  capital  expenditures  of the  Borrower and its
consolidated  Subsidiaries  that are (or would  be) set forth in a  consolidated
statement of cash flows of the Borrower for such period  prepared in  accordance
with GAAP and (b) Capital  Lease  Obligations  incurred by the  Borrower and its
consolidated Subsidiaries during such period.

<PAGE>

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

 "Change in  Control"  means,  (a) the  acquisition  of  ownership,  directly or
indirectly,  beneficially  or of  record,  by any  Person or group  (within  the
meaning of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the Securities
and Exchange Commission thereunder as in effect on the date hereof),  other than
the  Permitted  Owners,  of shares  representing  more than 25% of the aggregate
ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding capital stock of
the  Borrower;  (b)  the  acquisition  of  ownership,  directly  or  indirectly,
beneficially or of record,  by the Permitted Owners of shares  representing more
than 35% of the aggregate  ordinary  voting power  represented by the issued and
outstanding  capital stock of the Borrower;  (c) occupation of a majority of the
seats  (other than vacant  seats) on the board of  directors  of the Borrower by
Persons who were neither (i) nominated by the board of directors of the Borrower
nor (ii) appointed by directors so nominated;  or (d) the  acquisition of direct
or indirect Control of the Borrower by any Person or group.

"Change in Law" means (a) the adoption of any law, rule or regulation  after the
date of this Agreement,  (b) any change in any law, rule or regulation or in the
interpretation  or application  thereof by any Governmental  Authority after the
date of this  Agreement or (c) compliance by any Lender or the Issuing Bank (or,
for purposes of Section 2.14(b), by any lending office of such Lender or by such
Lender's  or the  Issuing  Bank's  holding  company,  if any) with any  request,
guideline  or  directive  (whether  or not  having  the  force  of  law)  of any
Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement.

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

"Collateral"  means  any and all  "Collateral",  as  defined  in any  applicable
Security Document.

"Collateral  Agent" means The Chase Manhattan Bank in its capacity as collateral
agent for the Secured Parties (as defined in the Security  Agreement)  under the
Security Documents.

 "Commitment"  means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender
to make Revolving Loans and to acquire  participations  in Letters of Credit and
Swingline  Loans  hereunder,  expressed  as an amount  representing  the maximum
aggregate  amount  of  such  Lender's  Revolving  Exposure  hereunder,  as  such
Commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.08 and (b)
reduced or increased  from time to time  pursuant to  assignments  by or to such
Lender pursuant to Section 9.04. The initial amount of each Lender's  Commitment
is set forth on Schedule 2.01, or in the  Assignment and Acceptance  pursuant to
which such Lender shall have assumed its Commitment, as applicable.  The initial
aggregate amount of the Lenders' Commitments is $200,000,000.

"Consolidated  Cash Interest  Expense" means, for any period,  the excess of (a)
the sum of (i) the  interest  expense  (including  imputed  interest  expense in
respect of Capital Lease  Obligations) of the Borrower and the  Subsidiaries for
such period,  determined on a consolidated  basis in accordance  with GAAP, (ii)
any  interest  accrued  during  such  period in respect of  Indebtedness  of the
Borrower  or any  Subsidiary  that is  required  to be  capitalized  rather than
included in  consolidated  interest  expense for such period in accordance  with
GAAP,  plus  (iii) any cash  payments  made  during  such  period in  respect of
obligations  referred to in clause  (b)(ii) below that were amortized or accrued
in a previous  period,  minus (b) the sum of (i) to the extent  included in such
consolidated interest expense for such period,  non-cash amounts attributable to
amortization  of  financing  costs paid in a previous  period,  plus (ii) to the
extent included in such consolidated interest expense for such period,  non-cash
amounts  attributable  to  amortization  of debt  discounts or accrued  interest
payable in kind for such period.  If the Borrower or any Subsidiary has made any
Permitted  Acquisition or sale,  transfer,  lease or other disposition of assets
outside of the ordinary course of business during any period,  Consolidated Cash
Interest  Expense for such period  shall be  calculated  after  giving pro forma
effect to any  incurrence,  assumption  or repayment of  Indebtedness  incurred,
assumed  or  repaid  in  connection  with such  Permitted  Acquisition  or sale,
transfer, lease or other disposition of assets, as if such Indebtedness had been
incurred, assumed or repaid at the beginning of such period.

 "Consolidated  EBITDA" means, for any period,  Consolidated Net Income for such
period plus (a) without  duplication  and to the extent  deducted in determining
such Consolidated Net Income,  the sum of (i) consolidated  interest expense for
such period,  (ii)  consolidated  income tax expense for such period,  (iii) all
amounts  attributable to depreciation  and amortization for such period and (iv)
any non-recurring charges for such period, and minus (b) without duplication and
to the  extent  included  in  determining  such  Consolidated  Net  Income,  any
non-recurring  gains for such period,  all determined on a consolidated basis in
accordance  with GAAP. If the Borrower or any  Subsidiary has made any Permitted
Acquisition or sale,  transfer,  lease or other disposition of assets outside of
the ordinary course of business during any period,  Consolidated EBITDA for such
period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto (without giving
effect to any cost savings other than those as to which all actions necessary to
the  actual  realization  thereof  have  been  completed  as of the date of such
Permitted  Acquisition,  or sale,  transfer,  lease or disposition),  as if such
Permitted  Acquisition or sale,  transfer,  lease or other disposition of assets
had occurred on the first day of the relevant period.

<PAGE>

"Consolidated  Net Income" means, for any period,  the net income or loss of the
Borrower and the Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis
in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded (a) the income of
any Person in which any other Person (other than the Borrower or any  Subsidiary
or any director  holding  qualifying  shares in compliance  with applicable law)
owns an equity  interest,  except to the  extent of the amount of  dividends  or
other  distributions  actually  paid to the Borrower or any of the  Subsidiaries
during such period,  and (b) the income (or loss) of any Person accrued prior to
the date it becomes a  Subsidiary  or is merged  into or  consolidated  with the
Borrower or any Subsidiary or the date that such Person's assets are acquired by
the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

"Consolidated  Net Worth" means, as of any date, (a) the sum of (i) common stock
taken at par or stated  value,  (ii)  preferred  stock taken at its  liquidation
value, (iii) capital surplus relating to common stock and (iv) retained earnings
(or deficit) at such date minus (b) the sum of treasury  stock at such date, all
determined  for the Borrower in accordance  with GAAP and after giving effect to
all adjustments  required  thereby,  but excluding any  adjustments  required by
purchase accounting.

"Control" means the possession,  directly or indirectly,  of the power to direct
or cause the  direction  of the  management  or  policies  of a Person,  whether
through  the  ability to  exercise  voting  power,  by  contract  or  otherwise.
"Controlling" and "Controlled" have meanings correlative thereto.

"Cutoff  Date" means,  with respect to any Net Cash  Proceeds  received from any
Specified  Disposition,  the date that is one year  after the date of receipt of
such Net Cash Proceeds.

 "Debt to Capitalization  Ratio" means, on any date, the ratio of (a) Total Debt
as of such  date  to (b) the sum of (i)  Total  Debt as of such  date  and  (ii)
Consolidated Net Worth as of such date.

"Default" means any event or condition which  constitutes an Event of Default or
which upon notice,  lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived,  become
an Event of Default.

"Designated  Facilities"  means  the  facilities  (and  related  assets)  of the
Borrower and the Subsidiaries specified on Schedule 6.05(c).

"Disclosed   Matters"  means  the  actions,   suits  and   proceedings  and  the
environmental matters disclosed in Schedule 3.06.

"Documentation Agent" means Firstar Bank, N.A., in its capacity as documentation
 agent for the Lenders hereunder.

"dollars" or "$" refers to lawful money of the United States of America.

"Effective  Date" means the date on which the  conditions  specified  in Section
4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02).

"Environmental Laws" means all former, current and future federal,  state, local
and  foreign  laws  (including  common  law),  treaties,   regulations,   rules,
ordinances,  codes, decrees,  judgments,  directives,  orders (including consent
orders), and agreements in each case, relating to protection of the environment,
natural  resources,  human  health and safety or the  presence,  Release  of, or
exposure to, Hazardous Materials,  or the generation,  manufacture,  processing,
distribution,  use, treatment, storage, transport,  recycling or handling of, or
the arrangement for such activities with respect to, Hazardous Materials.

 "Environmental  Liability" means  liabilities,  obligations,  claims,  actions,
suits,  judgments or orders under or relating to any  Environmental  Law for any
damages,  injunctive relief, losses, fines, penalties, fees, expenses (including
reasonable  fees and expenses of attorneys and  consultants)  or costs,  whether
contingent  or  otherwise,  including  those  arising  from or relating  to: (a)
compliance or  non-compliance  with any  Environmental  Law, (b) the generation,
use, handling,  transportation,  storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous
Materials,  (c)  exposure  to any  Hazardous  Materials,  (d) the release of any
Hazardous  Materials  or  (e)  any  contract,   agreement  or  other  consensual
arrangement  pursuant to which  liability  is assumed or imposed with respect to
any of the foregoing.

"Equity  Interests"  means  shares  of  capital  stock,  partnership  interests,
membership  interests in a limited liability company,  beneficial interests in a
trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person.

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

<PAGE>

"ERISA  Affiliate"  means any trade or business  (whether  or not  incorporated)
that, together with the Borrower,  is treated as a single employer under Section
414(b) or (c) of the Code or,  solely for  purposes  of Section 302 of ERISA and
Section 412 of the Code,  is treated as a single  employer  under Section 414 of
the Code.

"ERISA Event" means (a) any  "reportable  event",  as defined in Section 4043 of
ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an
event for which the 30-day  notice  period is waived);  (b) the  existence  with
respect  to any Plan of an  "accumulated  funding  deficiency"  (as  defined  in
Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (c) the
filing  pursuant to Section  412(d) of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an
application  for a waiver of the minimum  funding  standard  with respect to any
Plan; (d) the  incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA  Affiliates of any
liability  under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the  termination of any Plan;
(e) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA  Affiliate  from the PBGC or a plan
administrator  of any notice  relating to an intention to terminate  any Plan or
Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer  any Plan; (f) the incurrence by the
Borrower or any of its ERISA  Affiliates  of any  liability  with respect to the
withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the
receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice,  or the receipt by
any  Multiemployer  Plan from the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice,
concerning  the  imposition of Withdrawal  Liability or a  determination  that a
Multiemployer  Plan is, or is expected to be,  insolvent  or in  reorganization,
within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.

"Eurodollar", when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether
such Loan, or the Loans  comprising  such Borrowing,  are bearing  interest at a
rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

 "Event of Default" has the meaning assigned to such term in Article VII.

"Excluded Taxes" means,  with respect to the  Administrative  Agent, any Lender,
the  Issuing  Bank or any other  recipient  of any  payment  to be made by or on
account of any  obligation  of the Borrower  hereunder,  (a) income or franchise
taxes  imposed  on (or  measured  by) its net  income  by the  United  States of
America,  or by the  jurisdiction  under  the laws of which  such  recipient  is
organized  or in which its  principal  office is located  or, in the case of any
Lender,  in which its  applicable  lending  office is  located,  (b) any  branch
profits taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar tax imposed
by any other jurisdiction described in clause (a) above and (c) in the case of a
Foreign  Lender  (other than an assignee  pursuant to a request by the  Borrower
under  Section  2.18(b)),  any  withholding  tax that (i) is in effect and would
apply to amounts  payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender
becomes a party to this Agreement (or designates a new lending  office),  except
to the extent that such Foreign  Lender (or its assignor,  if any) was entitled,
at the time of designation of a new lending office (or  assignment),  to receive
additional  amounts from the Borrower with respect to any such  withholding  tax
pursuant to Section  2.16(a),  or (ii) is attributable to such Foreign  Lender's
failure to comply with Section 2.16(e).

"Existing   Indebtedness"  means  the  Indebtedness  of  the  Borrower  and  the
Subsidiaries immediately prior to the consummation of the Transactions.

"Federal Funds Effective Rate" means, for any day, the weighted average (rounded
upwards,  if  necessary,  to the  next  1/100 of 1%) of the  rates on  overnight
Federal funds  transactions  with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged
by Federal funds brokers,  as published on the next  succeeding  Business Day by
the Federal  Reserve Bank of New York,  or, if such rate is not so published for
any day that is a Business Day, the average (rounded upwards,  if necessary,  to
the next  1/100  of 1%) of the  quotations  for  such day for such  transactions
received  by the  Administrative  Agent  from  three  Federal  funds  brokers of
recognized standing selected by it.

"Financial  Officer" means the chief  financial  officer,  principal  accounting
officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower.

 "Foreign  Lender"  means  any  Lender  that is  organized  under  the laws of a
jurisdiction  other than that in which the Borrower is located.  For purposes of
this  definition,  the United  States of  America,  each State  thereof  and the
District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.

"Foreign  Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of a
jurisdiction other than the United States of America or any State thereof or the
District of Columbia.

"GAAP" means generally  accepted  accounting  principles in the United States of
America.

"Governmental  Authority"  means the government of the United States of America,
any other nation or any political  subdivision thereof,  whether state or local,
and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank
or other entity exercising executive, legislative,  judicial, taxing, regulatory
or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.

<PAGE>

"Guarantee"  of or  by  any  Person  (the  "guarantor")  means  any  obligation,
contingent or otherwise,  of the guarantor  guaranteeing  or having the economic
effect of guaranteeing  any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person
(the  "primary  obligor") in any manner,  whether  directly or  indirectly,  and
including any obligation of the guarantor,  direct or indirect,  (a) to purchase
or pay (or  advance  or  supply  funds  for the  purchase  or  payment  of) such
Indebtedness  or other  obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds
for the purchase of) any  security for the payment  thereof,  (b) to purchase or
lease property,  securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of
such  Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment  thereof,  (c) to maintain
working capital,  equity capital or any other financial  statement  condition or
liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such
Indebtedness  or other  obligation  or (d) as an account party in respect of any
letter of credit or letter of guaranty  issued to support such  Indebtedness  or
obligation;  provided that the term "Guarantee"  shall not include  endorsements
for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.

"Hazardous  Materials"  means (i) any petroleum  products or byproducts  and all
other  hydrocarbons,  coal ash,  radon gas,  asbestos,  urea  formaldehyde  foam
insulation,   polychlorinated  biphenyls,   chlorofluorocarbons  and  all  other
ozone-depleting substances; or (ii) any chemical,  material,  substance or waste
that is  prohibited,  limited or regulated  by or pursuant to any  Environmental
Law.

 "Hedging  Agreement"  means any interest  rate  protection  agreement,  foreign
currency  exchange  agreement,  commodity  price  protection  agreement or other
interest or currency exchange rate or commodity price hedging arrangement.

"Indebtedness" of any Person means, without duplication,  (a) all obligations of
such Person for borrowed money,  (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by
bonds,  debentures,  notes or similar  instruments,  (c) all obligations of such
Person upon which interest charges are customarily  paid, (d) all obligations of
such Person under conditional sale or other title retention  agreements relating
to  property  acquired by such  Person,  (e) all  obligations  of such Person in
respect of the  deferred  purchase  price of  property  or  services  (excluding
current accounts  payable incurred in the ordinary course of business),  (f) all
Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such  Indebtedness
has an existing  right,  contingent or otherwise,  to be secured by) any Lien on
property  owned or  acquired  by such  Person,  whether or not the  Indebtedness
secured  thereby  has  been  assumed,  (g)  all  Guarantees  by such  Person  of
Indebtedness of others,  (h) all Capital Lease  Obligations of such Person,  (i)
all obligations,  contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in
respect of letters of credit and  letters of guaranty  and (j) all  obligations,
contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers' acceptances.  The
Indebtedness  of any Person shall include the  Indebtedness  of any other entity
(including  any  partnership  in which such Person is a general  partner) to the
extent such Person is liable  therefor  as a result of such  Person's  ownership
interest in or other  relationship  with such  entity,  except to the extent the
terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor.

"Indemnified Taxes" means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

"Indemnity,   Subrogation  and  Contribution  Agreement"  means  the  Indemnity,
Subrogation and Contribution Agreement,  substantially in the form of Exhibit C,
among the Borrower, the Subsidiary Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent.

"Information  Memorandum"  means the Confidential  Information  Memorandum dated
March 2000, relating to the Borrower and the Transactions.

 "Interest  Election  Request"  means a request  by the  Borrower  to convert or
continue a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.07.

"Interest  Payment  Date"  means (a) with  respect to any ABR Loan (other than a
Swingline Loan), the last day of each March, June,  September and December,  (b)
with  respect  to any  Eurodollar  Loan,  the  last day of the  Interest  Period
applicable  to the  Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a
Eurodollar  Borrowing  with an  Interest  Period  of  more  than  three  months'
duration,  each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at
intervals of three months' duration after the first day of such Interest Period,
and (c) with respect to any Swingline  Loan,  the day that such Loan is required
to be repaid.

"Interest  Period" means with respect to any  Eurodollar  Borrowing,  the period
commencing  on the  date  of  such  Borrowing  and  ending  on  the  numerically
corresponding  day in the calendar  month that is one, two,  three or six months
thereafter,  as the Borrower may elect; provided that (a) if any Interest Period
would end on a day other than a Business  Day,  such  Interest  Period  shall be
extended  to the next  succeeding  Business  Day  unless  such  next  succeeding
Business Day would fall in the next calendar  month, in which case such Interest
Period shall end on the next preceding  Business Day and (b) any Interest Period
that  commences on the last  Business  Day of a calendar  month (or on a day for
which there is no  numerically  corresponding  day in the last calendar month of
such  Interest  Period)  shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar
month of such  Interest  Period.  For purposes  hereof,  the date of a Borrowing
initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall
be the  effective  date of the most recent  conversion or  continuation  of such
Borrowing.

"Issuing Bank" means The Chase  Manhattan Bank, in its capacity as the issuer of
Letters of Credit hereunder,  and its successors in such capacity as provided in
Section  2.05(i).  The Issuing Bank may, in its  discretion,  arrange for one or
more Letters of Credit to be issued by  Affiliates of the Issuing Bank, in which
case the term "Issuing  Bank" shall include any such  Affiliate  with respect to
Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate.

"LC Disbursement"  means a payment made by the Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter
of Credit.

<PAGE>

 "LC Exposure"  means, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate  undrawn amount
of all outstanding  Letters of Credit at such time plus (b) the aggregate amount
of all LC Disbursements that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the
Borrower  at such time.  The LC  Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be its
Applicable Percentage of the total LC Exposure at such time.

"Lenders"  means the Persons  listed on Schedule  2.01 and any other Person that
shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance, other
than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto  pursuant to an Assignment
and  Acceptance.  Unless the  context  otherwise  requires,  the term  "Lenders"
includes the Swingline Lender.

"Letter of Credit" means any letter of credit issued pursuant to this Agreement.

"Leverage Ratio" means, on any date, the ratio of (a) Total Debt as of such date
to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of
the  Borrower  ended on such  date  (or,  if such  date is not the last day of a
fiscal quarter, ended on the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower most
recently ended prior to such date).

"LIBO Rate" means,  with respect to any  Eurodollar  Borrowing  for any Interest
Period,  the rate  appearing  on Page 3750 of the  Telerate  Service  (or on any
successor or substitute page of such Service,  or any successor to or substitute
for such  Service,  providing  rate  quotations  comparable  to those  currently
provided on such page of such Service, as determined by the Administrative Agent
from  time to time for  purposes  of  providing  quotations  of  interest  rates
applicable to dollar deposits in the London  interbank  market) at approximately
11:00 a.m.,  London time,  two Business Days prior to the  commencement  of such
Interest Period,  as the rate for dollar deposits with a maturity  comparable to
such Interest Period.  In the event that such rate is not available at such time
for any reason,  then the "LIBO Rate" with respect to such Eurodollar  Borrowing
for  such  Interest  Period  shall  be the  rate at  which  dollar  deposits  of
$5,000,000 and for a maturity  comparable to such Interest Period are offered by
the principal London office of the Administrative Agent in immediately available
funds in the London interbank market at approximately  11:00 a.m.,  London time,
two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.

 "Lien" means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien,
pledge,  hypothecation,  encumbrance,  charge or security  interest in, on or of
such asset,  (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale
agreement,  capital lease or title  retention  agreement (or any financing lease
having  substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating
to such asset and (c) in the case of securities,  any purchase  option,  call or
similar right of a third party with respect to such securities.

"Loan Documents" means this Agreement,  the promissory  notes, if any,  executed
and delivered pursuant to Section 2.09(e),  the Subsidiary  Guarantee Agreement,
the  Indemnity,   Subrogation  and  Contribution   Agreement  and  the  Security
Documents.

"Loan Parties" means the Borrower and the Subsidiary Loan Parties.

"Loans"  means the loans made by the  Lenders to the  Borrower  pursuant to this
Agreement.

"Material  Adverse Effect" means a material  adverse effect on (a) the business,
assets,  operations,  prospects or  condition,  financial or  otherwise,  of the
Borrower  and the  Subsidiaries  taken as a whole,  (b) the  ability of any Loan
Party to perform its obligations under any Loan Document in any material respect
or (c) the ability of the Lenders to enforce any Loan  Document in any  material
respect.

"Material  Indebtedness" means Indebtedness (other than the Loans and Letters of
Credit), or obligations in respect of one or more Hedging Agreements, of any one
or more of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries in an aggregate  principal  amount
exceeding  $5,000,000.  For purposes of determining Material  Indebtedness,  the
"principal  amount" of the  obligations  of the  Borrower or any  Subsidiary  in
respect of any  Hedging  Agreement  at any time shall be the  maximum  aggregate
amount  (giving  effect to any  netting  agreements)  that the  Borrower or such
Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Hedging Agreement were terminated at
such time.

"Maturity Date" means April 25, 2003.

"Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service, Inc.

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

 "Net Cash  Proceeds"  means,  with  respect to any event (a) the cash  proceeds
received in respect of such event  including (i) any cash received in respect of
any  non-cash  proceeds,  but only as and when  received,  (ii) in the case of a
casualty, insurance proceeds, and (iii) in the case of a condemnation or similar
event,  condemnation awards and similar cash payments, net of (b) the sum of (i)
all  reasonable  fees and  out-of-pocket  expenses  paid by the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries  to third parties (other than  Affiliates) in connection  with such
event,  (ii) in the case of a sale,  transfer or other  disposition  of an asset
(including  pursuant  to a sale  and  leaseback  transaction  or a  casualty  or
condemnation or similar  proceeding),  the amount of all payments required to be
made by the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  as a result of such event to repay
Indebtedness  (other than Loans)  secured by such asset or otherwise  subject to
mandatory  prepayment  as a result of such  event,  and (iii) the  amount of all
Taxes paid (or  reasonably  estimated  to be  payable) by the  Borrower  and its
Subsidiaries, and the amount of any reserves established by the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries to fund contingent  liabilities reasonably estimated to be payable,
in each case  during the year that such event  occurred  or the next  succeeding
year and that are directly  attributable to such event (as determined reasonably
and in good faith by the chief financial officer of the Borrower).

<PAGE>

"Obligations" has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

"Other Taxes" means any and all present or future recording, stamp, documentary,
excise,  transfer,  sales,  property or similar taxes, charges or levies arising
from any payment made under any Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or
enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document.

"PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in
ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.

"Perfection  Certificate"  means a  certificate  in the  form of  Annex 1 to the
Security Agreement or any other form approved by the Collateral Agent.

 "Permitted  Acquisition"  means any acquisition  (whether by purchase,  merger,
consolidation  or  otherwise)  by  the  Borrower  or  any  Subsidiary  of all or
substantially  all the assets of, or all the  Equity  Interests  in, a Person or
division  or  line  of  business  of a  Person,  that  was  not  preceded  by an
unsolicited  tender  offer for such Person,  if, at the time of and  immediately
after giving  effect  thereto,  (a) no Default has occurred and is continuing or
would result therefrom, (b) the principal business of such Person or division or
line of business is  reasonably  related to a business in which the Borrower and
the Subsidiaries  were engaged on the Effective Date, (c) each Subsidiary formed
for the purpose of or resulting from such acquisition is a Subsidiary Loan Party
and all the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary Loan Party are owned directly by
the  Borrower or a  Subsidiary  Loan Party and all actions  required to be taken
with  respect to such  acquired  or newly  formed  Subsidiary  Loan Party  under
Sections 5.12 and 5.13 are taken,  (d) the Borrower and the  Subsidiaries are in
compliance,  on a pro  forma  basis  after  giving  effect  to such  acquisition
(without giving effect to any cost savings other than those actually realized as
of the date of such acquisition), with the covenants contained in Sections 6.12,
6.13 and 6.14  recomputed as at the last day of the most  recently  ended fiscal
quarter of the Borrower for which financial statements are available, as if such
acquisition  (and any related  incurrence  or  repayment  of  Indebtedness)  had
occurred on the first day of each  relevant  period for testing such  compliance
and (e) the Borrower  has  delivered  to the  Administrative  Agent an officers'
certificate  to the  effect set forth in clauses  (a),  (b),  (c) and (d) above,
together with all relevant financial  information for the Person or assets to be
acquired and reasonably detailed calculations  demonstrating satisfaction of the
requirement set forth in clause (d) above.

"Permitted Encumbrances" means:

(a) Liens imposed by law for taxes that are not yet due or are being contested
in compliance with Section 5.05;

(b) carriers', warehousemen's, mechanics', material-men's, repairmen's and other
like  Liens  imposed by law,  arising in the  ordinary  course of  business  and
securing  obligations  that are not  overdue  by more  than 30 days or are being
contested in compliance with Section 5.05;

(c) pledges and deposits  made in the ordinary  course of business in compliance
with workers'  compensation,  unemployment  insurance and other social  security
laws or regulations;

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

(e) judgment liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of
Default under clause (k) of Article VII; and

(f) easements,  zoning  restrictions,  rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on
real property  imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that
do not secure any monetary  obligations  and do not materially  detract from the
value of the  affected  property  or  interfere  with the  ordinary  conduct  of
business of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

provided  that the term  "Permitted  Encumbrances"  shall not  include  any Lien
securing Indebtedness.

"Permitted Investments" means:

(a) direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which
are  unconditionally  guaranteed  by,  the United  States of America  (or by any
agency thereof to the extent such  obligations  are backed by the full faith and
credit of the United States of America),  in each case maturing  within one year
from the date of acquisition thereof;

<PAGE>

(b)  investments in commercial  paper maturing  within 270 days from the date of
acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition,  the highest credit
rating obtainable from S&P or from Moody's;

(c)  investments  in  certificates  of deposit,  banker's  acceptances  and time
deposits maturing within 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof issued or
guaranteed  by or placed  with,  and money  market  deposit  accounts  issued or
offered by, any domestic  office of any commercial bank organized under the laws
of the  United  States of  America  or any State  thereof  which has a  combined
capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000; and

(d) fully collateralized  repurchase  agreements with a term of not more than 30
days for  securities  described  in clause  (a) above  and  entered  into with a
financial institution satisfying the criteria described in clause (c) above.

"Permitted Owners" means RMC Group p.l.c., a United Kingdom public limited
company, its subsidiaries and, with the written consent of the Required Lenders,
any transferee of RMC Group p.l.c. or its subsidiaries.

 "Person" means any natural  person,  corporation,  limited  liability  company,
trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership,  Governmental Authority
or other entity.

"Plan" means any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan)
subject to the  provisions  of Title IV of ERISA or  Section  412 of the Code or
Section  302 of  ERISA,  and in  respect  of which  the  Borrower  or any  ERISA
Affiliate  is (or, if such plan were  terminated,  would under  Section  4069 of
ERISA be deemed to be) an "employer" as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

"Pledge  Agreement"  means the Pledge  Agreement,  substantially  in the form of
Exhibit E, among the Borrower, the Subsidiaries party thereto and the Collateral
Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

"Prepayment Event" means:

(a)any Specified Disposition;

(b)the  issuance by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any Equity  Interests,  or
the receipt by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any capital contribution, other
than any such  issuance of Equity  Interests  to, or receipt of any such capital
contribution from, the Borrower or a Subsidiary; or

(c)the incurrence by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any  Indebtedness,  other
than Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(a).

"Prime Rate" means the rate of interest per annum  publicly  announced from time
to time by The Chase Manhattan Bank as its prime rate in effect at its principal
office in New York City;  each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective  from
and including the date such change is publicly announced as being effective.

"Register" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04.

"Related  Parties" means,  with respect to any specified  Person,  such Person's
Affiliates  and  the  respective  directors,  officers,  employees,  agents  and
advisors of such Person and such Person's Affiliates.

 "Release" means any release,  spill,  emission,  leaking,  dumping,  injection,
pouring, deposit, disposal, discharge,  dispersal, leaching or migration into or
through the environment or within or upon any building,  structure,  facility or
fixture.

"Required  Lenders" means, at any time,  Lenders having Revolving  Exposures and
unused Commitments  repre-senting more than 50% of the total Revolving Exposures
and unused  Commitments  at such time.  For the  purposes of the  definition  of
Required  Lenders,  the Revolving  Exposure and unused Commitment of each Lender
who fails to make a Loan  pursuant to Section  2.01 shall be  excluded  from the
calculation of the total Revolving  Exposures and unused  Commitments unless and
until such failure has been cured.

"Restricted  Payment" means (a) any dividend or other  distribution  (whether in
cash,  securities or other  property) with respect to any shares of any class of
capital stock of the Borrower or any  Subsidiary or (b) any payment  (whether in
cash,  securities  or other  property),  including  any sinking  fund or similar
deposit,  on  account  of the  purchase,  redemption,  retirement,  acquisition,
cancellation  or termination of any such shares of capital stock of the Borrower
or any  Subsidiary  or any  option,  warrant or other  right to acquire any such
shares of capital stock of the Borrower.

"Revolving  Exposure" means,  with respect to any Lender at any time, the sum of
the  outstanding  principal  amount of such Lender's  Revolving Loans and its LC
Exposure and Swingline Exposure at such time.

<PAGE>

"Revolving Loan" means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01.

"S&P" means Standard & Poor's.

"Secured  Parties" shall have the meaning  assigned to such term in the Security
Agreement.

"Security Agreement" means the Security Agreement,  substantially in the form of
Exhibit F, among the Borrower,  the  Subsidiary  Loan Parties and the Collateral
Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

"Security Documents" means the Security Agreement, the Pledge Agreement and each
other security  agreement or other instrument or document executed and delivered
pursuant to Section 5.12 or 5.13 to secure any of the Obligations.

 "Specified  Disposition" means any sale, transfer or other disposition of (a) a
Designated Facility (or any assets comprising a part thereof) in connection with
the consolidation or closure by the Borrower of such Designated  Facility or (b)
other assets in connection with the  consolidation or closure by the Borrower of
branch locations other than the Designated Facilities; provided that (i) the sum
of the  aggregate  fair market  values of (x) all assets  sold,  transferred  or
otherwise  disposed of in connection  with the  consolidation  or closure by the
Borrower of branch  locations on or after  December  16, 1999,  and prior to the
Effective Date and (y) all assets sold,  transferred or otherwise disposed of in
reliance  upon clauses (a) or (b) above shall not exceed  $25,000,000,  and (ii)
all such sales,  transfers and dispositions  shall be made for fair value and at
least 90% of the consideration for each such sale, transfer or disposition shall
consist of cash consideration.

"Statutory  Reserve  Rate"  means  a  fraction  (expressed  as a  decimal),  the
numerator of which is the number one and the  denominator of which is the number
one minus the  aggregate  of the  maximum  reserve  percentages  (including  any
marginal,  special,  emergency or supplemental  reserves) expressed as a decimal
established by the Board to which the  Administrative  Agent is subject (a) with
respect to the Base CD Rate,  for new  negotiable  nonpersonal  time deposits in
dollars of over $100,000 with maturities approximately equal to three months and
(b) with respect to the Adjusted LIBO Rate, for eurocurrency  funding (currently
referred to as  "Eurocurrency  Liabilities" in Regulation D of the Board).  Such
reserve  percentages  shall include those imposed pursuant to such Regulation D.
Eurodollar  Loans shall be deemed to constitute  eurocurrency  funding and to be
subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration,
exemptions  or  offsets  that may be  available  from time to time to any Lender
under such Regulation D or any comparable regulation. The Statutory Reserve Rate
shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in
any reserve percentage.

 "subsidiary"  means, with respect to any Person (the "parent") at any date, any
corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity
the  accounts  of which  would be  consolidated  with those of the parent in the
parent's  consolidated  financial  statements if such financial  statements were
prepared  in  accordance  with  GAAP as of  such  date,  as  well  as any  other
corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity
(a) of which securities or other ownership interests  representing more than 50%
of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a
partnership,  more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such
date,  owned,  controlled  or held,  or (b) that is, as of such date,  otherwise
Controlled,  by the parent or one or more  subsidiaries  of the parent or by the
parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent.

"Subsidiary" means any subsidiary of the Borrower.

"Subsidiary  Guarantee  Agreement"  means each Subsidiary  Guarantee  Agreement,
substantially in the form of Exhibit D, made by a Subsidiary Loan Party in favor
of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

"Subsidiary Loan Party" means any Subsidiary other than any Foreign Subsidiary.

"Swingline  Exposure" means, at any time, the aggregate  principal amount of all
Swingline Loans  out-standing at such time. The Swingline Exposure of any Lender
at any time shall be its Applicable  Percentage of the total Swingline  Exposure
at such time.

"Swingline  Lender" means The Chase Manhattan Bank, in its capacity as lender of
Swingline Loans hereunder.

"Swingline Loan" means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.04.

"Syndication Agent" means Bank of America, N.A., in its capacity as
administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder.

"Taxes"  means any and all present or future  taxes,  levies,  imposts,  duties,
deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental Authority.

<PAGE>

"Three-Month  Secondary CD Rate" means,  for any day, the secondary  market rate
for three-month  certificates of deposit reported as being in effect on such day
(or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding  Business Day) by the
Board through the public information  telephone line of the Federal Reserve Bank
of New York  (which  rate will,  under the current  practices  of the Board,  be
published  in Federal  Reserve  Statistical  Release  H.15(519)  during the week
following such day) or, if such rate is not so reported on such day or such next
preceding  Business  Day, the average of the  secondary  market  quotations  for
three-month  certifi-cates  of deposit of major money  center  banks in New York
City received at approximately  10:00 a.m., New York City time, on such day (or,
if such day is not a Business  Day, on the next  preceding  Business Day) by the
Administrative  Agent from three  negotiable  certificate of deposit  dealers of
recognized standing selected by it.

 "Total  Debt" means,  as of any date,  the sum of (a) the  aggregate  principal
amount of  Indebtedness of the Borrower and the  Subsidiaries  outstanding as of
such date, in the amount that would be reflected on a balance sheet  prepared as
of such date on a  consolidated  basis in  accordance  with  GAAP,  plus (b) the
aggregate  principal amount of Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries
outstanding  as of such date that is not  required to be  reflected on a balance
sheet in accordance  with GAAP,  determined on a  consolidated  basis;  provided
that,  for  purposes  of clause (b)  above,  the term  "Indebtedness"  shall not
include  contingent  obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary as an account
party in  respect  of any  letter of credit or letter of  guaranty  unless  such
letter of credit or letter of guaranty  supports an obligation that  constitutes
Indebtedness.

"Transactions" means the execution, delivery and performance by the Loan Parties
of the Loan Documents,  the borrowing of Loans,  the use of the proceeds thereof
and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder.

"Type",  when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing,  refers to whether the
rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans  comprising  such  Borrowing,  is
deter-mined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the Alternate Base Rate.

"Withdrawal  Liability" means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a
complete or partial withdrawal from such  Multiemployer  Plan, as such terms are
defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

SECTION 1.02.  Classification of Loans and Borrowings.  For purposes of this
Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Type (e.g., a "Eurodollar
Revolving Loan").  Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Type
(e.g., a "Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing").

 SECTION 1.03.  Terms  Generally.  The  definitions  of terms herein shall apply
equally to the  singular  and plural  forms of the terms  defined.  Whenever the
context may require,  any pronoun  shall  include the  corresponding  masculine,
feminine and neuter forms. The words "include", "includes" and "including" shall
be deemed to be followed  by the phrase  "without  limitation".  The word "will"
shall be  construed  to have the same  meaning  and effect as the word  "shall".
Unless the context requires  otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any
agreement,  instrument or other document  herein shall be construed as referring
to such  agreement,  instrument or other  document as from time to time amended,
supplemented  or  otherwise  modified  (subject  to  any  restrictions  on  such
amendments,  supplements or modifications  set forth herein),  (b) any reference
herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person's  successors and
assigns, (c) the words "herein", "hereof" and "hereunder",  and words of similar
import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to
any  particular  provision  hereof,  (d)  all  references  herein  to  Articles,
Sections,  Exhibits  and  Schedules  shall be construed to refer to Articles and
Sections of, and Exhibits and  Schedules  to, this  Agreement  and (e) the words
"asset" and  "property"  shall be  construed to have the same meaning and effect
and to refer to any and all  tangible  and  intangible  assets  and  properties,
including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

SECTION 1.04.  Accounting Terms;  GAAP. Except as otherwise  expressly  provided
herein,  all terms of an  accounting  or financial  nature shall be construed in
accordance  with GAAP,  as in effect from time to time;  provided  that,  if the
Borrower  notifies  the  Administrative  Agent  that the  Borrower  requests  an
amendment  to any  provision  hereof  to  eliminate  the  effect  of any  change
occurring  after the date  hereof in GAAP or in the  application  thereof on the
operation  of  such  provision  (or if the  Administrative  Agent  notifies  the
Borrower that the Required  Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof
for such  purpose),  regard-less  of whether any such notice is given  before or
after such change in GAAP or in the  application  thereof,  then such  provision
shall be interpreted  on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied  immediately
before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been
withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith.

                                   ARTICLE II

                                   The Credits

SECTION 2.01. Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein,
each Lender  agrees to make  Revolving  Loans to the Borrower  from time to time
during the  Availability  Period in an aggregate  principal amount that will not
result in such Lender's Revolving  Exposure exceeding such Lender's  Commitment.
Within the foregoing  limits and subject to the terms and  conditions  set forth
herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans.

 SECTION 2.02.  Loans and  Borrowings.  (a) Each Revolving Loan shall be made as
part of a Borrowing consisting of Revolving Loans made by the Lenders ratably in
accordance with their respective Commitments.  The failure of any Lender to make
any Loan  required to be made by it shall not  relieve  any other  Lender of its
obligations hereunder;  provided that the Commitments of the Lenders are several
and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender's  failure to make Loans
as required.

<PAGE>

(b)  Subject  to Section  2.13,  each  Revolving  Borrowing  shall be  comprised
entirely  of ABR  Loans or  Eurodollar  Loans as the  Borrower  may  request  in
accordance  herewith.  Each Swingline Loan shall be an ABR Loan.  Each Lender at
its  option may make any  Eurodollar  Loan by causing  any  domestic  or foreign
branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that any exercise
of such option  shall not affect the  obligation  of the  Borrower to repay such
Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

(c) At the  commencement  of each Interest  Period for any Eurodollar  Revolving
Borrowing,  such Borrowing  shall be in an aggregate  amount that is an integral
multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than  $5,000,000.  At the time that each ABR
Revolving Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that
is an integral  multiple of $1,000,000  and not less than  $1,000,000;  provided
that an ABR Revolving  Borrowing may be in an aggregate  amount that is equal to
the entire unused balance of the  Commitments or that is required to finance the
reimbursement  of an LC Disbursement as  contemplated by Section  2.05(e).  Each
Swingline Loan shall be in an aggregate  amount that is an integral  multiple of
$100,000  and not less than  $100,000.  Borrowings  of more than one Type may be
outstanding at the same time;  provided that there shall not at any time be more
than a total of six Eurodollar Borrowings outstanding.

(d)  Notwithstanding  any other provision of this Agreement,  the Borrower shall
not be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Borrowing if
the Interest Period  requested with respect thereto would end after the Maturity
Date.

 SECTION  2.03.  Requests  for  Revolving  Borrowings.  To  request a  Revolving
Borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by
telephone (a) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing,  not later than 11:00 a.m.,
New York  City  time,  three  Business  Days  before  the  date of the  proposed
Borrowing or (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New
York City time,  one  Business  Day before the date of the  proposed  Borrowing;
provided that any such notice of an ABR  Borrowing to finance the  reimbursement
of an LC  Disbursement  as  con-tem-plated  by Section  2.05(e) may be given not
later  than  11:00  a.m.,  New  York  City  time,  on the  date of the  proposed
Borrowing. Each such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall
be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the  Administrative  Agent
of a written  Borrowing Request in a form approved by the  Administrative  Agent
and signed by the Borrower.  Each such telephonic and written  Borrowing Request
shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

(i) the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing;

(ii) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;

(iii)whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing;

(iv) in the case of a Eurodollar  Borrowing,  the initial  Interest Period to be
applicable  thereto,  which shall be a period  contemplated by the definition of
the term "Interest Period"; and

(vi) the location and number of the Borrower's  account to which funds are to be
disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.06.

If no election as to the Type of  Borrowing  is  specified,  then the  requested
Borrowing  shall be an ABR  Borrowing.  If no Interest  Period is specified with
respect to any requested Eurodollar Borrowing, then the Borrower shall be deemed
to have selected an Interest Period of one month's duration.  Promptly following
receipt  of  a  Borrowing   Request  in  accordance   with  this  Section,   the
Administrative  Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of the
amount of such Lender's Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.

 SECTION 2.04.  Swingline  Loans.  (a) Subject to the terms and  conditions  set
forth  herein,  the  Swingline  Lender  agrees  to make  Swingline  Loans to the
Borrower  from time to time  during the  Availability  Period,  in an  aggregate
principal  amount  at any  time  outstanding  that  will not  result  in (i) the
aggregate principal amount of outstanding  Swingline Loans exceeding $10,000,000
or (ii) the total Revolving Exposures exceeding the total Commitments;  provided
that the  Swingline  Lender  shall not be required  to make a Swingline  Loan to
refinance an outstanding Swingline Loan. Within the foregoing limits and subject
to the terms and  conditions set forth herein,  the Borrower may borrow,  prepay
and reborrow Swingline Loans.

(b) To request a Swingline  Loan, the Borrower  shall notify the  Administrative
Agent of such request by telephone (confirmed by telecopy), not later than 12:00
noon,  New York City time, on the day of a proposed  Swingline  Loan.  Each such
notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the requested date (which shall be
a Business Day) and amount of the requested  Swingline Loan. The  Administrative
Agent will promptly advise the Swingline Lender of any such notice received from
the Borrower.  The Swingline  Lender shall make each Swingline Loan available to
the Borrower by means of a credit to the general deposit account of the Borrower
with the Swingline  Lender (or, in the case of a Swingline  Loan made to finance
the  reimburse-ment  of an LC  Disbursement as provided in Section  2.05(e),  by
remittance  to the  Issuing  Bank) by 3:00  p.m.,  New York  City  time,  on the
requested date of such Swingline Loan.

<PAGE>

 (c) The  Swingline  Lender may by written  notice  given to the  Administrative
Agent not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on any Business Day require
the Lenders to acquire  participations  on such Business Day in all or a portion
of the  Swingline  Loans  outstanding.  Such notice shall  specify the aggregate
amount of Swingline  Loans in which  Lenders  will  participate.  Promptly  upon
receipt of such notice,  the  Administrative  Agent will give notice  thereof to
each Lender,  specifying in such notice such Lender's  Applicable  Percentage of
such Swingline Loan or Loans. Each Lender hereby absolutely and  unconditionally
agrees,  upon receipt of notice as provided above, to pay to the  Administrative
Agent,  for the  account  of the  Swingline  Lender,  such  Lender's  Applicable
Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans. Each Lender  acknowledges and agrees
that its  obligation to acquire  participations  in Swingline  Loans pursuant to
this  paragraph is absolute and  unconditional  and shall not be affected by any
circumstance  whatsoever,  including the occurrence and continuance of a Default
or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall
be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever. Each
Lender shall comply with its obligation under this paragraph by wire transfer of
immediately available funds, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.06 with
respect to Loans made by such  Lender (and  Section  2.06 shall  apply,  mutatis
mutandis,  to the payment  obligations of the Lenders),  and the  Administrative
Agent shall  promptly pay to the Swingline  Lender the amounts so received by it
from the  Lenders.  The  Administrative  Agent shall  notify the Borrower of any
participations  in any Swingline Loan acquired  pursuant to this paragraph,  and
thereafter  payments  in  respect  of such  Swingline  Loan shall be made to the
Administrative  Agent and not to the Swingline  Lender.  Any amounts received by
the  Swingline  Lender  from the  Borrower  (or  other  party on  behalf  of the
Borrower) in respect of a Swingline  Loan after receipt by the Swingline  Lender
of the proceeds of a sale of  participations  therein shall be promptly remitted
to the  Administrative  Agent; any such amounts  received by the  Administrative
Agent shall be promptly remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders that
shall have made their  payments  pursuant to this paragraph and to the Swingline
Lender,  as their  interests  may appear.  The purchase of  participations  in a
Swingline Loan pursuant to this paragraph  shall not relieve the Borrower of any
default in the payment thereof.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  a Lender shall
not have any obligation to acquire a participation  in a Swingline Loan pursuant
to this  paragraph if an Event of Default  shall have occurred and be continuing
at the time such Swingline Loan was made and such Lender shall have notified the
Swingline  Lender in writing,  at least one  Business Day prior to the time such
Swingline  Loan was made,  that such Event of Default has occurred and that such
Lender will not acquire  participations in Swingline Loans made while such Event
of Default is continuing.

SECTION  2.05.  Letters  of  Credit.  (a)  General.  Subject  to the  terms  and
conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may request the issuance of Letters of
Credit  for  its  own  account,   in  a  form   reasonably   acceptable  to  the
Administrative  Agent and the  Issuing  Bank,  at any time and from time to time
during the Availability  Period. In the event of any  inconsistency  between the
terms and  conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any form
of letter of credit application or other agreement submitted by the Borrower to,
or entered into by the Borrower with, the Issuing Bank relating to any Letter of
Credit, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control.

 (b) Notice of Issuance,  Amendment,  Renewal, Extension; Certain Conditions. To
request  the  issuance  of a Letter  of Credit  (or the  amendment,  renewal  or
extension of an outstanding  Letter of Credit),  the Borrower shall hand deliver
or telecopy (or transmit by electronic communication,  if arrangements for doing
so  have  been  approved  by the  Issuing  Bank)  to the  Issuing  Bank  and the
Administrative  Agent  (reasonably in advance of the requested date of issuance,
amendment, renewal or extension) a notice requesting the issuance of a Letter of
Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended,  renewed or extended,
and  specifying  the date of issuance,  amendment,  renewal or extension  (which
shall be a Business  Day),  the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire
(which  shall comply with  paragraph  (c) of this  Section),  the amount of such
Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and such other
information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, renew or extend such Letter
of Credit.  If requested by the Issuing  Bank,  the Borrower also shall submit a
letter of credit  application on the Issuing Bank's  standard form in connection
with any  request  for a Letter of Credit.  A Letter of Credit  shall be issued,
amended, renewed or extended only if (and upon issuance,  amendment,  renewal or
extension of each Letter of Credit the Borrower shall be deemed to represent and
warrant  that),  after giving  effect to such  issuance,  amendment,  renewal or
extension,  (i) the LC Exposure shall not exceed  $10,000,000 and (ii) the total
Revolving Exposures shall not exceed the total Commitments.

(c) Expiration Date. Each Letter of Credit shall expire at or prior to the close
of  business  on the  earlier  of (i) the date one  year  after  the date of the
issuance of such  Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any renewal or  extension
thereof,  one year after such  renewal or  extension)  and (ii) the date that is
five Business Days prior to the Maturity Date.

 (d) Participations. By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a
Letter of Credit  increasing the amount  thereof) and without any further action
on the part of the Issuing Bank or the Lenders,  the Issuing Bank hereby  grants
to each  Lender,  and each  Lender  hereby  acquires  from the Issuing  Bank,  a
participation  in such  Letter  of  Credit  equal  to such  Lender's  Applicable
Percentage  of the aggregate  amount  available to be drawn under such Letter of
Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Lender hereby
absolutely and  unconditionally  agrees to pay to the Administrative  Agent, for
the account of the Issuing Bank, such Lender's Applicable  Percentage of each LC
Disbursement  made by the Issuing Bank and not reimbursed by the Borrower on the
date due as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section,  or of any  reimbursement
payment  required  to be refunded to the  Borrower  for any reason.  Each Lender
acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire  participations  pursuant
to this paragraph in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute and  unconditional
and  shall  not  be  affected  by any  circumstance  whatsoever,  including  any
amendment,  renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or the  occurrence  and
continuance  of a Default or reduction or termination  of the  Commitments,  and
that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, with-holding
or reduction whatsoever.

<PAGE>

 (e)  Reimbursement.  If the  Issuing  Bank  shall make any LC  Disbursement  in
respect of a Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement
by paying to the  Administrative  Agent an amount equal to such LC  Disbursement
not  later  than  12:00  noon,  New York  City  time,  on the date  that such LC
Disbursement  is made,  if the Borrower  shall have  received  notice of such LC
Disbursement  prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on such date, or, if such
notice has not been  received by the  Borrower  prior to such time on such date,
then not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on (i) the Business Day that
the Borrower  receives  such notice,  if such notice is received  prior to 10:00
a.m.,  New York City time,  on the day of the receipt,  or (ii) the Business Day
immediately  following the day that the Borrower  receives such notice,  if such
notice is not received prior to such time on the day of receipt;  provided that,
if such LC Disbursement is not less than the applicable minimum Borrowing amount
set forth in Section  2.02(c),  the Borrower may,  subject to the  conditions to
borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.03 or 2.04 that
such payment be financed with an ABR Revolving Borrowing or Swingline Loan in an
equivalent amount and, to the extent so financed,  the Borrower's  obligation to
make  such  payment  shall be  discharged  and  replaced  by the  resulting  ABR
Revolving  Borrowing  or  Swingline  Loan.  If the  Borrower  fails to make such
payment  when due,  the  Administrative  Agent  shall  notify each Lender of the
applicable  LC  Disbursement,  the payment then due from the Borrower in respect
thereof and such Lender's  Applicable  Percentage  thereof.  Promptly  following
receipt of such notice,  each Lender shall pay to the  Administrative  Agent its
Applicable  Percentage  of the payment then due from the  Borrower,  in the same
manner as  provided  in Section  2.06 with  respect to Loans made by such Lender
(and Section 2.06 shall apply,  mutatis mutandis,  to the payment obligations of
the Lenders),  and the  Administrative  Agent shall  promptly pay to the Issuing
Bank the amounts so received by it from the Lenders.  Promptly following receipt
by the  Administrative  Agent of any payment from the Borrower  pursuant to this
paragraph, the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the Issuing
Bank or,  to the  extent  that  Lenders  have  made  payments  pursuant  to this
paragraph to reimburse  the Issuing  Bank,  then to such Lenders and the Issuing
Bank as their  interests  may appear.  Any payment made by a Lender  pursuant to
this paragraph to reimburse the Issuing Bank for any LC Disbursement (other than
the funding of ABR Revolving  Loans or a Swingline Loan as  contemplated  above)
shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation
to reimburse such LC Disbursement.

 (f)   Obligations   Absolute.   The  Borrower's   obligation  to  reimburse  LC
Disbursements  as provided in paragraph  (e) of this Section  shall be absolute,
unconditional  and  irrevocable,  and shall be performed  strictly in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances  whatsoever and
irrespective  of (i) any lack of  validity  or  enforceability  of any Letter of
Credit or this Agreement,  or any term or provision  therein,  (ii) any draft or
other  document  presented  under a  Letter  of  Credit  proving  to be  forged,
fraudulent  or invalid in any respect or any  statement  therein being untrue or
inaccurate  in any respect,  (iii) payment by the Issuing Bank under a Letter of
Credit  against  presentation  of a draft or other document that does not comply
with the terms of such Letter of Credit, or (iv) any other event or circumstance
whatsoever,  whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for
the provisions of this Section, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or
provide a right of setoff against, the Borrower's obligations hereunder. Neither
the  Administrative  Agent,  the Lenders nor the Issuing Bank,  nor any of their
Related Parties,  shall have any liability or  responsibility by reason of or in
connection  with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any payment
or  failure  to  make  any  payment  thereunder  (irrespective  of  any  of  the
circumstances  referred to in the preceding sentence),  or any error,  omission,
interruption,  loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or
other  communication  under or relating to any Letter of Credit  (including  any
document required to make a drawing thereunder),  any error in interpretation of
technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the
Issuing Bank;  provided that the foregoing  shall not be construed to excuse the
Issuing Bank from  liability to the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages
(as  opposed  to  consequential  damages,  claims in respect of which are hereby
waived by the Borrower to the extent  permitted by  applicable  law) suffered by
the Borrower that are caused by the Issuing Bank's failure to exercise care when
determining  whether  drafts  and other  documents  presented  under a Letter of
Credit comply with the terms thereof.  The parties hereto  expressly agree that,
in the  absence of gross  negligence  or willful  misconduct  on the part of the
Issuing Bank (as finally determined by a court of competent  jurisdiction),  the
Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such  determination.
In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the
parties agree that,  with respect to documents  presented  which appear on their
face to be in substantial  compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit,  the
Issuing Bank may, in its sole  discretion,  either  accept and make payment upon
such documents without responsibility for further  investigation,  regardless of
any notice or information to the contrary,  or refuse to accept and make payment
upon such  documents if such  documents  are not in strict  compliance  with the
terms of such Letter of Credit.

(g)  Disbursement  Procedures.  The Issuing Bank shall,  promptly  following its
receipt  thereof,  examine all  documents  purporting  to represent a demand for
payment  under a Letter of Credit.  The Issuing Bank shall  promptly  notify the
Administrative  Agent and the Borrower by telephone  (confirmed  by telecopy) of
such demand for payment and whether the Issuing Bank has made or will make an LC
Disbursement  thereunder;  provided  that any failure to give or delay in giving
such notice shall not relieve the Borrower of its  obligation  to reimburse  the
Issuing Bank and the Lenders with respect to any such LC Disbursement.

<PAGE>

(h) Interim Interest. If the Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement,  then,
unless the Borrower  shall  reimburse such LC  Disbursement  in full on the date
such LC Disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest, for
each  day from  and  including  the  date  such LC  Disbursement  is made to but
excluding the date that the Borrower  reimburses  such LC  Disbursement,  at the
rate per annum then  applicable to ABR Revolving  Loans;  provided  that, if the
Borrower fails to reimburse such LC Disbursement  when due pursuant to paragraph
(e) of this Section, then Section 2.12(c) shall apply. Interest accrued pursuant
to this  paragraph  shall be for the  account of the Issuing  Bank,  except that
interest  accrued on and after the date of payment  by any  Lender  pursuant  to
paragraph  (e) of this  Section to  reimburse  the Issuing Bank shall be for the
account of such Lender to the extent of such payment.

 (i)  Replacement  of the Issuing Bank.  The Issuing Bank may be replaced at any
time by written  agreement among the Borrower,  the  Administrative  Agent,  the
replaced Issuing Bank and the successor Issuing Bank. The  Administrative  Agent
shall notify the Lenders of any such  replacement  of the Issuing  Bank.  At the
time any such  replacement  shall become  effective,  the Borrower shall pay all
unpaid fees  accrued for the account of the replaced  Issuing  Bank  pursuant to
Section 2.11(b). From and after the effective date of any such replacement,  (i)
the  successor  Issuing  Bank shall have all the rights and  obligations  of the
Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued
thereafter and (ii) references herein to the term "Issuing Bank" shall be deemed
to refer to such successor or to any previous Issuing Bank, or to such successor
and all  previous  Issuing  Banks,  as the  context  shall  require.  After  the
replacement of an Issuing Bank hereunder, the replaced Issuing Bank shall remain
a party hereto and shall  continue to have all the rights and  obligations of an
Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it
prior to such replacement, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters
of Credit.

(j)  Cash  Collateralization.  If  any  Event  of  Default  shall  occur  and be
continuing,  on the  Business  Day that the  Borrower  receives  notice from the
Administrative  Agent or the  Required  Lenders  demanding  the  deposit of cash
collateral pursuant to this paragraph,  the Borrower shall deposit in an account
with the Administrative  Agent, in the name of the Administrative  Agent and for
the benefit of the  Lenders,  an amount in cash equal to 105% of the LC Exposure
as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon;  provided that the
obligation to deposit such cash collateral shall become  effective  immediately,
and such deposit shall become  immediately  due and payable,  without  demand or
other  notice of any kind,  upon the  occurrence  of any Event of  Default  with
respect to the  Borrower  described  in clause (h) or (i) of Article  VII.  Such
deposit shall be held by the Administrative  Agent as collateral for the payment
and  performance of the  obligations of the Borrower under this  Agreement.  The
Administrative  Agent shall have exclusive  dominion and control,  including the
exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account. Other than any interest earned
on the  investment  of such  deposits,  which  investments  shall be made at the
option and sole  discretion of the  Administrative  Agent and at the  Borrower's
risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest. Interest or profits, if
any,  on such  investments  shall  accumulate  in such  account.  Moneys in such
account  shall be applied by the  Administrative  Agent to reimburse the Issuing
Bank for LC  Disbursements  for  which it has not been  reimbursed  and,  to the
extent not so applied,  shall be held for the satisfaction of the  reimbursement
obligations of the Borrower for the LC Exposure at such time or, if the maturity
of the Loans has been  accelerated,  be applied to satisfy other  obligations of
the  Borrower  under this  Agreement.  If the Borrower is required to provide an
amount of cash collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of
Default,  such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned
to the Borrower within three Business Days after all Events of Default have been
cured or waived.

 SECTION 2.06. Funding of Borrowings. (a) Each Lender shall make each Loan to be
made  by it  hereunder  on  the  proposed  date  thereof  by  wire  transfer  of
immediately  available funds by 2:00 p.m., New York City time, to the account of
the  Administrative  Agent most  recently  designated  by it for such purpose by
notice to the Lenders;  provided that Swingline  Loans shall be made as provided
in Section 2.04. The Administrative  Agent will make such Loans available to the
Borrower by promptly  crediting  the amounts so received,  in like funds,  to an
account of the Borrower  maintained  with the  Administrative  Agent in New York
city  and  designated  by the  Borrower  in the  applicable  Borrowing  Request;
provided that ABR  Revolving  Loans made to finance the  reimbursement  of an LC
Disbursement   as  provided  in  Section   2.05(e)  shall  be  remitted  by  the
Administrative Agent to the Issuing Bank.

(b) Unless the  Administrative  Agent shall have  received  notice from a Lender
prior to the  proposed  date of any  Borrowing  that such  Lender  will not make
available to the Administrative Agent such Lender's share of such Borrowing, the
Administrative  Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share  available
on such date in  accordance  with  paragraph  (a) of this  Section  and may,  in
reliance upon such  assumption,  make available to the Borrower a  corresponding
amount.  In such  event,  if a  Lender  has not in fact  made  its  share of the
applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative  Agent, then the applicable
Lender  and the  Borrower  severally  agree to pay to the  Administrative  Agent
forthwith on demand such  corresponding  amount with interest thereon,  for each
day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to
but excluding  the date of payment to the  Administrative  Agent,  at (i) in the
case of such Lender,  the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate
determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules
on interbank compensation or (ii) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate
applicable to ABR Loans.  If such Lender pays such amount to the  Administrative
Agent,  then such amount shall  constitute  such  Lender's Loan included in such
Borrowing.

 SECTION 2.07. Interest Elections.  (a) Each Revolving Borrowing initially shall
be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of
a Eurodollar  Borrowing,  shall have an initial  Interest Period as specified in
such  Borrowing  Request.  Thereafter,  the  Borrower  may elect to convert such
Borrowing to a different  Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of
a Eurodollar Borrowing,  may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in
this Section. The Borrower may elect different options with respect to different
portions of the affected  Borrowing,  in which case each such  portion  shall be
allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing,
and the Loans  comprising  each such  portion  shall be  considered  a  separate
Borrowing.  This Section shall not apply to Swingline Borrowings,  which may not
be converted or continued.

<PAGE>

(b) To make an election pursuant to this Section,  the Borrower shall notify the
Administrative  Agent of such election by telephone by the time that a Borrowing
Request would be required  under Section 2.03 if the Borrower were  requesting a
Revolving  Borrowing of the Type  resulting from such election to be made on the
effective date of such election.  Each such telephonic Interest Election Request
shall be  irrevocable  and  shall be  confirmed  promptly  by hand  delivery  or
telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request in a
form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower.

(c) Each  telephonic  and written  Interest  Election  Request shall specify the
following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

(i) the  Borrowing  to which such  Interest  Election  Request  applies  and, if
different options are being elected with respect to different  portions thereof,
the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting  Borrowing (in which case
the  information to be specified  pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) below shall
be specified for each resulting Borrowing);

(ii) the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest  Election
Request, which shall be a Business Day;

(iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar
Borrowing; and

(iv) if the resulting Borrowing is a Eurodollar  Borrowing,  the Interest Period
to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such election,  which shall be a
period contemplated by the definition of the term "Interest Period".

If any such Interest  Election Request requests a Eurodollar  Borrowing but does
not  specify  an  Interest  Period,  then the  Borrower  shall be deemed to have
selected an Interest Period of one month's duration.

 (d)  Promptly   following  receipt  of  an  Interest   Election  Request,   the
Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of such
Lender's portion of each resulting Borrowing.

(e) If the Borrower  fails to deliver a timely  Interest  Election  Request with
respect  to a  Eurodollar  Borrowing  prior  to the end of the  Interest  Period
applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at
the end of such  Interest  Period such  Borrowing  shall be  converted to an ABR
Borrowing. Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default
has occurred and is continuing and the  Administrative  Agent, at the request of
the Required  Lenders,  so notifies the  Borrower,  then, so long as an Event of
Default is  continuing  (i) no  outstanding  Borrowing  may be  converted  to or
continued as a Eurodollar  Borrowing  and (ii) unless  repaid,  each  Eurodollar
Borrowing  shall be  converted  to an ABR  Borrowing  at the end of the Interest
Period applicable thereto.

SECTION 2.08.  Termination and Reduction of Commitments.  (a)  Unless previously
terminated, the Commitments shall terminate on the Maturity Date.

(b) The Borrower  may at any time  terminate,  or from time to time reduce,  the
Commitments;  provided that (i) each reduction of the Commitments shall be in an
amount that is an integral  multiple of $5,000,000 and not less than  $5,000,000
and (ii) the Borrower  shall not terminate or reduce the  Commitments  if, after
giving effect to any  concurrent  prepayment  of Loans in  accordance  with this
Agreement,   the  sum  of  the  Revolving   Exposures  would  exceed  the  total
Commitments.

 (c) In the event and on each  occasion  that any Net Cash Proceeds are received
by or on behalf of the Borrower or any  Subsidiary in respect of any  Prepayment
Event,  the  Commitments  shall be reduced by an  aggregate  amount equal to the
amount  of such Net  Cash  Proceeds;  provided  that,  in the case of any  event
described in clause (a) of the definition of the term Prepayment  Event,  (i) if
the  Borrower  has,  at the end of any  fiscal  quarter  after  the date of this
Agreement achieved a Debt to Capitalization  Ratio of less than 0.50 to 1.00, no
reduction  in  Commitments  shall occur and (ii) if the Borrower has not, at the
end of any fiscal  quarter after the date of this  Agreement  achieved a Debt to
Capitalization  Ratio of less than 0.50 to 1.00,  no  reduction  in  Commitments
shall  occur  if the  Borrower  shall  deliver  to the  Administrative  Agent  a
certificate  of a  Financial  Officer to the effect  that the  Borrower  and the
Subsidiaries intend to apply the Net Cash Proceeds from such event (or a portion
thereof specified in such certificate), prior to the Cutoff Date with respect to
such Net Cash Proceeds,  to finance a Permitted  Acquisition and certifying that
no Default has occurred and is  continuing,  then the  Commitments  shall not be
reduced  pursuant  to this  paragraph  in  respect of the Net Cash  Proceeds  in
respect of such event (or the  portion of such Net Cash  Proceeds  specified  in
such  certificate,  if  applicable)  except  to the  extent of any such Net Cash
Proceeds  therefrom  that have not been so applied by such Cutoff Date, at which
time the  Commitments  shall be reduced in an amount equal to the amount of such
Net Cash Proceeds that have not been so applied.

(d) The  Borrower  shall  notify the  Administrative  Agent of any  election  to
terminate or reduce the Commitments under paragraph (b) of this Section,  or any
required  reduction of the Commitments  under paragraph (c) of this Section,  at
least three  Business Days prior to the effective  date of such  termination  or
reduction,  specifying  such election and the effective  date thereof.  Promptly
following  receipt of any notice,  the  Administrative  Agent  shall  advise the
Lenders of the contents thereof.  Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant
to this Section shall be  irrevocable;  provided that a notice of termination of
the  Commitments  delivered  by the  Borrower  may  state  that  such  notice is
conditioned  upon the  effectiveness of other credit  facilities,  in which case
such  notice  may be revoked by the  Borrower  (by notice to the  Administrative
Agent on or prior to the  specified  effective  date) if such  condition  is not
satisfied.  Any termination or reduction of the Commitments  shall be permanent.
Each  reduction of the  Commitments  shall be made ratably  among the Lenders in
accordance with their respective Commitments.

<PAGE>

SECTION  2.09.  Repayment of Loans;  Evidence of Debt.  (a) The Borrower  hereby
unconditionally  promises to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account
of each Lender the then unpaid  principal  amount of each Revolving Loan of such
Lender on the  Maturity  Date and (ii) to the  Swingline  Lender the then unpaid
principal  amount of each Swingline Loan on the earlier of the Maturity Date and
the first date after such Swingline Loan is made that is the 15th or last day of
a calendar  month and is at least two Business Days after such Swingline Loan is
made;  provided  that on each  date  that a  Revolving  Borrowing  is made,  the
Borrower shall repay all Swingline Loans that were  outstanding on the date that
such Borrowing was requested.

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

(c) The  Administrative  Agent shall maintain  accounts in which it shall record
(i) the amount of each Loan made  hereunder,  the Type  thereof and the Interest
Period applicable thereto,  (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and
payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender  hereunder
and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the  Administrative  Agent hereunder
for the account of the Lenders and each Lender's share thereof.

(d) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c)
of this Section  shall be prima facie  evidence of the  existence and amounts of
the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of any Lender or the
Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in
any  manner  affect  the  obligation  of the  Borrower  to  repay  the  Loans in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

(e) Any Lender may request  that Loans made by it be  evidenced  by a promissory
note. In such event,  the Borrower  shall  prepare,  execute and deliver to such
Lender a  promissory  note payable to the order of such Lender (or, if requested
by  such  Lender,  to such  Lender  and its  registered  assigns)  and in a form
approved by the Administrative  Agent.  Thereafter,  the Loans evidenced by such
promissory  note and  interest  thereon  shall  at all  times  (including  after
assignment  pursuant to Section 9.04) be represented  by one or more  promissory
notes in such form payable to the order of the payee named  therein (or, if such
promissory note is a registered note, to such payee and its registered assigns).

SECTION 2.10.  Prepayment of Loans. (a) The Borrower shall have the right at any
time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part,  subject
to prior notice in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section.

(b) In the event and on each occasion that the Commitments are reduced  pursuant
to Section  2.08(c),  the Borrower shall,  within three Business Days after such
reduction,  prepay  Borrowings in an aggregate amount equal to the lesser of the
aggregate  amount  of  Borrowings  then  outstanding  and  the  amount  of  such
reduction.

 (c) The Borrower  shall notify the  Administrative  Agent (and,  in the case of
prepayment of a Swingline Loan, the Swingline Lender) by telephone (confirmed by
telecopy)  of any  prepayment  hereunder  (i) in the  case  of  prepayment  of a
Eurodollar Revolving  Borrowing,  not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time,
three  Business  Days  before  the  date of  prepay-ment,  (ii)  in the  case of
prepayment of an ABR Revolving  Borrowing,  not later than 11:00 a.m.,  New York
City time,  one Business Day before the date of  prepayment or (iii) in the case
of  prepayment  of a Swingline  Loan,  not later than 12:00 noon,  New York City
time, on the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall
specify  the  prepayment  date and the  principal  amount of each  Borrowing  or
portion thereof to be prepaid; provided that, if a notice of optional prepayment
is  given  in  connection  with  a  conditional  notice  of  termination  of the
Commitments as  contemplated by Section 2.08, then such notice of prepayment may
be revoked if such notice of termination  is revoked in accordance  with Section
2.08.  Promptly  following  receipt  of any  such  notice  (other  than a notice
relating solely to Swingline Loans), the  Administrative  Agent shall advise the
Lenders of the contents thereof.  Each partial prepayment of any Borrowing shall
be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Borrowing
of the same Type as provided in Section  2.02.  Each  prepayment  of a Borrowing
shall be  applied  ratably  to the  Loans  included  in the  prepaid  Borrowing.
Prepayments  shall be accompanied by accrued  interest to the extent required by
Section 2.12.

SECTION 2.11. Fees. (a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the  Administrative  Agent
for the  account of each Lender a  commitment  fee,  which  shall  accrue at the
Applicable  Rate on the average  unused daily amount of the  Commitment  of such
Lender during the period from and including the Effective  Date to but excluding
the date on which such Commitment  terminates.  Accrued commitment fees shall be
payable in arrears on the last day of March,  June,  September  and  December of
each year and on the date on which the Commitments terminate,  commencing on the
first such date to occur after the date  hereof.  All  commitment  fees shall be
computed  on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual
number of days elapsed  (including the first day but excluding the last day) For
purposes of computing  commitment fees, a Commitment of a Lender shall be deemed
to be used to the extent of the  outstanding  Revolving Loans and LC Exposure of
such Lender (and the Swingline  Exposure of such Lender shall be disregarded for
such purpose).

<PAGE>

 (b) The Borrower agrees to pay (i) to the Administrative  Agent for the account
of each Lender a participation fee with respect to its participations in Letters
of  Credit,  which  shall  accrue at the same  Applicable  Rate as  interest  on
Eurodollar  Revolving  Loans on the  average  daily  amount of such  Lender's LC
Exposure  (excluding  any  portion  thereof   attributable  to  unreimbursed  LC
Disbursements)  during the period from and including  the Effective  Date to but
excluding the later of the date on which such Lender's Commitment terminates and
the date on which such Lender  ceases to have any LC  Exposure,  and (ii) to the
Issuing  Bank a fronting  fee,  which shall  accrue at the rate of 1/4 of 1% per
annum on the  average  daily  amount of the LC Exposure  (excluding  any portion
thereof  attributable to unreimbursed LC  Disbursements)  during the period from
and  including  the  Effective  Date to but  excluding  the later of the date of
termination of the  Commitments  and the date on which there ceases to be any LC
Exposure,  as well as the  Issuing  Bank's  standard  fees with  respect  to the
issuance,  amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or processing
of drawings thereunder. Participation fees and fronting fees accrued through and
including the last day of March, June, September and December of each year shall
be payable on the third Business Day following such last day,  commencing on the
first such date to occur after the Effective  Date;  provided that all such fees
shall be payable  on the date on which the  Commitments  terminate  and any such
fees accruing after the date on which the Commitments terminate shall be payable
on demand. Any other fees payable to the Issuing Bank pursuant to this paragraph
shall be  payable  within  10 days  after  demand.  All  participation  fees and
fronting  fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be
payable  for the  actual  number of days  elapsed  (including  the first day but
excluding the last day).

(c) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account,
fees payable in the amounts and at the times separately  agreed upon between the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

(d) All fees payable  hereunder  shall be paid on the dates due, in  immediately
available  funds,  to the  Administrative  Agent (or to the Issuing Bank, in the
case of fees payable to it) for distribution, in the case of commitment fees and
participation  fees,  to the Lenders  entitled  thereto.  Fees paid shall not be
refundable under any circumstances.

SECTION 2.12.  Interest.  (a) The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing (including
each Swingline Loan) shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate plus the
Applicable Rate.

 (b) The Loans  comprising each Eurodollar  Borrowing shall bear interest at the
Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the
Applicable Rate.

(c) Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  if any principal of or interest on any Loan
or any fee or other amount  payable by the  Borrower  hereunder is not paid when
due, whether at stated maturity,  upon acceleration or other-wise,  such overdue
amount  shall bear  interest,  after as well as before  judgment,  at a rate per
annum  equal to (i) in the case of overdue  principal  of any Loan,  2% plus the
rate otherwise  applicable to such Loan as provided in the preceding  paragraphs
of this  Section  or (ii) in the  case of any  other  amount,  2% plus  the rate
applicable to ABR Loans as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section.

(d) Accrued  interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each  Interest
Payment Date for such Loan and, in the case of Revolving Loans, upon termination
of the Commitments; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (c)
of this Section  shall be payable on demand,  (ii) in the event of any repayment
or  prepayment  of any Loan (other than a prepayment  of an ABR  Revolving  Loan
prior to the end of the Availability Period),  accrued interest on the principal
amount  repaid or  prepaid  shall be payable  on the date of such  repayment  or
prepayment and (iii) in the event of any conversion of any Eurodollar  Revolving
Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor,  accrued interest
on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.

(e) All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days,
except that interest  computed by reference to the Alternate  Base Rate at times
when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall be computed on the
basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and in each case shall
be payable for the actual  number of days elapsed  (including  the first day but
excluding the last day).  The  applicable  Alternate  Base Rate or Adjusted LIBO
Rate shall be determined by the  Administrative  Agent,  and such  determination
shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

SECTION 2.13.  Alternate Rate of Interest.  If prior to the commencement of any
Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing:

 (a)  the  Administrative   Agent  determines  (which   determination  shall  be
conclusive  absent  manifest  error) that adequate and  reasonable  means do not
exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate for such Interest Period; or

<PAGE>

(b) the  Administrative  Agent  is  advised  by the  Required  Lenders  that the
Adjusted  LIBO Rate for such  Interest  Period  will not  adequately  and fairly
reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or  maintaining  their Loans included
in such Borrowing for such Interest Period;

then the Administrative  Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the
Lenders by  telephone  or telecopy as promptly as  practicable  thereafter  and,
until the  Administrative  Agent  notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the
circumstances  giving  rise to such  notice no longer  exist,  (i) any  Interest
Election   Request  that  requests  the  conversion  of  any  Borrowing  to,  or
continuation  of any Borrowing as, a Eurodollar  Borrowing  shall be ineffective
and  (ii)  if any  Borrowing  Request  requests  a  Eurodollar  Borrowing,  such
Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing

SECTION 2.14.  Increased Costs.  (a)  If any Change in Law shall:

(i) impose,  modify or deem  applicable any reserve,  special deposit or similar
requirement  against  assets of,  deposits with or for the account of, or credit
extended by, any Lender  (except any such reserve  requirement  reflected in the
Adjusted LIBO Rate) or the Issuing Bank; or

(ii) impose on any Lender or the Issuing Bank or the London interbank market any
other condition affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Loans made by such Lender
or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;

and the result of any of the  foregoing  shall be to  increase  the cost to such
Lender of making or maintaining  any  Euro-dollar  Loan (or of  maintaining  its
obligation  to make any such Loan) or to increase the cost to such Lender or the
Issuing Bank of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit or
to reduce the amount of any sum  received  or  receivable  by such Lender or the
Issuing Bank hereunder (whether of principal,  interest or otherwise),  then the
Borrower  will pay to such Lender or the Issuing  Bank, as the case may be, such
additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank,
as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 (b) If any  Lender  or the  Issuing  Bank  determines  that any  Change  in Law
regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate
of return on such  Lender's or the Issuing  Bank's  capital or on the capital of
such Lender's or the Issuing Bank's holding company, if any, as a consequence of
this Agreement or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit held
by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by the Issuing Bank, to a level
below that which such Lender or the Issuing Bank or such Lender's or the Issuing
Bank's  holding  company  could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking
into consideration such Lender's or the Issuing Bank's policies and the policies
of such Lender's or the Issuing Bank's  holding  company with respect to capital
adequacy),  then from time to time the  Borrower  will pay to such Lender or the
Issuing  Bank,  as the case may be,  such  additional  amount or amounts as will
compensate  such  Lender or the  Issuing  Bank or such  Lender's  or the Issuing
Bank's holding company for any such reduction suffered.

(c) A  certificate  of a Lender or the Issuing Bank setting  forth the amount or
amounts  necessary to compensate  such Lender or the Issuing Bank or its holding
company,  as the case  may be,  as  specified  in  paragraph  (a) or (b) of this
Section  shall be  delivered  to the  Borrower  and shall be  conclusive  absent
manifest  error.  The Borrower shall pay such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the
case may be,  the  amount  shown as due on any such  certificate  within 10 days
after receipt thereof.

 (d)  Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the  Issuing  Bank to demand
compensation  pursuant to this  Section  shall not  constitute  a waiver of such
Lender's or the Issuing Bank's right to demand such compensation;  provided that
the  Borrower  shall not be required to  compensate a Lender or the Issuing Bank
pursuant to this Section for any  increased  costs or  reductions  incurred more
than 270 days prior to the date that such  Lender or the  Issuing  Bank,  as the
case may be,  notifies  the  Borrower  of the Change in Law giving  rise to such
increased  costs  or  reductions  and of such  Lender's  or the  Issuing  Bank's
intention to claim compensation  therefor;  provided further that, if the Change
in Law giving rise to such increased  costs or reductions is  retroactive,  then
the 270-day period  referred to above shall be extended to include the period of
retroactive  effect  thereof.  Neither any Lender nor the Issuing  Bank shall be
entitled to  compensation  pursuant to this Section for any  increased  costs or
reduction in amounts received or receivable  hereunder unless such Lender or the
Issuing Bank, as the case may be, represents to the Borrower that at the time it
is the policy or general  practice of such Lender or the  Issuing  Bank,  as the
case may be, to demand such compensation for comparable costs or reductions,  if
any, in similar  circumstances,  if any,  under  comparable  provisions of other
credit agreements for comparable customers.

SECTION  2.15.  Break Funding  Payments.  In the event of (a) the payment of any
principal  of any  Eurodollar  Loan  other  than on the last day of an  Interest
Period applicable  thereto  (including as a result of an Event of Default),  (b)
the conversion of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest
Period  applicable  thereto,  (c) the  failure to borrow,  convert,  continue or
prepay any Revolving Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant
hereto  (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under Section  2.10(b)
and is revoked in accordance therewith), or (d) the assignment of any Eurodollar
Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period  applicable  thereto as a
result of a request by the Borrower  pursuant to Section 2.18, then, in any such
event,  the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense
attributable to such event. In the case of a Eurodollar Loan, such loss, cost or
expense to any Lender  shall be deemed to include an amount  determined  by such
Lender to be the excess,  if any, of (i) the amount of interest which would have
accrued on the principal amount of such Loan had such event not occurred, at the
Adjusted LIBO Rate that would have been  applicable to such Loan, for the period
from the date of such event to the last day of the then current  Interest Period
therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow,  convert or continue,  for the
period that would have been the  Interest  Period for such Loan),  over (ii) the
amount of interest which would accrue on such  principal  amount for such period
at the  interest  rate  which  such  Lender  would  bid  were it to bid,  at the
commencement  of such period,  for dollar  deposits of a  comparable  amount and
period from other banks in the  Eurodollar  market.  A certificate of any Lender
setting  forth any amount or amounts  that such  Lender is  entitled  to receive
pursuant  to this  Section,  shall be  delivered  to the  Borrower  and shall be
conclusive  absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount
shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

<PAGE>

 SECTION  2.16.  Taxes.  (a)  Any  and  all  payments  by or on  account  of any
obligation of the Borrower  hereunder or under any other Loan Document  shall be
made free and clear of and without  deduction for any Indemnified Taxes or Other
Taxes; provided that if the Borrower shall be required to deduct any Indemnified
Taxes or Other  Taxes  from such  payments,  then (i) the sum  payable  shall be
increased as necessary so that after making all required  deductions  (including
deductions  applicable  to  additional  sums  payable  under this  Section)  the
Administrative  Agent,  Lender or Issuing  Bank (as the case may be) receives an
amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made,
(ii) the Borrower  shall make such  deductions  and (iii) the Borrower shall pay
the full amount  deducted to the relevant  Governmental  Authority in accordance
with applicable law.

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

(c) The Borrower shall indemnify the  Administrative  Agent, each Lender and the
Issuing Bank, within 10 days after written demand therefor,  for the full amount
of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes paid by the  Administrative  Agent, such
Lender  or the  Issuing  Bank,  as the case may be,  on or with  respect  to any
payment by or on account of any  obligation  of the Borrower  hereunder or under
any other Loan Document  (including  Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or
asserted on or  attributable  to amounts  payable  under this  Section)  and any
penalties,  interest and reasonable  expenses arising  therefrom or with respect
thereto,  whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or
legally  imposed  or  asserted  by  the  relevant  Governmental   Authority.   A
certificate  as to the amount of such  payment  or  liability  delivered  to the
Borrower by a Lender or the Issuing Bank, or by the Administrative  Agent on its
own behalf or on behalf of a Lender or the  Issuing  Bank,  shall be  conclusive
absent manifest error.

(d) As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes
by the Borrower to a Governmental  Authority,  the Borrower shall deliver to the
Administrative  Agent the  original or a certified  copy of a receipt  issued by
such  Governmental  Authority  evidencing  such  payment,  a copy of the  return
reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory
to the Administrative Agent.

 (e) Any Foreign  Lender that is entitled to an  exemption  from or reduction of
withholding  tax under the law of the  jurisdiction  in which  the  Borrower  is
located,  or any treaty to which such  jurisdiction is a party,  with respect to
payments under this Agreement  shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the
Administrative  Agent),  at the time or times prescribed by applicable law, such
properly  completed and executed  documentation  prescribed by applicable law or
reasonably  requested  by the  Borrower as will permit such  payments to be made
without  withholding  or at a reduced rate provided that such Foreign Lender has
received  written notice from the Borrower  advising it of the  availability  of
such exemption or reduction and containing all applicable documentation.

SECTION 2.17. Payments Generally;  Pro Rata Treatment;  Sharing of Setoffs.  (a)
The  Borrower  shall make each  payment  required to be made by it  hereunder or
under  any  other  Loan  Document  (whether  of  principal,  interest,  fees  or
reimbursement  of LC  Disbursements,  or of amounts  payable under Section 2.14,
2.15 or 2.16,  or  other-wise)  prior to 12:00 noon,  New York City time, on the
date when due, in immediately  available funds, without set-off or counterclaim.
Any amounts  received  after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the
Administrative  Agent,  be deemed to have been  received on the next  succeeding
Business Day for purposes of  calculating  interest  thereon.  All such payments
shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its offices at 270 Park Avenue, New
York,  New York,  except  payments to be made  directly  to the Issuing  Bank or
Swing-line Lender as expressly provided herein and except that payments pursuant
to  Sections  2.14,  2.15,  2.16 and 9.03 shall be made  directly to the Persons
entitled thereto and payments  pursuant to other Loan Documents shall be made to
the Persons specified  therein.  The  Administrative  Agent shall distribute any
such  payments  received  by it for  the  account  of any  other  Person  to the
appropriate  recipient promptly following receipt thereof.  If any payment under
any Loan Document shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for
payment shall be extended to the next succeeding  Business Day, and, in the case
of any payment  accruing  interest,  interest  thereon  shall be payable for the
period of such extension. All payments under each Loan Document shall be made in
dollars.

(b) If at any time  insufficient  funds are  received  by and  available  to the
Administrative  Agent to pay fully all  amounts of  principal,  unreimbursed  LC
Disbursements, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied
(i) first,  towards  payment of interest  and fees then due  hereunder,  ratably
among the parties  entitled  thereto in accordance  with the amounts of interest
and fees then due to such parties, and (ii) second, towards payment of principal
and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due hereunder,  ratably among the parties
entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal and unreimbursed LC
Disbursements then due to such parties.

<PAGE>

 (c) If any Lender shall,  by exercising any right of setoff or  counterclaim or
otherwise,  obtain  payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of
its Revolving Loans or  participations  in LC  Disbursements  or Swingline Loans
resulting  in such  Lender  receiving  payment  of a greater  proportion  of the
aggregate amount of its Revolving Loans and  participations  in LC Disbursements
and Swingline Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by
any other  Lender,  then the Lender  receiving  such  greater  proportion  shall
purchase  (for cash at face value)  participations  in the  Revolving  Loans and
participations  in LC Disbursements  and Swingline Loans of other Lenders to the
extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the
Lenders  ratably in  accordance  with the  aggregate  amount of principal of and
accrued interest on their respective  Revolving Loans and  participations  in LC
Disbursements and Swingline Loans;  provided that (i) if any such participations
are  purchased  and all or any  portion of the payment  giving  rise  thereto is
recovered,  such  participations  shall  be  rescinded  and the  purchase  price
restored  to the  extent  of such  recovery,  without  interest,  and  (ii)  the
provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment made
by the Borrower  pursuant to and in  accordance  with the express  terms of this
Agreement  or  any  payment  obtained  by a  Lender  as  consideration  for  the
assignment of or sale of a participation  in any of its Loans or  participations
in LC Disbursements  to any assignee or participant,  other than to the Borrower
or any  Subsidiary  or  Affiliate  thereof (as to which the  provisions  of this
paragraph shall apply).  The Borrower  consents to the foregoing and agrees,  to
the  extent it may  effectively  do so under  applicable  law,  that any  Lender
acquiring a participation  pursuant to the foregoing  arrangements  may exercise
against the  Borrower  rights of setoff and  counterclaim  with  respect to such
participation  as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower
in the amount of such participation.

 (d)  Unless  the  Administrative  Agent  shall have  received  notice  from the
Borrower  prior to the date on which any  payment  is due to the  Administrative
Agent for the  account of the  Lenders or the Issuing  Bank  hereunder  that the
Borrower will not make such payment,  the  Administrative  Agent may assume that
the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance  herewith and may,
in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the Issuing Bank,
as the case may be, the amount due. In such event,  if the  Borrower  has not in
fact made such  payment,  then each of the Lenders or the Issuing  Bank,  as the
case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative  Agent forthwith on
demand the amount so  distributed  to such Lender or Issuing Bank with  interest
thereon,  for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to
it to but  excluding  the date of payment to the  Administrative  Agent,  at the
greater  of the  Federal  Funds  Effective  Rate  and a rate  determined  by the
Administrative  Agent in  accordance  with banking  industry  rules on interbank
compensation.

(e) If any  Lender  shall  fail to make any  payment  required  to be made by it
pursuant to Section 2.04(c),  2.05(d) or (e), 2.06(b),  2.17(d) or 9.03(c), then
the Administrative  Agent may, in its discretion  (notwithstanding  any contrary
provision hereof),  apply any amounts thereafter  received by the Administrative
Agent for the account of such Lender to satisfy such Lender's  obligations under
such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid.

SECTION 2.18. Mitigation Obligations;  Replacement of Lenders. (a) If any Lender
requests  compensation under Section 2.14, or if the Borrower is required to pay
any  additional  amount to any  Lender  or any  Governmental  Authority  for the
account of any Lender  pursuant  to Section  2.16,  then such  Lender  shall use
reasonable  efforts to  designate  a  different  lending  office for  funding or
booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to
another of its  offices,  branches or  affiliates,  if, in the  judgment of such
Lender,  such  designation or assignment  (i) would  eliminate or reduce amounts
payable  pursuant to Section 2.14 or 2.16, as the case may be, in the future and
(ii) in the  judgment  of such  Lender,  would not  subject  such  Lender to any
unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be  disadvantageous to such
Lender.  The Borrower  hereby  agrees to pay all  reasonable  costs and expenses
incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 (b) If any Lender requests  compensation under Section 2.14, or if the Borrower
is  required  to pay any  additional  amount to any  Lender or any  Governmental
Authority  for the  account of any Lender  pursuant to Section  2.16,  or if any
Lender  defaults in its  obligation to fund Loans  hereunder,  then the Borrower
may,  at its sole  expense  and  effort,  upon  notice  to such  Lender  and the
Administrative  Agent,  require  such  Lender to assign  and  delegate,  without
recourse  (in  accordance  with and  subject to the  restrictions  contained  in
Section 9.04), all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to
an assignee that shall assume such  obligations  (which  assignee may be another
Lender,  if a Lender  accepts such  assignment);  provided that (i) the Borrower
shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative  Agent (and,
if a Commitment is being assigned, the Issuing Bank and Swingline Lender), which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received
payment  of an  amount  equal to the  outstanding  principal  of its  Loans  and
participations  in  LC  Disbursements  and  Swingline  Loans,  accrued  interest
thereon,  accrued fees and all other amounts  payable to it hereunder,  from the
assignee (to the extent of such  outstanding  principal and accrued interest and
fees) or the Borrower  (in the case of all other  amounts) and (iii) in the case
of any such  assignment  resulting from a claim for  compensation  under Section
2.14 or payments  required to be made pursuant to Section 2.16,  such assignment
will result in a material  reduction in such compensation or payments.  A Lender
shall not be required  to make any such  assignment  and  delegation  if,  prior
thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise,  the circumstances
entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE III

                         Representations and Warranties

The Borrower represents and warrants to the Lenders that:

SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers. Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is
duly  organized,  validly  existing and in good  standing  under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its organization, has all requisite power and authority to carry
on its  business  as now  conducted  and,  except  where the  failure  to do so,
individually or in the aggregate,  could not reasonably be expected to result in
a Material  Adverse  Effect,  is  qualified  to do  business  in, and is in good
standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required.

SECTION 3.02. Authorization; Enforceability. The Transactions to be entered into
by each Loan Party are within such Loan Party's  corporate  powers and have been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate and, if required, stockholder action.
This  Agreement  has been  duly  executed  and  delivered  by the  Borrower  and
constitutes,  and each  other Loan  Document  to which any Loan Party is to be a
party, when executed and delivered by such Loan Party, will constitute, a legal,
valid and binding obligation of the Borrower or such Loan Party (as the case may
be),   enforce-able  in  accordance  with  its  terms,   subject  to  applicable
bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,  moratorium  or other  laws  affecting
creditors'  rights  generally  and  subject  to  general  principles  of equity,
regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

 SECTION 3.03. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts. The Transactions (a) do not
require any consent or approval of,  registration  or filing with,  or any other
action by, any Governmental Authority, except such as have been obtained or made
and are in full force and effect,  (b) will not violate  any  applicable  law or
regulation  or the  charter,  by-laws or other  organizational  documents of the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any order of any Governmental  Authority,
(c) will not violate or result in a default  under any  indenture,  agreement or
other  instrument  binding upon the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  or its
assets,  or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and (d) will not result in the creation
or  imposition  of  any  Lien  on  any  asset  of  the  Borrower  or  any of its
Subsidiaries, except Liens created under the Loan Documents.

SECTION 3.04. Financial Condition;  No Material Adverse Change. (a) The Borrower
has  heretofore  furnished  to the Lenders its  consolidated  balance  sheet and
statements of income,  stockholders' equity and cash flows (i) as of and for the
fiscal  year ended  December  31,  1999,  reported  on by Deloitte & Touche LLP,
independent  public  accountants,  and (ii) as of and for the fiscal quarter and
the  portion of the fiscal  year ended March 31,  2000,  certified  by its chief
financial  officer.  Such financial  statements  present fairly, in all material
respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the
Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods
in accordance with GAAP,  subject to year-end audit  adjustments and the absence
of footnotes in the case of the statements referred to in clause (ii) above.

(b) Since  December 31, 1999,  there has been no material  adverse change in the
business, assets, operations, prospects or condition, financial or otherwise, of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

SECTION 3.05. Properties. (a) Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has good
title to, or valid  leasehold  interests in, all its real and personal  property
material  to its  business,  except  for  minor  defects  in  title  that do not
interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently  conducted or to
utilize such properties for their intended purposes.

 (b) Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries  owns, or is licensed to use, all
trademarks,  trade names,  copyrights,  patents and other intellectual  property
material  to its  business,  and  the  use  thereof  by  the  Borrower  and  its
Subsidiaries  does not infringe upon the rights of any other Person,  except for
any  such  infringements  that,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  could  not
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.06.  Litigation and Environmental  Matters.  (a) There are no actions,
suits or  proceedings  by or before any  arbitrator  or  Governmental  Authority
pending  against or, to the  knowledge of the  Borrower,  threatened  against or
affecting  the  Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  (i) as to which there is a
reasonable  possibility  of an  adverse  determination  and that,  if  adversely
deter-mined, could reasonably be expected,  individually or in the aggregate, to
result in a Material  Adverse Effect (other than the Disclosed  Matters) or (ii)
that involve any of the Loan Documents or the Transactions.

(b)  Except for the  Disclosed  Matters,  neither  the  Borrower  nor any of its
Subsidiaries  (i)  has  failed  to  comply  in any  material  respect  with  any
Environmental  Law or to obtain,  maintain or comply with any  material  permit,
license or other approval required under any Environmental  Law, (ii) has become
subject to any material  Environmental  Liability,  (iii) has received notice of
any claim with respect to any material Environmental  Liability or (iv) knows of
any basis for any material Environmental Liability.

(c) Since the date of this Agreement,  there has been no change in the status of
the  Disclosed  Matters  that has  resulted  in,  or  materially  increased  the
likelihood of, a material liability.

<PAGE>

(d) For purposes of paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Section, "material" means any
noncompliance  or basis for liability that could reasonably be likely to subject
the Borrower or any of the  Subsidiaries  to liability,  individually  or in the
aggregate, in excess of $5,000,000.

SECTION 3.07. Compliance with Laws and Agreements.  Each of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries  is in  compliance  with all laws,  regulations  and  orders of any
Governmental  Authority  applicable  to it or its property  and all  indentures,
agreements and other instruments  binding upon it or its property,  except where
the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate,  could not reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  No Default has occurred and is
continuing.

 SECTION 3.08.  Investment and Holding Company Status.  Neither the Borrower nor
any of its Subsidiaries is (a) an "investment company" as defined in, or subject
to  regulation  under,  the  Investment  Company  Act of 1940 or (b) a  "holding
company"  as defined  in, or subject to  regulation  under,  the Public  Utility
Holding Company Act of 1935.

SECTION 3.09.  Taxes. Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has timely filed
or caused to be filed all Tax returns  and  reports  required to have been filed
and has paid or caused to be paid all  Taxes  required  to have been paid by it,
except  (a) any Taxes  that are being  contested  in good  faith by  appropriate
proceedings and for which the Borrower or such  Subsidiary,  as applicable,  has
set aside on its books  adequate  reserves or (b) to the extent that the failure
to do so could not  reasonably  be  expected  to result  in a  Material  Adverse
Effect.

SECTION 3.10.  ERISA.  No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably  expected to
occur  that,  when taken  together  with all other  such ERISA  Events for which
liability  is  reasonably  expected to occur,  could  reasonably  be expected to
result in a  Material  Adverse  Effect.  The  present  value of all  accumulated
benefit  obligations under each Plan (based on the assumptions used for purposes
of Statement of Financial  Accounting  Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date
of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed the fair
market  value  of the  assets  of  such  Plan,  and  the  present  value  of all
accumulated   benefit  obligations  of  all  underfunded  Plans  (based  on  the
assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.
87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial  statements  reflecting
such amounts, exceed the fair market value of the assets of all such underfunded
Plans.

 SECTION  3.11.  Disclosure.  The Borrower has  disclosed to the Lenders (a) all
agreements,  instruments  and  corporate  or other  restrictions  to  which  the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is subject,  and (b) all other matters known
to any of them, that (in the case of both clauses (a) and (b)),  individually or
in the aggregate,  could  reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.  Neither  the  Information  Memorandum  nor  any of the  other  reports,
financial  statements,  certificates  or other  information  furnished  by or on
behalf of any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection
with the  negotiation  of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or delivered
hereunder or thereunder  (as modified or  supplemented  by other  information so
furnished)  contains  any  material  misstatement  of fact or omits to state any
material  fact  necessary to make the  statements  therein,  in the light of the
circumstances  under which they were made, not  misleading;  provided that, with
respect to projected  financial  information,  the Borrower represents only that
such information was prepared in good faith based upon  assumptions  believed to
be reasonable at the time.

SECTION  3.12.  Subsidiaries.  Schedule  3.12 sets  forth  the name of,  and the
ownership  interest of the  Borrower in, each  Subsidiary  and  identifies  each
Subsidiary  that is a Subsidiary  Loan Party,  in each case as of the  Effective
Date.

SECTION 3.13. Insurance. Schedule 3.13 sets forth a description of all insurance
maintained by or on behalf of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the
Effective Date.  As of the Effective Date, all premiums in respect of such
insurance have been paid.

SECTION 3.14.  Labor Matters.  As of the Effective  Date,  there are no strikes,
lockouts or slowdowns against the Borrower or any Subsidiary  pending or, to the
knowledge of the Borrower,  threatened.  The Borrower and the Subsidiaries  have
not been in violation of the Fair Labor  Standards  Act or any other  applicable
Federal,  state,  local or  foreign  law  dealing  with the  hours  worked by or
payments  made to  employees or any similar  matters.  All payments due from the
Borrower  or any  Subsidiary,  or for which any  claim may be made  against  the
Borrower or any Subsidiary,  on account of wages and employee health and welfare
insurance  and other  benefits,  have been paid or accrued as a liability on the
books of the Borrower or such  Subsidiary  to the extent  required by GAAP.  The
consummation of the Transactions  will not give rise to any right of termination
or  right  of  renegotiation  on the  part of any  union  under  any  collective
bargaining agreement to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is bound.

SECTION  3.15.  Security  Documents.  (a) The Pledge  Agreement  is effective to
create in favor of the Collateral  Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured
Parties, a legal, valid and enforceable  security interest in the Collateral (as
defined in the Pledge  Agreement)  and, when such Collateral is delivered to the
Collateral  Agent, the Pledge Agreement shall constitute a fully perfected first
priority  Lien on, and security  interest  in, all right,  title and interest of
each pledgor  thereunder in such Collateral,  in each case prior and superior in
right to any other Person.

<PAGE>

 (b) The Security  Agreement  is effective to create in favor of the  Collateral
Agent,  for the  ratable  benefit of the  Secured  Parties,  a legal,  valid and
enforceable  security  interest in the  Collateral  (as defined in the  Security
Agreement) and, when financing  statements in appropriate  form are filed in the
offices  specified  on Schedule 6 to the  Perfection  Certificate,  the Security
Agreement shall constitute a fully perfected Lien on, and security  interest in,
all right, title and interest of the grantors thereunder in such Collateral,  to
the extent that a security  interest  can be  perfected  in such  Collateral  by
filing,  recording or registering a financing statement or analogous document in
the United States (or any political subdivision thereof) and its territories and
possessions  pursuant to the Uniform  Commercial Code or other applicable law in
such jurisdiction, in each case prior and superior in right to any other Person,
other than with respect to Liens expressly permitted by Section 6.02.

(c) When  the  Security  Agreement  is filed in the  United  States  Patent  and
Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office,  the Security Agreement
shall constitute a fully perfected Lien on, and security interest in, all right,
title and interest of the Loan Parties in the Intellectual  Property (as defined
in the  Security  Agreement)  in which a security  interest  may be perfected by
filing,  recording or registering a security  agreement,  financing statement or
analogous  document  in the United  States  Patent and  Trademark  Office or the
United States Copyright Office,  as applicable,  in each case prior and superior
in right to any other  Person  other than Liens  expressly  permitted by Section
6.02 (it being understood that subsequent recordings in the United States Patent
and Trademark  Office and the United States Copyright Office may be necessary to
perfect a Lien on registered  trademarks,  trademark applications and copyrights
acquired by the Loan Parties after the date hereof).

SECTION 3.16.  Year 2000  Compliance.  There has not occurred,  and the Borrower
does not expect that there will occur, any material disruption in the operations
or business  systems of the  Borrower  or the  Subsidiaries  resulting  from the
inability of computer  systems of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries or equipment
containing  embedded  microchips  (including  systems and equipment  supplied by
others or with which the Borrower's  systems interface) to recognize or properly
process dates in or following the year 2000.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                                   Conditions

SECTION 4.01.  Effective  Date. The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and
of the  Issuing  Bank to issue  Letters  of Credit  hereunder  shall not  become
effective until the date on which each of the following  conditions is satisfied
(or waived in accordance with Section 9.02):

(a) The  Administrative  Agent (or its counsel)  shall have  received  from each
party hereto either (i) a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such
party or (ii) written evidence  satisfactory to the Administrative  Agent (which
may include telecopy  transmission of a signed signature page of this Agreement)
that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement.

(b) The  Administrative  Agent shall have received a favorable  written  opinion
(addressed to the  Administrative  Agent and the Lenders and dated the Effective
Date) of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP, counsel for the Borrower,  substantially in
the form of Exhibit B and  covering  such  other  matters  relating  to the Loan
Parties,  the Loan Documents or the  Transactions as the Required  Lenders shall
reasonably  request.  The Borrower  hereby requests such counsel to deliver such
opinion.

(c) The Administrative Agent shall have received such documents and certificates
as the  Administrative  Agent or its counsel may reasonably  request relating to
the  organization,   existence  and  good  standing  of  each  Loan  Party,  the
authorization  of the  Transactions  and any other legal matters relating to the
Loan Parties, the Loan Documents or the Transactions,  all in form and substance
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.

(d) The  Administrative  Agent  shall  have  received a  certificate,  dated the
Effective  Date and signed by the  President,  a Vice  President  or a Financial
Officer of the Borrower,  confirming compliance with the conditions set forth in
paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 4.02.

 (e) The Administrative Agent shall have received all fees and other amounts due
and  payable  on or  prior  to the  Effective  Date,  including,  to the  extent
invoiced,  reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses required to be
reimbursed or paid by any Loan Party hereunder or under any other Loan Document.

(f)  The  Collateral  Agent  shall  have  received  counterparts  of the  Pledge
Agreement  signed on behalf of the Loan Parties,  and the Collateral Agent shall
have received certificates or other instruments representing all the outstanding
Equity Interests of each Subsidiary (except that stock certificates representing
shares of common  stock of a Foreign  Subsidiary  may be  limited  to 65% of the
outstanding  shares of common stock of such Foreign  Subsidiary),  together with
stock powers or other  instruments of transfer with respect thereto  endorsed in
blank.

(g) The  Collateral  Agent  shall have  received  counterparts  of the  Security
Agreement signed on behalf of the Loan Parties, together with the following:

<PAGE>

(i) all documents and instruments,  including Uniform  Commercial Code financing
statements,  required by law or reasonably  requested by the Collateral Agent to
be filed,  registered or recorded to create or perfect the Liens  intended to be
created under the Security Agreement; and

(ii) a completed  Perfection  Certificate dated the Effective Date and signed by
an executive  officer or Financial  Officer of the  Borrower,  together with all
attachments  contemplated  thereby,  including  the  results  of a search of the
Uniform  Commercial Code (or  equivalent)  filings made with respect to the Loan
Parties in the  jurisdictions  contemplated  by the Perfection  Certificate  and
copies of the  financing  statements  (or similar  documents)  disclosed by such
search and evidence  reasonably  satisfactory  to the Collateral  Agent that the
Liens  indicated  by  such  financing  statements  (or  similar  documents)  are
permitted by Section 6.02 or have been released.

(h) The  Administrative  Agent  shall  have  received  (i)  counterparts  of the
Subsidiary  Guarantee  Agreement  signed on behalf of each Subsidiary Loan Party
and (ii) counterparts of the Indemnity,  Subrogation and Contribution  Agreement
signed on behalf of the Borrower and each Subsidiary Loan Party.

(i) The  Administrative  Agent shall have received  evidence  satisfactory to it
that the insurance required by Section 5.07 is in effect.

 (j) After giving effect to the Transactions,  the Borrower and the Subsidiaries
shall  not have  outstanding  any  Indebtedness,  other  than  (i)  Indebtedness
incurred  under the Loan Documents and (ii)  Indebtedness  set forth on Schedule
6.01. All the Existing  Indebtedness  (other than the  Indebtedness set forth on
Schedule  6.01) shall have been repaid in full; the  commitments  related to the
Existing  Indebtedness shall have been permanently  terminated;  all obligations
related to the Existing Indebtedness and all security interests relating thereto
shall have been  discharged;  and the  Administrative  Agent shall have received
reasonably satisfactory evidence of such repayment, termination and discharge.

The  Administrative  Agent  shall  notify the  Borrower  and the  Lenders of the
Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding. Notwithstanding
the foregoing,  the  obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of the Issuing
Bank to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective unless each
of the foregoing conditions is satisfied (or waived pursuant to Section 9.02) at
or prior to 3:00 p.m.,  New York City time, on April 25, 2000 (and, in the event
such conditions are not so satisfied or waived,  the Commitments shall terminate
at such time).

SECTION 4.02. Each Credit Event. The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on
the occasion of any Borrowing, and of the Issuing Bank to issue, amend, renew or
extend any Letter of Credit,  is subject to the  satisfaction  of the  following
conditions:

(a) The  representations and warranties of each Loan Party set forth in the Loan
Documents  shall be true and correct on and as of the date of such  Borrowing or
the date of issuance,  amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit,
as applicable.

(b) At the time of and immediately  after giving effect to such Borrowing or the
issuance,  amendment,  renewal  or  extension  of  such  Letter  of  Credit,  as
applicable, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

Each Borrowing and each issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of
Credit  shall be deemed to  constitute  a  representation  and  warranty  by the
Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters  specified in paragraphs  (a) and
(b) of this Section.

                                    ARTICLE V

                              Affirmative Covenants

Until the  Commitments  have expired or been terminated and the principal of and
interest  on each Loan and all fees  payable  hereunder  shall have been paid in
full and all  Letters of Credit  shall have  expired  or  terminated  and all LC
Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, the Borrower covenants and agrees with
the Lenders that:

SECTION 5.01.  Financial Statements and Other Information.  The Borrower will
furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

(a)  within  90 days  after the end of each  fiscal  year of the  Borrower,  its
audited  consolidated  balance  sheet  and  related  statements  of  operations,
stockholders'  equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such year, setting
forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year,
all reported on by Deloitte & Touche LLP or other independent public accountants
of recognized national standing (without a "going concern" or like qualification
or exception and without any  qualification or exception as to the scope of such
audit) to the effect that such consolidated  financial statements present fairly
in all material  respects the  financial  condition and results of operations of
the  Borrower  and its  consolidated  Subsidiaries  on a  consolidated  basis in
accordance with GAAP consistently applied;

<PAGE>

(b) within 45 days after the end of each of the first three  fiscal  quarters of
each fiscal year of the Borrower, the Borrower's  consolidated and consolidating
balance sheet and related  statements of  operations,  stockholders'  equity and
cash flows as of the end of and for such  fiscal  quarter  and the then  elapsed
portion of the fiscal year,  setting forth in each case in comparative  form the
figures  for the  corresponding  period or  periods  of (or,  in the case of the
balance sheet,  as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified by one
of its  Financial  Officers as  presenting  fairly in all material  respects the
financial   condition  and  results  of  operations  of  the  Borrower  and  its
consolidated   Subsidiaries  on  a  consolidated  and  consolidating   basis  in
accordance  with GAAP  consistently  applied,  subject to normal  year-end audit
adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

 (c) concurrently with any delivery of financial  statements under clause (a) or
(b) above, a certificate  of a Financial  Officer of the Borrower (i) certifying
as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has occurred,  specifying
the details  thereof and any action  taken or proposed to be taken with  respect
thereto,  (ii) setting  forth  reasonably  detailed  calculations  demonstrating
compliance  with  Sections  6.12,  6.13 and 6.14 and (iii)  stating  whether any
change in GAAP or in the application  thereof has occurred since the date of the
Borrower's audited financial  statements referred to in Section 3.04 and, if any
such change has occurred,  specifying the effect of such change on the financial
statements accompanying such certificate;

(d)  concurrently  with any  delivery of financial  statements  under clause (a)
above,  a certificate  of the  accounting  firm that reported on such  financial
statements  stating whether they obtained  knowledge  during the course of their
examination of such financial  statements of any Default (which  certificate may
be limited to the extent required by accounting rules or guidelines);

(e) at  least 30 days  prior  to the  commencement  of each  fiscal  year of the
Borrower,  a detailed  consolidated  budget for such  fiscal year  (including  a
projected  consolidated  balance  sheet  and  related  statements  of  projected
operations  and cash flow as of the end of and for such  fiscal year and setting
forth the assumptions used for purposes of preparing such budget) and,  promptly
when available, any significant revisions of such budget;

(f) promptly after the same become  publicly  available,  copies of all periodic
and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by the Borrower or
any Subsidiary with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Govern-mental
Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of said Commission,  or with
any  national  securities  exchange,  or  distributed  by  the  Borrower  to its
share-holders generally, as the case may be; and

(g) promptly  following any request therefor,  such other information  regarding
the operations,  business affairs and financial condition of the Borrower or any
Subsidiary,  or  compliance  with  the  terms  of  any  Loan  Document,  as  the
Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.

 SECTION 5.02.  Notices of Material Events.  The Borrower will furnish to the
Administrative Agent and each Lender prompt written notice of the following:

(a) the occurrence of any Default;

(b) the filing or  commencement  of any action,  suit or proceeding by or before
any arbitrator or  Governmental  Authority  against or affecting the Borrower or
any  Affiliate  thereof  that,  if adversely  determined,  could  reasonably  be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(c) the  occurrence  of any ERISA Event that,  alone or together  with any other
ERISA  Events  that have  occurred,  could  reasonably  be expected to result in
liability of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding
$5,000,000; and

(d) any other  development  that results in, or could  reasonably be expected to
result in, a Material Adverse Effect.

Each notice  delivered under this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of
a Financial Officer or other executive officer of the Borrower setting forth the
details of the event or  development  requiring such notice and any action taken
or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.

SECTION 5.03. Information Regarding Collateral. (a) The Borrower will furnish to
the  Administrative  Agent prompt  written  notice of any change (i) in any Loan
Party's  corporate  name or in any trade name used to identify it in the conduct
of its business or in the ownership of its  properties,  (ii) in the location of
any Loan Party's chief executive  office,  its principal place of business,  any
office in which it maintains books or records relating to Collateral owned by it
or any office or facility at which Collateral owned by it is located  (including
the establishment of any such new office or facility), (iii) in any Loan Party's
identity or corporate  structure or (iv) in any Loan  Party's  Federal  Taxpayer
Identification  Number.  The Borrower  agrees not to effect or permit any change
referred to in the  preceding  sentence  unless all filings have been made under
the Uniform  Commercial  Code or  otherwise  that are  required in order for the
Collateral Agent to continue at all times following such change to have a valid,
legal and perfected  security interest in all the Collateral.  The Borrower also
agrees promptly to notify the  Administrative  Agent if any material  portion of
the Collateral is damaged or destroyed.

<PAGE>

 (b) Each year,  at the time of delivery  of annual  financial  statements  with
respect to the preceding fiscal year pursuant to clause (a) of Section 5.01, the
Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative  Agent a certificate of a Financial
Officer of the Borrower (i) setting forth the information  required  pursuant to
Section 2 of the  Perfection  Certificate  or confirming  that there has been no
change  in  such  information  since  the  date  of the  Perfection  Certificate
delivered  on the  Effective  Date or the  date of the most  recent  certificate
delivered  pursuant  to this  Section  and  (ii)  certifying  that  all  Uniform
Commercial Code financing statements  (including fixture filings, as applicable)
or  other  appropriate  filings,  recordings  or  registrations,  including  all
refilings,  rerecordings  and  reregistrations,  containing a description of the
Collateral  have been filed of record in each  governmental,  municipal or other
appropriate office in each jurisdiction  identified pursuant to clause (i) above
to the extent necessary to protect and perfect the security  interests under the
Security  Agreement  for a period of not less  than 18 months  after the date of
such  certificate  (except as noted  therein  with  respect to any  continuation
statements to be filed within such period).

SECTION 5.04. Existence;  Conduct of Business. The Borrower will, and will cause
each of its  Subsidiaries  to, do or cause to be done all  things  necessary  to
preserve,  renew and keep in full force and effect its legal  existence  and the
rights,  licenses,  permits,   privileges,   franchises,   patents,  copyrights,
trademarks  and trade names  material to the conduct of its  business;  provided
that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation,  liquidation or
dissolution permitted under Section 6.03.

SECTION 5.05. Payment of Obligations.  The Borrower will, and will cause each of
its Subsidiaries to, pay its Indebtedness and other  obligations,  including Tax
liabilities, before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where
(a) the  validity  or  amount  thereof  is  being  contested  in good  faith  by
appropriate  proceedings,  (b) the Borrower or such  Subsidiary has set aside on
its books adequate  reserves with respect  thereto in accordance  with GAAP, (c)
such contest effectively suspends collection of the contested obligation and the
enforcement  of any Lien  securing such  obligation  and (d) the failure to make
payment  pending such contest  could not  reasonably  be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect.

 SECTION 5.06. Maintenance of Properties. The Borrower will, and will cause each
of its Subsidiaries  to, keep and maintain all property  material to the conduct
of its  business in good working  order and  condition,  ordinary  wear and tear
excepted;  provided that nothing in this Section 5.06 shall prevent the Borrower
from  discontinuing the operation or maintenance of any of such property if such
discontinuance is, in the judgment of the Borrower,  desirable in the conduct of
its business or the business of any  Subsidiary and not  disadvantageous  in any
material respect to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders.

SECTION  5.07.  Insurance.  The  Borrower  will,  and  will  cause  each  of its
Subsidiaries  to,  maintain,  with  financially  sound and  reputable  insurance
companies  (a) insurance in such amounts  (with no greater risk  retention)  and
against such risks as are  customarily  maintained  by companies of  established
repute  engaged  in the  same or  similar  businesses  operating  in the same or
similar  locations and (b) all insurance  required to be maintained  pursuant to
the Security Documents.  The Borrower will furnish to the Lenders,  upon request
of  the  Administrative  Agent,  information  in  reasonable  detail  as to  the
insurance so maintained.

SECTION 5.08.  Casualty and  Condemnation.  (a) The Borrower (a) will furnish to
the  Administrative  Agent and the Lenders prompt written notice of any casualty
or other  insured  damage  to any  material  portion  of any  Collateral  or the
commencement of any action or proceeding for the taking of any Collateral or any
part  thereof  or  interest   therein  under  power  of  eminent  domain  or  by
condemnation  or  similar  proceeding  and (b)  will  ensure  that  the Net Cash
Proceeds  of  any  such  event  (whether  in the  form  of  insurance  proceeds,
condemnation  awards or otherwise) are collected and applied in accordance  with
the applicable provisions of the Security Documents.

SECTION 5.09. Books and Records;  Inspection.  The Borrower will, and will cause
each of its  Subsidiaries  to, keep proper  books of record and account in which
full,  true and correct  entries are made of all  dealings and  transactions  in
relation to its business and activities.  The Borrower will, and will cause each
of  its   Subsidiaries  to,  permit  any   representatives   designated  by  the
Administrative  Agent or any Lender,  upon reasonable prior notice, to visit and
inspect its properties, to examine and make extracts from its books and records,
and to discuss  its  affairs,  finances  and  condition  with its  officers  and
independent accountants, all at such reasonable times and as often as reasonably
requested.

 SECTION 5.10.  Compliance  with Laws. The Borrower will, and will cause each of
its Subsidiaries to, comply with all laws, rules,  regulations and orders of any
Governmental  Authority,  including  Environmental Laws, applicable to it or its
property,  except where the failure to do so,  individually or in the aggregate,
could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.11.  Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit.  The proceeds of the Loans
will be used (a) for the repayment of Existing Indebtedness, (b) for the payment
of fees and expenses  incurred in connection with the  Transactions  and (c) for
general  corporate  purposes.  No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used,
whether directly or indirectly,  for any purpose that entails a violation of any
of the  Regulations of the Board,  including  Regulations T, U and X. Letters of
Credit will be issued only for general  corporate  purposes of the  Borrower and
the Subsidiaries.

SECTION 5.12. Additional Subsidiaries. If any additional Subsidiary is formed or
acquired after the Effective  Date, the Borrower will notify the  Administrative
Agent and the Lenders  thereof and (a) if such  Subsidiary is a Subsidiary  Loan
Party,  (i) the  Borrower  will cause such  Subsidiary  to execute and deliver a
Subsidiary  Guarantee  Agreement,  (ii) the  Borrower and such  Subsidiary  will
execute and deliver (or, if already  executed and  delivered,  the Borrower will
cause  such  Subsidiary  to become a party  to) the  Indemnity  Subrogation  and
Contribution  Agreement  and (iii) the Borrower  will cause such  Subsidiary  to
become a party to the Security  Agreement and the Pledge Agreement in the manner
provided therein,  in each case within three Business Days after such Subsidiary
is formed or acquired and promptly take such actions to create and perfect Liens
on such  Subsidiary's  assets to secure the  Obligations  as the  Administrative
Agent or the Required  Lenders  shall  reasonably  request and (b) if any Equity
Interests or  Indebtedness  of such  Subsidiary are owned by or on behalf of any
Loan Party,  the Borrower will cause such Equity  Interests and promissory notes
evidencing  such  Indebtedness  to be pledged  pursuant to the Pledge  Agreement
within three Business Days after such  Subsidiary is formed or acquired  (except
that, if such Subsidiary is a Foreign Subsidiary, shares of voting stock of such
Subsidiary to be pledged  pursuant to the Pledge Agreement may be limited to 65%
of the outstanding shares of voting stock of such Subsidiary).

<PAGE>

 SECTION 5.13.  Further  Assurances.  (a) The Borrower will, and will cause each
Subsidiary  Loan Party to,  execute  any and all  further  documents,  financing
statements,  agreements  and  instruments,  and take all  such  further  actions
(including the filing and recording of financing statements, fixture filings and
other  documents),  which may be required under any applicable law, or which the
Administrative  Agent  or  the  Required  Lenders  may  reasonably  request,  to
effectuate  the  transactions  contemplated  by the Loan  Documents or to grant,
preserve,  protect or perfect the Liens created or intended to be created by the
Security  Documents  or the  validity or  priority of any such Lien,  all at the
expense  of the Loan  Parties.  The  Borrower  also  agrees  to  provide  to the
Administrative  Agent,  from  time to time  upon  request,  evidence  reasonably
satisfactory  to the  Administrative  Agent as to the perfection and priority of
the Liens created or intended to be created by the Security Documents.

(b) If any  material  assets  (excluding  only real  property  and  improvements
thereto)  are acquired by the  Borrower or any  Subsidiary  Loan Party after the
Effective  Date (other than assets  constituting  Collateral  under the Security
Agreement  that  become  subject  to the  Lien of the  Security  Agreement  upon
acquisition thereof),  the Borrower will notify the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders thereof,  and, if requested by the Administrative  Agent or the Required
Lenders,  the Borrower will cause such assets to be subjected to a Lien securing
the  Obligations  and will take, and cause the Subsidiary  Loan Parties to take,
such actions as shall be necessary or reasonably requested by the Administrative
Agent to grant and perfect such Liens,  including actions described in paragraph
(a) of this Section, all at the expense of the Loan Parties.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                               Negative Covenants

 Until the  Commitments  have  expired or  terminated  and the  principal of and
interest on each Loan and all fees payable  hereunder have been paid in full and
all Letters of Credit have expired or terminated and all LC Disbursements  shall
have been reimbursed, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

SECTION 6.01.  Indebtedness; Certain Equity Securities.  (a)  The Borrower will
not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to
exist any Indebtedness, except:

(i) Indebtedness created under the Loan Documents;

(ii)  Indebtedness  existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule  6.01,
and extensions,  renewals and replacements of any such  Indebtedness that do not
increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;

(iii)  Indebtedness  of the Borrower to any  Subsidiary and of any Subsidiary to
the  Borrower  or  any  other  Subsidiary;  provided  that  Indebtedness  of any
Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party to the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party
shall be subject to Section 6.04;

(iv)  Guarantees by the Borrower of  Indebtedness  of any  Subsidiary and by any
Subsidiary of  Indebtedness  of the Borrower or any other  Subsidiary;  provided
that  Guarantees by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party of Indebtedness of
any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party shall be subject to Section 6.04;

(v)  Indebtedness  of the  Borrower  or any  Subsidiary  incurred to finance the
acquisition,  construction  or  improvement  of any  fixed  or  capital  assets,
including Capital Lease  Obligations and any Indebtedness  assumed in connection
with the  acquisition of any such assets or secured by a Lien on any such assets
prior to the acquisition thereof,  and extensions,  renewals and replacements of
any such  Indebtedness  that do not increase the  outstanding  principal  amount
thereof or result in an earlier maturity date or decreased weighted average life
thereof;  provided that (A) such  Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within 90
days  after  such  acquisition  or  the  completion  of  such   construction  or
improvement and (B) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness  permitted by
this clause (v) shall not exceed $5,000,000 at any time outstanding;

 (vi) other Indebtedness  (other than working capital financing) of a Subsidiary
outstanding at the time that such Subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary  pursuant to a
Permitted Acquisition (but not incurred in connection with or in anticipation of
such Permitted  Acquisition)  the outstanding  principal  balance of which (when
combined with any Indebtedness permitted by clause (v) above incurred or assumed
in connection therewith) does not exceed 10% of the net book value of the assets
acquired as a result of such Permitted Acquisition;

<PAGE>

(vii) obligations in respect of surety, appeal and performance bonds obtained by
the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in the ordinary cause of business; and

(viii)  unsecured  Indebtedness  in  addition  to that set forth in clauses  (i)
through (vii) above, if, after giving effect thereto, the aggregate  outstanding
principal amount of Indebtedness  pursuant to this clause (viii) does not exceed
$500,000 at any time.

(b) The  Borrower  will not,  nor will it permit any  Subsidiary  to,  issue any
preferred stock or other preferred Equity Interests.

SECTION 6.02.  Liens.  The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary
to, create,  incur,  assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset
now owned or hereafter  acquired by it, or assign or sell any income or revenues
(including accounts receivable) or rights in respect of any thereof, except:

(a) Liens created under the Loan Documents;

(b) Permitted Encumbrances;

(c) any Lien on any property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary existing
on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule  6.02;  provided that (i) such Lien
shall not apply to any other property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary
and (ii) such Lien shall secure only those  obligations  which it secures on the
date  hereof and  extensions,  renewals  and  replacements  thereof  that do not
increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;

 (d) any Lien existing on any property or asset prior to the acquisition thereof
by the  Borrower or any  Subsidiary  or existing on any property or asset of any
Person that  becomes a  Subsidiary  after the date hereof prior to the time such
Person  becomes a  Subsidiary;  provided  that (i) such Lien is not  created  in
contemplation  of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming
a  Subsidiary,  as the case may be,  (ii) such Lien shall not apply to any other
property  or assets of the  Borrower  or any  Subsidiary,  (iii) such Lien shall
secure only those  obligations  which it secures on the date of such acquisition
or the  date  such  Person  becomes  a  Subsidiary,  as the  case  may  be,  and
extensions,   renewals  and  replacements  thereof  that  do  not  increase  the
outstanding  principal  amount  thereof  and (iv) such Lien shall not secure any
working capital financing of the business acquired;

(e) Liens on fixed or capital  assets  acquired,  constructed or improved by the
Borrower or any  Subsidiary;  provided that (i) such security  interests  secure
Indebtedness  permitted  by clause (v) of Section  6.01(a),  (ii) such  security
interests and the  Indebtedness  secured thereby are incurred prior to or within
90 days  after  such  acquisition  or the  completion  of such  construction  or
improvement  and  (iii)  such  security  interests  shall not apply to any other
property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary; and

(f) other Liens securing  Indebtedness  (other than  subordinated  Indebtedness)
permitted  pursuant  to  Section  6.01(a) in an  aggregate  amount not to exceed
$5,000,000 at any time outstanding.

SECTION 6.03. Fundamental Changes. (a) The Borrower will not, nor will it permit
any Subsidiary to, merge into or  consolidate  with any other Person,  or permit
any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or liquidate or dissolve,
except that, if at the time thereof and immediately  after giving effect thereto
no Default shall have occurred and be continuing  (i) any  Subsidiary  may merge
into the  Borrower  in a  transaction  in which the  Borrower  is the  surviving
corporation,  (ii) any Subsidiary may merge into any Subsidiary  Loan Party in a
transaction in which the surviving entity is a Subsidiary Loan Party,  (iii) any
Subsidiary  may  liquidate or dissolve if the Borrower  determines in good faith
that such  liquidation  or  dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrower
and is not materially  disadvantageous  to the Lenders and (iv) any wholly-owned
Subsidiary  may  merge  with a third  party  in  order  to  effect  a  Permitted
Acquisition  of such third party  provided that the survivor of such merger is a
wholly-owned  Subsidiary;  provided that any such merger involving a Person that
is not a wholly owned Subsidiary  immediately  prior to such merger shall not be
permitted unless also permitted by Section 6.04.

 (b) The  Borrower  will not,  and will not permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to,
engage to any material  extent in any business other than businesses of the type
conducted by the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries on the date of execution of this
Agreement and businesses reasonably related thereto.

SECTION 6.04.  Investments,  Loans, Advances,  Guarantees and Acquisitions.  The
Borrower  will not, and will not permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to,  purchase,
hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger with any Person that was not a
wholly owned Subsidiary prior to such merger) any Equity Interests in, evidences
of  indebtedness  or other  securities  (including any option,  warrant or other
right to acquire any of the  foregoing) of, make or permit to exist any loans or
advances  to,  Guarantee  any  obligations  of,  or make or  permit to exist any
investment or any other interest in, any other Person,  or purchase or otherwise
acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) any assets of any other
Person constituting a business unit, except:

<PAGE>

(a) Permitted Investments;

(b) investments existing on the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 6.04;

(c)  investments  by the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  in Equity  Interests in
their respective Subsidiaries;  provided that (i) any such Equity Interests held
by a Loan Party shall be pledged  pursuant to the Pledge  Agreement  (subject to
the limitations  applicable to voting stock of a Foreign Subsidiary  referred to
in Section 5.12) and (ii) the aggregate  amount of  investments  by Loan Parties
in, and loans and advances by Loan Parties to, and Guarantees by Loan Parties of
Indebtedness  of,  Subsidiaries  that are not Loan Parties  (including  all such
investments,  loans,  advances and  Guarantees  existing on the Effective  Date)
shall not exceed $1,000,000 at any time outstanding;

(d) loans or advances  made by the  Borrower to any  Subsidiary  and made by any
Subsidiary to the Borrower or any other  Subsidiary;  provided that (i) any such
loans and advances made by a Loan Party shall be evidenced by a promissory  note
pledged  pursuant to the Pledge  Agreement and (ii) the amount of such loans and
advances made by Loan Parties to Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties shall be
subject to the limitation set forth in clause (c)(ii) above;

 (e) Guarantees  constituting  Indebtedness  permitted by Section 6.01; provided
that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of Subsidiaries that are not
Loan Parties Guaranteed by any Loan Party shall be subject to the limitation set
forth in clause (c)(ii) above;

(f) investments received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of,
or settlement of delinquent accounts and disputes with, customers and suppliers,
in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(g) investments  constituting Permitted  Acquisitions;  provided that at no time
will the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  effect any  Permitted  Acquisition  if the
aggregate  amount  of  consideration  to  be  paid  or  otherwise  delivered  in
connection with such Permitted  Acquisition plus the aggregate  principal amount
of Indebtedness  to be assumed or acquired by the Borrower and the  Subsidiaries
pursuant to such Permitted Acquisition would exceed the sum of (i) the Aggregate
Available Amount at such time, plus (ii) if the Debt to Capitalization  Ratio is
less than 0.50 to 1.00 at the time of and after giving effect to such  Permitted
Acquisition,  $25,000,000  less any amounts applied pursuant to this clause (ii)
to effect Permitted Acquisitions prior to such time;

(h) investments  consisting of deposit  accounts  maintained by the Borrower and
the  Subsidiaries  in the ordinary  course of business in connection  with their
cash management system;

(i) investments made to repurchase or retire common stock of the Borrower in an
aggregate amount not to exceed $300,000; and

(j) in addition to other investments  permitted by this Section,  investments in
an aggregate amount not exceeding $1,000,000.

SECTION 6.05. Asset Sales. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its
Subsidiaries  to,  sell,  transfer,  lease or  otherwise  dispose  of any asset,
whether now owned or hereafter acquired, including any Equity Interests owned by
it, or any income or profits  therefrom,  or enter into any  agreement to do so,
nor will the Borrower  permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to issue any  additional
Equity Interests in such Subsidiary, except:

(a) sales of inventory,  used, or surplus equipment and Permitted Investments in
 the ordinary course of business;
(b) sales,  transfers and dispositions to the Borrower  or  a  Subsidiary;
 provided  that  any  such  sales,  transfers  or dispositions involving a
 Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party shall be made in compliance with Section
 6.08; and

(c) Specified Dispositions;

provided  that all sales,  transfers,  leases and other  dispositions  permitted
hereby  (other than those  permitted by clause (b) above) shall be made for fair
value solely for cash consideration  (except that Specified  Dispositions may be
made for 90% cash consideration).

SECTION 6.06. Hedging Agreements. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any
of its  Subsidiaries  to, enter into any Hedging  Agreement,  other than Hedging
Agreements  entered into in the ordinary course of business to hedge or mitigate
risks to which the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  is exposed in the conduct of its
business or the management of its liabilities.

SECTION 6.07.  Restricted  Payments;  Certain Payments of Indebtedness.  (a) The
Borrower  will not, nor will it permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to,  declare or
make, or agree to pay or make,  directly or indirectly,  any Restricted Payment,
or incur any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to do so, except:

(i) the Borrower may declare and pay dividends with respect to its capital stock
payable solely in additional shares of its common stock;

<PAGE>

(ii) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments not exceeding $500,000 during any
fiscal  year,  pursuant to and in  accordance  with stock  option plans or other
benefit plans for management or employees of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries;
and

(iii)  Subsidiaries may declare and pay dividends  ratably with respect to their
capital stock.

 (b) The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any  Subsidiary to, make or agree
to pay or make,  directly  or  indirectly,  any  payment  or other  distribution
(whether in cash,  securities  or other  property) in respect of principal of or
interest on any Indebtedness,  or any payment or other distribution  (whether in
cash,  securities  or other  property),  including  any sinking  fund or similar
deposit,  on  account  of the  purchase,  redemption,  retirement,  acquisition,
cancellation or termination of any Indebtedness except:

(i) payment of Indebtedness created under the Loan Documents;

(ii) payment of regularly scheduled interest and principal payments as and when
due in respect of any Indebtedness;

(iii) refinancings of Indebtedness to the extent permitted by Section 6.01; and

(iv)  payment  of  secured  Indebtedness  that  becomes  due as a result  of the
voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness.

SECTION 6.08.  Transactions with Affiliates.  The Borrower will not, nor will it
permit any  Subsidiary  to, sell,  lease or  otherwise  transfer any property or
assets to, or purchase,  lease or otherwise acquire any property or assets from,
or  otherwise  engage in any other  transactions  with,  any of its  Affiliates,
except  (a) in the  ordinary  course  of  business  at  prices  and on terms and
conditions not less favorable to the Borrower or such  Subsidiary  than could be
obtained on an arm's-length basis from unrelated third parties, (b) transactions
between or among the  Borrower and the  Subsidiaries  that are  Subsidiary  Loan
Parties which do not involve any other Affiliate, and (c) any Restricted Payment
permitted by Section 6.07.

 SECTION 6.09. Restrictive Agreements. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit
any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly,  enter into, incur or permit to exist
any  agreement or other  arrangement  that  prohibits,  restricts or imposes any
condition  upon (a) the  ability of the  Borrower or any  Subsidiary  to create,
incur or permit to exist any Lien upon any of its property or assets, or (b) the
ability of any Subsidiary to pay dividends or other  distributions  with respect
to any shares of its Equity  Interests  or to make or repay loans or advances to
the  Borrower  or any  other  Subsidiary  or to  Guarantee  Indebtedness  of the
Borrower or any other  Subsidiary;  provided  that (i) the  foregoing  shall not
apply to  restrictions  and  conditions  imposed by law or by any Loan Document,
(ii) the fore-going shall not apply to restrictions  and conditions  existing on
the date hereof identified on Schedule 6.09 (but shall apply to any extension or
renewal of, or any  amendment or  modification  expanding the scope of, any such
restriction  or  condition),  (iii) the  foregoing  shall not apply to customary
restrictions  and conditions  contained in agreements  relating to the sale of a
Subsidiary  pending such sale,  provided such  restrictions and conditions apply
only to the Subsidiary that is to be sold and such sale is permitted  hereunder,
(iv) clause (a) of the foregoing  shall not apply to  restrictions or conditions
imposed by any  agreement  relating to secured  Indebtedness  permitted  by this
Agreement  if such  restrictions  or  conditions  apply only to the  property or
assets securing such  Indebtedness and (v) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not
apply to customary  provisions  in leases and other  contracts  restricting  the
assignment thereof.

SECTION 6.10.  Amendment of Material Documents.  The Borrower will not, nor will
it permit any Subsidiary to, amend,  modify or waive any of its rights under its
certificate of incorporation,  by-laws or other organizational  documents (other
than amendments or  modifications  relating to a change of the legal name of the
Borrower or any Subsidiary).

SECTION 6.11. Sale and Lease-Back Transactions.  The Borrower will not, nor will
it permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any arrangement, directly or indirectly,
with any  Person  whereby  it  shall  sell or  transfer  any  property,  real or
personal,  used or  useful  in its  business,  whether  now  owned or  hereafter
acquired,  and thereafter  rent or lease such property or other property that it
intends to use for  substantially  the same  purpose or purposes as the property
sold or  transferred,  except for any such sale of any fixed or  capital  assets
that is made for cash  consideration in an amount not less than the cost of such
fixed or capital asset and is  consummated  within 90 days after the Borrower or
such Subsidiary  acquires or completes the construction of such fixed or capital
asset.

SECTION 6.12.  Leverage Ratio.  The Borrower will not permit the Leverage Ratio
as of any date during any period set forth below to exceed the ratio set forth
opposite such period:


                                                  Period
                                                   Ratio

Effective Date to and including December 30, 2000

                                               3.25 to 1.00

December 31, 2000, and thereafter

                                               3.00 to 1.00

<PAGE>

 SECTION 6.13. Interest Expense Coverage Ratio. The Borrower will not permit the
ratio of (a) Consolidated  EBITDA less Capital  Expenditures to (b) Consolidated
Cash Interest  Expense,  in each case for any period of four consecutive  fiscal
quarters  ending on any date  after the  Effective  Date to be less than 2.00 to
1.00.

SECTION 6.14.  Consolidated Net Worth. The Borrower will not permit Consolidated
Net Worth on any date to be less than $67,300,000 plus, without duplication, (a)
50% of  Consolidated  Net Income for each fiscal  quarter  ending on or prior to
such date  (beginning  with the fiscal  quarter ending March 31, 2000) for which
Consolidated Net Income is positive and (b) 100% of any increase to Consolidated
Net Worth  resulting  from any  transaction  after the Effective  Date and on or
prior to such date  involving  any capital  contribution  to the Borrower or any
Subsidiary  or the  issuance  by the  Borrower or any  Subsidiary  of any Equity
Interests.

                                                ARTICLE VII

                                             Events of Default

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

(a)  the  Borrower  shall  fail  to  pay  any  principal  of  any  Loan  or  any
reimbursement  obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement when and as the same
shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed
for prepayment thereof or otherwise;

(b) the  Borrower  shall fail to pay any  interest on any Loan or any fee or any
other amount  (other than an amount  referred to in clause (a) of this  Article)
payable under this  Agreement or any other Loan  Document,  when and as the same
shall become due and payable,  and such failure shall continue  unremedied for a
period of three Business Days;

(c) any  representation  or warranty  made or deemed made by or on behalf of the
Borrower or any  Subsidiary  in or in  connection  with any Loan Document or any
amendment  or  modification  thereof  or waiver  thereunder,  or in any  report,
certificate,  financial  statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in
connection  with any Loan Document or any amendment or  modification  thereof or
waiver  thereunder,  shall prove to have been incorrect in any material  respect
when made or deemed made;

 (d) the Borrower  shall fail to observe or perform any  covenant,  condition or
agreement  contained in Section 5.02, 5.04 (with respect to the existence of the
Borrower) or 5.11 or in Article VI;

(e) any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any  covenant,  condition or
agreement  contained in any Loan Document  (other than those specified in clause
(a), (b) or (d) of this Article), and such failure shall continue unremedied for
a period of 30 days after notice  thereof from the  Administrative  Agent to the
Borrower (which notice will be given at the request of any Lender);

(f) the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  shall fail to make any payment  (whether of
principal  or  interest  and  regardless  of amount) in respect of any  Material
Indebtedness,  when and as the same shall become due and payable  (after  giving
effect to any applicable grace period);

(g) any event or  condition  occurs that  results in any  Material  Indebtedness
becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits (with or
without  the giving of notice,  the lapse of time or both) the holder or holders
of any Material  Indebtedness  or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to
cause any  Material  Indebtedness  to become due, or to require the  prepayment,
repurchase,  redemption or defeasance thereof,  prior to its scheduled maturity;
provided  that this  clause  (g) shall not apply to  secured  Indebtedness  that
becomes due as a result of the  voluntary  sale or  transfer of the  property or
assets securing such Indebtedness;

(h) an  involuntary  proceeding  shall be commenced or an  involuntary  petition
shall be filed  seeking  (i)  liquidation,  reorganization  or other  relief  in
respect of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or its debts, or of a substantial part
of its  assets,  under any  Federal,  state or foreign  bankruptcy,  insolvency,
receivership  or similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the  appointment
of  a  receiver,  trustee,  custodian,  seques-trator,  conservator  or  similar
official for the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  or for a  substantial  part of its
assets,  and,  in any such case,  such  proceeding  or petition  shall  continue
undismissed  for 60 days or an order or decree  approving or ordering any of the
foregoing shall be entered;

 (i)  the  Borrower  or  any  Subsidiary  shall  (i)  voluntarily  commence  any
proceeding or file any petition  seeking  liquidation,  reorganization  or other
relief under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency,  receivership
or similar law now or hereafter in effect,  (ii) consent to the  institution of,
or fail to  contest  in a timely  and  appropriate  manner,  any  proceeding  or
petition described in clause (h) of this Article,  (iii) apply for or consent to
the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator,  conservator or
similar official for the Borrower or any Subsidiary or for a substantial part of
its  assets,  (iv) file an  answer  admit-ting  the  material  allegations  of a
petition filed against it in any such proceeding,  (v) make a general assignment
for the  benefit  of  creditors  or (vi)  take any  action  for the  purpose  of
effecting any of the fore-going;

<PAGE>

(j) the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  shall become  unable,  admit in writing its
inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due;

(k) one or more  judgments  for the payment of money in an  aggregate  amount in
excess of $7,500,000 shall be rendered  against the Borrower,  any Subsidiary or
any combination  thereof and the same shall remain  undischarged for a period of
30 consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively  stayed,  or
any action shall be legally taken by a judgment  creditor to attach or levy upon
any assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment;

(l) an ERISA  Event shall have  occurred  that,  in the opinion of the  Required
Lenders,  when taken  together  with all other ERISA Events that have  occurred,
could  reasonably  be expected to result in  liability  of the  Borrower and its
Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $5,000,000;

(m) any Lien purported to be created under any Security  Document shall cease to
be, or shall be asserted by any Loan Party not to be, a valid and perfected Lien
on any  Collateral,  with  the  priority  required  by the  applicable  Security
Document,  except  (i) as a  result  of the  sale or  other  disposition  of the
applicable  Collateral in a transaction  permitted  under the Loan  Documents or
(ii) as a result of the Collateral Agent's failure to maintain possession of any
stock certificates,  promissory notes or other instruments delivered to it under
the Pledge Agreement;

 (n) a Change in Control shall occur; or

(o)  the  Borrower  or  any  of  the  Subsidiaries   shall  be  subject  to  any
Environmental  Liability which has or is reasonably likely to subject either the
Borrower or the Subsidiaries to liability,  individually or in the aggregate, in
excess of $5,000,000;

then,  and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Borrower
described  in clause  (h) or (i) of this  Article),  and at any time  thereafter
during the continuance of such event, the  Administrative  Agent may, and at the
request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower, take either or
both of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the
Commitments, and thereupon the Commitments shall terminate immediately, and (ii)
declare the Loans then  out-standing to be due and payable in whole (or in part,
in  which  case  any  principal  not so  declared  to be  due  and  payable  may
there-after  be declared to be due and payable),  and thereupon the principal of
the Loans so declared to be due and  payable,  together  with  accrued  interest
thereon and all fees and other  obligations of the Borrower  accrued  hereunder,
shall become due and payable immediately,  without presentment,  demand, protest
or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower; and
in case of any event with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i)
of this Article, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal
of the Loans then  outstanding,  together with accrued  interest thereon and all
fees  and  other   obligations  of  the  Borrower   accrued   hereunder,   shall
automatically become due and payable,  without presentment,  demand,  protest or
other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower.

                                               ARTICLE VIII

                                         The Administrative Agent

Each of the  Lenders  and the  Issuing  Bank  hereby  irrevocably  appoints  the
Administrative  Agent as its agent and  authorizes the  Administrative  Agent to
take such actions on its behalf and to exercise  such powers as are delegated to
the Administrative Agent by the terms of the Loan Documents,  together with such
actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

 The bank  serving as the  Administrative  Agent  hereunder  shall have the same
rights  and  powers in its  capacity  as a Lender as any  other  Lender  and may
exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative  Agent, and such bank
and its Affili-ates may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage
in any kind of business with the Borrower or any  Subsidiary or other  Affiliate
thereof as if it were not the Administrative Agent hereunder.

The  Administrative  Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those
expressly set forth in the Loan  Documents.  Without  limiting the generality of
the  foregoing,  (a)  the  Administrative  Agent  shall  not be  subject  to any
fiduciary or other implied duties,  regardless of whether a Default has occurred
and is continuing,  (b) the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to take
any  discretionary   action  or  exercise  any  discretionary   powers,   except
discretionary  rights and powers  expressly  contemplated  by the Loan Documents
that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise in writing by the Required
Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary
under  the  circumstances  as  provided  in  Section  9.02),  and (c)  except as
expressly set forth in the Loan Documents,  the  Administrative  Agent shall not
have any duty to disclose,  and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose,
any  information  relating to the  Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  that is
communicated to or obtained by the bank serving as  Administrative  Agent or any
of its Affiliates in any capacity.  The Administrative Agent shall not be liable
for any action  taken or not taken by it with the  consent or at the  request of
the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall
be  necessary  under the  circumstances  as provided in Section  9.02) or in the
absence of its own gross  negligence or wilful  misconduct.  The  Administrative
Agent  shall be deemed not to have  knowledge  of any  Default  unless and until
written notice thereof is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a
Lender,  and the  Administrative  Agent shall not be responsible for or have any
duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement,  warranty or representation
made in or in  connection  with any Loan  Document,  (ii)  the  contents  of any
certificate,  report or other  document  delivered  thereunder  or in connection
therewith,  (iii)  the  performance  or  observance  of any  of  the  covenants,
agreements or other terms or conditions set forth in any Loan Document, (iv) the
validity,  enforceability,  effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or
any other  agreement,  instrument or document,  or (v) the  satisfaction  of any
condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere in any Loan Document,  other than
to  confirm  receipt  of  items  expressly  required  to  be  delivered  to  the
Administrative Agent.

<PAGE>

 The  Administrative  Agent shall be entitled to rely upon,  and shall not incur
any liability  for relying  upon,  any notice,  request,  certificate,  consent,
statement,  instrument,  document or other writing  believed by it to be genuine
and to have been signed or sent by the proper Person. The  Administrative  Agent
also may rely upon any statement  made to it orally or by telephone and believed
by it to be made by the proper  Person,  and shall not incur any  liability  for
relying thereon.  The  Administrative  Agent may consult with legal counsel (who
may be counsel for the  Borrower),  independent  accountants  and other  experts
selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action  taken or not taken by it
in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

The  Administrative  Agent may perform any and all its duties and  exercise  its
rights and  powers by or through  any one or more  sub-agents  appointed  by the
Administrative  Agent.  The  Administrative  Agent  and any such  sub-agent  may
perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers  through their
respective  Related  Parties.  The  exculpatory   provisions  of  the  preceding
paragraphs  shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related  Parties of the
Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective
activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities  provided
for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.

 Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor  Administrative  Agent
as provided in this paragraph,  the Administrative  Agent may resign at any time
by notifying  the  Lenders,  the Issuing  Bank and the  Borrower.  Upon any such
resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the
Borrower,  to appoint a successor.  If no successor shall have been so appointed
by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment  within 30 days
after the retiring  Administrative  Agent gives notice of its resignation,  then
the retiring  Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing
Bank,  appoint a  successor  Administrative  Agent which shall be a bank with an
office in New York, New York,  having a combined capital and surplus of at least
$500,000,000,  or an  Affiliate  of any such bank.  Upon the  acceptance  of its
appointment as  Administrative  Agent  hereunder by a successor,  such successor
shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights,  powers,  privileges and
duties of the retiring  Administrative  Agent,  and the retiring  Administrative
Agent shall be discharged  from its duties and obligations  hereunder.  The fees
payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as
those payable to its predecessor  unless  otherwise  agreed between the Borrower
and such successor.  After the Administrative Agent's resignation hereunder, the
provisions  of this  Article and Section  9.03 shall  continue in effect for the
benefit  of  such  retiring  Administrative  Agent,  its  sub-agents  and  their
respective  Related  Parties in respect  of any  actions  taken or omitted to be
taken by any of them while it was acting as Administrative Agent.

Each Lender  acknowledges  that it has,  independently and without reliance upon
the  Administrative  Agent or any other Lender and based on such  documents  and
information  as it has  deemed  appropriate,  made its own credit  analysis  and
decision to enter into this  Agreement.  Each Lender also  acknowledges  that it
will,  independently and without reliance upon the  Administrative  Agent or any
other Lender and based on such  documents and  information as it shall from time
to time deem  appropriate,  continue to make its own  decisions in taking or not
taking  action under or based upon this  Agreement,  any other Loan  Document or
related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

None of the  Lenders  identified  on the cover  page or  signature  page of this
Agreement as "Syndication Agent" or "Documentation Agent" shall have any rights,
duties, obligations,  liabilities or responsibilities under this Agreement or in
connection  herewith  other than those  applicable to all Lenders as such.  Each
Lender  acknowledges  that it has not relied,  and will not rely,  on any of the
Lenders so identified  in deciding to enter into this  Agreement or in taking or
not taking action hereunder.

The provisions of this Article applicable to the Administrative Agent also shall
apply to the Collateral Agent, mutatis mutandis.

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE IX

                                  Miscellaneous

 SECTION 9.01. Notices.  Except in the case of notices and other  communications
expressly   permitted  to  be  given  by   telephone,   all  notices  and  other
communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by
hand or overnight  courier  service,  mailed by certified or registered  mail or
sent by telecopy, as follows:

(a) if to the Borrower, to it at 14500 South Outer Forty Road, Chesterfield,
Missouri 63006, Attention of Greg Lambert (Telecopy No.(314) 216-2601);

(b)  if to the  Administrative  Agent  or the  Collateral  Agent,  to The  Chase
Manhattan Bank, Loan and Agency Services Group,  One Chase Manhattan  Plaza, 8th
Floor,  New York,  New York 10081,  Attention of Jesus Sang  (Telecopy No. (212)
552-5650),  with  a  copy  to  The  Chase  Manhattan  Bank,  999  Broad  Street,
Bridgeport,  Connecticut  06604,  Attention  of Alan Aria  (Telecopy  No.  (203)
382-6314);

(c) if to the Issuing Bank, to it at The Chase  Manhattan  Bank, Loan and Agency
Services Group,  One Chase Manhattan Plaza, 8th Floor, New York, New York 10081,
Attention of Jesus Sang (Telecopy No. 552-5650);

(d) if to the Swingline Lender, to it at The Chase Manhattan Bank, Loan and
Agency Services Group, One Chase Manhattan Plaza, 8th Floor, New York, New York
10081, Attention of Jesus Sang (Telecopy No. 552-5650); and

(e) if to any other Lender, to it at its address (or telecopy number) set forth
in its Administrative Questionnaire.

Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other
communications  hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All notices and
other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions
of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt.

 SECTION   9.02.   Waivers;   Amendments.   (a)  No  failure  or  delay  by  the
Administrative  Agent,  the Collateral  Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender in
exercising  any right or power  hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall
operate as a waiver  thereof,  nor shall any single or partial  exercise  of any
such right or power,  or any abandonment or  discontinuance  of steps to enforce
such a right or power,  preclude  any other or further  exercise  thereof or the
exercise  of  any  other  right  or  power.  The  rights  and  remedies  of  the
Administrative  Agent,  the Collateral  Agent,  the Issuing Bank and the Lenders
hereunder  and  under  the  other  Loan  Documents  are  cumulative  and are not
exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of
any provision of any Loan Document or consent to any departure by any Loan Party
therefrom shall in any event be effective  unless the same shall be permitted by
paragraph  (b) of this  Section,  and  then  such  waiver  or  consent  shall be
effective  only in the  specific  instance  and for the purpose for which given.
Without  limiting  the  generality  of the  foregoing,  the  making of a Loan or
issuance  of a Letter  of  Credit  shall  not be  construed  as a waiver  of any
Default,  regardless of whether the Administrative  Agent, the Collateral Agent,
any Lender or the Issuing  Bank may have had notice or knowledge of such Default
at the time.

 (b) Neither this Agreement nor any other Loan Document nor any provision hereof
or  thereof  may be  waived,  amended or  modified  except,  in the case of this
Agreement, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the
Borrower  and the Required  Lenders or, in the case of any other Loan  Document,
pursuant  to  an  agreement  or  agreements  in  writing  entered  into  by  the
Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable,  and the Loan Party
or Loan Parties that are parties  thereto,  in each case with the consent of the
Required  Lenders;  provided  that no such  agreement  shall  (i)  increase  the
Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce
the  principal  amount  of any Loan or LC  Disbursement  or  reduce  the rate of
interest  thereon,  or reduce any fees  payable  hereunder,  without the written
consent of each Lender  affected  thereby,  (iii) postpone the scheduled date of
payment of the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement,  or any interest
thereon, or any fees payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse
any  such  payment,  or  postpone  the  scheduled  date  of  expiration  of  any
Commitment,  without the written consent of each Lender affected  thereby,  (iv)
change Section  2.17(b) or (c) in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing
of payments  required thereby,  without the written consent of each Lender,  (v)
change any of the  provisions  of this  Section or the  definition  of "Required
Lenders" or any other  provision of any Loan Document  specifying  the number or
percentage of Lenders required to waive,  amend or modify any rights  thereunder
or make any determination or grant any consent  thereunder,  without the written
consent of each  Lender,  (vi) release any of the  Subsidiary  Loan Parties from
their Guarantees under the Subsidiary  Guarantee Agreements (except as expressly
provided in the Subsidiary  Guarantee  Agreements),  or limit their liability in
respect of such Guarantees,  without the written consent of each Lender or (vii)
release  all or  substantially  all of the  Collateral  from  the  Liens  of the
Security Documents, without the written consent of each Lender; provided further
that no such  agreement  shall amend,  modify or otherwise  affect the rights or
duties of the  Administrative  Agent, the Collateral  Agent, the Issuing Bank or
the Swingline  Lender  without the prior written  consent of the  Administrative
Agent, the Collateral  Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline  Lender,  as the
case may be. Notwithstanding the foregoing,  any provision of this Agreement may
be amended by an agreement in writing entered into by the Borrower, the Required
Lenders and the  Administrative  Agent (and, if their rights or obligations  are
affected thereby, the Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender) if (i) by the terms
of such  agreement the Commitment of each Lender not consenting to the amendment
provided for therein shall  terminate upon the  effectiveness  of such amendment
and  (ii)  at the  time  such  amendment  becomes  effective,  each  Lender  not
consenting  thereto  receives  payment in full of the  principal of and interest
accrued on each Loan made by it and all other amounts owing to it or accrued for
its account under this Agreement.

<PAGE>

SECTION 9.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver. (a) The Borrower shall pay (i)
all reasonable  out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, the
Collateral  Agent, the Arranger and their respective  Affiliates,  including the
reasonable fees,  charges and  disbursements  of counsel for the  Administrative
Agent and the Collateral Agent, in connection with the syndication of the credit
facilities  provided for herein,  the preparation and administration of the Loan
Documents or any amendments,  modifications or waivers of the provisions thereof
(whether  or not the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  or  thereby  shall  be
consummated), (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Issuing
Bank in  connection  with the issuance,  amendment,  renewal or extension of any
Letter  of  Credit  or  any  demand  for  payment   thereunder   and  (iii)  all
out-of-pocket  expenses  incurred by the  Administrative  Agent,  the Collateral
Agent,  the  Issuing  Bank  or any  Lender,  including  the  fees,  charges  and
disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent,
the Issuing Bank or any Lender, in connection with the enforcement or protection
of its rights in connection with the Loan Documents,  including its rights under
this Section,  or in connection  with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued
hereunder,  including  all  such  out-of-pocket  expenses  incurred  during  any
workout,  restructuring  or  negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of
Credit.

 (b) The Borrower  shall  indemnify the  Administrative  Agent,  the  Collateral
Agent, the Arranger, the Issuing Bank and each Lender, and each Related Party of
any of the  foregoing  Persons  (each such Person being called an  "Indemnitee")
against,  and hold each  Indemnitee  harmless from, any and all losses,  claims,
damages,  liabilities  and related  expenses,  including  the fees,  charges and
disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee, incurred by or asserted against
any  Indemnitee  arising out of, in  connection  with, or as a result of (i) the
execution or delivery of any Loan Document or any other  agreement or instrument
contemplated  hereby,  the  performance  by the parties to the Loan Documents of
their respective  obligations thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions
or any other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit
or the use of the proceeds therefrom  (including any refusal by the Issuing Bank
to  honor a demand  for  payment  under a  Letter  of  Credit  if the  documents
presented in connection  with such demand do not strictly  comply with the terms
of such  Letter of Credit),  (iii) any actual or alleged  presence or release of
Hazardous  Materials  on or from any  property  currently  or formerly  owned or
operated  by the  Borrower  or any of  its  Subsidiaries,  or any  Environmental
Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv)
any  actual  or  prospective  claim,  litigation,  investigation  or  proceeding
relating to any of the foregoing,  whether based on contract,  tort or any other
theory and  regardless of whether any  Indemnitee is a party  thereto;  provided
that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee,  be available to the extent
that  such  losses,  claims,  damages,   liabilities  or  related  expenses  are
determined  by a court of  competent  jurisdiction  by final  and  nonappealable
judgment to have  resulted from the gross  negligence  or willful  misconduct of
such Indemnitee.

(c) To the extent that the Borrower fails to pay any amount  required to be paid
by it to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Bank or the
Swingline  Lender  under  paragraph  (a) or (b) of  this  Section,  each  Lender
severally agrees to pay to the  Administrative  Agent, the Collateral Agent, the
Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, as the case may be, such Lender's pro rata
share  (determined  as of the time that the applicable  unreimbursed  expense or
indemnity  payment  is  sought)  of  such  unpaid  amount;   provided  that  the
unreimbursed  expense or indemnified loss, claim,  damage,  liability or related
expense,  as  the  case  may  be,  was  incurred  by  or  asserted  against  the
Administrative  Agent,  the Collateral  Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline
Lender in its capacity as such. For purposes hereof, a Lender's "pro rata share"
shall be determined  based upon its share of the total  Revolving  Exposures and
unused Commitments at the time.

 (d) To the extent  permitted by applicable  law, the Borrower shall not assert,
and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability,
for special,  indirect,  consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct
or actual damages)  arising out of, in connection  with, or as a result of, this
Agreement or any agreement or instrument  contemplated hereby, the Transactions,
any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof.

(e) All amounts due under this Section shall be payable  promptly  after written
demand therefor.

SECTION 9.04. Successors and Assigns. (a) The provisions of this Agreement shall
be  binding  upon and  inure to the  benefit  of the  parties  hereto  and their
respective  successors and assigns  permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of
the Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), except that the Borrower may
not assign or  otherwise  transfer  any of its rights or  obligations  hereunder
without the prior written  consent of each Lender (and any attempted  assignment
or  transfer  by the  Borrower  without  such  consent  shall be null and void).
Nothing in this  Agreement,  expressed or implied,  shall be construed to confer
upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective  successors and
assigns  permitted  hereby  (including  any  Affiliate  of the Issuing Bank that
issues any Letter of Credit) and, to the extent expressly  contemplated  hereby,
the Related Parties of each of the  Administrative  Agent, the Collateral Agent,
the Issuing Bank and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right,  remedy or claim
under or by reason of this Agreement.

 (b) Any  Lender  may  assign to one or more  assignees  all or a portion of its
rights and obligations  under this Agreement  (including all or a portion of its
Commitment  and the Loans at the time owing to it);  provided that (i) except in
the case of an assignment  to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender,  each of the
Borrower and the Administrative  Agent (and, in the case of an assignment of all
or a portion of a Commitment  or any Lender's  obligations  in respect of its LC
Exposure or Swingline Exposure,  the Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender) must
give their prior written consent to such assignment  (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld),  (ii) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or
an Affiliate of a Lender or an assignment of the entire  remaining amount of the
assigning  Lender's  Commitment,  the amount of the  Commitment of the assigning
Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment
and   Acceptance   with  respect  to  such   assignment   is  delivered  to  the
Administrative  Agent)  shall not be less  than  $1,000,000  unless  each of the
Borrower and the  Administrative  Agent  otherwise  consent,  (iii) each partial
assignment  shall be made as an  assignment of a  proportionate  part of all the
assigning Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement, (iv) the parties
to each  assignment  shall  execute and deliver to the  Administrative  Agent an
Assignment and  Acceptance,  together with a processing and  recordation  fee of
$3,500, and (v) the assignee,  if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the
Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire;  and provided further that
any consent of the Borrower otherwise required under this paragraph shall not be
required  if an Event of Default  has  occurred  and is  continuing.  Subject to
acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section, from
and after the effective  date  specified in each  Assignment  and Acceptance the
assignee  thereunder  shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest
assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a
Lender under this Agreement,  and the assigning Lender  thereunder shall, to the
extent of the interest  assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance,  be released
from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and
Acceptance  covering all of the assigning  Lender's rights and obligations under
this Agreement,  such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue
to be entitled  to the  benefits of Sections  2.14,  2.15,  2.16 and 9.03).  Any
assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement
that does not comply with this  paragraph  shall be treated for purposes of this
Agreement  as a sale by such  Lender  of a  participation  in  such  rights  and
obligations in accordance with paragraph (e) of this Section.

<PAGE>

(c) The  Administrative  Agent,  acting  for  this  purpose  as an  agent of the
Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices in The City of New York a copy of
each  Assignment  and  Acceptance  delivered  to  it  and  a  register  for  the
recordation  of the names and addresses of the Lenders,  and the  Commitment of,
and  principal  amount of the Loans and LC  Disbursements  owing to, each Lender
pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the "Register").  The entries in
the Register shall be conclusive,  and the Borrower,  the Administrative  Agent,
the  Collateral  Agent,  the Issuing  Bank and the Lenders may treat each Person
whose name is recorded in the Register  pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender
hereunder  for all  purposes of this  Agreement,  notwithstanding  notice to the
contrary.  The Register shall be available for  inspection by the Borrower,  the
Issuing Bank and any Lender,  at any reasonable  time and from time to time upon
reasonable prior notice.

 (d) Upon its receipt of a duly completed  Assignment and Acceptance executed by
an assigning  Lender and an assignee,  the assignee's  completed  Administrative
Questionnaire  (unless the assignee  shall already be a Lender  hereunder),  the
processing and  recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section and
any  written  consent  to such  assignment  required  by  paragraph  (b) of this
Section,  the  Administrative  Agent shall accept such Assignment and Acceptance
and record the  information  contained  therein in the  Register.  No assignment
shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in
the Register as provided in this paragraph.

(e) Any Lender  may,  without the consent of the  Borrower,  the  Administrative
Agent,  the Collateral  Agent,  the Issuing Bank or the Swingline  Lender,  sell
participations  to one or more banks or other entities (a  "Participant") in all
or a portion of such  Lender's  rights  and  obligations  under  this  Agreement
(including  all or a  portion  of its  Commitment  and the  Loans  owing to it);
provided that (i) such Lender's  obligations  under this Agreement  shall remain
unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties
hereto for the  performance  of such  obligations  and (iii) the  Borrower,  the
Administrative  Agent,  the  Collateral  Agent,  the Issuing  Bank and the other
Lenders  shall  continue  to deal  solely  and  directly  with  such  Lender  in
connection with such Lender's rights and obligations  under this Agreement.  Any
agreement or  instrument  pursuant to which a Lender sells such a  participation
shall  provide  that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce the Loan
Documents and to approve any amendment,  modification or waiver of any provision
of the Loan  Documents;  provided that such  agreement or instrument may provide
that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant,  agree to any
amendment,  modification  or waiver  described  in the first  proviso to Section
9.02(b) that affects such Participant. Subject to paragraph (f) of this Section,
the Borrower agrees that each  Participant  shall be entitled to the benefits of
Sections  2.14,  2.15 and 2.16 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had
acquired its interest by  assignment  pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section.
To the extent  permitted by law, each  Participant also shall be entitled to the
benefits of Section 9.08 as though it were a Lender,  provided such  Participant
agrees to be subject to Section 2.17(c) as though it were a Lender.

 (f) A  Participant  shall not be entitled to receive any greater  payment under
Section  2.14 or 2.16 than the  applicable  Lender  would have been  entitled to
receive with respect to the participation  sold to such Participant,  unless the
sale of the  participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower's prior
written  consent.  A  Participant  that  would be a Foreign  Lender if it were a
Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.16 unless the Borrower
is notified of the  participation  sold to such Participant and such Participant
agrees,  for the  benefit of the  Borrower,  to comply with  Section  2.16(e) as
though it were a Lender.

(g) Any Lender may at any time  pledge or assign a security  interest  in all or
any portion of its rights  under this  Agreement to secure  obligations  of such
Lender,  including any pledge or assignment to secure  obligations  to a Federal
Reserve Bank,  and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment
of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security
interest  shall  release  a Lender  from  any of its  obligations  hereunder  or
substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

SECTION  9.05.  Survival.   All  covenants,   agreements,   representations  and
warranties  made  by  the  Loan  Parties  in  the  Loan  Documents  and  in  the
certificates  or other  instruments  delivered in connection with or pursuant to
this  Agreement  or any other Loan  Document  shall be  considered  to have been
relied upon by the other  parties  hereto and shall  survive the  execution  and
delivery of the Loan  Documents  and the making of any Loans and issuance of any
Letters of Credit,  regardless of any investigation made by any such other party
or on  its  behalf  and  notwithstanding  that  the  Administrative  Agent,  the
Collateral  Agent,  the  Issuing  Bank or any  Lender  may  have had  notice  or
knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any
credit is  extended  hereunder,  and shall  continue in full force and effect as
long as the  principal of or any accrued  interest on any Loan or any fee or any
other  amount  payable  under this  Agreement is  outstanding  and unpaid or any
Letter of Credit is outstanding and so long as the Commitments  have not expired
or terminated.  The provisions of Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 and 9.03 and Article
VIII  shall  survive  and  remain in full  force and  effect  regardless  of the
consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  the  repayment of the
Loans,  the  expiration  or  termination  of  the  Letters  of  Credit  and  the
Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

<PAGE>

 SECTION 9.06. Counterparts;  Integration;  Effectiveness. This Agreement may be
executed  in  counterparts   (and  by  different  parties  hereto  on  different
counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when
taken together shall  constitute a single  contract.  This Agreement,  the other
Loan Documents and any separate  letter  agreements with respect to fees payable
to the Arranger and the  Administrative  Agent  constitute  the entire  contract
among the parties  relating to the subject  matter  hereof and supersede any and
all previous  agreements and  understandings,  oral or written,  relating to the
subject matter hereof.  Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall
become  effective when it shall have been executed by the  Administrative  Agent
and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which,
when taken  together,  bear the signatures of each of the other parties  hereto,
and  thereafter  shall be binding  upon and inure to the  benefit of the parties
hereto and their  respective  successors  and  assigns.  Delivery of an executed
counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy shall be effective
as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

SECTION 9.07. Severability.  Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction,  be
ineffective  to the extent of such  invalidity,  illegality or  unenforceability
without  affecting the validity,  legality and  enforceability  of the remaining
provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular  provision in a particular
jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.

SECTION 9.08. Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing,  each Lender and each of its Affiliates is hereby  authorized at any
time and from time to time, to the fullest  extent  permitted by law, to set off
and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand,  provisional
or  final)  at any time held and  other  obligations  at any time  owing by such
Lender or Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower  against
any of and all the  obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter  existing under
this Agreement held by such Lender,  irrespective  of whether or not such Lender
shall have made any demand under this  Agreement and although  such  obligations
may be  unmatured.  The rights of each Lender under this Section are in addition
to other  rights and  remedies  (including  other  rights of setoff)  which such
Lender may have.

SECTION 9.09.  Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.
 (a) This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the
law of the State of New York.

 (b) The Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and
its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State
of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States  District  Court
of the Southern  District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof,
in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to any Loan Document,  or
for  recognition or enforcement of any judgment,  and each of the parties hereto
hereby irrevocably and unconditionally  agrees that all claims in respect of any
such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or,
to the extent  permitted  by law,  in such  Federal  court.  Each of the parties
hereto agrees that a final  judgment in any such action or  proceeding  shall be
conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or
in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan
Document shall affect any right that the  Administrative  Agent,  the Collateral
Agent,  the Issuing Bank or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or
proceeding  relating to this  Agreement or any other Loan  Document  against the
Borrower or its proper-ties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

(c) The Borrower hereby irrevocably and  unconditionally  waives, to the fullest
extent it may legally and  effectively do so, any objection  which it may now or
here-after have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising
out of or relating  to this  Agreement  or any other Loan  Document in any court
referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section.  Each of the parties hereto hereby
irrevocably  waives,  to the fullest extent  permitted by law, the defense of an
inconvenient  forum to the  maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such
court.

(d) Each party to this Agreement  irrevocably  consents to service of process in
the manner  provided for notices in Section 9.01.  Nothing in this  Agreement or
any other Loan Document will affect the right of any party to this  Agreement to
serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

 SECTION 9.10.  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY  WAIVES,  TO THE
FULLEST EXTENT  PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY
JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING  DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY  ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING
TO THIS  AGREEMENT,  ANY OTHER LOAN  DOCUMENT OR THE  TRANSACTIONS  CONTEMPLATED
HEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT,  TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO
(A) CERTIFIES THAT NO  REPRESENTATIVE,  AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS
REPRESENTED,  EXPRESSLY  OR  OTHERWISE,  THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE
EVENT OF LITIGATION,  SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING  WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES
THAT IT AND THE OTHER  PARTIES  HERETO  HAVE  BEEN  INDUCED  TO ENTER  INTO THIS
AGREE-MENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS
SECTION.

<PAGE>

SECTION 9.11.  Headings.  Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents
used  herein  are for  convenience  of  reference  only,  are  not  part of this
Agreement  and  shall  not  affect  the   construction  of,  or  be  taken  into
consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

 SECTION 9.12.  Confidentiality.  Each of the Administrative  Agent, the Issuing
Bank and the Lenders agrees to maintain the  confidentiality  of the Information
(as defined below) except that  Information  may be disclosed (a) to its and its
Affiliates' directors,  officers,  employees and agents,  including accountants,
legal counsel and other advisors (it being  understood  that the Persons to whom
such  disclosure  is made will be  informed of the  confidential  nature of such
Information and instructed to keep such  Information  confidential),  (b) to the
extent  requested by any  regulatory  authority,  (c) to the extent  required by
applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process,  (d)
to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any
remedies hereunder or any suit, action or proceeding  relating to this Agreement
or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder,
(f) subject to an  agreement  containing  provisions  substantially  the same as
those of this Section,  to any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective
assignee  of or  Participant  in,  any of its rights or  obligations  under this
Agreement,  (g)  with  the  consent  of the  Borrower,  (h) to the  extent  such
Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of
this Section or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative  Agent, the Issuing
Bank or any  Lender on a  non-confidential  basis  from a source  other than the
Borrower. For the purposes of this Section,  "Information" means all information
received from the Borrower relating to the Borrower or its business,  other than
any such information that is available to the Administrative  Agent, the Issuing
Bank or any  Lender  on a  non-confidential  basis  prior to  disclosure  by the
Borrower;  provided that, in the case of information  received from the Borrower
after the date hereof,  such  information  is clearly  identified at the time of
delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of
Information  as provided in this Section  shall be  considered  to have complied
with its  obligation  to do so if such Person has  exercised  the same degree of
care to maintain the  confidentiality  of such  Information as such Person would
accord to its own confidential information.

SECTION 9.13. Interest Rate Limitation.  Notwithstanding  anything herein to the
contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with
all fees,  charges and other  amounts which are treated as interest on such Loan
under  applicable law  (collectively,  the "Charges"),  shall exceed the maximum
lawful rate (the "Maximum  Rate") which may be contracted for,  charged,  taken,
received  or  reserved  by the  Lender  holding  such  Loan in  accordance  with
applicable law, the rate of interest  payable in respect of such Loan hereunder,
together with all Charges  payable in respect  thereof,  shall be limited to the
Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have
been  payable in  respect  of such Loan but were not  payable as a result of the
operation  of this  Section  shall be  cumulated  and the  interest  and Charges
payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods  shall be  increased
(but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount,  together
with  interest  thereon  at the  Federal  Funds  Effective  Rate to the  date of
repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.

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


HUTTIG BUILDING PRODUCTS, INC.,

by
/s/ Barry J. Kulpa
Name: Barry J. Kulpa

Title: President and CEO

THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
individually and as
Administrative Agent,

<PAGE>

by
/s/ Robert Anastasio
Name: Robert Anastasio
Title: Vice President

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

individually and as
Syndication Agent

by
/s/ Andrew M. Airheart
Name: Andrew M. Airheart
Title: Managing Director

FIRSTAR BANK, N.A., individually and as Documentation Agent

by
/s/ David F. Higbee
Name: David F. Higbee
Title: Vice President

 UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A.,

by
/s/ J. Scott Jessup
Name: J. Scott Jessup
Title: Vice President

COMERICA BANK,

by
/s/ Jeffrey E. Peck
Name: Jeffrey E. Peck
Title: Vice President

LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

by
/s/ Kirk Fronckiewicz
Name: Kirk Fronckiewicz
Title: Commercial Banking

 Officer

TRANSAMERICA BUSINESS CREDIT CORPORATION,

by
/s/ Perry Vavoules
Name: Perry Vavoules

Title: Senior Vice President

<PAGE>

MICHIGAN NATIONAL BANK,

by
/s/ Ralph P. Binggeser
Name: Ralph P. Binggeser
Title: Relationship Manager

PEOPLE'S BANK,

by
/s/ Martin H. Anderson
Name: Martin H. Anderson
Title: Assistant Vice

 President
 THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY,

by
/s/ Fredric McClendon
Name: Fredric McClendon
Title: Vice President

BANK LEUMI USA,

by
/s/ Paul Tine
Name: Paul Tine

Title: Vice President

by
/s/ John Koenigsberg
Name: John Koenigsberg

Title: First Vice President

<PAGE>

Exhibit 4.2  Form of Revolving Note

                                 REVOLVING NOTE


                              $ New York, New York
                                 April 25, 2000


FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned,  HUTTIG BUILDING PRODUCTS, INC., a Delaware
corporation (the "Borrower"),  hereby promises to pay to________. (the "Lender")
or its registered  assigns, at the office of The Chase Manhattan Bank ("Chase"),
at 270 Park Avenue,  New York, New York 10017,  on the Maturity Date (as defined
in the Credit  Agreement dated as of April 25, 2000 (as the same may be amended,
supplemented or otherwise  modified from time to time, the "Credit  Agreement"),
among the  Borrower,  the lenders  from time to time party  thereto,  Chase,  as
administrative agent and collateral agent, Bank of America, N.A., as syndication
agent,  and  Firstar  Bank,  N.A.,  as  documentation  agent,  the lesser of the
principal sum of ____________________________and  the aggregate unpaid principal
amount of all Revolving Loans made by the Lender to the Borrower pursuant to the
Credit Agreement, in lawful money of the United States of America in immediately
available  funds,  and to pay  interest  from the date  hereof on the  principal
amount thereof from time to time outstanding,  in like funds, at said office, at
the rate or rates per annum and  payable  on such  dates as  provided  in to the
Credit Agreement.

The Borrower promises to pay interest,  on demand, on any overdue principal and,
to the extent  permitted by law, overdue interest from their due dates at a rate
or rates provided in the Credit Agreement.

The Borrower hereby waives presentment,  demand,  protest and notice of any kind
whatsoever. The non-exercise by the holder of any of its rights hereunder in any
particular  instance  shall  not  constitute  a  waiver  thereof  in that or any
subsequent instance.

All  borrowings  evidenced by this Revolving  Note,  the  respective  maturities
thereof,  all payments,  repayments and prepayments of the principal  hereof and
interest hereon and the respective dates thereof shall be endorsed by the holder
hereof  on  the  schedule  attached  hereto  and  made  a  part  hereof  or on a
continuation  thereof  which  shall be attached  hereto and made a part  hereof;
provided, however, that the failure of the holder hereof to make such a notation
or any error in such notation  shall not affect the  obligations of the Borrower
to make payments under the Revolving Note and the Credit Agreement.

This  Revolving  Note is one of the  promissory  notes referred to in the Credit
Agreement which, among other things, contains provisions for the acceleration of
the  maturity  hereof upon the  happening  of certain  events,  for optional and
mandatory  prepayment of the principal  hereof prior to the maturity  hereof and
for the amendment or waiver of certain  provisions of the Credit Agreement,  all
upon the terms and conditions  therein  specified.  THIS REVOLVING NOTE SHALL BE
CONSTRUED IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
AND ANY APPLICABLE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

         HUTTIG BUILDING PRODUCTS, INC.,

by:

     Name:
     Title:


                               Loans and Payments

Date

Amount and Type of Loan

Maturity Date

   Payments of
Principal / Interest
Unpaid
Principal
Balance
of Note

Name of Person Making Notation

<PAGE>

Exhibit 4.3   Schedule To Form of Revolving Note

                                Credit Agreement

                         Huttig Building Products, Inc.

                           Dated As Of April 25, 2000

Lender
Principal Sum

Firstar Bank, N.A.                            $25,833,333.33
LaSalle Bank National Association              20,000,000.00
Transamerica Business Credit Corporation       20,000,000.00
Michigan National Bank                         15,000,000.00
The Northern Trust Company                     10,000,000.00

<PAGE>

Exhibit 4.4  Amendment No. 1 to Rights Agreement between the Company and
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C.

                       AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This Amendment No. 1 to Rights Agreement (this "Amendment") is entered into by
and between Huttig Building Products, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent
(the "Rights Agent").

WHEREAS,  the Company and the Rights Agent have entered into that certain Rights
Agreement dated December 6, 1999 (the "Rights Agreement")  pursuant to which the
Company has issued "Rights" (as defined in the Rights  Agreement) to the holders
of the Company's common stock, par value $.01 per share;

WHEREAS,  Section 27 of the Rights Agreement  provides that the Company may, and
the Rights  Agent  shall,  amend the Rights  Agreement  without the  approval of
holders of Rights to cure any ambiguity,  to correct or supplement any provision
contained  therein  which  may be  defective  or  inconsistent  with  any  other
provisions  therein,  or to make any other provisions with respect to the Rights
that the Company may deem necessary or desirable;  provided,  however, that from
and after such time as any person becomes an Acquiring Person (as defined in the
Rights  Agreement),  the Rights Agreement may not be amended in any manner which
would adversely affect the interests of holders of Rights; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has determined that no person has
become or is currently an Acquiring Person.

                            NOW THEREFORE, the parties hereby agree as follows:

1.The first  sentence of Section 1(a) of the Rights  Agreement is hereby amended
to read in its entirety as follows:

"(a)"Acquiring  Person"  shall  mean any  Person  (as such  term is  hereinafter
defined) who or which,  together with all  Affiliates  and  Associates  (as such
terms are hereinafter defined) of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner (as
such term is  hereinafter  defined)  of 20% or more of the Common  Shares of the
Company then outstanding, but shall not include RMC (as such term is hereinafter
defined),  any Subsidiary (as such term is hereinafter  defined) of RMC,  Crane,
any  Subsidiary  of Crane,  the Company,  any  Subsidiary  of the  Company,  any
employee  benefit plan of the Company or any  Subsidiary of the Company,  or any
entity  holding Common Shares of the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any
such plan,  The Crane Fund or The Crane Fund for Widows and Children;  provided,
however, that the foregoing exception for RMC and any Subsidiary of RMC shall be
effective  only  for so  long as RMC and its  Affiliates  and  Associates  shall
beneficially own no Common Shares of the Company other than (i) Common Shares of
the  Company  acquired  by Rugby  (as such  term is  hereinafter  defined)  or a
Subsidiary of Rugby pursuant to the Share Exchange Agreement dated as of October
19, 1999 among the Company,  Crane Co.,  and Rugby  ("Share  Exchange  Shares");
and/or (ii) Common Shares of the Company  issued as a dividend on Share Exchange
Shares  or  issued  in  a   reclassification,   subdivision,   consolidation  or
combination of Share Exchange  Shares and/or (iii)  additional  Common Shares of
the Company in an aggregate  amount not exceeding 1% of the Common Shares of the
Company  outstanding at the time of acquisition of any Common Shares;  provided,
further,  that the  foregoing  exception  for Crane and any  Subsidiary of Crane
shall be effective only until the effective date of the Spin-Off."

2.Section 1(m), Section 1(n) and Section 1(o) of the Rights Agreement are hereby
renumbered as Section 1(n), Section 1(o) and Section 1(p), respectively.

3.The Rights  Agreement  is hereby  amended to add a new Section 1(m) that shall
read in its entirety as follows:

" (m) "RMC" shall mean RMC Group p.l.c. and any entity surviving or resulting
from the merger or consolidation of RMC Group p.l.c.; and "

<PAGE>

4.Section 1(n) of the Rights Agreement is hereby amended to read in its entirety
as follows:

" (n) "Rugby" shall mean The Rugby Group PLC; and "

5.This  Amendment  shall be effective as of the date the same is executed by the
Rights Agent. Except as specifically  amended by this Amendment,  the provisions
of the Rights Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties  hereto have caused this  Amendment to be duly
executed and attested on the dates indicated below.

HUTTIG BUILDING PRODUCTS, INC.
Attest:

By:
By:
Gregory D. Lambert, Secretary                Barry J. Kulpa, President and Chief
                                                               Executive Officer
                                                           Date:  March 16, 2000


                                                         CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER
                                                                SERVICES, L.L.C.
Attest:

By:                                                                          By:
Name:                                                                      Name:
Title:                                                                    Title:
                                                          Date:  March ___, 2000

<PAGE>

Exhibit 11  Statement re: computation of per share earnings


                                                    Three Months Ended March 31,
                                                           2000          1999
                                                       -----------    ----------

Net income (in thousands) (numerator)                      $3,694        $1,232
                                                       ===========    ==========

Computation of Basic Shares Outstanding (in
thousands, except per share amounts)
- ----------------------------------------------------

Weighted average number of basic shares outstanding
(denominator)                                              20,588        14,260
                                                       ===========    ==========

Basic earnings per common share                             $0.18         $0.09
                                                       ===========    ==========

Computation of Diluted Shares Outstanding (in
thousands, except per share amounts)
- ----------------------------------------------------

Weighted average number of basic shares outstanding        20,588        14,260

Common stock equivalents for diluted common shares
outstanding                                                  -             -
                                                       -----------    ----------

Weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding
(denominator)                                              20,588        14,260
                                                       ===========    ==========

Diluted earnings per common share                           $0.18         $0.09
                                                       ===========    ==========
<PAGE>


<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>               5

<S>                            <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-2000


<CASH>                                     8,041,000
<SECURITIES>                               0
<RECEIVABLES>                              128,020,000
<ALLOWANCES>                               3,359,000
<INVENTORY>                                88,200,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           226,571
<PP&E>                                     68,506,000
<DEPRECIATION>                             30,393,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             319,600,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                      124,187,000
<BONDS>                                    121,314,000
                      0
                                0
<COMMON>                                   209,000,000
<OTHER-SE>                                 70,801,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               319,600,000
<SALES>                                    0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           281,946,000
<CGS>                                      227,760,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                              45,748,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                           0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                           0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         2,229,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                            6,209,000
<INCOME-TAX>                               2,515,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                        3,694,000
<DISCONTINUED>                             0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                            0
<CHANGES>                                  0
<NET-INCOME>                               3,694,000
<EPS-BASIC>                                0.18
<EPS-DILUTED>                              0.18


</TABLE>


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