CORDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC
10-Q, 1999-04-27
GUIDED MISSILES & SPACE VEHICLES & PARTS
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                               UNITED STATES
                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           Washington, D.C. 20549


                                 Form 10-Q



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

               For the quarterly period ended March 31, 1999

                                     OR

[ ]      TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)OF THE SECURITIES
         EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM  ____________  
         TO ______________.

Commission file number 1-6179


                         CORDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.


Incorporated in the State of Delaware          IRS Employer Identification
                                                       No. 36-2678716


       15 West S. Temple, Suite 1600, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101-1532

                      Telephone Number: (801) 933-4000

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 the past 90 days. Yes X No ____


Indicate the number of shares  outstanding of each of the issuer's  classes
of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.


Common Stock, $1.00 par value, outstanding at March 31, 1999:  36,578,820





                                     1
<PAGE>


                                                  CORDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.
                                                QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q
                                                        March 31, 1999



                                   INDEX
<TABLE>

                                                                                                           Page

<CAPTION>
                       PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
<S>           <C>                                                                                          <C>
ITEM 1.       Financial Statements

              Consolidated Statements of Income - Three months
                   ended March 31, 1999 and 1998                                                               3

              Consolidated Balance Sheets -
                   March 31, 1999 and December 31, 1998                                                      4-5

              Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Three
                   months ended March 31, 1999 and 1998                                                        6

              Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity-
                   Three months ended March 31, 1999 and 1998                                                  7

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements                                                    8-13


ITEM 2.       Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
                   Condition and Results of Operations                                                     14-26

ITEM 3.       Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk                                       27


                         PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 5.       Other Information                                                                               28

ITEM 6.       Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                                                             28-29

SIGNATURES                                                                                                    29
</TABLE>


                                     2
<PAGE>



                      PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
<TABLE>


                                                  CORDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.
                                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
                                             (IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<CAPTION>

                                                                                   Three Months Ended
                                                                                        March 31
                                                                             ------------------------------------
                                                                                   1999              1998
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>                                                                                 <C>               <C>     
Net sales                                                                           $634.1            $562.7

Operating expenses:
     Cost of sales                                                                   490.7             436.7
     Selling, general and administrative                                              51.4              46.0
     Research and development                                                          8.2               8.4
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Total operating expenses                                                    550.3             491.1
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Income from operations                                                                83.8              71.6

Interest income                                                                        2.7               2.7
Interest expense                                                                      (9.5)             (5.8)
Other, net                                                                             (.2)              (.9)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income before income taxes and minority interest                                      76.8              67.6
Income taxes                                                                         (22.5)            (26.0)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income before minority interest                                                       54.3              41.6
Minority interest                                                                     (7.1)             (8.8)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Net income                                                                          $ 47.2            $ 32.8
=================================================================================================================

Net Income per share:
     Basic                                                                          $  1.29           $   .90
     Diluted                                                                        $  1.26           $   .87
=================================================================================================================
Dividends per share                                                                 $   .10           $   .10
=================================================================================================================
<FN>

See notes to consolidated financial statements.
</FN>
</TABLE>




                                                              3
<PAGE>


<TABLE>


                                                  CORDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.
                                                 CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                                        (IN MILLIONS)
<CAPTION>

                                                                                    March 31
                                                                                      1999                 December 31
                                                                                   (Unaudited)                1998
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                               <C>                       <C>
Assets
Current assets
     Cash and cash equivalents                                                    $   18.8                 $   45.3
     Receivables                                                                     280.9                    240.0
     Inventories                                                                     261.4                    252.3
     Deferred income taxes and prepaid expenses                                       56.3                     60.8
     Restricted Trust (a)                                                                                     716.4
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Total current assets                                                        617.4                  1,314.8

Property, plant and equipment, at cost
     less allowances for depreciation                                                679.2                    672.3

Other assets
     Costs in excess of net assets of businesses
         acquired, net                                                               856.0                    561.7
     Patents and other intangible assets, net                                        124.8                    128.3
     Other noncurrent assets                                                         132.0                    132.8
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Total other assets                                                            1,112.8                    822.8
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Total assets                                                                 $2,409.4                 $2,809.9
========================================================================================================================
<FN>


(a)  The  Restricted  Trust held a note  receivable  from Pechiney S.A. and related  letters of credit that secured  Pechiney
     S.A.'s agreement to repay the Pechiney Notes. Pechiney S.A. (Howmet's previous owner) paid the notes on January 4, 1999,
     and the Restricted Trust was terminated. No Howmet or Cordant funds were used in the payment of the Notes.

See notes to consolidated financial statements.
</FN>
</TABLE>




                                                              4
<PAGE>


<TABLE>


                                               CORDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.
                                              CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                                     (IN MILLIONS)
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  March 31
                                                                                    1999                  December 31
                                                                                (Unaudited)                   1998
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                               <C>                       <C>
Liabilities and stockholders' equity
Current liabilities
     Short-term debt                                                              $  130.3                  $   80.1
     Accounts payable                                                                122.0                     139.8
     Accrued compensation                                                             85.9                      81.6
     Other accrued expenses                                                          205.4                     202.1
     Pechiney Notes (a)                                                                                        716.4
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Total current liabilities                                                   543.6                   1,220.0

Noncurrent liabilities
     Accrued retiree benefits                                                        170.8                     169.0
     Deferred income taxes                                                            52.6                      52.3
     Accrued interest and other noncurrent liabilities                               230.5                     234.2
     Long-term debt                                                                  644.3                     324.5
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Total noncurrent liabilities                                              1,098.2                     780.0

Minority interest                                                                     61.1                     142.0
Stockholders' equity
     Common stock (par value $1.00 per share)
         Authorized - 200 shares
         Issued - 41.1 shares at March 31, 1999 and                                   41.1                      41.1
            December 31, 1998 (includes treasury shares)
     Additional paid-in capital                                                       46.9                      47.4
     Retained earnings                                                               702.3                     658.8
     Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)                                   (10.1)                     (3.9)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     780.2                     743.4
     Less common stock in treasury, at cost
         4.5 shares, March 31, 1999 and
         4.6 shares, December 31, 1998                                               (73.7)                    (75.5)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Total stockholders' equity                                               706.5                     667.9
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Total liabilities and stockholders' equity                            $2,409.4                  $2,809.9
========================================================================================================================  
<FN>

a)   The  Restricted  Trust held a note  receivable  from Pechiney S.A. and related  letters of credit that secured  Pechiney
     S.A.'s agreement to repay the Pechiney Notes. Pechiney S.A. (Howmet's previous owner) paid the notes on January 4, 1999,
     and the Restricted Trust was terminated. No Howmet or Cordant funds were used in the payment of the Notes.

See notes to consolidated financial statements.
</FN>
</TABLE>



                                                              5
<PAGE>


<TABLE>


                                                  CORDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.
                                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
                                                        (IN MILLIONS)
<CAPTION>

                                                                                          Three Months Ended
                                                                                               March 31
                                                                                 -------------------------------------
                                                                                       1999                  1998
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                                  <C>                  <C>

Operating Activities
Net income                                                                           $  47.2              $  32.8
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
     provided by operating activities:
         Minority interest                                                               7.1                  8.8
         Depreciation                                                                   19.5                 17.8
         Amortization                                                                    8.6                  7.7
         Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
            Receivables                                                                (45.8)               (36.2)
            Inventories                                                                (11.2)                 4.8
            Accounts payable and accrued expenses                                      (27.2)               (24.4)
            Income taxes                                                                21.0                 18.4
            Other                                                                        4.8                 (3.4)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Net cash provided by operating activities                               24.0                 26.3

Investing Activities
     Acquisitions                                                                     (385.0)
     Purchases of property, plant and equipment                                        (31.1)               (23.3)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Net cash used for investing activities                                (416.1)               (23.3)

Financing Activities
     Net change in short-term debt                                                      50.7                 (1.1)
     Long-term borrowings                                                              450.0                156.4
     Repayment of long-term debt                                                      (130.1)              (116.1)
     Dividends paid                                                                     (3.7)                (3.6)
     Purchase of common stock for treasury                                                                  (10.8)
     Stock option transactions                                                           1.3                  2.7
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Net cash provided by financing activities                              368.2                 27.5

Foreign currency rate changes                                                           (2.6)                  .1
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents                                       (26.5)                30.6
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year                                          45.3                 45.6
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                                           $  18.8              $  76.2
======================================================================================================================

<FN>

See notes to consolidated financial statements.
</FN>
</TABLE>

                                                              6
<PAGE>


<TABLE>

                                                  CORDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.
                                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (UNAUDITED)
                                                        (IN MILLIONS)
<CAPTION>
                                                                                           Accumulated
                                                         Additional                           Other        Total
                                                Common   Paid-In    Retained   Treasury   Comprehensive  Stockholders'
                                                Stock    Capital    Earnings     Stock       Income        Equity
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>                                               <C>       <C>      <C>          <C>        <C>           <C>
Three months ended March 31, 1998

Balance, December 31, 1997                        $20.5     $46.0    $ 552.0      $(64.5)    $ (3.5)       $ 550.5
Comprehensive income
    Net income                                                          32.8                                  32.8
      Other comprehensive income
         Cumulative translation adjustment                                                       .1             .1
                                                                                                         -----------
      Total comprehensive income                                                                              32.9
                                                                                                         ===========
Dividends paid                                                          (3.6)                                 (3.6)
Stock  dividend (2.2 treasury shares
    and 20.6 common shares)                        20.6                (20.6)
Treasury stock purchases (.3 shares)                                               (10.8)                    (10.8)
Stock options exercised and related
    income tax benefits (.1 shares)                            .9                    1.8                       2.7
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Balance, March 31, 1998                           $41.1     $46.9    $ 560.6      $(73.5)    $ (3.4)       $ 571.7
====================================================================================================================


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

Three months ended March 31, 1999

Balance, December 31, 1998                        $41.1     $47.4    $ 658.8      $(75.5)    $ (3.9)       $ 667.9
Comprehensive income
    Net income                                                          47.2                                  47.2
      Other comprehensive income
        Minimum pension liability                                                                .9             .9
        Cumulative translation adjustment                                                      (7.1)          (7.1)
                                                                                                         -----------
      Total comprehensive income                                                                              41.0
                                                                                                         ===========
Dividends paid                                                          (3.7)                                 (3.7)
Stock options exercised and related
    income tax benefits (.1 shares)                           (.5)                   1.8                       1.3
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Balance, March 31, 1999                           $41.1     $46.9    $ 702.3      $(73.7)    $(10.1)       $ 706.5
====================================================================================================================
<FN>

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

</FN>
</TABLE>


                                                              7
<PAGE>



NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)


Basis of Presentation

The  accompanying  interim  consolidated  financial  statements  have  been
prepared in accordance with generally  accepted  accounting  principles for
interim  financial  information and with the  instructions to Form 10-Q and
Rule 10-01 of  Regulation  S-X.  The  balance  sheet at  December  31, 1998
reflects the Company's audited  consolidated balance sheet at that date. In
management's  opinion,  all  adjustments  considered  necessary  for a fair
presentation  have been included.  Operating  results for the  three-months
ended March 31, 1999 are not  necessarily  indicative  of the results to be
expected for the year ending  December 31, 1999.  The financial  statements
should be read in conjunction  with the consolidated  financial  statements
and notes thereto  included in the Company's  1999 Notice of Annual Meeting
and Proxy Statement,  Financial  Information,  incorporated by reference in
the Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December 31,
1998.

Certain  reclassifications  were made to the 1998  financial  statements to
conform to the 1999 presentation.


Receivables

The components of receivables are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        March 31
                                                          1999              December 31
      (in millions)                                   (Unaudited)               1998
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      <S>                                                 <C>                  <C>
      Trade Receivables:
             Trade accounts receivable                    $164.5               $159.0
              Retained receivables                          54.6                 32.0
              Allowance for doubtful accounts               (8.7)                (7.8)
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     Total Trade Receivables               210.4                183.2
      Receivables under U.S. Government contracts
           and subcontracts                                 70.5                 56.8
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          $280.9               $240.0
      =======================================================================================
</TABLE>

Receivables  under government  contracts and subcontracts  include unbilled
costs and accrued profits.  Such amounts are billed based on contract terms
and delivery schedules.

Cost  and   incentive-type   contracts  and  subcontracts  are  subject  to
government audit and review.  It is anticipated that  adjustments,  if any,
will not have a material  effect on the Company's  results of operations or
financial condition.

                                     8
<PAGE>

Cost management award fees totaling $128.1 million, at March 31, 1999, have
been  recognized on the current Buy 3 Space Shuttle  Reusable  Solid Rocket
Motor (RSRM) contract. Realization of such fees is reasonably assured based
on actual and  anticipated  contract cost  performance.  However,  all cost
management  award fees remain at risk until  contract  completion and final
NASA review.  The Buy 3 RSRM  contract is expected to be  completed  during
2001.   Unanticipated   program   problems  which  erode  cost   management
performance could cause some or all of the recognized cost management award
fees to be reversed and would be offset against receivable amounts from the
government or may be directly  reimbursed.  Circumstances which could erode
cost management  performance,  and materially impact Company  profitability
and cash flow, include failure of a Company-supplied component, performance
problems with the RSRM leading to a major redesign  and/or  requalification
effort, manufacturing problems, including supplier problems which result in
RSRM production interruptions or delays, and major safety incidents.

Trade accounts  receivable  primarily  relate to sales to well  established
corporations and historically, bad debt expense has been minor.

Howmet  has an  agreement  to sell,  on a  revolving  basis,  an  undivided
interest in a defined pool of accounts receivable.  Howmet has received $55
million from the sale of such receivables and has deducted this amount from
accounts   receivable  at  March  31,  1999.  The  $54.6  million  retained
receivables,  shown in the March 31, 1999  balance  sheet,  represents  the
receivables set aside to replace sold receivables in the event they are not
fully collected.


Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market.  Inventories for the
fastening systems segment are determined by the first-in,  first-out (FIFO)
method.  Inventories for the investment  castings segment are determined by
both the FIFO and last-in, first-out (LIFO) method.

Propulsion Systems inventories include estimated  recoverable costs related
to long-term fixed price contracts  including  direct  production costs and
allocable  indirect costs,  less related  progress  payments  received.  In
accordance with industry practice,  such costs include amounts that are not
expected to be realized  within one year.  The government may acquire title
to, or a security interest in, certain  inventories as a result of progress
payments made on contracts and programs.


                                     9
<PAGE>

The components of inventories are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     March 31
                                                                       1999              December 31
      (in millions)                                                (Unaudited)              1998
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      <S>                                                              <C>                   <C>

      Raw materials and work-in-process                                $189.7                $161.8
      Finished Goods                                                     66.1                  87.6
      Inventoried costs related to U.S. Government
           and other long-term contracts                                 35.1                  28.8
      Progress payments received on long-term 
           contracts                                                    (26.7)                (22.6)
      LIFO valuation adjustment                                          (2.8)                 (3.3)
      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       $261.4                $252.3
      ====================================================================================================
</TABLE>

At March 31, 1999 and  December 31, 1998,  inventories  include  $114.9 and
$111.8  million,  respectively,  that  are  valued  using  LIFO.  The  LIFO
valuation adjustment  approximates the difference between the LIFO carrying
value and current replacement cost.

Purchase of Additional Howmet International Inc. Common Stock

On February 8, 1999,  the Company  acquired for $385 million the  remaining
22.65 million  shares of Howmet  International  Inc.  common stock owned by
Carlyle Blade Acquisition  Partners,  L.P. (Carlyle) and entered into a new
Standstill Agreement and extended an existing covenant not to compete. With
this  purchase of the Carlyle  shares,  the  Company's  ownership of Howmet
International  Inc.  common stock increases to  approximately  84.6 million
shares  representing  84.6 percent of Howmet's  outstanding  voting  common
stock. The remaining 15.4 percent of Howmet common stock is publicly owned.
The acquisition  was financed with borrowings  under an unsecured bank line
of credit established in conjunction with the stock purchase.  The interest
rate on this facility is based on LIBOR plus a spread, and was 5.75 percent
at the time of the transaction. As a result of this acquisition, a one-time
tax  adjustment  was recorded in the first quarter of 1999  reversing  $7.1
million or $.19 per share of a previously accrued accumulated dividend tax.

Additional  detailed  financial  information on Howmet is available in it's
current form 10-Q and in Howmet's  Notice of 1999 Annual  Meeting and Proxy
Statement,  Exhibit B,  incorporated by reference in Howmet's Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998.


                                    10
<PAGE>

FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS

Long term debt is summarized as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                      March 31
                                                                       1999         December 31
(in millions)                                                       (Unaudited)        1998
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                    <C>              <C>   
Cordant Technologies 6.625% senior notes                               $150.0           $150.0
Cordant Technologies senior revolving credit facilities                 400.0            110.0
Howmet senior revolving credit facility                                  90.0             60.0
Other                                                                    12.4             13.1
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        652.4            333.1
      Less current portion                                                8.1              8.6
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       $644.3           $324.5
===================================================================================================
</TABLE>

The Company, excluding Howmet, has credit commitments from a group of banks
aggregating $500 million under revolving credit  facilities,  of which $100
million was  available at March 31,  1999.  The funds  available  under the
credit  facilities may be used for any corporate  purpose and are available
through May 1999 ($50  million),  November 1999 ($300 million) and May 2001
($150 million). The Company has the option to extend up to $400 million for
an  additional  nine months.  The  interest  rate on the  revolving  credit
facilities is based on LIBOR plus a spread,  and was 5.6 and 5.9 percent at
March 31, 1999 and December 31, 1998,  respectively.  The credit agreements
and senior notes contain  covenants  restricting,  among other things,  the
Company's  ability to incur funded  debt,  limitations  on liens,  sale and
leaseback transactions, and the sale of assets.

Howmet  has  credit  commitments  from a group  of banks  aggregating  $300
million under a revolving  credit  agreement,  of which $202.4  million was
available at March 31,  1999.  Howmet had $7.6 million in Letters of Credit
outstanding  at March 31, 1999 under the  revolving  credit  facility.  The
funds  available  under the credit  facility may be used for any  corporate
purpose and are available  through  December 2002. The interest rate on the
facility  is based on LIBOR plus a spread,  and was 5.2 and 5.8  percent at
March 31, 1999 and December 31, 1998, respectively.  Terms of the revolving
credit  facility  require  Howmet to meet  certain  interest  coverage  and
leverage  ratios  and  maintain  certain  minimum  net  worth  amounts.  In
addition,  there are  restrictions  that  limit  indebtedness,  the sale of
assets, and payments for acquisitions or investments.

Cordant  does not have  access  to  Howmet  cash  balances  except  through
Howmet's declaring a cash dividend to its shareholders,  which availability
may be restricted under the terms of its revolving credit facility.  Howmet
does not currently intend to pay dividends.

On February  17,  1999,  Howmet  paid $66.4  million to redeem all of its 9
percent preferred stock. The payment was made to Cordant Technologies,  the
sole preferred  stockholder.  Howmet borrowed under its existing  revolving
credit  facility to make this  payment and  Cordant  Technologies  used the
proceeds to reduce debt under its revolving credit facilities.


                                    11
<PAGE>

The current portion of long-term debt is classified in "short-term debt" on
the balance sheets.

Earnings per share
<TABLE>
The  following  table  sets  forth the  computation  of basic  and  diluted
earnings per share:
<CAPTION>


                                                                         Three-Months Ended
                                                                              March 31
                                                                   ----------------------------------
                                                                          1999
(In millions, except per share data)                                  (Unaudited)         1998
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                       <C>           <C>

Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per share:

     Net Income                                                           $47.2          $32.8
======================================================================================================


Denominator:

     Denominator for basic earnings per
         share -- weighted-average shares                                  36.5           36.4
     Effect of dilutive securities
         Employee stock options                                              .9            1.2
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Denominator for diluted earnings per share --
         weighted-average shares and assumed exercises                     37.4           37.6
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Net income per share:
     Basic                                                               $  1.29         $  .90
     Diluted                                                             $  1.26         $  .87
=====================================================================================================
</TABLE>


Segment Information

The Company has three reportable segments:  Investment Castings,  Fastening
Systems,   and  Propulsion  Systems.   The  Company's  reportable  segments
manufacture  and distribute  distinct  products with  different  production
processes.

The  Company  evaluates   performance  and  allocates  resources  based  on
operating  income,  which is  pre-tax  income  before  interest  income and
expense,  and excludes any equity income and other non-operating  expenses.
In accordance with industry  practice,  a proportionate  share of Corporate
general and  administrative  expense is allocated  and  reimbursed  through
Propulsion  Systems  contracts.  Intersegment  sales and  transfers are not
significant.


                                    12
<PAGE>
<TABLE>

Summary unaudited segment information for the three-months ended March 31 follows:
<CAPTION>


(in millions)                                                         1999             1998
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                  <C>             <C>

 Sales:
 Investment Castings                                                 $ 372.7         $ 328.4
 Fastening Systems                                                     121.2            90.1
 Propulsion Systems                                                    140.2           144.2
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total sales                                                    $ 634.1          $562.7
===================================================================================================

 Operating income:
 Investment Castings                                                 $  55.0        $   43.8
 Fastening Systems                                                      18.3            13.2
 Propulsion Systems                                                     17.8            18.4
 Unallocated corporate expense                                          (7.3)           (3.8)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total operating income                                            83.8            71.6

 Interest income                                                         2.7             2.7
 Interest expense                                                       (9.5)           (5.8)
 Other, net                                                              (.2)            (.9)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Consolidated income before income taxes                                       
              and minority interest                                  $  76.8         $  67.6
===================================================================================================
</TABLE>





                                    13
<PAGE>



ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT'S  DISCUSSION  AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL  CONDITION AND
         RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

Results of Operations

All of the following discussion reflects diluted earnings per share.

Income for the First Quarter

Net income for the first quarter ended March 31, 1999,  was $47.2  million,
or $1.26 per share, an increase of 44 percent, compared to the prior year's
quarter  net  income  of $32.8  million  or $.87  per  share.  The  current
quarter's net income included a Stock Appreciation  Rights (SAR) benefit at
Howmet of $1.3 million or $.03 per share,  resulting  from  Howmet's  stock
price  decline  below the $15 per share  ceiling at the end of the quarter.
Net income for the current quarter also included a $7.1 million or $.19 per
share tax benefit from reversing a dividend tax previously  recorded on the
Company's  share of Howmet's  income.  Excluding  the unusual  items listed
above,  net income of $38.8 million or $1.04  increased 18 percent over the
prior year's quarter.

The SAR  benefit was caused by a decline in Howmet's  common  stock  price.
Compensation  expense increases or decreases  (benefit) as the market value
of the  stock  fluctuates  below  a $15  per  share  ceiling,  and  also is
determined  based on  employee  SAR  vesting  to date.  At March 31,  1999,
Howmet's common stock price was $14.31, which resulted in the $1.3 million,
or $.03 per share  benefit  to the  Company.  SAR  benefit  or  expense  is
recognized each quarter based on the market value at the end of the quarter
compared to the market price at the previous quarter end subject to the $15
per share ceiling limit.



                                    14
<PAGE>
<TABLE>

Summary unaudited financial information for the three-months ended March 31 follows:
<CAPTION>

                                                                                         Better        Percent
(in millions, except per share data)                       1999            1998          (Worse)       Change
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                        <C>           <C>             <C>              <C>
 
 Sales:
 Investment Castings                                       $372.7        $328.4          $ 44.3            13
 Fastening Systems                                          121.2          90.1            31.1            35
 Propulsion Systems                                         140.2         144.2            (4.0)           (3)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total sales                                          $634.1        $562.7          $ 71.4            13
==================================================================================================================

 Operating income:
 Investment Castings                                       $ 55.0        $ 43.8          $ 11.2            26
 Fastening Systems                                           18.3          13.2             5.1            39
 Propulsion Systems                                          17.8          18.4             (.6)           (3)
 Unallocated corporate expense                               (7.3)         (3.8)           (3.5)          (92)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total operating income                                 83.8          71.6            12.2            17

 Interest income                                              2.7           2.7                        
 Interest expense                                            (9.5)         (5.8)           (3.7)          (64)
 Other, net                                                   (.2)          (.9)             .7            78
 Income taxes                                               (22.5)        (26.0)            3.5            13
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Income before minority interest                        54.3          41.6            12.7            31
 Minority interest                                           (7.1)         (8.8)            1.7            19
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Net income                                           $ 47.2        $ 32.8          $ 14.4            44
==================================================================================================================

 Net income per share:
      Basic                                                $  1.29       $   .90         $   .39           43
      Diluted                                              $  1.26       $   .87         $   .39           45

</TABLE>

Selected Unaudited Financial Data

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                           Three Months Ended March 31
                              ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               1999                                            1998
                              -------------------------------------------    ----------------------------------------------
(in millions)                  Cordant        Howmet      Consolidated         Cordant        Howmet        Consolidated
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>                              <C>          <C>              <C>               <C>            <C>               <C>
Net cash provided by
     operating activities        $14.2         $  9.8           $ 24.0           $ 31.7         $ (5.4)           $26.3
Capital expenditures              (7.8)         (23.3)           (31.1)            (6.7)         (16.6)           (23.3)
Dividends                         (3.7)                           (3.7)            (3.6)                           (3.6)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 $ 2.7         $(13.5)          $(10.8)          $ 21.4         $(22.0)           $ (.6)
===========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>


                                                             15
<PAGE>


BUSINESS SEGMENT SALES AND INCOME FOR THE QUARTER

Investment Castings

The  following  unaudited  information   summarizes  Howmet's  results,  as
separately  reported to its shareholders,  for the three-months ended March
31:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


      (in millions)                           1999                  1998
      --------------------------------------------------------------------
      <S>                                    <C>                 <C>   
      Net sales                              $372.7              $328.4
      Cost of goods sold                      284.6               252.7
      Gross profit                             88.1                75.7
      Operating income                         57.2                44.8
      Net income                             $ 34.8              $ 24.5
      --------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>


Following is a  reconciliation  of Howmet's  contribution  to the Company's
income for the three-months ended March 31:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

(in millions)                                                          1999           1998
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                     <C>           <C>    
Howmet net income                                                       $34.8         $24.5
Less preferred paid-in-kind dividend (1)                                  (.8)         (1.4)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income available to common shareholders                                  34.0          23.1
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Company's interest in Howmet income (2)                                  26.8          14.3
Add preferred paid-in-kind dividend                                        .8           1.4
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Howmet's contribution to the Company's income                            27.6          15.7
Less the Company's 7 percent tax on Howmet income                                      (1.1)
Add the Company's cumulative 7 percent tax reversal on 
       Howmet income                                                      7.1
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Howmet's total after-tax contribution to the Company's
     income                                                             $34.7         $14.6
==============================================================================================
<FN>

(1)  Howmet's 9 percent  paid-in-kind  preferred  stock owned by the  Company  was  redeemed on
     February 17, 1999 for $66.4 million.

(2)  On February 8, 1999, the Company increased its ownership in Howmet from 62 percent to 84.6
     percent.
</FN>
</TABLE>

Howmet's sales  increased $44.3 million or 13 percent over the prior year's
quarter.  The sales  increase  came from the  industrial  gas turbine (IGT)
market.




                                    16
<PAGE>



Howmet's  net  income  was $34.8  million  for the  quarter,  a 42  percent
increase  from $24.5  million in the prior year's  quarter.  The  principle
reason for the higher  income was the  increased  revenue in the IGT market
and improved  operating  margins.  The current  quarter  also  includes the
aforementioned  $1.3 million  after-tax  SAR benefit  which will reverse in
future  periods if  Howmet's  stock  price  increases  above $15 per share.
Interest  expense was $1.9 million lower than the prior year's  quarter due
to lower debt levels and lower interest rates in the current quarter.

Starting  in late 1998,  Howmet  discovered  certain  product  testing  and
specification non-compliance issues at two of Cercast's facilities.  Howmet
notified  customers,  is  actively  cooperating  with  them and  government
agencies  in the  investigation  of  these  matters,  and  is  implementing
remedial action. In addition, Cercast has been, and expects to continue for
some time to be, late in delivery  of products to certain  customers.  Data
collection and analysis must be completed  before a definitive  estimate of
Howmet's cost to resolve these matters can be completed. Howmet knows of no
in-service  problems  associated  with these issues.  Based on  preliminary
evaluation, however, Howmet recorded an estimated loss of $4 million in its
consolidated  statement  of income for the year ended  December  31,  1998.
Based on currently known facts,  the Company  believes that additional cost
to Howmet  beyond $4  million,  if any,  would not have a material  adverse
effect on the Company's financial position,  cash flow, or annual operating
results.  However,  additional cost when and if accrued may have a material
adverse impact on the quarter in which it may be accrued.

On March 3,  1999,  Howmet  received  from the U.S.  Air  Force a Notice of
Proposed  Debarment  from  future  government  contracts  and  subcontracts
directed at Howmet Corporation and its Cercast Canadian subsidiary. The Air
Force terminated the proposed  debarment with respect to Howmet Corporation
by letter to it on March 10, 1999,  thus permitting  Howmet  Corporation to
resume accepting U.S. government contracts and subcontracts. The continuing
proposed debarment with respect to Howmet's Cercast Canadian  subsidiary is
based  on the  product  testing  and  specification  non-compliance  issues
discussed  above,  and  improper  vendor  payments  previously   disclosed.
Debarment  does  not  affect  existing   Cercast   contracts,   other  than
extensions.  Howmet is negotiating an Administrative Agreement with the Air
Force under which the Notice of Proposed Debarment would be terminated.  In
the unlikely event a debarment were imposed for an extended period of time,
such action would  negatively  impact sales and profits in future  periods.
However,  the Company  believes  that such impact  would be  immaterial  to
Howmet's results of operations.





                                    17
<PAGE>



Fastening Systems

Fastening Systems sales and operating income for the quarter were $31.1 and
$5.1  million  higher,  respectively,  than in the  prior  year's  quarter,
reflecting  both the  addition  of  Jacobson  Manufacturing's  results  and
continued strength in the industrial markets. Operating income increased 39
percent over last year's  quarter.  Operating  margins for the quarter were
15.1  percent,  compared to 14.7  percent  last year.  Margins  continue to
benefit from  continuing cost control  initiatives and increased  revenues.
Aerospace  sales were lower than the prior  year's  quarter  primarily as a
result of lower domestic demand. Excluding Jacobson's results, Huck's total
sales and operating income both decreased 7 percent over the prior year due
to declining aerospace sales.

Fastening systems book-to-bill ratios,  defined as period orders divided by
period shipments, for the three months ended March 31, were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                 1999               1998
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------
      <S>                                        <C>                <C> 
      Aerospace                                   .59               1.04
      Industrial                                 1.06               1.05
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------
      Fastening Systems Total                     .90               1.05
      =====================================================================
</TABLE>

Book to bill ratios are used as an indicator of future  sales,  but as with
all  indicators,  such ratios have inherent  limitations and actual results
may be different.  Since the book to bill ratio is not a generally accepted
accounting principle  disclosure,  other companies may calculate this ratio
differently and utilize the ratio for different purposes.

Propulsion systems

Propulsion  systems sales and operating income for the quarter  decreased 3
percent  compared to the prior year due primarily to lower  activity in the
commercial  launch motor and flare programs.  Space Shuttle  Reusable Solid
Rocket Motor (RSRM) and Missile  Defense  sales  increased  slightly.  RSRM
operating  margins  experienced  a small  increase  over  the  prior  year.
Propulsion  systems  operating  margins  were 12.7  percent in the  current
quarter compared to 12.8 percent in 1998.

During the  quarter,  the RSRM  contract  accounted  for  approximately  15
percent  of  the  Company's  consolidated  net  sales  and  16  percent  of
consolidated  operating  income.  Current  year RSRM sales are  expected to
approximate   the   prior   year's   sales.   The   current   NASA   Buy  3
cost-plus-award-fee  contract provides for Company  production of the Space
Shuttle solid rocket motors through 2001. Buy 3 profit margins are expected
to improve through 2001 as the contract approaches completion.  The Company
has negotiated a Buy 4 agreement that extends the program into 2005.





                                    18
<PAGE>



RSRM Buy 4

In  December  1998,  an  agreement  was  reached  with NASA  outlining  all
significant  contractual  issues  for the RSRM Buy 4  contract.  The  final
contract  signing  is  expected  in the second  quarter of 1999.  The Buy 4
contract  type  is a  cost-plus-incentive/performance/award-fee.  The Buy 4
contract  includes 35 flight sets, or 70 motors,  and three flight  support
motors. Contract completion is expected during 2005. Currently, the Company
anticipates  follow-on  contracts  for RSRM motors  through the life of the
Space Shuttle program. The Space Shuttle program is expected to continue in
service  through  approximately  2010.  Long lead material  procurement and
production has begun under the Buy 4 agreement.  The contract is subject to
annual  Congressional  funding.  While the Buy 4  agreement  is  similar in
structure  and profit  potential to the Buy 3 contract,  until  performance
incentives  are  met,  Buy 4 profit  margins  will be  lower  than  margins
currently being recognized on Buy 3.

On  February  9,  1999 the  Company  was  notified  that  NASA  intends  to
consolidate  the Company's  RSRM contract into the Space Flight  Operations
Contract  with United Space  Alliance  (U.S.A.).  This change will mean the
Company will perform RSRM activities under a subcontract to U.S.A.  instead
of as a prime  contractor to NASA. The target date  established by NASA for
the  transition  is October 1, 2000.  The Company does not  anticipate  any
significant  change to its RSRM  contract  terms or profit  potential  as a
result of the change.


OTHER MATTERS

Selling, general and administrative

For the quarter ended March 31, 1998,  selling,  general and administrative
expenses  increased $5.4 million or 12 percent  compared to the prior year.
Goodwill  amortization  increased $2.3 million for the quarter,  due to the
purchase of an additional  22.6 percent of Howmet common stock in February,
and  the  purchase  of  Jacobson  in  June  1998.   Selling,   general  and
administrative  expenses for the three-month  period increased $2.4 million
due to the  addition of  Jacobson's  selling,  general  and  administrative
expenses and to increased corporate costs and marketing efforts.  Corporate
unallocated  costs  increased due to increased  costs noted above and fewer
costs being allocated to Propulsion systems  contracts.  Increased sales in
the commercial  segments reduced the amount of corporate costs allocable to
that business.

Interest Expense

Interest  expense  increased $3.7 million over the prior year's quarter due
to Cordant's  increased  borrowings related to the 22.6 percent purchase of
Howmet and the Jacobson acquisition.




                                    19
<PAGE>



Income Taxes

The Company had an effective  income tax rate of 29 percent,  compared with
38 percent for the same three-month period in the prior year. The effective
income tax rate for the quarter  was 38.5  percent  before  reversal of the
$7.1  million or $.19 per share  dividend  tax  previously  recorded on the
Company's  share of Howmet  income.  Beginning in February  1999,  Howmet's
taxable  income  will be  included in the  Company's  consolidated  Federal
income  tax  return,  and a  dividend  tax will no longer be accrued on the
Company's share of Howmet results.


YEAR 2000 REMEDIATION

The  Company  has a  decentralized  Information  Systems  (I.S.)  function,
wherein each of its three business segments operates  autonomously with its
own I.S. organization. Accordingly, each segment is conducting its own Year
2000 project that is unique to its particular operating  environment.  Each
of the business segment projects is similarly  organized into four distinct
categories of effort. These four categories include the following: Business
Information Systems  Remediation;  Embedded Processor Systems  Remediation;
Customer and Supplier Readiness; and Risk Assessment,  Worst Case Scenarios
and Contingency Planning.

Investment Castings

Business   Information  Systems   Remediation:   Investment  Castings  I.S.
organization  has  identified  virtually  all date  logic  problems  on its
central mainframe and distributed server production systems and remediation
is currently in process. This portion of the Year 2000 remediation project,
which began in 1996, is scheduled,  with minor exceptions,  to be completed
by June of 1999.  All  central  systems  will be placed  under  restrictive
change  control  procedures  to  ensure  that  corrected  systems  are  not
inadvertently  impacted by further  changes.  System-wide  testing activity
will be conducted periodically  throughout 1999. The central I.S. Year 2000
project team also  provides  oversight  for the sixteen  small,  local I.S.
groups  located at Howmet  plant  facilities.  These  plant teams have each
completed  a Year  2000  readiness  assessment  that  identified  all local
business systems or equipment  requiring  corrective action or replacement.
This remediation work is currently  underway at all plants and is scheduled
for completion by June of 1999.

Embedded Processor Systems Remediation:  The central I.S.  organization has
provided  each plant  facility  with  guidance  and  support  for  embedded
processor  identification,   evaluation,  testing  and  remediation,  where
required.  All plant teams are scheduled to complete this project  category
by June of 1999.




                                    20
<PAGE>



Customer and Supplier Readiness: Howmet I.S. and procurement personnel have
communicated  with several  hundred of their key  customers,  suppliers and
third parties  regarding their  respective  Year 2000 readiness  status and
plans.   These   communications   have   included   written   inquiries  or
questionnaires  and, in some instances,  on-site  meetings.  Any electronic
interfaces  with  individual  business  associates  will be  addressed on a
case-by-case  basis.  Management has also responded  appropriately  to Year
2000  readiness  inquiries  from  Howmet  customers,  suppliers  and  third
parties.  Howmet is not aware of any significant  readiness  issues at this
time.

Risk  Assessment,  Worst Case Scenarios and  Contingency  Planning:  Howmet
Castings management believes the most likely worst case scenario would be a
one or two week  shutdown of  individual  pieces of critical  equipment  or
computer systems at one or two manufacturing facilities, disrupting but not
totally eliminating production at those plants. Workaround procedures would
be  established  by the  end  of  that  period.  Total  remediation  of the
underlying  problem  could  stretch  over a  six-month  period.  Management
further  believes  that  this  is  more  likely  to  occur  at its  foreign
facilities  than  its U.S.  plants.  Even in this  eventuality,  management
believes  that any loss of  revenue  during the  period  involved  would be
substantially  recovered  in later  periods  due to  deferral  rather  than
cancellation of orders or deliveries.

Howmet is currently  developing Year 2000 Contingency Plans in three areas:
1)  business  systems  processing  at  Howmet's  primary  data  center;  2)
procurement  activities for critical raw materials and services,  including
transportation;  and 3) local  manufacturing  processes and systems at each
facility. These plans are expected to be completed during the third quarter
of 1999.  Howmet expects to employ various  methods of risk mitigation such
as:  devising   alternate  manual  processes  for  critical   applications;
installing a generator at Howmet's central computing facility; establishing
a corporate  command  post and  providing  full  staffing of I.S. and plant
maintenance  personnel during the year-end  weekend;  conducting  extensive
future date testing;  developing an inventory build-up  strategy;  imposing
extra product quality testing during the new year;  validating customer and
supplier electronic interfaces;  scheduling shutdowns of critical equipment
on December 31, 1999;  and active  monitoring,  measuring,  and auditing of
plant  compliance.  While  every  effort  has been made to  anticipate  and
mitigate risks, it is possible that the inability of the Company or certain
of its  suppliers,  customers or third  parties to  implement  solutions to
their  respective  Year 2000  issues on a timely and cost  effective  basis
could have a material adverse effect on the Company.



                                    21
<PAGE>

Cost  Information:  The estimated  cost at completion for all phases of the
Howmet  Castings  project is $16.6  million.  An estimated $6.1 million (37
percent) of this amount is for I.S. labor and miscellaneous  project costs;
these  costs are being  expensed as routine  I.S.  systems  maintenance  as
incurred over the three-year duration of the project.  Another $7.6 million
(46 percent) is for software package purchase and implementation  costs for
applications  that were installed or expedited for Year 2000  purposes.  An
additional  $2.9  million (17  percent)  has been spent for  infrastructure
upgrades or replacement.  Approximately $11.9 million (72 percent) had been
expended as of March 31, 1999;  the estimated  $4.7 million (28 percent) in
remaining  costs will be expended  during the  remainder of 1999.  No major
information  systems  initiatives  have  been  adversely  affected  due  to
staffing  constraints  or  expenditures  needed to remedy Year 2000 issues.
Management  has  concluded  that it will  substantially  benefit from these
efforts because of the elimination of numerous old systems,  implementation
of   several   new   state-of-the-art   applications,   new  and   thorough
documentation  of many older  systems,  and the  creation  of  updated  and
improved business continuity plans.


Propulsion Systems

Business Information Systems Remediation:  Thiokol Propulsion has completed
its renovation on all major production  applications.  The objective of the
project,  which  began in early  1996,  was to  identify  all  date-related
program  logic,  to  renovate,  replace or  eliminate  all date  processing
problems,  to validate the results via integrated  system  testing,  and to
implement into production the corrected application  software.  All systems
that were  replaced  or  renovated  have been  moved into  production.  The
production  environment  will then be maintained under  restrictive  change
control  procedures to ensure that corrected  systems are not inadvertently
impacted by further changes. System-wide testing activity will be conducted
periodically  throughout  1999.  In  addition,  all  computer  and internal
telecommunications  hardware  systems  have been  evaluated,  upgraded  and
tested,  as required,  and are presently being moved into production.  This
activity  will be  completed  in June of 1999  with  the  replacement  of a
telephone PBX system at an offsite location.

Embedded  Processor  Systems  Remediation:  Cross-functional  teams at each
Thiokol  Propulsion  facility  have  inventoried,  evaluated,  replaced  or
renovated,  and tested all embedded  processor  systems with potential Year
2000  readiness  risks.  Systems  evaluated  include  programmable  process
controllers, recording devices, data collection devices, security and alarm
systems,  pumps and pumping stations,  power metering  systems,  elevators,
HVAC timers,  protective  relays and card readers.  To date 99 percent have
been corrected or replaced with only minor issues remaining to be resolved.
The scheduled completion for this category of effort is June of 1999.




                                    22
<PAGE>



Customer   and  Supplier   Readiness:   Thiokol   Propulsion   is  actively
communicating  with its key customers,  suppliers and third parties to help
ensure that its supply chain  dependencies  and  interfaces  are or will be
Year 2000 ready.  This  initiative,  which will continue  throughout  1999,
involves written inquiries or  questionnaires to these business  associates
regarding the status of their respective Year 2000 readiness  efforts.  For
certain key customers,  critical  suppliers (i.e.  railways,  sole sources,
critical  materials and utilities) and third parties,  on-premise  meetings
have  been  conducted  to review  detailed  project  plans and  timetables.
Thiokol has also  responded  appropriately  upon receipt of such  inquiries
from its customers, suppliers and third parties. Management is not aware of
any significant readiness issues at this time.

Risk  Assessment,  Worst Case  Scenarios  and  Contingency  Planning:  Risk
assessment and contingency  planning for the Company's business information
systems and embedded processor systems are expected to be completed by June
of 1999.  Additional categories of risk assessment and contingency planning
focus on the  external  influences  that  the  Company  does  not  directly
control.  The outcomes of ongoing  external  renovation  activities will be
rigorously monitored with risks assessed and contingency plans put in place
as required. The critical supplier chain has been addressed and contingency
plans put into place,  mitigating  the risk of disruption to  manufacturing
operations for lack of materials or finished components.  The NASA-critical
solid rocket motor  program  risk has been  assessed as minimal.  With five
flights  planned  for 1999 and  ongoing  production,  five  flight  sets of
hardware  will be in inventory at Kennedy  Space Flight  Center by December
1999.  This  inventory  will support the shuttle  launch  schedule  through
August 2000.  Additionally,  in December  1999, 3.6 flight sets of hardware
will be in inventory at Thiokol Propulsion facilities.  Risk assessment and
contingency  planning  will  be a  dynamic  activity  and as  such  will be
monitored and acted upon on a continual basis as risks are identified.

Cost  Information:  The estimated  cost at completion for all phases of the
Thiokol  Propulsion  project is $9.0  million.  These costs are recorded as
incurred over the three-year  duration of the project.  Approximately  $8.3
million (92 percent) had been expended through March 31, 1999, and the $ .7
million (8 percent) in estimated  remaining  costs will be expended  during
the remainder of 1999. Of the total  estimated  project cost, 58 percent is
labor and  miscellaneous  project-related  expense,  12 percent is for I.S.
infrastructure  upgrades  and  replacement,  and 30 percent is for software
package  implementations  that were  performed or expedited to address Year
2000 issues. No major information  systems  initiatives have been adversely
affected due to staffing  constraints or expenditures needed to remedy Year
2000 issues.  On average,  Year 2000 project spending has consumed only 7.5
percent  of the annual  I.S.  budget  and 10-12  percent of I.S.  staffing.
Thiokol  Propulsion  management  has concluded  that it will  substantially
benefit  from these  efforts  because  of the  elimination  of several  old
systems, the implementation of new state-of-the-art  applications,  new and
thorough  documentation of many older systems,  and the creation of updated
and improved business continuity plans.




                                    23
<PAGE>



Fastening Systems

Business  Information  Systems  Remediation:  Huck Fasteners is employing a
dual approach to Year 2000 readiness for its business  application systems.
For many  years  most  Huck  locations  have  used a  standard  commercial,
vendor-supported  application  software  product.  As of  March  31,  1999,
approximately one-half of those locations had been upgraded to a version of
the  software  product that  addresses  virtually  all Year 2000  readiness
issues. All remaining Huck locations, including its international sites and
headquarters  offices,  are  implementing a recently  purchased  Enterprise
Resource  Planning (ERP)  software  product that is both Year 2000 and Euro
ready. The ERP implementation is presently underway at eight sites, with 50
percent of the sites and 65 percent of the user base  already  operational.
The new system will be  operational  at the  remainder of the sites by June
1999.  Additional local and system-wide testing activity is being conducted
during the remainder of 1999.

Embedded Processor Systems Remediation: Huck Fasteners has a dedicated Year
2000  program   office  that   supports   each  site  in   establishing   a
cross-functional  team to identify,  evaluate,  test and, where needed,  to
modify or replace embedded processor  systems.  To date, formal inventories
have been completed,  criticality assessments have been made and evaluation
of the  individual  devices is underway.  Project work on this  category is
scheduled for completion during September 1999.

Customer and Supplier  Readiness:  Huck  Fasteners  has  submitted  written
inquiries or questionnaires to all major customers,  critical suppliers and
certain third parties to determine  their  respective  Year 2000  readiness
status and plans. Any electronic  interfaces will be coordinated with these
business associates on a case-by-case basis.  Management has also responded
appropriately  to  Year  2000  inquiries  made  by any  of  its  customers,
suppliers and third parties. Huck is not aware of any significant Year 2000
readiness issues at this time.

Risk Assessment,  Worst Case Scenarios and Contingency Planning:  Using the
approach of certain major Huck  customers,  management has contracted  with
independent  assessors to audit its progress  against plan and with respect
to industry  benchmarks.  Additionally,  several  customers  have  provided
assessment teams to evaluate  individual sites and Huck's overall Year 2000
readiness and plans. These independent  assessments have addressed both the
Industrial  and  Aerospace  businesses  and the  feedback  is being used to
refine Huck's approach to risk assessment and contingency planning. Work on
worst case scenarios and formal  contingency  planning is underway,  and is
expected to be completed during June of 1999.




                                    24
<PAGE>



Cost Information:  The estimated total cost at completion for all phases of
the Huck Year 2000 project is $11.9 million. Approximately $6.4 million (54
percent)  of that total  amount will be  capitalized.  The  estimated  $5.5
million (46  percent)  in  remaining  cost is  classified  as routine  I.S.
maintenance  and is being expensed as incurred over the three-year  life of
the project.  Approximately  $7.9 million (67 percent) had been expended as
of March 31, 1999, and the estimated $4.0 million (33 percent) in remaining
costs  will be  expended  in 1999.  No major  I.S.  initiatives  have  been
adversely  affected due to staffing  constraints or expenditures  needed to
remedy  Year  2000  issues.  Huck  management  has  concluded  that it will
substantially  benefit from these  efforts  because of the  elimination  of
several  old   systems,   the   implementation   of  new   state-of-the-art
applications,  and the creation of updated and improved business continuity
plans.


Euro Conversion

The Company is assessing the impact of the Euro  conversion on its business
operations and is currently  implementing a strategy which will allow it to
operate in a Euro environment during the transition period, January 1, 1999
- - December 31, 2001, and after full Euro  conversion post July 1, 2002. The
Company does not anticipate any material impact from the Euro conversion on
its computer software plans.  Computer software changes necessary to comply
with the Year 2000 issue are generally  compliant with the Euro  conversion
issue.  Enterprise  Resource  Planning (ERP) software being  implemented at
Huck as a part of Year 2000 readiness will be Euro compliant. No additional
costs related to Euro  compliance  are expected for the ERP software.  Some
expense is anticipated for minor system modifications,  but is not expected
to be significant.  The Company's  payroll system has not yet been examined
and will require  modifications  to be Euro compliant.  The cost of payroll
systems  modifications  is also  undetermined.  The Company expects no Euro
conversion impact to its Thiokol Propulsion  business segment.  The Company
expects no significant  impact to its  contracting  policies or competitive
position  related to its three  business  segments  as a result of the Euro
conversion.  The Company is reviewing the impact of the Euro  conversion on
its foreign exchange  exposure and has determined a modest increase in this
exposure due to the Company's United Kingdom operation's acceptance of Euro
denominated contracts.  The Company does not expect any significant changes
to its current hedging policy and does not expect any significant increases
in its foreign exchange exposure.


Liquidity and Capital Resources

For the  current  three-month  period,  consolidated  net cash  flows  from
operating  activities were $24 million compared to $26.3 million last year.
Compared to the prior year, the higher net income in the current period was
offset by higher cash used for an increase in receivables and  inventories.
The increase in receivables  resulted from collection timing issues related
to both Howmet's retained receivables and Propulsion systems balances.  The
increase in inventories was primarily from the Investment Castings segment.




                                    25
<PAGE>

Acquisition activity included $385 million for the purchase of 22.6 percent
of Howmet common stock.  Consolidated  capital spending on property,  plant
and equipment  used $31.1 million in the current  period  compared to $23.3
million  in  the  prior  year.   Howmet  used  $23.3   million  in  capital
expenditures,  mainly for capacity expansions to serve the core business as
well as  additional  expenditures  to  support  new  products  and  process
enhancement activities.

Financing  activities for the three-month period provided $368.2 million of
cash  compared to $27.5  million of cash provided in the prior year period.
In February, the Company borrowed $385 million to finance the Howmet common
stock  purchase.  During the period  the  Company  repaid a total of $130.1
million of debt, $35 million being repaid by Howmet.

On February  17,  1999,  Howmet  paid $66.4  million to redeem all of its 9
percent  paid-in-kind  preferred  stock.  The  payment  was made to Cordant
Technologies,  the sole preferred  stockholder.  Howmet  borrowed under its
existing senior  revolving credit facility to make this payment and Cordant
Technologies  used the  proceeds to reduce debt under its senior  revolving
credit facilities.

During the  three-month  period,  Cordant did not  repurchase any shares of
common stock. In the prior year period,  Cordant repurchased 265,200 shares
of it's common stock for $10.8 million. There are approximately 2.4 million
shares   available  for  repurchase  under  the  current  share  repurchase
authorization.  Cordant will  repurchase  shares when, and in amounts as it
deems appropriate.

Cordant does not have access to Howmet cash balances  except through Howmet
declaring a cash dividend to its shareholders.  Howmet is limited as to the
amount of  dividends it can declare  under the terms of Howmet's  financing
agreements. Howmet does not currently intend to pay dividends.

At December 31, 1998, the Company's  balance sheet includes  $716.4 million
of Pechiney Notes and a related $716.4 million  Restricted  Trust asset. On
January  4, 1999,  Pechiney,  S.A.  (Howmet's  previous  owner)  repaid the
Pechiney Notes in full. As a result,  the Restricted  Trust,  which secured
Pechiney,  S.A's agreement to repay the notes was terminated.  No Howmet or
Cordant funds were used in the payment of the Notes.

At March 31, 1999,  Cordant had $500 million in revolving credit facilities
with $100 million  available for additional use. In addition,  on March 31,
1999,  Howmet had a $300  million  revolving  credit  facility  with $202.4
million available for additional borrowing and/or letters of credit.

Howmet  has an  agreement  to sell,  on a  revolving  basis,  an  undivided
interest in a defined pool of accounts receivable.  Howmet has received $55
million from the sale of such receivables and has deducted this amount from
accounts   receivable  at  March  31,  1999.  The  $54.6  million  retained
receivables,  shown in the March 31, 1998  balance  sheet,  represents  the
receivables set aside to replace sold receivables in the event they are not
fully collected.



                                    26
<PAGE>
<TABLE>

The Company's liquidity ratio's were as follows:
<CAPTION>

                                            March 31          December 31
                                              1999                1998
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                          <C>                 <C>  
Working Capital (in millions)                $73.8               $94.8
Current Ratio                                  1.1                 1.2
Debt-to-equity                               109.6%               60.6%
Debt-to-total capital                         54.0%               40.8%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

All of the  above  ratios  for 1998  exclude  the  Pechiney  Notes  and the
Restricted  Trust  terminated  with Pechiney S.A.'s payment of its Notes on
January 4, 1999. The  debt-to-total-capital  ratio includes the $55 million
receivable  facility  at Howmet.  The  current  ratio and  working  capital
decreases  resulted  primarily  from  increased   short-term  debt  levels.
Estimated future cash flows from operations,  current financial  resources,
and  available  credit  facilities  are expected to be adequate to fund the
Company's anticipated working capital  requirements,  capital expenditures,
dividend  payments,  and  stock  repurchase  program  on both a  short  and
long-term  basis.  The Company  expects  that its senior  revolving  credit
facilities will be renegotiated,  restructured, or replaced and continually
reviews its options for other types of long-term financing.

Since December 31, 1998, the cumulative  translation  adjustment,  which is
included in stockholder's  equity,  changed by $7.1 million.  The change is
primarily  due to the  strengthening  of the U.S.  dollar  relative  to the
French franc.


ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK

There have been no significant changes in market risks since the end of the
Company's  December 31, 1998 year.  For more  information,  please read the
consolidated  financial  statements  and  notes  thereto  included  in  the
Company's  1999  Notice of Annual  Meeting and Proxy  Statement,  Financial
Information,  incorporated  by reference in the Annual  Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 1998.



                                    27
<PAGE>



PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 5.  OTHER INFORMATION

The Company's  "Cautionary  Statements" with respect to certain  statements
herein that the Company believes are "forward looking statements" under the
"safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995 are set  forth in Item 7,  Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis  of
Financial  Conditions and Operations of the Company's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended  December 31, 1999.  Many of the factors  described
herein are  discussed  in both  current and prior  Company  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission  filings and to the extent not otherwise  discussed in
forward-looking  statements  should be  considered in assessing the various
risks  associated with the Company's  conduct of its business and financial
condition.


ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
<TABLE>

                                  Exhibits
<CAPTION>
      <S>           <C>           <C> 

       Exhibit      10            Material Contracts

                    10.1          Credit Agreement dated as of February 5, 1999 among Cordant  Technologies Inc. and
                                  The First  National Bank of Chicago,  individually  and as  Administrative  Agent,
                                  First Chicago Capital  Markets,  Inc., as arranger,  and the lending  institutions
                                  party hereto.

                    10.2          Form of Amended  and  Restated  Employment  Agreement  dated  March 1, 1999 by and
                                  among Cordant  Technologies Inc. and Messrs.  James R. Wilson,  Richard L. Corbin,
                                  James E.  McNulty,  Bruce M. Zorich and certain  other  executive  officers of the
                                  Company.

                    10.3          Form Cordant  Technologies Inc. 1999 Stock Option Grant Agreement  Incentive Stock
                                  Option.
                    
                    10.4          Form Cordant  Technologies  Inc.  1999 Stock Option Grant  Agreement Non Qualified
                                  Stock Option.
                    
       Exhibit      27.1          Financial Data Schedule.

</TABLE>




                                    28
<PAGE>



Reports on Form 8-K

On February  9, 1999,  a Form 8-K was filed.  Included  therein was Item 2,
"Acquisition or Disposition of Assets" disclosing the Company's acquisition
of 22,650,000 shares of Howmet International Inc. common stock owned by the
Carlyle  Group.  Included  in Item 5,  "Other  Events"  was the text of the
announcement of earnings for the quarter and year-ended  December 31, 1998,
summary financial information was included.


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.

                                     CORDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.
                                     (Registrant)




Date:    April 27, 1999.             /s/  Richard L. Corbin____________
                                     Richard L. Corbin, Senior Vice
                                     President and Chief Financial Officer
                                     (Principal Financial Officer)




                                     /s/  Michael R. Ayers_____________
                                     Michael R. Ayers,
                                     Vice President and Controller
                                     (Principal Accounting Officer)






                                    29
<PAGE>





                         CORDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.
                      1999  G R A N T  A G R E E M E N T

                           INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION


     AGREEMENT,   made  this  ____  day  of  ______  199_  between  Cordant
Technologies  Inc.,  a Delaware  corporation  ("Company")  and the Employee
("Employee")  whose  name  appears on the Notice of Grant of Stock of Stock
Option ("Notice of Grant")  attached  hereto and  incorporated by reference
herein.

     WHEREAS,  the Committee (as defined in Section  1.5),  has  determined
that it would be to the  advantage and best interest of the Company and its
stockholders  to grant the stock option provided for herein to the Employee
in consideration of Employee's  services to the Company or Affiliate and as
an incentive for increased  efforts  during the  Employee's  service to the
Company or Affiliate,  and has advised the Company  thereof and  instructed
the undersigned officers to issue said Option;

     WHEREAS,  the  stock  option  subject  to this  agreement  is  granted
pursuant to the terms of the Cordant Technologies Inc. Amended and Restated
1996 Stock Awards Plan or the 1989 Stock Awards Plan, as the case may be.

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  mutual  covenants  herein
contained  and other good and valuable  consideration,  receipt of which is
hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto do hereby agree as follows:


                                 ARTICLE I
                                DEFINITIONS

     Whenever the following  terms are used in this  Agreement,  they shall
have the meaning  specified below unless the context  clearly  indicates to
the contrary.  Capitalized terms which are not defined below shall have the
meaning specified in the Plan.

SECTION 1.1 - AFFILIATE

         "Affiliate"  shall  mean any  entity  in which the  Company  has a
direct or indirect equity interest which is so designated by the Committee.


- ------------------------
Note:  An Incentive  Stock option must be exercised  within three months of
the date of termination of employment or retirement,  the tax status of the
option changes to that of a Nonqualified option. Special ISO rules apply to
death and disability.  Consult your tax advisor concerning tax consequences
of this Stock Option Grant.

<PAGE>

SECTION 1.2 - BENEFICIARY

     "Beneficiary"  shall mean the person or persons properly designated by
the  Employee,  including  his  spouse or heirs at law,  to  exercise  such
Employee's  rights under the Plan in the event of the Employee's  death, or
if the Employee has not designated  such person or persons,  or such person
or persons  shall all have  pre-deceased  the  Employee,  the  executor  or
administrator  of  the  Employee's  estate.  Designation,   revocation  and
redesignation of  Beneficiaries  must be made in writing in accordance with
rules  established by the Committee and shall be effective upon delivery to
the Committee.

SECTION 1.3 - BOARD

     "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

SECTION 1.4 - CODE

     "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

SECTION 1.5 - COMMITTEE

     "Committee"  shall  mean  the  Committee  of the  Board  appointed  as
provided in the Plan.

SECTION 1.6 - COMPANY

     "Company"   shall  mean   Cordant   Technologies   Inc.,   a  Delaware
corporation.

SECTION 1.7  - DATE OF GRANT

     "Date of Grant"  shall  mean the date set forth on the Notice of Grant
on  which  the  Board  grants  the  option  hereunder  and from  which  the
Anniversary Date set forth in the Vesting Schedule shall be determined.

SECTION 1.8 - EXCHANGE ACT

     "Exchange  Act" shall mean the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as
amended.

SECTION 1.9 - OPTION

     "Option"  shall mean the  incentive  stock  option to purchase  Common
Stock of the Company granted under this Agreement.

                                    -2-
<PAGE>


SECTION 1.10 - PLAN

     "Plan"  shall mean either the Cordant  Technologies  Inc.  Amended and
Restated  1996 Stock Awards Plan or the 1989 Stock Awards Plan as set forth
on the face of the Notice of Grant.

SECTION 1.11 - RULE 16B-3

     "Rule  16b-3"  shall mean that  certain  Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange
Act, as such Rule may be amended in the future.

SECTION 1.12 - SECURITIES ACT

     "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.


                                 ARTICLE II
                              GRANT OF OPTION

SECTION 2.1 - GRANT OF OPTION.  In consideration of Employee's  services to
the Company or Affiliate,  as the case may be,  Cordant  Technologies  Inc.
grants to Employee  the option to purchase  shares of its Common Stock (par
value $1 per  share) at a  purchase  price set forth on the Notice of Stock
attached  hereto  (the  fair  market  value of such  shares  on the Date of
Grant), subject to the conditions of this Agreement.

SECTION 2.2 - ADJUSTMENTS  IN OPTION.  Subject to Section 5.3, in the event
that the  Committee  determines  that any  dividend  or other  distribution
(whether in the form of cash,  Common Stock,  other securities or property)
of a  reorganization,  recapitalization,  spin-off,  stock dividend,  stock
split,   combination,   reclassification,   reverse  stock  split,  merger,
consolidation, split-up, spin-off, repurchase, liquidation, dissolution, or
sale,  transfer,  exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all
of the  assets  of the  Company,  or  exchange  of  Common  Stock  or other
securities of the Company, or other similar corporate  transaction or event
or other  increase or  reduction  in the number of issued  shares of Common
Stock,  affects the Common Stock such that an  adjustment  is determined by
the Committee to be appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement
of the benefits or potential  benefits  intended to be made  available with
respect to the Option the  Committee  may, in order to prevent the dilution
or enlargement of rights under awards, make such adjustments in any and all
of the number and type of shares covered by the option,  or with respect to
which  payments are  measured  under,  outstanding  awards and the exercise
price  specified  herein  as  may  be  determined  to  be  appropriate  and
equitable,  to the end that after such event the  optionees'  proportionate
interest shall be maintained as before the occurrence of such event..  Such
adjustment  in the Option shall be made  without  change in the total price
applicable to the unexercised  portion of the Option (except for any change
in the aggregate price resulting from  rounding-off of share  quantities or
prices) and with any necessary corresponding adjustment in the Option price
per share;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,

                                    -3-

<PAGE>


that each such adjustment shall be made in such manner as not to constitute
a "modification"  within the meaning of Section  424(h)(3) of the Code. Any
such  adjustment  made by the Committee shall be final and binding upon the
Employee, the Company, and all other interested persons.


                                ARTICLE III
                          PERIOD OF EXERCISABILITY

SECTION 3.1 - COMMENCEMENT OF EXERCISABILITY

     (a) This Option shall become exercisable (vested) as follows:


                               OPTION VESTING
                                  SCHEDULE

FIRST BUSINESS DAY FOLLOWING               PORTION OF THE OPTION BECOME 
THE ANNIVERSARY DATE FROM THE                       EXERCISABLE
      DATE OF GRANT                       (VESTED) ON SUCH ANNIVERSARY DATE
      -------------                       ---------------------------------

One year from date of grant                        25 percent

Two years from date of grant                       50 percent

Three years from date of grant                     75 percent

Four years from date of grant                     100 percent


     No  fractional  share of a vested  option is  exercisable  until  such
anniversary date from the date of grant as the remainder of such fractional
share becomes exercisable.

     No part of the Option will be exercisable  prior to the first business
day following  the  expiration of one year from the Date of Grant set forth
on the Notice of Grant of Stock attached hereto.

     (b) No portion of the Option  (including any portion of the Option not
yet vested under Section  3.1(a) which is  unexercisable  at termination of
employment)  shall  thereafter  become  exercisable  except with respect to
retirement  under  Section  3.3(b);  death  Section  3.3(c);  or disability
Section 3.3(d).

SECTION 3.2 - DURATION OF  EXERCISABILITY.  After any portion of the Option
becomes  exercisable  pursuant to Section  3.1(a),  the Option shall remain
exercisable  until it has been exercised or until it becomes  unexercisable
under Section 3.3.

                                    -4-
<PAGE>


SECTION 3.3 - EXPIRATION OF OPTION.

     (a) The  Option (or any  portion  of the  Option not yet vested  under
Section  3.1(a) as the case may be) may not be  exercised  to any extent by
anyone  after  the  first  to occur of the  following  events  ("Expiration
Date"):

          (i)  The  expiration  of ten (10)  years from the date the Option
               was granted; or

          (ii) Except in the event of a Change in Control of the Company as
               defined  in  Section  3.4  below  or as  otherwise  provided
               herein,  the expiration of three (3) months from the date of
               the  employee's   termination  of  employment   unless  such
               termination of employment results from Employee's retirement
               pursuant  to the  terms of a  pension  plan of the  Company;
               death or permanent and total disability;  PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
               if during the first two years  following a Change in Control
               of the Company Employee's,  employment terminates other than
               pursuant  to the  terms of a pension  plan of a Company  and
               Employee's Option was exercisable on the date of termination
               of Employee's  employment,  it will remain exercisable for a
               period  of six  months  and one  day  after  termination  of
               Employee's   employment,   or  until  the  Expiration  Date,
               whichever occurs first; or

          (iii)The effective date of the  Committee's  action under Section
               5.3(ii),  (iii) or (iv)  (except  in the  case of an  action
               providing for assumption of the Option).

     (b) If Employee's  employment with the Company terminates prior to the
Expiration Date because of Employee's retirement pursuant to the terms of a
pension plan of the Company,  the Employee's Option will remain exercisable
until the Expiration  Date. Any portion of the Option not yet vested at the
Employee's date of retirement will  automatically  vest with the passage of
time (as if the retired Employee had remained actively  employed)  pursuant
to the Option vesting schedule set forth in Section 3.1(a). In the event of
a retired  employees'  death prior to the  Expiration  Date of this option,
this  option  shall   become  100%  vested  and  such  retired   Employee's
beneficiary  shall have two years from the date of death or the  Expiration
Date, whichever date is the earliest, to exercise this option.

     (c) If an Employee's  employment with the Company  terminates prior to
the Expiration  Date due to death,  the option to the extent not yet vested
shall become 100% vested on the date of death and shall remain  exercisable
by such Employee's beneficiary until the Expiration Date.

     (d) If the Employee's  employment with the Company terminates prior to
the Expiration  Date due to the Employee's  permanent and total  disability

                                    -5-

<PAGE>


("Disability"),  such option shall remain  exercisable until the Expiration
Date so long as such Disability is continuing. To the extent such option is
not vested on the date of Disability,  the option shall  automatically vest
with the passage of time (as if the Disabled Employee has remained actively
employed) pursuant to the vesting schedule in Section 3.1(a). The Committee
shall have the sole  discretion to determine if an Employee is disabled for
the  purposes  of this option and such  determination  shall be binding and
conclusive  on the  Employee.  In the  event  such  Employee  ceases  to be
disabled,  this option shall  terminate  within three months of the date of
determination by the Committee that such disability no longer exists or the
Expiration Date, whichever date is the earliest to occur.


SECTION 3.4 - ACCELERATION OF EXERCISABILITY  UPON CHANGE IN CONTROL OF THE
COMPANY.  Notwithstanding  any  provision  herein to the  contrary,  to the
extent the  Employee's  Option  has not been  exercised  previously  or any
portion of such Option has not yet vested under Section  3.(a),  Employee's
Option shall be  exercisable  from and after the  occurrence of a Change in
Control  of the  Company;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that this  acceleration  of
exercisability  shall not take place if this Option  becomes  unexercisable
under  Section  3.3 prior to the  occurrence  of a Change of Control of the
Company; and PROVIDED,  FURTHER, that no Option shall be exercisable by any
Employee  who is then  subject to Section 16 of the  Exchange Act until the
expiration  of the period  ending six months and one day after the later of
date the Option is granted or deemed regranted.  A Change of Control of the
Company shall mean:

          (a) The  acquisition by any  individual,  entity or group (within
     the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange
     Act of  1934,  as  amended  (the  "Exchange  Act"))  (a  "Person")  of
     beneficial  ownership  (within the  meaning of Rule 13d-3  promulgated
     under  the  Exchange  Act)  of 20% or  more of  either  (i)  the  then
     outstanding  shares of common stock of the Company  (the  "Outstanding
     Company Common  Stock") or (ii) the combined  voting power of the then
     outstanding   voting  securities  of  the  Company  entitled  to  vote
     generally  in the  election of  directors  (the  "Outstanding  Company
     Voting  Securities");  provided,  however,  that for  purposes of this
     subsection  (a), the  following  acquisitions  shall not  constitute a
     Change of Control: (i) any acquisition directly from the Company, (ii)
     any acquisition by the Company,  (iii) any acquisition by any employee
     benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company
     or any  corporation  controlled by the Company or (iv) any acquisition
     by any  corporation  pursuant to a  transaction  which  complies  with
     clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (c) of this Section 3.4; or

          (b) Individuals who, as of the date hereof,  constitute the Board
     (the "Incumbent  Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
     majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming
     a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination
     for election by the Company's shareholders,  was approved by a vote of
     at least a majority of the  directors  then  comprising  the Incumbent
     Board shall be considered as though such  individual

                                    -6-

<PAGE>

     were a member of he Incumbent Board, but excluding,  for this purpose,
     any such  individual  whose  initial  assumption of office occurs as a
     result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the
     election  or  removal  of  directors  or other  actual  or  threatened
     solicitation  of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other
     than the Board; or

          (c) Consummation of a reorganization,  merger or consolidation or
     sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of
     the  Company  (a  "Business  Combination"),   in  each  case,  unless,
     following such Business  Combination,  (i) all or substantially all of
     the  individuals   and  entities  who  were  the  beneficial   owners,
     respectively,  of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding
     Company  Voting   Securities   immediately   prior  to  such  Business
     Combination  beneficially own,  directly or indirectly,  more than 50%
     of, respectively,  the then outstanding shares of common stock and the
     combined  voting  power  of the  then  outstanding  voting  securities
     entitled to vote  generally in the election of directors,  as the case
     may be, of the  corporation  resulting from such Business  Combination
     (including,  without  limitation,  a corporation  which as a result of
     such transaction  owns the Company or all or substantially  all of the
     Company's assets either directly or through one or more  subsidiaries)
     in substantially the same proportions as their ownership,  immediately
     prior to such Business  Combination of the Outstanding  Company Common
     Stock and Outstanding  Company Voting Securities,  as the case may be,
     (ii) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business
     Combination  or any employee  benefit  plan (or related  trust) of the
     Company or such corporation  resulting from such Business Combination)
     beneficially   owns,   directly  or   indirectly,   20%  or  more  of,
     respectively,  the then  outstanding  shares  of  common  stock of the
     corporation  resulting from such Business  Combination or the combined
     voting  power  of the  then  outstanding  voting  securities  of  such
     corporation  except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to
     the Business  Combination and (iii) at least a majority of the members
     of the  board of  directors  of the  corporation  resulting  from such
     Business  Combination  were members of the Incumbent Board at the time
     of the  execution  of the initial  agreement,  or of the action of the
     Board, providing for such Business Combination; or

          (d)  Approval  by the  shareholders  of the Company of a complete
     liquidation or dissolution of the Company.


                                 ARTICLE IV
                             EXERCISE OF OPTION

SECTION 4.1 - PERSON  ELIGIBLE TO  EXERCISE.  During  Employee's  lifetime,
Employee's  option  is  exercisable  only by  Employee  unless  it has been
disposed  of pursuant to a Qualified  Domestic  Relations  Order  (?QDRO?).
After the death of the Employee, any exercisable portion of the Option may,
prior to the time when the Option becomes  unexercisable under Section 3.3,
be exercised by his Beneficiary.


                                    -7-

<PAGE>

SECTION 4.2 - PARTIAL  EXERCISE.  Any exercisable  portion of the Option or
the entire Option, if then wholly exercisable, may be exercised in whole or
in part  prior to the time  when the  Option  or  portion  thereof  becomes
unexercisable under Section 3.3.

SECTION 4.3 - PROCEDURE  FOR  EXERCISE.  The Option may be  exercised  with
respect to shares of the Company's  Common Stock granted to Employee in the
amount  specified  ("Option  Shares")  at any time  from the date  that any
portion  of the  Option  described  in the  Vesting  Schedule  set forth in
Section 3.1(a) becomes exercisable  pursuant to Section 3.1(a) or 3.4 until
the Option  expires  pursuant  to Section  3.3 by: (i)  delivery of written
notification  of  exercise  and payment in full either in cash or in Common
Stock of the Company  delivered to the  Corporate  Secretary of the Company
for all Option  Shares being  purchased  plus the amount of any federal and
state  income  taxes  required to be withheld by reason of the  exercise of
Employee's  option;  and (ii) if requested,  within the specified  time set
forth  in any  such  request,  delivery  to the  Company  of  such  written
representations  and  undertakings  as may, in the opinion of the Company's
legal  counsel,  be necessary or desirable to comply with federal and state
tax and  securities  laws  and  (iii) if  requested,  a bona  fide  written
representation  and  agreement,  in a form  satisfactory  to the Committee,
signed by the  Employee  or other  person then  entitled  to exercise  such
Option or portion,  stating that the shares of stock are being acquired for
his own  account,  for  investment  and without any  present  intention  of
distributing  or  reselling  said  shares  or any of them  except as may be
permitted  under  the  Securities  Act  and  then   applicable   rules  and
regulations thereunder, and that the Employee or other person then entitled
to exercise such Option or portion will  indemnify the Company  against and
hold it free and  harmless  from any loss,  damage,  expense  or  liability
resulting to the Company if any sale or  distribution of the shares by such
person is contrary to the  representation  and agreement referred to above.
In the event the Option or portion  shall be exercised  pursuant to Section
4.1 by any person or persons other than the Employee,  appropriate proof of
the right of such person or persons to exercise the Option.

     The  Committee  may,  in  its  absolute   discretion,   take  whatever
additional  actions  it deems  appropriate  to insure  the  observance  and
performance  of such  representations,  undertakings  and agreements and to
effect  compliance  with the  Securities Act and any other federal or state
securities  laws or  regulations.  Without  limiting the  generality of the
foregoing, the Committee may require an opinion of counsel acceptable to it
to the effect that any subsequent  transfer of shares acquired on an Option
exercise does not violate the Securities  Act, and may issue  stop-transfer
orders covering such shares. Share certificates  evidencing stock issued on
exercise of this Option shall bear an appropriate  legend  referring to the
provisions of this  subsection and the  representations,  undertakings  and
agreements referenced herein.

SECTION  4.4  -  SECURITIES  LAW  RESTRICTIONS.  Employee  understands  and
acknowledges  that  applicable  securities  laws  govern  and may  restrict
Employee's right to offer, sell, or otherwise dispose of any Option Shares.
Employee  may not offer,  sell or  otherwise  dispose of any Option  Shares
unless Employee's  offer,  sale or other disposition  thereof is registered
under the  Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") or an exemption from the
registration  requirements of the 1933 Act, such as the exemption  afforded
by  Rule  144

                                    -8-

<PAGE>


of the Securities and Exchange Commission  ("SEC"), is available.  Employee
further  understands and acknowledges  that one of the requirements of Rule
144 is that there shall be available  adequate  current public  information
with respect to the Company at the time of the proposed  disposition of the
Option  Shares,  and that the Company is not  obligated  hereunder  to file
reports with the SEC or otherwise make current public information available
for such purpose or to take any other action to make available an exemption
from the  registration  requirements of the 1933 Act.  Employee agrees that
Employee will not offer,  sell or otherwise dispose of any Option Shares in
any manner  which would (i)  require  the Company to file any  registration
statement with the SEC; (ii) require the Company to amend or supplement any
registration  statement which the Company at any time may have on file with
the  SEC;  or (iii)  violate  the  1933  Act,  the  rules  and  regulations
promulgated thereunder or any other state or federal law.

SECTION 4.5 - CONDITIONS TO ISSUANCE OF STOCK  CERTIFICATES.  The shares of
stock  deliverable upon the exercise of the Option, or any portion thereof,
may be either  previously  authorized but unissued  shares or issued shares
which have then been reacquired by the Company.  Such shares shall be fully
paid and  nonassessable.  The  Company  shall not be  required  to issue or
deliver any certificate or certificates  for shares of stock purchased upon
the exercise of the Option or portion  thereof prior to  fulfillment of all
of the following conditions:

     (a) The admission of such shares to listing on all stock  exchanges on
which such class of stock is then listed; and

     (b) The completion of any registration or other  qualification of such
shares under any state or federal law or under  rulings or  regulations  of
the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  or of  any  other  governmental
regulatory  body,  which  the  Committee  shall,  in its sole and  absolute
discretion, deem necessary or advisable; and

     (c) The obtaining of any approval or other clearance from any state or
federal  governmental  agency which the  Committee  shall,  in its sole and
absolute discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable; and

     (d) The payment to the Company (or other employer  corporation) of all
amounts  which,  under  federal,  state or local tax law, it is required to
withhold upon exercise of the Option; and

     (e) The lapse of such reasonable period of time following the exercise
of the Option as the Committee may from time to time  establish for reasons
of administrative convenience.

SECTION 4.6 - RIGHTS AS STOCKHOLDER. The holder of the Option shall not be,
nor have any of the rights or privileges  of, a stockholder  of the Company
in respect of any shares  purchasable  upon the exercise of any part of the
Option unless and until  certificates  representing  such shares shall have
been issued by the transfer agent on behalf of the Company.

                                    -9-

<PAGE>

                                 ARTICLE V
                              OTHER PROVISIONS

SECTION  5.1 -  ADMINISTRATION.  The  Committee  shall  have  the  power to
interpret  the Plan and this  Agreement  and to adopt  such  rules  for the
administration,   interpretation   and  application  of  the  Plan  as  are
consistent therewith and to interpret or revoke any such rules. All actions
taken and all  interpretations  and determinations made by the Committee in
good faith shall be final and binding  upon the  Employee,  the Company and
all  other  interested  persons.  No  member  of  the  Committee  shall  be
personally liable for any action,  determination or interpretation  made in
good faith with respect to the Plan or the Option. In its sole and absolute
discretion,  the Board may at any time and from time to time  exercise  any
and all  rights  and  duties  of the  Committee  under  the  Plan  and this
Agreement  except with respect to matters which under Rule 16b-3 or Section
162(m) of the Code are required to be determined in the sole  discretion of
the Committee.

SECTION  5.2  -  NON-TRANSFERABILITY.  Employee's  option  is  personal  to
Employee and shall not be transferable  by Employee  otherwise than by will
or the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a QDRO.  Neither the
Option nor any interest or right  therein or part  thereof  shall be liable
for the debts,  contracts or  engagements of the Employee or his successors
in interest or shall be subject to  disposition  by  transfer,  alienation,
anticipation,  pledge,  encumbrance,  assignment or any other means whether
such  disposition  be  voluntary or  involuntary  or by operation of law by
judgment,  levy,  attachment,  garnishment  or any other legal or equitable
proceedings (including  bankruptcy),  and any attempted disposition thereof
shall be null  and void and of no  effect;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that  this
Section 5.2 shall not prevent  transfers by will or by the applicable  laws
of descent and distribution or pursuant to QDRO.

SECTION 5.3 - CHANGES IN COMMON STOCK OR ASSETS OF THE COMPANY, ACQUISITION
OR LIQUIDATION OF THE COMPANY AND OTHER  CORPORATE  EVENTS.  Subject to the
provisions  of this Section 5.3, in the event of any  transaction  or event
described in Section 2.2, a change in control,  or similar  transaction  by
the Company or any unusual or nonrecurring transactions or events affecting
the Company,  any Affiliate of the Company, or the financial  statements of
the  Company  or  any  Affiliate,   or  of  changes  in  applicable   laws,
regulations,  or accounting  principles,  if the Committee  determines that
such action is appropriate  in order to prevent  dilution or enlargement of
the benefits or potential  benefits intended to be made available under the
Plan or with  respect  to the Option to  facilitate  such  transactions  or
events  or  to  give  effect  to  such  changes  in  laws,  regulations  or
principles, the Committee in its discretion is hereby authorized to provide
for  such  terms as it  deems  appropriate  by  action  taken  prior to the
occurrence of such  transaction or event: (i) for adjustments to the Option
in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of rights  thereunder or to
provide  for  acceleration  of  benefits  thereunder;  (ii) for  either the
purchase of the Option for an amount of cash equal to the amount that could
have been attained upon the exercise of such option or  realization  of the
Participant's  rights had the Option been currently  exercisable or payable
or fully  vested or the  replacement  of such Option  with other  rights or
property  selected by the Committee in its sole  discretion;  (iii) that it
cannot be exercised after such event; (iv)

                                   -10-

<PAGE>

that upon such event,  the Option be assumed by the  successor  or survivor
corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or shall be substituted for
by similar options, rights or awards covering the stock of the successor or
survivor  corporation,  or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate
adjustments  as to the number and kind of shares and prices.  No adjustment
or action  described in this Section 5.3 or in any other  provision of this
Agreement  shall be authorized to the extent that such adjustment or action
would  cause the  Agreement  or the Plan or the Option to  violate  Section
422(b)(1) of the Code or would cause the Option to fail to so qualify under
Section 162(m),  as the case may be, or any successor  provisions  thereto.
Furthermore, no such adjustment or action shall be authorized to the extent
such  adjustment or action would result in  short-swing  profits  liability
under Section 16 or violate the  exemptive  conditions or Rule 16b-3 unless
the  Committee  determines  that the option or other award is not to comply
with such exemptive conditions.

SECTION 5.4 - SHARES TO BE RESERVED.  The Company shall at all times during
the term of the Option  reserve and keep available such number of shares of
stock as will be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of this Agreement.

SECTION  5.5 -  NOTICES.  Any  notice  to be given  under the terms of this
Agreement  to the Company  shall be addressed to the Company in care of its
Corporate  Secretary,  and any notice to be given to the Employee  shall be
addressed  to him at  the  address  maintained  by the  Corporation  in its
business  records.  By a notice given pursuant to this Section 5.5,  either
party may hereafter  designate a different  address for notices to be given
to him. Any notice which is required to be given to the Employee  shall, if
the  Employee  is  then  deceased,  be  given  to the  Employee's  personal
representative if such  representative has previously  informed the Company
of his status and address by written  notice  under this  Section  5.5. Any
notice  shall be deemed  duly given  when  enclosed  in a  properly  sealed
envelope  or  wrapper  addressed  as  aforesaid,  deposited  (with  postage
prepaid) in a post office or branch post office regularly maintained by the
United States Postal Service.

SECTION 5.6 - TITLES.  Titles are provided herein for convenience  only and
are not to serve as a basis  for  interpretation  or  construction  of this
Agreement.

SECTION 5.7 - NOTIFICATION OF  DISPOSITION.  The Employee shall give prompt
notice to the Company of any disposition or other transfer of any shares of
stock acquired under this Agreement if such disposition or transfer is made
(a) within two (2) years from the date of granting  the Option with respect
to such shares or (b) within one (1) year after the transfer of such shares
to him.  Such notice shall  specify the date of such  disposition  or other
transfer and the amount realized,  in cash,  other property,  assumption of
indebtedness or other consideration, by the Employee in such disposition or
other transfer.

SECTION 5.8 - GOVERNING  LAW.  This Grant  Agreement  and the Plan shall be
construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Utah.

SECTION 5.9 - CONFORMITY TO SECURITIES LAWS. The Employee acknowledges that
the

                                   -11-


<PAGE>

Plan is intended to conform to the extent  necessary with all provisions of
the  Securities  Act and the Exchange Act and any and all  regulations  and
rules  promulgated by the Securities  and Exchange  Commission  thereunder,
including without limitation Rule 16b-3. Notwithstanding anything herein to
the contrary, the Plan shall be administered, and the Option is granted and
may be exercised,  only in such a manner as to conform to such laws,  rules
and  regulations.  To the extent  permitted by applicable law, the Plan and
this Agreement  shall be deemed amended to the extent  necessary to conform
to such laws, rules and regulations.

SECTION  5.10 -  AMENDMENTS.  This  Agreement  and the Plan may be  amended
without the consent of the Optionee  provided that such amendment would not
impair any rights of the  Optionee  under this  Agreement.  No amendment of
this  Agreement  shall,  without  the consent of the  Optionee,  impair any
rights of the Optionee under this Agreement.

SECTION  5.11 -  CONFORMITY  WITH PLAN.  Employee's  option is  intended to
conform in all respects with the Plan, a copy of which is attached  hereto.
Inconsistencies between this Grant Agreement and the Plan shall be resolved
in accordance  with the terms of the Plan.  All  definitions  stated in the
Plan shall be fully applicable to this Grant Agreement.

SECTION 5.12 - EMPLOYMENT  AND  SUCCESSORS.  Nothing  herein or in the Plan
confers  any right or  obligation  on Employee to continue in the employ of
the Company or Company  Subsidiary  or shall  affect in any way  Employee's
right or the right of the  Company or Company  Subsidiary,  as the case may
be, which are hereby expressly reserved, to terminate Employee's employment
at any time.  Employee  agrees that Employee is an Employee at will and can
be terminated by the Company or Company Subsidiary,  as the case may be, at
any time.  Nothing herein or in the Plan is to be interpreted as an express
or implied contract of employment.  This Grant Agreement and the Plan shall
be binding upon any successor or successors of the Company.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed and delivered
by the parties hereto.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties have caused this Agreement to be
executed as of this ___ day of _______ 199__.



         CORDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.                   EMPLOYEE



By:      ___________________________           By:      _____________________
         Vice President and
         Corporate Secretary


                                   -12-








                         CORDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.
                      1999  G R A N T  A G R E E M E N T

                         NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION



     AGREEMENT,  made  this  ____  day  of  _______  199_  between  Cordant
Technologies  Inc.,  a Delaware  corporation  ("Company")  and the Employee
("Employee")  whose name  appears  on the  Notice of Grant of Stock  Option
("Notice of Grant") attached hereto and incorporated by reference herein.

     WHEREAS,  the Committee (as defined in Section  1.5),  has  determined
that it would be to the  advantage and best interest of the Company and its
stockholders  to grant the stock option provided for herein to the Employee
in consideration of Employee's  services to the Company or Affiliate and as
an incentive for increased  efforts  during the  Employee's  service to the
Company or Affiliate,  and has advised the Company  thereof and  instructed
the undersigned officers to issue said Option;

     WHEREAS,  the  stock  option  subject  to this  agreement  is  granted
pursuant to the terms of the Cordant Technologies Inc. Amended and Restated
1996 Stock Awards Plan or the 1989 Stock Awards Plan as the case may be.

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  mutual  covenants  herein
contained  and other good and valuable  consideration,  receipt of which is
hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto do hereby agree as follows:

                                 ARTICLE I
                                DEFINITIONS

     Whenever the following  terms are used in this  Agreement,  they shall
have the meaning  specified below unless the context  clearly  indicates to
the contrary.  Capitalized terms which are not defined below shall have the
meaning specified in the Plan.

SECTION 1.1 - AFFILIATE

     "Affiliate" shall mean any entity in which the Company has a direct or
indirect equity interest which is so designated by the Committee.

SECTION 1.2 - BENEFICIARY

     "Beneficiary"  shall mean the person or persons properly designated by
the  Employee,  including  his  spouse or heirs at law,  to  exercise  such
Employee's  rights under the Plan in the event of the Employee's  death, or
if the Employee has not designated  such person or persons,  or such person
or persons  shall all have  pre-

                                    -1-

<PAGE>


deceased the  Employee,  the executor or  administrator  of the  Employee's
estate. Designation,  revocation and redesignation of Beneficiaries must be
made in writing in accordance  with rules  established by the Committee and
shall be effective upon delivery to the Committee.

SECTION 1.3 - BOARD

     "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

SECTION 1.4 - CODE

     "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

SECTION 1.5 - COMMITTEE

     "Committee"  shall  mean  the  Committee  of the  Board  appointed  as
provided in the Plan.

SECTION 1.6 - COMPANY

     "Company"   shall  mean   Cordant   Technologies   Inc.,   a  Delaware
corporation.

SECTION 1.7 - DATE OF GRANT

     "Date of Grant"  shall  mean the date set forth on the Notice of Grant
on  which  the  Board  grants  the  option  hereunder  and from  which  the
Anniversary Date set forth in the Vesting Schedule shall be determined.

SECTION 1.8 - EXCHANGE ACT

     "Exchange  Act" shall mean the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as
amended.

SECTION 1.9 - OPTION

     "Option" shall mean the  nonqualified  stock option to purchase Common
Stock of the Company granted under this Agreement.

SECTION 1.10- PLAN

     "Plan"  shall mean either the Cordant  Technologies  Inc.  Amended and
Restated  1996 Stock Awards Plan or the 1989 Stock Awards Plan as set forth
on the face of the Notice of Grant.

                                    -2-

<PAGE>

SECTION 1.11 - RULE 16B-3

     "Rule  16b-3"  shall mean that  certain  Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange
Act, as such Rule may be amended in the future.

SECTION 1.12 - SECURITIES ACT

     "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.


                                 ARTICLE II
                              GRANT OF OPTION

SECTION 2.1 - GRANT OF OPTION.  In consideration of Employee's  services to
the Company,  or affiliate,  as the case may be, Cordant  Technologies Inc.
grants to Employee  the option to purchase  shares of its Common Stock (par
value $1 per  share) at a  purchase  price set forth on the Notice of Grant
attached  hereto  (the  fair  market  value of such  shares  on the Date of
Grant), subject to the conditions of this Agreement.

SECTION 2.2 - ADJUSTMENTS  IN OPTION.  Subject to Section 5.3, in the event
that the  Committee  determines  that any  dividend  or other  distribution
(whether in the form of cash,  Common  Stock,  other  securities,  or other
property), a reorganization,  recapitalization,  spin-off,  stock dividend,
stock split,  combination,  reclassification,  reverse stock split, merger,
consolidation, split-up, spin-off, repurchase, liquidation, dissolution, or
sale,  transfer,  exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all
of the  assets  of the  Company,  or  exchange  of  Common  Stock  or other
securities of the Company, or other similar corporate  transaction or event
or other  increase or  reduction  in the number of issued  shares of Common
Stock  affects the Commons  Stock such that an  adjustment is determined by
the Committee to be appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement
of the benefits or potential  benefits  intended to be made  available with
respect to the Option,  the Committee may, in order to prevent the dilution
or enlargement of rights under awards, make such adjustments in any and all
of the  number and type of shares  covered  by the Option and the  exercise
price  specified  herein  as  may  be  determined  to  be  appropriate  and
equitable,  to the end that after such event the  Optionee's  proportionate
interest shall be maintained as before the  occurrence of such event.  Such
adjustment  in the Option shall be made  without  change in the total price
applicable to the unexercised  portion of the Option (except for any change
in the aggregate price resulting from  rounding-off of share  quantities or
prices) and with any necessary corresponding adjustment in the Option price
per share.  Any such  adjustment  made by the Committee  shall be final and
binding upon the Employee, the Company and all other interested persons.

                                    -3-

<PAGE>

                                ARTICLE III
                          PERIOD OF EXERCISABILITY


SECTION 3.1 - COMMENCEMENT OF EXERCISABILITY

     (a) This Option shall become exercisable (vested) as follows:


                               OPTION VESTING
                                  SCHEDULE

FIRST BUSINESS DAY FOLLOWING       PORTION OF THE OPTION BECOME
THE ANNIVERSARY DATE FROM THE              EXERCISABLE
       DATE OF GRANT               (VESTED) ON SUCH ANNIVERSARY DATE
       -------------               ---------------------------------

One year from date of grant                  25 percent

Two years from date of grant                 50 percent

Three years from date of grant               75 percent

Four Years from date of grant               100 percent

     No  fractional  share of a vested  option is  exercisable  until  such
anniversary date from the date of grant as the remainder of such fractional
share becomes exercisable.

          No part of the  Option  will be  exercisable  prior to the  first
business day  following  the  expiration of one year from the Date of Grant
set forth on the Notice of Grant of Stock attached hereto.

          (b) No portion of the Option (including any portion of the Option
not yet vested under Section 3.1(a) which is  unexercisable  at termination
of employment) shall thereafter become  exercisable  except with respect to
retirement  under  Section  3.3(b);  death  Section  3.3(c);  or disability
Section 3.3(d).

SECTION 3.2 - DURATION OF  EXERCISABILITY.  After any portion of the Option
becomes  exercisable  pursuant to Section  3.1(a),  the Option shall remain
exercisable  until it has been exercised or until it becomes  unexercisable
under Section 3.3.

SECTION 3.3 - EXPIRATION OF OPTION.

     (a) The  Option (or any  portion  of the  Option not yet vested  under
Section  3.1(a) as the case may be) may not be  exercised  to any extent by
anyone  after  the  first  to occur of the  following  events  ("Expiration
Date"):

                                    -4-

<PAGE>


          (i)  The  expiration  of ten (10)  years from the date the Option
               was granted; or

          (ii) Except in the event of a Change in Control of the Company as
               defined  in  Section  3.4  below  or as  otherwise  provided
               herein,  the expiration of three (3) months from the date of
               the  employee's   termination  of  employment   unless  such
               termination of employment results from Employee's retirement
               pursuant  to the  terms of a  pension  plan of the  Company;
               death or permanent and total disability;  PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
               if during the --------  ------- first two years  following a
               Change in  Control  of the  Company  Employee's,  employment
               terminates  other  than  pursuant  to the terms of a pension
               plan of a Company and Employee's  Option was  exercisable on
               the date of  termination of Employee's  employment,  it will
               remain  exercisable  for a period of six  months and one day
               after  termination  of Employee's  employment,  or until the
               Expiration Date, whichever occurs first; or

          (iii)The effective date of the  Committee's  action under Section
               5.3(ii),  (iii) or (iv)  (except  in the  case of an  action
               providing for assumption of the Option).

     (b)  If Employee's employment with the Company terminates prior to the
          Expiration Date because of Employee's  retirement pursuant to the
          terms of a pension plan of the  Company,  the  Employee's  Option
          will remain exercisable until the Expiration Date. Any portion of
          the Option not yet vested at the  Employee's  date of  retirement
          will  automatically  vest  with  the  passage  of time (as if the
          retired Employee had remained actively  employed) pursuant to the
          Option vesting schedule set forth in Section 3.1(a). In the event
          of a retired  employees'  death prior to the  Expiration  Date of
          this  option,  this  option  shall  become  100%  vested and such
          retired Employee's beneficiary shall have two years from the date
          of death or the Expiration Date,  whichever date is the earliest,
          to exercise this option.

     (c)  If an Employee's  employment with the Company terminates prior to
          the  Expiration  Date due to death,  the option to the extent not
          yet  vested  shall  become  100%  vested on the date of death and
          shall remain exercisable by such Employee's beneficiary until the
          Expiration Date.

     (d)  If the Employee's employment with the Company terminates prior to
          the  Expiration  Date due to the  Employee's  permanent and total
          disability  ("Disability"),  such option shall remain exercisable
          until  the  Expiration   Date  so  long  as  such  Disability  is
          continuing.  To the extent  such option is not vested on the date
          of  Disability,  the  option  shall  automatically  vest with the
          passage  of  time  (as  if the  Disabled  Employee  has  remained
          actively  employed)  pursuant to the vesting  schedule in Section
          3.1(a). The Committee shall have the sole discretion to determine
          if an Employee is

                                    -5-

<PAGE>

          disabled for the purposes of this option and
          such  determination  shall  be  binding  and  conclusive  on  the
          Employee. In the event such Employee ceases to be disabled,  this
          option  shall  terminate  within  three  months  of the  date  of
          determination  by the  Committee  that such  disability no longer
          exists or the Expiration Date,  whichever date is the earliest to
          occur.


SECTION 3.4 - ACCELERATION OF EXERCISABILITY  UPON CHANGE IN CONTROL OF THE
COMPANY.  Notwithstanding  any  provision  herein to the  contrary,  to the
extent the  Employee's  Option  has not been  exercised  previously  or any
portion of such Option has not yet vested under Section  3.(a),  Employee's
Option shall be  exercisable  from and after the  occurrence of a Change in
Control  of the  Company;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that this  acceleration  of
exercisability  shall not take place if this Option  becomes  unexercisable
under  Section  3.3 prior to the  occurrence  of a Change of Control of the
Company; and PROVIDED,  FURTHER, that no Option shall be exercisable by any
Employee  who is then  subject to Section 16 of the  Exchange Act until the
expiration  of the period  ending six months and one day after the later of
date the Option is granted or deemed regranted.  A Change of Control of the
Company shall mean:

          (a) The  acquisition by any  individual,  entity or group (within
     the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange
     Act of  1934,  as  amended  (the  "Exchange  Act"))  (a  "Person")  of
     beneficial  ownership  (within the  meaning of Rule 13d-3  promulgated
     under  the  Exchange  Act)  of 20% or  more of  either  (i)  the  then
     outstanding  shares of common stock of the Company  (the  "Outstanding
     Company Common  Stock") or (ii) the combined  voting power of the then
     outstanding   voting  securities  of  the  Company  entitled  to  vote
     generally  in the  election of  directors  (the  "Outstanding  Company
     Voting  Securities");  provided,  however,  that for  purposes of this
     subsection  (a), the  following  acquisitions  shall not  constitute a
     Change of Control: (i) any acquisition directly from the Company, (ii)
     any acquisition by the Company,  (iii) any acquisition by any employee
     benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company
     or any  corporation  controlled by the Company or (iv) any acquisition
     by any  corporation  pursuant to a  transaction  which  complies  with
     clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (c) of this Section 3.4; or

          (b) Individuals who, as of the date hereof,  constitute the Board
     (the "Incumbent  Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
     majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming
     a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination
     for election by the Company's shareholders,  was approved by a vote of
     at least a majority of the  directors  then  comprising  the Incumbent
     Board shall be considered as though such  individual  were a member of
     the  Incumbent  Board,  but  excluding,  for  this  purpose,  any such
     individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an
     actual or threatened  election contest with respect to the election or
     removal of  directors or other actual or  threatened  solicitation  of
     proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person  other than the Board;
     or

                                    -6-

<PAGE>


          (c) Consummation of a reorganization,  merger or consolidation or
     sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of
     the  Company  (a  "Business  Combination"),   in  each  case,  unless,
     following such Business  Combination,  (i) all or substantially all of
     the  individuals   and  entities  who  were  the  beneficial   owners,
     respectively,  of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding
     Company  Voting   Securities   immediately   prior  to  such  Business
     Combination  beneficially own,  directly or indirectly,  more than 50%
     of, respectively,  the then outstanding shares of common stock and the
     combined  voting  power  of the  then  outstanding  voting  securities
     entitled to vote  generally in the election of directors,  as the case
     may be, of the  corporation  resulting from such Business  Combination
     (including,  without  limitation,  a corporation  which as a result of
     such transaction  owns the Company or all or substantially  all of the
     Company's assets either directly or through one or more  subsidiaries)
     in substantially the same proportions as their ownership,  immediately
     prior to such Business  Combination of the Outstanding  Company Common
     Stock and Outstanding  Company Voting Securities,  as the case may be,
     (ii) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business
     Combination  or any employee  benefit  plan (or related  trust) of the
     Company or such corporation  resulting from such Business Combination)
     beneficially   owns,   directly  or   indirectly,   20%  or  more  of,
     respectively,  the then  outstanding  shares  of  common  stock of the
     corporation  resulting from such Business  Combination or the combined
     voting  power  of the  then  outstanding  voting  securities  of  such
     corporation  except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to
     the Business  Combination and (iii) at least a majority of the members
     of the  board of  directors  of the  corporation  resulting  from such
     Business  Combination  were members of the Incumbent Board at the time
     of the  execution  of the initial  agreement,  or of the action of the
     Board, providing for such Business Combination; or

          (d)  Approval  by the  shareholders  of the Company of a complete
     liquidation or dissolution of the Company.



                                 ARTICLE IV
                             EXERCISE OF OPTION

SECTION 4.1 - PERSON  ELIGIBLE TO  EXERCISE.  During  Employee's  lifetime,
Employee's  option  is  exercisable  only by  Employee  unless  it has been
disposed  of pursuant to a Qualified  Domestic  Relations  Order  ("QDRO").
After the death of the Employee, any exercisable portion of the Option may,
prior to the time when the Option becomes  unexercisable under Section 3.3,
be exercised by his Beneficiary.

SECTION 4.2 - PARTIAL  EXERCISE.  Any exercisable  portion of the Option or
the entire Option, if then wholly exercisable, may be exercised in whole or
in part  prior to the time  when the  Option  or  portion  thereof  becomes
unexercisable under Section 3.3.

                                    -7-

<PAGE>


SECTION 4.3 - PROCEDURE  FOR  EXERCISE.  The Option may be  exercised  with
respect to shares of the Company's  Common Stock granted to Employee in the
amount  specified  ("Option  Shares")  at any time  from the date  that any
portion of the Option described in 3.1(a) becomes  exercisable  pursuant to
Section 3.1(a) or 3.4 until the Option expires  pursuant to Section 3.3 by:
(i) delivery of written notification of exercise and payment in full either
in cash or in  Common  Stock  of the  Company  delivered  to the  Corporate
Secretary  of the Company for all Option  Shares being  purchased  plus the
amount of any federal  and state  income  taxes  required to be withheld by
reason of the exercise of Employee's option; and (ii) if requested,  within
the specified  time set forth in any such request,  delivery to the Company
of such written  representations and undertakings as may, in the opinion of
the  Company's  legal  counsel,  be  necessary  or desirable to comply with
federal  and state tax and  securities  laws and (iii) a bona fide  written
representation  and  agreement,  in a form  satisfactory  to the Committee,
signed by the  Employee  or other  person then  entitled  to exercise  such
Option or portion,  stating that the shares of stock are being acquired for
his own  account,  for  investment  and without any  present  intention  of
distributing  or  reselling  said  shares  or any of them  except as may be
permitted  under  the  Securities  Act  and  then   applicable   rules  and
regulations thereunder, and that the Employee or other person then entitled
to exercise such Option or portion will  indemnify the Company  against and
hold it free and  harmless  from any loss,  damage,  expense  or  liability
resulting to the Company if any sale or  distribution of the shares by such
person is contrary to the  representation  and agreement referred to above.
In the event the Option or portion  shall be exercised  pursuant to Section
4.1 by any person or persons other than the Employee,  appropriate proof of
the right of such person or persons to exercise the Option.

         The  Committee  may, in its  absolute  discretion,  take  whatever
additional  actions  it deems  appropriate  to insure  the  observance  and
performance  of such  representations,  undertakings  and agreements and to
effect  compliance  with the  Securities Act and any other federal or state
securities  laws or  regulations.  Without  limiting the  generality of the
foregoing, the Committee may require an opinion of counsel acceptable to it
to the effect that any subsequent  transfer of shares acquired on an Option
exercise does not violate the Securities  Act, and may issue  stop-transfer
orders covering such shares. Share certificates  evidencing stock issued on
exercise of this Option shall bear an appropriate  legend  referring to the
provisions of this  subsection and the  representations,  undertakings  and
agreements referenced herein.

SECTION  4.4  -  SECURITIES  LAW  RESTRICTIONS.  Employee  understands  and
acknowledges  that  applicable  securities  laws  govern  and may  restrict
Employee's right to offer, sell, or otherwise dispose of any Option Shares.
Employee  may not offer,  sell or  otherwise  dispose of any Option  Shares
unless Employee's  offer,  sale or other disposition  thereof is registered
under the  Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") or an exemption from the
registration  requirements of the 1933 Act, such as the exemption  afforded
by  Rule  144  of  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  ("SEC"),  is
available.  Employee further  understands and acknowledges  that one of the
requirements of Rule 144 is that there shall be available  adequate current
public  information with respect to the Company at the time of the proposed
disposition  of the Option  Shares,  and that the Company is not  obligated
hereunder to file reports  with the SEC or  otherwise  make current  public

                                    -8-

<PAGE>


information  available for such purpose or to take any other action to make
available an exemption from the registration  requirements of the 1933 Act.
Employee agrees that Employee will not offer,  sell or otherwise dispose of
any Option Shares in any manner which would (i) require the Company to file
any registration  statement with the SEC; (ii) require the Company to amend
or supplement any registration  statement which the Company at any time may
have on file with the SEC;  or (iii)  violate  the 1933 Act,  the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder or any other state or federal law.

SECTION 4.5 - CONDITIONS TO ISSUANCE OF STOCK  CERTIFICATES.  The shares of
stock  deliverable upon the exercise of the Option, or any portion thereof,
may be either  previously  authorized but unissued  shares or issued shares
which have then been reacquired by the Company.  Such shares shall be fully
paid and  nonassessable.  The  Company  shall not be  required  to issue or
deliver any certificate or certificates  for shares of stock purchased upon
the exercise of the Option or portion  thereof prior to  fulfillment of all
of the following conditions:

          (a)  The  admission  of  such  shares  to  listing  on all  stock
exchanges on which such class of stock is then listed; and

          (b) The completion of any registration or other  qualification of
such shares under any state or federal law or under rulings or  regulations
of the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  or of any other  governmental
regulatory  body,  which  the  Committee  shall,  in its sole and  absolute
discretion, deem necessary or advisable; and

          (c) The  obtaining  of any approval or other  clearance  from any
state or federal governmental agency which the Committee shall, in its sole
and absolute discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable; and

          (d) The payment to the Company (or other employer corporation) of
all amounts which, under federal, state or local tax law, it is required to
withhold upon exercise of the Option; and

          (e) The lapse of such  reasonable  period of time  following  the
exercise of the Option as the Committee may from time to time establish for
reasons of administrative convenience.

SECTION 4.6 - RIGHTS AS STOCKHOLDER. The holder of the Option shall not be,
nor have any of the rights or privileges  of, a stockholder  of the Company
in respect of any shares  purchasable  upon the exercise of any part of the
Option unless and until  certificates  representing  such shares shall have
been issued by the transfer agent on behalf of the Company.

                                 ARTICLE V
                              OTHER PROVISIONS

SECTION  5.1 -  ADMINISTRATION.  The  Committee  shall  have  the  power to
interpret  the Plan and  this  Agreement  and to adopt  such  rules  for the
administration,   interpretation   and

                                    -9-

<PAGE>

application  of the Plan as are  consistent  therewith  and to interpret or
revoke  any such  rules.  All  actions  taken and all  interpretations  and
determinations  made by the  Committee  in good  faith  shall be final  and
binding upon the Employee, the Company and all other interested persons. No
member  of the  Committee  shall  be  personally  liable  for  any  action,
determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan
or the Option.  In its sole and absolute  discretion,  the Board may at any
time and from time to time  exercise  any and all  rights and duties of the
Committee under the Plan and this Agreement  except with respect to matters
which  under Rule 16b-3 or Section  162(m) of the Code are  required  to be
determined in the sole discretion of the Committee.

SECTION  5.2  -  NON-TRANSFERABILITY.  Employee's  option  is  personal  to
Employee and shall not be transferable  by Employee  otherwise than by will
or the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a QDRO.  Neither the
Option nor any interest or right  therein or part  thereof  shall be liable
for the debts,  contracts or  engagements of the Employee or his successors
in interest or shall be subject to  disposition  by  transfer,  alienation,
anticipation,  pledge,  encumbrance,  assignment or any other means whether
such  disposition  be  voluntary or  involuntary  or by operation of law by
judgment,  levy,  attachment,  garnishment  or any other legal or equitable
proceedings (including  bankruptcy),  and any attempted disposition thereof
shall be null  and void and of no  effect;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that  this
Section 5.2 shall not prevent  transfers by will or by the applicable  laws
of descent and distribution or pursuant to QDRO.

SECTION 5.3 - CHANGES IN COMMON STOCK OR ASSETS OF THE COMPANY, ACQUISITION
OR LIQUIDATION OF THE COMPANY AND OTHER  CORPORATE  EVENTS.  Subject to the
provisions  of this Section 5.3, in the event of any  transaction  or event
described in Section 2.2, a change in control,  or similar  transaction  by
the Company or any unusual or nonrecurring transactions or events affecting
the Company,  any affiliate of the Company, or the financial  statements of
the  Company  or  any  affiliate,   or  of  changes  in  applicable   laws,
regulations,  or accounting  principles,  if the Committee  determines that
such action is appropriate  in order to prevent  dilution or enlargement of
the benefits or potential  benefits intended to be made available under the
Plan or with  respect  to the Option to  facilitate  such  transactions  or
events  or  to  give  effect  to  such  changes  in  laws,  regulations  or
principles, the Committee in its discretion is hereby authorized to provide
for such terms and  conditions  as it deems  appropriate,  by action  taken
prior to the occurrence of such  transaction or event:  (i) for adjustments
to such award in order to prevent  the  dilution or  enlargement  of rights
thereunder or to provide for acceleration of benefits thereunder;  (ii) for
either the purchase of the Option for an amount of cash equal to the amount
that  could  have  been  attained  upon  the  exercise  of  the  Option  or
realization  of the  Participant's  rights had such option  been  currently
exercisable or the  replacement  of such option,  right or award with other
rights or property selected by the Committee in its sole discretion;  (iii)
that it cannot be  exercised  after such event;  (iv) that upon such event,
such  option,  right or award  be  assumed  by the  successor  or  survivor
corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or shall be substituted for
by similar options, rights or awards covering the stock of the successor or
survivor  corporation,  or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate
adjustments  as to the number and kind of shares

                                   -10-

<PAGE>


and prices. No adjustment or action described in this Section 5.3 or in any
other  provision of the  Agreement  shall be  authorized to the extent that
such  adjustment  or action would cause the Option to fail to qualify under
Section 162(m),  as the case may be, or any successor  provisions  thereto.
Furthermore, no such adjustment or action shall be authorized to the extent
such  adjustment or action would result in  short-swing  profits  liability
under Section 16 or violate the  exemptive  conditions or Rule 16b-3 unless
the  Committee  determines  that the option or other award is not to comply
with such exemptive conditions.

SECTION 5.4 - SHARES TO BE RESERVED.  The Company shall at all times during
the term of the Option  reserve and keep available such number of shares of
stock as will be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of this Agreement.

SECTION  5.5 -  NOTICES.  Any  notice  to be given  under the terms of this
Agreement  to the Company  shall be addressed to the Company in care of its
Corporate  Secretary,  and any notice to be given to the Employee  shall be
addressed  to him at  the  address  maintained  by the  Corporation  in its
business  records.  By a notice given pursuant to this Section 5.5,  either
party may hereafter  designate a different  address for notices to be given
to him. Any notice which is required to be given to the Employee  shall, if
the  Employee  is  then  deceased,  be  given  to the  Employee's  personal
representative if such  representative has previously  informed the Company
of his status and address by written  notice  under this  Section  5.5. Any
notice  shall be deemed  duly given  when  enclosed  in a  properly  sealed
envelope  or  wrapper  addressed  as  aforesaid,  deposited  (with  postage
prepaid) in a post office or branch post office regularly maintained by the
United States Postal Service.

SECTION 5.6 - TITLES.  Titles are provided herein for convenience  only and
are not to serve as a basis  for  interpretation  or  construction  of this
Agreement.

SECTION 5.7 - NOTIFICATION OF  DISPOSITION.  The Employee shall give prompt
notice to the Company of any disposition or other transfer of any shares of
stock acquired under this Agreement if such disposition or transfer is made
(a) within two (2) years from the date of granting  the Option with respect
to such shares or (b) within one (1) year after the transfer of such shares
to him.  Such notice shall  specify the date of such  disposition  or other
transfer and the amount realized,  in cash,  other property,  assumption of
indebtedness or other consideration, by the Employee in such disposition or
other transfer.

SECTION 5.8 - GOVERNING  LAW.  This Grant  Agreement  and the Plan shall be
construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Utah.

SECTION 5.9 - CONFORMITY TO SECURITIES LAWS. The Employee acknowledges that
the Plan is intended to conform to the extent necessary with all provisions
of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and any and all  regulations and
rules  promulgated by the Securities  and Exchange  Commission  thereunder,
including without limitation Rule 16b-3. Notwithstanding anything herein to
the contrary, the Plan shall be administered, and the Option is granted and
may be exercised,  only in such a manner as to conform to

                                   -11-

<PAGE>

such laws,  rules and  regulations.  To the extent  permitted by applicable
law,  the Plan and this  Agreement  shall be deemed  amended  to the extent
necessary to conform to such laws, rules and regulations.

SECTION  5.10 -  AMENDMENTS.  This  Agreement  and the Plan may be  amended
without the consent of the Optionee  provided that such amendment would not
impair any rights of the  Optionee  under this  Agreement.  No amendment of
this  Agreement  shall,  without  the consent of the  Optionee,  impair any
rights of the Optionee under this Agreement.

SECTION  5.11 -  CONFORMITY  WITH PLAN.  Employee's  option is  intended to
conform in all respects with the Plan, a copy of which is attached  hereto.
Inconsistencies between this Grant Agreement and the Plan shall be resolved
in accordance  with the terms of the Plan.  All  definitions  stated in the
Plan shall be fully applicable to this Grant Agreement.

SECTION 5.12 - EMPLOYMENT  AND  SUCCESSORS.  Nothing  herein or in the Plan
confers  any right or  obligation  on Employee to continue in the employ of
the Company or any Affiliate or shall affect in any way Employee's right or
the right of the Company or any  Affiliate,  as the case may be,  which are
hereby expressly reserved,  to terminate Employee's employment at any time.
Employee  agrees that Employee is an Employee at will and can be terminated
by the Company or any Affiliate at any time.  Nothing herein or in the Plan
is to be interpreted as an express or implied contract of employment.  This
Grant  Agreement  and the Plan  shall be  binding  upon  any  successor  or
successors of the Company.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  this Agreement has been executed and delivered by
the parties hereto.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties  have caused  this  Agreement  to be
executed as of this ___day of ______ 199__.



         CORDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.                EMPLOYEE



By:      __________________________               By:________________________
         Vice President and
         Corporate Secretary






                                   -12-


                                                                     3/1/99

                            AMENDED AND RESTATED
                            EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


     This Amended and Restated Employment  Agreement is made by and between
CORDANT  TECHNOLOGIES  INC. (the "Company") and  ____________________  (the
"Executive"), and is dated as of the 1st day of March 1999.

     The Board of Directors of the Company (the  "Board"),  has  determined
that it is in the best  interests  of the Company and its  stockholders  to
assure  that  the  Company  will  have  the  continued  dedication  of  the
Executive,  notwithstanding  the  possibility,  threat,  or occurrence of a
Change of Control (as defined below) of the Company.  The Board believes it
is imperative to diminish the  inevitable  distraction  of the Executive by
virtue of the  personal  uncertainties  and risks  created  by a pending or
threatened  Change  of  Control  and  to  encourage  the  Executive's  full
attention and  dedication to the Company  currently and in the event of any
threatened or pending Change of Control,  and to provide the Executive with
compensation  and  benefits  arrangements  upon a Change of  Control  which
ensure that the  compensation  and benefits  expectations  of the Executive
will  be  satisfied  and  which  are   competitive   with  those  of  other
corporations. Therefore, in order to accomplish these objectives, the Board
has caused the Company to enter into this Amended and Restated Agreement.

     NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

     1 . CHANGE OF CONTROL DATE.  The "Change of Control Date" shall be the
first date on which a Change of Control  (as  defined in Section 2) occurs.
Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding,  if a Change of
Control occurs and the Company has terminated  the  Executive's  employment
(other than under  circumstances which would constitute Cause or Disability
(as defined  below)) or the Executive has

                                    -1-
<PAGE>

terminated his employment under  circumstances  which would constitute Good
Reason hereunder if such  termination  occurred the day after the Change of
Control Date, and if (A) it is reasonably demonstrated by the Executive (i)
that such termination of employment was at the request of a third party who
has taken steps  reasonably  calculated  to effect the Change of Control or
(ii) that the  Company's  actions  otherwise  arose in  connection  with or
anticipation of the Change of Control or (B) such termination is within six
months  of the  Change  of  Control  Date,  then for all  purposes  of this
Agreement  the  "Change of Control  Date"  shall mean the date  immediately
prior to the date of such termination of employment.

          2.  CHANGE OF  CONTROL.  For the  purpose  of this  Agreement,  a
"Change of Control" shall mean:

          (a) the  acquisition by any  individual,  entity or group (within
     the  meaning  of  sections  13(d)(3)  or  14(d)(2)  of the  Securities
     Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "exchange act")) (a "person") of
     beneficial  ownership  (within the  meaning of rule 13d-3  promulgated
     under  the  exchange  act)  of 20% or  more of  either  (i)  the  then
     outstanding  shares of common stock of the company  (the  "outstanding
     company common  stock") or (ii) the combined  voting power of the then
     outstanding   voting  securities  of  the  company  entitled  to  vote
     generally  in the  election of  directors  (the  "outstanding  company
     voting  securities");  provided,  however,  that for  purposes of this
     subsection  (a), the  following  acquisitions  shall not  constitute a
     change of control: (i) any acquisition directly from the company, (ii)
     any acquisition by the company,  (iii) any acquisition by any employee
     benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the company
     or any  corporation  controlled by the company or (iv) any acquisition
     by any  corporation  pursuant to a  transaction  which  complies  with
     clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (c) of this section 2; or

                                    -2-
<PAGE>

          (b) individuals who, as of the date hereof,  constitute the board
     (the "incumbent  board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
     majority of the board; provided, however, that any individual becoming
     a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination
     for election by the company's shareholders,  was approved by a vote of
     at least a majority of the  directors  then  comprising  the incumbent
     board shall be considered as though such  individual  were a member of
     the  incumbent  board,  but  excluding,  for  this  purpose,  any such
     individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an
     actual or threatened  election contest with respect to the election or
     removal of  directors or other actual or  threatened  solicitation  of
     proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person  other than the board;
     or

          (c) consummation of a reorganization,  merger or consolidation or
     sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of
     the  company  (a  "business  combination"),   in  each  case,  unless,
     following such business  combination,  (i) all or substantially all of
     the  individuals   and  entities  who  were  the  beneficial   owners,
     respectively,  of the outstanding company common stock and outstanding
     company  voting   securities   immediately   prior  to  such  business
     combination  beneficially own,  directly or indirectly,  more than 50%
     of, respectively,  the then outstanding shares of common stock and the
     combined  voting  power  of the  then  outstanding  voting  securities
     entitled to vote  generally in the election of directors,  as the case
     may be, of the  corporation  resulting from such business  combination
     (including,  without  limitation,  a corporation  which as a result of
     such transaction  owns the company or all or substantially  all of the
     company's assets either directly or through one or more  subsidiaries)
     in substantially the same proportions as their ownership,  immediately
     prior to such business  combination of the outstanding  company common
     stock and outstanding  company voting securities,  as the case may be,
     (ii) no

                                    -3-
<PAGE>

     person  (excluding  any  corporation   resulting  from  such  business
     combination  or any employee  benefit  plan (or related  trust) of the
     company or such corporation  resulting from such business combination)
     beneficially   owns,   directly  or   indirectly,   20%  or  more  of,
     respectively,  the then  outstanding  shares  of  common  stock of the
     corporation  resulting from such business  combination or the combined
     voting  power  of the  then  outstanding  voting  securities  of  such
     corporation  except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to
     the business  combination and (iii) at least a majority of the members
     of the  board of  directors  of the  corporation  resulting  from such
     business  combination  were members of the incumbent board at the time
     of the  execution  of the initial  agreement,  or of the action of the
     board, providing for such business combination; or

          (d)  approval  by the  shareholders  of the company of a complete
     liquidation or dissolution of the company.

          3. EMPLOYMENT  PERIOD.  The Company hereby agrees to continue the
Executive in its employ,  and the Executive  hereby agrees to remain in the
employ of the Company,  for the period  commencing on the Change of Control
Date and  ending on the  third  anniversary  of such date (the  "Employment
Period").

          4. TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT.  (a) POSITION AND DUTIES.  (i) During the
Employment Period, (A) the Executive's position (including status, offices,
titles and reporting relationships), authority, duties and responsibilities
shall be at  least  commensurate  in all  material  respects  with the most
significant  of those held,  exercised  and assigned at any time during the
90-day period immediately  preceding the Change of Control Date and (B) the
Executive's  services  shall be performed at the location  (the  "Principal
Business Location") where the Executive was employed immediately  preceding
the Change of  Control  Date or at any  office or  location  which does not
result  in a  material  increase  in the  distance  or time of  commutation
between the Executive's

                                    -4-
<PAGE>

place  of  primary  residence  at  the  Change  of  Control  Date  and  the
Executive's Principal Business Location, or materially adversely affect the
mode of such commutation. 

          (ii) During the Employment  Period,  and excluding any periods of
vacation and sick leave to which the  Executive is entitled,  the Executive
agrees to devote reasonable attention and time during normal business hours
to the business and affairs of the Company and, to the extent  necessary to
Discharge the responsibilities  assigned to the Executive hereunder, to use
the  Executive's   reasonable  best  efforts  to  perform   faithfully  and
efficiently such  responsibilities.  During the Employment  Period it shall
not be a violation  of this  Agreement  for the  Executive  to (A) serve on
corporate,  civic or charitable boards or committees, (B) deliver lectures,
fulfill speaking  engagements or teach at educational  institutions and (C)
manage   personal   investments,   so  long  as  such   activities  do  not
significantly   interfere   with  the   performance   of  the   Executive's
responsibilities  as an  employee of the  Company in  accordance  with this
Agreement.  It is expressly  understood  and agreed that to the extent that
any such  activities  have been  conducted  by the  Executive  prior to the
Change of Control Date,  the continued  conduct of such  activities (or the
conduct of activities  similar in nature and scope  thereto)  subsequent to
the Change of Control Date shall not thereafter be deemed to interfere with
the performance of the Executive's responsibilities to the Company.

          (b)  COMPENSATION,  BENEFITS AND SUPPORT STAFF.  (i) BASE SALARY.
During the  Employment  Period,  the Executive  shall receive in accordance
with the  Company's  payroll  practices  at the Change of  Control  Date an
annual base salary  ("Annual Base Salary"),  at least equal to twelve times
the highest  monthly  base salary paid or payable to the  Executive  by the
Company and its affiliated  companies in respect of the twelve-month period
immediately preceding the month in which the Change of Control Date occurs.
During the Employment  Period,  the Annual Base Salary shall be reviewed at
least  annually and shall be increased at any time and from time to time as
shall be substantially  consistent with increases in base salary awarded in
the ordinary course of business to other peer executives of the Company and
its affiliated

                                    -5-

<PAGE>

companies but in no event shall the annual  increase in Base Salary be less
than  a  percentage  at  least  equal  to  the  increase,  if  any,  in the
cost-of-living  shown on the Consumer Price Index for the area in which the
Principal  Business  Location is located,  published by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics  of the United States  Department  of Labor for the  immediately
preceding  twelve-month period (or, if no such Consumer Price Index is then
published, any successor index thereto). Any increase in Annual Base Salary
shall not serve to limit or reduce any other  obligation  to the  Executive
under this  Agreement.  Annual Base Salary  shall not be reduced  after any
such increase and the term Annual Base Salary as utilized in this Agreement
shall  refer  to  Annual  Base  Salary  as so  increased.  As  used in this
Agreement,  the term "affiliated companies" includes any company controlled
by, controlling or under common control with the Company.

          (ii) BONUS. (A) In addition to Annual Base Salary,  the Executive
shall be  awarded,  for each  fiscal year  beginning  or ending  during the
Employment  Period,  an annual bonus (the "Annual  Bonus") in cash at least
equal to the highest  annualized  (for any fiscal year  consisting  of less
than  twelve full months or with  respect to which the  Executive  has been
employed by the Company  for less than  twelve full  months)  bonus paid or
payable  (including  any  amount  subject to a  deferral  election)  to the
Executive  by the Company and its  affiliated  companies  in respect of the
three  fiscal  years  immediately  preceding  the fiscal  year in which the
Change of Control Date occurs (the "Recent Annual Bonus"). Each such Annual
Bonus  shall be paid no later than the end of the third month of the fiscal
year next  following the fiscal year for which the Annual Bonus is awarded,
unless the Executive shall elect to defer the receipt of such Annual Bonus.

          (B) In addition to Annual Base Salary and the Annual  Bonus,  the
Executive  shall be paid,  for each fiscal year  beginning or ending during
the Employment Period, a long-term bonus (the "long-term Bonus") in cash at
least equal to the average long-term incentive bonus (the "Recent Long-Term
Bonus") paid or payable to the Executive by the Company under the Company's
Long-Term Incentive Compensation

                                    -6-



<PAGE>

Plan (or any  predecessor or successor plan thereto (the "LTIP") in respect
of the last three completed  performance cycles ending with the performance
cycle  ending in the fiscal  year  preceding  the fiscal  year in which the
Change of Control  Date occurs  (or,  if less,  in respect of the number of
completed  performance  cycles  for  which the  Executive  has  received  a
long-term bonus). If the Executive was not a participant in the LTIP in one
of such cycles, but is, at the Change of Control Date, a participant in the
LTIP,  the Recent  long-term  Bonus shall be equal to the amount payable to
such  Executive  under the LTIP upon a Change of  Control,  divided  by the
number of performance  cycles in which the Executive was  participating  at
such time.  For the fiscal year in which the Change of Control  Date occurs
and for the next two fiscal years, any such payment may be reduced (but not
below zero) by the amount  payable to the Executive  under the terms of the
LTIP with respect to the performance  cycle that otherwise would have ended
in such fiscal year upon the Change of Control.  Each such long-term  Bonus
shall be paid pursuant to a plan which has  three-year  performance  cycles
and is  otherwise  substantially  similar  to the LTIP and shall be paid no
later than the end of the third month of the fiscal year next following the
fiscal year for which the long-term Bonus is awarded,  unless the Executive
shall elect to defer the receipt of such long-term Bonus.

          (iii)  INCENTIVE,  SAVINGS AND RETIREMENT  PLANS.  In addition to
Annual Base Salary, Annual Bonus and Long-term Bonus payable as hereinabove
provided,  the  Executive  shall be  entitled  to  participate  during  the
Employment  Period in all other  incentive,  savings and retirement  plans,
practices, policies and programs applicable to other peer executives of the
Company  and its  affiliated  companies,  but in no event shall such plans,
practices,  policies and programs  provide the  Executive  with  incentive,
savings  and  retirement  benefits   opportunities,   in  each  case,  less
favorable,  in the aggregate,  than the most favorable of those provided by
the Company  and its  affiliated  companies  for the  Executive  under such
plans, practices, policies and programs as in effect at any time during the
90-day period immediately preceding the Change of Control Date.

                                    -7-


<PAGE>

          (iv) WELFARE  BENEFIT PLANS.  During the Employment  Period,  the
Executive  and/or  the  Executive's  family,  as the case may be,  shall be
eligible for  participation in and shall receive all benefits under welfare
benefit plans, practices, policies and programs provided by the Company and
its  affiliated   companies   (including,   without  limitation,   medical,
prescription,  dental, disability, salary continuance, employee life, group
life,  accidental  death and travel accident  insurance plans and programs)
and  applicable to other peer  executives of the Company and its affiliated
companies,  but in no event  shall  such  plans,  practices,  policies  and
programs provide benefits which are less favorable, in the aggregate,  than
the most  favorable  of such plans,  practices,  policies  and  programs in
effect at any time  during  the 90-day  period  immediately  preceding  the
Change of Control Date.

          (v) EXPENSES.  During the Employment  Period, the Executive shall
be entitled to receive prompt  reimbursement  for all  reasonable  expenses
incurred by the Executive in accordance  with the most favorable  policies,
practices  and  procedures of the Company and its  affiliated  companies in
effect at any time  during  the 90-day  period  immediately  preceding  the
Change of Control Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect
at ANY time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company
and its affiliated companies.

          (vi) OTHER EXECUTIVE BENEFITS.  During the Employment Period, the
Executive shall be entitled to other executive benefits including,  without
limitation,  club memberships and annual physicals,  in accordance with the
most favorable plans,  practices,  programs and policies of the Company and
its  affiliated  companies  in effect at any time during the 90-day  period
immediately  preceding the Change of Control Date or, if more  favorable to
the Executive,  as in effect at any time  thereafter  with respect to other
peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.

                                    -8-




<PAGE>


          (vii)  OFFICE,   COMPANY  CAR  AND  SUPPORT  STAFF.   During  the
Employment Period, the
Executive  shall be  entitled  to an office or  offices  of a size and with
furnishings and other appointments,  to exclusive personal  secretarial and
other assistance, and to a Company-provided car, at least equal to the most
favorable of the foregoing provided to the Executive by the Company and its
affiliated  companies  at any time  during  the 90-day  period  immediately
preceding  the  Change  of  Control  Date  or,  if  more  favorable  to the
Executive,  as provided at any time  thereafter  with respect to other peer
executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.

          (viii)  VACATION.  During the  Employment  Period,  the Executive
shall be entitled to paid  vacation in accordance  with the most  favorable
plans,  policies,  programs and practices of the Company and its affiliated
companies  as in effect at any time  during the 90-day  period  immediately
preceding  the  Change  of  Control  Date  or,  if  more  favorable  to the
Executive,  as in effect at any time  thereafter with respect to other peer
executives of the Company and its affiliated companies with similar lengths
of service.

          5.  TERMINATION  OF  EMPLOYMENT.  (a)  DEATH OR  DISABILITY.  The
Executive's  employment shall terminate  automatically upon the Executive's
death during the Employment Period. If the Company determines in good faith
that the  Disability of the Executive  has occurred  during the  Employment
Period (pursuant to the definition of "Disability" set forth below), it may
give to the Executive  written  notice in accordance  with Section 12(b) of
this Agreement of its intention to terminate the Executive's employment. In
such event,  the  Executive's  employment  with the Company shall terminate
effective  on the 30th day after  receipt of such  notice by the  Executive
(the  "Disability  Change of Control Date"),  provided that,  within the 30
days after such receipt, the Executive shall not have returned to full-time
performance  of the  Executive's  duties.  For purposes of this  Agreement,
"Disability" means the absence of the Executive from the Executive's duties
with the Company on a Full-time basis for 180 consecutive  business days as
a  result  of  incapacity  due to  mental  or  physical  illness

                                    -9-


<PAGE>

which is determined  to be total and  permanent by a physician  selected by
the  Company  or  its  insurers  and  acceptable  to the  Executive  or the
Executive's legal representative (such agreement as to acceptability not to
be withheld unreasonably).

          (b) CAUSE.  The Company may terminate the Executive's  employment
during the Employment  Period for "Cause." For purposes of this  Agreement,
"Cause"  means  (i) an act or  acts of  personal  dishonesty  taken  by the
Executive and intended to result in substantial  personal enrichment of the
Executive at the expense of the Company,  (ii)  repeated  violations by the
Executive  of the  Executive's  obligations  under  Section  4(a)  of  this
Agreement which are demonstrably  willful and deliberate on the Executive's
part and which  are not  remedied  in a  reasonable  period  of time  after
receipt of written  notice from the Company or (iii) the  conviction of the
Executive  of a felony  involving  moral  turpitude.  For  purposes of this
Section 5(b), no act, or failure to act, on the  Executive's  part shall be
considered "willful" unless done, or omitted to be done, by him not in good
faith and without  reasonable belief that his action or omission was in the
best interest of the Company.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive
shall  not be deemed to have been  terminated  for Cause  unless  and until
there shall have been  delivered to the  Executive a copy of a  resolution,
duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters of the
entire  membership  of the Board at a meeting of the Board  called and held
for  the  purpose  (after   reasonable  notice  to  the  Executive  and  an
opportunity  for him,  together  with his  counsel,  to be heard before the
Board),  finding that in the good faith opinion of the Board, the Executive
was guilty of conduct set forth above in clause (i),  (ii), or (iii) of the
second sentence of this Section 5(b) and specifying the particulars thereof
in detail.

          (c) GOOD REASON.  The  Executive's  employment  may be terminated
during the Employment Period by the Executive for Good Reason. For purposes
of this Agreement, "Good Reason" means:

                                   -10-


<PAGE>

          (i) the assignment to the Executive of any duties inconsistent in
     any respect with the Executive's position (including status,  offices,
     titles   and   reporting   relationships),    authority,   duties   or
     responsibilities as contemplated by Section 4(a) of this Agreement, or
     any other action by the Company  which results in a diminution in such
     position,  authority,  duties or responsibilities,  excluding for this
     purpose an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action not taken in
     bad faith and which is remedied by the Company  promptly after receipt
     of notice thereof given by the Executive;

          (ii)  any  failure  by the  Company  to  comply  with  any of the
     provisions of Section 4(b) of this Agreement,  other than an isolated,
     insubstantial  and inadvertent  failure not occurring in bad faith and
     which is  remedied  by the Company  promptly  after  receipt of notice
     thereof given by the Executive;

          (iii) the  Company's  requiring  the Executive to be based at any
     office or location  other than that  described  in Section  4(a)(i)(B)
     hereof;

          (iv) any purported  termination by the Company of the Executive's
     employment otherwise than as expressly permitted by this Agreement; or

          (v) any failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy Section
     11(c) of this Agreement.

          For purposes of this Section 5(c),  any good faith  determination
of "Good Reason" made by the  Executive  shall be  conclusive.  Anything in
this  Agreement  to the  contrary  notwithstanding,  a  termination  by the
Executive for any reason during the 30-day period immediately following the
first  anniversary  of the Change of  Control  Date shall be deemed to be a
termination for Good Reason for all purposes of this Agreement.

                                   -11-


<PAGE>

          (d) NOTICE OF  TERMINATION.  Any  termination  by the Company for
Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason shall be  communicated  by Notice
of Termination  to the other party hereto given in accordance  with Section
12(b) of this  Agreement.  For  purposes  of this  Agreement,  a "Notice of
Termination"  means a written  notice  which  (i)  indicates  the  specific
termination  provision in this  Agreement  relied upon,  (ii) sets forth in
reasonable  detail the facts and  circumstances  claimed to provide a basis
for  termination  of the  Executive's  employment  under the  provision  so
indicated and (iii) if the Date of Termination  (as defined below) is other
than the date of receipt of such notice,  specifies  the  termination  date
(which  date shall be not more than  fifteen  days after the giving of such
notice).  The  failure  by the  Executive  to set  forth in the  Notice  of
Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good
Reason shall not waive any right of the Executive hereunder or preclude the
Executive  from  asserting  such  fact or  circumstance  in  enforcing  the
Executive's rights hereunder.

          (e) DATE OF TERMINATION.  "Date of Termination" means the date of
receipt of the Notice of Termination  or any later date specified  therein,
as the  case  may  be;  provided,  however,  that  (i)  if the  Executive's
employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause or Disability,
the Date of Termination shall be the date on which the Company notifies the
Executive of such  termination  and (ii) if the  Executive's  employment is
terminated by reason of death or Disability,  the Date of Termination shall
be the date of death of the Executive or the  Disability  Change of Control
Date, as the case may be.

          6. OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY UPON TERMINATION.

          (a) DEATH. If the Executive's  employment terminates by reason of
the Executive's  death during the Employment  Period,  this Agreement shall
terminate   without   further   obligations   to  the   Executive's   legal
representatives under this Agreement, other than the following obligations:
(i) the Executive's Annual Base Salary

                                   -12-


<PAGE>

through the Date of Termination,  to the extent not theretofore  paid, (ii)
any amount payable to the Executive  pursuant to Section 4(b)(ii) hereof in
respect  of the most  recently  completed  fiscal  year,  to the extent not
theretofore  paid,  (iii) if the Change of Control Date occurred  after the
end of the most recently completed fiscal year and no Annual Bonus was paid
to the  Executive in respect of such period,  an amount equal to the Recent
Annual  Bonus,  (iv) the product of the greater of the Annual Bonus paid or
payable (and  annualized for any fiscal year consisting of less than twelve
full  months or for which the  Executive  has been  employed  for less than
twelve full months) to the Executive for the most recently completed fiscal
year during the Employment Period, if any, or the Recent Annual Bonus (such
greater amount  hereafter  referred to as the "Highest Annual Bonus") and a
fraction,  the  numerator  of which is the  number  of days in the  current
fiscal year through the Date of  Termination,  and the denominator of which
is 365,  (v) for each  performance  cycle  under the LTIP or any  successor
thereto  which has  commenced on or after the Change of Control  Date,  the
product  of the  greater  of the  Long-term  Bonus  paid or  payable to the
Executive  for the most  recently  completed  performance  cycle during the
Employment  Period,  if any, or the Recent  Long-Term  Bonus (such  greater
amount  hereafter  referred  to as the  "Greater  Long-Term  Bonus")  and a
fraction,  the  numerator of which is the number of days which have elapsed
in  the  performance  cycle  through  the  Date  of  Termination,  and  the
denominator of which is 1095, and (vi) any compensation previously deferred
by the Executive  (together with any accrued interest  thereon) and not yet
paid  by the  Company  and any  accrued  vacation  pay not yet  paid by the
Company (the amounts  described in  paragraphs  (i) through (vi) hereof are
hereinafter referred to as "Accrued Obligations").  All Accrued Obligations
shall be paid to the Executive's estate or beneficiary, as applicable, in a
lump sum in cash  within 30 days of the Date of  Termination.  Anything  in
this  Agreement to the contrary  notwithstanding,  the  Executive's  family
shall be entitled to receive  benefits at least equal to the most favorable
benefits  provided by the Company and any of its  affiliated  companies  to
surviving  families of peer  executives of the Company and such  affiliated
companies under such plans,  programs,  practices and policies  relating to
family  death  benefits,  if any, as in effect  with  respect to other peer

                                   -13-


<PAGE>

executives  and  their  families  at any  time  during  the  90-day  period
immediately  preceding the Change of Control Date or, if more  favorable to
the Executive  and/or the Executive's  family,  as in effect on the date of
the Executive's  death with respect to other peer executives of the Company
and its affiliated companies and their families.

          (b) DISABILITY.  If the  Executive's  employment is terminated by
reason of the Executive's  Disability  during the Employment  Period,  this
Agreement  shall terminate  without  further  obligations to the Executive,
other than for Accrued  Obligations.  All Accrued Obligations shall be paid
to the  Executive  in a lump  sum in cash  within  30  days of the  Date of
Termination.  Anything in this  Agreement to the contrary  notwithstanding,
the Executive shall be entitled after the Disability Change of Control Date
to  receive  disability  and  other  benefits  at  least  equal to the most
favorable of those provided by the Company and its affiliated  companies to
disabled  executives  and/or their families in accordance  with such plans,
programs,  practices  and policies  relating to  disability,  if any, as in
effect with respect to other peer executives and their families at any time
during the 90-day  period  immediately  receding the Change of Control Date
or, if more favorable to the Executive and/or the Executive's family, as in
effect at any time  thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the
Company and its affiliated companies and their families.

          (c)  CAUSE;  OTHER  THAN  FOR  GOOD  REASON.  If the  Executive's
employment shall be terminated for Cause during the Employment Period or if
the Executive terminates employment during the Employment Period other than
for Good Reason, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations
to the Executive  other than the obligation to pay to the Executive  Annual
Base  Salary  through  the  Date of  Termination  plus  the  amount  of any
compensation previously deferred by the Executive and accrued vacation pay,
in each case to the extent theretofore unpaid.

          (d) GOOD REASON;  OTHER THAN FOR CAUSE OR DISABILITY.  If, during
the  Employment   Period,  the  Company  shall  terminate  the  Executive's
employment  other

                                   -14-

<PAGE>

than  for  Cause  or  Disability,  or  if  the  Executive  shall  terminate
employment under this Agreement for Good Reason:

          (i) the Company  shall pay to the Executive in a lump sum in cash
     within 30 days  after the Date of  Termination  the  aggregate  of the
     following amounts:

               A. the  product  of (x) three and (y) the sum of (i)  Annual
          Base Salary,  (ii) the Highest Annual Bonus and (iii) the Greater
          Long-Term  Bonus;  and B.  all  Accrued  Obligations;  and C. the
          Executive  shall be  entitled  to receive a  lump-sum  retirement
          benefit  equal  to  the  difference  between  (a)  the  actuarial
          equivalent  of the benefit  under the Cordant  Technologies  Inc.
          Pension Plan and the Cordant  Technologies  Inc.  Excess  Pension
          Plan as in effect on the Change of Control Date or any  successor
          plan which provides more favorable benefits to the Executive (the
          "Retirement  Plans")  which the  Executive  would  receive if the
          Executive's   employment  continued  at  the  compensation  level
          provided for in Sections  4(b)(i) and 4(b)(ii) of this  Agreement
          for three  years,  assuming  for this  purpose  that all  accrued
          benefits are fully vested,  and (b) the  actuarial  equivalent of
          the Executive's  actual benefit (paid or payable),  if any, under
          the Retirement Plans; and

          (ii) for the remainder of the Employment  Period,  or such longer
     period as any plan,  program,  practice  or policy  may  provide,  the
     Company  shall   continue   benefits  to  the  Executive   and/or  the
     Executive's  family  at least  equal to those  which  would  have been
     provided to them in accordance with the plans, programs, practices and
     policies  described in Section  4(b)(iv) and (vi) of this Agreement if
     the Executive's  employment had not been terminated in accordance with
     the most  favorable  plans,

                                   -15-
<PAGE>

     practices,  programs or  policies  of the  Company and its  affiliated
     companies  applicable  to other  peer  executives  and their  families
     during the 90-day period  immediately  preceding the Change of Control
     Date or, if more favorable to the Executive,  as in effect at any time
     thereafter  with respect to other peer  executives  of the Company and
     its  affiliated   companies  and  their  families.   For  purposes  of
     determining  the  Executive's age and length of service at the time of
     his termination of employment in order to determine eligibility of the
     Executive  for retiree  benefits  pursuant  to such plans,  practices,
     programs and  policies,  the  Executive  shall be  considered  to have
     remained  employed until the end of the Employment  Period and to have
     terminated  employment  on the  last  day of  such  period;  provided,
     however, that the Executive shall be entitled to the more favorable of
     the  retiree  benefits  in  effect on the Date of  Termination  or the
     retiree  benefits  in effect on the date that would have been the last
     date of the Employment Period if the Executive had remained employed.

     7. NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS.  Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent
or limit the Executive's continuing or future participation in any benefit,
bonus, incentive or other plans, programs, policies or practices,  provided
by the  Company  or any of its  affiliated  companies  and  for  which  the
Executive may qualify,  nor shall anything herein limit or otherwise affect
such rights as the Executive may have under any other  agreements  with the
Company  or any of its  affiliated  companies.  Amounts  which  are  vested
benefits or which the Executive is otherwise  entitled to receive under any
plan,  policy,  practice or program of the Company or any of its affiliated
companies at or subsequent to the Date of  Termination  shall be payable in
accordance with such plan, policy, practice or program except as explicitly
modified by this Agreement.

          8. FULL PAYMENTS.  The Company's  obligation to make the payments
     provided  for  in  this   Agreement   and  otherwise  to  perform  its
     obligations   hereunder   shall  not  be  affected  by  any   set-off,
     counterclaim,  recoupment,  defense  or other  claim,  right or action
     which the Company  may have  against the  Executive  or others.  In no
     event shall the  Executive be

                                   -16-

<PAGE>

          obligated  to seek other  employment  or take any other action by
          way of mitigation of the amounts  payable to the Executive  under
          any of the  provisions of this  Agreement.  The Company agrees to
          pay, from time to time promptly upon invoice,  to the full extent
          permitted by law, all legal fees and expenses which the Executive
          may  reasonably  incur as a result of any  contest,  question  or
          controversy (regardless of the outcome thereof and whether or not
          litigation  is involved) by the Company,  the Executive or others
          over the validity or  enforceability  of, or liability under, any
          provision  of this  Agreement  or any  guarantee  of  performance
          thereof  (including  as a result of any contest by the  Executive
          about the  amount of any  payment  pursuant  to Section 9 of this
          Agreement).


          9. CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY.

          (a) Anything in this  Agreement to the contrary  notwithstanding,
in the event it shall be determined that any payment or distribution by the
Company to or for the benefit of the Executive  (whether paid or payable or
distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any
other compensation  plan, program or arrangement  including but not limited
to the proceeds  from the exercise of stock option  grants the Executive is
entitled  to receive on the date of a Change of Control or  otherwise,  but
determined  without regard to any additional  payments  required under this
Section 9) (a  "Payment")  would be  subject  to the excise tax  imposed by
Section 4999 of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code")
or any interest or penalties are incurred by the Executive  with respect to
such  excise tax (such  excise tax,  together  with any such  interest  and
penalties,  are hereinafter  collectively referred to as the "Excise Tax"),
then the Executive  shall be entitled to receive an  additional  payment (a
"Gross-Up  Payment") in an amount such that after  payment by the Executive
of all taxes  (including any interest or penalties  imposed with respect to
such  taxes),  including  without  limitation,  any  income  taxes (and any
interest and penalties imposed with

                                   -17-

<PAGE>

respect  thereto)  and Excise Tax imposed upon the  Gross-Up  Payment,  the
Executive retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax
imposed upon the Payments.

          (b)  Subject  to  the  provisions  of  Section  9(c)  below,  all
determinations  required to be made under this Section 9, including whether
and when a Gross-Up  Payment is  required  and the amount of such  Gross-Up
Payment   and  the   assumptions   to  be  utilized  in  arriving  at  such
determination, shall be made by Ernst & Young (the "Accounting Firm") which
shall provide detailed supporting  calculations both to the Company and the
Executive  within  15  business  days of the  receipt  of  notice  from the
Executive  that  there  has  been a  Payment,  or such  earlier  time as is
requested by the Company.  In the event that the Accounting Firm is serving
(or has, during the three years  preceding the Effective  Date,  served) as
accountant  or auditor for the  individual,  entity or group  effecting the
Change  of  Control,   the  Executive  shall  appoint  another   nationally
recognized  accounting firm to make the  determinations  required hereunder
(which  accounting  firm shall then be referred to as the  Accounting  Firm
hereunder).  All fees and  expenses of the  Accounting  Firm shall be borne
solely by the Company. Any Gross-Up Payment, as determined pursuant to this
Section 9, shall be paid by the Company to the  Executive  within five days
of the receipt of the Accounting  Firm's  determination.  If the Accounting
Firm  determines  that no Excise Tax is payable by the Executive,  it shall
furnish the  Executive  with a written  opinion  that failure to report the
Excise Tax on the  Executive's  applicable  federal income tax return would
not  result in the  imposition  of a  negligence  or similar  penalty.  Any
determination  by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and
the Executive. As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Section
4999 of the Code at the time of the initial determination by the Accounting
Firm hereunder,  it is possible that Gross-Up  Payments which will not have
been made by the Company should have been made ("Underpayment"), consistent
with the calculations required to be made hereunder.  In the event that the
Company  exhausts its remedies  pursuant to Section 9(c) and the  Executive
thereafter is required to make a payment of any Excise Tax, the  Accounting

                                   -18-

<PAGE>

Firm shall determine the amount of  Underpayment  that has occurred and any
such  Underpayment  shall be  promptly  paid by the  Company  to or for the
benefit of the  Executive.

          (c) The  Executive  shall  notify  the  Company in writing of any
claim by the Internal  Revenue  Service that, if successful,  would require
the payment by the Company of the Gross-Up Payment. Such notification shall
be given as soon as  practicable  but no later than ten business days after
the  Executive  is informed in writing of such claim and shall  apprise the
Company  of the  nature of such  claim and the date on which  such claim is
requested to be paid.  The Executive  shall not pay such claim prior to the
expiration of the 30-day  period  following the date on which it gives such
notice to the Company (or such shorter  period  ending on the date that any
payment  of taxes  with  respect  to such  claim is  due).  If the  Company
notifies the  Executive in writing  prior to the  expiration of such period
that it desires to contest such claim, the Executive shall:

          (i) give the Company any information  reasonably requested by the
     Company relating to such claim,

          (ii) take such action in connection with contesting such claim as
     the Company  shall  reasonably  request in writing  from time to time,
     including,  without  limitation,  accepting legal  representation with
     respect  to such  claim  by an  attorney  reasonably  selected  by the
     Company,

          (iii)   cooperate  with  the  Company  in  good  faith  in  order
     effectively to contest such claim, and

          (iv)  permit  the  Company  to  participate  in  any  Proceedings
     relating to such claim;

                                   -19-


<PAGE>

provided,  however,  that the Company shall bear and pay directly all costs
and expenses  (including  additional  interest and  penalties)  incurred in
connection  with such contest and shall  indemnify  and hold the  Executive
harmless,  on an  after-tax  basis,  for  any  Excise  Tax  or  income  tax
(including interest and penalties with respect thereto) imposed as a result
of  such  representation  and  payment  of  costs  and  expenses.   Without
limitation  on the foregoing  provisions of this Section 9(c),  the Company
shall control all proceedings taken in connection with such contest and, at
its sole option,  may pursue or forgo any and all  administrative  appeals,
proceedings,  hearings and conferences with the taxing authority in respect
of such claim and may, at its sole option,  either  direct the Executive to
pay the tax  claimed  and sue for a  refund  or  contest  the  claim in any
permissible manner, and the Executive agrees to prosecute such contest to a
determination  before any  administrative  tribunal,  in a court of initial
jurisdiction  and in one or more  appellate  courts,  as the Company  shall
determine;  provided, however, that if the Company directs the Executive to
pay such claim and sue for a refund,  the Company  shall advance the amount
of such  payment  to the  Executive,  on an  interest-free  basis and shall
indemnify and hold the Executive harmless,  on an after-tax basis, from any
Excise Tax or income tax  (including  interest or  Penalties  with  respect
thereto)  imposed  with  respect  to such  advance  or with  respect to any
imputed income with respect to such advance;  and further provided that any
extension  of the statute of  limitations  relating to payment of taxes for
the taxable  year of the  Executive  with  respect to which such  contested
amount is  claimed to be due is limited  solely to such  contested  amount.
Furthermore,  the  Company's  control  of the  contest  shall be limited to
issues with respect to which a Gross-Up Payment would be payable  hereunder
and the Executive  shall be entitled to settle or contest,  as the case may
be, any other issue  raised by the  Internal  Revenue  Service or any other
taxing authority.

     (d) If, after the receipt by the  Executive  of an amount  advanced by
the Company  pursuant to Section 9(c),  the Executive  becomes  entitled to
receive any refund with respect to such claim, the Executive shall (subject
to the Company's  complying with the requirements of Section 9(c)) promptly
pay to the Company the

                                   -20-

<PAGE>

amount of such refund  (together with any interest paid or credited thereon
after taxes applicable thereto).  If, after the receipt by the Executive of
an amount advanced by the Company pursuant to Section 9(c), a determination
is made that the Executive shall not be entitled to any refund with respect
to such claim and the Company  does not notify the  Executive in writing of
its intent to contest such denial of refund prior to the  expiration  of 30
days after such  determination,  then such  advance  shall be forgiven  and
shall not be  required  to be repaid and the amount of such  advance  shall
offset,  to the extent thereof,  the amount of Gross-Up Payment required to
be paid.

     10. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.  (a) During the period of his employment
hereunder,  the  Executive  shall not,  without the written  consent of the
Chief Executive Officer,  disclose to any person, other than an employee of
the Company or another person to whom disclosure is reasonably necessary or
appropriate  in  connection  with the  performance  by the Executive of his
duties  as  an  executive  of  the  Company,   any  material   confidential
information obtained by him while in the employ of the Company with respect
to  any of the  Company's  products,  improvements,  formulas,  designs  or
styles,  processes,  customers,  methods  of  distribution  or  methods  of
manufacture,  the disclosure of which he knows will be materially  damaging
to the Company; PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, that confidential information shall not
include any  information  known  generally  to the public  (other than as a
result of unauthorized disclosure by the Executive) or any information of a
type not otherwise  considered  confidential by persons engaged in the same
business or a business  similar to that  conducted by the Company.  For the
period ending two years  following the Date of  Termination,  the Executive
shall not disclose any confidential information of the type described above
except as determined by him to be reasonably  necessary in connection  with
any business or activity in which he is then engaged.

     (b) Any and all inventions made, developed or created by the Executive
(whether at the request or suggestion of the Company or otherwise,  whether
alone or in  conjunction  with others,  and whether during regular hours of
work or

                                   -21-


<PAGE>

otherwise) during the period of his employment by the Company, which may be
directly or indirectly useful in, or relate to, the business of or research
and development being carried out by the Company or any of its subsidiaries
or affiliates,  will be promptly and fully disclosed by the Executive to an
appropriate  executive  officer of the Company  and shall be the  Company's
exclusive  property  as  against  the  Executive,  and the  Executive  will
promptly  deliver to an  appropriate  executive  officer of the Company all
papers, drawings, models, data and other material relating to any invention
made, developed or created by him as aforesaid.

     (c) The Executive  will,  upon the  Company's  request and without any
payment  therefor,  execute any  documents  necessary  or  advisable in the
opinion  of the  Company's  counsel  to direct  issuance  of patents to the
Company  with  respect  to  such  inventions  as are  to be  the  Company's
exclusive property as against the Executive under Section 10(b) above or to
vest in the Company  title to such  inventions  as against  the  Executive,
PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that the expense of  securing  any such patent will be
borne by the Company.

     (d) The foregoing  provisions of this Section 10 shall be binding upon
the Executive's heirs, successors and legal representatives.

     (e) In no event shall an asserted  violation of the provisions of this
Section 10  constitute  a basis for  deferring or  withholding  any amounts
otherwise payable to the Executive under this Agreement.

     11.  SUCCESSORS.  (a) This  Agreement is personal to the Executive and
without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by
the  Executive   otherwise  than  by  will  or  the  laws  of  descent  and
distribution.  This  Agreement  shall  inure  to  the  benefit  of  and  be
enforceable by the Executive's legal representatives.

                                   -22-


<PAGE>


     (b) This  Agreement  shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon
the Company and its successors and assigns.

     (c)  The  Company  will  require  any  successor  (whether  direct  or
indirect,  by  purchase,  merger  consolidation  or  otherwise)  to  all or
substantially  all of the business  and/or  assets of the Company to assume
expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the
same  extent  that the  Company  would be required to perform it if no such
succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, "Company" shall mean
the Company as  hereinbefore  defined  and any  successor  to its  business
and/or  assets as  aforesaid  which  assumes  and  agrees to  perform  this
Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise.

     12.  MISCELLANEOUS.  (a)  This  Agreement  shall  be  governed  by and
construed in  accordance  with the laws of the State of  Delaware,  without
reference to principles of conflict of laws. The captions of this Agreement
are not part of the  provisions  hereof  and shall have no force or effect.
This  Agreement may not be amended or modified  otherwise than by a written
agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective successors and
legal representatives.

     (b) All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be given by hand  delivery to the other party or by registered or
certified mail,  return receipt  requested,  postage prepaid,  addressed as
follows:

IF TO THE EXECUTIVE:

       Home address as currently shown on Human Resource
       Department records of Executive's business unit.

IF TO THE COMPANY:

                                   -23-


<PAGE>

                   Cordant Technologies Inc.
                   15 W. South Temple, Suite 1600
                   Salt Lake City, UT 84101-1532
                   Attention: Corporate Secretary

or to such other address as either party shall have  furnished to the other
in writing in  accordance  herewith.  Notice  and  communications  shall be
effective when actually received by the addressee.

     (c)  The  invalidity  or  unenforceability  of any  provision  of this
Agreement  shall not affect the  validity  or  enforceability  of any other
provision of this Agreement.

     (d) The  Company may  withhold  from any  amounts  payable  under this
Agreement  such  Federal,  state or local  taxes as shall be required to be
withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

     (e) The Executive's  failure to insist upon strict compliance with any
provision  hereof  shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such  provision or
any other provision thereof.

     (f) This Agreement  contains the entire  understanding  of the Company
and the Executive with respect to the subject matter hereof.

     (g) Anything in this  Agreement to the contrary  notwithstanding,  the
Executive and the Company  acknowledge that the employment of the Executive
by the Company is "at will",  and,  except as provided in Section 1 hereof,
prior to the Change of Control Date, the employment of the Executive may be
terminated  by either the Executive or the Chief  Executive  Officer of the
Company at any time. Upon a termination of the Executive's employment prior
to the  Change of Control  Date,  except as  provided  in Section 1 hereof,
there shall be no further rights under this Agreement.

                                   -24-


<PAGE>


     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  Executive  has  hereunto  set his hand and,
pursuant to the authorization from its Board of Directors,  the Company has
caused these  presents to be executed in its name on its behalf,  all as of
the day and year first above written. CORDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.

                           by __________________________________
                               James R. Wilson
                               Chairman of the Board, President, and
                               Chief Executive Officer

                           by:__________________________________
                                   (name)



                                                             EXECUTION COPY



                              CREDIT AGREEMENT


                        Dated as of February 5, 1999

                                   among


                         CORDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.

                                    and


                    THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
                 Individually and As Administrative Agent,


                    FIRST CHICAGO CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.,
                                As Arranger,


                                    and


                   THE LENDING INSTITUTIONS PARTY HERETO



<PAGE>




<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                             TABLE OF CONTENTS
<S>                                                                                                 <C>


                                                                                                    PAGE

ARTICLE I:  DEFINITIONS                                                                               1

ARTICLE II:  THE CREDITS                                                                             10
         2.1.  Advances                                                                              10
                  2.1.1.  Commitments to Make Revolving Loans                                        10
                     2.1.2.  Ratable Loans                                                           10
                     2.1.3.  Rate Options                                                            11
                     2.1.4.  Method of Selecting Rate Options and Interest Periods for Advances      11
                     2.1.5.  Conversion and Continuation of Outstanding Advances                     11
         2.2.  Term Loan Extension Option.                                                           12
                     2.2.1.  Option                                                                  12
                     2.2.2.  Extension Request.                                                      12
                     2.2.3.  Conditions Precedent to Extension                                       12
                     2.2.4.  Repayment of Term Loans                                                 13
                     2.2.5.  Rate Options                                                            13
                     2.2.6.  Conversion and Continuation of Outstanding Advances
                             consisting of Term Loans                                                13
         2.3.  General Facility Terms                                                                14
                     2.3.1.  Method of Borrowing                                                     14
                     2.3.2.  Minimum Amount of Each Advance                                          14
                     2.3.3.  Termination; Required Payments                                          14
                     2.3.4.  Optional Principal Payments                                             14
                     2.3.5.  Commitment Fees and Voluntary Reduction of Commitments                  14
                     2.3.6.  Changes in Interest Rate, etc.                                          15
                     2.3.7.  Ratings Change Rate Increase; Rate after Maturity                       15
                     2.3.8.  Interest Payment Dates; Interest and Fee Basis.                         15
                     2.3.9.  Method of Payment                                                       16
                     2.3.10.  Notes; Telephonic Notices                                              16
                     2.3.11.  Notification of Advances, Interest Rates, Prepayments
                              and Commitment Reductions                                              17
                     2.3.12.  Lending Installations                                                  17
                     2.3.13.  Non-Receipt of Funds by the Administrative Agent.                      17
                     2.3.14.  Withholding Tax Exemption                                              18

ARTICLE III:  CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES; INDEMNIFICATION                                               18
         3.1.  Yield Protection.                                                                     18
         3.2.  Changes in Capital Adequacy Regulations                                               19
         3.3.  Availability of Interest Rate.                                                        20
         3.4.  Failure to Pay or Borrow on Certain Dates                                             20
         3.5.  Bank Certificates; Survival of Indemnity                                              20


                                     i

<PAGE>


ARTICLE IV:  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT                                                                    21
         4.1.  Initial Advance                                                                       21
         4.2.  Each Advance                                                                          22

ARTICLE V:  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.                                                          22
         5.1.  Corporate Existence and Standing                                                      22
         5.2.  Authorization and Validity                                                            22
         5.3.  Compliance with Laws and Contracts                                                    23
         5.4.  Financial Statements                                                                  23
         5.5.  Material Adverse Change                                                               23
         5.6.  Taxes                                                                                 23
         5.7.  Litigation                                                                            24
         5.8.  ERISA                                                                                 24
         5.9.  Defaults and Prepayment Event                                                         24
         5.10.  Accuracy of Information                                                              24
         5.11.  Regulation U.                                                                        24
         5.12.  Pari Passu.                                                                          24
         5.13.  Investment Company                                                                   24
         5.14.  Material Laws.                                                                       25
         5.15.  Material Agreements                                                                  25
         5.16.  Subsidiaries                                                                         25
         5.17.  Ownership of Properties                                                              25
 
ARTICLE VI:  COVENANTS                                                                               25
         6.1.  Affirmative Covenants                                                                 25
                     6.1.1.  Financial Reporting                                                     26
                     6.1.2.  Use of Proceeds                                                         27
                     6.1.3.  Notice of Default and Prepayment Event                                  28
                     6.1.4.  Conduct of Business                                                     28
                     6.1.5.  Payment of Taxes                                                        28
                     6.1.6.  Insurance                                                               28
                     6.1.7.  Compliance with Laws                                                    28
                     6.1.8.  Maintenance of Properties                                               29
                     6.1.9. Inspection                                                               29
         6.2.  Negative Covenants                                                                    29
                     6.2.1.  Dividends                                                               29
                     6.2.2.  Indebtedness of Subsidiaries                                            29
                     6.2.3.  Merger                                                                  29
                     6.2.4.  Sale of Assets                                                          30
                     6.2.5.  Sale and Leaseback                                                      30
                     6.2.6.  Liens                                                                   30
                     6.2.7.  Funded Debt/EBITDA Ratio                                                31

                                    ii

<PAGE>


                     6.2.8.  Affiliates; Howmet                                                      31

ARTICLE VII:  DEFAULTS                                                                               32

ARTICLE VIII:  ACCELERATION, WAIVERS, AMENDMENTS AND REMEDIES                                        34
         8.1.  Acceleration; Allocation of Payments after Default or Prepayment Event                34
         8.2.  Amendments                                                                            34
         8.3.  Preservation of Rights                                                                35

ARTICLE IX:  GENERAL PROVISIONS                                                                      35
         9.1.  Survival of Representations                                                           35
         9.2.  Governmental Regulation                                                               35
         9.3.  Taxes                                                                                 35
         9.4.  CHOICE OF LAW                                                                         36
         9.5.  CONSENT TO JURISDICTION                                                               36
         9.6.  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL                                                                  36
         9.7.  Headings                                                                              36
         9.8.  Entire Agreement                                                                      36
         9.9.  Several Obligations                                                                   36
         9.10.  Expenses.                                                                            37
         9.12.  Numbers of Documents                                                                 37
         9.13.  Confidentiality                                                                      37

ARTICLE X:  THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT                                                                 38
         10.1.  Appointment                                                                          38
         10.2.  Powers                                                                               38
         10.3.  General Immunity                                                                     38
         10.4.  No Responsibility for Loans, Recitals, etc                                           38
         10.5.  Right to Indemnity                                                                   38
         10.6.  Action on Instructions of Banks                                                      38
         10.7.  Employment of Agents and Counsel.                                                    38
         10.8.  Reliance on Documents; Counsel.                                                      39
         10.9.  Administrative Agent's Reimbursement                                                 39
         10.10.  Rights as a Bank                                                                    39
         10.11.  Bank Credit Decision.                                                               39
         10.12.  Successor Administrative Agent                                                      39
         10.13.  Distribution of Information                                                         40
         10.14.  Disclosure                                                                          40

ARTICLE XI:  SETOFF; RATABLE PAYMENTS                                                                41
         11.1.  Setoff                                                                               41
         11.2.  Ratable Payments                                                                     41

                                    iii

<PAGE>

ARTICLE XII:  BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS; PARTICIPATIONS                                      41
         12.1.    Successors and Assigns                                                             41
         12.2.    Participations                                                                     42
                     12.2.1.  Permitted Participants; Effect                                         42
                     12.2.2.  Voting Rights                                                          42
         12.3.    Assignments.                                                                       42
                     12.3.1.  Permitted Assignments                                                  42
                     12.3.2.  Substitution of Bank                                                   43
                     12.3.3.  Effect; Effective Date                                                 43
         12.4.    Dissemination of Information                                                       44
         12.5.    Tax Treatment                                                                      44

ARTICLE XIII:  NOTICES                                                                               44
         13.1.  Giving Notice                                                                        44
         13.2.  Change of Address                                                                    44

ARTICLE XIV:  COUNTERPARTS                                                                           45

EXHIBIT "A":EXTENSION REQUEST                                                                        48

EXHIBIT "B":  FORM OF PROMISSORY NOTE                                                                49

EXHIBIT "C":  OPINION OF COUNSEL                                                                     51

EXHIBIT "D":  LOAN/CREDIT RELATED MONEY TRANSFER INSTRUCTION                                         54

EXHIBIT "E":  ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT                                                                   55

SCHEDULE "1":  SUBSIDIARIES                                                                          65

SCHEDULE "2":  INDEBTEDNESS OF SUBSIDIARIES                                                          66

SCHEDULE "3":  LIENS                                                                                 67

</TABLE>

                                    iv

<PAGE>



                         CORDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.
                              CREDIT AGREEMENT


     This Credit  Agreement  dated as of February 5, 1999 is among  Cordant
Technologies  Inc., a Delaware  corporation,  each of the undersigned banks
and The First National Bank of Chicago,  individually and as agent for such
banks. The parties hereto agree as follows:


                                 ARTICLE I

                                DEFINITIONS


     As used in this Agreement:

     "Advance"  means a borrowing  hereunder  consisting  of the  aggregate
amount of the  several  Loans made by the Banks to the  Company at the same
time, at the same Rate Option and for the same Interest Period.  Unless the
context otherwise expressly states otherwise,  from and after the Revolving
Credit Termination Date if the Revolving Loans shall have been converted to
Term Loans, "Advance" shall mean the borrowings consisting of the aggregate
amount of the several Term Loans.

     "Administrative Agent" means The First National Bank of Chicago in its
capacity  as agent  for the Banks  pursuant  to  Article  X, and not in its
individual  capacity  as a Bank,  and any  successor  Administrative  Agent
appointed pursuant to Article X.

     "Affiliate"  of  any  Person  means  any  other  Person   directly  or
indirectly  controlling,  controlled  by or under common  control with such
Person.  A  Person  shall  be  deemed  to  control  another  Person  if the
controlling  Person owns 10% or more of any class of voting  securities (or
other ownership interests) of the controlled Person or possesses,  directly
or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management
or policies of the controlled  Person,  whether through ownership of stock,
by contract or otherwise.

     "Aggregate  Available  Commitment"  means,  at any  time  prior to the
Revolving Credit  Termination  Date, the Aggregate  Commitment at such time
less the Outstandings at such time.

     "Aggregate  Commitment"  means the aggregate of the Commitments of all
the Banks hereunder.

     "Aggregate  Outstanding  Credit  Exposure"  means,  as of any day, the
aggregate of the Outstanding Credit Exposure of all the Banks.

                                 Page 1

<PAGE>


     "Agreement"  means this credit  agreement,  as it may be amended  from
time to time.

     "Arranger" means First Chicago Capital Markets, Inc.

     "Article" means an article of this Agreement  unless another  document
is specifically referenced.

     "Authorized Representative" means the Chief Financial Officer or
the  Treasurer  of the  Company  or any other  officer or  employee  of the
Company designated in writing as an "Authorized  Representative" under this
Agreement by the Chief Financial Officer or the Treasurer of the Company.

     "Bankruptcy  Code" means Title 11,  United  States Code  Sections 1 ET
SEQ.,  as the same may be  amended  from  time to time,  and any  successor
thereto or replacement therefor which may be hereafter enacted.

     "Banks"  means  the  banks  listed  on the  signature  pages  of  this
Agreement and their respective successors and assigns.

     "Base  Eurodollar  Rate"  means,  with  respect to a  Eurodollar  Rate
Advance  for the  relevant  Interest  Period,  the rate  determined  by the
Administrative  Agent to be the rate at which deposits in U.S.  Dollars are
offered by First  Chicago  to  first-class  banks in the  London  interbank
market at  approximately  11 a.m.  (London time) two Business Days prior to
the first day of such Interest Period,  in the approximate  amount of First
Chicago's relevant Eurodollar Rate Loan and having a maturity approximately
equal to such Interest Period.

     "Borrowing Date" means a date on which an Advance is made hereunder.

     "Borrowing Notice" is defined in Section 2.1.4.

     "Business  Day" means (a) with respect to  borrowing,  payment or rate
selection  of  Eurodollar  Rate  Advances,  a day (other than a Saturday or
Sunday) on which banks  generally  are open for business in Chicago and New
York for the  conduct  of  substantially  all of their  commercial  lending
activities  and on which  dealings  in U.S.  Dollars  are carried on in the
London interbank market and (b) for all other purposes, a day (other than a
Saturday  or Sunday) on which  banks  generally  are open for  business  in
Chicago  and New  York  for  the  conduct  of  substantially  all of  their
commercial lending activities.

     "Capitalized  Lease" of any Person means any lease or lease  agreement
which creates a Capitalized Lease Obligation of such Person.

                                  Page 2

<PAGE>


     "Capitalized  Lease  Obligation" of any Person means the obligation of
such Person, as lessee, to pay rent for the letting, use or hire of real or
personal property which in accordance with GAAP is required to be presented
on the balance sheet of such Person as a liability.

     "Commitment"  means, for each Bank, the obligation of the Bank to make
Loans not exceeding the amount set forth opposite its signature  below,  as
such amount may be modified from time to time.

     "Company" means Cordant Technologies Inc., a Delaware corporation.

     "Consolidated  EBITDA" means, for any period,  Consolidated Net Income
PLUS interest expense and provision for taxes based on income (in each case
to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income), adjusted by
adding  thereto  the  amount of (i) all  amortization  of  intangibles  and
depreciation and (ii) Receivables  Facility  Financing Costs (to the extent
not otherwise included).

     "Consolidated  Funded Debt" means all  Indebtedness of the Company and
its Consolidated Subsidiaries which, on the date of determination, would be
required to be shown on the Company's  consolidated  balance sheet prepared
in  accordance  with  GAAP,  PLUS  all  Receivables   Facility   Attributed
Indebtedness of the Company and its  Consolidated  Subsidiaries on the date
of determination regardless of its treatment under GAAP.

     "Consolidated Net Income" means, for any period,  the consolidated net
after-tax  income  of  the  Company  and  its   Consolidated   Subsidiaries
determined in accordance with GAAP.

     "Consolidated Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary that is consolidated on
a balance sheet of the Company in  accordance  with GAAP;  PROVIDED,  THAT,
notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, for purposes of
the  definitions  of  Consolidated   EBITDA,   Consolidated   Funded  Debt,
Consolidated Net Income and all components of each of the foregoing, Howmet
and its Subsidiaries shall be included as Consolidated  Subsidiaries of the
Company.

     "Consolidated  Total Assets" means,  as at any date of  determination,
the  aggregate  value  of  assets  of  the  Company  and  its  Consolidated
Subsidiaries determined in accordance with GAAP.

     "Conversion/Continuation Notice" is defined in Section 2.1.5.

     "Corporate  Base Rate" means a rate per annum  equal to the  corporate
base  rate of  interest  announced  by  First  Chicago  from  time to time,
changing when and as said corporate base rate changes.

     "Default" means an event described in Article VII.

                                  Page 3

<PAGE>


     "Dollars" and "$" mean lawful money of the United States of America.

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

     "Effective  Date"  means any  Business  Day on which the  Company  has
complied  with all of the terms and  conditions of Section 4.1, the Company
has paid all requisite fees to the Administrative  Agent, the Company,  the
Administrative  Agent and the Banks have executed this  Agreement,  and the
Administrative  Agent has  notified the Company and the Banks that all such
events have occurred.

     "Eurodollar  Margin" means (a) for the period from the Effective  Date
until the date that is 180 days  thereafter,  0.875% per annum; (b) for the
period  beginning  181 days after the  Effective  Date until the  Revolving
Credit  Termination  Date,  1.0% per  annum;  and (c) from  and  after  the
Revolving Credit Termination Date, 1.25% per annum.

     "Eurodollar Rate" means, with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Advance for
the relevant  Interest Period, a per annum rate equal to the sum of (a) the
quotient  of (i) the  Base  Eurodollar  Rate  applicable  to that  Interest
Period,  divided by (ii) one minus the Reserve Requirement  (expressed as a
decimal)  applicable  to  that  Interest  Period,  if  any,  plus  (b)  the
Eurodollar Margin, changing when and as said Eurodollar Margin changes. The
Eurodollar Rate shall be rounded, if necessary,  to the next higher 1/100th
of 1%.

     "Eurodollar  Rate Advance"  means an Advance which bears interest at a
Eurodollar Rate.

     "Eurodollar  Rate  Loan"  means  a  Loan  which  bears  interest  at a
Eurodollar Rate.

     "Extension  Request"  means a  notice  in  substantially  the  form of
Exhibit  "A"  hereto,  with  appropriate  insertions,   duly  executed  and
delivered to the Administrative Agent by the Company.

     "Federal  Funds Rate" means,  for any day, an interest  rate per annum
equal to the  weighted  average  of the rates on  overnight  Federal  funds
transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal
funds  brokers on such day, as  published  for such day (or, if such day is
not a Business  Day, for the  immediately  preceding  Business  Day) by the
Federal  Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for
any  day  which  is a  Business  Day,  the  average  of the  quotations  at
approximately  10 a.m.  (Chicago  time)  on such  day on such  transactions
received by the  Administrative  Agent from three  Federal funds brokers of
recognized  standing  selected  by the  Administrative  Agent  in its  sole
discretion.

     "First  Chicago"  means  The First  National  Bank of  Chicago  in its
individual capacity and not as agent hereunder.


                                  Page 4
<PAGE>


     "Floating  Rate"  means,  for any day,  a rate per annum  equal to the
higher  of (a) the  Corporate  Base  Rate for such day and (b) the  Federal
Funds Rate for such day plus .5% per annum.

     "Floating  Rate Advance"  means an Advance which bears interest at the
Floating Rate.

     "Floating Rate Loan" means a Loan which bears interest at the Floating
Rate.

     "Funded  Debt/EBITDA  Ratio"  means,  as at the last day of any fiscal
quarter of the  Company,  the ratio of (i)  Consolidated  Funded Debt as of
such  day to (ii)  Consolidated  EBITDA  for the  four  consecutive  fiscal
quarters ending on such day.

     "GAAP" means generally accepted  principles of accounting as in effect
at the time of  application to the  provisions  hereof,  except as provided
with regard to Howmet pursuant to the definition of "Subsidiary"  set forth
herein.

     "Guaranty"  of any Person  means any  agreement  by which such  Person
assumes, guarantees,  endorses,  contingently agrees to purchase or provide
funds for the payment of, or otherwise  becomes liable upon, the obligation
of any other Person, or agrees to maintain the net worth or working capital
or other  financial  condition of any other Person or otherwise  assure any
creditor of such other Person  against  loss,  and shall  include,  without
limitation,  the contingent  liability of such Person under or with respect
to any Letter of Credit.

     "Howmet" means Howmet International, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

     "Indebtedness"  of any  Person  means,  without  duplication,  (a) the
obligations  of such  Person  (i) for  borrowed  money,  (ii) under or with
respect to notes payable and drafts accepted which represent  extensions of
credit (whether or not representing obligations for borrowed money) to such
Person or (iii) reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit
issued for the  account of such  Person or (iv) for the  deferred  purchase
price of property or services other than current  accounts  payable arising
in the ordinary course of business on terms customary in the trade, (b) the
obligations of others, whether or not assumed, secured by Liens on property
of such  Person  or  payable  out of the  proceeds  of or  production  from
property  now or  hereafter  owned  or  acquired  by such  Person,  (c) the
Capitalized Lease  Obligations of such Person,  (d) the obligations of such
Person  under  Guaranties  by such Person of any  Indebtedness  (other than
obligations for borrowed money incurred to finance the purchase of property
leased to such Person  pursuant to a  Capitalized  Lease of such Person) of
any other Person, (e) all Receivables  Facility Attributed  Indebtedness of
such  Person  on the  date  of  determination  and (f)  Off  Balance  Sheet
Liabilities of such Person.

     "Interest Period" means, with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Advance,  a
period of one,  two,  three or six  months  commencing  on a  Business  Day
selected by the Company  pursuant to this  Agreement.  Such Interest Period
shall end on the day in the  succeeding  calendar  month which 


                                  Page 5

<PAGE>

corresponds  numerically  to the  beginning  day of such  Interest  Period;
PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, that if there is no such numerically  corresponding day
in such  succeeding  month,  such  Interest  Period  shall  end on the last
Business  Day  of  such  succeeding  month.  If an  Interest  Period  would
otherwise end on a day which is not a Business  Day,  such Interest  Period
shall end on the next succeeding Business Day; PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that if
said next  succeeding  Business  Day falls in a new  month,  such  Interest
Period shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day.

     "Lending  Installation"  means,  for each  type of Loan,  any  office,
branch, subsidiary or affiliate of any Bank.

     "Letter of  Credit" of any Person  means a letter of credit or similar
instrument  which is issued  upon the  application  of such  Person or upon
which such  Person is account  party or for which such Person is in any way
liable.

     "Lien" means, with respect to the property of any Person, any security
interest,  mortgage, pledge, lien, claim, charge, encumbrance,  conditional
sale  agreement,  title  retention  agreement,  lessor's  interest  under a
Capitalized Lease or analogous instrument, in, of or on any of the property
of such Person.

     "Loan"  means,  with  respect to a Bank,  such  Bank's  portion of any
Advance or, during the Term Loan Period, such Bank's Term Loan.

     "Loan Documents" means this Agreement and the Notes.

     "Note" means a promissory  note in  substantially  the form of Exhibit
"B" hereto, with appropriate insertions, duly executed and delivered to the
Administrative  Agent by the  Company and payable to the order of a Bank in
the  amount  of its  Commitment,  including  any  amendment,  modification,
renewal or replacement of such promissory note.

     "Obligations"  means all  unpaid  principal  and  accrued  and  unpaid
interest under the Notes,  all accrued and unpaid  commitment and extension
fees and all other  obligations  of the  Company or any  Subsidiary  to the
Banks or to any Bank or the  Administrative  Agent  arising  under the Loan
Documents.

     "Off-Balance  Sheet  Liability"  of a Person means (i) any  repurchase
obligation  or  liability  of such Person with respect to accounts or notes
receivable  sold by such  Person,  (ii) any  liability  under  any sale and
leaseback  transaction  which does not create a  liability  on the  balance
sheet of such Person,  (iii) any  liability  under any  financing  lease or
so-called  "synthetic  lease"  transaction  entered into by such Person, or
(iv) any obligation  arising with respect to any other transaction which is
the functional equivalent of or takes the place of borrowing but which does
not  constitute  a liability  on the  balance  sheets of such  Person,  but
excluding Operating Leases.

                                   Page 6

<PAGE>


     "Operating  Lease" of a Person means any lease of Property (other than
a  Capitalized  Lease) by such Person as lessee which has an original  term
(including any required  renewals and any renewals  effective at the option
of the lessor) of one year or more.

     "Outstanding  Credit  Exposure" means, as to any Bank at any time, the
aggregate  principal  amount  of  its  Loans  outstanding  at  such  time .
"Outstandings"  means at any time the aggregate of the principal amounts of
all outstanding Advances.

     "Participants" is defined in Section 12.2.1.

     "Payment  Date"  shall  mean the last  Business  Day of each  quarter,
commencing March 31, 1999.

     "Permitted  Lien" means any lien  described in clauses (a) through (i)
of Section 6.2.6.

     "Person" means any corporation,  natural person,  firm, joint venture,
partnership,   trust,  unincorporated   organization,   government  or  any
department or agency of any government.

     "Plan" means a defined benefit pension plan as such term is defined in
Section  3(35)  of  ERISA  for  the  unfunded  liabilities  of  which  upon
termination  the  Company  or any  Subsidiary  could be held  liable by the
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

     "Plan Year" means a plan year as defined in Section 3(39) of ERISA.

     "Prepayment  Event"  means the  earliest to occur of (a) the date of a
public  announcement  that a Person or group of  affiliated  or  associated
Persons (an "Acquiring Person") has acquired,  or has obtained the right to
acquire,  legal or beneficial ownership of more than 50% of the outstanding
shares of the Voting Stock of the Company, (b) the date of the commencement
of a tender  offer or  exchange  offer  that would  result in an  Acquiring
Person  legally or  beneficially  owning  more than 50% of the  outstanding
shares of the Voting  Stock of the  Company,  and (c) the date an Acquiring
Person acquires all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.

     "Rate Option" means the Eurodollar Rate or the Floating Rate.

     "Receivables  Facility  Attributed  Indebtedness"  means the amount of
obligations  outstanding under a receivables  purchase facility on any date
of determination  that would be characterized as principal if such facility
were structured as a secured lending transaction rather than as a purchase.

     "Receivables  Facility  Financing Costs" means all cash fees,  service
charges,  and other  costs,  as well as all  collections  or other  amounts
retained by purchasers of  receivables  pursuant to

                                  Page 7

<PAGE>

a receivables purchase facility, which are in excess of amounts paid to the
Company and its Consolidated  Subsidiaries  under any receivables  purchase
facility for the purchase of receivables pursuant to such facility.

     "Regulation  D" means  Regulation  D of the Board of  Governors of the
Federal  Reserve  System from time to time in effect and shall  include any
successor or other regulation or official  interpretation  of said Board of
Governors  relating to reserve  requirements  applicable to member banks of
the Federal Reserve System.

     "Regulation  U" means  Regulation  U of the Board of  Governors of the
Federal  Reserve  System from time to time in effect and shall  include any
successor or other regulation or official  interpretation  of said Board of
Governors  relating to the  extension of credit by banks for the purpose of
purchasing  or carrying  margin  stocks  applicable  to member banks of the
Federal Reserve System.

     "Reportable Event" means a reportable event as defined in Section 4043
of ERISA.

     "Required  Banks" means Banks in the aggregate  having at least 51% of
the  Aggregate   Commitment  or,  if  the  Aggregate  Commitment  has  been
terminated,  Banks in the  aggregate  holding at least 51% of the Aggregate
Outstanding Credit Exposure.

     "Reserve  Requirement"  means, with respect to an Interest Period, the
maximum aggregate reserve requirement  (including all basic,  supplemental,
marginal  and  other  reserves)  which is  imposed  under  Regulation  D on
Eurocurrency liabilities.

     "Revolving Credit Termination  Balance" means the aggregate  principal
amount of Advances  outstanding on the Revolving  Credit  Termination  Date
after giving effect to any Advances made or repaid on such date.

     "Revolving  Credit  Termination  Date"  means  November 5, 1999 or any
earlier  date on which  the  Aggregate  Commitment  is  reduced  to zero or
otherwise terminated pursuant to the terms hereof.

     "Revolving Loan" is defined in Section 2.1.1.

     "Section" means a numbered  section of this Agreement,  unless another
document is specifically referenced.

     "Security"  shall  have the same  meaning  as in  Section  2(1) of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

     "Stock  Acquisition"  means  the  acquisition  by the  Company  of all
outstanding  shares of capital  stock of Howmet owned by The Carlyle  Group
for an aggregate  purchase  price not to

                                  Page 8

<PAGE>

exceed  the amount set forth in the  disclosure  letter  dated of even date
herewith from the Company to the Agent and the Banks.

     "Subsidiary"  of a Person means (i) any  corporation  more than 50% of
the outstanding  securities  having ordinary voting power of which shall at
the time be owned or controlled,  directly or indirectly, by such Person or
by one or more of its Subsidiaries or by such Person and one or more of its
Subsidiaries, or (ii) any partnership,  association, joint venture, limited
liability  company or similar  business  organization  more than 50% of the
ownership interests having ordinary voting power of which shall at the time
be so  owned  or  controlled.  Unless  otherwise  expressly  provided,  all
references herein to a "Subsidiary" shall mean a Subsidiary of the Company,
PROVIDED  THAT,  except  for  the  limited  purposes  as set  forth  in the
definition  of  Consolidated  Subsidiary,  Howmet  shall  not be  deemed  a
Subsidiary of the Company for any purposes under this Agreement.

     "Term Loan" is defined in Section 2.2.1.

     "Term  Loan  Period"  means  the  period  from  the  Revolving  Credit
Termination Date to the date that is nine-months after the Revolving Credit
Termination Date.

     "Termination  Date" means (1) (a) if the  conversion  of the Revolving
Credit  Termination  Balance to Term Loans  does not occur,  the  Revolving
Credit  Termination  Date or (b) if the conversion of the Revolving  Credit
Termination  Balance to Term  Loans  occurs,  the date that is nine  months
after the  Revolving  Credit  Termination  Date, or (2) any earlier date on
which the Commitments  are canceled by the Company or otherwise  terminated
pursuant to this Agreement.

     "Transferee" is defined in Section 12.4.

     "Type"  means,  with respect to any Advance,  its nature as a Floating
Rate Advance or Eurodollar Rate Advance.

     "Unfunded Liabilities" means the amount (if any) by which the excesses
of the  accumulated  benefit  obligations  as  determined  under  Financial
Accounting  Standard Board  Statement 87 exceeds the fair value of all such
Plan  assets  allocable  to such  benefits,  as  reported  each year in the
Company's Annual Report to Stockholders.

     "Unmatured  Default" means an event which but for the lapse of time or
the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a Default.

     "Voting Stock" means  Securities of any class or classes,  the holders
of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to elect
the corporate directors (or Persons performing similar functions).


                                  Page 9

<PAGE>

     "Wholly-Owned  Subsidiary"  means any  Subsidiary  of which all of the
outstanding voting securities or ownership interests having ordinary voting
power are owned or controlled,  directly or  indirectly,  by the Company or
one or more  Wholly-Owned  Subsidiaries,  or by the Company and one or more
Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries, or any similar business organization which is so
owned or controlled.

     "Year 2000 Issues" means anticipated costs, problems and uncertainties
associated  with  the  inability  of  certain   computer   applications  to
effectively  handle data  including  dates on and after January 1, 2000, as
such inability affects the business,  operations and financial condition of
the Company and its Subsidiaries and of the Company's and its Subsidiaries'
material customers, suppliers and vendors.

     "Year 2000 Program" is defined in Section 5.19.

     The  foregoing  definitions  shall be equally  applicable  to both the
singular and plural forms of the defined terms.



                                 ARTICLE II

                                THE CREDITS


     2.1. ADVANCES.

     2.1.1.  COMMITMENTS  TO MAKE REVOLVING  LOANS.  From and including the
Effective Date and prior to the Revolving  Credit  Termination  Date,  each
Bank  severally  agrees,  on the  terms  and  conditions  set forth in this
Agreement,  to make loans (individually a "Revolving Loan" and collectively
the  "Revolving  Loans") to the Company from time to time in amounts not to
exceed  in the  aggregate  at any one time  outstanding  the  amount of its
Commitment,  PROVIDED that in no event may the Outstandings at any one time
exceed the Aggregate  Commitment as in effect at such time.  Subject to the
terms of this Agreement,  the Company may borrow, repay and reborrow at any
time prior to the Revolving Credit  Termination Date.  Subject to the terms
and  conditions set forth in Section 2.2 and at the option of the Borrower,
the Revolving Loans outstanding as of the Revolving Credit Termination Date
shall be converted to Term Loans and shall be repaid in accordance with the
terms of Section 2.2.

     2.1.2.   RATABLE  LOANS.  Each  Advance  hereunder  shall  consist  of
Revolving  Loans made from the several  Banks  ratably in proportion to the
ratios that their respective Commitments bear to the Aggregate Commitment.

                                  Page 10

<PAGE>


     2.1.3.  RATE  OPTIONS.  The Advances may be Floating  Rate Advances or
Eurodollar Rate Advances, or a combination thereof, selected by the Company
in accordance  with Sections 2.1.4 and 2.1.5;  PROVIDED that there shall be
no more than ten (10) Interest Periods in effect with respect to all of the
Loans at any time.

     2.1.4.  METHOD OF  SELECTING  RATE  OPTIONS AND  INTEREST  PERIODS FOR
ADVANCES.  The Company  shall select the Rate Options and Interest  Periods
applicable  to each Advance from time to time.  The Company  shall give the
Administrative  Agent irrevocable  notice (a "Borrowing  Notice") not later
than 10:00 a.m.  Chicago time on the  Borrowing  Date of each Floating Rate
Advance and at least three Business Days before the Borrowing Date for each
Eurodollar Rate Advance, specifying:

     (a)  the  Borrowing  Date,  which  shall be a  Business  Day,  of such
          Advance,

     (b)  the aggregate amount of such Advance, which shall be less than or
          equal to the Aggregate Available Commitment,

     (c) the Rate Option selected for such Advance, and

     (d)  in the case of each Eurodollar Rate Advance,  the Interest Period
          applicable thereto.

     2.1.5.  CONVERSION AND CONTINUATION OF OUTSTANDING ADVANCES.  Floating
Rate Advances  shall  continue as Floating  Rate Advances  unless and until
such Floating Rate Advances are converted  into  Eurodollar  Rate Advances.
Each  Eurodollar  Rate Advance shall continue as a Eurodollar  Rate Advance
until the end of the then  applicable  Interest Period  therefor,  at which
time such Eurodollar Rate Advance shall be  automatically  converted into a
Floating   Rate   Advance   unless  the   Company   shall  have  given  the
Administrative Agent a  Conversion/Continuation  Notice requesting that, at
the end of such Interest Period, such Eurodollar Rate Advance continue as a
Eurodollar Rate Advance for the same or another Interest Period. Subject to
the terms of  Section  2.3.2,  the  Company  may elect from time to time to
convert  all or any part of an  Advance  of any Type into any other Type or
Types of Advances;  provided that (i) any conversion of any Eurodollar Rate
Advance shall be made on, and only on, the last day of the Interest  Period
applicable  thereto,  and (ii) no Advance may be  continued as or converted
into a  Eurodollar  Rate  Advance at such  times as a Default or  Unmatured
Default  has  occurred  and is  continuing.  The  Company  shall  give  the
Administrative   Agent  irrevocable   notice  (a   "Conversion/Continuation
Notice") of each  conversion of an Advance or  continuation of a Eurodollar
Rate  Advance  not later than 10:00  a.m.  Chicago  time on the date of the
requested  conversion  into a  Floating  Rate  Advance  and at least  three
Business  Days,  in the  case of a  conversion  into or  continuation  of a
Eurodollar  Advance,  prior  to the  date of the  requested  conversion  or
continuation, specifying:

     (i)  the  requested  date,  which  shall be a  Business  Day,  of such
          conversion or continuation; 

                                  Page 11

<PAGE>

     (ii) the  aggregate  amount  and  Type of the  Advance  which is to be
          converted or continued; and

     (iii)the amount and Type(s) of  Advance(s)  into which such Advance is
          to be  converted  or  continued  and, in the case of a conversion
          into or continuation  of a Eurodollar Rate Advance,  the duration
          of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

     2.2. TERM LOAN EXTENSION OPTION.

     2.2.1. OPTION. During the period that is not less than 5 Business Days
prior to the Revolving Credit Termination Date and that is not greater than
30 days prior to the Revolving  Credit  Termination  Date,  the Company may
request  the  Banks to  convert  the  Revolving  Loans  outstanding  on the
Revolving Credit  Termination Date into term loans  (individually,  a "Term
Loan" and,  collectively,  the "Term Loans") and,  subject to the terms and
conditions  contained in this Section 2.2, the Revolving Credit Termination
Balance will be converted on the  Revolving  Credit  Termination  Date into
Term Loans.

     2.2.2.   EXTENSION  REQUEST.   When  the  Company  wishes  to  request
conversion of the Revolving Loans into Term Loans, it shall transmit to the
Administrative  Agent by telecopy or telefacsimile an Extension  Request so
as to be  received  no later  than  noon  Chicago  time at  least  five (5)
Business Days prior to the Revolving Credit Termination Date. Promptly upon
receipt of an Extension Request, the Administrative Agent shall send to the
Banks by telecopy or telefacsimile a copy of such Extension Request.

     2.2.3. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO EXTENSION. No Bank shall be required to
convert  its  Revolving  Loans  to  Term  Loans  on  the  Revolving  Credit
Termination Date unless:

     (a)  An   Extension   Request   shall  have  been   delivered  to  the
          Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms of Section 2.2;

     (b)  No Default  or  Unmatured  Default  shall  have  occurred  and be
          continuing under Section 7.2, 7.3, 7.6, 7.7, 7.8 or 7.11;

     (c)  No Prepayment Event has occurred;

     (d)  On or prior to the Revolving Credit Termination Date, the Company
          has  paid to the  Administrative  Agent an  extension  fee in the
          amount of .10% of the Revolving  Credit  Termination  Balance for
          the ratable benefit of the Banks and any other fees due and owing
          to the  Administrative  Agent and the  Banks as at the  Revolving
          Credit Termination Date.

                                  Page 12

<PAGE>


Submission  by the  Company of an  Extension  Request  shall  constitute  a
representation and warranty by the Company that the conditions contained in
Section  2.2.3  have  been  satisfied.   If  the  conditions  precedent  to
conversion  contained  in this  Section  2.2.3 have not been  satisfied  or
waived,  the Revolving  Loans shall be due payable on the Revolving  Credit
Termination Date.

     2.2.4.  REPAYMENT OF TERM LOANS. The outstanding  principal balance of
each  Term Loan  shall be paid in full by the  Company  on the  Termination
Date. Amounts repaid with respect to the Term Loans may not be reborrowed.

     2.2.5.  RATE OPTIONS.  The Revolving  Loans converted to Term Loans on
the Revolving Credit  Termination Date shall initially continue as the Type
or Types of Advances,  with the Interest  Periods  then  applicable  as are
outstanding on the Revolving Credit Termination Date and shall be continued
as or converted into Floating Rate Advances or Eurodollar Rate Advances, or
a combination thereof,  selected by the Company in accordance with Sections
2.2.6.

     2.2.6.  CONVERSION AND CONTINUATION OF OUTSTANDING ADVANCES CONSISTING
OF TERM LOANS.  Floating  Rate  Advances  shall  continue as Floating  Rate
Advances  unless and until such Floating  Rate Advances are converted  into
Eurodollar Rate Advances.  Each Eurodollar Rate Advance shall continue as a
Eurodollar  Rate  Advance  until  the end of the then  applicable  Interest
Period  therefor,  at which  time such  Eurodollar  Rate  Advance  shall be
automatically  converted  into a Floating  Rate Advance  unless the Company
shall have given the Administrative Agent a Conversion/Continuation  Notice
requesting that, at the end of such Interest  Period,  such Eurodollar Rate
Advance  continue  as a  Eurodollar  Rate  Advance  for the same or another
Interest  Period.  Subject to the terms of Section  2.3.2,  the Company may
elect  from time to time to  convert  all or any part of an  Advance of any
Type  into  any  other  Type or Types of  Advances;  provided  that (i) any
conversion  of any  Eurodollar  Rate Advance shall be made on, and only on,
the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, and (ii) no Advance
may be  continued as or  converted  into a Eurodollar  Rate Advance at such
times as a Default or Unmatured Default has occurred and is continuing. The
Company  shall  give  the  Administrative  Agent a  Conversion/Continuation
Notice of each  conversion  of an Advance or  continuation  of a Eurodollar
Rate  Advance  not later than 10:00  a.m.  Chicago  time on the date of the
requested  conversion  into a  Floating  Rate  Advance  and at least  three
Business  Days,  in the  case of a  conversion  into or  continuation  of a
Eurodollar  Advance,  prior  to the  date of the  requested  conversion  or
continuation, specifying:

     (i)  the  requested  date,  which  shall be a  Business  Day,  of such
          conversion or continuation;

     (ii) the  aggregate  amount  and  Type of the  Advance  which is to be
          converted or continued; and

     (iii)the amount and Type(s) of  Advance(s)  into which such Advance is
          to be  converted  or  continued  and, in the case of a conversion
          into or continuation  of a Eurodollar Rate Advance,  the duration
          of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

     2.3. GENERAL FACILITY TERMS.

     2.3.1.  METHOD OF BORROWING.  Not later than 1:00 p.m. Chicago time on
each  Borrowing  Date,  each Bank shall make available its Loan or Loans in
funds immediately  available in Chicago, to the Administrative Agent at its
address specified  pursuant to Article XII. The  Administrative  Agent will
make the funds so received  from the Banks  available to the Company at the
Administrative  Agent's aforesaid  address.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing
provisions  of this  Section  2.3.1 but  subject to Section  2.1.5,  to the
extent  that a Loan  made  by a Bank  matures  on the  Borrowing  Date of a
requested  Loan, such Bank shall first apply the proceeds of the Loan it is
then making to the repayment of the maturing Loan.

                                  Page 13

<PAGE>

     2.3.2.  MINIMUM  AMOUNT OF EACH ADVANCE.  Each Advance shall be in the
minimum amount of $5,000,000 (and in integral multiples of $1,000,000 if in
excess thereof),  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, that any Floating Rate Advance may be
in the aggregate amount of the Aggregate Available Commitment.

     2.3.3.  TERMINATION;   REQUIRED  PAYMENTS.  The  Commitments  to  lend
hereunder shall expire on the Revolving  Credit  Termination  Date.  Unless
converted to Term Loans in accordance  with the  provisions of Section 2.2,
any  outstanding  Revolving Loans and all other unpaid  Obligations  (other
than the Term Loans) shall be paid in full by the Company on the  Revolving
Credit  Termination  Date or,  at the  election  of the  Required  Banks in
accordance with Section 8.1, upon the occurrence of a Prepayment Event. Any
outstanding  Term Loans and all other unpaid  Obligations  shall be paid in
full by the  Company on the  Termination  Date or, at the  election  of the
Required  Banks in accordance  with Section 8.1,  upon the  occurrence of a
Prepayment Event.

     2.3.4. OPTIONAL PRINCIPAL PAYMENTS.  The Company may from time to time
pay all  outstanding  Floating Rate  Advances,  or, in a minimum  aggregate
amount of  $5,000,000,  or any integral  multiple of  $1,000,000  in excess
thereof,  any portion of the  outstanding  Floating  Rate Advances upon one
Business Day's prior notice to the Administrative  Agent without penalty or
premium. A Eurodollar Rate Advance may be paid prior to the last day of the
applicable  Interest  Period upon three  Business Days' prior notice to the
Administrative Agent;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, that the Company shall indemnify
each  Bank for any  loss or cost  incurred  by it  resulting  therefrom  in
accordance with Section 3.4.

     2.3.5. COMMITMENT FEES AND VOLUNTARY REDUCTION OF COMMITMENTS.

               (a) The Company  agrees to pay to the  Administrative  Agent
          for the  account  of each Bank a  commitment  fee  payable on the
          average daily unborrowed  portion of such Bank's  Commitment from
          the Effective  Date to but not  including  the  Revolving  Credit
          Termination  Date,  equal to .15% per annum,  such fee payable in
          arrears  on each  Payment  Date  hereafter  and on the  Revolving
          Credit Termination Date.

               (b)  The  Company  may  permanently   reduce  the  Aggregate
          Commitment  in  whole,  or in part  ratably  among  the  Banks in
          integral  multiples of  $5,000,000,  upon at least three Business
          Days' written notice to the Administrative  Agent, which shall be
          irrevocable  and shall specify the amount of any such  reduction;
          PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that the amount of the Aggregate  Commitment
          may not be  reduced  below  the  Outstandings  at the  time  such
          reduction is to take effect. All accrued commitment fees shall be
          payable  on  the  effective  date  of  any   termination  of  the
          obligations of the Banks to make Revolving Loans hereunder.

                                  Page 14

<PAGE>


     2.3.6. CHANGES IN INTEREST RATE, ETC. Each Floating Rate Advance shall
bear interest on the outstanding  principal  amount  thereof,  for each day
from and  including  the date such Advance is made or is  converted  from a
Eurodollar  Rate Advance into a Floating  Rate Advance  pursuant to Section
2.1.5 or  Section  2.2.6 to but  excluding  the date it  becomes  due or is
converted  into a  Eurodollar  Rate  Advance  pursuant to Section  2.1.5 or
Section  2.2.6  hereof,  at a rate per annum equal to the Floating Rate for
such day.  Changes in the rate of interest  on that  portion of any Advance
maintained as a Floating Rate Advance will take effect  simultaneously with
each change in the Floating Rate.  Each  Eurodollar Rate Advance shall bear
interest from and including the first day of the Interest Period applicable
thereto to (but not including) the last day of such Interest  Period at the
interest rate  determined as  applicable to such  Eurodollar  Rate Advance.
Prior to the Revolving Credit  Termination Date, no Interest Period may end
after the  Revolving  Credit  Termination  Date. In the event the Revolving
Loans are converted to Term Loans in  accordance  with the terms of Section
2.2, thereafter no Interest Period may end after the Termination Date.

     2.3.7. RATINGS CHANGE RATE INCREASE; RATE AFTER MATURITY.

          2.3.7.1.  RATE INCREASE WITH RATINGS  CHANGE.  If at any time the
     Company's  senior unsecured debt rating is below BBB- as determined by
     Standard and Poor's  Ratings  Group (or its  successors or assigns) or
     below  Baa3  as  determined  by  Moody's  Investors  Service  (or  its
     successors and assigns),  the interest  rates  applicable to the Loans
     shall automatically be increased by 0.25% per annum.

          2.3.7.2.  RATE AFTER  MATURITY.  Except as  provided  in the next
     sentence, any Advance not paid at maturity, whether by acceleration or
     otherwise,  shall bear interest until paid in full at a rate per annum
     equal  to the  Floating  Rate  plus  2% per  annum.  In the  case of a
     Eurodollar Rate Advance the maturity of which is accelerated  pursuant
     to Section 8.1, such Eurodollar Rate Advance shall bear interest until
     paid in full for the remainder of the  applicable  Interest  Period at
     the rate  otherwise  applicable  to such  Interest  Period plus 2% per
     annum and thereafter at the Floating Rate plus 2% per annum.

     2.3.8.  INTEREST  PAYMENT  DATES;  INTEREST  AND FEE  BASIS.  Interest
accrued on each  Floating  Rate  Advance  shall be payable on each  Payment
Date,  on any date on which the Floating  Rate Advance is prepaid,  whether
due to acceleration or otherwise, and at maturity. Interest accrued on each
Eurodollar  Rate Advance shall be payable on the last day of its applicable
Interest  Period and on any date on which such Advance is prepaid,  whether
due to acceleration or otherwise.  Interest accrued on each Eurodollar Rate
Advance  having an Interest  Period  longer than three months shall also be
payable on the last day of each  three-month  interval during such Interest
Period.  Interest on Eurodollar  Rate Advances and commitment fees shall be
calculated  for the  actual  number of days  elapsed on the basis of a year
consisting  of 360  days.  Interest  on  Floating  Rate  Advances  shall be
calculated  for the  actual  number of days  elapsed on the basis of a year
consisting of 365, or when appropriate 366, days. Interest shall be payable
for the day an  Advance  is made but not for the day of any  payment on the
amount paid if payment is received prior to 1:00 p.m. (Chicago time) at the
place of payment.  In the event any such  payment is made with the proceeds
of an Advance, such payment shall be deemed to have been

                                  Page 15
<PAGE>

made prior to 1:00 p.m.  (Chicago time) on the day such Advance is made. If
any  payment of  principal  of or  interest on an Advance or any payment of
fees shall  become due on a day which is not a Business  Day,  such payment
shall be made on the next  succeeding  Business  Day and,  in the case of a
principal  payment or a payment of fees,  such  extension  of time shall be
included in computing interest in connection with such principal payment or
in computing the amount of such payment of fees, as the case may be.

     2.3.9.  METHOD OF PAYMENT.  All payments of principal,  interest,  and
fees  hereunder  shall  be  made  in  immediately  available  funds  to the
Administrative  Agent  at  the  Administrative  Agent's  address  specified
pursuant  to  Article  XIII or at any  other  Lending  Installation  of the
Administrative  Agent specified in writing by the  Administrative  Agent to
the Company by noon (local  time) on the date when due.  Subject to Section
8.1(b),  each such  payment  shall be  applied  to any  Advances  and other
amounts  then due in  accordance  with the  written  instructions  from the
Company to the Administrative Agent before or accompanying such payment and
shall be applied ratably among those Banks for whom any payment is then due
in  proportion  to the type of  Advance  or other  payment  then due.  Each
payment delivered to the  Administrative  Agent for the account of any Bank
shall be delivered promptly by the Administrative Agent to such Bank in the
same type of funds which the  Administrative  Agent received at its address
specified pursuant to Article XIII or at any Lending Installation specified
in a notice  received  by the  Administrative  Agent  from such  Bank.  The
Administrative  Agent is hereby  authorized  to charge  the  account of the
Company  at the  office of the  Administrative  Agent for each  payment  of
principal, interest and fees as it becomes due hereunder.

     2.3.10. NOTES; TELEPHONIC NOTICES. The Loans shall be evidenced by the
Notes. Each Bank is hereby authorized to record on the schedule attached to
its Notes, or otherwise  record in accordance with its usual practice,  the
date and  amount of each of its Loans of the type  evidenced  by such Note;
PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that any  failure  to so record  shall not  affect the
Company's  obligations  under any Note. The Company  hereby  authorizes the
Banks and the  Administrative  Agent to extend  Advances  and  effect  Rate
Option selections based on telephonic notices made by any person or persons
the  Administrative  Agent  or any  Bank in good  faith  believes  to be an
Authorized  Representative  acting on behalf of the  Company.  The  Company
agrees  to  deliver  promptly  to  the   Administrative   Agent  a  written
confirmation   of  each   telephonic   notice   signed  by

                                  Page 16

<PAGE>


an Authorized  Representative.  If the written  confirmation differs in any
material respect from the action taken by the Administrative  Agent and the
Banks, the records of the  Administrative  Agent and the Banks shall govern
absent demonstrable error.

     2.3.11.  NOTIFICATION  OF ADVANCES,  INTEREST  RATES,  PREPAYMENTS AND
COMMITMENT  REDUCTIONS.  Promptly after receipt thereof, the Administrative
Agent will notify each Bank of the  contents of each  commitment  reduction
notice, Borrowing Notice, Conversion/Continuation Notice, Extension Request
and repayment  notice received by it hereunder.  The  Administrative  Agent
will notify each Bank of the interest rate  applicable  to each  Eurodollar
Rate Advance  promptly  upon  determination  of such interest rate and will
give each Bank prompt notice of each change in the Corporate Base Rate.

     2.3.12.  LENDING  INSTALLATIONS.  Each  Bank may book the Loans at any
Lending  Installation  selected  by the Bank  and may  change  the  Lending
Installation  from time to time. All terms of this Agreement shall apply to
any such  Lending  Installation  and the Notes shall be deemed held by each
Bank for the  benefit  of such  Lending  Installation.  Each Bank  may,  by
written  notice to the  Administrative  Agent and the Company,  designate a
Lending  Installation  through  which  Loans  are made by it and for  whose
account Loan payments are to be made.  Each Bank shall use its best efforts
to minimize any additional cost (if any) to the Company,  under Section 3.3
or otherwise,  as a result of a change of Lending Installation  (including,
if  appropriate,  a return to a prior Lending  Installation at such time as
the  circumstances  giving rise to a change of Lending  Installation are no
longer in  effect),  but no Bank shall be  required to take or omit to take
any  action  which  action or  omission  would be  economically  or legally
disadvantageous  to such  Bank.  In the event  that any Bank has booked its
outstanding   Eurodollar   Rate   Loans  at  such  a   designated   Lending
Installation,  the Company hereby agrees,  upon the written request of such
Bank and receipt of such Bank's  applicable Note, to execute and deliver to
such Bank for the account of such Bank's existing Lending  Installation and
the account of such designated Lending  Installation,  respectively,  both:
(i) as the case may be, a new Note which shall exclusively  evidence all of
such Bank's Floating Rate Loans then and thereafter outstanding and (ii) as
the case may be, a new Note which shall  exclusively  evidence  all of such
Bank's Eurodollar Rate Loans then and thereafter outstanding,  each of said
new Notes to be in  substantially  the form of Exhibit "B" hereto with such
appropriate  changes in either  case as may be agreed to by such Bank,  the
Company and the  Administrative  Agent and each of their  respective  legal
counsel. Upon such Bank's receipt of its new Notes, it is hereby authorized
and  instructed  by the  Company  to  record  on the  respective  schedules
attached  thereto all of such  Bank's  Loans then  outstanding  of the type
evidenced by each such Note.

     2.3.13.  NON-RECEIPT OF FUNDS BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE  AGENT. Unless the
Company or a Bank, as the case may be,  notifies the  Administrative  Agent
prior  to the  date  on  which  it is  scheduled  to  make  payment  to the
Administrative  Agent of (a) in the case of a Bank,  the proceeds of a Loan
or (b) in the case of the Company, a payment of principal, interest or fees
to the Administrative  Agent for the account of the Banks, that it does not
intend to make such payment,  the Administrative Agent may assume that such
payment has been made. The Administrative

                             Page 17

<PAGE>



Agent may, but shall not be  obligated  to, make the amount of such payment
available to the intended  recipient in reliance upon such  assumption.  If
such  Bank or the  Company,  as the case may be,  has not in fact made such
payment to the  Administrative  Agent, the recipient of such payment shall,
on demand by the Administrative  Agent,  repay to the Administrative  Agent
the amount so made available  together with interest  thereon in respect of
each day during the period  commencing  on the date such amount was so made
available  by the  Administrative  Agent until the date the  Administrative
Agent  recovers such amount at a rate per annum equal to (a) in the case of
payment by a Bank,  the Federal  Funds Rate for such day or (b) in the case
of payment by the Company,  the interest  rate  applicable  to the relevant
Loan.

     2.3.14.  WITHHOLDING TAX EXEMPTION.  At least five Business Days prior
to the first date on which  interest or fees are payable  hereunder for the
account of any Bank, each Bank that is not  incorporated  under the laws of
the United  States of  America,  or a state  thereof,  agrees  that it will
deliver  to each of the  Company  and the  Administrative  Agent  two  duly
completed  copies of United States  Internal  Revenue  Service Form 1001 or
4224,  certifying  in either  case that such Bank is  entitled  to  receive
payments  under  this   Agreement  and  the  Notes  without   deduction  or
withholding of any United States  federal income taxes.  Each Bank which so
delivers a Form 1001 or 4224 further  undertakes  to deliver to each of the
Company and the Administrative Agent two additional copies of such form (or
a successor form) on or before the date that such form expires  (currently,
three  successive  calendar  years for Form 1001 and one calendar  year for
Form  4224) or  becomes  obsolete  or after  the  occurrence  of any  event
requiring a change in the most recent  forms so  delivered  by it, and such
amendments  thereto or extensions or renewals  thereof as may be reasonably
requested  by the  Company  or  the  Administrative  Agent,  in  each  case
certifying  that such Bank is  entitled  to  receive  payments  under  this
Agreement  and the Notes  without  deduction or  withholding  of any United
States federal income taxes,  unless an event (including without limitation
any change in treaty,  law or regulation) has occurred prior to the date on
which any such delivery would  otherwise be required which renders all such
forms  inapplicable  or which would prevent such Bank from duly  completing
and  delivering  any such form with respect to it and such Bank advises the
Company and the  Administrative  Agent that it is not capable of  receiving
payments  without any deduction or  withholding  of United  States  federal
income tax.



                                ARTICLE III

                  CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES; INDEMNIFICATION


     3.1.   YIELD   PROTECTION.   If  any  law  or  any   governmental   or
quasi-governmental   rule,  regulation,   policy,  guideline  or  directive
(whether or not having the force of law) which becomes  effective after the
date hereof, or any interpretation  thereof, or compliance of any Bank with
such,


                                  Page 18

<PAGE>


         (i)      subjects any Bank or any applicable Lending  Installation
                  to any  tax,  duty,  charge  or  withholding  on or  from
                  payments due from the Company (excluding  taxation of the
                  overall  net  income  of any Bank or  applicable  Lending
                  Installation),  or  changes  the  basis  of  taxation  of
                  payments  to any Bank in  respect  of its  Loans or other
                  amounts due it hereunder, or

         (ii)     imposes or  increases  or deems  applicable  any reserve,
                  assessment,  insurance charge, special deposit or similar
                  requirement  against assets of,  deposits with or for the
                  account  of,  or  credit  extended  by,  any  Bank or any
                  applicable Lending  Installation (other than reserves and
                  assessments   taken  into  account  in  determining   the
                  interest rate applicable to Eurodollar Rate Advances), or

         (iii)    imposes  any other  condition  the  result of which is to
                  increase the cost to any Bank or any  applicable  Lending
                  Installation of making,  funding or maintaining  loans or
                  reduces  any  amount   receivable  by  any  Bank  or  any
                  applicable Lending Installation in connection with loans,
                  or   requires   any  Bank  or  any   applicable   Lending
                  Installation to make any payment  calculated by reference
                  to the amount of loans held or  interest  received by it,
                  by an amount deemed material by such Bank,

then,  within 15 days of demand by such Bank,  the  Company  shall pay such
Bank that  portion of such  increased  expense  incurred or reduction in an
amount  received  which such Bank  determines  is  attributable  to making,
funding and maintaining its Loans and its Commitment.

     3.2. CHANGES IN CAPITAL ADEQUACY REGULATIONS. If a Bank determines the
amount of capital  required or expected to be maintained by such Bank,  any
Lending Installation of such Bank or any corporation  controlling such Bank
is  increased  as a result of a Change,  then,  within 15 days of demand by
such  Bank,  the  Company  shall  pay such  Bank the  amount  necessary  to
compensate  for any  shortfall in the rate of return on the portion of such
increased  capital  which  such Bank  determines  is  attributable  to this
Agreement,  its Loans or its  obligation  to make  Loans  hereunder  (after
taking into account such Bank's policies as to capital  adequacy).  No Bank
shall be entitled to demand  payment  under this  Section 3.2 to the extent
that such  payment  relates  to a period of time more than 90 days prior to
the date upon which such Bank first  notified the Company of the occurrence
of the event  entitling  such Bank to such payment.  "Change" means (i) any
change  after  the  date  of  this  Agreement  in  the  Risk-Based  Capital
Guidelines or (ii) any adoption of or change in any other law, governmental
or quasi-governmental rule, regulation, policy, guideline,  interpretation,
or  directive  (whether  or not  having the force of law) after the date of
this Agreement which affects the amount of capital  required or expected to
be maintained by any Bank or any Lending  Installation  or any  corporation
controlling  any  Bank.  "Risk-Based  Capital  Guidelines"  means  (i)  the
risk-based capital guidelines in effect in the United States on the date of
this Agreement,  including  transition  rules,  and (ii) the  corresponding
capital  regulations  promulgated  by  regulatory  authorities  outside the
United States  implementing  the July 1988 report of the Basle Committee on
Banking  Regulation  and  Supervisory  Practices  Entitled

                                  Page 19

<PAGE>


"International  Convergence of Capital Measurements and Capital Standards,"
including  transition rules, and any amendments to such regulations adopted
prior to the date of this Agreement.

     3.3.  AVAILABILITY  OF  INTEREST  RATE.  If any Bank  determines  that
maintenance of its Eurodollar Rate Loans at a suitable Lending Installation
would violate any applicable law, rule, regulation,  or directive,  whether
or not having the force of law, or if the Required Banks determine that (i)
deposits of a type and maturity  appropriate to match fund  Eurodollar Rate
Advances are not  available or (ii) a Eurodollar  Rate does not  accurately
reflect the cost of making or maintaining a Eurodollar  Rate Advance,  then
the  Administrative  Agent shall suspend the  availability  of the affected
Rate Option and (subject to the next sentence)  require any Eurodollar Rate
Advances  outstanding  under an affected  Rate Option to be converted to an
unaffected Rate Option.  Notwithstanding anything in the preceding sentence
to the  contrary,  the Company  shall not be required to pay or convert any
outstanding  Eurodollar  Rate Loan or Eurodollar  Rate Advance  unless such
payment  or  conversion  is  legally   required  in  accordance   with  the
circumstances  causing such  unavailability.  Subject to the  provisions of
Article II hereof,  the  Company may select any  unaffected  Rate Option to
apply to such affected Advances.  If the Company fails to select a new Rate
Option, the affected Advances shall be Floating Rate Advances.

     3.4.  FAILURE TO PAY OR BORROW ON CERTAIN  DATES.  If any payment of a
Eurodollar  Rate Advance  occurs on a date which is not the last day of the
applicable Interest Period, whether because of acceleration,  prepayment or
otherwise,  or a Eurodollar  Rate Advance is not made on the date specified
by the Company for any reason other than default by the Banks,  the Company
will  indemnify  each Bank for any loss or cost  incurred  by it  resulting
therefrom,  including,  without limitation, any loss or cost in liquidating
or  employing  deposits  acquired to fund or maintain the  Eurodollar  Rate
Advance.

     3.5.  BANK  CERTIFICATES;   SURVIVAL  OF  INDEMNITY.   To  the  extent
reasonably  possible,  each  Bank  shall  designate  an  alternate  Lending
Installation  with  respect  to its  Eurodollar  Rate  Loans to reduce  any
liability  of the  Company  to such Bank under  Sections  3.1 and 3.2 or to
avoid the  unavailability  of a Rate Option  under  Section 3.3, so long as
such designation is not  disadvantageous to such Bank as determined by such
Bank in its sole discretion.  A certificate of a Bank as to the amount due,
if any,  under  Sections  3.1, 3.2, or 3.4 shall be final,  conclusive  and
binding on the Company in the absence of manifest error.  Such  certificate
shall set forth in  reasonable  detail  the basis of the  determination  of
amounts due under such  Sections.  Determination  of amounts  payable under
such Sections in connection with a Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be calculated
as though each Bank funded its Eurodollar Rate Loan through the purchase of
a deposit of the type and maturity  corresponding  to the deposit used as a
reference in  determining  the  Eurodollar  Rate  applicable  to such Loan,
whether in fact that is the case or not. Unless otherwise  provided herein,
the amount  specified in the  certificate  shall be payable on demand after
receipt by the Company of the  certificate.  The obligations of the Company
under Sections 3.1, 3.2, and 3.4 shall survive  payment of the  Obligations
and termination of this Agreement.

                                  Page 20

<PAGE>

                                 ARTICLE IV

                            CONDITIONS PRECEDENT


     4.1.  INITIAL  ADVANCE.  No Bank shall be required to make its initial
Revolving  Loan   hereunder   unless  the  Company  has  furnished  to  the
Administrative Agent with sufficient copies for the Banks:

          (a)  Copies of the  Articles  of  Incorporation  of the  Company,
               together  with all  amendments,  and a  certificate  of good
               standing,  both  certified on or within 15 days prior to the
               Effective Date by the Secretary of State of Delaware.

          (b)  Copies,  certified on the Effective Date by the Secretary or
               Assistant  Secretary of the  Company,  of its By-Laws and of
               its Board of  Directors'  resolutions  (and  resolutions  of
               other bodies, if any are deemed necessary by counsel for any
               Bank) authorizing the execution of the Loan Documents.

          (c)  An incumbency  certificate,  certified on the Effective Date
               by the  Secretary  or  Assistant  Secretary  of the Company,
               which  shall  identify  by  name  and  title  and  bear  the
               signature of the officers of the Company  authorized to sign
               the Loan Documents and to make  borrowings  hereunder,  upon
               which certificates the Banks shall be entitled to rely until
               informed of any change in writing by the Company.

          (d)  A written  opinion of the counsel to the Company,  addressed
               to the  Banks,  in  substantially  the form of  Exhibit  "C"
               hereto.

          (e)  A certificate, dated the Effective Date, signed by the Chief
               Financial  Officer  of  the  Company,  stating  that  on the
               Effective  Date (i) no  Default  or  Unmatured  Default  has
               occurred  and  is  continuing;  (ii)  the  Company  will  be
               utilizing the proceeds to consummate  the Stock  Acquisition
               on the date of such  Advance and (iii) no  Prepayment  Event
               has  occurred  and setting  forth the  determination  of the
               Company's Funded  Debt/EBITDA  Ratio for the last day of the
               most recently ended fiscal quarter.

          (f)  A Note payable to the order of each of the Banks.

          (g)  Payment  to the  Agent  of all  fees  due and  owing  to the
               Administrative Agent and the Banks as at the Effective Date.


                                  Page 21

<PAGE>


          (h)  Written money transfer  instructions,  in substantially  the
               form of Exhibit "D" hereto,  addressed to the Administrative
               Agent and signed by an  Authorized  Officer,  together  with
               such other  related  money  transfer  authorizations  as the
               Administrative Agent may have reasonably requested.

          (i)  Such other  documents  as any Bank or its  counsel  may have
               reasonably requested.

     4.2.  EACH  ADVANCE.  No Bank shall be  required  to make any  Advance
unless on the applicable Borrowing Date:

          (a)  There exists no Default or Unmatured  Default or  Prepayment
               Event.

          (b)  The representations  and warranties  contained in Article V,
               except the  representation and warranty contained in Section
               5.5,  are true and  correct in all  material  respects as of
               such Borrowing Date as if made on such Borrowing Date except
               for changes in the Schedules hereto reflecting  transactions
               permitted by this Agreement.

          (c)  All legal  matters  incident  to the making of such  Advance
               shall be satisfactory to the Banks and their counsel.

Each Borrowing  Notice with respect to each such Advance shall constitute a
representation and warranty by the Company that the conditions contained in
Sections 4.2(a) and (b) have been satisfied.

                                  


                                 ARTICLE V

                      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.


     The Company represents and warrants to the Banks that:

     5.1.  CORPORATE  EXISTENCE AND  STANDING.  Each of the Company and the
Subsidiaries is a corporation  duly  incorporated,  validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation  and each
is duly qualified and in good standing in each jurisdiction where,  because
of the  nature of its  activities  or  properties,  such  qualification  is
required  and the  failure so to qualify  would  materially  and  adversely
affect its business,  assets, financial condition,  operations or prospects
of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

     5.2.  AUTHORIZATION AND VALIDITY.  The Company has the corporate power
and authority and legal right to execute and deliver the Loan Documents and
perform its  obligations  thereunder.


                                  Page 22

<PAGE>

The  execution  and delivery by the Company of the Loan  Documents  and the
performance  of its  obligations  thereunder  have been duly  authorized by
proper corporate proceedings and the Loan Documents constitute legal, valid
and binding  obligations of the Company  enforceable against the Company in
accordance  with their terms,  except as  enforceability  may be limited by
bankruptcy,  insolvency  or  similar  laws  affecting  the  enforcement  of
creditors' rights generally.

     5.3.  COMPLIANCE  WITH LAWS AND  CONTRACTS.  Neither the execution and
delivery  by the Company of the Loan  Documents,  the  consummation  of the
transactions  therein  contemplated,  nor  compliance  with the  provisions
thereof will violate any law,  rule,  regulation,  order,  writ,  judgment,
injunction, decree or award binding on the Company or any Subsidiary or the
Company's  or  any  Subsidiary's   charter,   articles  or  certificate  of
incorporation  or  by-laws or the  provisions  of any  material  indenture,
instrument  or agreement to which the Company or any  Subsidiary is a party
or is subject, or by which it, or its property,  is bound, or conflict with
or constitute a default thereunder, or result in the creation or imposition
of any Lien  pursuant  to the terms of any such  indenture,  instrument  or
agreement.  No  order,  consent,  approval,  license,   authorization,   or
validation of, or filing,  recording or registration with, or exemption by,
any governmental or public body or authority,  or any subdivision  thereof,
is  required  to  authorize,  or is  required  as of  the  date  hereof  in
connection  with  the  execution,  delivery  and  performance  of,  or  the
legality,  validity,  binding effect or enforceability  of, any of the Loan
Documents.

     5.4.  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS.  The June 30, 1998  audited  consolidated
financial  statements  of  the  Company  and  its  Subsidiaries  heretofore
delivered to the Banks were prepared in  accordance  with GAAP in effect on
the date such statements were prepared and fairly present the  consolidated
financial  condition and operations of the Company and its  Subsidiaries at
such date and the  consolidated  results of their operations for the period
then ended.

     5.5.  MATERIAL  ADVERSE  CHANGE.  No  material  adverse  change in the
business, condition (financial or otherwise),  operations,  performance, or
properties  of the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  taken  as a  whole  has
occurred since the date of the audited financial  statements referred to in
Section 5.4. The  Borrower has made a full and complete  assessment  of the
Year 2000 Issues and has a realistic and achievable program for remediating
the Year 2000 Issues on a timely basis (the "Year 2000 Program").  Based on
such  assessment  and on the  Year  2000  Program  the  Borrower  does  not
reasonably  anticipate  that Year 2000 Issues will have a Material  Adverse
Effect.

     5.6.  TAXES.  The Company and the  Subsidiaries  have filed all United
States  federal tax returns and all other tax returns which are required to
be filed and have paid all taxes due  pursuant to said  returns or pursuant
to any assessment  received by the Company or any  Subsidiary,  except such
taxes,  if any,  as are  being  contested  in good  faith  and as to  which
adequate  reserves  have been  provided.  Except  as  provided  in  Section
6.2.6(a),  no  material  tax liens  have been filed and no claims are being
asserted with respect to any such taxes. The charges, accruals and reserves
on the books of the Company and the Subsidiaries in respect of any taxes or
other  governmental  charges  are  adequate.

                                  Page 23

<PAGE>


     5.7.  LITIGATION.  Except as disclosed in the Company's  Form 10-K for
the year ended June 30, 1998, there is no litigation or proceeding  pending
or, to the  knowledge  of any of their  officers,  threatened  against  the
Company or any  Subsidiary  which  would  reasonably  be expected to have a
material  adverse  affect on the condition of the Company or the ability of
the Company to perform its obligations under the Loan Documents.

     5.8.  ERISA.  The  Unfunded  Liabilities  of all  Plans  do not in the
aggregate  exceed an amount equal to 5 percent of the value (as of any date
of determination) of all Plan assets allocable to Plan benefits  guaranteed
under  ERISA.  Each  Plan  complies  in  all  material  respects  with  all
applicable requirements of law and regulations, neither the Company nor any
of its  Subsidiaries  has withdrawn from any Plan or initiated  steps to do
so, no steps have been taken to terminate any Plan, and no Reportable Event
has occurred with respect to any Plan, the cumulative effect of which could
have a material  adverse  effect on the business,  operations,  properties,
assets or  conditions  (financial  or  otherwise)  of the  Company  and the
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

     5.9.  DEFAULTS AND PREPAYMENT  EVENT. No Default or Unmatured  Default
has occurred and is continuing. No Prepayment Event has occurred.

     5.10.  ACCURACY  OF  INFORMATION.  No  information,  exhibit or report
furnished by the Company or any Subsidiary in writing to the Administrative
Agent  or to any  Bank in  connection  with  the  negotiation  of the  Loan
Documents  contained any material  misstatement of fact or omitted to state
any fact necessary to make the statements  contained  therein,  in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

     5.11.  REGULATION U. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is engaged
principally,  or as one of its  important  activities,  in the  business of
extending  credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying  "margin stock"
(as defined in  Regulation  U). No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be
used in a  manner  which  would  violate,  or  result  in a  violation  of,
Regulation  U.  No part  of the  proceeds  of any  Loan  will  be used  for
"purchasing"  or "carrying"  "margin  stock" (each as defined in Regulation
U).

     5.12. PARI PASSU.  All the payment  obligations of the Company arising
under or pursuant to the Loan  Documents  will at all times rank pari passu
with  all  other  unsecured  and  unsubordinated  payment  obligations  and
liabilities  (including  contingent  obligations  and  liabilities)  of the
Company  (other  than  those  which are  mandatorily  preferred  by laws or
regulations of general application).

     5.13.  INVESTMENT COMPANY. The Company is not, and after giving effect
to any Advance will not be, an "investment  company"  within the meaning of
the United States Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

                                  Page 24

<PAGE>


     5.14.  MATERIAL  LAWS.  Neither  the Company  nor any  Subsidiary  has
received any notice to the effect that its  operations  are not in material
compliance with any of the  requirements of applicable  federal,  state and
local  environmental,  health  and safety  statutes  and  regulations  with
respect to, or the subject of any federal or state investigation evaluating
whether  any  remedial  action is needed to respond  to a release  into the
environment of, any toxic or hazardous waste or physical  substance,  which
non-compliance  or remedial action could have a material  adverse effect on
the business,  operations,  properties,  assets or conditions (financial or
otherwise) of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

     5.15. MATERIAL AGREEMENTS. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is a
party to any  agreement  or  instrument  or subject to any charter or other
corporate  restriction  materially  and  adversely  affecting its business,
properties  or assets,  operations or condition  (financial or  otherwise).
Neither the Company nor any  Subsidiary  is in default in the  performance,
observance  of  fulfillment  or  any  of  the  obligations,   covenants  or
conditions  contained  in any  agreement  to  which  it is a  party  or any
agreement or instrument evidencing or governing Indebtedness, which default
might have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, financial
condition,  or results of operations,  of the Company and its Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole.

     5.16.  SUBSIDIARIES.  Schedule "1" hereto contains an accurate list of
all of the presently  existing  Subsidiaries of the Company,  setting forth
their respective jurisdictions of incorporation and the percentage of their
respective capital stock owned by the Company or other Subsidiaries  (which
in the case of Howmet  shall be  calculated  after  taking into account the
Stock  Acquisition).  All of the issued and  outstanding  shares of capital
stock of such  Subsidiaries  have been duly  authorized  and issued and are
fully paid and non-assessable. Schedule "2" hereto accurately describes all
Indebtedness of the Subsidiaries existing on the date of this Agreement.

     5.17. OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTIES.  Except as permitted by Section 6.2.6.,
on the date of this Agreement,  the Company and its Subsidiaries  will have
good  title,  free  of all  Liens,  to all of  the  properties  and  assets
reflected in the financial  statements  referred to in Section 5.4 as owned
by the Company and its Subsidiaries.



                                 ARTICLE VI

                                 COVENANTS


     During the term of this  Agreement,  unless the  Required  Banks shall
otherwise consent in writing:

     6.1. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.


                                  Page 25

<PAGE>


     6.1.1. FINANCIAL REPORTING.  The Company will maintain, for itself and
the  Consolidated  Subsidiaries,  a system of  accounting  established  and
administered in accordance with GAAP, and furnish to the Banks:

          (a)  Within 90 days after the close of each of its fiscal  years,
               an  unqualified   audit  report   certified  by  independent
               certified   public   accountants   of  recognized   national
               standing,  acceptable  to the Banks,  prepared in accordance
               with   generally   accepted   accounting   principles  on  a
               consolidated   basis  for   itself   and  the   Consolidated
               Subsidiaries, including balance sheets as of the end of such
               period,  related profit and loss statements,  a statement of
               shareholders'   equity,   and  a  statement  of  cash  flow,
               accompanied  by  any  management  letter  prepared  by  said
               accountants.

          (b)  Within 45 days after the close of the first three  quarterly
               periods  of each of its  fiscal  years,  for  itself and the
               Consolidated  Subsidiaries,  consolidated  unaudited balance
               sheets as at the close of each such period and  consolidated
               profit and loss  statements,  a statement  of  shareholders'
               equity, and a statement of cash flow for the period from the
               beginning  of such  fiscal  year to the end of such  quarter
               (subject  to  normal   year-end  audit   adjustments),   all
               certified by its Chief Financial Officer or Treasurer.

          (c)  Together with the financial statements required hereunder, a
               certificate   signed  by  its  Chief  Financial  Officer  or
               Treasurer  (i) stating that no Default or Unmatured  Default
               exists,  or if any  Default  or  Unmatured  Default  exists,
               stating the nature and status thereof, and stating the steps
               the  Company  is taking to cure such  Default  or  Unmatured
               Default  and  (ii)  stating  that no  Prepayment  Event  has
               occurred.

          (d)  As soon as  available,  and in any event  within 45 calendar
               days after the end of each  quarter of each  fiscal  year of
               the Company, a schedule,  certified as being accurate by the
               Company's Chief Financial Officer,  Treasurer or Controller,
               showing,  as of the end of each such quarter,  the Company's
               calculation,   in  form  and  detail   satisfactory  to  the
               Administrative  Agent,  of the  calculations  required to be
               made  to  determine   compliance  with  Section  6.2.7.  The
               schedule  delivered within 45 calendar days after the end of
               the  fourth  quarter of each  fiscal  year shall set forth a
               preliminary determination subject to adjustment upon receipt
               of  audited  annual  financial  statements  and shall not be
               deemed  to  constitute  a  misrepresentation  or  breach  if
               prepared in good faith and the audited  numbers  differ from
               the unaudited fourth quarter results.


                                  Page 26

<PAGE>


          (e)  Promptly upon becoming available, copies of:

               (i)  All financial  statements,  reports,  notices and proxy
                    statements  sent  by the  Company  or any  Consolidated
                    Subsidiary to the stockholders of the Company.

               (ii) All  prospectuses  of the  Company or any  Consolidated
                    Subsidiary  filed  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
                    Commission or any other governmental  agency succeeding
                    to the jurisdiction thereof.

               (iii)All regular and periodic  reports  filed by the Company
                    or any  Consolidated  Subsidiary  with  any  securities
                    exchange or with the Securities and Exchange Commission
                    or any  other  governmental  agency  succeeding  to the
                    jurisdiction thereof.

          (f)  As soon as  possible  and in any event  within 10 days after
               receipt by the Company, a copy of (i) any notice or claim to
               the effect that the Company or any  Subsidiary  is or may be
               liable  to any  Person  as a result  of the  release  by the
               Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or any other Person of any
               toxic or  hazardous  waste or  physical  substance  into the
               environment,  and (ii) any notice  alleging any violation of
               any federal, state or local environmental,  health or safety
               law or  regulation  with  respect to any toxic or  hazardous
               waste  or   physical   substance   by  the  Company  or  any
               Subsidiary,  which would,  in either  case,  have a material
               adverse  effect upon the  operations  of the Company and the
               Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

          (g)  As to each  Plan,  within  270 days  after the close of each
               Plan  Year  of  such  Plan,  a  statement  of  the  Unfunded
               Liabilities of such Plan, certified as correct by an actuary
               enrolled under ERISA.

          (h)  As soon as  possible  and in any event  within 10 days after
               the Company  knows that any  Reportable  Event has  occurred
               with respect to any Plan,  a statement,  signed by the chief
               financial officer of the Company, describing said Reportable
               Event and the action which the Company proposes to take with
               respect thereto.

          (i)  Together  with  the  financial   statements  required  under
               Section 6.1.1(a) hereinabove, a copy of the Company's annual
               operating plan.

          (j)  Such other information (including non-financial information)
               as the  Administrative  Agent or any  Bank may from  time to
               time reasonably request.

     6.1.2.  USE OF  PROCEEDS.  The  Company  will,  and  will  cause  each
Subsidiary  to, use the  proceeds of the Advances to  consummate  the Stock
Acquisition  and for payment of fees and expenses in connection  therewith.
The Company  shall use the  proceeds of  Advances  in

                                  Page 27

<PAGE>

compliance with all applicable  legal and regulatory  requirements  and any
use  shall not  result in a  violation  of any such  applicable  regulatory
requirements,   including,  without  limitation,   Regulation  U,  and  the
Securities  Act of 1933  and the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934 and the
regulations thereunder.

     6.1.3.  NOTICE OF DEFAULT AND PREPAYMENT  EVENT. The Company will, and
will cause each  Subsidiary  to, give prompt notice in writing to the Banks
of the  occurrence  of any  Default or  Unmatured  Default and of any other
development related specifically to the business,  properties or affairs of
the  Company,  financial  or  otherwise  (including,   without  limitation,
developments  with respect to Year 2000 Issues),  which would be reasonably
likely to materially adversely affect the Company's business, properties or
affairs or the ability of the Company to repay the Obligations. The Company
will give written notice to the Banks of any Prepayment Event no later than
five Business Days following the occurrence of such Prepayment Event.

     6.1.4. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS.  The Company will carry on and conduct its
business  in  the  manner  of  a  diversified  industrial  company  with  a
commitment  to the  aerospace  industry and will cause each  Subsidiary  to
conduct its business in a manner  consistent with the Company's  objectives
as such. The Company will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, do all things
necessary  to  remain  duly  incorporated,  validly  existing  and in  good
standing as a domestic  corporation in its  jurisdiction of  incorporation,
and  maintain  all  requisite  authority  to conduct  its  business in each
jurisdiction where,  because of the nature of its activities or properties,
such authority is required and the failure to maintain such authority would
materially and adversely affect it business,  assets,  financial condition,
operations or prospects.

     6.1.5.  PAYMENT  OF TAXES.  The  Company  will,  and will  cause  each
Subsidiary to, pay and discharge all taxes,  assessments  and  governmental
charges or levies  imposed  upon it or upon its income or profits,  or upon
any property belonging to it, and all lawful claims which, if unpaid, would
become a Lien,  provided that neither the Company nor a Subsidiary shall be
required to pay any such tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim the payment
of which is being  contested in good faith and by appropriate  proceedings;
the Company will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, make monthly  accruals
of all of the estimated  liability of the Company and the  Subsidiaries for
such taxes, assessments,  charges and levies, determined in accordance with
GAAP, and establish  adequate reserves  determined in accordance with GAAP,
for such  thereof  as may be  contested,  and  reflect  such  accruals  and
reserves in all financial statements furnished hereunder.

     6.1.6. INSURANCE. The Company will, and will cause each Subsidiary to,
maintain insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is consistent
with sound business practice.

     6.1.7.  COMPLIANCE  WITH LAWS.  The Company will,  and will cause each
Subsidiary  to,  comply in all  material  respects  with all  laws,  rules,
regulations,  orders, writs, judgments,  injunctions,  decrees or awards to
which it may be subject.


                                  Page 28

<PAGE>


     6.1.8.  MAINTENANCE  OF  PROPERTIES.  The Company will, and will cause
each Subsidiary to, do all things necessary to maintain,  preserve, protect
and keep its properties in good repair,  working order and  condition,  and
make all necessary and proper repairs,  renewals and  replacements,  except
for properties no longer used or useful in the respective businesses of the
Company or such Subsidiary.

     6.1.9.   INSPECTION.   Except  with  respect  to  any  information  or
activities  which  are  classified  by  the  United  States  Government  or
disclosure  of which  the  Company  reasonably  believes  would  compromise
matters  of  national  security,  the  Company  will,  and will  cause each
Subsidiary to, permit the Banks, by their  respective  representatives  and
agents and without cost to the Company,  to inspect any of the  properties,
corporate books and financial  records of the Company and each  Subsidiary,
to examine  and make copies of the books of  accounts  and other  financial
records of the Company  and each  Subsidiary,  and to discuss the  affairs,
finances and accounts of the Company and each  Subsidiary  with,  and to be
advised as to the same by,  their  respective  officers at such  reasonable
times and intervals as the Banks may designate.

     6.2. NEGATIVE COVENANTS.

     6.2.1.  DIVIDENDS.  The  Company  will  not,  nor will it  permit  any
Subsidiary to, declare or pay any dividends on its capital stock or redeem,
repurchase  or otherwise  acquire or retire any of its capital stock at any
time outstanding,  if a Default or Unmatured Default (except any Default or
Unmatured  Default  described  in Section 7.5 hereof) or  Prepayment  Event
exists  or  would  exist  as a  result  of  such  declaration,  payment  or
redemption.

     6.2.2.  INDEBTEDNESS OF SUBSIDIARIES.  The Company will not permit any
Subsidiary to create, incur or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

          (a)  Indebtedness  existing  on the  date of this  Agreement  and
               refinancings of such Indebtedness;

          (b)  Indebtedness to the Company; and

          (c)  other  Indebtedness which at any time does not exceed in the
               aggregate $75,000,000.

     6.2.3. MERGER. The Company will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary
to, merge or consolidate with or into any other Person, except:

          (a)  any  Subsidiary  may merge or  consolidate  with or into the
               Company  or any  Wholly-Owned  Subsidiary  so long as in any
               merger or consolidation  involving the Company,  the Company
               shall be the surviving or continuing corporation; and

                                  Page 29

<PAGE>


          (b)  the  Company  may   consolidate  or  merge  with  any  other
               corporation if (i) the  corporation  which results from such
               merger or  consolidation  (the "surviving  corporation")  is
               organized   under  the  laws  of  the  United  States  or  a
               jurisdiction  thereof,  (ii) the due and punctual payment of
               the  principal  of and  interest on all of the Notes and the
               due and punctual  performance  and  observance of all of the
               covenants in the Notes and this Agreement to be performed or
               observed by the Company are expressly  assumed in writing by
               the  surviving  corporation  and the  surviving  corporation
               shall   furnish   to  the  Banks  an   opinion   of  counsel
               satisfactory  to the Banks to the effect that the instrument
               of  assumption  has  been  duly  authorized,   executed  and
               delivered  and  constitutes  the  legal,  valid and  binding
               contract  and   agreement  of  the   surviving   corporation
               enforceable  in  accordance   with  its  terms,   except  as
               enforcement  of such  terms may be  limited  by  bankruptcy,
               insolvency,  reorganization,   moratorium  or  similar  laws
               affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and
               by general  equitable  principles,  and (iii) at the time of
               such  consolidation  or merger and immediately  after giving
               effect   thereto,   no  Default  or  Unmatured   Default  or
               Prepayment Event would exist.

     6.2.4.  SALE OF ASSETS.  The Company  will not, nor will it permit any
Subsidiary  to, lease,  sell or otherwise  dispose of all, or a substantial
portion of, its property, assets or business to any other Person except for
sales of inventory in the ordinary course of business. For purposes of this
Section,  "substantial  portion" means assets (valued at the higher of book
or fair  market  value)  having a value in excess  of 10% of the  Company's
Consolidated Total Assets.

     6.2.5.  SALE AND  LEASEBACK.  The Company will not, nor will it permit
any Subsidiary to, sell or transfer any property, the aggregate fair market
value of which at any time exceeds 10% of the Company's  Consolidated Total
Assets,  in order to concurrently  or subsequently  lease as lessee such or
similar property. The fair market value of any property sold or transferred
pursuant to this Section  6.2.5 shall be  determined as of the date of such
sale or transfer.

     6.2.6.  LIENS. The Company will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary
to, create, incur, or suffer to exist any Lien in, of or on the property of
the Company or any Subsidiary, except:

          (a)  Liens for  taxes,  assessments  or  governmental  charges or
               levies on its  property if the same shall not at the time be
               delinquent or thereafter can be paid without penalty, or are
               being   contested   in  good   faith   and  by   appropriate
               proceedings.

          (b)  Liens imposed by law, such as carriers',  warehousemen's and
               mechanics' liens, interests of bailors, bailees,  consignors
               and  consignees,  and other  similar  liens  arising  in the
               ordinary   course  of  business   which  secure  payment  of
               obligations not more than 60 days past due.

                                  Page 30

<PAGE>



          (c)  Liens  arising  out of pledges or  deposits  under  worker's
               compensation laws, unemployment insurance, old age pensions,
               or other social security or retirement benefits,  or similar
               legislation.

          (d)  Utility  easements,  building  restrictions  and such  other
               encumbrances  or charges  against real  property as are of a
               nature  generally  existing  with respect to properties of a
               similar  character  and  which  do not in any  material  way
               affect the  marketability  of the same or interfere with the
               use   thereof  in  the   business  of  the  Company  or  the
               Subsidiaries.

          (e)  Liens  created in favor of the United  States  government or
               any other Person who has purchased or contracted to purchase
               goods or services  from the Company or any  Subsidiary  with
               advance or progress payments.

          (f)  Liens  existing on the date hereof and described in Schedule
               "3" hereto.

          (g)  Liens of or resulting  from any judgment or award,  the time
               for the appeal or petition for  rehearing of which shall not
               have  expired,  or in  respect  of which  the  Company  or a
               Subsidiary shall at any time in good faith be prosecuting an
               appeal or proceeding  for a review and in respect of which a
               stay of  execution  pending  such appeal or  proceeding  for
               review shall have been secured.

          (h)  Liens to  secure  statutory  obligations,  surety  or appeal
               bonds or other liens of like general nature  incurred in the
               ordinary  course of business and not in connection  with the
               borrowing of money,  PROVIDED,  in each case, the obligation
               secured is not overdue or, if overdue, is being contested in
               good faith by appropriate actions or proceedings.

          (i)  Liens of lessors under Capitalized Leases.

          (j)  Liens,  in addition to those  described in  subsections  (a)
               through (i) hereof, to secure Indebtedness of the Company or
               any  Subsidiary in an aggregate  amount not to exceed at any
               time 10% of the Company's Consolidated Total Assets.

     6.2.7.  FUNDED  DEBT/EBITDA  RATIO.  The  Company  will not permit its
Funded Debt/EBITDA Ratio as at the end of any fiscal quarter to exceed 3.00
to 1.0.

     6.2.8.  AFFILIATES;  HOWMET. The Company will not, and will not permit
any  Subsidiary  to,  enter  into  any  transaction   (including,   without
limitation,  the purchase or sale of any property or service) with, or make
any payment or transfer to, any Affiliate  except in the ordinary course of
business and pursuant to the  reasonable  requirements  of the Company's or
such  Subsidiary's  business  and upon  fair and  reasonable  terms no less
favorable  to the  Company  or such  Subsidiary  than the  Company  or such
Subsidiary  would  obtain  in a  comparable  arms-length  transaction.  The

                                  Page 31

<PAGE>


Company will not, and will not permit any  Subsidiary to, make any advance,
distribution,  or payment to or investment  in Howmet or any  Subsidiary of
Howmet except for purposes of acquiring equity interests in Howmet.


                                ARTICLE VII

                                  DEFAULTS


     The  occurrence  of any  one or  more of the  following  events  shall
constitute a Default:

     7.1.  Any  representation  or  warranty  made by or on  behalf  of the
Company or any Subsidiary to the Banks under or in connection with any Loan
Document shall be materially false as of the date on which made.

     7.2. Nonpayment of principal of the Notes when due.

     7.3.  Nonpayment of interest upon the Notes or of any commitment  fee,
extension fee or other  obligations  under any of the Loan Documents within
five days after the same becomes due.

     7.4.  The breach by the Company of any of the terms or  provisions  of
Sections 6.1.3 or 6.2.

     7.5. The breach by the Company (other than a breach which  constitutes
a  Default  under  Section  7.1,  7.2,  7.3 or 7.4) of any of the  terms or
provisions of this Agreement which is not remedied or waived within fifteen
days after written notice from the Administrative Agent or any Bank.

     7.6. Failure of the Company, any Consolidated  Subsidiary or Howmet to
pay  any  Indebtedness  in an  aggregate  principal  amount  in  excess  of
$10,000,000 (or the equivalent thereof in any other currency), when due, or
the default by the Company,  any  Consolidated  Subsidiary or Howmet in the
performance  of any other term,  provision  or  condition  contained in any
agreement or agreements under which Indebtedness in an aggregate  principal
amount in excess of  $10,000,000  (or the  equivalent  thereof in any other
currency) was created or is governed,  the effect of which, in either case,
is to cause,  or to permit the holder or  holders of such  Indebtedness  to
cause,  such  Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated  maturity;  or
Indebtedness in an aggregate  principal amount in excess of $10,000,000 (or
the equivalent  thereof in any other  currency) shall be declared to be due
and payable or required to be prepaid (other than by a regularly  scheduled
payment),  prior  to the  stated  maturity  thereof;  or the  Company,  any
Consolidated  Subsidiary  or Howmet  shall not pay, or admit in writing its
inability to pay, its debts generally as they become due.


                                    Page 32

<PAGE>

     7.7.  The  Company or any  Consolidated  Subsidiary  shall (a) have an
order for relief entered with respect to it under the Bankruptcy  Code, (b)
make an  assignment  for the  benefit of  creditors,  (c) apply for,  seek,
consent to, or  acquiesce  in, the  appointment  of a receiver,  custodian,
trustee, examiner, liquidator or similar official for it or any substantial
part of its property,  (d) institute  any  proceeding  seeking an order for
relief under the Bankruptcy  Code or seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or
insolvent, or seeking dissolution, winding up, liquidation, reorganization,
arrangement,  adjustment  or  composition  of it or its debts under any law
relating to bankruptcy,  insolvency or  reorganization or relief of debtors
or  fail  to  file  an  answer  or  other  pleading  denying  the  material
allegations of any such proceeding filed against it, (e) take any corporate
action to  authorize  or effect any of the  foregoing  actions set forth in
this  Section 7.7 or (f) fail to contest in good faith any  appointment  or
proceeding described in Section 7.8.

     7.8.  Without the  application,  approval or consent of the Company or
any Consolidated Subsidiary, a receiver,  trustee, examiner,  liquidator or
similar  official  shall be appointed  for the Company or any  Consolidated
Subsidiary  or any  substantial  part  of  its  property,  or a  proceeding
described in Section 7.7(d) shall be instituted  against the Company or any
Consolidated Subsidiary and such appointment continues undischarged or such
proceeding continues undismissed or unstayed for a period of 60 consecutive
days.

     7.9. The Company or any  Consolidated  Subsidiary shall fail within 30
days to pay,  bond or  otherwise  discharge  any  judgment or order for the
payment of money in excess of $10,000,000, which is not stayed on appeal or
otherwise being appropriately contested in good faith.

     7.10.  The  Unfunded  Liabilities  of all  Plans  shall  exceed in the
aggregate  an  amount  equal to 5  percent  of the value (as of any date of
determination)  of all Plan assets  allocable to Plan  benefits  guaranteed
under ERISA.

     7.11.  An  administrator,  custodian  or other  representative,  by or
pursuant  to any  legislative  act,  resolution  or rule  (other  than  the
Bankruptcy  Code or any  similar  law,  state or  federal,  whether  now or
hereafter existing) or any order or decree of any court or any governmental
board or agency  (other  than any order or decree  issued  pursuant  to the
Bankruptcy  Code or any  similar  law,  state or  federal,  whether  now or
hereafter  existing)  shall  take  possession  or  control  of all or  such
portions  of the  property  of any  one or  more  of the  Company  and  the
Consolidated  Subsidiaries  as would,  in the sole  opinion of the Required
Banks,  materially  interfere  with the  operation  of the  business of the
Company and the  Consolidated  Subsidiaries,  on a consolidated  basis, and
such possession or control shall continue for 30 calendar days.

     7.12.  The  Company  or any  Subsidiary  shall be the  subject  of any
proceeding or investigation pertaining to the release by the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries, or any other Person of any toxic or hazardous waste or
physical  substance into the environment,  or any violation of any federal,
state or local  environmental,  health or  safety  law or  regulation  with
respect to any toxic or hazardous waste or physical substance, which would,
in either case,  have a


                                    Page 33

<PAGE>

material  adverse  effect  upon  the  operations  of the  Company  and  the
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.



                                ARTICLE VIII

               ACCELERATION, WAIVERS, AMENDMENTS AND REMEDIES


     8.1. ACCELERATION;  ALLOCATION OF PAYMENTS AFTER DEFAULT OR PREPAYMENT
EVENT.  (a) If any Default  described  in Section  7.7 or 7.8  occurs,  the
commitments  of the Banks to make Advances  hereunder  shall  automatically
terminate  and the  Obligations  shall  immediately  become due and payable
without any election or action on the part of the  Administrative  Agent or
any Bank.  If any other Default or  Prepayment  Event occurs,  the Required
Banks  may  terminate  the  commitments  of  the  Banks  to  make  Advances
hereunder, or declare the Obligations to be due and payable,  whereupon the
Obligations  shall become  immediately  due and payable,  or both,  without
presentment,  demand,  protest  or  notice  of any  kind,  all of which the
Company hereby expressly waives.

     If,  within  14  days  after  acceleration  of  the  maturity  of  the
Obligations or  termination  of the  obligations of the Banks to make Loans
hereunder  as a result of any Default  (other than any Default as described
in Section 7.7 or 7.8 with  respect to the Company) and before any judgment
or decree for the payment of the  Obligations  due shall have been obtained
or entered,  the Required Banks (in their sole discretion) shall so direct,
the Administrative Agent shall, by notice to the Company, rescind and annul
such acceleration and/or termination.

     (b) Upon the  occurrence of (i) any Unmatured  Default as to which the
Required  Banks  shall  have  notified  the  Administrative  Agent that the
provisions  of this Section  8.1(b) shall apply,  (ii) any Default or (iii)
any Prepayment  Event, the Banks shall share all collections and recoveries
of the Obligations on a pro rata basis,  based on the respective amounts of
Obligations  (whether or not mature and  currently  payable)  owing to each
Bank in  respect  of  principal  and  unpaid  accrued  interest,  fees  and
indemnities  hereunder  as of the  date  of  occurrence  of  such  Default,
Unmatured Default or Prepayment Event, as the case may be.

     8.2.  AMENDMENTS.  Subject  to the  provisions  of this  Section,  the
Required Banks (or the Administrative  Agent with the consent in writing of
the Required Banks) and the Company may enter into agreements  supplemental
hereto for the purpose of adding any  provisions  to the Loan  Documents or
changing in any manner the rights of the Banks or the Company  hereunder or
waiving any Default hereunder; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no such supplemental
agreement shall, without the consent of all of the Banks:


                                  Page 34

<PAGE>


     (a)  Modify any of the  provisions of this  Agreement  with respect to
          the amount of or the time for the payment of the  principal of or
          any  interest  on any of the  Obligations  or any of the fees due
          hereunder,

     (b)  Reduce the  percentage  specified in the  definition  of Required
          Banks.

     (c)  Change the amount of the  Commitment of any Bank hereunder or the
          Revolving Credit Termination Date or Termination Date.

     (d)  Amend this Section 8.2.

No  amendment  of  any  provision  of  this   Agreement   relating  to  the
Administrative  Agent shall be effective without the written consent of the
Administrative Agent.

     8.3.  PRESERVATION OF RIGHTS. No delay or omission of the Banks or the
Administrative  Agent to exercise any right under the Loan Documents  shall
impair  such  right or be  construed  to be a waiver of any  Default  or an
acquiescence  therein, and any single or partial exercise of any such right
shall not preclude other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any
other  right,  and no waiver,  amendment  or other  variation of the terms,
conditions or provisions of the Loan  Documents  whatsoever  shall be valid
unless in writing signed by the Banks required pursuant to Section 8.2, and
then  only to the  extent  in such  writing  specifically  set  forth.  All
remedies  contained  in the  Loan  Documents  or by law  afforded  shall be
cumulative and all shall be available to the  Administrative  Agent and the
Banks until the Obligations have been paid in full.



                                 ARTICLE IX

                             GENERAL PROVISIONS


     9.1. SURVIVAL OF  REPRESENTATIONS.  All representations and warranties
of the Company  contained in this Agreement  shall survive  delivery of the
Notes and the making of the Loans herein contemplated.

     9.2. GOVERNMENTAL REGULATION.  Anything contained in this Agreement to
the contrary  notwithstanding,  no Bank shall be obligated to extend credit
to the Company in violation of any  limitation or  prohibition  provided by
any applicable statute or regulation.

     9.3.  TAXES.  Any taxes  (excluding  income taxes  whether or not such
taxes are  actually  called  "income  taxes")  payable or ruled  payable by
Federal or State  authority in respect of the Loan Documents  shall be paid
by the Company, together with interest and penalties, if any.


                                  Page 35

<PAGE>


     9.4.  CHOICE  OF  LAW.  THE  LOAN  DOCUMENTS  SHALL  BE  CONSTRUED  IN
ACCORDANCE  WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS  (INCLUDING 735 ILCS 105/5-1 ET SEQ. BUT
OTHERWISE  WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAWS PROVISIONS) OF THE STATE
OF ILLINOIS, BUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE FEDERAL LAWS.

     9.5. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION.  THE COMPANY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY  SUBMITS
TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE  JURISDICTION OF ANY UNITED STATES FEDERAL OR ILLINOIS
STATE COURT SITTING IN CHICAGO IN ANY ACTION OR  PROCEEDING  ARISING OUT OF
OR RELATING TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENTS AND THE COMPANY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AGREES
THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF SUCH  ACTION OR  PROCEEDING  MAY BE HEARD AND
DETERMINED  IN ANY SUCH COURT AND  IRREVOCABLY  WAIVES ANY OBJECTION IT MAY
NOW OR  HEREAFTER  HAVE  AS TO  THE  VENUE  OF ANY  SUCH  SUIT,  ACTION  OR
PROCEEDING  BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT OR THAT SUCH  COURT IS AN  INCONVENIENT
FORUM.  NOTHING HEREIN SHALL LIMIT THE RIGHT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR
ANY BANK TO BRING  PROCEEDINGS  AGAINST  THE  COMPANY  IN THE COURTS OF ANY
OTHER  JURISDICTION.  ANY JUDICIAL  PROCEEDING  BY THE COMPANY  AGAINST THE
ADMINISTRATIVE  AGENT OR ANY BANK OR ANY  AFFILIATE  OF THE  ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENT OR ANY BANK INVOLVING,  DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER IN ANY WAY
ARISING OUT OF,  RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED  WITH ANY LOAN DOCUMENT  SHALL BE
BROUGHT ONLY IN A COURT IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

     9.6. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THE COMPANY,  THE ADMINISTRATIVE  AGENT AND
EACH BANK HEREBY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING  INVOLVING,
DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY,  ANY MATTER (WHETHER SOUNDING IN TORT,  CONTRACT OR
OTHERWISE)  IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF,  RELATED TO, OR  CONNECTED  WITH ANY
LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE RELATIONSHIP ESTABLISHED THEREUNDER.

     9.7.  HEADINGS.  Section  headings  in  the  Loan  Documents  are  for
convenience of reference only, and shall not govern the  interpretation  of
any of the provisions of the Loan Documents.

     9.8. ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  The Loan Documents embody the entire agreement
and understanding among the Company, the Administrative Agent and the Banks
and supersede all prior  agreements and  understandings  among the Company,
the  Administrative  Agent and the Banks  relating  to the  subject  matter
thereof.

     9.9.  SEVERAL  OBLIGATIONS.  The  respective  obligations of the Banks
hereunder  are  several  and not joint and no Bank shall be the  partner or
agent of any other (except to the extent to which the Administrative  Agent
is  authorized  to act as such).  The failure of any Bank to perform any of
its obligations  hereunder shall not relieve any other Bank from any of its
obligations  hereunder.

                                  Page 36


<PAGE>

     9.10.  EXPENSES.  The Company shall reimburse the Administrative Agent
for any and all costs and out-of-pocket expenses (including attorneys' fees
and time charges of attorneys for the Administrative Agent, which attorneys
may be  employees  of the  Administrative  Agent,)  paid or incurred by the
Administrative  Agent and the Arranger in connection with the  preparation,
review,  execution,  delivery,  amendment  and  modification  of  the  Loan
Documents.  The Company shall  reimburse the  Administrative  Agent and the
Banks for any and all costs,  internal charges and  out-of-pocket  expenses
(including   attorneys'   fees  and  time  charges  of  attorneys  for  the
Administrative Agent and the Banks, which attorneys may be employees of the
Administrative  Agent or the Banks) paid or incurred by the  Administrative
Agent or any Bank in connection  with the collection and enforcement of the
Loan Documents.  The Company further agrees to indemnify the Administrative
Agent,  the Arranger and each Bank, its  directors,  officers and employees
against all losses, claims, damages, penalties, judgments,  liabilities and
expenses  (including,  without  limitation,  all expenses of  litigation or
preparation therefor whether or not the Administrative Agent, the Arranger,
or any  Bank is a party  thereto)  which  any of them  may pay or  incur in
connection with or arising out of or relating to this Agreement,  the other
Loan  Documents,  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby or the  direct or
indirect  application  or proposed  application of the proceeds of any Loan
hereunder;  PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company shall not be liable for any
of the  foregoing to the extent that they arise from a violation of law by,
or the gross negligence or willful misconduct of, the Administrative Agent,
the  Arranger  or such  Bank,  as the case may be. The  obligations  of the
Company under this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

     9.12.  NUMBERS  OF  DOCUMENTS.  All  closing  documents,  notices  and
requests  hereunder  shall be  furnished to the  Administrative  Agent with
sufficient counterparts so that the Administrative Agent may furnish one to
each of the Banks.

     9.13.  CONFIDENTIALITY.  Each  Bank  agrees  to hold any  confidential
information  which  it may  receive  from  the  Company  pursuant  to  this
Agreement in confidence, except for disclosure (i) to its Affiliates and to
other  Banks  and  their  respective  Affiliates,  (ii) to  legal  counsel,
accountants,  and  other  professional  advisors  to  that  Bank  or  to  a
Transferee,  (iii) to regulatory officials,  (iv) to any Person as required
by law, regulation,  or legal process, (v) to any Person in connection with
any legal  proceeding to which that Bank is a party,  and (vi) permitted by
Section  12.4.  Each Bank will notify the Company of any  disclosure  under
clauses (iii) (other than  disclosure  pursuant to a request arising in the
course of a bank  audit,  notice of which  such Bank  shall  deliver to the
Company  as soon as is  practicable),  (iv),  and  (v)  hereinabove  before
divulging such information  unless such disclosure is legally prohibited by
the terms of the request or demand for such information.


                                  Page 37


<PAGE>

                                 ARTICLE X

                          THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT


     10.1.  APPOINTMENT.  The  First  National  Bank of  Chicago  is hereby
appointed Administrative Agent hereunder, and each of the Banks irrevocably
authorizes the  Administrative  Agent to act as the agent of such Bank. The
Administrative  Agent  agrees  to act as such upon the  express  conditions
contained in this Article X. The duties of the  Administrative  Agent shall
be administrative in nature and the  Administrative  Agent shall not have a
fiduciary relationship in respect of any Bank by reason of this Agreement.

     10.2.  POWERS.  The  Administrative  Agent shall have and may exercise
such powers hereunder as are specifically  delegated to the  Administrative
Agent by the terms  hereof,  together  with such  powers as are  reasonably
incidental thereto.  The Administrative  Agent shall have no implied duties
to the Banks,  or any obligation to the Banks to take any action  hereunder
except any action  specifically  provided by this  Agreement to be taken by
the Administrative Agent.

     10.3. GENERAL IMMUNITY.  Neither the  Administrative  Agent nor any of
its directors,  officers,  agents or employees shall be liable to the Banks
or any  Bank for any  action  taken  or  omitted  to be taken by it or them
hereunder  or in  connection  herewith  except  for its or their  own gross
negligence or wilful misconduct.

     10.4. NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR LOANS,  RECITALS,  ETC. The Administrative
Agent  shall not be  responsible  to the Banks for any  recitals,  reports,
statements,  warranties or representations herein or any Loans hereunder or
be bound to ascertain or inquire as to the performance or observance of any
of the terms of this Agreement.

     10.5.  RIGHT TO  INDEMNITY.  The  Administrative  Agent shall be fully
justified  in failing or  refusing to take any action  hereunder  unless it
shall  first be  indemnified  to its  satisfaction  by the  Banks  pro rata
against any and all  liability  and expense  which may be incurred by it by
reason of taking or continuing to take any such action.

     10.6. ACTION ON INSTRUCTIONS OF BANKS. The Administrative  Agent shall
in all cases be fully  protected in acting,  or in refraining  from acting,
hereunder in accordance  with written  instructions  signed by the Required
Banks,  and  such  instructions  and any  action  taken or  failure  to act
pursuant thereto shall be binding on all of the Banks and on all holders of
Notes.

     10.7.  EMPLOYMENT OF AGENTS AND COUNSEL.  The Administrative Agent may
execute any of its duties as  Administrative  Agent hereunder by or through
employees, agents, and attorneys-in-fact and shall not be answerable to the
Banks,  except as to money or securities  received by it or its  authorized
agents,   for  the   default   or   misconduct   of  any  such   agents  or
attorneys-in-fact  selected by it with reasonable care. The  Administrative
Agent


                                  Page 38

<PAGE>


shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to
the agency hereby created and its duties hereunder.

     10.8. RELIANCE ON DOCUMENTS;  COUNSEL.  The Administrative Agent shall
be entitled to rely upon any Note, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit,
letter, telegram, statement, paper or document believed by it to be genuine
and  correct  and to have  been  signed  or sent by the  proper  person  or
persons,  and,  in respect to legal  matters,  upon the  opinion of counsel
selected by the Administrative Agent.

     10.9.  ADMINISTRATIVE  AGENT'S  REIMBURSEMENT.  Each  Bank  agrees  to
reimburse  the  Administrative  Agent in the amount of such Bank's  ratable
share of the Commitments for any expenses not reimbursed by the Company (i)
for which the  Administrative  Agent is  entitled to  reimbursement  by the
Company  under  the  Loan  Documents  and  (ii)  for  any  other  expenses,
liabilities,   obligations,   losses,   damages,   penalties,   costs,   or
disbursements of any kind incurred by the Administrative Agent on behalf of
the  Banks,  in  connection  with  the  preparation,  execution,  delivery,
administration  and enforcement of the Loan Documents;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,
that no Bank shall be required to reimburse  the  Administrative  Agent for
any such expenses to the extent that they arise from a violation of law by,
or the gross negligence or willful misconduct of, the Administrative Agent.
The  obligations of the Banks under this Section 10.9 shall survive payment
of the Obligations and termination of this Agreement.

     10.10. RIGHTS AS A BANK. With respect to its Commitment, Loans made by
it and the Note issued to it, the Administrative  Agent shall have the same
rights and powers hereunder as any Bank and may exercise the same as though
it were not the Administrative Agent, and the term "Bank" or "Banks" shall,
unless the context otherwise indicates, include the Administrative Agent in
its individual capacity. The Administrative Agent may accept deposits from,
lend  money  to,  and  generally  engage  in any kind of  banking  or trust
business with the Company as if it were not the Administrative Agent.

     10.11.  BANK  CREDIT  DECISION.  Each Bank  acknowledges  that it has,
independently  and without  reliance upon the  Administrative  Agent or any
other Bank and based on the financial statements referred to in Section 5.4
and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made
its own credit  analysis  and decision to enter into this  Agreement.  Each
Bank also  acknowledges  that it will,  independently  and without reliance
upon the Administrative Agent or any other Bank and based on such documents
and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time,  continue to make
its own  credit  decisions  in  taking  or not  taking  action  under  this
Agreement.

     10.12.  SUCCESSOR  ADMINISTRATIVE  AGENT. The Administrative Agent may
resign at any time by giving  thirty days'  written  notice  thereof to the
Banks and the Company and may be removed at any time with or without  cause
by the Required Banks.  Upon any such resignation or removal,  the Required
Banks shall have the right to appoint,  on behalf of the Banks but with the
consent of the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably  withheld),
a successor

                                  Page 39

<PAGE>



Administrative Agent. If no successor  Administrative Agent shall have been
so appointed by the Required Banks and shall have accepted such appointment
within thirty days after the retiring  Administrative Agent's giving notice
of  resignation,  then the retiring  Administrative  Agent may appoint,  on
behalf of the Banks but with the  consent  of the  Company  (which  consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld), a successor Administrative Agent. Such
successor  Administrative  Agent shall be a commercial  bank having capital
and retained earnings of at least $500,000,000.  Upon the acceptance of any
appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor Administrative
Agent, such successor  Administrative  Agent shall thereupon 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. After any retiring
Administrative  Agent's resignation  hereunder as Administrative Agent, the
provisions  of this  Article X shall  continue in effect for its benefit in
respect  of any  actions  taken or  omitted  to be taken by it while it was
acting as the Administrative Agent hereunder.

     10.13.  DISTRIBUTION  OF  INFORMATION.   The  Company  authorizes  the
Administrative  Agent,  as the  Administrative  Agent may elect in its sole
discretion, to discuss with and furnish to the Banks or to any other Person
having an interest in the Obligations  (whether as a guarantor,  pledgor of
collateral,  participant, purchaser or otherwise) all financial statements,
audit  reports  and other  information  pertaining  to the  Company and its
Subsidiaries  whether  such  information  was  provided  by the  Company or
prepared or obtained by the Administrative Agent;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, that
if such  information is non-public  and  confidential,  the  Administrative
Agent  shall  obtain  the  consent  of  the  Company  (which  shall  not be
unreasonably  withheld)  prior to delivering  such  information to any such
Person and such  Person  shall have  agreed to be bound by Section  9.13 of
this Agreement.. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its employees,
officers,   directors  or  agents  makes  any  representation  or  warranty
regarding  any audit  reports or other  analyses of the  Company's  and its
Subsidiaries   condition  which  the  Administrative  Agent  may  elect  to
distribute,  whether  such  information  was  provided  by the  Company  or
prepared  or  obtained  by  the   Administrative   Agent,   nor  shall  the
Administrative Agent or any of its employees, officers, directors or agents
be liable  to any  person or entity  receiving  a copy of such  reports  or
analyses for any inaccuracy or omission contained in or relating thereto.

     10.14.  DISCLOSURE.  The Borrower and each Bank hereby (i) acknowledge
and  agree  that (a) one or more  Affiliates  of First  Chicago  are or may
become  direct  or  indirect  equity   investors  in  the  Company  or  its
Affiliates,  (b) First Chicago is or may become a lender to, and agent bank
for, the Company  and/or its  Affiliates,  including,  without  limitation,
pursuant to (i) the syndicated credit arrangements of Howmet in which First
Chicago  presently  acts as  administrative  agent and a  lender,  (ii) the
syndicated  credit  arrangements  of the  Company  in which  First  Chicago
presently  acts as  administrative  agent  and as a  lender,  and (iii) the
short-term  credit  arrangements  of the  Company  in which  First  Chicago
presently  acts as the  administrative  agent and as a lender and (c) First
Chicago and/or its Affiliates from time to time may hold other  investments
in,  make other loans to or have other  relationships  with the Company and
its  Affiliates,  and (ii)  waive any  liability  of First  Chicago or such
Affiliate  to the  Borrower  or any Bank,  respectively,  arising out of or

                                  Page 40


<PAGE>

resulting  from  such  investments,   loans  or  relationships  other  than
liabilities  arising out of the gross  negligence or willful  misconduct of
First Chicago or its Affiliates.



                                 ARTICLE XI

                          SETOFF; RATABLE PAYMENTS


     11.1. SETOFF. In addition to, and without limitation of, any rights of
the Banks under applicable law, if the Company becomes  insolvent,  however
evidenced, or any Default or Prepayment Event occurs, any indebtedness from
any Bank to the Company may be offset and applied toward the payment of the
Obligations owing to such Bank, whether or not the Obligations, or any part
thereof, shall then be due.

     11.2.  RATABLE  PAYMENTS.  In case at any time any  Bank,  whether  by
setoff or  otherwise,  has  payment  made to it upon its Loans in a greater
proportion  than  received by any other Bank,  such Bank so receiving  such
greater  proportionate  payment  agrees to  purchase a portion of the Loans
held by the other Banks so that after such purchase each Bank will hold its
ratable proportion of Loans. In case any such payment is disturbed by legal
process,  or otherwise,  appropriate further adjustments shall be made. The
Company agrees that any Bank purchasing a  participation  hereunder may, to
the fullest  extent  permitted  by law,  exercise all its rights of payment
with respect to such participation as if such Bank were the direct creditor
of the Company in the amount of the participation.



                                ARTICLE XII

             BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS; PARTICIPATIONS


     12.1.  SUCCESSORS  AND ASSIGNS.  The terms and  provisions of the Loan
Documents shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and
the Banks and their respective successors and assigns,  except that (i) the
Company shall not have the right to assign its rights or obligations  under
the Loan  Documents  and (ii) any  assignment  by any Bank  must be made in
compliance with Section 12.3.  Notwithstanding clause (ii) of this Section,
any Bank  may at any  time,  without  the  consent  of the  Company  or the
Administrative  Agent,  assign all or any portion of its rights  under this
Agreement and its Notes to a Federal Reserve Bank; PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, that
no such  assignment to a Federal  Reserve Bank shall release the transferor
Bank from its obligations hereunder. The Administrative Agent may treat the
payee of any Note as the owner  thereof for all purposes  hereof unless and
until such payee  complies  with Section 12.3 in the case


                                  Page 41

<PAGE>

of an assignment  thereof or, in the case of any other transfer,  a written
notice of the transfer is filed with the Administrative Agent. Any assignee
or transferee of a Note agrees by acceptance thereof to be bound by all the
terms and  provisions  of the Loan  Documents.  Any  request,  authority or
consent of any  Person,  who at the time of making  such  request or giving
such  authority or consent is the holder of any Note,  shall be  conclusive
and binding on any subsequent  holder,  transferee or assignee of such Note
or of any Note or Notes issued in exchange therefor.

     12.2. PARTICIPATIONS.

          12.2.1.  PERMITTED  PARTICIPANTS;  EFFECT.  Any Bank may,  in the
     ordinary course of its business and in accordance with applicable law,
     at  any  time   sell  to  one  or  more   banks   or  other   entities
     ("Participants")  participating  interests  in any Loan  owing to such
     Bank,  any Note held by such Bank,  any Commitment of such Bank or any
     other interest of such Bank under the Loan Documents.  In the event of
     any such sale by a Bank of  participating  interests to a Participant,
     such  Bank's   obligations  under  the  Loan  Documents  shall  remain
     unchanged,  such Bank shall  remain  solely  responsible  to the other
     parties  hereto for the  performance  of such  obligations,  such Bank
     shall  remain  the  holder of any each of its  Notes for all  purposes
     under the Loan  Documents,  all amounts  payable by the Company  under
     this  Agreement  shall be determined as if such Bank had not sold such
     participating  interests, and the Company and the Administrative Agent
     shall  continue  to  deal  solely  and  directly  with  such  Bank  in
     connection  with such  Bank's  rights and  obligations  under the Loan
     Documents.

          12.2.2.  VOTING RIGHTS. Each agreement pursuant to which any Bank
     may sell such a  participation  shall  provide  that  such Bank  shall
     retain  the  sole  right  to  approve,  without  the  consent  of  any
     Participant, any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of
     the Loan Documents  other than any amendment,  modification  or waiver
     with respect to any Loan or Commitment in which such  Participant  has
     an interest which forgives principal,  interest or fees or reduces the
     interest  rate  or fees  payable  with  respect  to any  such  Loan or
     Commitment,  postpones  any  date  fixed  for any  regularly-scheduled
     payment  of  principal  of, or  interest  or fees on, any such Loan or
     Commitment,  releases  any  guarantor of any such Loan or releases any
     substantial  portion of  collateral,  if any,  securing any such Loan;
     provided that such participation  agreement may provide that such Bank
     will not  agree  to any  modification,  amendment  or  waiver  of this
     Agreement  described  in  Sections  8.2 (a),  (c) and (d)  without the
     consent of the Participant.

     12.3. ASSIGNMENTS.

          12.3.1.  PERMITTED  ASSIGNMENTS.  Any Bank may,  in the  ordinary
     course of its business and in accordance  with  applicable law, at any
     time assign to one or more banks or other entities  ("Purchasers") all
     or any part of its rights and  obligations  under the Loan  Documents.
     Such  assignment  shall be  substantially  in the form of Exhibit  "E"
     hereto  or in such  other  form  as may be  agreed  to by the  parties
     thereto. The consent of the

                                  Page 42

<PAGE>



     Company and the  Administrative  Agent  shall be required  prior to an
     assignment becoming effective;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that if a Default
     has occurred and is  continuing,  the consent of the Company shall not
     be  required.  Such  consent  shall not be  unreasonably  withheld  or
     delayed. Each such assignment with respect to a Purchaser which is not
     a Bank or an Affiliate  thereof shall (unless each of the Borrower and
     the Agent otherwise  consents,  such consent of the Borrower not being
     required if a Default has occurred and is  continuing) be in an amount
     not less than the  lesser  of (i)  $10,000,000  or (ii) the  remaining
     amount of the assigning Bank's  Commitment  (calculated as at the date
     of such assignment) or outstanding Loans (if the applicable Commitment
     has been terminated).

          12.3.2.  SUBSTITUTION  OF  BANK.  The  Company  may,  at its sole
     expense and effort,  require any Bank to transfer and assign,  without
     recourse (in accordance with this Section 12.3) all (but not less than
     all) of its interests,  rights and obligations under this Agreement to
     an  assignee  which  shall  assume such  assigned  obligations  (which
     assignee may be another  Bank,  if a Bank  accepts  such  assignment);
     PROVIDED,  that (i) such  assignment  shall not conflict with any law,
     rule or  regulation  or  order  of any  court  or  other  governmental
     authority,  (ii) the Company shall have received a written  consent of
     the Agent in the case of an entity that is not a Bank,  which  consent
     shall not be unreasonably withheld, (iii) the Company or such assignee
     shall have paid to the assigning Bank in immediately  available  funds
     the  principal of and interest  accrued to the date of such payment on
     the  Loans  made by it  hereunder  and all  other  amounts  owed to it
     hereunder and the fee payable to the Agent  pursuant to Section 12.3.3
     and (iv) nothing in the foregoing is intended or shall be construed as
     obligating  the  Administrative  Agent or any Bank to  locate  such an
     assignee.

          12.3.3.  EFFECT;   EFFECTIVE  DATE.  Upon  (i)  delivery  to  the
     Administrative  Agent of a notice of assignment,  substantially in the
     form  attached  as  Exhibit  "I" to  Exhibit  "E" hereto (a "Notice of
     Assignment"), together with any consents required by Section 12.3.1 or
     12.3.2, and (ii) payment of a $3,500 fee to the  Administrative  Agent
     for processing such assignment, such assignment shall become effective
     on the  effective  date  specified in such Notice of  Assignment.  The
     Notice of Assignment shall contain a  representation  by the Purchaser
     to the effect that none of the consideration used to make the purchase
     of the Commitment and Loans under the applicable  assignment agreement
     are "plan  assets"  as  defined  under  ERISA and that the  rights and
     interests of the Purchaser in and under the Loan Documents will not be
     "plan  assets" under ERISA.  On and after the  effective  date of such
     assignment,  such Purchaser  shall for all purposes be a Bank party to
     this  Agreement and any other Loan Document  executed by the Banks and
     shall  have all the rights  and  obligations  of a Bank under the Loan
     Documents,  to the same extent as if it were an original party hereto,
     and no  further  consent  or action by the  Company,  the Banks or the
     Administrative  Agent shall be required to release the transferor Bank
     with respect to the  percentage of the Aggregate  Commitment and Loans
     assigned to such Purchaser. Upon the consummation of any assignment to
     a Purchaser  pursuant to this Section 12.3.3, the transferor Bank, the
     Administrative   Agent  and  the


                                  Page 43

<PAGE>

          Company shall make  appropriate  arrangements so that replacement
          Notes  are  issued to such  transferor  Bank and new Notes or, as
          appropriate,  replacement Notes, are issued to such Purchaser, in
          each  case  in  principal  amounts  reflecting  their  respective
          Commitments, as adjusted pursuant to such assignment.

     12.4.  DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION.  The Company authorizes each Bank
to disclose to any  Participant or Purchaser or any other Person  acquiring
an interest in the Loan Documents by operation of law (each a "Transferee")
and any  prospective  Transferee  any and all  information  in such  Bank's
possession   concerning  the   creditworthiness  of  the  Company  and  its
Subsidiaries; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if such information is non-public and
confidential,  such Bank shall  obtain the  consent of the  Company  (which
shall not be unreasonably withheld) prior to delivering such information to
such  Person and such  Person  agrees to be bound by  Section  9.13 of this
Agreement.  No Bank may disclose  confidential  information  regarding  the
Company and its Subsidiaries to prospective Transferees without the consent
of the Company.

     12.5.  TAX  TREATMENT.  If  any  interest  in  any  Loan  Document  is
transferred  to any  Transferee  which is  organized  under the laws of any
jurisdiction  other  than the  United  States  or any  State  thereof,  the
transferor  Bank  shall  cause  such  Transferee,   concurrently  with  the
effectiveness  of such  transfer,  to comply with the provisions of Section
2.3.14.



                                ARTICLE XIII

                                  NOTICES


     13.1.  GIVING  NOTICE.  Any notice  required or  permitted to be given
under this  Agreement  may be given by (a) actual  delivery to the Company,
the  Administrative  Agent or the Banks at the  addresses  indicated  below
their  signatures to this  Agreement,  or (b) United  States mail,  postage
prepaid, or telecopy or telefacsimile  addressed to the Company,  the Banks
or  the  Administrative  Agent  at  the  addresses  indicated  below  their
signatures  to this  Agreement.  Each such notice shall be effective (a) if
given by mail,  72 hours after such notice is  deposited  in the mails with
first class postage  prepaid,  addressed as aforesaid,  and (b) if given by
any other means, when delivered at the address specified in accordance with
this Article XIII.

     13.2. CHANGE OF ADDRESS. The Company and the Banks may each change the
address  for  service of notice upon it by a notice in writing to the other
parties hereto.



                                  Page 44

<PAGE>


                                ARTICLE XIV

                                COUNTERPARTS


         This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts,  all
of which taken  together shall  constitute  one  agreement,  and any of the
parties hereto may execute this Agreement by signing any such  counterpart.
This Agreement shall be effective when it has been executed by the Company,
the  Administrative  Agent and the Banks and each  party has  notified  the
Administrative   Agent  by  telecopy  or  telefacsimile  or  by  telephone,
confirmed in writing, that it has taken such action.


















                                  Page 45

<PAGE>


     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  Company,  the Banks and the  Administrative
Agent have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.


                                   CORDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.


                                   By:_______________________________
                                        Richard L. Corbin
                                        Executive Vice President and Chief
                                        Financial Officer



ALL NOTICES:                            Cordant Technologies Inc.
                                        15 W. South Temple
                                        Suite 1600
                                        Salt Lake City, UT 84101

                                        Attn: Treasury Department

                                        Telephone:        801-933-4025
                                        Telecopy:         801-933-4014









                                  Page 46

<PAGE>


         COMMITMENTS

         $400,000,000         THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
                              INDIVIDUALLY AND AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

                              By:___________________________________________
                              Gregory Sjullie
                              Vice President

ALL NOTICES AND CREDIT MATTERS:             The First National Bank of Chicago
                                            Mail Suite IL1-0374
                                            One First National Plaza
                                            Chicago, Illinois 60670
                                            Attn: Transportation Division,
                                                  Gregory Sjullie
                                            Telephone: (312) 732-8872
                                            Telecopy:  (312) 732-3885

ALL BORROWING NOTICES:                      The First National Bank of Chicago
                                            Mail Suite  IL1-0634
                                            One First National Plaza
                                            Chicago, Illinois  60670
                                            Attn:  John Beirne
                                            Telephone:        (312) 732-3659
                                            Telecopy:         (312) 732-3055

WIRE TRANSFER PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS:

                                            The First National Bank of Chicago
                                            Ref: Cordant Technologies Inc.
                                            ABA #:  071 0000 13
                                            Credit LS2OSD Money Transfer Inc.
                                            Account Number 4811-5286-0000

AGGREGATE COMMITMENT
         $400,000,000


                                  Page 47

<PAGE>


                                EXHIBIT "A"

                             EXTENSION REQUEST

                                                          __________, 1999

     To:            The  First  National  Bank of  Chicago,  as agent  (the
                    "Administrative Agent")

     From:          Cordant Technologies Inc.

     Re:            Credit Agreement (the "Agreement") dated as of February
                    5, 1999  among  Cordant  Technologies  Inc.,  the Banks
                    listed  on  the   signature   pages   thereof  and  the
                    Administrative Agent

         We hereby give notice  pursuant to Section  2.2.2 of the Agreement
that we request conversion of the Revolving Credit  Termination  Balance on
the Revolving  Credit  Termination  Date to Term Loans.  The Company hereby
represents  and warrants that as of the date hereof and as of the Revolving
Credit Termination Date, all conditions  precedent to the conversion of the
Revolving  Loans to Term Loans under Section 2.2.3 have been  satisfied and
(i) no Default or Unmatured  Default has occurred and is  continuing  under
the Agreement other than  [______________________];  and (ii) no Prepayment
Event has occurred.

         Terms  used  herein  have  the  meanings  assigned  to them in the
Agreement.

                                         CORDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.
                                         By:________________________________

                                        Title:______________________________


                                  Page 48

<PAGE>


                                EXHIBIT "B"

                                  FORM OF
                              PROMISSORY NOTE


$400,000,000                                             February 5, 1999

     CORDANT  TECHNOLOGIES  INC., a Delaware  corporation  (the "Company"),
promises to pay to the order of (the  "Bank")  the lesser of the  principal
sum of Four  Hundred  Million and No/100  Dollars or the  aggregate  unpaid
principal  amount of all Loans made by the Bank to the Company  pursuant to
Section 2.1 of the Credit Agreement  ("Agreement")  hereinafter referred to
or converted  pursuant to Section 2.2 of the Agreement,  whichever is less,
in  immediately  available  funds at the main office of The First  National
Bank of Chicago in Chicago,  Illinois,  as Administrative  Agent,  together
with interest on the unpaid principal amount hereof at the rates and on the
dates set forth in the  Agreement.  The Company  shall pay the principal of
and  accrued and unpaid  interest  on the Loans in full on the  Termination
Date.

     The Bank shall,  and is hereby  authorized  to, record on the schedule
attached hereto, or otherwise record in accordance with its usual practice,
the date and amount of each Loan and the date and amount of each  principal
payment hereunder.

     This  Promissory  Note is one of the Notes issued  pursuant to, and is
entitled to the benefits of, the Credit  Agreement  dated as of February 5,
1999, among the Company,  The First National Bank of Chicago,  individually
and as  Administrative  Agent,  and  the  banks  named  therein,  to  which
Agreement, as it may be amended from time to time, reference is hereby made
for a statement  of the terms and  conditions  under which this  Promissory
Note may be prepaid or its maturity  date  accelerated.  Capitalized  terms
used herein and not  otherwise  defined  herein are used with the  meanings
attributed to them in the Agreement.

                              CORDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.


                             By:__________________________________
                                  Richard L. Corbin
                                  Executive Vice President and
                                  Chief Financial Officer






                                  Page 49

<PAGE>


                SCHEDULE OF LOANS AND PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL
                                     TO
                      SYNDICATED LOANS PROMISSORY NOTE
                        OF CORDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.
                           DATED FEBRUARY 5, 1999

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                          PRINCIPAL                MATURITY                 PRINCIPAL
                          AMOUNT OF               OF INTEREST                AMOUNT                 UNPAID
       DATE                 LOAN                    PERIOD                    PAID                  BALANCE
       <S>                <C>                     <C>                       <C>


</TABLE>




















                                  Page 50


<PAGE>


                                EXHIBIT "C"

                             OPINION OF COUNSEL


February 5, 1999


The  Administrative  Agent  and the  Banks who are  parties  to the  Credit
Agreement described below.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This is in regard to the  Credit  Agreement  dated as of  February  5, 1999
among Cordant  Technologies  Inc. (the "Company"),  the Banks named therein
and The First  National  Bank of  Chicago,  as  Administrative  Agent  (the
"Credit Agreement").  Unless the context otherwise requires, all terms used
in this  opinion  which are  specifically  defined in the Credit  Agreement
shall have the meanings given such terms in the Credit Agreement.

I am the Vice  President and General  Counsel of the Company and have acted
as such in  connection  with the Credit  Agreement.  In so  acting,  I have
examined originals (or copies thereof certified to my satisfaction) of such
corporate and other  documents of the Company  (including  certificates  of
officers  of the  Company on which I have  relied)  and such  statutes  and
regulations  as I have deemed  relevant and  necessary in order to give the
following  opinion;  the  certificate of  incorporation  and by-laws of the
Company  and its  Subsidiaries  as set forth on  Schedule  1 of the  Credit
Agreement; the corporate proceedings and other actions taken by the Company
and its  Subsidiaries as set forth on Schedule 1 of the Credit Agreement to
qualify,  and  maintain  its  good  standing,  in the  jurisdiction  of its
incorporation  and in those  jurisdictions  in which  the  Company  and its
Subsidiaries  are  qualified  as foreign  corporations;  and the  corporate
proceedings of the Company taken to authorize the  execution,  delivery and
performance of the Credit  Agreement and the Notes and the borrowings under
the Credit Agreement.

Based upon the foregoing, it is my opinion that:

1.        The Company is a corporation duly incorporated,  validly existing
          and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. The
          Company has all corporate power required to carry on its ordinary
          course of business.

2.        The  Company  has no other  subsidiaries  except  as set forth on
          Schedule 1 of the Credit Agreement.  Each domestic subsidiary set
          forth on Schedule 1 of the Credit Agreement is a corporation duly
          incorporated,  validly  existing and in good  standing  under the
          laws of the State of Incorporation set forth on Schedule 1.

                                  Page 51

<PAGE>


3.        The Company and its  Subsidiaries  are each duly  qualified  as a
          foreign  corporation  in  good  standing  to do  business  in all
          jurisdictions  where  the  failure  to so  qualify  would  have a
          material  adverse  effect on the  business of the Company and the
          subsidiaries  taken as a whole.  The  Company  and its  operating
          subsidiaries are duly qualified as a foreign  corporation in good
          standing in the States listed on Schedule 1A.

4.        The execution and delivery of the Credit  Agreement and the Notes
          by the Company,  the  borrowings  by the Company under the Credit
          Agreement and the  performance by the Company of its  obligations
          under  the  Credit   Agreement  and  the  Notes  have  been  duly
          authorized by all necessary  corporate  action and proceedings on
          the part of the Company and do not at this time:

         (a)      require any consent of the Company's shareholders;

         (b)      contravene,  or constitute a default under, any provision
                  of any law or regulation  applicable to the Company or of
                  the  certificate  of  incorporation  or  by-laws  of  the
                  Company or of any material contract, agreement, judgment,
                  order,  decree,  adjudication or other instrument binding
                  upon the Company, or by which the Company or its property
                  may be bound or  affected,  or result in the  creation of
                  any Lien on any  property now owned by the Company or any
                  Subsidiaries pursuant to the provisions of any agreement,
                  indenture or other instrument binding upon it.

5.        The Credit  Agreement  and the Notes have been duly  executed and
          delivered  by the Company  and  constitute  the legal,  valid and
          binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with
          their  terms,  except as such  enforceability  may be  limited by
          bankruptcy  or similar  laws and by laws and  judicial  decisions
          relating  generally to the  enforcement of creditors'  rights and
          subject also to the  availability  of  equitable  remedies and to
          general principles of equity.

6.        Except as otherwise  set forth in the  Company's  Form 10-K as of
          June 30, 1998, a copy of which has been  previously  delivered to
          you, there is as of the date hereof no action,  suit,  proceeding
          or  investigation  of  which I am  aware  pending  or  threatened
          against or  affecting  the Company or any  subsidiary  before any
          court, regulatory commission,  arbitration tribunal, governmental
          department, administrative agency or instrumentality which, would
          be reasonably  expected to have a material  adverse effect on the
          business, condition (financial or otherwise) or operations of the
          Company and its Subsidiaries as a whole.

7.        Neither  the  Company  nor  its  Subsidiaries  is in  default  or
          violation  in any  respect  which  would have a material  adverse
          effect on the business or condition  (financial  or otherwise) of
          the Company and its  Subsidiaries  as a whole with respect to any
          law, rule, regulation, order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree,
          adjudication,  determination  or award  presently  in effect  and
          applicable to it.

                                  Page 52


<PAGE>


8.        No approval, authorization,  consent adjudication or order of any
          governmental  authority,  which has been obtained by the Company,
          is  required  to be obtained by the Company as of the date hereof
          in  connection  with the  execution  and  delivery  of the Credit
          Agreement,  the Notes,  the borrowings under the Credit Agreement
          or in  connection  with the  performance  by the  Company  of its
          obligations under the Credit Agreement and the Notes.

9.        The Company is not engaged principally or as one of its important
          activities in the business of extending credit for the purpose of
          purchasing  or  carrying  any  "margin  stock"  (as such  term is
          defined in  Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal
          Reserve System).

10.       The Company is not an "investment company," within the meaning of
          the Investment Company Act of 1940, as currently in effect.

Very truly yours,


Dan Hapke



                                  Page 53

<PAGE>


                                EXHIBIT "D"
               LOAN/CREDIT RELATED MONEY TRANSFER INSTRUCTION

To        The First National Bank of Chicago, as Administrative  Agent (the
          "Administrative  Agent")  under the  Credit  Agreement  Described
          Below.

Re:       Credit  Agreement,  dated as of February 5, 1999 (as the same may
          be amended or modified,  the "Credit  Agreement"),  among Cordant
          Technologies Inc. (the "Company"),  the Administrative Agent, and
          the Banks NAMED THEREIN

     Terms used herein and not  otherwise  defined  shall have the meanings
assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement.

     The  Administrative  Agent is specifically  authorized and directed to
act upon the following standing money transfer instructions with respect to
the  proceeds of Advances or other  extensions  of credit from time to time
until receipt by the Administrative  Agent of a specific written revocation
of  such  instructions  by  the  Company,   PROVIDED,   HOWEVER,  that  the
Administrative  Agent may otherwise transfer funds as hereafter directed in
writing  by the  Company  in  accordance  with  Section  13.1 of the Credit
Agreement or based on any telephonic notice made in accordance with Section
2.3.10 of the Credit Agreement.

Facility Identification Number(s) _________________________________________

Customer/Account Name  ____________________________________________________

Transfer Funds To  ________________________________________________________

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

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

For Account No.   _________________________________________________________

Reference/Attention To   __________________________________________________

Authorized Officer (Customer Representative)         Date _________________


- --------------------------------------               ----------------------
(Please Print)                                       Signature


Bank Officer Name                           Date __________________________

- -------------------------------------     ---------------------------------
(Please Print)                                 Signature


 (Deliver Completed Form to Credit Support Staff For Immediate Processing)



                                  Page 54


<PAGE>


                                EXHIBIT "E"

                            ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT

     This  Assignment  Agreement  (this  "Assignment   Agreement")  between
__________ (the "Assignor") and  _______________________  ( the "Assignee")
is dated as of _______, 19__. The parties hereto agree as follows:

     1.  PRELIMINARY  STATEMENT.  The  Assignor  is a  party  to  a  Credit
Agreement (which, as it may be amended,  modified, renewed or extended from
time to time is herein called the "Credit  Agreement")  described in Item 1
of Schedule 1 attached hereto ("Schedule 1"). Capitalized terms used herein
and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings attributed to them
in the Credit Agreement.

     2. ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION. The Assignor hereby sells and assigns to
the  Assignee,  and the  Assignee  hereby  purchases  and assumes  from the
Assignor,  , an interest in and to the  Assignor's  rights and  obligations
under the Credit  Agreement and the other Loan  Documents,  such that after
giving effect to such assignment the Assignee shall have purchased pursuant
to this Assignment Agreement the percentage interest specified in Item 3 of
Schedule  1 of all  outstanding  rights  and  obligations  under the Credit
Agreement and the other Loan Documents relating to the facilities listed in
Item 3 of Schedule 1 and the other Loan Documents. The aggregate Commitment
(or Loans, if the applicable  Commitment has been terminated)  purchased by
the Assignee hereunder is set forth in Item 4 of Schedule 1.

     3. EFFECTIVE  DATE. The effective  date of this  Assignment  Agreement
(the  "Effective  Date") shall be the later of the date specified in Item 5
of Schedule 1 or two Business Days (or such shorter period agreed to by the
Agent) after a Notice of  Assignment  substantially  in the form of Exhibit
"I"  attached  hereto  has been  delivered  to the  Agent.  Such  Notice of
Assignment must include any consents  required to be delivered to the Agent
by Section 12.3.1 or 12.3.2 of the Credit  Agreement.  In no event will the
Effective Date occur if the payments required to be made by the Assignee to
the Assignor on the  Effective  Date under  Sections 4 and 5 hereof are not
made on the proposed  Effective Date. The Assignor will notify the Assignee
of the proposed  Effective Date no later than the Business Day prior to the
proposed  Effective  Date. As of the Effective Date, (i) the Assignee shall
have the rights and  obligations  of a Bank under the Loan  Documents  with
respect to the rights and  obligations  assigned to the Assignee  hereunder
and (ii) the Assignor shall  relinquish its rights and be released from its
corresponding  obligations  under the Loan  Documents  with  respect to the
rights and obligations assigned to the Assignee hereunder.

     4. PAYMENTS OBLIGATIONS. On and after the Effective Date, the Assignee
shall be entitled  to receive  from the Agent all  payments  of  principal,
interest  and fees  with  respect  to the  interest  assigned  hereby.  The
Assignee  shall  advance  funds  directly to the Agent with  respect to


                                  Page 55

<PAGE>

all Loans and  reimbursement  payments made on or after the Effective  Date
with respect to the interest  assigned hereby.  [In  consideration  for the
sale and  assignment  of Loans  hereunder,  (i) the Assignee  shall pay the
Assignor, on the Effective Date, an amount equal to the principal amount of
the portion of all Floating Rate Loans  assigned to the Assignee  hereunder
and (ii) with respect to each Eurodollar Rate Loan made by the Assignor and
assigned to the Assignee  hereunder  which is  outstanding on the Effective
Date,  (a) on the last day of the Interest  Period  therefor or (b) on such
earlier  date agreed to by the Assignor and the Assignee or (c) on the date
on which any such Eurodollar Rate Loan either becomes due (by  acceleration
or otherwise) or is prepaid (the date as described in the foregoing clauses
(a), (b) or (c) being hereinafter  referred to as the "Payment Date"),  the
Assignee shall pay the Assignor an amount equal to the principal  amount of
the portion of such  Eurodollar Rate Loan assigned to the Assignee which is
outstanding  on the Payment  Date.  If the Assignor and the Assignee  agree
that the Payment Date for such  Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be the Effective
Date,  they shall agree to the interest  rate  applicable to the portion of
such Loan assigned  hereunder for the period from the Effective Date to the
end of the existing Interest Period applicable to such Eurodollar Rate Loan
(the "Agreed  Interest Rate") and any interest  received by the Assignee in
excess of the Agreed  Interest Rate shall be remitted to the  Assignor.  In
the  event  interest  for the  period  from the  Effective  Date to but not
including  the Payment  Date is not paid by the Company with respect to any
Eurodollar  Rate Loan sold by the Assignor to the Assignee  hereunder,  the
Assignee shall pay to the Assignor  interest for such period on the portion
of such Eurodollar Rate Loan sold by the Assignor to the Assignee hereunder
at the  applicable  rate provided by the Credit  Agreement.  In the event a
prepayment  of any  Eurodollar  Rate Loan which is  existing on the Payment
Date and assigned by the Assignor to the  Assignee  hereunder  occurs after
the Payment Date but before the end of the Interest  Period  applicable  to
such  Eurodollar  Rate Loan,  the Assignee  shall remit to the Assignor the
excess of the  prepayment  penalty paid with respect to the portion of such
Eurodollar  Rate Loan  assigned to the Assignee  hereunder  over the amount
which would have been paid if such prepayment  penalty was calculated based
on the Agreed  Interest  Rate. The Assignee will also promptly remit to the
Assignor (i) any principal payments received from the Agent with respect to
Eurodollar  Rate Loans  prior to the  Payment  Date and (ii) any amounts of
interest  on Loans and fees  received  from the Agent  which  relate to the
portion of the Loans  assigned to the Assignee  hereunder for periods prior
to the  Effective  Date, in the case of Floating Rate Loans or fees, or the
Payment Date, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, and not previously paid
by the  Assignee to the  Assignor.]  In the event that either  party hereto
receives any payment to which the other party hereto is entitled under this
Assignment  Agreement,  then the party receiving such amount shall promptly
remit it to the other party hereto.

     5.  FEES  PAYABLE  BY THE  ASSIGNEE.  [The  Assignee  shall pay to the
Assignor a fee on each day on which a payment  of  interest  or  commitment
fees is made  under  the  Credit  Agreement  with  respect  to the  amounts
assigned  to the  Assignee  hereunder  (other than a payment of interest or
commitment  fees for the period prior to the Effective Date or, in the case
of Eurodollar Rate Loans, the Payment Date, which the Assignee is obligated
to deliver to the



                                  Page 56

<PAGE>

Assignor pursuant to Section 4 hereof). The amount of such fee shall be the
difference  between  (i) the  interest  or fee,  as  applicable,  paid with
respect to the amounts  assigned  to the  Assignee  hereunder  and (ii) the
interest or fee, as applicable,  which would have been paid with respect to
the amounts  assigned  to the  Assignee  hereunder  if each  interest  rate
was____  of 1% less than the  interest  rate paid by the  Company or if the
commitment  fee was  _____ of 1% less than the  commitment  fee paid by the
Company,  as applicable.]  [In addition,] [t]he Assignee agrees to pay ___%
of the  recordation fee required to be paid to the Agent in connection with
this Assignment Agreement.

     6.  REPRESENTATIONS  OF THE ASSIGNOR;  LIMITATIONS  ON THE  ASSIGNOR'S
LIABILITY.  The Assignor  represents  and warrants that it is the legal and
beneficial  owner of the interest  being  assigned by it hereunder and that
such  interest  is free  and  clear of any  adverse  claim  created  by the
Assignor.  It is understood  and agreed that the  assignment and assumption
hereunder  are made without  recourse to the Assignor and that the Assignor
makes no other  representation  or  warranty  of any kind to the  Assignee.
Neither the Assignor nor any of its officers, directors,  employees, agents
or attorneys  shall be  responsible  for (i) the due  execution,  legality,
validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or collectability of any
Loan  Document,  including  without  limitation,   documents  granting  the
Assignor  and the other Banks a security  interest in assets of the Company
or any guarantor, (ii) any representation, warranty or statement made in or
in connection with any of the Loan Documents, (iii) the financial condition
or creditworthiness  of the Company or any guarantor,  (iv) the performance
of or  compliance  with any of the terms or  provisions  of any of the Loan
Documents,  (v)  inspecting  any of the  Property,  books or records of the
Company,   (vi)  the  validity,   enforceability,   perfection,   priority,
condition, value or sufficiency of any collateral securing or purporting to
secure the Loans or (vii) any mistake,  error of judgment,  or action taken
or omitted to be taken in connection with the Loans or the Loan Documents.

     7. REPRESENTATIONS OF THE ASSIGNEE.  The Assignee (i) confirms that it
has received a copy of the Credit  Agreement,  together  with copies of the
financial statements requested by the Assignee and such other documents and
information as it has deemed  appropriate  to make its own credit  analysis
and decision to enter into this Assignment  Agreement,  (ii) agrees that it
will,  independently  and without  reliance upon the Agent, the Assignor or
any other Bank and based on such documents and information at it shall deem
appropriate  at the time,  continue  to make its own  credit  decisions  in
taking or not taking action under the Loan  Documents,  (iii)  appoints and
authorizes  the Agent to take such  action  as agent on its  behalf  and to
exercise such powers under the Loan Documents as are delegated to the Agent
by  the  terms  thereof,  together  with  such  powers  as  are  reasonably
incidental  thereto,  (iv) agrees that it will perform in  accordance  with
their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents
are required to be  performed by it as a Bank,  (v) agrees that its payment
instructions and notice  instructions are as set forth in the attachment to
Schedule 1, (vi) confirms that none of the funds,  monies,  assets or other
consideration being used to make the purchase and assumption  hereunder are
"plan  assets" as defined  under  ERISA and that its rights,  benefits  and
interests in

                                  Page 57

<PAGE>

and under the Loan  Documents  will not be "plan assets" under ERISA,  [and
(vii) attaches the forms  prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service of the
United States  certifying that the Assignee is entitled to receive payments
under the Loan  Documents  without  deduction or  withholding of any United
States federal income taxes].

     8.  INDEMNITY.  The Assignee agrees to indemnify and hold the Assignor
harmless against any and all losses, costs and expenses (including, without
limitation,  reasonable  attorneys'  fees) and liabilities  incurred by the
Assignor in  connection  with or arising in any manner from the  Assignee's
non-performance of the obligations assumed under this Assignment Agreement.

     9.  SUBSEQUENT  ASSIGNMENTS.  After the Effective  Date,  the Assignee
shall have the right pursuant to Section 12.3.1 of the Credit  Agreement to
assign the rights  which are  assigned  to the  Assignee  hereunder  to any
entity or person, provided that (i) any such subsequent assignment does not
violate any of the terms and  conditions of the Loan  Documents or any law,
rule, regulation,  order, writ, judgment, injunction or decree and that any
consent  required  under the terms of the Loan  Documents has been obtained
and (ii) unless the prior written consent of the Assignor is obtained,  the
Assignee is not  thereby  released  from its  obligations  to the  Assignor
hereunder, if any remain unsatisfied,  including,  without limitation,  its
obligations under Sections 4, 5 and 8 hereof.

     10.  REDUCTIONS  OF  AGGREGATE  COMMITMENT.  If any  reduction  in the
Aggregate  Commitment occurs between the date of this Assignment  Agreement
and the Effective  Date,  the  percentage  interest  specified in Item 3 of
Schedule 1 shall remain the same, but the dollar amount  purchased shall be
recalculated based on the reduced Aggregate Commitment.

     11.  ENTIRE  AGREEMENT.  This  Assignment  Agreement  and the attached
Notice of Assignment embody the entire agreement and understanding  between
the parties hereto and supersede all prior  agreements  and  understandings
between the parties hereto relating to the subject matter hereof.

     12. GOVERNING LAW. This Assignment  Agreement shall be governed by the
internal law, and not the law of conflicts, of the State of Illinois.

     13. NOTICES. Notices shall be given under this Assignment Agreement in
the manner set forth in the Credit Agreement.  For the purpose hereof,  the
addresses of the parties  hereto  (until  notice of a change is  delivered)
shall be the address set forth in the attachment to Schedule 1.


                                  Page 58

<PAGE>


     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties hereto have executed this Assignment
Agreement  by their duly  authorized  officers  as of the date first  above
written.

                                            [NAME OF ASSIGNOR]

                                            By:_______________________________

                                            Title: ___________________________




                                            [NAME OF ASSIGNEE]

                                            By:  ____________________________

                                            Title:___________________________








                                  Page 59

<PAGE>


                                 SCHEDULE 1
                          to Assignment Agreement

1.   Description and Date of Credit Agreement:

     Credit  Agreement by and among Cordant  Technologies  Inc.,  The First
     National Bank of Chicago, as Administrative Agent, and the Banks party
     thereto dated as of February 5, 1999.

2.   Date of Assignment Agreement:  ______________________ , 19__

3. Amounts (As of Date of Item 2 above):

         a.       Total of Commitments
                  (Loans) under
                  Credit Agreement                               $___________

         b.       Assignee's Percentage
                  of Facility purchased
                  under the Assignment
                  Agreement                                        ______   %

         c.       Amount of Assigned Share in
                  Facility purchased under
                  the Assignment
                  Agreement                                         $_________

4.       Assignee's Aggregate (Loan
         Amount)*  Commitment Amount
          Purchased Hereunder:                                      $_________

5.       Proposed Effective Date:

Accepted and Agreed:

[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]                         [NAME OF ASSIGNEE]

By:  __________________________________    By: _______________________________

Title:________________________________     Title: ____________________________





                                  Page 60
<PAGE>


              Attachment to SCHEDULE 1 to ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT

       Attach Assignor's Administrative Information Sheet, which must
          include notice address for the Assignor and the Assignee




















                                  Page 61

<PAGE>


                                EXHIBIT "I"
                          to Assignment Agreement

                                   NOTICE
                               OF ASSIGNMENT


                                                       ____________, 19__

To:               Cordant Technologies Inc.
                  15 W. South Temple
                  Suite 1600
                  Salt Lake City, UT  84101
                  Attn: Treasury Department

                  The First National Bank of Chicago
                  Mail Suite IL1-0374
                  One First National Plaza
                  Chicago, Illinois  60670
                  Attn:    Transportation Division


From:             [NAME OF ASSIGNOR] (the "Assignor")

                  [NAME OF ASSIGNEE] (the "Assignee")


         1. We refer to that  Credit  Agreement  (the  "Credit  Agreement")
described  in  Item  1  of  Schedule  1  attached  hereto  ("Schedule  1").
Capitalized  terms used herein and not otherwise  defined herein shall have
the meanings attributed to them in the Credit Agreement.

         2.  This  Notice  of  Assignment  (this  "Notice")  is  given  and
delivered  to the Company and the Agent  pursuant to Section  12.3.3 of the
Credit Agreement.

         3. The Assignor and the Assignee  have entered into an  Assignment
Agreement,  dated as of , 19 (the  "Assignment"),  pursuant to which, among
other things, the Assignor has sold, assigned, delegated and transferred to
the Assignee, and the Assignee has purchased, accepted and assumed from the
Assignor the percentage  interest  specified in Item 3 of Schedule 1 of all
outstandings, rights and obligations under the Credit Agreement relating to
the  facilities  listed in Item 3 of Schedule 1. The Effective  Date of the
Assignment shall be the later of the date specified in Item


                                  Page 62

<PAGE>


5 of Schedule 1 or two Business  Days (or such shorter  period as agreed to
by the Agent)  after this Notice of  Assignment  and any  consents and fees
required by Sections  12.3.1,  12.3.2,  and 12.3.3 of the Credit  Agreement
have been  delivered to the Agent,  provided that the Effective  Date shall
not occur if any  condition  precedent  agreed to by the  Assignor  and the
Assignee has not been satisfied.

         4. The Assignor  and the  Assignee  hereby give to the Company and
the Agent notice of the assignment and delegation  referred to herein.  The
Assignor will confer with the Agent before the date  specified in Item 5 of
Schedule 1 to determine if the Assignment  Agreement will become  effective
on such date  pursuant to Section 3 hereof,  and will confer with the Agent
to determine the  Effective  Date pursuant to Section 3 hereof if it occurs
thereafter. The Assignor shall notify the Agent if the Assignment Agreement
does not become effective on any proposed Effective Date as a result of the
failure to satisfy the conditions  precedent  agreed to by the Assignor and
the Assignee. At the request of the Agent, the Assignor will give the Agent
written confirmation of the satisfaction of the conditions precedent.

         5. The  Assignor  or the  Assignee  shall  pay to the  Agent on or
before the Effective Date the processing fee of $3,500  required by Section
12.3.3 of the Credit Agreement.

         6. If Notes are  outstanding  on the Effective  Date, the Assignor
and the  Assignee  request and direct that the Agent  prepare and cause the
Company to execute and deliver new Notes or, as  appropriate,  replacements
notes,  to the Assignor and the Assignee.  The Assignor and, if applicable,
the Assignee  each agree to deliver to the Agent the original Note received
by it from the Company  upon its  receipt of a new Note in the  appropriate
amount.

         7.  The  Assignee  advises  the  Agent  that  notice  and  payment
instructions are set forth in the attachment to Schedule 1.

         8. The Assignee  hereby  represents  and warrants that none of the
funds,  monies,  assets  or  other  consideration  being  used to make  the
purchase  pursuant to the  Assignment  are "plan  assets" as defined  under
ERISA and that its rights,  benefits,  and  interests in and under the Loan
Documents will not be "plan assets" under ERISA.


                                  Page 63


<PAGE>


         9. The Assignee authorizes the Agent to act as its agent under the
Loan  Documents  in  accordance  with  the  terms  thereof.   The  Assignee
acknowledges that the Agent has no duty to supply  information with respect
to the Company or the Loan  Documents  to the  Assignee  until the Assignee
becomes a party to the Credit Agreement.

NAME OF ASSIGNOR                            NAME OF ASSIGNEE


By: _____________________________          By:________________________________

Title:___________________________          Title:_____________________________


ACKNOWLEDGED AND CONSENTED TO       ACKNOWLEDGED AND CONSENTED TO
BY THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK          BY CORDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.
OF CHICAGO

By:______________________________   By:______________________________________

Title: __________________________   Title:___________________________________




               [Attach photocopy of Schedule 1 to Assignment]







                                  Page 64


<PAGE>


                                SCHEDULE "1"

                                SUBSIDIARIES
                             (SEE SECTION 5.16)

                    (Ownership interests are 100% unless
                           otherwise indicated.)















                                  Page 65

<PAGE>


                                SCHEDULE "2"

                        INDEBTEDNESS OF SUBSIDIARIES
                             (SEE SECTION 5.16)










                                  Page 66

<PAGE>


                                SCHEDULE "3"

                                   LIENS
                            (SEE SECTION 6.2.6)



         There are no Liens  outstanding  by the Company or any  Subsidiary
except Liens permitted pursuant to Section 6.2.6 of the Credit Agreement.














                                  Page 67



<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This Schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Cordant
Technologies Inc. unaudited financial statements for the quarter ended March 31,
1999 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                               1,000,000
       
<S>                                        <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1999
<CASH>                                              19
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                      290
<ALLOWANCES>                                         9
<INVENTORY>                                        261
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   617
<PP&E>                                            1140
<DEPRECIATION>                                     461
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                    2409
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                              544
<BONDS>                                            644
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                            41
<OTHER-SE>                                         666
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                      2409
<SALES>                                            634
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                   637
<CGS>                                              491
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      550
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  10
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     77
<INCOME-TAX>                                        23
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                 47
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                        47
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.29
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.26
        

</TABLE>


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