PAMIDA INC /DE/
10-Q, 1998-09-15
VARIETY STORES
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q

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



For the quarterly period ended August 2, 1998
                               --------------
Commission File Number 33-57990
                       --------

                                  PAMIDA, INC.
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


           Delaware                                   47-0626426
- -------------------------------                  ----------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of                      (IRS Employer
incorporation or organization)                   Identification Number)


   8800 "F" Street, Omaha, Nebraska                      68127
- ----------------------------------------              ----------
(Address of principal executive offices)              (Zip Code)


                                 (402) 339-2400
              ----------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


     Indicate  by check mark  whether the  registrant  (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934  during  the  preceding  12 months  (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:

 Class of Common Stock                       Outstanding at September 8, 1998
 ---------------------                       --------------------------------
     Common Stock                                     1,000 Shares


                         PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

                          ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                          PAMIDA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                             (Dollars in Thousands)
                                   (Unaudited)

<S>                                                             <C>           <C>
ASSETS:                                                         August 2,     February 1,
  Current assets:                                                 1998           1998
                                                                ---------     -----------
  Cash .......................................................  $   8,505     $     6,816
    Accounts receivable, less allowance for
      doubtful accounts of $50 ...............................     10,518           8,901
    Merchandise inventories ..................................    160,895         152,927
    Prepaid expenses .........................................      3,694           2,838
                                                                ---------     -----------
      Total current assets ...................................    183,612         171,482

  Property, buildings and equipment, less accumulated
    depreciation and amortization of $65,201 and $63,738 .....     39,195          40,812
  Leased property under capital leases, less accumulated
    amortization of $16,665 and $15,387 ......................     29,605          25,181
  Deferred financing costs ...................................      2,548           2,755
  Other assets ...............................................     19,666          20,613
                                                                ---------     -----------
                                                                $ 274,626     $   260,843
                                                                =========     ===========

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY:
  Current liabilities:
    Accounts payable .........................................  $  60,306     $    47,687
    Loan and security agreement ..............................     39,851          45,194
    Accrued compensation .....................................      4,933           5,768
    Accrued interest .........................................      6,595           6,668
    Store closing reserve ....................................        789           1,564
    Other accrued expenses ...................................     16,851          12,067
    Income taxes - deferred and current payable ..............     13,656          15,445
    Current maturities of long-term debt .....................         47              47
    Current obligations under capital leases .................      1,845           1,843
                                                                ---------     -----------
       Total current liabilities .............................    144,873         136,283

  Long-term debt, less current maturities ....................    140,266         140,289
  Obligations under capital leases,
    less current obligations .................................     36,897          32,156
  Other long-term liabilities ................................      4,305           3,012
  Commitments and contingencies ..............................          -               -
  Common stockholder's equity:
    Common stock, $.01 par value; 10,000 shares authorized;
      1,000 shares issued and outstanding, ...................          -               -
    Additional paid-in capital ...............................     17,000          17,000
    Accumulated deficit ......................................    (68,715)        (67,897)
                                                                ---------     -----------
      Total common stockholder's deficit .....................    (51,715)        (50,897)
                                                                ---------     -----------
                                                                $ 274,626     $   260,843
                                                                =========     ===========
</TABLE>

See notes to consolidated financial statements


                          PAMIDA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                             (Dollars in Thousands)
                                   (Unaudited)


                                  Three Months Ended        Six Months Ended
                                 ---------------------    ---------------------
                                 August 2,   August 3,    August 2,   August 3,
                                   1998        1997         1998        1997
                                 ---------   ---------    ---------   ---------
Sales .........................  $ 170,169   $ 163,217    $ 314,701   $ 307,781

Cost of goods sold ............    126,861     121,715      237,033     233,011
                                 ---------   ---------    ---------   ---------
Gross profit ..................     43,308      41,502       77,668      74,770
                                 ---------   ---------    ---------   ---------
Expenses:
  Selling, general and
    administrative ............     34,659      33,271       66,387      64,240
  Interest ....................      6,246       6,415       12,607      12,960
                                  ---------   ---------    ---------   ---------
                                    40,905      39,686       78,994      77,200
                                 ---------   ---------    ---------   ---------
Income (loss) before income
  tax provision (benefit) .....      2,403       1,816       (1,326)     (2,430)

Income tax provision (benefit)         920           -         (508)          -
                                 ---------   ---------    ---------   ---------
Net income (loss) .............  $   1,483   $   1,816    $    (818)  $  (2,430)
                                 =========   =========    =========   =========

See notes to consolidated financial statements.


                          PAMIDA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                             (Dollars in Thousands)
                                   (Unaudited)

                                                          Six Months Ended
                                                       -----------------------
                                                       August 2,     August 3,
                                                         1998          1997
                                                       ---------     ---------
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
  Net loss ..........................................  $    (818)    $  (2,430)
                                                       ---------     ---------
  Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash 
    from operating activities:
      Depreciation and amortization of fixed assets
        and intangibles .............................      6,143         5,885
      Provision for LIFO inventory valuation ........        500           433
      Gain on disposal of assets ....................     (1,000)          (77)
      Decrease in store closing reserve .............       (996)       (2,028)
      (Increase) decrease in merchandise inventories      (8,468)        9,817
      Increase in other operating assets ............     (7,349)       (4,271)
      Increase (decrease) in accounts payable .......     12,619          (930)
      Increase in other operating liabilities .......      3,601         7,310
                                                       ---------     ---------
         Total adjustments ..........................      5,050        16,139
                                                       ---------     ---------
           Net cash from operating activities .......      4,232        13,709
                                                       ---------     ---------

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
 Proceeds from disposal of assets ...................      2,068         1,906
 Proceeds from sale-leaseback of store facilities ...      8,389             -
 Changes in constructed stores to be refinanced
   through lease financing ..........................     (1,440)        1,765
 Principal payments received on notes receivable ....         10             9
 Capital expenditures ...............................     (5,155)       (4,833)
                                                       ---------     ---------
            Net cash from investing activities ......      3,872        (1,153)
                                                       ---------      --------

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
  Borrowings under loan and security agreement, net .     (5,343)       (9,905)
  Principal payments on capital lease obligations ...       (958)         (891)
  Payments for deferred finance costs ...............        (91)         (225)
  Principal payments on long-term debt ..............        (23)          (23)
                                                       ---------     ---------
           Net cash used in financing activities ....     (6,415)      (11,044)
                                                       ---------     ---------

Net increase in cash ................................      1,689         1,512

Cash at beginning of year ...........................      6,816         6,973
                                                       ---------     ---------
Cash at end of period ...............................  $   8,505     $   8,485
                                                       =========     =========
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
(1)  Cash paid (received) during the period for:
       Interest .....................................  $  12,680     $  13,459
       Income taxes:
         Payments to taxing authorities .............      1,419            32
         Refunds received from taxing authorities ...       (137)       (3,798)

SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF NONCASH INVESTING AND
   FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
           Capital lease obligations incurred when
           the Company entered into lease agreements
           for new store facilities. ................      5,701             -

See notes to consolidated financial statements.




                          PAMIDA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
               SIX MONTHS ENDED AUGUST 2, 1998 AND AUGUST 3, 1997
                                   (Unaudited)
                             (Dollars in Thousands)



1.   MANAGEMENT REPRESENTATION

     The  accompanying  unaudited  consolidated  financial  statements have been
     prepared in accordance with generally  accepted  accounting  principles for
     interim  financial   information.   In  the  opinion  of  management,   all
     adjustments  necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations
     for the interim periods have been included.  All such  adjustments are of a
     normal  recurring  nature.  Because of the seasonal nature of the business,
     results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of a full year's
     operations.   The  accounting   policies  followed  by  Pamida,  Inc.  (the
     "Company")  and  additional  footnotes  are  reflected in the  consolidated
     financial  statements  contained  in the Form  10-K  Annual  Report  of the
     Company for the fiscal year ended February 1, 1998.

2.   INVENTORIES

     Substantially  all  inventories  are stated at the lower of cost  (last-in,
     first-out) or market. Total inventories would have been higher at August 2,
     1998 and February 1, 1998 by $7,680 and $7,180, respectively,  had the FIFO
     (first-in,  first-out)  method  been  used  to  determine  the  cost of all
     inventories.  Quarterly LIFO inventory  determinations  reflect assumptions
     regarding  fiscal  year-end  inventory  levels and the estimated  impact of
     annual  inflation.  Actual inventory levels and annual inflation could vary
     from estimates made on a quarterly basis.

3.   NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

     In June 1997, the FASB adopted SFAS No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments of
     an  Enterprise  and Related  Information".  SFAS 131,  effective for fiscal
     1999,   redefines  how  operating  segments  are  determined  and  requires
     disclosure  of  certain  financial  and  descriptive  information  about  a
     company's  operating  segments.  The Company  currently  complies with most
     provisions of this  statement and any  incremental  disclosure  required is
     expected to be minimal.

     In March 1998,  the  Accounting  Standards  Executive  Committee  ("AcSEC")
     issued Statement of Position ("SOP") No. 98-1, "Accounting for the Costs of
     Computer  Software  Developed  or Obtained  for  Internal  Use." The SOP is
     effective  for  financial  statements  for  fiscal  years  beginning  after
     December 15, 1998.  The Company has not yet  determined  the impact of this
     accounting pronouncement.

     In April 1998,  the AcSEC issued SOP No. 98-5,  "Reporting  on the Costs of
     Start-Up Activities",  which requires that costs of start-up activities and
     organization  costs be  expensed  as  incurred.  The SOP is  effective  for
     financial  statements for fiscal years  beginning  after December 15, 1998.
     The Company will  continue its  historical  practice of expensing  start-up
     costs as incurred.

4.   RECLASSIFICATIONS

     Certain  reclassifications  have been made to the  prior  year's  financial
     statements to conform to the current year's presentation.


                ITEM 2 - MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
                  FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
                             (Dollars in Thousands)


The following is  management's  discussion  and analysis of certain  significant
factors which have affected the  Company's  results of operations  and financial
condition for the periods  included in the accompanying  consolidated  financial
statements.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The  following  table  sets  forth an  analysis  of  various  components  of the
Consolidated Statements of Operations as a percentage of sales for the three and
six months ended August 2, 1998 and August 3, 1997:


                                 August 2,   August 3,    August 2,   August 3,
                                   1998        1997         1998        1997
                                 ---------   ---------    ---------   ---------
Sales                               100.0%      100.0%       100.0%      100.0%
Cost of goods sold                   74.6%       74.6%        75.3%       75.7%
                                 ---------   ---------    ---------   ---------
Gross profit                         25.4%       25.4%        24.7%       24.3%
Selling, general and
  administrative expense             20.3%       20.4%        21.1%       20.9%
                                 ---------   ---------    ---------   ---------
Operating income                      5.1%        5.0%         3.6%        3.4%
Interest expense                      3.7%        3.9%         4.0%        4.2%
                                 ---------   ---------    ---------   ---------
Income (loss) before income
  tax provision (benefit)             1.4%        1.1%       (0.4)%      (0.8)%
Income tax provision (benefit)        0.5%          -        (0.1)%         -
                                 ---------   ---------    ---------   ---------
Net income (loss)                     0.9%        1.1%       (0.3)%      (0.8)%
                                 =========   =========    =========   =========


SALES - During the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 1999,  sales in
comparable stores increased $8,394 or 5.3% and $10,196 or 3.4%, respectively, as
compared to the second  quarter  and first six months of last year.  Total sales
for the second  quarter and first six months of fiscal 1999  increased by $6,952
or 4.3% and $6,920 or 2.2%,  respectively,  as compared to the same periods last
year.

The Company  operated 149 stores at the end of the first  quarter of both fiscal
1999 and 1998 and operated 147 stores at the end of the second quarter of fiscal
1999 as  compared  with 149 stores at the end of the second  quarter  last year.
Since August 3, 1997 the Company has opened two stores in new markets, relocated
two stores and closed four stores.  The increase in  comparable  store sales was
the  result  of  targeted  merchandising  initiatives  in  departments  such  as
pantries, pet supplies, domestics, shoes and seasonal categories which helped to
drive customer traffic.

The Company  experienced  sales increases in most merchandise  categories during
the second quarter of fiscal 1999. The largest dollar increases were in pharmacy
prescriptions,  lawn and  garden,  yarns  and  crafts,  pets,  bath  and  floor,
consumables,  athletic  shoes,  paper and  cleaning,  juniors  apparel  and team
sports.  The Company  experienced  sales  declines in several  categories,  with
automotive  and several  women's  apparel  categories  experiencing  the largest
declines.

GROSS PROFIT  increased $1,806 or 4.4% and $2,898 or 3.9% for the second quarter
and first six months, respectively,  of fiscal 1999 compared to the same periods
last year. As a percent of sales,  gross profit was 25.4% for the second quarter
of both years and  increased  to 24.7% for the first six  months of fiscal  1999
from 24.3% for the same period last year. The margin percent improvement for the
first six months of the year versus last year was due primarily to modest margin
improvements in a majority of the merchandise categories.

SELLING,  GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE  (SG&A) expense, in line with the Company's
plan, increased $1,388 or 4.2% for the second quarter of fiscal 1999 compared to
the second quarter of fiscal 1998 and increased $2,147 or 3.3% for the first six
months of fiscal 1999  compared to the same period last year. As a percentage of
sales,  SG&A  expense was 20.3% and 20.4% for the second  quarter of fiscal 1999
and 1998,  respectively,  and was 21.1% and 20.9%,  respectively,  for the first
half of fiscal 1999 and 1998.

Over half of the net  increase in SG&A  expense  for the second  quarter and the
first half of fiscal 1999 over the same  periods last year was  attributable  to
higher corporate general and administrative expenses, primarily due to increases
in payroll,  incentive  compensation and depreciation and amortization  charges.
Store payroll costs  increased  slightly  over last year to  accommodate  normal
compensation  increases,  minimum wage  increases  and to support  higher sales.
Store fixed expenses also  increased  slightly due to the effect of higher costs
of new store locations.

INTEREST  expense  decreased  $169 or 2.6% for the second quarter of fiscal 1999
compared to the same period of fiscal  1998 and  decreased  $353 or 2.7% for the
first half of fiscal 1999  compared to the same period last year.  The  decrease
was attributable to decreased  average revolver  borrowings and related interest
due to the cumulative effect of improved financial performance.

INCOME TAX PROVISION - The Company had deferred tax assets,  initially  recorded
at the end of fiscal  1996,  related to certain tax credit  carryforwards  which
resulted from prior year store closing charges.  The Company had also recorded a
valuation  allowance related to these assets. The Company's  valuation allowance
was utilized  during  fiscal 1998 to partially  offset  income taxes from normal
operating  activities of the Company. No provision for income taxes was recorded
during  fiscal 1997 as this  expense was offset by the  reversal of a portion of
the valuation  allowance.  The Company expects that operations in future periods
will be taxed at a normal tax rate.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The Company's  business is seasonal with first quarter sales  (February  through
April) lower than sales during the other three  quarters;  fourth  quarter sales
(November through January) have represented approximately 29% of the full year's
sales in recent years and normally involve a greater proportion of higher margin
sales.

The Company has satisfied its seasonal liquidity  requirements primarily through
a combination  of funds  provided from  operations  and from a revolving  credit
facility.  Funds provided by operating  activities  totaled $4,232 for the first
six months of fiscal 1999, and totaled $13,709 in the same period last year. The
decrease in cash flow from operating  activities from fiscal 1998 to fiscal 1999
was  primarily  the  result of  planned  increases  in  inventory  to support an
improved  inventory  in-stock position and changes in other operating assets and
liabilities.  These items were offset somewhat by increased accounts payable and
improvements in net income.

The Company's  committed Loan and Security Agreement (the Agreement) was amended
and  restated on July 2, 1998 and  provides  funds to July 2001.  The  amendment
increased  the  maximum  borrowing  limit to $125,000  from  $95,000 and reduced
interest  rates by 75 basis points.  The amended  $125,000  facility  includes a
$25,000  supplemental  facility  primarily  intended for real estate development
activities,  which the Company plans to use to accelerate  its new store opening
program in fiscal 2000.

Borrowings  under the  Agreement  bear  interest  at a rate which is tied to the
prime rate (as defined) or the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR),  generally
at the  Company's  discretion.  Included  in the July 2, 1998  amendment  to the
Agreement  were  provisions   substantially  increasing  the  maximum  permitted
borrowings  available to the Company at any given time.  The amounts the Company
is permitted to borrow are  determined by a formula based upon the amount of the
Company's  eligible  inventory from time to time. Such borrowings are secured by
security  interests in all of the current  assets  (including  inventory) of the
Company and by liens on certain real estate  interests and other property of the
Company.  Pamida Holdings  Corporation  ("Holdings") and two subsidiaries of the
Company have guaranteed the payment and performance of the Company's obligations
under the  Agreement  and have pledged some or all of their  respective  assets,
including the stock of the Company owned by Holdings, to secure such guarantees.

The Agreement contains provisions imposing operating and financial  restrictions
on the Company.  The Agreement  requires the  achievement  of specified  minimum
amounts of cash flow (as defined). Other restrictions in the Agreement and those
provided  under the  Indenture  relating to the Senior  Subordinated  Notes will
affect,  among other  things,  the  ability of the  Company to incur  additional
indebtedness,  pay dividends,  repay  indebtedness prior to its stated maturity,
create  liens,  enter  into  leases,   sell  assets  or  engage  in  mergers  or
acquisitions,  make capital  expenditures and make investments.  These covenants
currently  have not had an impact on the Company's  ability to fully utilize the
revolving  credit  facility.  However,  certain of the covenants,  such as those
which  restrict  the  ability  of the  Company to incur  indebtedness, engage in
sale/leaseback transactions,  or encumber its property, may at some future time,
unless waived or amended,  prevent the Company from pursuing its store expansion
program at the rate that the Company desires.

Obligations  under the  Agreement  were $39,851 at August 2, 1998 and $47,210 at
August 3, 1997.  Total unused borrowing  availability  under the Agreement as of
August 2, 1998  totaled  $75,109 as  compared  to $25,490 at the end of the same
period last year. As noted above,  this facility  expires in March 2001, and the
Company  intends to refinance any outstanding  balance by such date.  Borrowings
under the Agreement are senior to the Senior  Subordinated Notes of the Company.
The Company had long-term debt and obligations  under capital leases of $177,163
at August 2, 1998 and  $173,481  at August 3,  1997.  The  Company's  ability to
satisfy scheduled  principal and interest payments under such obligations in the
ordinary  course of business is dependent  primarily upon the sufficiency of the
Company's  operating cash flow and refinancings.  At August 2, 1998, the Company
was  in  compliance  with  all  covenants  contained  in its  various  financing
agreements.

On December 18, 1992, the promissory notes of Holdings were amended effective as
of December 1, 1992 to provide that,  until the  obligations  of the Company and
Holdings under certain of the Company's credit  agreements had been repaid,  the
quarterly  interest  payments on the  promissory  notes of  Holdings  were to be
paid-in-kind.  Holdings repaid all of the promissory  notes with common stock of
the Company on November 18, 1997.

Holdings  reclassified  all  preferred  stock  into  common  stock  of  Holdings
effective November 18, 1997. Accordingly,  Holdings has no remaining obligations
related to its  preferred  stock as of the end of fiscal  1998.  Since  Holdings
conducts  no   operations   of  its  own,   prior  to  the   November  18,  1997
reclassification  of the preferred  stock, the only cash requirement of Holdings
related  to  preferred  stock  dividends  in  the  aggregate  annual  amount  of
approximately  $316;  and the Company  was  expressly  permitted  under its then
existing  credit  facilities to pay dividends to Holdings to fund such preferred
stock dividends.  However, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware,
under which the Company and Holdings are  incorporated,  allows a corporation to
declare or pay a dividend only from its surplus or from the current or the prior
year's earnings.  Due to the retained deficit resulting primarily from the store
closings and the write-off of goodwill and other long-lived assets recognized in
the fourth  quarter of fiscal 1996,  the Company and Holdings did not declare or
pay any cash dividends in fiscal 1998.

The Company made capital expenditures of $5,155 in the first half of fiscal 1999
compared  to $4,833  during the same period  last year.  The  Company  also made
expenditures  of $4,102 and  $2,434 in the first six  months of fiscal  1999 and
1998,  respectively,  related to information systems software. The Company plans
to open a total of  six  new stores in fiscal 1999 and will consider  additional
opportunities  for new store locations as they arise.  Capital  expenditures and
information systems software costs are expected to total  approximately  $15,000
in fiscal 1999. The Company  expects to fund these  expenditures  from cash flow
from its operations. The costs of buildings and land for new store locations are
expected  to be  financed  by  operating  or capital  leases  with  unaffiliated
landlords, as well as borrowings  under the  Agreement.  The Company's expansion
program also will require  inventory of approximately  $1,000 to $1,200 for each
new market  store,  which the Company  expects to finance  through trade credit,
borrowings under the Agreement and cash flow from operations.

In the first half of 1998, the Company sold and leased back six store properties
with net cash proceeds totaling $8,389. The leases are classified as capital and
operating  leases for four and two store  properties,  respectively.  The annual
lease  payments  for the six store  properties  for each of the next five  years
total $933.

The  Company's  cash flow from  operations,  along  with the  Agreement,  should
provide   adequate   resources  to  meet  the  Company's   near  term  liquidity
requirements.  On a  long-term  basis,  the  Company's  expansion  will  require
continued  investments  in  store  locations,  distribution  and  infrastructure
enhancements  and working  capital.  The Company  expects to continue to finance
these  investments  through cash flow from operations,  leases from unaffiliated
landlords,  trade credit and borrowings under the Agreement. The Company is also
exploring  additional  sources of funds  which may  include  additional  capital
structure changes. Currently, it is not possible for the Company to predict with
any  certainty  either  the  timing  or  the  availability  of  such  additional
financing.

INFLATION

The  Company  uses the LIFO  method  of  inventory  valuation  in its  financial
statements;  as a result,  the cost of  merchandise  sold  approximates  current
costs.  The  Company's  rental  expense  is  generally  fixed  except  for  some
percentage rents and periodic rental adjustments.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS


This  management's  discussion  and analysis  contains  certain  forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995 (the "1995  Act").  Such  statements  are made in good faith by the Company
pursuant to the safe-harbor provisions of the 1995 Act. In connection with these
safe-harbor  provisions,  this  management's  discussion  and analysis  contains
certain forward-looking  statements which reflect management's current views and
estimates  of  future  economic  circumstances,   industry  conditions,  company
performance,  Year 2000  compliance  and financial  results.  The statements are
based on many assumptions and factors  including sales results,  expense levels,
competition and interest rates as well as other risks and uncertainties inherent
in the Company's business, capital structure and the retail industry in general.
Any changes in these factors could result in significantly different results for
the  Company.  Plans  for new  stores  are  subject  to  numerous  contingencies
discussed in the Company's Form 10-K Annual Report. The Company further cautions
that the  forward-looking  information  contained  herein is not  exhaustive  or
exclusive.  The  Company  does  not  undertake  to  update  any  forward-looking
statements which may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company.


                           PART II - OTHER INFORMATION


     ITEMS 1 -5.

          None.

     ITEM 6:

          (a) Exhibits.

               10.1 Amended and  Restated  Loan and  Security  Agreement  by and
                    among  Congress   Financial   Corporation   (Southwest)  and
                    BankAmerica  Business  Credit,  Inc.,  as Lenders,  Congress
                    Financial Corporation (Southwest), as Agent for Lenders, and
                    Pamida,  Inc. and Seaway  Importing  Company,  as Borrowers,
                    dated July 2, 1998.
              
               10.2 Reaffirmation of Guarantee and  Security Agreement by Pamida
                    Holdings   Corporation   dated  July 2,  1998,  and original
                    Guarantee of  Pamida Holdings  Corporation  dated  March 30,
                    1993 (relates to Exhibit 10.1).

               27.1 Financial Data Schedule (EDGAR version only).


          (b) Reports on Form 8-K.

               No reports on Form 8-K were filed  during the  quarter  for which
               this report is filed.


                                   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.

                                        PAMIDA, INC.
                                        ------------
                                        (Registrant)



Date:  September 15, 1998               By: /S/ Steven S. Fishman
       ------------------                   ---------------------
                                            Steven S. Fishman, Chairman,
                                            President and Chief Executive
                                            Officer


Date:  September 15, 1998               By: /S/ Todd D. Weyhrich
       ------------------                   --------------------
                                            Todd D. Weyhrich
                                            Vice President, Controller and
                                            Chief Accounting Officer


                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                           LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

                                  by and among

                   CONGRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION (SOUTHWEST)
                        BANKAMERICA BUSINESS CREDIT, INC.
                                   as Lenders

                                       and

                   CONGRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION (SOUTHWEST)
                              as Agent for Lenders

                                       and

                                  PAMIDA, INC.
                            SEAWAY IMPORTING COMPANY
                                  as Borrowers


                               Dated: July 2, 1998



                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                          PAGE
                                                                          ----
SECTION 1.  DEFINITIONS................................................... 1

SECTION 2.  ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND RESTATEMENT................................ 17
        2.1  Existing Obligations......................................... 17
        2.2  Acknowledgment of Security Interests......................... 17
        2.3  Existing Agreement........................................... 17
        2.4  Restatement.................................................. 18
        2.5  Release...................................................... 18

SECTION 3.  CREDIT FACILITIES............................................. 19
        3.1  Revolving Credit Facility.................................... 19
        3.3  Letter of Credit Accommodations.............................. 19
        3.4  Loan Limits; Revolving Credit Facility Limit
        3.5  Supplemental Credit Facility Limit........................... 21
        3.6  Mandatory Prepayments........................................ 22
        3.7  Reserves..................................................... 22
        3.8  Fees......................................................... 23
        3.9  Interest..................................................... 24
        3.10  Conduct of Accounts; Cross-Collateralization................ 26
        3.11  Use of Proceeds............................................. 28
        3.12  Compensation Adjustment..................................... 28
        3.13  Changes in Laws and Increased Costs of Loans................ 29

SECTION 4.  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO LOANS
            AND OTHER FINANCIAL ACCOMMODATIONS.............................30

SECTION 5.  COLLATERAL.....................................................31

SECTION 6.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.................................32
        6.1  Organization and Qualification............................... 33
        6.2  Corporate Power and Authority................................ 33
        6.3  Capitalization and Senior Subordinated Notes................. 33
        6.4  Compliance with Other Agreements and Applicable Law.......... 34
        6.5  Governmental Approval........................................ 35
        6.6  Chief Executive Offices; Collateral Locations................ 35
        6.7  Priority of Liens/Title to Properties........................ 35
        6.8  Tax Returns.................................................. 36
        6.9  Litigation................................................... 36



                                             i

<PAGE>

        6.10  Intellectual Property....................................... 36
        6.11  Accounts.................................................... 37
        6.12  Employee Benefits........................................... 37
        6.13  Environmental Compliance.................................... 38
        6.14  Investment Company.......................................... 39
        6.15  Regulation U; Securities Exchange Act of 1934............... 39
        6.16  No Material Adverse Change.................................. 39
        6.17  Financial Statements........................................ 40
        6.18  Disclosure.................................................. 40
        6.19  Labor Disputes.............................................. 40
        6.20  Corporate Name; Prior Transactions.......................... 40

SECTION 7.  ADDITIONAL COVENANTS...........................................41
        7.1  Tradenames................................................... 41
        7.2  Subsidiaries................................................. 41
        7.3  Indebtedness................................................. 42
        7.4  Limitation on Liens.......................................... 45
        7.5  Loans, Investments, Guarantees, Etc.......................... 47
        7.6  Transactions with Affiliates................................. 50
        7.7  Dividends.................................................... 51
        7.8  Maintenance of Existence..................................... 51
        7.9  Sale of Assets, Consolidation, Merger, Dissolution, Etc...... 51
        7.10  Compliance with Laws, Regulations, Etc...................... 53
        7.11  Payment of Taxes and Claims................................. 54
        7.12  Properties in Good Condition................................ 55
        7.13  Insurance................................................... 55
        7.14  Appraisals and Inventory Reports............................ 56
        7.15  Compliance with ERISA....................................... 56
        7.16  Notice of Default........................................... 57
        7.17  Financial Statements and Other Information.................. 57
        7.18  Capital Expenditures........................................ 60
        7.19  Consolidated Adjusted Cash Flow............................. 60
        7.20  Further Assurances.......................................... 60

SECTION 8.  EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES................................ 61
        8.1  Events of Default............................................ 61
        8.2  Remedies..................................................... 63

SECTION 9.  COLLECTION AND ADMINISTRATION................................. 65
        9.1  Collections; Management of Collateral........................ 65
        9.2  Right of Inspection; Access.................................. 67
        9.3  Specific Powers.............................................. 67



                                                 ii

<PAGE>

SECTION 10.  EFFECTIVE DATE; TERMINATION; COSTS; MISCELLANEOUS............ 68
        10.1  Agent....................................................... 68
        10.2  Term........................................................ 68
        10.3  Expenses and Additional Fees................................ 69
        10.4  Survival of Agreement....................................... 70
        10.5  No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies.............................. 71
        10.6  Notices..................................................... 71
        10.7  Entire Agreement............................................ 72
        10.8  Amendments and Waivers...................................... 72
        10.9  Applicable Law.............................................. 72
        10.10  Successors................................................. 72
        10.11  Partial Invalidity......................................... 72
        10.12  Headings................................................... 73
        10.13  Participant's Security Interests........................... 73
        10.14  Waiver of Jury Trial....................................... 73
        10.15  Waiver of Counterclaims; Jurisdiction; Service of Process.. 73
        10.16  Indemnification............................................ 74
        10.17  Texas DTPA Waiver and Related Matters...................... 75
        10.18  Counterparts............................................... 75




                                       iii

<PAGE>

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS


EXHIBIT A     Jurisdictions of Qualification       Section 6.1(a)

EXHIBIT B     Subsidiaries                         Section 6.1(b)

EXHIBIT C     Chief Executive Offices              Section 6.6(a)

EXHIBIT D     Locations of Collateral              Section 6.6(a)

EXHIBIT E     Existing Liens                       Section 6.7(a), 7.4

EXHIBIT F     Pending Litigation                   Section 6.9

EXHIBIT G     Environmental Violations             Section 6.13

EXHIBIT H     Collective Bargaining Agreements     Section 6.19

EXHIBIT I     Corporate Name; Tradenames;
                Prior Transactions                 Sections 6.20, 7.1

EXHIBIT J     Existing Indebtedness                Section 7.3

EXHIBIT K     Existing Loans, Investments and
                Guarantees                         Section 7.5



                                       iv

<PAGE>

                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                           LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT


     AGREEMENT  dated as of July 2, 1998 by and among  Pamida,  Inc., a Delaware
corporation  ("Pamida",  as  hereinafter  further  defined),   Seaway  Importing
Company, a Nebraska corporation  ("Seaway",  as hereinafter further defined, and
together  with  Pamida,   each   individually  a  "Borrower"  and  collectively,
"Borrowers",  as hereinafter  further defined),  Congress Financial  Corporation
(Southwest),  a Texas  corporation (in its individual  capacity  "Congress",  as
hereinafter  further  defined),  BankAmerica  Business Credit,  Inc., a Delaware
corporation,  formerly known as BA Business Credit, Inc. ("BABC", as hereinafter
further defined,  and together with Congress,  each  individually a "Lender" and
collectively,  "Lenders", as hereinafter further defined) and Congress Financial
Corporation (Southwest), as Agent for Lenders (in such capacity, the "Agent", as
hereinafter further defined).


                              W I T N E S S E T H:


     WHEREAS,  Agent and Lenders have heretofore  entered into certain financing
arrangements  with  Borrowers  as  set  forth  in  the  Existing  Agreement  (as
hereinafter  defined)  pursuant  to which  Lenders or Agent on behalf of Lenders
have made loans and advances  and provided  other  financial  accommodations  to
Borrowers;

     WHEREAS, Borrowers have requested that Lenders and Agent extend, modify and
restate the existing financing arrangements with Borrowers;

     WHEREAS,  Agent and Lenders  are willing to extend,  modify and restate the
existing financing  arrangements,  subject to the terms and conditions contained
herein and in the other Financing Agreements (as defined below);

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the mutual covenants and
agreements  herein contained and other good and valuable  consideration,  Agent,
Lenders and Borrowers  hereby  mutually  covenant,  warrant and agree as follows
(the  covenants,  warranties  and  agreements of Borrowers,  except as otherwise
expressly set forth herein, being joint and several):

SECTION 1.  DEFINITIONS

     For the purposes of this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements,  the
following terms shall have the respective meanings given to them below:

     1.1 "Account Debtor" shall mean each debtor or obligor in any way obligated
on or in connection with any Account.

     1.2 "Accounts" shall mean all present and future accounts, contract rights,
general intangibles, chattel paper, documents and instruments, as such terms are
defined in the UCC,



                                       1
<PAGE>

including,  without limitation, all obligations for the payment of money arising
out of the  sale,  lease or other  disposition  of  goods or other  property  or
rendition  of  services  and   including,   without   limitation,   Credit  Card
Receivables.

     1.3 "Adjusted  Eurodollar  Rate" shall mean,  with respect to each Interest
Period for any Eurodollar  Rate Loan, the rate per annum  (rounded  upwards,  if
necessary,  to the next one-sixteenth  (1/16) of one (1%) percent) determined by
dividing (a) the  Eurodollar  Rate for such Interest  Period by (b) a percentage
equal to: (i) one (1) minus (ii) the Reserve  Percentage.  For purposes  hereof,
"Reserve  Percentage" shall mean the maximum reserve percentage,  expressed as a
decimal (rounded upwards,  if necessary,  to the nearest six hundred twenty-five
ten thousandths  (.0625%)  percent),  prescribed by any United States or foreign
banking  authority for determining the reserve  requirement which is or would be
applicable  to deposits of United  States  dollars in a non-United  States or an
international  banking office of Reference Bank (or, if greater, in a non-United
States or an international banking office of any Lender,  provided,  that, Agent
shall have  received  from such  Lender  prior  written  notice of such  greater
reserve  percentage)  used to fund a Eurodollar Rate Loan or any Eurodollar Rate
Loan made with the proceeds of such deposit,  whether or not the Reference  Bank
(or such other  Lender)  actually  holds or has made any such deposits or loans.
The Adjusted Eurodollar Rate shall be adjusted on and as of the effective day of
any change in the Reserve Percentage (or, if later, upon the receipt by Agent of
written notice from any Lender of such greater reserve percentage).

     1.4  "Affiliate"  shall  mean,  with  respect  to  a  specified  Person,  a
partnership,  corporation  or any other  person  which  directly or  indirectly,
through one or more  intermediaries,  controls or is  controlled  by or is under
common  control with such Person,  and without  limiting the  generality  of the
foregoing,  includes (a) any Person which  beneficially  owns or holds ten (10%)
percent or more of any class of voting securities of such Person or other equity
interests in such Person; (b) any Person of which such Person  beneficially owns
or holds ten (10%) percent or more of any class of voting securities or in which
such Person  beneficially  owns or holds ten (10%) percent or more of the equity
interests;  and (c) any director or officer of such Person.  For the purposes of
this definition,  the term "control" (including with correlative  meanings,  the
terms  "controlled by" and "under common control with"), as used with respect to
any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct
or cause the direction of the  management  and policies of such Person,  whether
through the ownership of voting securities or by contract or otherwise.

     1.5 "Agent" shall mean Congress Financial Corporation (Southwest),  a Texas
corporation, acting in its capacity as agent for itself and BankAmerica Business
Credit Inc.,  formerly  known as BA Business  Credit Inc.,  and any successor or
replacement agent, and not as a Lender, as defined below.

     1.6  "Asset  Sale"  shall  mean any direct or  indirect  sale,  conveyance,
transfer, lease (including by means of a sale-leaseback) or other disposition to
any Person other than Pamida or a Subsidiary of Pamida,  in one transaction or a
series of related  transactions,  of (a) any capital stock of any  Subsidiary of
Pamida or (b) any other property or asset of Pamida or any



                                        2

<PAGE>

Subsidiary of Pamida,  in each case other than Inventory in the ordinary  course
of business and obsolete equipment and other than isolated transactions which do
not exceed $500,000 individually.  For the purposes of this definition, the term
"Asset  Sale"  shall  not  include  (i)  sales  of Cash  Equivalents  which  are
reinvested in Cash Equivalents  within thirty (30) days of such sale, (ii) sales
of receivables not a part of a sale of the business from which they arose or any
disposition  of  properties  and  assets  of Pamida  or any  Subsidiary  that is
governed  under and complies with Section  7.9(a)  hereof or (iii)  exchanges of
properties  and assets of Pamida or any  Subsidiary  for similar  properties and
assets of any Person other than Pamida or a Subsidiary of Pamida.

     1.7 "BABC" shall mean BankAmerica  Business Credit, Inc., formerly known as
BA  Business  Credit,  Inc.,  a Delaware  corporation,  and its  successors  and
assigns.

     1.8 "Bankruptcy  Code" shall mean the United States  Bankruptcy Code, being
Title 11 of the United  States Code,  as the same now exists or may from time to
time hereafter be amended, modified,  recodified or supplemented,  together with
all rules, regulations and interpretations thereunder or related thereto.

     1.9  "Blocked  Account"  shall have the  meaning  set forth in  Section 9.1
hereof.

     1.10  "Board"  shall mean the Board of  Governors  of the  Federal  Reserve
System or any successor thereto.

     1.11 "Borrowers"  shall mean,  individually and  collectively,  jointly and
severally, Pamida and Seaway and their respective successors and assigns.

     1.12  "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday,  Sunday,  or
other day on which  commercial  banks are  authorized or required to close under
the laws of the State of New York or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and a day
on which the Reference  Bank,  Agent and Lenders are open for the transaction of
business,  except that if a determination  of a Business Day shall relate to any
Eurodollar Rate Loans, the term Business Day shall also exclude any day on which
banks are closed for dealings in dollar deposits in the London  interbank market
or other applicable Eurodollar Rate market.

     1.13 "Capital  Expenditures"  shall mean all  expenditures for any fixed or
capital assets or improvements, or for replacements,  substitutions or additions
thereto, which have a useful life of more than one (1) year, including,  but not
limited  to,  the  direct  or  indirect  acquisition  of such  assets  by way of
increased  product  service  charges,  offset items or otherwise  (but shall not
include for purposes of Section 7.18: (a) any such expenditures  which have been
previously  specifically identified in reports thereof furnished by Borrowers to
Agent and, subject to the terms and conditions  contained herein,  are allocated
to Supplemental  Loans under the Supplemental  Credit Facility at the request of
Borrowers and (b) capitalized lease payments).



                                        3

<PAGE>

     1.14 "Cash  Equivalents"  shall  mean,  at any time,  (a) any  evidence  of
Indebtedness  with a maturity of one hundred eighty (180) days or less issued or
directly and fully  guaranteed or insured by the United States of America or any
agency or instrumentality thereof (provided,  that, the full faith and credit of
the United States of America is pledged in support thereof); (b) certificates of
deposit or acceptances  with a maturity of one hundred eighty (180) days or less
of any  financial  institution  that is a member of the Federal  Reserve  System
having  combined  capital  and surplus  and  undivided  profits of not less than
$250,000,000;  (c) commercial  paper with a maturity of one hundred eighty (180)
days  or less  issued  by a  corporation  (except  an  Affiliate  of  Borrowers)
organized  under the laws of any state of the United  States or the  District of
Columbia and rated at least A-1 by Standard & Poor's Ratings Service, a division
of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. or at least P-1 by Moody's Investors Service,
Inc.; and (d) repurchase  agreements and reverse repurchase  agreements relating
to marketable direct  obligations  issued or  unconditionally  guaranteed by the
United States of America or issued by any agency  thereof and backed by the full
faith and credit of the United States of America,  in each case maturing  within
one (1) year from the date of acquisition;  provided, however, that the terms of
such  agreements  comply with the guidelines set forth in the Federal  Financial
Agreements of Depository  Institutions  with Securities  Dealers and Others,  as
adopted by the Comptroller of the Currency.

     1.15 "Change of Control" shall mean (a) the direct or indirect sale, lease,
exchange or other transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of Holdings
to any Person or entity or group of Persons or  entities  acting in concert as a
partnership  or other group (a "Group of  Persons")  other than an  Affiliate of
Holdings;  (b) the merger or  consolidation  of  Holdings  with or into  another
corporation with the effect that the then existing shareholders of Holdings hold
less  than  fifty  (50%)  percent  of the  combined  voting  power  of the  then
outstanding  securities  of the  surviving  corporation  in such  merger  or the
corporation resulting from such consolidation  ordinarily (and apart from rights
arising under special circumstances) having the right to vote in the election of
directors;  (c) the  replacement  of a  majority  of the Board of  Directors  of
Holdings,  over a one (1) year period,  from the directors who  constituted  the
Board of Directors at the beginning of such period,  and such replacement  shall
not  have  been  approved  or  nominated  for  election  by a vote of at least a
majority of the Board of Directors  then still in office who either were members
of the Board of Directors at the beginning of such period or whose election as a
member of the Board of Directors  was  previously  so approved;  (d) a Person or
Group of Persons shall, as a result of a tender or exchange  offer,  open market
purchases,   privately  negotiated  purchases  or  otherwise,  have  become  the
beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange
Act) of securities of Holdings  representing thirty (30%) percent or more of the
combined voting power of the then outstanding  securities of Holdings ordinarily
(and apart from rights arising under special  circumstances) having the right to
vote in the election of  directors;  or (e) Holdings  fails to own a majority of
the  combined  voting  power  of  the   outstanding   voting  stock  of  Pamida.
Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  a Change of Control shall not be deemed to have
occurred if one or more of the above  events occur or  circumstances  exist and,
after giving effect  thereto,  the Senior  Subordinated  Notes are rated BBB- or
better by  Standard & Poor's  Ratings  Service,  a division  of The  McGraw-Hill
Companies, Inc., or Baa3 or better by Moody's Investors Service, Inc.



                                        4

<PAGE>

     1.16 "Code" shall mean the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as the same now
exists or may from time to time  hereafter be amended,  modified,  recodified or
supplemented,   together  with  all  rules,   regulations  and   interpretations
thereunder or related thereto.

     1.17 "Collateral" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5 hereof.

     1.18  "Commitment  Percentage"  shall mean,  with  respect to the making of
Loans and any other  Obligations,  for Congress,  sixty (60%)  percent,  and for
BABC, forty (40%) percent.

     1.19 "Congress" shall mean Congress Financial  Corporation  (Southwest),  a
Texas corporation,  in its individual capacity as Lender, and its successors and
assigns.

     1.20 "Consolidated  Adjusted Cash Flow" shall mean, as to any Person,  with
respect to any period,  an amount equal to: (a) the  consolidated  net income or
loss of such  Person and its  Subsidiaries  (excluding  to the  extent  included
therein any non-cash gains from extraordinary  items and any losses arising from
the early  extinguishment of the Senior  Subordinated Notes) after deducting all
charges which should be deducted before  arriving at consolidated  net income or
loss for such  period,  all as  determined  in  accordance  with  GAAP and after
deducting  the Provision for Taxes for such period,  plus (b)  depreciation  for
such  period,  plus  (c)  amortization  for  such  period,  including,   without
limitation,  amortization  of  capitalized  debt  issuance  costs,  plus (d) any
increases (or minus any decreases) in any LIFO reserve for such period, plus (e)
other  non-cash  charges  for  such  period  (to  the  extent  deducted  in  the
computation  of net  income  or loss) all in  accordance  with  GAAP,  minus (f)
Capital  Expenditures  made or  accrued  during  such  period (to the extent not
otherwise deducted in the computation of net income or loss), minus (g) payments
made or  accrued  in respect of  dividends  on or  redemptions  of any shares of
capital stock of such Person and its Subsidiaries or pursuant to any tax sharing
arrangements  or management or consulting fees during such period (to the extent
not  otherwise  deducted in the  computation  of net income or loss),  minus (h)
payments made or accrued in respect of principal owing on any  Indebtedness  for
borrowed money (including,  without limitation,  Indebtedness for borrowed money
pursuant to any intercompany loans between Affiliates, except to the extent such
Indebtedness is eliminated in the  consolidation of the financial  statements of
such Person and its  Subsidiaries  in accordance  with GAAP) or payments made or
accrued in respect of capitalized leases other than the portion of such payments
attributable to imputed interest with respect to such capitalized  leases (other
than as to  Borrowers,  repayments  of the Loans to Agent  and/or  Lenders  made
through the application of customer  remittances or other proceeds from sales of
Inventory in the ordinary course).

     1.21  "Consolidated  Pre-Tax Net Income"  shall mean,  with  respect to any
Person,  for any period,  the aggregate of the net income or loss of such Person
and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, for such period (excluding to the
extent  included  therein any  non-cash  gains from  extraordinary  items) after
deducting all charges which should be deducted before arriving at the net income
or loss for such period and before  deducting  the  Provision for Taxes for such
period, all as determined in accordance with GAAP,  provided,  that, (a) the net
income of any Person that is not a wholly-owned  Subsidiary or that is accounted
for by the



                                        5

<PAGE>

equity method of  accounting  shall be included only to the extent of the amount
of dividends or  distributions  paid or payable to such Person or a wholly-owned
Subsidiary of such Person; (b) the effect of any change in accounting principles
adopted  by such  Person  or its  Subsidiaries  after the date  hereof  shall be
excluded; and (c) the net income (if positive) of any wholly-owned Subsidiary to
the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions
by such  wholly-owned  Subsidiary  to such  Person or to any other  wholly-owned
Subsidiary of such Person is not at the time permitted by operation of the terms
of its charter or any agreement,  instrument,  judgment, decree, order, statute,
rule of government regulation  applicable to such wholly-owned  Subsidiary shall
be excluded.  For the purpose of this  definition,  net income excludes any gain
(but not loss), together with any related Provision for Taxes for such gain (but
not loss),  realized upon the sale or other  disposition  of any assets that are
not sold in the  ordinary  course of business,  or of any capital  stock of such
person or a Subsidiary of such person.

     1.22 "Credit Card Receivables" shall mean collectively, (a) all present and
future  rights of Borrowers to payment from any credit card issuer,  credit card
processor  or other  third party  arising  from sales of goods or  rendition  of
services to customers who have  purchased  such goods or services using a credit
or debit card,  (b) all present and future  rights of  Borrowers to payment from
any credit card issuer, credit card processor or other third party in connection
with the sale or transfer of Accounts  arising  pursuant to the sale of goods or
rendition of services to  customers  who have  purchased  such goods or services
using a credit card or a debit card, including,  but not limited to, all amounts
at any time due or to become  due from any  credit  card  issuer or credit  card
processor.

     1.23 "Eligible Inventory" shall mean Inventory consisting of finished goods
held for resale in the ordinary  course of the  businesses  of  Borrowers  which
Inventory is acceptable to Agent based on the criteria set forth below.  Subject
to the terms and  conditions  contained  herein,  Eligible  Inventory  shall not
include (a)  Inventory  at premises  other than those  owned and  controlled  by
Borrowers,  except for (i)  Inventory at the retail store  locations  leased and
operated  by Pamida,  (ii)  Inventory  at any  distribution  centers  leased and
operated by Pamida,  provided,  that,  Agent shall have received an agreement in
writing  from the  owner  and  lessor  of such  premises  in form and  substance
satisfactory to Agent acknowledging  Agent's first priority security interest in
the Inventory,  waiving security interests and claims by such person against the
Inventory  and  permitting  Agent  access  to,  and the right to remain  on, the
premises so as to exercise  Agent's  rights and remedies and otherwise deal with
the  Collateral,  (iii) Inventory  outside the continental  United States and in
transit to premises of  Borrowers  in the  continental  United  States which are
owned and controlled by Borrowers or leased and operated by Borrowers, provided,
that, (A) Agent has a first priority perfected security interest in, and control
and possession of, all originals of documents of title and such other  documents
as may be required in connection therewith and (B) such Inventory is not subject
to any Letter of Credit Accommodation,  and (iv) Inventory in transit within the
continental United States from and to premises owned and controlled by Borrowers
or leased and operated by Borrowers;  (b) slow moving or obsolete Inventory; (c)
damaged  Inventory;  (d)  Inventory to be returned by Borrowers to vendors;  (e)
packaging  and shipping  materials;  (f) supplies used or consumed in Borrowers'
businesses; (g) Inventory subject to a security interest or lien in



                                        6

<PAGE>

favor of any person other than Agent and Lenders;  (h) Inventory at the premises
of third  parties;  (i)  defective  goods;  (j)  Inventory  purchased or held on
consignment;  (k) samples;  (l) bill and hold goods;  and (m) Inventory which is
not  subject to the first  priority  perfected  security  interest  of Agent and
Lenders.  General criteria for Eligible Inventory may be established and revised
from time to time by Agent in good faith based on an event,  condition  or other
circumstance  arising  after the date hereof,  or existing on the date hereof to
the extent Agent has no written notice thereof from  Borrowers,  which adversely
affects or could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the Inventory in the
good faith  determination of Agent. In determining such acceptability Agent may,
but need not, rely on reports and  schedules of Inventory  furnished to Agent by
Borrowers,  but reliance  thereon by Agent from time to time shall not be deemed
to limit  Agent's  right  to  revise  standards  of  eligibility  at any time in
accordance  with the terms hereof.  Any Inventory  which Agent  determines to be
ineligible or unacceptable for lending  purposes at any time shall  nevertheless
be and remain at all times part of the Collateral.

     1.24 "Eligible  Real Property"  shall mean the Omaha Real Property owned by
Pamida which is and remains at all times subject to the first  priority,  valid,
enforceable and perfected security interests,  and mortgages and liens of, Agent
and  Lenders  pursuant  to the  Mortgages  and for which  Agent has  received an
appraisal in form, scope and methodology  acceptable to Agent and Lenders and by
an  appraiser  acceptable  to Agent and Lenders  addressed to Agent and on which
Agent is expressly  permitted to rely as required under Section 7.14 hereof. Any
real  property of Borrowers  which is  ineligible  or  unacceptable  for lending
purposes at any time shall  nevertheless  be and remain at all times part of the
Collateral.

     1.25  "Environmental  Laws" shall mean all  Federal,  State and local laws,
rules, regulations,  ordinances, and consent decrees relating to health, safety,
hazardous substances, and environmental matters, as now or at any time hereafter
in effect,  applicable to  Borrowers'  business and  facilities  (whether or not
owned by it).  Such laws and  regulations  include,  but are not limited to, the
Resource   Conservation  and  Recovery  Act,  as  amended;   the   Comprehensive
Environmental  Response,  Compensation and Liability Act, as amended;  the Toxic
Substances Control Act, as amended;  the Clean Water Act, as amended;  the Clean
Air Act, as amended;  the Hazardous  Materials  Transportation  Act, as amended;
state  and  federal  superlien  and  environmental  cleanup  programs;  and U.S.
Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection Agency regulations.

     1.26  "ERISA"  shall  mean the United  States  Employee  Retirement  Income
Security Act of 1974, as the same now exists or may hereafter  from time to time
be amended,  modified,  recodified  or  supplemented,  together  with all rules,
regulations and interpretations thereunder or related thereto.

     1.27 "ERISA  Affiliate" shall mean any (a) corporation which is a member of
the same controlled group of corporations  (within the meaning of section 414(b)
of the Code) as Borrowers,  (b) partnership or other trade or business  (whether
or not  incorporated)  which is under  common  control  (within  the  meaning of
Section 414(c) of the Code) with Borrowers,



                                        7

<PAGE>

and (c) member of the same  affiliated  service  group  (within  the  meaning of
Section 414(m) of the Code) as Borrowers.

     1.28 "Eurodollar  Rate" shall mean, with respect to the Interest Period for
a  Eurodollar  Rate Loan,  the interest  rate per annum equal to the  arithmetic
average of the rates of interest per annum (rounded  upwards,  if necessary,  to
the next six hundred  twenty-five  ten  thousandths  (.0625%)  percent) at which
Reference  Bank is  offered  deposits  of United  States  dollars  in the London
interbank  market on or about 9:00 a.m.  (New York time) two (2)  Business  Days
prior to the commencement of such Interest Period in amounts substantially equal
to the principal  amount of the Eurodollar Rate Loans requested by and available
to Borrowers in accordance  with this  Agreement,  with a maturity of comparable
duration to the Interest Period selected by Borrowers.

     1.29  "Eurodollar Rate Loans" shall mean,  individually  and  collectively,
Eurodollar Rate Revolving Loans and Eurodollar Rate Supplemental Loans.

     1.30  "Eurodollar  Rate Revolving  Loans" shall mean any Revolving Loans or
portion  thereof on which  interest is payable based on the Adjusted  Eurodollar
Rate in accordance with the terms hereof.

     1.31 "Eurodollar Rate Supplemental Loans" shall mean any Supplemental Loans
or portion thereof on which interest is payable based on the Adjusted Eurodollar
Rate in accordance with the terms hereof.

     1.32  "Event of  Default"  shall  have the  meaning  set forth in Section 8
hereof.

     1.33 "Excess  Availability"  shall mean the amount, as determined by Agent,
as of any date, equal to:

          (a) the lesser of: (i) the amount of the Revolving Credit Availability
as determined by Agent and (ii) the Maximum Credit,

                                      MINUS

          (b) the sum of:  (i) the  amount of all then  outstanding  and  unpaid
Obligations  (other than the principal amount of the Supplemental  Loans),  plus
(ii) the  aggregate  amount of all then  outstanding  and unpaid trade  payables
which are past due.

     1.34 "Existing Agreement" shall mean the Loan and Security Agreement, dated
March 30, 1993, by and among Agent, Lenders and Borrowers.

     1.35 "Existing Letter of Credit  Accommodations" shall mean,  collectively,
the Letter of Credit  Accommodations  arranged  for by Agent for the  account of
Borrowers prior to the date hereof under the Existing Agreement.



                                        8

<PAGE>

     1.36  "Financing  Agreements"  shall mean,  collectively,  this  Agreement,
together with all other agreements, documents and instruments heretofore, now or
at any time hereafter executed and/or delivered by Borrowers or any other person
with, to or in favor of Agent and/or  Lenders in connection  herewith or related
hereto,  as this Agreement and such other  agreements,  documents or instruments
now  exist  or may  hereafter  be  amended,  modified,  supplemented,  extended,
renewed, restated or replaced.

     1.37 "GAAP" shall mean  generally  accepted  accounting  principles  in the
United  States of  America  as in  effect  from time to time as set forth in the
opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting  Principles Board and the American
Institute of Certified Public  Accountants and the statements and pronouncements
of  the  Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board  which  are  applicable  to the
circumstances  as of the date of  determination  except  that,  for  purposes of
Sections 7.18 and 7.19, GAAP shall be determined on the basis of such principles
as in  effect  on  the  date  hereof  and  consistent  with  those  used  in the
preparation of the most recent audited financial  statements  delivered to Agent
and Lenders prior to the date hereof.

     1.38 "Guarantors"  shall mean,  individually and collectively,  jointly and
severally,  Holdings and  Transportation  and their  respective  successors  and
assigns.

     1.39  "Hazardous  Materials"  shall mean any hazardous,  toxic or dangerous
waste,  substance  or  material  defined as such under any  Environmental  Laws,
including,   without  limitation,  (a)  those  substances  included  within  the
definitions   of   "hazardous   substances",   "hazardous   materials",   "toxic
substances", or "solid waste" in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the
Comprehensive  Environmental  Response,  Compensation  and  Liability  Act,  the
Hazardous Materials  Transportation Act, Section 311 of the Clean Water Act, and
in the  regulations  promulgated  pursuant  to such laws;  (b) those  substances
listed in the U.S.  Department of  Transportation  Table or by the Environmental
Protection  Agency (or any successor agency) as hazardous  substances;  (c) such
other  substances,  materials  and  wastes  that are or become  regulated  under
applicable  local,  state or federal law, or that are classified as hazardous or
toxic under other applicable federal,  state, or local laws or regulations;  and
(d) any material, waste or substance that is (i) petroleum, (ii) asbestos, (iii)
polychlorinated   biphenyls,  (iv)  flammable  explosives,  or  (v)  radioactive
materials.  In the  event  that  any of the  applicable  Environmental  Laws are
amended so as to broaden the meaning of any of the above-referenced  terms, such
broader meaning shall apply subsequent to the effective date of such amendment.

     1.40  "Holdings"  shall  mean  Pamida  Holdings  Corporation,   a  Delaware
corporation, and its successors and assigns.

     1.41  "Indebtedness"  shall mean,  as to any Person,  all items  which,  in
accordance  with GAAP,  consistently  applied,  would be included in determining
total  liabilities  of such Person  shown on the  liability  side of its balance
sheet as at the date such  Indebtedness  is to be calculated  and, in any event,
shall include any liabilities secured by any mortgage,  pledge, lien or security
interest existing on any of its properties or assets.



                                        9

<PAGE>

     1.42 "Interest Period" shall mean for any Eurodollar Rate Loan, a period of
approximately  one (1), two (2) or three (3) months  duration as  Borrowers  may
elect,  the exact  duration to be determined  in  accordance  with the customary
practice in the applicable Eurodollar Rate market; provided, that, Borrowers may
not  elect  an  Interest  Period  which  will  end  after  the  last  day of the
then-current term of this Agreement.

     1.43  "Interest  Rate" shall mean (a) as to Prime Rate  Revolving  Loans, a
rate equal to the Prime Rate per annum, (b) as to Prime Rate Supplemental Loans,
a rate equal to one  quarter of one  (1/4%)  percent  per annum in excess of the
Prime Rate, (c) as to Eurodollar  Rate Revolving  Loans, a rate equal to two and
one-quarter  (2-1/4%)  percent  per annum in excess of the  Adjusted  Eurodollar
Rate, and (d) as to Eurodollar Rate Supplemental  Loans, a rate equal to two and
one-half  (2-1/2%)  percent per annum in excess of the Adjusted  Eurodollar Rate
(in each case as to Eurodollar  Rate Loans to Borrowers  based on the Eurodollar
Rate applicable for the Interest Period selected by Borrowers as in effect three
(3)  Business  Days  after  the date of  receipt  by Lender  of the  request  of
Borrowers for such  Eurodollar  Rate Loans in accordance  with the terms hereof,
whether  such  rate is  higher  or  lower  than any rate  previously  quoted  to
Borrowers); provided, that:

          (i) subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Interest
Rate shall be reduced as follows:

               (A) as to Eurodollar Rate Revolving Loans, to a rate equal to two
(2%)  percent  per  annum in  excess  of the  Adjusted  Eurodollar  Rate,  as to
Eurodollar  Rate  Supplemental  Loans,  to a rate  equal to two and  one-quarter
(2-1/4%)  percent per annum in excess of the Adjusted  Eurodollar Rate and as to
Prime Rate  Supplemental  Loans, to a rate equal to the Prime Rate per annum, in
each case  effective on the first day of the month,  after each of the following
conditions is satisfied as determined  by Agent:  (1) either:  (aa) Pamida shall
have received not less than $15,000,000 in cash or other  immediately  available
funds either as the net proceeds  from the one time  issuance and sale by Pamida
to  Holdings of shares of common  stock of Pamida  (which sale shall be on terms
acceptable to Agent) or as a contribution  to the capital of Pamida by Holdings,
in either  case  with  proceeds  received  by  Holdings  from the sale of equity
securities,  which funds shall be available to Borrowers for working  capital or
the  development  of new retail store  locations of Borrowers  and other related
operating  facilities  pursuant to the purchase of land for such stores or other
facilities and the  construction of the stores or other  facilities on such land
or (bb) the Consolidated  Pre- Tax Net Income of Pamida and its Subsidiaries for
the fiscal  year of Pamida  ending on or about  January 31, 1999 as set forth in
the audited financial  statements of Pamida and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal
year  delivered  to  Agent,   together  with  the  unqualified  opinion  of  the
independent  certified  public  accountants  of Borrowers,  in  accordance  with
Section  7.17  hereof,  shall be not less  than  $6,624,000  and (2) no Event of
Default, or act, condition or event which with notice or passage of time or both
would  constitute  an Event of  Default,  shall  exist or have  occurred  and be
continuing;

               (B) as to Eurodollar Rate Revolving Loans, to a rate equal to one
and  three-  quarters  (1-3/4%)  percent  per annum in  excess  of the  Adjusted
Eurodollar Rate, as to



                                       10

<PAGE>

Eurodollar  Rate  Supplemental  Loans,  to a rate equal to two (2%)  percent per
annum in excess of the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate (in the event that the rates for
such Loans have previously been reduced pursuant to clause (A) of the definition
above and if not, then as to Eurodollar Rate Revolving Loans, to a rate equal to
two (2%) percent per annum in excess of the Adjusted  Eurodollar  Rate and as to
Eurodollar  Rate  Supplemental  Loans, to a rate equal to two and one-quarter (2
1/4%)  percent per annum in excess of the  Adjusted  Eurodollar  Rate) and as to
Prime Rate  Supplemental  Loans, to a rate equal to the Prime Rate per annum (if
such  rate has not  already  been so  reduced  pursuant  to  clause  (A) of this
definition above), in each case effective as of the first day of the month after
each of the following conditions is satisfied as determined by Agent: (1) either
(aa) if Pamida  shall  not have  received  $15,000,000  or more in cash or other
immediately available funds as described in clause (A)(1)(aa) of this definition
above during the fiscal year of Pamida ending on or about January 31, 1999, then
if  Pamida  shall  have  received  not less  than  $15,000,000  in cash or other
immediately  available  funds  either  as the net  proceeds  from  the one  time
issuance  and sale by Pamida  to  Holdings  of shares of common  stock of Pamida
(which sale shall be on terms  acceptable to Agent) or as a contribution  to the
capital of Pamida by Holdings, in either case with proceeds received by Holdings
from the sale of equity securities,  which funds shall be available to Borrowers
for  working  capital  or the  development  of new  retail  store  locations  of
Borrowers and other  related  operating  facilities  pursuant to the purchase of
land for such stores or other  facilities and the  construction of the stores or
other  facilities  on such land or (bb) the  Consolidated  Pre-Tax Net Income of
Pamida and its  Subsidiaries  for the fiscal  year of Pamida  ending on or about
January 31, 2000 as set forth in the audited financial  statements of Pamida and
its such Subsidiaries for such fiscal year delivered to Agent, together with the
unqualified   opinion  of  the  independent   certified  public  accountants  of
Borrowers,  in accordance  with Section 7.17 hereof,  shall be not less than the
greater  of  $6,624,000  or the  amount  equal to eighty  (80%)  percent  of the
Consolidated  Pre-Tax Net Income of Pamida and its  Subsidiaries  for the fiscal
year of Pamida ending on or about January 31, 2000 as set forth in the projected
statements of income and balance sheets of Pamida and its Subsidiaries  received
by Agent pursuant to Section  7.17(a)(vi) hereof and (2) no Event of Default, or
act,  condition  or event  which  with  notice or  passage of time or both would
constitute an Event of Default shall exist or have occurred and be continuing;

          (ii)  notwithstanding  anything  to the  contrary  contained  in  this
Agreement or in any of the other Financing Agreements,  the Interest Rate, as to
Prime Rate Loans and Eurodollar Rate Loans, shall mean the rate two (2%) percent
per annum more than the otherwise  then  applicable  Interest  Rate, at Lender's
option,  without  notice,  (A) for the  period  from and  after  the date of the
occurrence of any Event of Default,  and for so long as such Event of Default is
continuing,  and (B) on Revolving Loans at any time outstanding in excess of the
Revolving Credit  Availability and on Supplemental Loans at any time outstanding
in  excess  of  the  Supplemental  Credit  Availability  (whether  or  not  such
excess(es)  arise or are made with or without Agent's or any Lender's  knowledge
or consent and whether made before or after an Event of Default).



                                       11

<PAGE>

     1.44 "Interest Rate Protection  Obligations"  shall mean the obligations of
any Person pursuant to any arrangement  with any other Person whereby,  directly
or  indirectly,  such Person is entitled to receive  from time to time  periodic
payments calculated by applying either a floating or a fixed rate of interest on
a stated notional  amount in exchange for periodic  payments made by such Person
calculated  by  applying  a fixed or a  floating  rate of  interest  on the same
notional  amount and shall  include,  without  limitation,  interest rate swaps,
caps, floors, collars and similar agreements.

     1.45  "Inventory"  shall  mean all of  Borrowers'  now owned and  hereafter
acquired inventory,  wherever located,  including,  without limitation,  all raw
materials,  work-in-process,  finished and semi-finished  inventory of any kind,
nature or description,  including, without limitation, all wrapping,  packaging,
advertising  and shipping  materials,  and any other personal  property held for
sale,  exchange or lease or  furnished or to be furnished or used or consumed in
the  business or in  connection  with the  manufacturing,  packaging,  shipping,
advertising,  selling or furnishing of such goods,  inventory,  merchandise  and
other  personal  property,  and all names or marks  affixed  to or to be affixed
thereto for  purposes of selling  same by the  seller,  manufacturer,  lessor or
licensor thereof and all right, title and interest therein and thereto,  and the
proceeds (including,  without limitation, all proceeds of insurance with respect
thereto,  including  the  proceeds of any  applicable  casualty  insurance)  and
products of all of the foregoing;  and all ledgers,  books of account,  records,
computer  printouts,  computer  runs, and other  computer  prepared  information
relating to any of the foregoing.

     1.46 "Lenders" shall mean, individually and collectively, Congress and BABC
and their respective successors and assigns.

     1.47 "Letter of Credit Accommodations" shall mean the letters of credit and
merchandise  purchase or other guaranties which are from time to time either (a)
issued or opened by Agent on behalf of Lenders  for the account of a Borrower or
any  Obligor or (b) with  respect to which Agent on behalf of Lenders has agreed
to  indemnify  the  issuer or  guaranteed  to the issuer  the  performance  by a
Borrower of its obligations to such issuer (including,  without limitation,  the
Existing Letters of Credit).

     1.48 "Loans" shall mean Revolving Loans and Supplemental Loans.

     1.49 "Maximum Credit" shall mean $125,000,000.

     1.50 "Mortgages"  shall mean,  individually and  collectively,  each of the
following  (as the  same  now  exist  or may  hereafter  be  amended,  modified,
supplemented,  extended,  renewed, restated or replaced): (a) the Deed of Trust,
Security Agreement, Financing Statement and Assignment of Rents, dated March 30,
1993,  by Pamida in favor of Agent,  with  respect  to the Omaha  Real  Property
(other than the real property  located at 10330 I Street,  Omaha,  Nebraska) and
(b) the Leasehold Deed of Trust,  Security  Agreement,  Financing  Statement and
Assignment  of Rents,  dated March 30, 1993,  by Pamida in favor of Agent,  with
respect to the real  property  and related  assets of Pamida  located at 10330 I
Street, Omaha, Nebraska.



                                       12

<PAGE>

     1.51 "Net Recovery Cost Percentage" shall mean the fraction, expressed as a
percentage,  (a) the  numerator  of which is the  amount  equal to the  expected
recovery on the  aggregate  amount of the Inventory at such time on a "going out
of business sale" basis as set forth in the most recent acceptable  appraisal of
Inventory  received by Agent in accordance  with Section 7.14,  net of operating
expenses, liquidation expenses and commissions, and (b) the denominator of which
is the  original  cost of the  aggregate  amount  of the  Inventory  subject  to
appraisal.

     1.52 "Note Indenture" shall mean the Indenture, dated as of March 15, 1993,
by and among Pamida, as issuer, Holdings, as guarantor and State Street Bank and
Trust Company,  as trustee in connection with the Senior  Subordinated Notes, as
the same  now  exists  or may  hereafter  be  amended,  modified,  supplemented,
extended, renewed, restated or replaced.

     1.53 "Obligations" shall mean all obligations, liabilities and indebtedness
of every kind,  nature and  description  owing by either or both of Borrowers to
Agent and/or either or both of Lenders and any Participant, including principal,
interest, charges, fees, premiums,  indemnities and expenses, however evidenced,
whether as principal,  surety, endorser, guarantor or otherwise, whether arising
hereunder,  under the other  Financing  Agreements  or  otherwise,  whether  now
existing or  hereafter  arising,  whether  arising  before,  during or after the
initial or any renewal  term hereof or after the  commencement  of any case with
respect to Borrowers under the U.S.  Bankruptcy Code or any similar statute (and
including,  without limitation,  any principal,  interest, fees, costs, expenses
and other amounts,  whether or not such amounts are allowable either in whole or
in part, in any such case or similar  proceeding),  whether  direct or indirect,
absolute or contingent,  joint or several, due or not due, primary or secondary,
liquidated or unliquidated,  secured or unsecured, original, renewed or extended
and whether  arising  directly or howsoever  acquired by Agent  and/or  Lenders,
including  from  any  other  person  outright,  conditionally  or as  collateral
security,  by  assignment,  merger  with any  other  person,  participations  or
interests  of Agent or  Lenders  in the  obligations  of  Borrowers  to  others,
assumption,  operation of law,  subrogation or otherwise.  Without  limiting the
generality  of  the  foregoing,  "Obligations"  shall  include:  (a)  Borrowers'
liability to Agent or Lenders for all  balances  owing to Lenders in any account
maintained  on Agent's or  Lenders'  books  under  this  Agreement  or the other
Financing  Agreements,  (b) Borrowers' liability to Agent or Lenders as maker or
endorser of any  promissory  note or other  instrument for the payment of money,
Borrowers'  liability to Agent or Lenders  under any  instrument of guarantee or
indemnity, or arising under or with respect to any letter of credit, acceptance,
instrument,  guarantee,  endorsement or  undertaking  which Agent or Lenders may
make, endorse or issue to others for the account of Borrowers,  (c) Indebtedness
owing by  Borrowers  to Agent or Lenders or to present or future  Affiliates  or
Participants of or with Agent or Lenders arising under or in connection with any
of the foregoing types of agreements,  instruments or transactions,  and (d) all
principal,  interest,  financing  charges,  early  termination  and other  fees,
commissions and expenses payable to Agent or Lenders, including, but not limited
to, attorneys' and accountants'  fees and disbursements  chargeable to Borrowers
and due from Borrowers under this Agreement or the other Financing Agreements.



                                       13

<PAGE>

     1.54 "Obligor"  shall mean any  guarantor,  endorser,  acceptor,  surety or
other person liable on or with respect to the Obligations or who is the owner of
any property which is security for the Obligations, other than Borrowers.

     1.55 "Omaha Real Property" shall mean the real property of Pamida, together
with all buildings,  structures,  and other improvements located thereon and all
licenses,  easements  and  appurtenances  relating  thereto,  located  at 8800 F
Street, Omaha, Nebraska, 8720 F Street, Omaha, Nebraska,  10330 I Street, Omaha,
Nebraska and 10550 I Street, Omaha, Nebraska.

     1.56  "Participant"  shall mean any Person  which at any time  participates
with  either of  Lenders in respect of the  Revolving  Loans,  the  Supplemental
Loans, the Letter of Credit  Accommodations  or other Obligations or any portion
thereof.

     1.57  "Payment  Account"  shall have the  meaning  set forth in Section 9.1
hereof.

     1.58 "Person" or "person" shall mean any individual,  sole  proprietorship,
partnership,  corporation  (including,  without  limitation,  any subchapter "S"
corporation,  as  defined  in the  Code),  limited  liability  company,  limited
liability partnership,  business trust, unincorporated association,  joint stock
corporation,  trust,  joint  venture or other  entity or any  government  or any
agency or instrumentality or political subdivision thereof.

     1.59 "Prime Rate" shall mean the rate from time to time publicly  announced
by First Union National Bank, or its successors,  as its prime rate,  whether or
not such announced rate is the best rate available at such bank.

     1.60 "Prime Rate Loans"  shall mean,  individually  and  collectively,  the
Prime Rate Revolving Loans and the Prime Rate Supplemental Loans.

     1.61 "Prime Rate Revolving Loans" shall mean any Revolving Loans or portion
thereof on which interest is payable based on the Prime Rate in accordance  with
the terms thereof.

     1.62 "Prime Rate Supplemental  Loans" shall mean any Supplemental  Loans or
portion  thereof  on  which  interest  is  payable  based on the  Prime  Rate in
accordance with the terms thereof.

     1.63  "Provision  for Taxes"  shall mean with respect to any fiscal year of
any  Person and its  Subsidiaries,  an amount  equal to all taxes  imposed on or
measured by net income,  whether Federal, State or local, and whether foreign or
domestic, that are paid or payable by any Person and its Subsidiaries in respect
of such fiscal year on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

     1.64  "Reference  Bank" shall mean First Union National Bank, or such other
bank as Agent may from time to time designate,  provided,  that, such other bank
is a member of the


                                       14

<PAGE>

Federal  Reserve  System and has  combined  capital and  surplus  and  undivided
profits of not less than $250,000,000.

     1.65 "Refinancing Indebtedness" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
7.3(k) hereof.

     1.66  "Renewal  Date" shall have the  meaning set forth in Section  10.2(a)
hereof.

     1.67  "Revolving  Credit  Availability"  shall mean,  at any time,  (a) the
lesser of (i) the amount of the  Revolving  Loans  available  to Borrowers as of
such time calculated based on the applicable  lending  percentage  multiplied by
the  Value of  Eligible  Inventory,  as set  forth in  Section  3.1  hereof,  as
determined in good faith by Agent,  or (ii) the Revolving  Credit Facility Limit
minus (b) the reserves  established  pursuant to Section 3.7 hereof allocated by
Agent to the Revolving Credit Facility at such time. The term "Revolving  Credit
Availability"  is used herein to mean the amount of  Revolving  Loans  available
without  any  reduction  for the amount of  Revolving  Loans or Letter of Credit
Accommodations then outstanding.

     1.68 "Revolving  Credit Facility" shall mean the secured  revolving line of
credit  provided by Lenders to Borrowers  consisting of the Revolving  Loans and
Letter of Credit  Accommodations  as provided for  hereunder and under the other
Financing Agreements.

     1.69 "Revolving  Credit Facility Limit" shall mean, at any time, the amount
equal to (a) the  Maximum  Credit  minus  (b) the then  outstanding  Obligations
arising pursuant to the Supplemental Loans.

     1.70  "Revolving  Loans"  shall mean the secured  loans and advances at any
time made by Agent for and on behalf of Lenders to  Borrowers or for the benefit
of Borrowers  pursuant to the Revolving  Credit  Facility as provided in Section
3.1  hereof,   on  a  revolving  basis  (involving   advances,   repayments  and
readvances), subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other
Financing Agreements.

     1.71  "Sale-Leaseback  Transaction"  shall  mean any  arrangement  with any
Person  providing for the leasing by Borrowers or any Subsidiary of Borrowers of
any real or tangible personal property, which property has been or is to be sold
or transferred by Borrowers or such  Subsidiary to such Person in  contemplation
of such leasing.

     1.72 "Senior Subordinated Notes" shall mean, individually and collectively,
the 11 3/4% Senior  Subordinated Notes due 2003 issued by Pamida pursuant to the
Note  Indenture,  as the same now exist or may  hereafter be amended,  modified,
supplemented, extended, renewed, restated, or replaced.

     1.73 "Subsidiary" or "subsidiary"  shall mean any corporation,  association
or organization,  active or inactive,  as to which more than fifty (50%) percent
of the outstanding voting stock or shares or interests shall now or hereafter be
owned or  controlled,  directly or indirectly,  by Borrowers,  any Subsidiary of
Borrowers, or any Subsidiary of such Subsidiary.



                                       15

<PAGE>

     1.74 "Supplemental  Credit  Availability"  shall mean, at any time, (a) the
lesser of (i) the amount of the Supplemental  Loans available to Borrowers as of
such time calculated based on the applicable percentages multiplied by the value
of the Eligible Real  Property and the Value of Eligible  Inventory as set forth
in  Section  3.2  hereof,  as  determined  in good  faith by Agent,  or (ii) the
Supplemental Credit Facility Limit minus (b) the reserves  established  pursuant
to Section 3.7 hereof allocated by Agent to the Supplemental  Credit Facility at
such time. The term  "Supplemental  Credit  Availability" is used herein to mean
the amount of Supplemental  Loans available without any reduction for the amount
of Supplemental Loans then outstanding.

     1.75  "Supplemental  Credit Facility" shall mean the secured revolving line
of credit provided by Lenders to Borrowers  consisting of the Supplemental Loans
as provided for hereunder and under the other Financing Agreements.

     1.76 "Supplemental Credit Facility Limit" shall mean $25,000,000.

     1.77 "Supplemental  Loans" shall mean the secured loans and advances at any
time made by Agent for and on behalf of Lenders to  Borrowers or for the benefit
of Borrowers pursuant to the Supplemental Credit Facility as provided in Section
3.2  hereof,   on  a  revolving  basis  (involving   advances,   repayments  and
readvances), subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other
Financing Agreements.

     1.78 "Tradename" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1 hereof.

     1.79 "Transportation" shall mean Pamida Transportation  Company, a Nebraska
corporation, and its successors and assigns.

     1.80 "UCC" shall mean the Uniform  Commercial  Code as from time to time in
effect in the State of New York.

     1.81 "Value" or "value" shall mean, as determined by Agent, with respect to
the Eligible Inventory,  the lower of (a) cost computed on a  first-in-first-out
basis in  accordance  with GAAP  consistently  applied or (b) market  value,  as
determined by Agent in good faith.

     1.82 "Weighted  Average Life to Maturity"  shall mean,  when applied to any
Indebtedness  at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing (a) the then
outstanding  principal amount of such Indebtedness into (b) the product obtained
by multiplying (i) the amount of each then remaining installment,  sinking fund,
serial maturity or other required  payments of principal,  including  payment at
final maturity,  in respect thereof,  by (ii) the number of years (calculated to
the nearest  one-twelfth)  that will elapse  between such date and the making of
such payment.

     1.83 ACCOUNTING  TERMS.  All accounting  terms used in this Agreement which
are not specifically  defined herein shall be construed in accordance with GAAP,
consistently applied, except as otherwise stated herein.



                                       16

<PAGE>

     1.84 OTHER DEFINED TERMS. The words "hereof", "herein",  "hereunder", "this
Agreement" and words of similar  import when used in this Agreement  shall refer
to  this  Agreement  as a  whole  and not to any  particular  provision  of this
Agreement,  as the  same now  exists  or may  hereafter  be  amended,  modified,
supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced.

     1.85 UNIFORM  COMMERCIAL CODE DEFINITIONS.  All terms used herein which are
not specifically  defined herein which are defined or used in the UCC shall have
the meanings given or used in the UCC.

     1.86  INTERPRETATION.  For purposes of this  Agreement,  unless the context
otherwise  requires,  all  other  terms  hereinbefore  or  hereinafter  defined,
including but not limited to those terms defined in the recitals  hereto,  shall
have the meanings  herein  assigned to such terms.  All  references to Borrowers
wherever  used  herein  shall  mean both and each of them and  their  respective
successors and assigns,  individually and  collectively,  jointly and severally.
All references to any other Persons pursuant to the definitions set forth in the
recitals  hereto or otherwise  shall include  their  respective  successors  and
assigns. All references to any term in the plural shall include the singular and
all references to any term in the singular shall include the plural,  unless the
context otherwise requires.


SECTION 2.  ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND RESTATEMENT

     2.1 EXISTING OBLIGATIONS.  Each of Borrowers hereby acknowledges,  confirms
and agrees that Borrowers are indebted to Agent and Lenders,  as of the close of
business  on June 30,  1998,  for  loans and  advances  to  Borrowers  under the
Existing  Agreement in the aggregate  principal amount of $45,924,236.35 and for
Letter of  Credit  Accommodations  in the  aggregate  amount  of  $7,215,779.30,
together  with  all  interest  accrued  and  accruing  thereon  (to  the  extent
applicable),  and all fees, costs,  expenses and other charges relating thereto,
all of which  are  unconditionally  owing by  Borrowers  to Agent  and  Lenders,
without  offset,  defense or  counterclaim  of any kind,  nature or  description
whatsoever.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each of Borrowers
hereby  acknowledges,  confirms and agrees that its Guarantee of the Obligations
of the other Borrower to Agent and Lenders is in full force and effect as of the
date hereof, and its obligations  thereunder are unconditionally  owing to Agent
and Lenders,  without offset,  defense or  counterclaim  of any kind,  nature or
description whatsoever.

     2.2 ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF SECURITY INTERESTS.

          (a) Each of Borrowers  hereby  acknowledges,  confirms and agrees that
each of Agent and Lenders has and shall continue to have a security  interest in
and lien upon the  Collateral  heretofore  granted to each of Agent and  Lenders
pursuant to the  Existing  Agreement to secure the  Obligations,  as well as any
Collateral  granted  under this  Agreement  or under any of the other  Financing
Agreements or otherwise granted to or held by Agent or any Lender.



                                       17

<PAGE>

          (b) The liens and  security  interests  of Agent  and  Lenders  in the
Collateral  shall be deemed to be  continuously  granted and perfected  from the
earliest  date of the  granting  and  perfection  of  such  liens  and  security
interests,  whether under the Existing  Agreement,  this Agreement or any of the
other Financing Agreements.

     2.3 EXISTING AGREEMENT. Each of Borrowers hereby acknowledges, confirms and
agrees that: (a) the Existing  Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
Borrowers  and is in full  force  and  effect  as of the  date  hereof;  (b) the
agreements  and  obligations  of Borrowers  contained in the Existing  Agreement
constitute  the  legal,  valid  and  binding  obligations  of each of  Borrowers
enforceable  against it in accordance with their  respective terms and Borrowers
have no valid defense to the enforcement of such obligations;  and (c) Agent and
Lenders  are  entitled  to all of the rights and  remedies  provided  for in the
Existing Agreement.

     2.4 RESTATEMENT.

          (a) Except as otherwise  stated in Section 2.2 hereof and this Section
2.4,  as of the date  hereof,  the  terms,  conditions,  agreements,  covenants,
representations  and warranties  set forth in the Existing  Agreement are hereby
amended and restated in their entirety, and as so amended and restated, replaced
and superseded, by the terms, conditions, agreements, covenants, representations
and warranties set forth in this Agreement and the other  Financing  Agreements,
except that nothing herein or in the other Financing  Agreements shall impair or
adversely  affect  the  continuation  of the  liability  of  Borrowers  for  the
Obligations evidenced by or arising under the Existing Agreement or the security
interests,  liens and other  interests  in the  Collateral  heretofore  granted,
pledged and/or  assigned to Agent or any Lender.  The amendment and  restatement
contained  herein shall not, in any manner,  be construed to constitute  payment
of, or impair, limit, cancel or extinguish,  or constitute a novation in respect
of,  the  Indebtedness  and  other  obligations  and  liabilities  of  Borrowers
evidenced by or arising under the Existing Agreement, and the liens and security
interests  securing such  Indebtedness  and other  obligations and  liabilities,
which  shall  not in any  manner be  impaired,  limited,  terminated,  waived or
released.

          (b)  The   principal   amount  of  the  Loans  and  Letter  of  Credit
Accommodations  outstanding  as of the date hereof under the Existing  Agreement
shall be allocated to the Loans and Letter of Credit Accommodations hereunder in
the same  amounts  as are  outstanding  as of the date  hereof,  and as  between
Revolving  Loans and  Supplemental  Loans in such amounts as Pamida may request,
subject to the terms and  conditions  hereof,  or if Agent does not receive such
request as of the date hereof, then as Agent shall determine.

     2.5 RELEASE. Each of Borrowers,  for itself and its successors and assigns,
does hereby  remise,  release,  discharge  and hold Agent and each  Lender,  its
officers,  directors,  agents and employees and their  respective  predecessors,
successors and assigns harmless from all claims,  demands, debts, sums of money,
accounts, damages, judgments, financial obligations,  actions, causes of action,
suits at law or in equity, of any kind or nature whatsoever,  whether or not now
existing or known,  which Borrowers,  or their respective  successors or assigns
has had or



                                       18

<PAGE>

may now or hereafter  claim to have against Agent or any Lender or its officers,
directors,  agents and employees and their respective  predecessors,  successors
and assigns in any way arising from or connected with the Existing  Agreement or
the  arrangements  set  forth  therein  or  transactions  thereunder  up to  and
including the date hereof (except as to the specific  exceptions of Borrowers to
charges for  interest,  fees,  costs and  expenses  set forth in the most recent
monthly statement of Borrowers' loan account sent by Agent to Borrowers pursuant
to Section 3.10(g) hereof, which statement shall be presumed correct,  except to
the extent Agent receives such specific  exceptions  within forty-five (45) days
after the date of such statement).


SECTION 3.  CREDIT FACILITIES

     3.1 REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY.

          (a) Subject to, and upon the terms and conditions contained herein and
in the other Financing Agreements,  each of Lenders severally,  but not jointly,
agrees to lend to Borrowers and  authorizes and appoints Agent to make Revolving
Loans to  Borrowers,  for the account of and as Agent for Lenders,  from time to
time in amounts requested by Borrowers up to the amount equal to: (i) the lesser
of (A)  sixty-five  (65%)  percent  of the Value of the  Eligible  Inventory  of
Borrowers or (B) the Revolving  Credit Facility  Limit,  minus (ii) any reserves
established  pursuant to Section 3.7 hereof  allocated by Agent to the Revolving
Credit Facility.

          (b) Agent  may,  from time to time,  upon not less than three (3) days
prior notice to Borrowers,  reduce the lending  formula with respect to Eligible
Inventory set forth above to the extent that Agent determines in good faith that
the nature,  quality or mix of the Inventory has  deteriorated.  In  determining
whether to reduce the lending formula,  Agent may consider  events,  conditions,
contingencies  or  risks  which  are also  considered  in  determining  Eligible
Inventory  or  in  establishing   reserves.  To  the  extent  Agent  shall  have
established a reserve  which is  sufficient  to address any event,  condition or
matter in a manner  satisfactory  to Agent in good  faith,  Agent shall not also
exercise its rights under this Section 3.1(b) to reduce the lending  formulas to
address  such event,  condition  or matter.  The amount of any  reduction in the
lending formula by Agent pursuant to this Section 3.1(b) shall have a reasonable
relationship to the matter which is the basis for such a reduction.

     3.2  SUPPLEMENTAL  CREDIT  FACILITY.  Subject  to,  and upon the  terms and
conditions  contained  herein  and in the other  Financing  Agreements,  each of
Lenders severally,  but not jointly,  agrees to lend to Borrowers and authorizes
and appoints Agent to make Supplemental  Loans to Borrowers,  for the account of
and as Agent for Lenders, from time to time in amounts requested by Borrowers up
to the amount  equal to:  (a) the lesser of (i) the amount  equal to the sum of:
(A) seventy (70%) percent of the fair market value of the Eligible Real Property
as set forth in the most recent appraisal of the Real Property received by Agent
in form,  scope and methodology  acceptable to Agent and Lenders by an appraiser
acceptable  to  Agent  and  Lenders  addressed  to Agent  and on which  Agent is
expressly  permitted  to rely,  plus (B) ten (10%)  percent  of the Value of the
Eligible Inventory or (ii) the Supplemental



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<PAGE>

Credit Facility Limit,  MINUS (b) any reserves  established  pursuant to Section
3.7 hereof allocated by Agent to the Supplemental Credit Facility.

     3.3 LETTER OF CREDIT ACCOMMODATIONS.

          (a) Subject to, and upon the terms and conditions contained herein, at
the request of Pamida, Agent agrees, for the ratable risk of Lenders, to provide
or arrange for Letter of Credit  Accommodations  to be issued for the account of
Borrowers  containing  terms and  conditions  acceptable to Agent and the issuer
thereof.

          (b) The  extension  of such Letter of Credit  Accommodations  by Agent
shall  be  subject  to the  satisfaction  of  each of the  following  additional
conditions  precedent:  (i) the Excess  Availability on the date of the proposed
issuance  of the  Letter of Credit  Accommodations  shall be equal to or greater
than: (A) if the proposed Letter of Credit  Accommodation  is for the purpose of
purchasing  Eligible  Inventory,  the sum of (1)  the  percentage  equal  to one
hundred (100%) percent minus the applicable  percentage set forth in Section 3.1
multiplied by the landed cost of such Eligible Inventory,  plus (2) the freight,
taxes,  duty and other  amounts  which  Agent  estimates  must be paid for or in
connection  with such  Inventory upon arrival and for delivery to and within the
United States of America and (B) if the proposed Letter of Credit  Accommodation
is for any other purpose,  one hundred (100%) percent of the face amount thereof
and all other  commitments and obligations  made or incurred by Agent or Lenders
with respect thereto, (ii) if any of such Letter of Credit Accommodations is for
the  purpose  of  purchasing  goods,  Agent and  Lenders  shall have a valid and
perfected  first  security  interest  in and lien upon goods  being  acquired in
connection  therewith,  (iii) the form and  content of all such Letter of Credit
Accommodations  shall be  reasonably  satisfactory  to Agent and all  documents,
instruments,  notices and statements  relating thereto,  if any, which Agent may
reasonably  request,  shall be promptly  delivered to Agent;  and (iv) Borrowers
shall have fully complied to Agent's reasonable  satisfaction with all terms and
provisions hereof and of the terms and provisions of any agreements  relating to
the Letter of Credit Accommodations in form and substance acceptable to Agent or
Lenders now or  hereafter  entered into  between  Borrowers,  Agent and Lenders,
including the payment of all fees,  commissions and charges set forth herein and
therein.

          (c)  Borrowers  hereby  agree to and do  indemnify  Agent  and each of
Lenders with  respect to any loss,  cost,  liability or expense  which Agent and
either of Lenders  may suffer or incur in  connection  with the Letter of Credit
Accommodations.  Borrowers  further  agree  that  any  payments  made  or  other
obligations  incurred  by Agent or Lenders in  connection  with Letter of Credit
Accommodations  are part of the Obligations,  and shall be payable in accordance
with the terms hereof and of the other Financing  Agreements.  Any such payments
made or obligations incurred by Agent on behalf of Lenders,  including,  without
limitation,  any of the same  made  after  termination  or  non-renewal  of this
Agreement  or the other  Financing  Agreements  with respect to Letter of Credit
Accommodations  provided to Borrowers prior to such  termination or non-renewal,
shall  automatically be treated for purposes hereof as Revolving Loans and shall
accrue interest at the Interest Rate with respect



                                       20

<PAGE>

to Revolving Loans then payable by Borrowers commencing on the date such payment
is made by Agent.

          (d) Effective on the issuance of each Letter of Credit  Accommodation,
the  Revolving  Credit  Availability  shall be reduced in an amount equal to the
following:  (i) if the  Letter of Credit  Accommodation  is for the  purpose  of
purchasing  Eligible  Inventory,  then by an amount  equal to the sum of (A) the
percentage  equal to one  hundred  (100%)  percent  minus  the  then  applicable
percentage  set forth in  Section  3.1  multiplied  by the  landed  cost of such
Eligible Inventory,  plus (B) freight, taxes, duty and other amounts which Agent
reasonably estimates must be paid for and in connection with such Inventory upon
arrival and for delivery to and within the United  States of America and (ii) if
the Letter of Credit  Accommodation is for any other purpose,  then by an amount
equal to one hundred  (100%)  percent of the face  amount  thereof and all other
commitments  and  obligations  made or incurred by Agent or Lenders with respect
thereto.

          (e) In addition to any charges,  fees or expenses  charged by any bank
or issuer in connection with the Letter of Credit Accommodations  (including any
charges,  fees or  expenses of First  Union  National  Bank as the issuer of any
Letter of Credit Accommodation as set forth in the schedule of charges,  fees or
expenses furnished by Agent to Borrowers),  Borrowers shall pay to Agent for the
ratable  benefit  of  Lenders a letter of credit fee at a rate equal to one (1%)
percent  per  annum on the daily  outstanding  balance  of the  Letter of Credit
Accommodations for the immediately preceding month (or part thereof), payable in
arrears  as of the first day of each  succeeding  month,  except  that Agent may
require  Borrowers  to pay to Agent for the  ratable  benefit of  Lenders,  such
letter of credit fee,  effective  upon the date of written  notice from Agent to
Borrowers,  at Agent's option, at a rate equal to two (2%) percent per annum for
(i) the period  from and after the date of  termination  or  non-renewal  hereof
until Agent and Lenders have received full and final payment of all  Obligations
(notwithstanding entry of a judgment against Borrowers) and (ii) the period from
and after the date of the  occurrence  of an Event of Default and for so long as
such  Event of  Default  is  continuing.  Such  letter  of  credit  fee shall be
calculated  on the basis of a three hundred sixty (360) day year and actual days
elapsed,  and the  obligation  of  Borrowers  to pay such fee shall  survive the
termination or non-renewal of this Agreement.

          (f)  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary  contained herein or in
any of the  other  Financing  Agreements,  except  in  Agent's  discretion,  the
aggregate amount of all Letter of Credit Accommodations  pursuant hereto and all
other  commitments and obligations made or incurred by Agent or Lenders pursuant
hereto  for  the  account  or  benefit  of  Borrowers  in  connection  therewith
outstanding at any time shall not exceed $30,000,000.

     3.4 LOAN LIMITS;  REVOLVING  CREDIT  FACILITY  LIMIT;  SUPPLEMENTAL  CREDIT
FACILITY LIMIT.

          (a) Except in  Agent's  discretion,  the  aggregate  unpaid  principal
amount of the Loans outstanding at any time plus all then outstanding  Letter of
Credit  Accommodations  (and  all  other  commitments  and  obligations  made or
incurred   by  Agent  or  Lenders   with   respect  to  such  Letter  of  Credit
Accommodations) shall not exceed the least of: (i) the



                                       21

<PAGE>

Maximum  Credit or (ii) the  amount  equal to ninety  (90%)  percent  of the Net
Recovery Cost  Percentage  multiplied by the Value of the Eligible  Inventory or
(iii)  so long as any of the  Senior  Subordinated  Notes  are  outstanding  and
unpaid,  the amount equal to the  aggregate  of ninety (90%)  percent of the net
book value of the accounts  receivable of Pamida and its  Subsidiaries and sixty
(60%) percent of the net book value of the Inventory (on a FIFO basis) of Pamida
and its  Subsidiaries (or in the event that the Senior  Subordinated  Notes have
been repaid with proceeds of Refinancing  Indebtedness,  such other amount as is
permitted under the terms of the Refinancing Indebtedness).

          (b) Except in  Agent's  discretion,  the  aggregate  unpaid  principal
amount of the Revolving Loans  outstanding at any time plus all then outstanding
Letter of Credit  Accommodations  (and all other commitments made or incurred by
Agent or Lenders with respect to such Letter of Credit Accommodations) shall not
exceed the Revolving Credit Facility Limit.

          (c) Except in  Agent's  discretion,  the  aggregate  unpaid  principal
amount of the  Supplemental  Loans  outstanding at any time shall not exceed the
Supplemental Credit Facility Limit.

     3.5  COMMITMENTS.  The  Commitments  of the Lenders shall be the respective
maximum  amounts set forth below each Lender's  signature on the signature pages
hereto,  as the  same  may  from  time to  time  be  amended  with  the  written
acknowledgment  and consent of Agent.  The aggregate  unpaid principal amount of
Loans and outstanding Letter of Credit Accommodations (and all other commitments
and obligations made or incurred by Agent or Lenders with respect to such Letter
of  Credit  Accommodations),  made or  provided  by Agent to  Borrowers  for the
account  of and as  agent  for each  Lender,  shall  not  exceed  such  Lender's
respective Commitment Percentage with respect to such amount.

     3.6 MANDATORY PREPAYMENTS.

          (a)  In  the  event  that  the  outstanding  aggregate  amount  of the
Revolving  Loans and the Letter of Credit  Accommodations  exceeds the Revolving
Credit  Availability,  or the outstanding  aggregate  amount of the Supplemental
Loans exceeds the Supplemental Credit  Availability,  or the aggregate amount of
the  Loans  and the  Letter of  Credit  Accommodations  outstanding  at any time
exceeds the Maximum  Credit (or if less, the amounts  calculated  under Sections
3.4(b) and 3.4(c) above),  such event shall not limit, waive or otherwise affect
any rights of Agent and Lenders in that  circumstance or on any future occasions
and Borrowers shall, upon demand by Agent, which may be made at any time or from
time to time,  immediately  repay to Agent,  for the ratable benefit of Lenders,
the entire amount of any such excess(es) for which payment is demanded or in the
case of Letter of Credit  Accommodations,  provide cash collateral to Agent (for
itself and the ratable benefit of Lenders) in such amount.

          (b) Subject to Section 10.2(e) hereof, all such payments in respect of
the Loans pursuant to this Section 3.6 shall be without premium or penalty.  All
interest accrued on the



                                       22

<PAGE>

principal  amount of the Loans paid  pursuant to this Section 3.6 shall be paid,
or may be  charged  by Agent  to any of the loan  account(s)  of  Borrowers,  at
Agent's option, on the date of such payment.

     3.7 Reserves.  Without  limiting any other rights and remedies of Agent and
Lenders hereunder or under the other Financing Agreements,  all Loans and Letter
of Credit  Accommodations  otherwise  available to Borrowers shall be subject to
the  right of Agent to from time to time  establish  and  revise  in good  faith
reserves reducing the amount of Loans and Letter of Credit  Accommodations  that
would otherwise be available to Borrowers: (a) to reflect events,  conditions or
contingencies  that, as determined by Agent in good faith,  adversely  affect or
have a reasonable likelihood of adversely affecting either (i) the Collateral or
any other  property  which is  security  for the  Obligations,  its value or the
amount  which  may be  realized  by  Agent  or  Lenders  from  the sale or other
disposition  thereof,  or (ii) the assets or financial condition of Borrowers or
any  Obligor,  or (iii) the  security  interests  and  other  rights of Agent or
Lenders in the Collateral (including the enforceability, perfection and priority
thereof), or (b) to reflect Agent's good faith belief that any collateral report
or financial  information  furnished by or on behalf of Borrowers or any Obligor
to Agent is or may have been  incomplete,  inaccurate or  misleading,  or (c) in
respect of any state of facts which Agent  determines in good faith  constitutes
an Event of Default or may,  with notice or passage of time or both,  constitute
an Event of Default,  or (d) to reflect inventory shrinkage (which reserve as of
the date hereof is equal to two (2%) percent of the Inventory,  provided,  that,
prior to an Event of Default  such  reserve  shall not be greater than an amount
equal to twice the amount of reserves  which  Borrowers are required to maintain
for inventory  shrinkage under GAAP,  except that in no event shall such reserve
be less  than an  amount  equal  to one and  one-half  (1 1/2%)  percent  of the
Inventory),  or (e) to reflect  markdowns  with  respect  to the sales  price of
Inventory,  or (f) to reflect  amounts due or to become due in respect of sales,
use and/or withholding taxes, provided, that, a reserve pursuant to this Section
3.7(f)  will only be  established  if (i) Excess  Availability  (without  giving
effect to any reserve for such amounts) shall be less than  $1,000,000,  or (ii)
an Event of Default or act,  condition  or event which with notice or passage of
time or both would constitute an Event of Default,  shall exist or have occurred
and be continuing,  or (g) to reflect any rental  payments,  service  charges or
other  amounts  due to  lessors  of  real or  personal  property  to the  extent
Inventory  or Records  are located in or on such  property  or such  Records are
needed to  monitor  or  otherwise  deal with the  Collateral,  or (h) to reflect
amounts owing by Borrowers to credit card issuers or credit card processors.  To
the extent Agent may revise the lending  formula set forth in Section 3.1 hereof
or establish new criteria or revise existing criteria for Eligible  Inventory so
as to address any  circumstance,  condition,  event or  contingency  in a manner
satisfactory  to Agent,  Agent  shall not also  establish a reserve for the same
purpose.  The amount of any reserve established by Agent shall have a reasonable
relationship to the event, condition or other matter which is the basis for such
reserve as determined by Agent in good faith.

     3.8 FEES.



                                       23

<PAGE>

          (a)  Borrowers  shall pay to Agent,  for the  account  of  Lenders,  a
restructuring  fee of $50,000,  which fee is fully  earned and payable as of the
date hereof.

          (b)  Borrowers  shall pay to Agent,  for the  account of  Lenders,  an
annual  facility fee of $50,000 for each year or part thereof during the term of
this  Agreement  and  for so  long  thereafter  as any  of the  Obligations  are
outstanding, which fee shall be fully earned as of and payable in advance on the
date hereof and on each anniversary of the date hereof.

          (c) Borrowers shall pay monthly to Agent,  for the account of Lenders,
an unused  line fee at a rate equal to  one-half  of one (1/2 of 1%) percent per
annum calculated upon the amount (if any) by which (i) $75,000,000  exceeds (ii)
the average  aggregate daily principal balance of the Loans and Letter of Credit
Accommodations  outstanding  during  the  immediately  preceding  month (or part
thereof) while this Agreement is in effect and for so long  thereafter as any of
the Obligations are outstanding,  which fee shall be payable on the first day of
each month in arrears.

          (d)  Borrower  shall pay  monthly  to Agent,  for its own  account,  a
servicing  fee in an amount  equal to  $6,000,  for each  month or part  thereof
during  the  term of this  Agreement  and for so long  thereafter  as any of the
Obligations are  outstanding,  which fee shall be fully earned as of and payable
in advance on the date hereof and on the first day of each month hereafter.

          (e) The fees  provided for in this Section 3.8 shall be in addition to
all other  amounts  payable  by  Borrowers  under this  Agreement  and the other
Financing  Agreements and shall  constitute part of the  Obligations.  Such fees
may, at Agent's  option,  be charged  directly to any  account(s)  of  Borrowers
maintained with Agent.

     3.9 INTEREST.

          (a) Borrowers  shall pay to Agent for the account of Lenders  interest
on  the  outstanding   principal  amount  of  Loans  and  other   non-contingent
Obligations at the Interest Rate. All interest  accruing  hereunder on and after
the date of any Event of Default or termination  or non-renewal  hereof shall be
payable on demand.

          (b)  Borrowers  may from time to time request that Prime Rate Loans be
converted to Eurodollar  Rate Loans or that any existing  Eurodollar  Rate Loans
continue for an additional  Interest  Period.  Such request from Borrowers shall
specify the amount of the Prime Rate Loans to be  converted to  Eurodollar  Rate
Loans  (subject  to the limits set forth  below) and the  Interest  Period to be
applicable to such  Eurodollar  Rate Loans.  Subject to the terms and conditions
contained  herein,  three (3)  Business  Days  after  receipt by Agent of such a
request from  Borrowers,  such Prime Rate Loans shall be converted to Eurodollar
Rate Loans or such  Eurodollar  Rate Loans shall  continue,  as the case may be,
provided,  that, (i) no Event of Default,  or act, condition or event which with
notice or passage of time or both would constitute an Event of Default exists or
has occurred and is continuing,  (ii) no party hereto shall have sent any notice
of termination or non-renewal of this Agreement,



                                       24

<PAGE>

(iii)  Borrowers  shall have  complied  with such  customary  procedures  as are
established  by Agent and specified by Agent to Borrowers  from time to time for
requests by Borrowers for Eurodollar Rate Loans (that are not inconsistent  with
the procedures otherwise set forth herein for such requests),  (iv) no more than
four (4) Interest  Periods may be in effect at any one time,  (v) the  aggregate
amount  of the  Eurodollar  Rate  Loans  must  be in an  amount  not  less  than
$5,000,000 or an integral  multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof,  (vi) after
giving effect to the requested conversions(s) and/or continuance(s), the maximum
principal amount of the Eurodollar Rate Loans at any time outstanding during the
applicable  Interest  Period  shall not exceed the amount equal to the lesser of
(A) the  principal  amount of  $100,000,000  or (B) eighty (80%)  percent of the
daily average of the principal  amount of all Loans which it is anticipated will
be outstanding at any time during the applicable  Interest Period,  in each case
as  determined  by Agent and (vii) the Interest  Period and Adjusted  Eurodollar
Rate are available to Agent and Lenders and can be readily  determined as of the
Business Day  immediately  following the date of the request for such Eurodollar
Rate Loan by Borrowers,  provided,  that, in the event such Interest  Period and
Adjusted Eurodollar Rate are not available to any Lender, such Lender shall give
Agent two (2)  Business  Days prior  written  notice,  and Agent shall so notify
Borrowers, and Agent and Lenders shall not be required to provide such requested
Eurodollar  Rate Loan.  Any request by Borrowers to convert  Prime Rate Loans to
Eurodollar Rate Loans or to continue any existing Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be
irrevocable.  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary  contained herein Agent,
Lenders and  Reference  Bank shall not be required  to  purchase  United  States
Dollar deposits in the London interbank  market or other  applicable  Eurodollar
Rate market to fund any Eurodollar Rate Loans,  but the provisions  hereof shall
be deemed to apply as if Agent,  Lenders and Reference  Bank had purchased  such
deposits to fund the Eurodollar Rate Loans.

          (c) Any Loans  which are  Eurodollar  Rate Loans  shall  automatically
convert to Prime Rate Loans upon the last day of the applicable Interest Period,
unless  Agent  shall have  received  and  approved a request  to  continue  such
Eurodollar  Rate Loan at least three (3) Business Days prior to such last day in
accordance  with the terms hereof.  Any Eurodollar  Rate Loans shall, at Agent's
option,  upon notice by Agent to  Borrowers,  convert to Prime Rate Loans in the
event  that (i) an Event of Default or act,  condition  or event  which with the
notice or passage of time or both would  constitute  an Event of Default,  shall
exist,  (ii) this  Agreement  shall  terminate  or not be renewed,  or (iii) the
aggregate  principal  amount of the Prime Rate Loans which have  previously been
converted to Eurodollar Rate Loans or existing  Eurodollar Rate Loans continued,
as the case may be, at the  beginning  of an Interest  Period  shall at any time
during  such  Interest  Period  exceed  either (A) eighty  (80%)  percent of the
aggregate  principal amount of the Loans then outstanding,  or (B) the principal
amount  of the  Loans  then  available  to  Borrowers  under  Section  3 hereof,
provided,  that,  Eurodollar  Rate Loans shall be  converted to Prime Rate Loans
pursuant to this  clause  (iii) only to the extent  such  Eurodollar  Rate Loans
exceed  either of the  amounts  under  clause (A) or clause (B) above  except as
otherwise  required as a result of the amounts of the prior  purchases of United
States Dollar deposits by Agent or any Lender in the London  Interbank market or
other  applicable  Eurodollar Rate market.  Borrowers  shall pay to Agent,  upon
demand by Agent  (or Agent  may,  at its  option,  charge  any loan  account  of
Borrowers) any amounts required to compensate Agent, Lenders, the Reference Bank
or any Participant for any loss (including



                                       25

<PAGE>

loss of  anticipated  profits),  cost or expense  incurred by such person,  as a
result of the  conversion of Eurodollar  Rate Loans to Prime Rate Loans pursuant
to any of the foregoing.

          (d) Interest shall be payable by Borrowers to Agent for the account of
Lenders  monthly in arrears not later than the first day of each calendar  month
and shall be calculated on the basis of a three hundred sixty (360) day year and
actual days elapsed. The interest rate on non-contingent Obligations (other than
Eurodollar  Rate Loans)  shall  increase or decrease by an amount  equal to each
increase or decrease in the Prime Rate  effective  on the first day of the month
after any  change in such  Prime  Rate is  announced  based on the Prime Rate in
effect on the last day of the month in which any such change occurs. In no event
shall charges  constituting  interest  payable by Borrowers to Agent and Lenders
exceed the maximum  amount or the rate  permitted  under any  applicable  law or
regulation,  and  if  any  such  part  or  provision  of  this  Agreement  is in
contravention  of any such law or  regulation,  such part or provision  shall be
deemed amended to conform thereto.

          (e) In no event shall the Interest  Rate and other  charges  hereunder
exceed the highest  rate  permissible  under any law which a court of  competent
jurisdiction  shall, in a final  determination,  deem applicable  hereto. In the
event that a court  determines that Agent or Lenders have received  interest and
other charges  hereunder in excess of the highest rate applicable  hereto,  such
excess  shall be deemed  received  on  account  of, and shall  automatically  be
applied to reduce,  the Obligations  other than interest in the inverse order of
maturity,  and the provisions  hereof shall be deemed amended to provide for the
highest permissible rate.

     3.10 CONDUCT OF ACCOUNTS; CROSS-COLLATERALIZATION.

          (a) Agent and Lenders may maintain one or more accounts reflecting the
Loans, the Letter of Credit Accommodations, repayments of the Loans and payments
of the other  Obligations  and any of the  Collateral  contemplated  under  this
Agreement or the other Financing Agreements with respect to Borrowers,  as Agent
and Lenders shall, in their discretion, determine. All Loans shall be charged to
a loan account in the name of  Borrowers on Agent's  books.  All  Collateral  or
other  collateral  security held by or granted to Agent and Lenders by Borrowers
or any third  persons shall be security for the payment and  performance  of any
and all Obligations of Borrowers to Agent and Lenders (including but not limited
to the Loans  and the  Letter of  Credit  Accommodations),  notwithstanding  the
maintenance of separate accounts for Borrowers or third persons or the existence
of any notes.

          (b) All Loans and Letter of Credit Accommodations under this Agreement
shall be made by Agent for the  account of Lenders on a pro rata basis  pursuant
to each Lender's Commitment Percentage. It is understood that neither of Lenders
nor Agent shall be  responsible to Borrowers for any failure by the other Lender
or Agent to fulfill its obligations to make or, in the case of Agent, to advance
for the  account of  Lenders,  the Loans or the Letter of Credit  Accommodations
provided to be made by it or on its behalf hereunder.



                                       26

<PAGE>

          (c) All payments (including  prepayments) by or on behalf of Borrowers
or any other  amounts  received  by Agent on  account  of the Loans or the other
Obligations,  or charged to Borrowers' account(s) as permitted hereunder,  shall
be made by or on behalf of Borrowers,  and/or  received by Agent for the account
of Lenders on a pro rata basis pursuant to each Lender's  Commitment  Percentage
or for its own account to the extent provided  herein.  Borrowers shall make all
payments in respect of the Obligations free and clear of, and without  deduction
or withholding for or on account of, any setoff, counterclaim,  defense, duties,
taxes,  levies,  imposts,  fees,  deductions,   withholdings,   restrictions  or
conditions  of any kind or  nature  whatsoever.  Borrowers  and  Lenders  hereby
acknowledge  and agree that Agent  shall  have the sole  responsibility  for the
distribution  of any  such  payments  or  other  amounts  to  each  of  Lenders.
Notwithstanding that any portion of the Loans may be evidenced by one instrument
by Borrowers in favor of Agent and both  Lenders,  the  Obligations  and amounts
payable at any time  hereunder to Agent for the account of each of Lenders shall
be several,  and not joint,  debts of  Borrowers  owing to each of  Lenders.  As
between Borrowers and Lenders, together with Agent, at Agent's option either (i)
each Lender may enforce against Borrowers the Obligations to such Lender,  based
on the Commitment  Percentage of such Lender,  or (ii) Agent may enforce against
Borrowers the Obligations on behalf of both Lenders or either Lender.

          (d) All Loans and other  Obligations shall be payable to Agent for the
account of Lenders at its  address  specified  herein or at such other  place as
Agent may  hereafter  designate  in writing  from time to time.  Agent may apply
payments  received or collected  from  Borrowers or for the account of Borrowers
(including,  without  limitation,  the monetary  proceeds of  collections  or of
realization upon any Collateral) to such of the Obligations, whether or not then
due, in whatever order and manner Agent,  in its discretion,  determines.  Agent
shall have the continuing  and exclusive  right to apply and reverse and reapply
any and all such proceeds and payments to any portion of the  Obligations.  Upon
the request of Agent  and/or  Lenders,  Borrowers  shall  execute and deliver to
Agent  and  Lenders  one  or  more  promissory  notes,  in  form  and  substance
satisfactory to Agent and Lenders,  to evidence further the Loans, the Letter of
Credit Accommodations or any portion thereof.

          (e) If after  receipt of any payment  of, or  proceeds  applied to the
payment  of, all or any part of the  Obligations,  Agent or Lenders  are for any
reason  required to surrender  such  payment or proceeds to any Person,  because
such  payment  or  proceeds  is  invalidated,  declared  fraudulent,  set aside,
determined  to be void or voidable  as a  preference,  or a  diversion  of trust
funds,  or for any  other  reason,  then the  Obligations  or any  part  thereof
intended to be satisfied  shall be revived and continue and this Agreement shall
continue in full force as if such payment or proceeds  had not been  received by
Agent or Lenders and  Borrowers  shall be liable to pay to Agent for the account
of Lenders,  and hereby does indemnify  Agent and Lenders and hold them harmless
for the amount of such payment or proceeds  surrendered.  The provisions of this
Section  3.10(e)  shall be and remain  effective  notwithstanding  any  contrary
action  which may have been  taken by Agent or  Lenders  in  reliance  upon such
payment or  proceeds,  and any such  contrary  action so taken  shall be without
prejudice to Agent's or Lenders' rights under this Agreement and shall be deemed
to have been  conditioned  upon such payment or proceeds having become final and
irrevocable.



                                       27

<PAGE>

The  provisions of this Section  3.10(e) shall survive the  termination  of this
Agreement  and  the  other  Financing   Agreements  and  the  repayment  of  the
Obligations.

          (f) At Agent's option,  all principal,  interest,  fees,  commissions,
costs,  expenses,  or  other  charges  hereunder,   under  the  other  Financing
Agreements or in connection herewith or therewith, and any and all Loans, may be
charged directly to any loan account(s) of Borrowers  maintained by Agent.  Upon
the reasonable request of Borrowers,  Agent shall provide to Borrowers the basis
for any such fees, commissions, costs or expenses.

          (g) Agent shall render to  Borrowers  at the address of Borrowers  set
forth in Section 10.6 hereof, each month, one or more statements with respect to
the loan account(s) maintained by Agent for Borrowers pursuant to the provisions
hereof,  as of the end of each month  while this  Agreement  is in effect.  Such
statements of account shall be considered  correct,  and deemed  accepted by and
conclusively  binding  upon  Borrowers,  except to the extent  Agent and Lenders
shall receive from Borrowers  written notice of all exceptions to such statement
of  account  with  specificity,  within  forty-five  (45)  days from the date of
sending.

     3.11 USE OF  PROCEEDS.  All  Loans  and  Letter  of  Credit  Accommodations
provided by Agent and Lenders to Borrowers  pursuant to this  Agreement  and the
other Financing  Agreements shall be used by Borrowers for general operating and
working  capital  purposes of Borrowers  and other  lawful and proper  corporate
purposes not otherwise prohibited by the terms hereof (including the development
of  new  retail  store  locations  of  Borrowers  and  other  related  operating
facilities  pursuant to the purchase of land for such stores or other facilities
and the construction of the stores or other facilities on such land).

     3.12 COMPENSATION ADJUSTMENT.

          (a) If after the date of this  Agreement the  introduction  of, or any
change in, any law or any governmental rule,  regulation,  policy,  guideline or
directive  (whether  or not  having  the  force of law),  or any  interpretation
thereof, or compliance by Agent or Lenders therewith:

               (i) subjects either Agent or Lenders to any tax, duty,  charge or
withholding on or from payments due from Borrowers  (excluding  franchise  taxes
imposed upon,  and taxation of the overall net income of, Agent or Lenders),  or
changes the basis of taxation of payments,  in either case in respect of amounts
due it hereunder, or

               (ii)  imposes  or  increases  or  deems  applicable  any  reserve
requirement or other reserve,  assessment,  insurance charge, special deposit or
similar  requirement  against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or
credit extended by Agent or Lenders, or

               (iii)  imposes  any  other  condition  the  result of which is to
increase  the cost to Agent or  Lenders of making,  funding or  maintaining  the
Loans or Letter of Credit  Accommodations  or reduces any amount  receivable  by
Agent  or   Lenders   in   connection   with  the  Loans  or  Letter  of  Credit
Accommodations, or requires either of them to make payment



                                       28

<PAGE>

calculated by reference to the amount of loans held or interest  received by it,
by an amount deemed material by Lenders, or

               (iv) imposes or increases any capital  requirement or affects the
amount of  capital  required  or  expected  to be  maintained  by Lenders or any
corporation  controlling  Lenders,  and either of Lenders  determines  that such
imposition  or  increase  in capital  requirements  or increase in the amount of
capital  expected to be maintained is based upon the existence of this Agreement
or the Loans or Letter of Credit Accommodations  hereunder,  all of which may be
determined by Lenders' reasonable allocation of the aggregate of its impositions
or increases in capital required or expected to be maintained, and the result of
any of the  foregoing  is to  increase  the cost to Agent or  Lenders of making,
renewing  or  maintaining  the Loans or Letter of Credit  Accommodations,  or to
reduce  the rate of return to Agent or either of  Lenders on the Loans or Letter
of Credit  Accommodations,  then, within fifteen (15) days of demand by Agent or
either of Lenders,  Borrowers shall pay to Agent,  and continue to make periodic
payments to Agent,  such  additional  amounts as may be necessary to  compensate
Agent and  Lenders for any such  additional  cost  incurred  or reduced  rate of
return realized.

          (b) A certificate of Agent or either of Lenders  claiming  entitlement
to compensation as set forth above will be conclusive in the absence of manifest
error.  Such certificate will set forth the nature of the occurrence giving rise
to such compensation, the additional amount or amounts to be paid and the method
by which such amounts were determined. In determining any additional amounts due
from Borrowers  under this Section 3.12,  Agent and Lenders shall act reasonably
and in good faith and will, to the extent that the increased costs,  reductions,
or amounts  received or receivable  relate to the Agent's or such Lender's loans
or commitments generally and are not specifically  attributable to the Loans and
commitments   hereunder,   use  averaging  and  attribution  methods  which  are
reasonable  and equitable and which cover all loans and  commitments  similar to
the Loans and commitments  under this Agreement by Agent or such Lender,  as the
case may be,  whether or not the loan  documentation  for such  other  loans and
commitments  permits Agent or such Lender to receive  compensation  costs of the
type described in this Section 3.12.

     3.13 CHANGES IN LAWS AND INCREASED COSTS OF LOANS.

          (a)  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary  contained herein,  all
Eurodollar Rate Loans shall, upon notice by Agent to Borrowers, convert to Prime
Rate Loans in the event that (i) any change in applicable  law or regulation (or
the  interpretation  or  administration  thereof) (A) shall make it unlawful for
Agent,  any of Lenders,  Reference  Bank or any  Participant to make or maintain
Eurodollar  Rate Loans or to comply with the terms hereof in connection with the
Eurodollar Rate Loans or (B) shall result in the increase in the costs to Agent,
any of Lenders,  Reference Bank or any  Participant of making or maintaining any
Eurodollar Rate Loans or (C) shall reduce the amounts  received or receivable by
Agent, any of Lenders, Reference Bank or any Participants in respect thereof, by
an amount deemed by Agent or such Lender to be material,  provided, that, in the
event of any such change of law,  regulation,  interpretation  or administration
applicable to any Lender, such Lender shall have



                                       29

<PAGE>

notified  Agent  and  Borrower,  or (ii)  the  cost to  Agent,  any of  Lenders,
Reference Bank or any  Participant of making or maintaining  any Eurodollar Rate
Loans shall otherwise  increase by an amount deemed by Agent or any Lender to be
material  to it,  other  than,  with  respect to any  Eurodollar  Rate Loan,  an
increase  of cost  arising  solely as the result of an  increase  in the rate at
which Reference Bank (or any other bank used by any Lender) is offered  deposits
of United States dollars in the London  interbank  market after the date that is
two  (2)  Business  Days  prior  to  the  commencement  of the  Interest  Period
applicable to such  Eurodollar  Rate Loan,  provided,  that, in the event of any
such increase in cost applicable to any Lender,  such Lender shall have notified
Agent and Borrower.  Borrowers shall pay to Agent upon demand by Agent (or Agent
may, at its option,  charge any loan account of Borrowers) any amounts  required
to compensate Agent, any of Lenders,  the Reference Bank or any Participant with
Lenders for any loss  (including loss of anticipated  profits),  cost or expense
incurred  by such  person  as a  result  of the  foregoing,  including,  without
limitation, any such loss, cost or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation
or  reemployment  of deposits or other funds  acquired by such person to make or
maintain the  Eurodollar  Rate Loans or any portion  thereof.  A certificate  of
Agent setting forth the basis for the  determination of such amount necessary to
compensate Agent, any of Lenders, Reference Bank or any Participant with Lenders
as aforesaid  shall be delivered to Borrowers  and shall be  conclusive,  absent
manifest error.

          (b) If any payments or prepayments  in respect of the Eurodollar  Rate
Loans  are  received  by Agent  other  than on the  last  day of the  applicable
Interest Period (whether pursuant to acceleration,  upon maturity or otherwise),
including any payments  pursuant to the application of collections under Section
9 or any other  payments made with the proceeds of Collateral,  Borrowers  shall
pay to Agent upon demand by Agent (or Agent may, at its option,  charge any loan
account of Borrowers) any amounts required to compensate  Agent, any of Lenders,
the Reference  Bank or any  Participant  with any of Lenders for any  additional
loss (including loss of anticipated  profits),  cost or expense incurred by such
person as a result of such prepayment or payment, including, without limitation,
any loss, cost or expense  incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment
of  deposits or other  funds  acquired  by such person to make or maintain  such
Eurodollar Rate Loans or any portion thereof.

SECTION 4.  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO LOANS AND OTHER FINANCIAL ACCOMMODATIONS

     Each of the  following  is a  condition  precedent  to Agent on  behalf  of
Lenders  making  the Loans and  providing  the  Letter of Credit  Accommodations
pursuant to this  Agreement and the other  Financing  Agreements,  including the
making of the initial and any future  Loans and Letter of Credit  Accommodations
contemplated hereunder (any of which may be waived, in whole or in part, only by
both Lenders in writing):

     4.1 Agent shall have received, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent,
all  consents,  waivers,  acknowledgments,   releases,  terminations  and  other
agreements  and documents  from third persons which Agent may deem  necessary or
desirable in order to



                                       30

<PAGE>

permit,  protect  and  perfect  its  security  interests  in and liens  upon the
Collateral or to effectuate the provisions or purposes of this Agreement and the
other Financing Agreements;

     4.2 Agent shall have received, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent,
such  endorsements with respect to the existing title insurance policy issued to
Agent with respect to the  Mortgages to reflect the  amendment  and  restatement
provided for herein as Agent may reasonably request;

     4.3  Agent  shall  have  received  evidence  of  insurance  and loss  payee
endorsements  required  under  this  Agreement  and under  the  other  Financing
Agreements,  in  form  and  substance  reasonably  satisfactory  to  Agent,  and
certificates  of insurance  policies  and/or  endorsements  naming Agent as loss
payee for Lenders with respect to the  Collateral,  all at  Borrowers'  cost and
expense;

     4.4 Agent shall have received evidence, in form and substance  satisfactory
to Agent,  that Agent and Lenders have a valid perfected first security interest
in all of the Collateral except as otherwise permitted herein;

     4.5 Agent  shall have  received  and  reviewed  UCC search  results for all
jurisdictions  in which assets of Borrowers  are located,  which search  results
shall be in form and substance satisfactory to Agent;

     4.6 Agent shall have received, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent,
an  opinion  letter of  counsel  to  Borrowers  with  respect  to the  Financing
Agreements  and such other  matters as Agent or  Lenders  or their  counsel  may
reasonably request;

     4.7 this Agreement,  the other Financing Agreements and all instruments and
documents thereunder shall have been duly authorized,  executed and delivered to
Agent and Lenders, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent;

     4.8 Agent shall have received, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent,
all necessary approvals and consents from BABC;

     4.9 all  representations  and warranties  contained herein and in the other
Financing Agreements shall be true and correct in all respects; and

     4.10 no Event of  Default  shall  have  occurred  and no event  shall  have
occurred or condition be existing which, with notice or passage of time or both,
would constitute an Event of Default.

SECTION 5.  COLLATERAL

     As collateral security for the prompt  performance,  observance and payment
in full of all of the Obligations, Borrowers hereby jointly and severally grant,
pledge and assign to each



                                       31

<PAGE>

of Lenders and Agent, and also confirm,  reaffirm and restate their prior grant,
pledge and  assignment  to each of Lenders and Agent of, a  continuing  security
interest in and liens upon, and rights of setoff  against,  all of the following
now owned and hereafter  acquired or existing assets and properties of Borrowers
(which assets and properties,  together with all other  collateral  security for
the  Obligations  of any time now or hereafter  granted to or otherwise  held or
acquired by Agent and/or Lenders are referred to herein as the "Collateral"):

     5.1 (a) all Accounts; (b) all monies, securities,  credit balances, deposit
accounts and other property and the proceeds  thereof,  now or hereafter held or
received  by, or in  transit  to,  Agent,  Lenders or any  Participant  or their
affiliates,  or at any other  depository  or other  institution  from or for the
account of Borrowers,  whether for safekeeping,  pledge, custody,  transmission,
collection  or otherwise and all of  Borrowers'  deposits  (general or special),
balances,  sums and credits with Agent,  Lenders or any  Participant at any time
existing;  (c) all right,  title and  interest,  and all  enforcement  and other
rights,  remedies, and security and liens, in, to and in respect of the Accounts
and other  Collateral,  including,  without  limitation,  rights of  stoppage in
transit, replevin, repossession,  sequestration and reclamation and other rights
and remedies of an unpaid vendor,  lienor or secured party,  guaranties or other
contracts  of  suretyship  with  respect  to the  Accounts,  letters  of credit,
deposits or other security for the obligation of any Account Debtor,  credit and
other insurance;  (d) all right, title and interest in, to and in respect of all
goods relating to Accounts,  including,  without limitation, all goods described
in invoices,  documents,  and other forms of store  receipts,  credit card sales
drafts,  credit  card sales  slips or charge  slips or  receipts,  contracts  or
instruments  with  respect to, or  otherwise  representing  or  evidencing,  any
Account  or other  Collateral,  including,  without  limitation,  all  returned,
reclaimed or repossessed goods; and (e) all deposit accounts;

     5.2 all present and future  contract  rights  (other than  contract  rights
relating  specifically and exclusively to equipment and real property other than
the Omaha Real Property),  general intangibles  (including,  but not limited to,
tax and duty refunds, registered and unregistered patents,  trademarks,  service
marks, copyrights,  trade names, applications for the foregoing,  trade secrets,
goodwill, processes, drawings, blueprints,  customer lists, licenses, whether as
licensor or licensee,  choses in action and other claims and existing and future
leasehold  interests in equipment,  real estate and  fixtures),  chattel  paper,
documents,  instruments,  securities and other investment property,  credit card
sales  drafts,  credit  card sales slips or charge  slips or receipts  and other
forms of store receipts, letters of credit, bankers' acceptances and guaranties;

     5.3 all Inventory;

     5.4 all Omaha Real Property;

     5.5 all present and future books and records  relating to any of the above,
including,  without limitation,  all ledgers, books of account,  records, tapes,
cards,  computer  programs,  computer disks or tape files,  computer  printouts,
computer  runs,  computer data and other  computer  prepared  information in the
possession or control of Borrowers,  any computer  service bureau or other third
person; and



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<PAGE>

     5.6 all  products and proceeds of the  foregoing,  in any form,  including,
without limitation,  any insurance proceeds and any claims against third persons
for loss or damage to or destruction of any or all of the foregoing.

SECTION 6.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     Borrowers  hereby jointly and severally  represent and warrant to Agent and
Lenders as follows,  which  representations  and  warranties  are continuing and
shall survive the execution and delivery  hereof,  and the truth and accuracy of
each,  together with the  representations  and warranties in the other Financing
Agreements,  being a continuing condition of each Loan and each Letter of Credit
Accommodation:

     6.1 ORGANIZATION AND QUALIFICATION.

          (a)  Each  of  Borrowers  is a duly  organized  and  validly  existing
corporation  in good  standing  under the laws of its State or  jurisdiction  of
incorporation,  with perpetual corporate existence,  and has the corporate power
and authority to own its  properties and to transact the business in which it is
engaged or presently  proposes to engage.  Each of Borrowers has qualified to do
business  as a foreign  corporation  in the  States  listed on Exhibit A hereto,
which constitute all States where the nature of its business or the ownership or
use of property requires such qualification.

          (b)  Neither  of the  Borrowers  has any  Subsidiaries  as of the date
hereof, except as set forth on Exhibit B hereto.

     6.2  CORPORATE  POWER AND  AUTHORITY.  Each of Borrowers  has the corporate
power and  authority  to borrow and to execute,  deliver and carry out the terms
and  provisions of this  Agreement and the other  Financing  Agreements  and all
other  agreements,  instruments  and documents  delivered by Borrowers  pursuant
hereto and thereto  applicable  to it, and each of Borrowers has taken or caused
to be taken all necessary corporate action to authorize the execution,  delivery
and performance of this Agreement,  the other Financing Agreements and the other
agreements  relating  hereto or thereto to which it is a party,  the present and
future  borrowings and other financial  accommodations  which may be obtained by
Borrowers  hereunder and thereunder and the execution,  delivery and performance
of the  instruments  and documents  delivered and to be delivered by it pursuant
hereto and thereto.  This Agreement and the other Financing  Agreements to which
it  is  a  party  constitute  and  will  constitute  legal,  valid  and  binding
obligations of Borrowers, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms.

     6.3 CAPITALIZATION AND SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES.

          (a) All of the  issued  and  outstanding  shares of  capital  stock of
Seaway are  directly  and  beneficially  owned and held by Pamida and all of the
issued and  outstanding  shares of  capital  stock of Pamida  are  directly  and
beneficially owned and held by Holdings



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<PAGE>

and each have been duly authorized and are fully paid and  non-assessable,  free
and clear of all claims, liens, pledges and encumbrances of any kind, except for
the pledge by Holdings of the capital  stock of Pamida to State  Street Bank and
Trust  Company as  collateral  agent or trustee on behalf of the  holders of the
Senior  Subordinated  Notes,  which  pledge  is, in all  respects,  subject  and
subordinate to the pledge thereof in favor of Agent and Lenders.

          (b) The Senior  Subordinated  Notes have been duly authorized,  issued
and delivered by Pamida and all agreements,  documents and  instruments  related
thereto,  including,  but not  limited  to, the Note  Indenture,  have been duly
authorized,  executed and delivered and the transactions contemplated thereunder
have been  performed in accordance  with their terms by the  respective  parties
thereto in all respects,  including the  fulfillment  (not merely the waiver) of
all conditions precedent set forth therein. All actions and proceedings required
by the Senior  Subordinated Notes and the agreements,  documents and instruments
related  thereto,   applicable  law  or  regulation  have  been  taken  and  the
transactions   required   thereunder  have  been  duly  and  validly  taken  and
consummated.  Neither the execution and delivery of Senior Subordinated Notes or
any of the instruments and documents to be delivered  pursuant thereto,  nor the
consummation of the transactions therein  contemplated,  nor compliance with the
provisions thereof, has violated any law or regulation or any order or decree of
any court or  governmental  instrumentality  in any respect or conflicts with or
results in the breach of, or  constitutes  a default in any respect  under,  any
indenture,  mortgage,  deed of trust, agreement or instrument to which Pamida or
any of its Affiliates is a party or may be bound,  or results in the creation or
imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the property of Pamida
(except as specifically  contemplated or permitted  hereunder or under the other
Financing   Agreements)   or  violate  any  provision  of  the   Certificate  of
Incorporation  or By- Laws of Pamida or any of its  Affiliates.  Borrowers  have
delivered,  or  caused to be  delivered,  to Agent  and each of  Lenders,  true,
correct  and  complete  copies of the  Senior  Subordinated  Notes and all other
agreements,  documents and  instruments  existing as of the date hereof relating
thereto.

          (c)  Each  of  Borrowers  has  sufficient  capital  to  carry  on  all
businesses and transactions in which it now engages or proposes to engage in, is
solvent and will, in the reasonable,  good faith  determination of each Borrower
as of the  date  hereof,  continue  to be  solvent  after  the  creation  of the
Obligations  and the security  interests  in favor of Agent and Lenders,  and is
able to pay its debts as they mature.

     6.4 COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER AGREEMENTS AND APPLICABLE LAW.

          (a) Each of Borrowers is not in material  default under,  in violation
of or in contravention  of, in any respect,  any material  indenture,  mortgage,
deed of trust,  deed to secure debt,  agreement or  instrument  to which it is a
party or by which it or any of its assets or properties may be or are bound.

          (b) Neither the  execution and delivery of this  Agreement,  the other
Financing  Agreements,  or any of the  instruments and documents to be delivered
pursuant hereto or thereto,  nor the consummation of the transactions  herein or
therein contemplated, nor



                                       34

<PAGE>

compliance  with the  provisions  hereof or  thereof,  has  violated  any law or
regulation or any order or decree of any court or  governmental  instrumentality
in any  respect  or does or will  conflict  with or result in the  breach of, or
constitute  a material  default in any respect  under,  any  material  indenture
(including,  without limitation,  the Note Indenture),  mortgage, deed of trust,
agreement or instrument to or by which each Borrower is a party or may be bound,
or result in the creation or imposition of any lien,  charge or encumbrance upon
any of the property of each of Borrowers (except as specifically contemplated or
permitted  hereunder  or under the other  Financing  Agreements)  or violate any
provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws of either Borrower.

          (c) Each of Borrowers  has obtained  all material  permits,  licenses,
certificates,  approvals, consents, orders or authorizations of any governmental
regulatory  authority or other  governmental body or authority  required for the
lawful  conduct of its business and is in  compliance  in all material  respects
with the requirements of all applicable laws,  rules,  regulations and orders of
any  governmental  authority  relating  to  its  business,   including,  without
limitation,   those  set  forth  in  or  promulgated   pursuant  to  ERISA,  the
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, as amended, the Fair Labor Standards
Act of 1938, as amended, the Code, and the rules and regulations thereunder, all
federal,  state and local  statutes,  regulations,  rules and orders relating to
consumer credit (including,  without limitation,  as each has been amended,  the
Truth-in-Lending  Act, the Fair Credit Billing Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity
Act and the Fair  Credit  Reporting  Act,  and  regulations,  rules  and  orders
promulgated  thereunder),  all federal,  state and local statutes,  regulations,
rules and orders  pertaining  to sales of  consumer  goods  (including,  without
limitation,  the  Consumer  Products  Safety Act of 1972,  as  amended,  and the
Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914, as amended, and all regulations, rules and
orders promulgated thereunder and the Environmental Laws).

     6.5  GOVERNMENTAL  APPROVAL.  No consent,  approval or other  action of, or
filing  with,  or  notice  to any  governmental  or public  body,  authority  or
instrumentality  is required in  connection  with the  execution,  delivery  and
performance  of this  Agreement,  the other  Financing  Agreements or any of the
instruments or documents to be delivered pursuant hereto or thereto,  except for
those consents or approvals already obtained by Borrowers.

     6.6 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICES; COLLATERAL LOCATIONS.

          (a) The  addresses  of the  principal  place  of  business  and  chief
executive office of each of Borrowers is as set forth on Exhibit C hereto, which
addresses are the mailing  addresses for said  principal  places of business and
chief executive offices.  The books and records of each of Borrowers relating to
the Accounts of each of Borrowers are located at said addresses.  The Collateral
is located only at the addresses set forth on Exhibit D, except for Inventory in
transit within the continental  United States to a location set forth on Exhibit
D, or from a location set forth on Exhibit D to any of the other  locations  set
forth on Exhibit D, in either case directly and without any  intermediary  stops
of more than two (2)  Business  Days,  or  Inventory in transit from outside the
continental United States to a location set forth on Exhibit D.



                                       35

<PAGE>

          (b) Each of Borrowers may open any new location within the continental
United  States  provided  such  Borrower (i) gives Agent ten (10)  Business Days
prior written  notice of the intended  opening of any such new location and (ii)
executes and  delivers,  or causes to be executed and  delivered,  to Agent such
agreements,  documents, and instruments as Agent and Lenders may deem reasonably
necessary or  desirable  to protect  their  interests  in the  Collateral  to be
located  in  such  location,   including,   without  limitation,  UCC  financing
statements.

     6.7 PRIORITY OF LIENS/TITLE TO PROPERTIES.

          (a) The  security  interests  and liens  granted to Agent and  Lenders
under this Agreement and the other  Financing  Agreements  constitute  valid and
perfected liens and security  interests in and upon the Collateral  subject only
to the liens indicated on Exhibit E hereto and the liens permitted under Section
7.4 hereof.

          (b) Each of  Borrowers  has good  and  marketable  title to all of the
properties  and assets  which it owns subject to no liens,  mortgages,  pledges,
security  interests,  encumbrances or charges of any kind, except those directly
in  favor of or  assigned  to  Agent  and/or  Lenders  and  such  others  as are
specifically  permitted  under the  provisions  of this  Agreement  as listed on
Exhibit E hereto or under Section 7.4 hereof and the other Financing Agreements.
Each of Borrowers has, as the case may be, peaceful and  undisturbed  possession
of all Inventory, Omaha Real Property and other real property owned or leased by
it and such other  assets as may be  necessary  for its  business  as  presently
conducted  or  proposed  to be  conducted  and under all  leases,  licenses  and
easements  necessary for the operation of its properties  and business.  None of
such leases, licenses and easements contain any unusual or burdensome provisions
which might  materially  affect or impair the operations of such  properties and
the business in general and all such leases,  licenses and  easements  are valid
and subsisting and in full force and effect.

     6.8 TAX  RETURNS.  Each of Borrowers  has filed,  or caused to be filed all
Federal,  State,  county,  local,  foreign  and other tax  returns,  reports and
declarations  which are  required to be filed by it and as to which an extension
has not been granted and has paid or caused to be paid all taxes shown to be due
and payable on said returns and reports or in any assessment  received by it, to
the extent  that such taxes have  become  due and  payable,  and has  collected,
deposited  and remitted all sales and/or use taxes  applicable to the conduct of
its  business,  except,  in each  case,  taxes the  validity  of which are being
contested  in good  faith by  appropriate  proceedings  diligently  pursued  and
available to Borrowers and with respect to which adequate reserves have been set
aside on its  books.  Adequate  provision  has been made for the  payment of all
accrued  and unpaid  Federal,  State,  county,  local,  foreign  and other taxes
whether or not yet due and payable and whether or not disputed.

     6.9  LITIGATION.  Except  as set forth on  Exhibit  F  hereto,  there is no
present  investigation  by any  governmental  agency  pending  or to the best of
Borrowers'  knowledge  threatened,  against or affecting  either Borrower or its
properties or business and there is no action, suit,  proceeding or claim by any
Person  pending  or, to the best of  Borrowers'  knowledge,  threatened  against
either Borrower or its assets or goodwill, or against or affecting



                                       36

<PAGE>

any transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the other Financing Agreements,
or other instruments,  agreements or documents  delivered in connection herewith
or therewith,  which if adversely determined with respect to such Borrower would
result in any  material  adverse  change in the  business,  properties,  assets,
goodwill or condition, financial or otherwise, of either Borrower.

     6.10 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. Each of Borrowers owns or licenses all patents,
trademarks,   service-marks,   logos,  tradenames,   trade  secrets,   know-how,
copyrights, or licenses and other rights with respect to any of foregoing, which
are  necessary  for the  operation  of its  business as  presently  conducted or
proposed  to be  conducted.  To the best of  Borrowers'  knowledge,  no product,
process, method,  substance, part or other material presently contemplated to be
sold by or employed by Borrowers infringes any patent, trademark,  service-mark,
tradename,  copyright,  license or other right owned by any other  Person and no
claim  or  litigation  is  pending  or to  the  best  of  Borrowers'  knowledge,
threatened against or affecting either Borrower  contesting its right to sell or
use any such product, process, method, substance, part or other material, except
as set forth on Exhibit F hereto.

     6.11 ACCOUNTS.  Each Account  representing an obligation for the payment of
money  represents  a valid and legally  enforceable  indebtedness  based upon an
actual and bona fide sale and  delivery of goods or rendition of services in the
ordinary course of the businesses of Borrowers  which has been finally  accepted
by the Account Debtor and for which the Account Debtor is unconditionally liable
to make payment of the amount  stated in each invoice,  credit card  transaction
record  instrument or other  document  evidencing  the Account  representing  an
obligation  for the  payment  of money in  accordance  with the  terms  thereof,
without  offset,  defense or  counterclaim.  All statements  made and all unpaid
balances appearing in the invoices, credit card transaction record,  instruments
or other  documentation  evidencing each Account are true and correct and are in
all  material   respects  what  they  purport  to  be  and  all  signatures  and
endorsements  that appear thereon are genuine and all  signatories and endorsers
have full  capacity to contract and each Account  Debtor is, to the best of each
Borrower's  knowledge,  solvent and financially  able to pay in full the Account
when it  matures.  None of the  transactions  underlying  or giving  rise to any
Account  violates  any state,  federal or foreign laws or  regulations,  and all
documents  relating to the  Accounts are legally  sufficient  under such laws or
regulations and shall be legally  enforceable in accordance with their terms and
all recording,  filing and other  requirements of giving public notice under any
applicable law have been duly complied with.

     6.12 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.

          (a)  Neither  of the  Borrowers  has  engaged  in any  transaction  in
connection with which either Borrower, or any of its ERISA Affiliates,  could be
subject to either a civil penalty  assessed  pursuant to Section 502(i) of ERISA
or a tax  imposed  by  Section  4975 of the Code in  excess of  $500,000  in the
aggregate,  including any accumulated  funding  deficiency  described in Section
6.12(c)  hereof  and any  deficiency  with  respect to vested  accrued  benefits
described in Section 6.12(d) hereof.



                                       37

<PAGE>

          (b) No liability to the Pension Benefit Guaranty  Corporation has been
or is expected by either  Borrower to be incurred  with  respect to any employee
pension  benefit plan of either Borrower or any of its ERISA  Affiliates.  There
has been no reportable event (within the meaning of Section 4043(b) of ERISA) or
any other event or condition with respect to any employee  pension  benefit plan
of either  Borrower  or any of its ERISA  Affiliates  which  presents  a risk of
termination of any such plan by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

          (c) Full payment has been made of all amounts which either Borrower or
any of its ERISA  Affiliates is required  under Section 302 of ERISA and Section
412 of the Code to have paid under the terms of each  employee  pension  benefit
plan as  contributions to such plan as of the last day of the most recent fiscal
year of such plan ended prior to the date  hereof,  and no  accumulated  funding
deficiency  (as  defined in Section  302 of ERISA and  Section 412 of the Code),
whether or not waived,  exists with respect to any employee pension benefit plan
in excess of $500,000 in the  aggregate,  including any penalty or tax described
in Section  6.12(a)  hereof and any  deficiency  with respect to vested  accrued
benefits described in Section 6.12(d) hereof.

          (d) The  current  value  of all  vested  accrued  benefits  under  all
employee  pension benefit plans  maintained by either Borrowers that are subject
to Title IV of ERISA  does not exceed  the  current  value of the assets of such
plans  allocable  to such vested  accrued  benefits in excess of $500,000 in the
aggregate,  including any penalty or tax described in Section 6.12(a) hereof and
any accumulated  funding  deficiency  described in Section  6.12(c) hereof.  The
terms  "current  value" and "accrued  benefit"  have the  meanings  specified in
Section 4062(b)(1)(A) and Section 3 of ERISA, respectively.

          (e) Neither  Borrowers nor any of its ERISA  Affiliates is or has ever
been  obligated  to  contribute  to any  "multiemployer  plan"  (as such term is
defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA) that is subject to Title IV of ERISA.

     6.13 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE.

          (a) Except as set forth on Exhibit G hereto,  neither of Borrowers nor
its Affiliates have generated, used, stored, treated, transported, manufactured,
handled, produced or disposed of any Hazardous Materials, on or off its premises
(whether  or not  owned by it) in any  manner  which at any  time  violates  any
applicable  Environmental Law or any license, permit,  certificate,  approval or
similar authorization thereunder and the operations of each of Borrowers and its
Affiliates comply in all material  respects with all Environmental  Laws and all
licenses,   permits,   certificates,   approvals   and  similar   authorizations
thereunder.

          (b)  Except  as set  forth on  Exhibit  G  hereto,  there  has been no
investigation,  proceeding,  complaint,  order,  directive,  claim,  citation or
notice by any  governmental  authority or any other person nor is any pending or
threatened,  with  respect  to  any  non-compliance  with  or  violation  of the
requirements  of  any  Environmental  Law by  each  of  Borrowers  or any of its
Affiliates  or the release,  spill or discharge,  threatened  or actual,  of any
Hazardous Material or the generation, use, storage, treatment, transportation,



                                       38

<PAGE>

manufacturer, handling, production or disposal of any Hazardous Materials or any
other environmental,  health or safety matter, which affects either of Borrowers
or its Affiliates or their businesses, operations or assets or any properties at
which either Borrower or its Affiliates  transported,  stored or disposed of any
Hazardous Materials.

          (c) Neither of Borrowers or its  Affiliates  have  material  liability
(contingent  or  otherwise) in  connection  with a release,  spill or discharge,
threatened  or  actual,  of any  Hazardous  Materials  or the  generation,  use,
storage,  treatment,   transportation,   manufacture,  handling,  production  or
disposal of any Hazardous Materials.

          (d) Each of Borrowers and its Affiliates  have all licenses,  permits,
certificates,  approvals  or similar  authorizations  required to be obtained or
filed in connection  with the operations of each of Borrowers and its Affiliates
under any  Environmental  Law where the  failure  to do so would have a material
adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), business, performance,
operations   or   properties   of  Borrowers  or  the   legality,   validity  or
enforceability of this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements or the
ability of Borrowers to repay the  Obligations  or to perform their  obligations
under this Agreement or any of the other Financing  Agreements or the ability of
Agent or any Lender to enforce the Obligations or realize upon the Collateral or
otherwise  with  respect to the rights and remedies of Agent or any Lender under
this  Agreement  or  any of the  other  Financing  Agreements  and  all of  such
licenses, permits,  certificates,  approvals or similar authorizations are valid
and in full force and effect.

     6.14 INVESTMENT COMPANY.  Neither of Borrowers is an "investment  company",
or an  "affiliated  person" or "promoter" or  "principal  underwriter",  as such
terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.  The making
of the Loans and extension of the Letter of Credit  Accommodations  by Agent and
Lenders,  the application of the proceeds and the repayment thereof by Borrowers
and the performance of the transactions contemplated herein will not violate any
provision  of the  Investment  Company  Act of 1940,  as  amended,  or any rule,
regulation or order issued pursuant thereto.

     6.15  REGULATION U; SECURITIES  EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.  Neither of Borrowers
owns any "margin  security" as such term is defined in  Regulation U, as amended
(12 C.F.R.  Part 207) of the Board. The proceeds of the borrowings made pursuant
to this  Agreement and the other  Financing  Agreements  will be used by each of
Borrowers  only for the purposes  contemplated  hereunder.  None of the proceeds
will be used, directly or indirectly,  for the purpose of purchasing or carrying
any margin security or for the purpose of reducing or retiring any  Indebtedness
which was  originally  incurred to purchase or carry any margin  security or for
any other purpose which might cause any of the loans to be considered a "purpose
credit" within the meaning of Regulation U of the Board, as amended.  Neither of
Borrowers  will take, nor will it permit any agent acting in its behalf to take,
any action which might cause this Agreement or the other  Financing  Agreements,
or instruments  delivered pursuant hereto or thereto,  to violate any regulation
of the Board or to violate the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 or any state or
other  securities  laws,  in each  case as in  effect  on the date  hereof or as
amended hereafter.



                                       39

<PAGE>

     6.16 NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE.  There has been no material adverse change
in the  business,  assets,  condition  (financial  or  otherwise)  or results of
operations or prospects of either of Borrowers since the date of the most recent
financial  statements  with  respect  thereto  submitted to Agent and Lenders or
field examination with respect thereto conducted by Agent and/or Lenders.

     6.17 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

          (a) None of the financial  statements,  reports and other  information
furnished  or to be  furnished  by either of Borrowers to Agent and Lenders with
respect  to each of  Borrowers  and/or  its  Subsidiaries  contain,  as of their
respective  dates,  any untrue  statement of material  fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary to make the  information  therein not  misleading.  Such
financial  statements  and reports were and will be prepared in accordance  with
GAAP, consistently applied, and shall fairly,  completely and accurately present
the consolidated and consolidating financial condition and results of operations
of the  applicable  Persons,  as of the  dates  and  for the  periods  indicated
thereon.

          (b) The balance sheets and future cash flow and other  projections and
estimates for each of Borrowers  (together  with  summaries of  assumptions  and
projected  assumptions,  based on historical  performance  with respect thereto)
furnished by each of Borrowers to Agent and Lenders  represents the  reasonable,
good faith opinion of each Borrower and its  management as to the subject matter
thereof and based on  assumptions  as set forth  therein which each Borrower has
determined  to be  fair  and  reasonable  in  view  of  current  and  reasonably
foreseeable business conditions.

     6.18 DISCLOSURE.

          (a) The information  contained in the  representations  and warranties
set forth in this  Agreement,  the other Financing  Agreements,  or in any other
instrument,   document,  list,  certificate,   statement,  schedule  or  exhibit
heretofore  delivered or to be delivered to Agents and Lenders,  as contemplated
in this  Agreement or in the other  Financing  Agreements,  does not contain and
will not contain any untrue  statement of a material  fact and does not omit and
will  not  omit to  state  a  material  fact  necessary  in  order  to make  the
information contained herein or therein not misleading.

          (b) After  giving  effect  to the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement,  the  other  Financing  Agreements,  and  the  other  instruments  or
documents delivered in connection  herewith and therewith,  there does not exist
and there has not occurred  any act,  condition  or event which  constitutes  an
Event of  Default  or  which,  with  notice  or  passage  of time or both  would
constitute an Event of Default.

     6.19  LABOR  DISPUTES.  Except as set forth on  Exhibit  H: (a) there is no
collective  bargaining  agreement or other labor contract covering  employees of
either  of  Borrowers  or any  of  its  Subsidiaries;  (b)  no  such  collective
bargaining  agreement or other labor  contract is scheduled to expire during the
term of this Agreement; and (c) there is no pending or



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<PAGE>

threatened  strike,  work stoppage,  material unfair labor practice  claims,  or
other material labor dispute against or affecting  either of Borrowers or any of
its Subsidiaries or their respective employees.

     6.20 CORPORATE NAME; PRIOR  TRANSACTIONS.  Neither of Borrowers has, during
the past five years,  been known by or used any other  corporate  or  fictitious
name or  been a  party  to any  merger  or  consolidation,  or  acquired  all or
substantially  all of the assets of any Person,  or acquired any of its property
or assets out of the ordinary course of business, except as set forth on Exhibit
I hereto.


SECTION 7.  ADDITIONAL COVENANTS

     In addition to the covenants set forth in the other  Financing  Agreements,
Borrowers  hereby  jointly  and  severally  covenant to and agree with Agent and
Lenders that Borrowers shall comply with the following  covenants,  or cause the
same to be complied with, unless Agent on behalf of both Lenders shall otherwise
consent in writing:

     7.1 TRADENAMES.  Borrowers may from time to time use the tradenames  listed
on Exhibit I hereto (which, together with any new tradenames used after the date
hereof are referred to collectively as the "Tradenames" and  individually,  as a
"Tradename").  As to the  respective  Tradenames  used  by each  of  them,  each
Borrower hereby agrees that:

          (a) Each Tradename is a tradename (and not an independent  corporation
or other legal entity) by which Borrowers may identify and sell or lease certain
of its goods or services and conduct a portion of its business.

          (b) All proceeds (including any returned merchandise) which arise from
the sale or lease of goods or rendition of services invoiced under the Tradename
shall be owned  solely by the  respective  Borrower  and shall be subject to the
security  interests of Agent and Lenders and other terms of this  Agreement  and
the other Financing Agreements.

          (c) New Tradenames may be used by Borrowers, but only if (i) Agent and
Lenders are given at least thirty (30) days prior written notice of the intended
use of any new  Tradename  and (ii) such  supplemental  financing  statements or
similar  instruments  as Agent or Lenders  may  request  shall be  executed  and
delivered  to Agent by  Borrowers  for filing or recording by Agent prior to the
use of such new Tradename.

     7.2  SUBSIDIARIES.  Borrowers  shall not form or acquire any  Subsidiaries,
except upon the satisfaction of each of the following  conditions:  (a) promptly
upon such formation or acquisition, Borrowers shall cause any such Subsidiary to
execute and deliver to Agent,  in form and substance  satisfactory  to Agent and
its counsel:  (i) an absolute and unconditional  guarantee of payment of any and
all present and future  Obligations of Borrowers to Agent and Lenders containing
terms  substantially  similar to those  guarantees  entered into by the existing
Subsidiaries of Borrowers in favor of Agent and Lenders on or prior to the date



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<PAGE>

hereof,  (ii) a security  agreement granting to Agent for itself and the ratable
benefit of  Lenders a first  security  interest  and lien  (except as  otherwise
consented to in writing by Agent) upon all of the assets of such  Subsidiary  of
the  same  types  and  categories  as  the   Collateral  and  containing   terms
substantially  similar to the security  agreements  entered into by the existing
Subsidiaries  of Borrowers in favor of Agent and Lenders on or prior to the date
hereof,  (iii) related Uniform  Commercial Code Financing  Statements,  and (iv)
such  other  agreements,   documents  and  instruments  as  Agent  may  require,
including,  but not limited to, supplements and amendments hereto and other loan
agreements or  instruments  evidencing  Indebtedness  of such new  Subsidiary to
Agent and Lenders;  (b) promptly upon Agent's request: (i) the Borrower which is
the owner of the capital stock of such  Subsidiary  shall execute and deliver to
Agent,  in form and  substance  satisfactory  to Agent,  a pledge  and  security
agreement  granting to Agent,  for itself and the ratable benefit of Lenders,  a
first pledge of and lien on all of the issued and outstanding  shares of capital
stock of such  Subsidiary  and (ii) Borrower  shall  deliver the original  stock
certificates  evidencing such shares of capital stock together with stock powers
with  respect  thereto  duly  executed  in  blank;  and  (c) the  amount  of the
investment  by such  Borrower in the capital  stock of such  Subsidiary  and any
other  amounts  paid by  such  Borrower  to  such  Subsidiary  or  otherwise  in
connection with the formation or acquisition thereof shall not exceed the amount
permitted under Section 7.5 hereof.

     7.3 INDEBTEDNESS.  Borrowers shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary
to, create,  incur,  assume or permit to exist,  contingently or otherwise,  any
Indebtedness, except:

          (a) Indebtedness of Borrowers to Agent and Lenders;

          (b)  Indebtedness  of  Borrowers   consisting  of  unsecured   current
liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of its business;

          (c)  Indebtedness of Borrowers  incurred in the ordinary course of its
business secured (if at all) only by liens permitted under Sections 7.4(b), (c),
(d), (e), (f), (g) and (h) hereof;

          (d) contingent  Indebtedness of Borrowers  permitted under Section 7.5
hereof;

          (e) Indebtedness of Pamida evidenced by the Senior  Subordinated Notes
PROVIDED,  THAT: (i) the aggregate  principal amount of such Indebtedness  shall
not exceed  $140,000,000  less any principal  payments in respect thereof,  plus
interest thereon at the rate provided for in the Senior Subordinated Notes as in
effect on the date  hereof,  (ii)  Pamida  shall only make  regularly  scheduled
payments of principal and interest,  or other  mandatory  payments to the extent
permitted under Section 7.3(e)(iii)(B) below, in respect of such Indebtedness in
accordance with the terms of the Senior  Subordinated  Notes as in effect on the
date hereof (except in connection  with  Refinancing  Indebtedness  with respect
thereto  permitted  under Section  7.3(k)  below),  (iii)  Borrowers  shall not,
directly or indirectly,  (A) amend,  modify, alter or change any of the material
terms  of  the  Senior  Subordinated  Notes  or  any  agreements,  documents  or
instruments executed and/or delivered in connection  therewith,  including,  but
not  limited  to,  any terms  thereof  relating  to  payments  or  amortization,
financial



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<PAGE>

covenants,  defaults,  or the subordination  thereof or any collateral therefor,
EXCEPT to the extent any such amendments, modifications,  alterations or changes
shall  make  any  such  terms  more  favorable  to  Pamida  or  Holdings  in the
determination  of Agent and Lenders,  and  including any  amendments  thereto to
increase  or  eliminate  the  dollar   amount  limit  of  the  Sale-   Leaseback
Transactions  which  Pamida is  permitted  thereunder,  or (B)  redeem,  retire,
defease,  purchase  or  otherwise  acquire  such  Indebtedness,  or set aside or
otherwise deposit or invest any sums for such purpose, except in connection with
Refinancing  Indebtedness  with respect  thereto  permitted under Section 7.3(k)
below and except for purchases of Senior  Subordinated Notes required to be made
by  Pamida  under  the  terms of the Note  Indenture  (as in  effect on the date
hereof): (1) to the extent of net cash proceeds received by Pamida from an Asset
Sale,  provided,  that, (aa) any such net cash proceeds are first applied to the
Obligations to the extent such assets sold or otherwise  disposed of pursuant to
the Asset Sale constitute  Collateral or are first applied to the Obligations to
the extent  required by Agent and Lenders at the time of any such sale, or as is
otherwise required to satisfy Obligations which are then due and payable or then
due and  payable on demand  (whether or not such demand has been made) under the
terms hereof or of the other Financing Agreements (in each case such application
being  deemed a mandatory  repayment  of the  Obligations)  and (bb) no Event of
Default or act,  condition or event which with notice or passage of time or both
would  constitute an Event of Default exists or has occurred and (2) as a result
of a Change in Control,  and (iv)  Borrowers  shall furnish to Agent and Lenders
all notices and demands  either  received  from any of the holders of the Senior
Subordinated Notes, or on their behalf,  promptly after receipt thereof, or sent
by either of  Borrowers,  or on its behalf,  to any of the holders of the Senior
Subordinated  Notes, or any  representative of the holders  (including,  but not
limited to, the trustee)  concurrently with the sending thereof, as the case may
be;

          (f) Indebtedness of any wholly-owned Subsidiary of either of Borrowers
arising  pursuant  to loans by  Borrowers  to such  Subsidiary  permitted  under
Section 7.5 hereof;

          (g) Indebtedness of Borrowers to any wholly-owned Subsidiary of either
Borrower  arising  pursuant  to  loans by such  Subsidiary  to  either  Borrower
permitted under Section 7.5 hereof;

          (h) contingent  Indebtedness of Borrowers to any issuer of a letter of
credit  established,  opened or maintained for the account of Borrowers pursuant
to the Letter of Credit Accommodations;

          (i)  Indebtedness  of Borrowers in respect of Interest Rate Protection
Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business;

          (j) unsecured  Indebtedness of Borrowers  owing to any  non-affiliated
person on  commercially  reasonable  rates and terms pursuant to an arm's length
transaction;  provided,  that,  (i) Agent shall receive a monthly report of such
Indebtedness,  which report shall set forth in reasonable detail satisfactory to
Agent, the amount of such Indebtedness,  the person to whom such Indebtedness is
owed,  the interest  rate,  the schedule of  repayments  and maturity  date with
respect thereto and such other information as Agent may request with



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<PAGE>

respect  thereto,  (ii) upon Agent's  request,  Agent shall have received  true,
correct  and  complete  copies  of all  agreements,  documents  and  instruments
evidencing or otherwise related to such Indebtedness,  (iii) the total aggregate
amount of such Indebtedness at any time outstanding shall not exceed $3,000,000,
(iv) on and before the date of  incurring  such  Indebtedness  and after  giving
effect thereto,  no Event of Default,  or act, condition or event which with the
passage of time or both would  constitute  an Event of  Default,  shall exist or
have  occurred,  (v) such  Indebtedness  shall not at any time include terms and
conditions  which in any manner  adversely  affect or restrict or limit Agent or
any Lender or any rights of Agent or any  Lender or the rights of  Borrower  and
its Subsidiaries with respect to the financing  arrangements provided for herein
as determined in good faith by Agent or which are more restrictive or burdensome
than the terms or conditions of the most  restrictive or burdensome of any other
material  Indebtedness  of Borrowers  as in effect on the date hereof,  and (vi)
Borrowers  shall  furnish  to Agent  and  Lenders  all  notices  or  demands  in
connection with such  Indebtedness  sent by Borrowers or on its or their behalf,
concurrently  with the sending  thereof,  or received by  Borrowers or on its or
their behalf, promptly after the receipt thereof, as the case may be;

          (k) Indebtedness  issued in exchange for, or the proceeds of which are
used to extend,  refinance,  replace or substitute for, Indebtedness referred to
in Section 7.3(e) hereof (the "Refinancing  Indebtedness");  provided, that: (i)
the aggregate principal amount of such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not exceed
$165,000,000,  less any principal payments thereof, plus interest thereon at the
rate permitted herein,  (ii) the Refinancing  Indebtedness shall have a Weighted
Average  Life to  Maturity  and a final  maturity  equal to or greater  than the
Weighted Average Life to Maturity and the final maturity,  respectively,  of the
Indebtedness being extended, refinanced,  replaced or substituted for, (iii) the
Refinancing Indebtedness shall rank in right of payment no more senior than, and
be at least  as  subordinated  (if  subordinated)  to,  the  Obligations  as the
Indebtedness  being  extended,  refinanced,  replaced or  substituted,  (iv) the
Refinancing  Indebtedness shall not include terms and conditions with respect to
Borrowers which are more burdensome or restrictive in any material  respect than
those  included  in  the  Indebtedness  so  extended,  refinanced,  replaced  or
substituted  for, (v) Agent shall have  received not less than ten (10) Business
Days prior  written  notice of the intention to incur such  Indebtedness,  which
notice shall set forth in reasonable detail satisfactory to Agent, the amount of
such  Indebtedness,  the schedule of  repayments  and maturity date with respect
thereto and such other  information with respect thereto as Agent may reasonably
request,  (vi) promptly upon Agent's  request,  Agent shall have received  true,
correct  and  complete  copies  of all  agreements,  documents  and  instruments
evidencing  or  otherwise  related  to such  Indebtedness,  as duly  authorized,
executed and delivered by the parties thereto,  (vii) such Indebtedness incurred
by  Borrowers  shall be at rates  and with  fees or other  charges  no higher or
greater than the Indebtedness so extended,  refinanced,  replaced or substituted
for,  (viii) as of the date of  incurring  such  Indebtedness  and after  giving
effect thereto, no Event of Default shall exist or have occurred, (ix) Borrowers
may only make regularly  scheduled payments of principal and interest in respect
of such  Indebtedness or other mandatory  payments to the extent permitted under
Section 7.3(k)(x)(B) below, (x) Borrowers shall not, directly or indirectly, (A)
amend,  modify, alter or change the terms of the agreements with respect to such
Indebtedness, except that Borrowers may, after prior



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<PAGE>

written notice to Agent, amend,  modify, alter or change the terms thereof so as
to extend the maturity  thereof,  or defer the timing of any payments in respect
thereof,  or to forgive or cancel any portion of such  indebtedness  (other than
pursuant to payments  thereof),  or to reduce the  interest  rate or any fees in
connection   therewith,   or  to  make  any  covenants  contained  therein  less
restrictive  or  burdensome  as to  Borrowers  or  otherwise  more  favorable to
Borrowers, or (B) redeem, retire,  defease,  purchase or otherwise acquired such
Indebtedness,  or set aside or  otherwise  deposit  or invest  any sums for such
purpose  except  for  purchases  of  any  notes   evidencing  such   Refinancing
Indebtedness  required to be made by Pamida under the terms thereof:  (1) to the
extent of net cash  proceeds  received by Pamida  from an Asset Sale,  provided,
that,  (aa) any such net cash proceeds are first applied to the  Obligations  to
the extent such assets sold or otherwise  disposed of pursuant to the Asset Sale
constitute  Collateral  or are first  applied to the  Obligations  to the extent
required by Agent and Lenders at the time of any such sale,  or as is  otherwise
required to satisfy  Obligations  which are then due and payable or then due and
payable on demand  (whether  or not such  demand has been made)  under the terms
hereof or of the other Financing Agreements (in each case such application being
deemed a mandatory repayment of the Obligations) and (bb) no Event of Default or
act,  condition  or event  which  with  notice or  passage of time or both would
constitute  an Event of Default  exists or has occurred and (2) as a result of a
Change in  Control,  and (xi)  Borrowers  shall  furnish to Agent all notices or
demands in connection with such Indebtedness  either received by Borrowers or on
their behalf promptly after the receipt thereof,  or sent by Borrowers or on its
behalf, concurrently with the sending thereof, as the case may be;

          (l)  Indebtedness  of  Borrowers  existing on the date hereof which is
described  on Exhibit J hereto;  provided,  that:  (i)  Borrowers  may only make
regularly scheduled payments of principal and interest or capital lease payments
as set forth on Exhibit J, (ii) Borrowers shall not, directly or indirectly, (A)
make  any  prepayments  or  other  non-mandatory  payments  in  respect  of such
Indebtedness,  without the prior  written  consent of Agent and Lenders,  or (B)
amend,  modify, alter or change the terms of the agreements with respect to such
Indebtedness or otherwise, except that Borrowers may, after prior written notice
to Agent, amend,  modify,  alter or change the terms thereof so as to extend the
maturity thereof or defer the timing of any payments in respect  thereof,  or to
forgive or cancel any  portion of such  Indebtedness  (other  than  pursuant  to
payments  thereof),  or to reduce the  interest  rate or any fees in  connection
therewith  or to make  any  covenants  contained  therein  less  restrictive  or
burdensome as to Borrowers or (C) redeem, retire, defease, purchase or otherwise
acquire such Indebtedness,  or set aside or otherwise deposit or invest any sums
for such  purpose  (except to redeem,  retire,  defease,  purchase or  otherwise
acquire such  Indebtedness  arising pursuant to capital leases of specific fixed
assets located at retail store locations or distribution centers of Borrowers in
connection  with the closing or  relocation  of such retail  store  locations or
distribution  centers to the extent  permitted  hereunder),  and (iii) Borrowers
shall  furnish to Agent and Lenders all  notices or demands in  connection  with
such Indebtedness sent by Borrowers or on its or their behalf, concurrently with
the  sending  thereof,  or  received  by  Borrowers  or on its or their  behalf,
promptly after the receipt thereof, as the case may be.



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<PAGE>

     7.4  LIMITATION  ON LIENS.  Borrowers  shall not,  and shall not permit any
Subsidiary  to,  create  or  suffer  to exist  any  mortgage,  pledge,  security
interest,  lien,  encumbrance,  defect in title or  restriction  upon the use of
their real or  personal  properties,  whether now owned or  hereafter  acquired,
except:

          (a) the  liens or  security  interests  in favor of Agent  and each of
Lenders;

          (b)  liens   arising  by  operation  of  law  in  favor  of  carriers,
warehousemen,   landlords,  mechanics,   materialmen,   laborers,  employees  or
suppliers  in the  ordinary  course of the  businesses  of  Borrowers  and their
Subsidiaries  to the  extent  (i) such liens  secure  Indebtedness  which is not
overdue or (ii) such liens secure  Indebtedness being contested in good faith by
appropriate  proceedings  diligently pursued and available to Borrowers or their
Subsidiaries   prior  to  the  commencement  of  foreclosure  or  other  similar
proceedings,  execution on such liens is at all times effectively  stayed and an
adequate escrow,  in Agent's judgment for such Indebtedness has been established
or, at Agent's option, an adequate reserve reducing amounts otherwise  available
to  Borrowers  pursuant  to  the  terms  hereof  as  Revolving  Loans  for  such
Indebtedness has been established;

          (c) purchase money mortgages or other purchase money liens or security
interests upon any specific fixed assets hereafter acquired or liens or security
interests  existing on any such future fixed  assets at the time of  acquisition
thereof  and  including  in any event any capital or finance  leases;  provided,
that:  (i) no such  purchase  money lien or  security  interest  (or  capital or
finance lease,  as the case may be) with respect to specific future fixed assets
or as  refinanced  shall  extend to or cover any other  property  other than the
specific fixed assets so acquired,  or acquired subject to such lien or security
interest  (or  lease)  and the  proceeds  thereof;  (ii) such  lien or  security
interest only secures the  obligation to pay the purchase price of such specific
fixed assets (or the obligations under the capital or finance lease);  (iii) the
principal amount secured thereby shall not exceed one hundred six (106%) percent
of the cost of the fixed  assets so acquired;  and (iv) no Event of Default,  or
act,  condition  or event  which  with  notice or  passage of time or both would
constitute an Event of Default, shall exist or have occurred;

          (d) liens or security  interests  upon any  specific  fixed  assets of
Borrowers  consisting of real property and related improvements to be used for a
retail store location of Borrowers in the ordinary course of their businesses or
a  distribution  center to be used by Borrowers in the ordinary  course of their
businesses  (and any related  equipment  located or to be located on and used in
connection  with such retail  store  location or  distribution  center)  arising
pursuant  to capital  leases of such  specific  fixed  assets to a  Borrower  in
connection with a  Sale-Leaseback  Transaction for such fixed assets,  provided,
that,  (i) no such  capital  lease shall  extend to or cover any other  property
other than the  specific  fixed  assets  sold and leased  back by such  Borrower
pursuant to such Sale-Leaseback Transaction, (ii) such lien or security interest
only secures the  obligations of such Borrower  under such capital lease,  (iii)
the principal  portion of the amounts payable under such capital lease shall not
exceed one  hundred  six (106%)  percent of the amount of the sale price of such
fixed assets paid to such Borrower pursuant to such  Sale-Leaseback  Transaction
and (iv) no Event of Default or act,



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<PAGE>

condition or event which with notice or passage of time or both would constitute
an Event of Default shall exist or have occurred;

          (e) liens arising by operation of law for taxes,  assessments or other
governmental  charges to the extent (i) such liens secure  Indebtedness which is
not overdue or (ii) such liens secure Indebtedness being contested in good faith
by  appropriate  proceedings  diligently  pursued and  available to Borrowers or
their  Subsidiaries  prior to the  commencement  of foreclosure or other similar
proceedings,  execution on such liens thereon is at all times effectively stayed
and an  adequate  escrow in  Agent's  judgment  for such  Indebtedness  has been
established or at Agent's option, an adequate reserve reducing amounts otherwise
available to Borrowers  pursuant to the terms hereof as Revolving Loans for such
Indebtedness has been established;

          (f) liens  arising  pursuant to the  statutory  or common law right of
set-off or liens of banks on property of Borrowers or their  Subsidiaries in the
possession of such banks;

          (g) judgment and other similar liens arising in connection  with court
proceedings  in an  amount  not to  exceed  $500,000;  provided,  that,  (i) the
judgment  or other court order  giving rise to such lien is being  contested  in
good faith by  appropriate  proceedings  diligently  pursued  and  available  to
Borrowers or their  Subsidiaries  prior to the  commencement  of  foreclosure or
other similar  proceedings,  (ii) execution  thereon is at all times effectively
stayed and (iii) an adequate  escrow in Agent's  judgment for such  Indebtedness
has been established or, at Agent's option, an adequate reserve reducing amounts
otherwise available to Borrowers pursuant to the terms hereof as Revolving Loans
for such Indebtedness has been established;

          (h) liens (other than  environmental  liens and any lien imposed under
ERISA) arising, or deposits made, in the ordinary course of business (including,
without  limitation,  surety bonds and appeal bonds) in connection with workers'
compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security benefits
or to secure the performance of tenders, bids, leases, contracts (other than for
the  repayment  of  Indebtedness),   statutory  obligations  and  other  similar
obligations;  provided, that, in connection with any performance bonds issued by
a surety or other  person,  the issuer of such bond shall have waived in writing
any  rights  in or to,  or  other  interest  in,  any of  the  Collateral  in an
agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent;

          (i) easements  (including,  without  limitation,  reciprocal  easement
agreements  and  utility  agreements),   rights-of-way,   covenants,   consents,
reservations,  encroachments, variations and other similar restrictions, charges
or  encumbrances  with  respect  to the  real  property  of  Borrowers  or their
Subsidiaries  (whether  or not  recorded)  incurred  in the  ordinary  course of
business, which do not secure Indebtedness or the deferred purchase price of any
assets and which do not  interfere in any material  respect with the use of such
real property or the ordinary  conduct of the  businesses of Borrowers and their
Subsidiaries  as presently  conducted  thereon and do not materially  impair the
value of the real property which may be subject thereto;



                                       47

<PAGE>

          (j) the existing liens,  security  interests or encumbrances set forth
on Exhibit E hereto.

     7.5 LOANS, INVESTMENTS, GUARANTEES, ETC. Borrowers shall not, and shall not
permit any  Subsidiary  to,  directly or  indirectly,  make any loans or advance
money or property to any Person, or invest in (by capital contribution, dividend
or otherwise) or purchase or repurchase  the stock or  Indebtedness  or all or a
substantial part of the assets or property of any Person, or guarantee,  assume,
endorse,  or otherwise  become  responsible  for  (directly or  indirectly)  the
Indebtedness, performance, obligations or dividends of any Person or agree to do
any of the foregoing, except:

          (a) the  endorsement of  instruments  for collection or deposit in the
ordinary course of business;

          (b) investments in instruments  constituting Cash  Equivalents,  which
shall be delivered to Agent, upon Agent's or Lenders' request, at any time on or
after an Event  of  Default,  and  prior  to an  Event of  Default  only if such
investment has a maturity of more than seven (7) Business Days;

          (c)  purchases of  Indebtedness  evidenced by the Senior  Subordinated
Notes  to  the  extent  permitted  under  Section  7.3(e)(iii)(B)  hereof  or in
connection with the Refinancing Indebtedness;

          (d) equity investments of either Borrower in its existing Subsidiaries
and any  Subsidiaries  formed or  acquired  after the date  hereof to the extent
permitted under and in accordance with Section 7.2 hereof,  provided,  that, (i)
as of the date of such investment and after giving effect  thereto,  no Event of
Default, or act, condition or event which with notice or passage of time or both
would  constitute an Event of Default,  shall exist or have occurred and (ii) in
no event shall the total amount of any capital  contributions  or other  amounts
paid by Borrowers to or for the acquisition of any such  Subsidiaries  formed or
acquired  after  the  date  hereof,  plus  the  amount  of  any  loans  to  such
Subsidiaries  permitted  under  Section  7.5(g)  below,  exceed  $500,000 in the
aggregate  and (iii)  such  Subsidiary  shall  have  executed  and  delivered  a
guarantee  of the  Obligations  in favor of Agent  and  Lenders  and such  other
agreements as are required under Section 7.2 hereof;

          (e) guarantees by any  wholly-owned  Subsidiary of either  Borrower in
favor of Agent and Lenders of the  Obligations  of either  Borrower to Agent and
guarantees by either Borrower in favor of Agent and Lenders of Indebtedness,  if
any, of such Subsidiary to Agent and Lenders;

          (f)  guarantees  by  Borrowers  in  favor  of the  person  to whom any
Indebtedness is owed which is permitted pursuant to Section 7.3(j) hereof;

          (g)  loans  by  Borrowers  to  any  wholly-owned  Subsidiary  of  such
Borrower;  provided,  that, (i) no Event of Default,  or act, condition or event
which with notice or passage



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<PAGE>

of time or both would  constitute  an Event of Default  exists or has  occurred,
(ii) in no event shall the total amount of such loans to Subsidiaries  formed or
acquired after the date hereof, plus the amount of any capital  contributions or
other  amounts  paid  by  Borrowers  to or  for  the  acquisition  of  any  such
Subsidiaries  permitted  under  Section  7.5(d)  above,  exceed  $500,000 in the
aggregate at any time outstanding and (iii) the Indebtedness arising pursuant to
such loans shall not be evidenced by any  promissory  note or other  instrument,
unless the original of such note or other instrument is pledged and delivered to
Agent (with such endorsement thereof as Agent may require);

          (h) loans by any  wholly-owned  Subsidiary of either  Borrower to such
Borrower;  provided, that, (i) prior to the making of any such loans Agent shall
have received,  in form and substance  satisfactory  to Agent,  a  subordination
agreement by and between Agent,  Lenders and such  wholly-owned  Subsidiary,  as
acknowledged  and agreed to by such  Borrower,  providing  for,  inter alia, the
subordination in right of payment of any and all present and future Indebtedness
and other  obligations  and  liabilities  of such  Borrower to its  wholly-owned
Subsidiary  to  the  indefeasible  payment  and  satisfaction  in  full  of  the
Obligations and related matters, duly authorized, executed and delivered by such
wholly- owned Subsidiary and such Borrower and (ii) no Event of Default, or act,
condition or event which with notice or passage of time or both would constitute
an Event of Default, exists or has occurred;

          (i)  obligations  owing to Borrowers from purchasers of specific fixed
assets of  Borrowers  pursuant to a  Sale-Leaseback  Transaction  evidenced by a
promissory  note payable by such purchaser to the order of Borrowers;  provided,
that,  (i) the  total  aggregate  amount  of such  obligations  at any one  time
outstanding shall not exceed $5,000,000, (ii) Agent shall have received not less
than  ten  (10)  Business  Days  prior  written  notice  of  any  such  proposed
transaction  which notice shall set forth in reasonable detail the terms of such
Sale-Leaseback  Transaction and such obligations,  (iii) Agent and Lenders shall
have  received  such  information  with respect  thereto as Agent or Lenders may
request, (iv) Agent shall have received true, correct and complete copies of all
agreements,   documents  and   instruments   relating  to  such   Sale-Leaseback
Transaction,  (v) upon Agent's or Lenders'  request,  Borrowers shall deliver or
cause  to be  delivered  to  Agent,  any  promissory  note or  other  instrument
evidencing such obligations,  with an appropriate  endorsement or assignment and
with full recourse to the Borrower who is the payee  thereof,  and (vi) no Event
of Default,  or act,  condition or event which with notice or passage of time or
both would constitute an Event of Default, shall exist or have occurred;

          (j) stock or  obligations  issued to  Borrowers  by any Person (or the
representative  of such Person) in respect of  Indebtedness of such Person owing
to Borrowers in connection  with the  insolvency,  bankruptcy,  receivership  or
reorganization  of such Person or a composition or  readjustment of the debts of
such  Person;  provided,  that,  the  original  of any such stock or  instrument
evidencing such obligations  shall be promptly  delivered to Agent, upon Agent's
or Lenders' request  (together with such stock power,  assignment or endorsement
by Borrowers as Agent or Lenders may request) at any time on or after an Event



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<PAGE>

of Default  and prior to an Event of Default if such stock or  instrument  has a
fair market value greater than $500,000;

          (k) obligations of Account Debtors to Borrowers  arising from Accounts
which are past due  evidenced by a promissory  note made by such Account  Debtor
payable to any of Borrowers;  provided,  that,  promptly upon the receipt of the
original of any such promissory  note by any of Borrowers,  such promissory note
shall be  endorsed  to the order of Agent by the  Borrower  who is the payee and
promptly  delivered  to Agent as so endorsed at any time on or after an Event of
Default  and prior to an Event of  Default if the  aggregate  amount of all such
notes exceeds $250,000;

          (l) loans of money or property to any Person, or investment by capital
contribution in any Person or guarantee of the Indebtedness of any Person (other
than as otherwise  permitted  above);  provided,  that, (i) the total  aggregate
amount of any such loans,  investments or guarantees shall not exceed $1,500,000
at any time outstanding,  (ii) no Event of Default,  or act,  condition or event
which  with  notice or  passage  of time or both  would  constitute  an Event of
Default,  shall exist or have  occurred,  (iii) in the case of an  investment by
capital  contribution,  at Agent's or Lenders' option, the original of any stock
or other  instrument  evidencing  such  capital  contribution  shall be promptly
delivered to Agent, together with such stock power, assignment or endorsement as
Agent may request, (iv) in the case of loans of money or property,  the original
of any promissory note or other instrument  evidencing the Indebtedness  arising
pursuant to such loans shall be delivered,  or caused to be delivered, to Agent,
at Agent's or Lenders' option, together with an appropriate endorsement and with
full recourse to the Borrower or other payee thereof,  (v) in the event any such
loan,  investment or guarantee  exceeds $300,000 or all such loans,  investments
and guarantees then  outstanding  exceed $300,000 in the aggregate,  Agent shall
have  received  (A) not less  than one (1)  Business  Day prior  written  notice
thereof  setting forth in reasonable  detail the nature and terms  thereof,  (B)
true,  correct and complete copies of all agreements,  documents and instruments
relating thereto and (C) such other information with respect thereto as Agent or
Lenders may request;

          (m) the  existing  loans,  investments  and  guarantees  set  forth on
Exhibit K hereto.

     7.6 TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES. Borrowers shall not, and shall not permit
any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:

          (a) purchase, acquire or lease any property from, or sell, transfer or
lease any property to, any shareholder,  officer,  director,  agent, employee or
Affiliate,  except: (i) in the ordinary course of and pursuant to the reasonable
requirements of a Borrower's business and upon fair and reasonable terms no less
favorable to such Borrower than such Borrower would obtain in a comparable arm's
length transactions with a person who is not an Affiliate, and (ii) purchases of
Inventory  by Pamida from  Seaway on terms and  conditions  consistent  with the
current practices of Pamida and Seaway as of the date hereof; or



                                       50

<PAGE>

          (b) make any payment of management fees or of the principal  amount of
or interest or any Indebtedness owing to any shareholder,  officer,  director or
Affiliate of Borrowers,  except:  (i) amounts required to be paid for income and
other taxes  payable by  Borrowers  or their  Subsidiaries  and/or under any tax
sharing  arrangements  or similar  amounts  payable to  Holdings  in lieu of the
payment of taxes; (ii) to the extent permitted under Section 7.6(a) above, (iii)
any  Subsidiaries  of  Borrowers  may repay  Indebtedness  at any time  owing to
Borrowers  and either of Borrowers may repay  Indebtedness  at any time owing to
any of its Subsidiaries subject to the terms of the subordination required under
Section 7.5 above and so long as no Event of Default, or act, condition or event
which  with  notice or  passage  of time or both  would  constitute  an Event of
Default,  exists or has occurred,  and (iv) Borrowers and its  Subsidiaries  may
accrue and pay dividends as permitted under Section 7.7 below.

     7.7 DIVIDENDS. Borrowers shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to,
directly or  indirectly,  during any fiscal  year,  commencing  with each of its
current fiscal year,  declare or pay any cash dividends or dividends  payable in
property other than stock on account of any shares of any class of capital stock
of Borrowers or such Subsidiary now or hereafter  outstanding,  or set apart any
sums for such purpose, or redeem, retire, defease, purchase or otherwise acquire
any shares of any class of capital stock of Borrowers or such Subsidiary (or set
aside or  otherwise  deposit  or  invest  any sums  for  such  purpose)  for any
consideration other than stock or apply or set apart any sums, or make any other
distribution  (by  reduction  of  capital or  otherwise)  in respect of any such
shares or agree to do any of the foregoing, except:

          (a) dividends  may be accrued and paid by any  Subsidiary of either of
Borrowers to Borrowers; and

          (b)  Pamida may  declare  and pay  dividends  to  Holdings  (including
dividends in respect of common and preferred stock) not to exceed, in any fiscal
year, in the aggregate, an amount equal to $2,000,000;  provided,  that, each of
the following conditions is satisfied as of the date of the payment of each such
dividend,  as determined  by Agent:  (i) no Event of Default,  or act,  event or
condition,  which with notice, passage of time or both would constitute an Event
of Default,  exists or has occurred or would exist or occur after giving  effect
to the  declaration  and  payment of such  dividend,  (ii) there are  sufficient
legally available funds therefor,  and (iii) as of the date of such payment, the
Excess  Availability  for each of the immediately  preceding ten (10) days shall
have been not less than  $5,000,000 and as of the date of such payment and after
giving effect thereto, Excess Availability shall be not less than $5,000,000.

     7.8  MAINTENANCE  OF  EXISTENCE.  Each  of  Borrowers  shall  at all  times
preserve,  renew and keep in full, force and effect its corporate  existence and
rights and franchises with respect thereto and maintain in full force and effect
all permits, licenses, trademarks, tradenames, approvals, authorizations, leases
and contracts  necessary to carry on the business as presently or proposed to be
conducted.



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<PAGE>

     7.9 SALE OF ASSETS,  CONSOLIDATION,  MERGER,  DISSOLUTION,  ETC. Neither of
Borrowers  shall,  directly or indirectly,  without the prior written consent of
Agent,

          (a) merge into or with or consolidate  with any other Person or permit
any other Person to merge into or with or consolidate  with it, except that each
of Borrowers or its  Subsidiaries  may merge into or with the other  Borrower or
its  Subsidiaries,  provided,  that, (i) Agent shall have received not less than
thirty (30) Business Days prior written  notice of the intention of Borrowers or
their  Subsidiaries  to so  merge  and  such  other  information  in  connection
therewith as Agent or Lenders may request,  (ii) as of the effective date of the
merger and after giving effect thereto,  no Event of Default,  or act, condition
or event which with notice or passage of time or both would  constitute an Event
of Default, shall exist or have occurred,  (iii) Agent shall have received true,
correct  and  complete  copies  of all  agreements,  documents  and  instruments
relating to such  merger,  including,  but not limited  to, the  certificate  of
merger as filed with the  appropriate  Secretary  of State,  (iv) the  surviving
entity shall  immediately upon the  effectiveness of the merger expressly assume
in writing pursuant to an agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent
and Lenders, all of the Obligations and the Financing Agreements and execute and
deliver such other agreements, documents and instruments as Agent or Lenders may
request in connection  therewith;  (v) the surviving  entity shall,  immediately
before and  immediately  after giving  effect to such  transaction  or series of
transactions,  have a consolidated net worth (including, without limitation, any
Indebtedness  incurred or  anticipated  to be incurred in connection  with or in
respect of such transaction or series of transactions)  equal to or greater than
the  consolidated net worth of Pamida  immediately  prior to such transaction or
series of  transactions;  (vi) each of Guarantors  shall ratify and confirm that
their  respective  guarantees  of  the  Obligations  and,  as to  Holdings,  its
obligations  under the Pledge and  Security  Agreement  by  Holdings in favor of
Agent and Lenders,  shall apply to the  Obligations as assumed by such surviving
entity;  (vii) all of the capital stock of Pamida or such surviving entity shall
be pledged to the same extent as provided  herein and in the Pledge and Security
Agreement by Holdings in favor of Agent and Lenders;  and (viii)  neither Pamida
nor  any  Subsidiary  would  thereupon  become  obligated  with  respect  to any
Indebtedness,  nor any of its property become subject to any lien, unless Pamida
or such Subsidiary could incur such  Indebtedness or create such lien hereunder;
or

          (b) sell, assign, lease, transfer, abandon or otherwise dispose of any
stock or Indebtedness to any other Person or any of their respective  properties
or assets to any other Person, except for:

               (i) sales of Inventory in the ordinary course of business,

               (ii) sales of worn-out or obsolete equipment,

               (iii) sales of specific fixed assets pursuant to a Sale-Leaseback
Transaction  permitted  under Section  7.5(i) hereof and sales of specific fixed
assets  (other  than  the  Collateral)  pursuant  to  any  other  Sale-Leaseback
Transaction, provided, that, the Indebtedness



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<PAGE>

of a Borrower  arising  pursuant  to such other  Sale-Leaseback  Transaction  is
otherwise permitted hereunder,

               (iv) sales of equipment in a manner and amounts  consistent  with
Borrowers'  current  practices  as of the date hereof  (other than as  permitted
under clause (v) below),  provided,  that, (A) the total aggregate amount of the
net book  value of any  equipment  sold in any  fiscal  year  shall  not  exceed
$1,500,000,  (B) no Event of  Default,  or act,  condition  or event  which with
notice or  passage of time or both would  constitute  an Event of Default  shall
exist or have  occurred and (C) at the option of Agent or Lenders,  any net cash
proceeds  received  by  Borrowers  pursuant  thereto  shall be paid to Agent for
application to the Obligations, or

               (v)  sales or other  dispositions  by a  Borrower  of  assets  in
connection  with the closing or sale of a retail store location of such Borrower
in the ordinary  course of such  Borrower's  business which consist of leasehold
interests in the premises of such store,  the equipment and fixtures  located at
such premises and the books and records relating exclusively and directly to the
operations of such store; provided,  that, as to each and all such sales, (A) on
the date of, and after giving  effect to, any such sale,  in any calendar  year,
such Borrower  shall not have closed or sold retail store  locations  accounting
for more than ten (10%) percent of all sales of such Borrower in the immediately
preceding twelve (12) month period,  (B) Agent shall have received not less than
ten (10) Business Days prior written notice of such sale, which notice shall set
forth in reasonable  detail  satisfactory to Agent,  the parties to such sale or
other disposition,  the assets to be sold or otherwise disposed of, the purchase
price and the manner of payment thereof and such other  information with respect
thereto  as  Agent  may  request,  (C) as of the  date  of such  sale  or  other
disposition  and after  giving  effect  thereto,  no Event of  Default,  or act,
condition  or event  which with  notice or passage of time would  constitute  an
Event of  Default,  shall  exist or have  occurred,  (D) such  sale  shall be on
commercially   reasonable   prices  and  terms  in  a  bona  fide  arm's  length
transaction,  and (E) any and all net  proceeds  payable  or  delivered  to such
Borrower  in  respect  of  such  sale  or  other  disposition  shall  be paid or
delivered,  or caused to be paid or delivered, to Agent, for the ratable benefit
of Lenders,  in accordance with the terms of this Agreement  either,  at Agent's
option,  for  application to the Obligations in accordance with the terms hereof
(except to the extent such proceeds  reflect  payment in respect of indebtedness
secured by a properly  perfected first priority  security interest in the assets
sold, in which case, such proceeds shall be applied to such indebtedness secured
thereby) or to be held by Agent as cash  collateral for the Obligations on terms
and conditions acceptable to Agent; or

               (c) wind up, liquidate or dissolve; or

               (d)  agree to do any of the foregoing.

     7.10 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS, REGULATIONS, ETC.

               (a) Each of Borrowers  shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary to,
at all times comply in all material  respects with all applicable  provisions of
laws, rules, regulations,



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<PAGE>

licenses,   permits,   approvals  and  orders  and  duly  observe  all  material
requirements,  of any foreign,  federal, state or local governmental  authority,
including, without limitation,  ERISA, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of
1970, as amended,  the Fair Labor  Standards  Act of 1938,  as amended,  and the
rules and  regulations  thereunder,  all  federal,  state  and  local  statutes,
regulations,  rules and orders relating to consumer credit  (including,  without
limitation,  as each has been amended, the Truth-in-Lending Act, the Fair Credit
Billing Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act,
and regulations,  rules and orders promulgated  thereunder),  all federal, state
and  local  statutes,  regulations,  rules  and  orders  pertaining  to sales of
consumer good (including,  without limitation,  the Consumer Products Safety Act
of 1972, as amended,  and the Federal Trade  Commission Act of 1914, as amended,
and all regulations,  rules and orders promulgated thereunder) and all statutes,
rules,  regulations,  orders, permits and stipulations relating to environmental
pollution and employee health and safety, including,  without limitation, all of
the Environmental Laws.

               (b) Each of Borrowers  shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary to,
take prompt and appropriate action to respond to any non-compliance  with any of
the  Environmental  Laws and shall regularly report to Agent with regard to such
response. If either of Borrowers receives any notice of (i) the happening of any
event involving the use, spill,  discharge or clean-up of any Hazardous Material
which does or may result in any material liability or (ii) any complaint, order,
citation  or  notice  with  regard to air  emissions,  water  discharges,  noise
emissions  or  any  other  environmental,  health  or  safety  matter  affecting
Borrowers  from any Person which does or may result in any  material  liability,
including, but not limited to, the United States Environmental Protection Agency
or any state or local  environmental  agency or authority,  then Borrowers shall
give  within  five (5)  Business  Days both oral and  written  notice of same to
Agent.  Without  limiting the  generality of the  foregoing,  whenever  there is
non-compliance,  or any condition  which  requires any action by or on behalf of
Borrowers  in order to avoid any  non-compliance,  with any  Environmental  Law,
Borrowers  shall,  at  Agent's  request  and  Borrowers'  expense:  (A) cause an
independent  environmental  engineer  acceptable to Agent and Lenders to conduct
such tests of the site where Borrowers'  noncompliance or alleged non-compliance
with Environmental  Laws has occurred as to such  non-compliance and prepare and
deliver to Agent and Lenders a report as to such  non-compliance  setting  forth
the results of such tests, a proposed plan for  responding to any  environmental
problems described therein, and an estimate of the costs thereof and (B) provide
to Agent and Lenders a supplemental  report of such engineer  whenever the scope
of such  non-compliance,  or Borrowers'  response thereto or the estimated costs
thereof, shall change in any material respect.

     7.11 PAYMENT OF TAXES AND CLAIMS.  Each of Borrowers shall, and shall cause
each Subsidiary to, duly pay and discharge all taxes, assessments, contributions
and  governmental  charges upon or against it or them or its or their properties
or assets,  except for taxes the  validity of which are being  contested in good
faith by appropriate  proceedings  diligently pursued and available to Borrowers
prior to the date on which  penalties  attach  thereto and with respect to which
adequate reserves have been set aside.  Borrowers shall be liable for any tax or
penalty  imposed upon any  transaction  under this Agreement or any of the other
Financing  Agreements  or giving rise to any  Collateral  or which Agent  and/or
Lenders may be



                                       54

<PAGE>

required to withhold or pay for any reason and  Borrowers  shall  indemnify  and
hold Agent and Lenders  harmless  with respect  thereto,  and repay to Agent and
Lenders on demand the amount thereof, and, until paid by Borrowers,  such amount
shall be added and  deemed  part of the  Obligations,  provided,  that,  nothing
contained  herein shall be construed to require  Borrowers to pay any income tax
attributable  to the income of Agent or Lenders from any amounts charged or paid
hereunder to Agent or Lenders.

     7.12 PROPERTIES IN GOOD CONDITION.

               (a)  Each of  Borrowers  shall  keep its  properties  used in the
conduct of its business,  and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to keep their
properties  used in the conduct of their  businesses,  in good  repair,  working
order and condition  (reasonable wear and tear excepted) and, from time to time,
make  and  cause  its  Subsidiaries  to make all  needful  and  proper  repairs,
renewals, replacements, additions and improvements thereto, so that the business
carried  on may be  properly  and  advantageously  conducted  at  all  times  in
accordance with prudent business management. The Inventory and the machinery and
equipment  of each of  Borrowers  shall only be used in its business and not for
personal, family, household or farming use.

               (b) All of the  Inventory  of each of  Borrowers  is and shall be
held for sale, or to be furnished in connection  with the rendition of services,
in the ordinary course of Borrowers' businesses, and is and will be fit for such
purposes.  Each of Borrowers  shall keep the  Inventory  in good and  marketable
condition, at its own expense. Each of Borrowers shall not acquire or accept any
Inventory on consignment or approval or sell any Inventory  on  a bill-and-hold,
guaranteed sale or sale on approval  basis,  except to the extent such Inventory
is  specifically  reported  to Agent in such manner and at such time or times as
Agent may require.  Each of Borrowers agrees that all Inventory produced by them
shall be produced in  accordance  with the Federal Fair Labor  Standards  Act of
1938, as amended, and all rules, regulations, and orders thereunder.

     7.13  INSURANCE.  Each  of  Borrowers  shall  at all  times  maintain  with
financially  sound  and  reputable  insurers,  insurance  with  respect  to  the
Collateral  and its other  properties  and assets  against loss or damage of the
kind  and  in  the  amounts  customarily  insured  against  by  corporations  of
established  reputation  engaged in the same or similar businesses and similarly
situated and Borrowers shall maintain public liability  insurance against claims
for personal  injury,  death or property damage  occurring upon, in, about or in
connection with the use of any properties owned,  occupied or controlled by them
and  occurring  in  connection  with  the use  (or  otherwise)  of any  products
manufactured or sold by them, and worker's compensation  insurance (except as to
worker's  compensation  insurance to the extent Borrowers are self-insured  with
respect thereto). Said policies of insurance shall be reasonably satisfactory to
Lenders as to form,  amount and insurer.  Borrowers shall furnish  certificates,
policies or endorsements  to Agent and Lenders as proof of such insurance,  and,
if they fail to do so, Agent and Lenders are  authorized,  but not required,  to
obtain such  insurance at the expense of Borrowers.  All policies  shall provide
for at least thirty (30) days prior  written  notice to Agent and Lenders of any
cancellation or reduction of coverage and that Agent may act as



                                       55

<PAGE>

attorney for  Borrowers in obtaining  (if  Borrowers  fail to do so), and at any
time on or after the  occurrence of an Event of Default,  adjusting and settling
in a commercially reasonable manner, and at such time as Agent or any Lender may
have  commenced  the  exercise of its rights or  remedies,  with  respect to the
Collateral,  amending  and  canceling  such  insurance.  Borrowers  shall obtain
non-contributory  lender's loss payable endorsements to all applicable insurance
policies  with  respect  to the  Collateral  in form  and  substance  reasonably
satisfactory to Lenders  specifying that the proceeds of such insurance shall be
payable  to Agent  and  Lenders  as  their  interests  may  appear  and  further
specifying  that  Lenders  shall be paid  regardless  of any act or  omission by
Borrowers.  At their option,  Agent and Lenders may apply any insurance proceeds
received  by Agent or Lenders at any time to the cost of repairs or  replacement
of Collateral and/or to payment of the Obligations,  whether or not then due, in
any order and in such manner as Agent, in its discretion, may determine.

     7.14 APPRAISALS AND INVENTORY REPORTS.

               (a) Upon the request of Agent or  Lenders,  Borrowers  shall,  at
Borrowers'  expense,  no more than once every six (6) months, but at any time or
times as Agent may  request on or after an Event of Default  (which has not been
waived),  deliver,  or  cause  to be  delivered,  to Agent  written  reports  or
appraisals of any or all of the Collateral in form, scope and  methodology,  and
by an  appraiser  acceptable  to Agent and Lenders  which shall be  addressed to
Agent and upon which  Agent is  expressly  permitted  to rely.  Such  reports or
appraisals  as to the  Inventory  shall list all items and  categories  thereof,
describing the condition of same and setting forth the lower of cost (calculated
on a  first-in-first-out  basis)  or  fair  market  value,  in  such  form as is
satisfactory to Agent.

               (b) Without  limiting the generality of the foregoing,  Borrowers
shall, at Borrowers' expense, conduct through RGIS Inventory Specialists,  Inc.,
an inventory counting service,  or another inventory counting service reasonably
acceptable to Agent and Lenders,  each of the following  which shall be in form,
scope and methodology  substantially  consistent  with the current  practices of
Borrowers:  (i) a physical count of the Inventory  located at several  different
locations  of  Borrowers  at least six (6) times  per  calendar  year and (ii) a
physical  count of all of the  Inventory at such other times as Agent or Lenders
reasonably request.  Borrowers shall promptly deliver, or cause to be delivered,
to  Agent  and  Lenders  a copy  of such  Inventory  counts  by  RGIS  Inventory
Specialists, Inc., or other acceptable inventory counting service, and Borrowers
shall  deliver  confirmation  in a form  satisfactory  to Agent and Lenders that
appropriate  adjustments have been made to the inventory records of Borrowers to
reconcile  the  inventory  count to Borrowers'  inventory  records.  (c) Without
limiting  the  generality  of the  foregoing,  Borrowers  shall,  at  Borrowers'
expense,  if requested  by Agent,  deliver or cause to be  delivered,  to Agent,
written reports or appraisals as to the Eligible Real Property,  in form,  scope
and methodology  acceptable to Agent and Lenders, and by an appraiser acceptable
to Agent and  Lenders,  addressed  to Agent and upon  which  Agent is  expressly
permitted  to rely,  not  less  than  once  every  twelve  (12)  months  or more
frequently as Agent may reasonably request.



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<PAGE>

     7.15 COMPLIANCE WITH ERISA.

               (a) Except as permitted in Section 7.15(c) below,  neither of the
Borrowers shall with respect to all "employee  pension benefit plans" maintained
by Borrowers or any of its ERISA Affiliates:  (i) terminate any of such employee
pension  benefit  plans so as to incur  any  liability  to the  Pension  Benefit
Guaranty  Corporation  established  pursuant  to ERISA,  (ii) allow or suffer to
exist any prohibited  transaction involving any of such employee pension benefit
plans or any trust  created  thereunder  which would  subject  Borrowers or such
ERISA   Affiliate  to  a  tax  or  penalty  or  other  liability  on  prohibited
transactions  imposed under Section 4975 of the Code or ERISA, (iii) fail to pay
to any such employee pension benefit plan any contribution which it is obligated
to pay under Section 302 of ERISA,  Section 412 of the Code or the terms of such
plan, (iv) allow or suffer to exist any accumulated funding deficiency,  whether
or not waived, with respect to any such employee pension benefit plan, (v) allow
or suffer to exist any  occurrence  of a reportable  event or any other event or
condition  which presents a material risk of termination by the Pension  Benefit
Guaranty  Corporation of any such employee pension benefit plan that is a Single
Employer Plan,  which  termination  could result in any liability to the Pension
Benefit Guaranty Corporation or (vi) incur any withdrawal liability with respect
to any multiemployer pension plan, except as set forth on Exhibit G.

               (b) As used in this  Section  7.15,  the term  "employee  pension
benefit plans," "employee benefit plans",  "accumulated  funding deficiency" and
"reportable event" shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in ERISA,
and the term "prohibited  transaction"  shall have the meaning assigned to it in
Section 4975 of the Code and ERISA.

               (c)  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary  contained in this
Section 7.15,  Borrowers  shall not permit any liability to exist as a result of
any violation of any  covenants  contained in Sections  7.15(a)(ii)  through (v)
hereof in excess of $500,000 in the aggregate at any one time.

     7.16 NOTICE OF DEFAULT.  Promptly upon  becoming  aware of the existence of
any condition or event which constitutes an Event of Default or any condition or
event which, with the passage of time or notice or both would constitute such an
Event of Default,  pursuant to the  provisions  of this  Agreement  or the other
Financing  Agreements,   Borrowers  shall  give  Agent  written  notice  thereof
specifying the nature of such condition or event.

     7.17 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND OTHER INFORMATION.

               (a) Borrowers shall promptly  furnish to Agent all such financial
and  other  information  as  Agent  shall  reasonably  request  relating  to the
Collateral  and the assets,  businesses  and  operations of  Borrowers.  Without
limiting the foregoing,  Borrowers  shall furnish to Agent, in such detail as it
shall request, the following:

                    (i) As soon as  available,  but in any event not later  than
ninety  (90) days  after the close of each  fiscal  year,  audited  consolidated
balance sheets, statements of earnings



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<PAGE>

and retained  earnings and cash flows for Borrowers and their  Subsidiaries  for
such fiscal  year,  and the  accompanying  notes  thereto,  and, if requested by
Agent,  unaudited  consolidating  balance  sheets,  statements  of earnings  and
retained  earnings and cash flows for  Borrowers  for such fiscal year,  and the
accompanying  notes  thereto,  setting  forth in each  case in  comparative form
figures  for  the  previous  fiscal  year,  all  in  reasonable  detail,  fairly
presenting the financial position and the results of operations of Borrowers and
their  Subsidiaries  as at the date  thereof and for the fiscal year then ended,
and  prepared  in  accordance  with  GAAP  consistently  applied.  Such  audited
consolidated statements of Borrowers and their Subsidiaries shall be examined in
accordance with generally  accepted  auditing  standards by and accompanied by a
report  thereon  unqualified  as to scope  of a  nationally  recognized  firm of
independent certified public accountants selected by Borrowers.

                    (ii) As soon as  available,  but in any event not later than
forty-five  (45) days  after the close of each  fiscal  quarter  other  than the
fourth  quarter  of a fiscal  year,  consolidated  and  consolidating  unaudited
balance  sheets  of  Borrowers  and  their  Subsidiaries  as at the  end of such
quarter,  and consolidated and consolidating  unaudited statements of income and
expense and  statements of cash flow for Borrowers  and their  Subsidiaries  for
such quarter and for the period from the beginning of the fiscal year to the end
of such quarter, together with the accompanying notes thereto, all in reasonable
detail,  fairly  presenting  the financial  position and results of operation of
Borrowers  and their  Subsidiaries  as at the date thereof and for such periods,
prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently  applied. Such statements shall be
certified to be correct by the chief financial officer of Borrowers, to the best
of his knowledge, subject to normal year-end adjustments.

                    (iii) As soon as available,  but in any event not later than
thirty (30) days after the end of each  month,  consolidated  unaudited  balance
sheets of  Borrowers  and their  Subsidiaries  as at the end of such month,  and
consolidated unaudited statements of income and expenses for Borrowers and their
Subsidiaries  for such month and for the period from the beginning of the fiscal
year to the end of such month, all in reasonable  detail,  fairly presenting the
financial  position and results of operation of Borrowers and their Subsidiaries
as at the date  thereof and for such  periods,  and  prepared  substantially  in
accordance with the current  practices of Borrowers.  Such  statements  shall be
certified to be correct by the chief financial officer of Borrowers, to the best
of his knowledge, subject to normal year-end adjustments.

                    (iv) With each of the audited financial statements delivered
pursuant to Section 7.17(a)(i) above, a certificate of the independent certified
public  accountants  that examined such  statements to the effect that they have
reviewed and are familiar with the Financing  Agreements  and that, in examining
such financial statements, they did not become aware of any fact or condition of
a financial or  accounting  nature which then  constituted  an Event of Default,
except for those, if any, described in reasonable detail in such certificate.

                    (v)  Simultaneously  with the delivery of each of the annual
audited and quarterly unaudited financial  statements as set forth herein, Agent
and  Lenders  shall  receive a  certificate  of the chief  financial  officer of
Borrowers (A) setting forth in reasonable detail the



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<PAGE>

calculations  required to establish that  Borrowers were in compliance  with the
covenants set forth in Sections  7.18 and 7.19 hereof during the period  covered
in such  financial  statements  and (B) stating  that,  except as  explained  in
reasonable detail in such certificate, and to the best of his knowledge, (1) all
of the representations,  warranties and covenants of Borrowers contained in this
Agreement and the other Financing  Agreements are correct and complete as at the
date of such  certificate  and (2) no Event of  Default  then  exists or existed
during the period  covered by such  financial  statements.  If such  certificate
discloses that a representation or warranty is not correct or complete,  or that
a covenant has not been complied  with,  or that an Event of Default  existed or
exists,  such  certificate  shall set forth what action  Borrowers have taken or
propose to take with respect thereto.

                    (vi) No sooner  than  ninety (90) days prior to, and no less
than,  thirty (30) days after the  beginning  of each fiscal year of  Borrowers,
projected  balance sheets,  statements of income and expense,  and statements of
cash flow for  Borrowers  and their  Subsidiaries  as at the end of and for each
month of such fiscal year.

                    (vii)  Promptly  after  delivery  thereof,   any  management
letters  and  reports  by  such  independent  certified  public  accountants  to
Borrowers or their Subsidiaries.

                    (viii) As reasonably  requested by Agent,  monthly  accounts
receivable  agings and  inventory  reports  (by product  and  location),  weekly
reports of all Inventory purchases (including all costs related thereto, such as
freight,  duty and taxes),  weekly  reports of sales of  Inventory  and downward
adjustments of Inventory  values,  and such schedules of Accounts and Inventory,
together  with  any  further  financial  and  other  information  regarding  the
Collateral, as Agent and Lenders may request from time to time.

          (b) Borrowers  shall  promptly  notify Agent and Lenders in writing of
any material loss,  damage,  investigation,  action,  suit,  proceeding or claim
relating to the Collateral or which might result in any material  adverse change
in its  business,  properties,  assets,  goodwill  or  condition,  financial  or
otherwise.

          (c) Borrowers  shall promptly  provide Agent and Lenders such budgets,
forecasts,  projections and other information respecting the business operations
and financial or other condition of Borrowers and their  Subsidiaries,  as Agent
and Lenders may, from time to time, reasonably request.

          (d) Agent and Lenders are hereby  authorized  to deliver a copy of any
financial  statement  or  any  other  information   relating  to  the  business,
operations  or  financial   condition  of  Borrowers  or  their  Affiliates  and
Subsidiaries, which may be furnished to it hereunder or otherwise, to any court,
regulatory body or agency having  jurisdiction  over Agent and Lenders or to any
other Person which shall,  or shall have any right or obligation  to, succeed to
all or any part of Agent's and Lenders' interests in any of the Revolving Loans,
this  Agreement,  the other Financing  Agreements or the Collateral,  including,
without limitation, any Participant or prospective Participant.



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<PAGE>

          (e) Borrowers hereby irrevocably  authorize and direct all accountants
or auditors to deliver to Agent, at Borrowers' expense,  copies of the financial
statements of Borrowers and any reports or management  letters  addressed to the
Board of Directors or audit committee, in either case, of a Borrower or Holdings
prepared by such  accountants or auditors on behalf of Borrowers or Holdings and
to disclose to Agent such information as they may have regarding the business of
Borrowers,   provided,  that,  (i)  Agent  shall  only  request  such  financial
statements,   reports,   management   letters  or  other  information  from  the
accountants  or auditors  pursuant to such  authorization  and  direction in the
event that  Borrowers  shall not provide any of the same to Agent in  accordance
with the terms  hereof,  within five (5) Business Days after any of the same are
required to be delivered  hereunder and (ii) Agent shall notify Borrowers of any
such request concurrently with the making of such request.

     7.18 CAPITAL EXPENDITURES.  Pamida and its Subsidiaries shall not, directly
or indirectly,  make any Capital Expenditures in excess of the following amounts
for the fiscal year ending on or about the date indicated:

             FISCAL YEAR ENDING                        AMOUNT
     ---------------------------------               -----------
     (a)  On or about January 31, 1999               $15,000,000

     (b)  On or about January 31, 2000               $20,000,000

     (c)  On or about January 31, 2001               $23,000,000
          and for each fiscal year
          thereafter

     7.19 CONSOLIDATED ADJUSTED CASH FLOW. Pamida and its Subsidiaries shall not
permit Consolidated  Adjusted Cash Flow to be less than the amount indicated for
the following periods:

                    DATE                                   AMOUNT
     -----------------------------------               -------------
     (a)  The fiscal quarter ending
          on or about April 30                         ($10,500,000)

     (b)  The two (2) fiscal quarters,
          cumulatively, ending on or
          about July 31                                ($ 9,500,000)

     (c)  The three (3) fiscal quarters,
          cumulatively, ending on or
          about October 31                             ($ 6,500,000)

     (d)  The four (4) fiscal quarters,
          cumulatively, ending on or
          about January 31                              $ 2,000,000



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<PAGE>

     7.20  FURTHER   ASSURANCES.   Each  of  Borrowers   has  executed  or  will
contemporaneously  herewith execute and deliver to Agent and Lenders such of the
other  Financing  Agreements  to which it is a party  and  financing  statements
pursuant to the UCC, in form and  substance  satisfactory  to Agent and Lenders.
Each of Borrowers  shall, at its expense,  at any time or times duly execute and
deliver,  or  shall  cause  to be duly  executed  and  delivered,  such  further
agreements, instruments and documents, including, without limitation, additional
security  agreements,   collateral  assignments,  UCC  financing  statements  or
amendments  or  continuations  thereof,  and do or cause to be done such further
acts as may be necessary or proper in Agent's and Lenders'  opinion to evidence,
perfect,  maintain and enforce the security interest and the priority thereof in
the  Collateral  and to otherwise  effectuate the provisions or purposes of this
Agreement  or any of the other  Financing  Agreements.  Where  permitted by law,
Borrowers  hereby  authorize Agent to execute and file one or more UCC financing
statements  signed only by Agent.  Upon the request of Agent or Lenders,  at any
time and from time to time,  Borrowers  shall,  at their cost and  expense,  do,
make,  execute,  deliver and record,  register  or file,  financing  statements,
mortgages,  deeds of trust, deeds to secure debt, and other  instruments,  acts,
pledges, assignments and transfers relating to the Collateral (or cause the same
to be done) and will  deliver to Agent and Lenders such  instruments  evidencing
items of Collateral as may be requested by any of them.


SECTION 8.  EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

     8.1 EVENTS OF DEFAULT.  The  occurrence of any one or more of the following
events shall constitute an "Event of Default" hereunder:

          (a)  Borrowers  shall  be in  default  in  the  payment  of any of the
Obligations when due; or

          (b) (i) Borrowers or any Obligor fails to perform any of the covenants
contained in Sections 7.1, 7.8, 7.10,  7.11,  7.12, 7.15, 7.18, and 7.19 of this
Agreement and such failure  shall  continue for ten (10) days;  provided,  that,
such ten (10) day  period  shall not apply in the case of:  (A) any  failure  to
observe any such  covenant  which is not capable of being cured at all or within
such ten (10) day period or which has been the subject of a prior failure within
a six (6) month period or (B) an intentional breach of a Borrower or any Obligor
of any such  covenant  or (ii) a  Borrower  fails to  perform  any of the terms,
covenants,  conditions or provisions  contained in this  Agreement or any of the
other  Financing  Agreements  other than those  described in Sections 8.1(a) and
8.1(b)(i) above; or

          (c) any present or future  representation,  warranty or  statement  of
fact  when made by or on behalf of  Borrowers  to Agent or  Lenders  is false or
misleading in any material respect; or



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<PAGE>

          (d) a judgment is rendered  against  either of  Borrowers or any other
Obligor in excess of $500,000 in any one case or in excess of  $1,000,000 in the
aggregate and the same shall remain undischarged for a period in excess of sixty
(60) days or execution shall at any time not be effectively stayed; or

          (e)  Borrowers  or any Obligor  shall be  generally  unable to pay its
debts as they  mature,  suspend or  discontinue  doing  business for any reason,
become  insolvent,  call a meeting of creditors  or have a creditors'  committee
appointed,  make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors,  shall admit
in writing its  inability to pay its debts as they become due or shall  commence
any action or proceeding for the appointment of any trustee, receiver, custodian
or  liquidator  of  Borrowers  or  such  Obligor  or all or any  part  of  their
respective properties or assets; or

          (f) Borrowers or any Obligor  shall  commence any action or proceeding
for  relief  under  the  Bankruptcy  Code  or any  reorganization,  arrangement,
composition, readjustment,  liquidation, dissolution or similar relief under the
Bankruptcy  Code or any other  present or future  statute,  law or regulation or
shall take any corporate action to authorize any of such actions or proceedings;
or

          (g)  Borrowers  or any  Obligor  shall have  commenced  against it any
action or proceeding for relief under the Bankruptcy Code or any reorganization,
arrangement,  composition,  readjustment,  liquidation,  dissolution  or similar
relief under the Bankruptcy Code or any other present or future statute,  law or
regulation,  or any action or  proceeding  for the  appointment  of any trustee,
receiver,  custodian or  liquidator  of any of Borrowers or such other Person or
all or any part of their respective properties or assets, which is not dismissed
within thirty (30) days of its commencement,  or Borrowers or such Obligor shall
file any answer  admitting or not contesting the allegations of a petition filed
against  it in any  such  proceeding  or by any act or  omission  indicates  its
consent to,  acquiescence in or approval of, any such action or proceeding or if
the relief requested is granted sooner; or

          (h) any guarantee of the Obligations  shall at any time cease to be in
full force and effect,  or shall be declared  void or invalid or the validity or
enforceability thereof shall be contested or any party thereto shall deny it has
any further  liability or obligation,  or shall fail to perform its obligations,
under the any such guarantee; or

          (i)  Borrowers  or any  Obligor  shall  default in the  payment of any
amounts at any time due on any  Indebtedness  for  borrowed  money,  capitalized
lease  obligations  or  any  contingent  Indebtedness  in  connection  with  any
guarantee, letter of credit, indemnity or similar type of instrument at any time
owing to any Person other than Agent or Lenders (including,  but not limited to,
the  Indebtedness  evidenced  by the  Senior  Subordinated  Notes)  in excess of
$1,000,000 or in the performance of any other terms or covenants or any evidence
of same or other material  agreement  relating  thereto or securing same or with
respect to any material contract, lease, license or other obligation owed to any
Person other than Agent or Lenders, if such default might result in liability in
excess of $1,000,000, which



                                       62

<PAGE>

default  continues for more than the  applicable  grace or cure period,  if any,
with respect thereto;

          (j) a Change of Control shall occur; or

          (k) after the date hereof,  any act, condition or event shall exist or
have occurred which has a material adverse effect upon the assets of a Borrower,
or  the  Collateral  or  the  value  thereof,  or  the  legality,   validity  or
enforceability  of this Agreement or any of the other Financing  Agreements,  or
the legality, validity or enforceability, perfection or priority of the security
interest or liens of Agent or Lenders on the  Collateral  or any other  property
which is security for the  Obligations  or the ability of Borrowers to repay the
Obligations  or of a Borrower or any Obligor to perform  its  obligations  under
this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements; or

          (l) the occurrence of any default or event of default under any of the
other  Financing  Agreements,  after  giving  effect to any grace or cure period
provided for therein.

     8.2 REMEDIES.

          (a) Without  limiting  Agent's and Lenders'  rights to demand  payment
sooner as provided in this  Agreement,  upon or at any time after the occurrence
or existence of any one or more of such Events of Default,  upon  termination of
this Agreement or the other Financing  Agreements,  or if this Agreement and the
other  Financing  Agreements  are not  renewed,  in addition to any other rights
Agent and Lenders may have under the Financing Agreements or otherwise:

               (i)  Agent  or  Lenders  may,  at any time  thereafter,  at their
option, without presentment for payment, demand, notice of dishonor or notice of
protest or any other or further notice, all of which are hereby expressly waived
by Borrowers,  declare any or all of the  Obligations to be immediately  due and
payable,  together with interest at the highest rate of interest hereunder until
fully and indefeasibly paid; and

               (ii)  each  Participant,  to  the  fullest  extent  permitted  by
applicable  law, shall have the right to (A) set off against the Obligations any
and all deposits  (whether  general or special,  time or demand,  provisional or
final),  credits,  balances,  accounts,  monies  or other  assets  which are the
property of Borrowers and held by such  Participant or owed by such  Participant
to Borrowers and (B) remit the same to Agent for application to the Obligations;

               (iii) without  further notice to Borrowers  appropriate,  set off
and  apply  to  the  payment  of any  or  all  of  the  Obligations,  any or all
Collateral, in such manner as Agent and Lenders shall determine, enforce payment
of any  Collateral,  settle,  compromise  or  release  in whole or in part,  any
amounts owing on the Collateral,  make  allowances and adjustments  with respect
thereto,  issue credits in Agent's or Borrowers' name, sell,  assign and deliver
the Collateral (or any part thereof),  at public or private sale, for cash, upon
credit or otherwise,  at Agent's and Lenders' option and  discretion,  and Agent
and Lenders may bid or become



                                       63

<PAGE>

purchaser at any such sale, if public,  free from any right of redemption  which
is hereby expressly waived;

               (iv) without limiting the generality of the foregoing,  Agent and
Lenders are hereby  authorized at any time and from time to time, to set off and
apply any and all deposits (general or special,  time or demand,  provisional or
final)  at any time held and other  Indebtedness  at any time  owing by Agent or
Lenders to or for the credit or the account of Borrowers  against any and all of
the Obligations, whether or not then due and payable;

               (v) Agent and  Lenders  shall have the right,  without  notice to
Borrowers (except as otherwise  expressly provided herein), at any time and from
time to time in its discretion,  with or without  judicial process or the aid or
assistance  of others and without cost to Agent or Lenders (A) to enter upon any
premises  on or in  which  any of the  Inventory  may be  located  and,  without
resistance or interference by Borrowers,  take possession of the Inventory;  (B)
to complete  processing,  manufacturing  and repair of all or any portion of the
Inventory; (C) to sell, foreclose or otherwise dispose of any part or all of the
Inventory on or in any premises of Borrowers or premises of any other party; (D)
to require Borrowers,  at their expense, to assemble and make available to Agent
and Lenders any part or all of the  Inventory at any  reasonable  place and time
designated  by Agent or Lenders;  and (E) to remove any or all of the  Inventory
from any  premises  on or in which the same may be  located,  for the purpose of
effecting the sale,  foreclosure or other  disposition  thereof or for any other
purpose.

          (b) Agent and Lenders  shall have all of the rights and  remedies of a
secured  party under the UCC or  applicable  law of any other State in which any
Collateral  may be  situated,  in addition to all of the rights and remedies set
forth  in  this  Agreement  and  the  other  Financing  Agreements,  and  in any
instrument  or document  referred to herein or therein,  and/or  under any other
applicable law relating to this Agreement,  the other Financing Agreements,  the
Obligations or the Collateral.

          (c)  Borrowers  agree  that the  giving  of ten (10)  days  notice  to
Borrowers by Agent or Lenders at Borrowers' address set forth below, designating
the place and time of any  public  sale or of the time after  which any  private
sale or other intended  disposition  of the  Collateral is to be made,  shall be
deemed to be reasonable  notice  thereof and  Borrowers  waives any other notice
with respect thereto.

          (d) The net cash  proceeds  resulting  from the exercise of any of the
foregoing  rights or  remedies  shall be applied by Agent to the  payment of the
Obligations in such order as Agent may elect,  and Borrowers shall remain liable
to Agent and Lenders for any deficiency.  Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, if Agent enters into any credit transaction,  directly or indirectly,
in  connection  with the  disposition  of any  Collateral,  Agent shall have the
option,  at any time,  in its  discretion,  to  reduce  the  Obligations  by the
principal  amount of such credit  transaction or to defer the reduction  thereof
until actual receipt by Agent of cash or other  immediately  available  funds in
connection therewith.



                                       64

<PAGE>

          (e) In the event Agent or Lenders  institutes an action to recover any
Collateral or seeks recovery of any  Collateral by way of prejudgment  remedy or
otherwise,  Borrowers  hereby  irrevocably  waive (i) the  posting  of any bond,
surety or security with respect thereto which might otherwise be required,  (ii)
any demand for  possession  prior to the  commencement  of any suit or action to
recover the Collateral,  and (iii) any requirement that Agent and Lenders retain
possession  and not  dispose  of any  Collateral  until  after  trial  or  final
judgment.

          (f) Agent and  Lenders  may,  at their  option,  cure any  default  by
Borrowers under any agreement with any Person, which constitutes, or with notice
or passage of time or both would  constitute,  an Event of Default  hereunder or
under  any of the  other  Financing  Agreements,  or pay or bond on  appeal  any
judgment entered against Borrowers  (irrespective of the amount of said judgment
or the time elapsed since entry thereof),  and charge each Borrower's account(s)
therefor,  such amounts to be repayable  by Borrowers on demand,  together  with
interest  thereon at the highest rate of interest payable  hereunder;  provided,
however,  Agent and Lenders  shall be under no  obligation  to effect such cure,
payment  or  bonding  and  shall  not,  by making  any  payment  for  Borrowers'
account(s), be deemed to have assumed any obligation or liability of Borrowers.

          (g) The  enumeration  of the  foregoing  rights  and  remedies  is not
intended to be  exclusive,  and such rights and  remedies are in addition to and
not by way of limitation  of any other rights or remedies  Agent and Lenders may
have under the UCC or other  applicable  law.  Agent and Lenders  shall have the
right to  determine  which  rights and  remedies,  and in which order any of the
same, are to be exercised,  and to determine which Collateral is to be proceeded
against and in which  order,  and the  exercise of any right or remedy shall not
preclude the exercise of any others, all of which shall be cumulative.

          (h) No act,  failure or delay by Agent and/or Lenders shall constitute
a waiver of any of the rights and  remedies of Agent and  Lenders.  No single or
partial  waiver by Agent or Lenders of any provision of this Agreement or any of
the other Financing Agreements, or breach or default thereunder, or of any right
or remedy which Agent or Lenders may have shall operate as a waiver of any other
provision,  breach,  default, right or remedy or of the same provision,  breach,
default, right or remedy on a future occasion.

          (i) Each of Borrowers waives presentment,  notice of dishonor, protest
and notice of protest of all  instruments  included in or evidencing  any of the
Obligations  or the  Collateral  and any and all  notices or demands  whatsoever
(except as  expressly  provided  herein).  Agent and Lenders  may, at all times,
proceed  directly  against  either or both  Borrowers to enforce  payment of the
Obligations  and  shall  not be  required  to take  any  action  of any  kind to
preserve, collect or protect any rights in the Collateral.



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<PAGE>

SECTION 9.  COLLECTION AND ADMINISTRATION

     9.1 COLLECTIONS; MANAGEMENT OF COLLATERAL.

          (a) Borrowers shall establish and maintain, at their expense,  blocked
accounts or lockboxes  and related  blocked  accounts (in either case,  "Blocked
Accounts"),  as Agent may specify,  with such banks as are  acceptable  to Agent
into which  Borrowers  shall promptly  deposit and direct its account debtors to
directly remit all payments on Accounts and all payments  constituting  proceeds
of Inventory or other  Collateral in the  identical  form in which such payments
are made, whether by cash, check or other manner. The banks at which the Blocked
Accounts are  established  shall enter into an agreement,  in form and substance
satisfactory  to Lender,  providing  that all items received or deposited in the
Blocked Accounts are the property of Agent and Lenders, that the depository bank
has no lien upon, or right to setoff against,  the Blocked  Accounts,  the items
received for deposit therein,  or the funds from time to time on deposit therein
and that the depository  bank will wire, or otherwise  transfer,  in immediately
available  funds,  on a daily basis,  at such time as Lender shall  direct,  all
funds  received or deposited  into the Blocked  Accounts to such bank account of
Agent as Agent  may  from  time to time  designate  for such  purpose  ("Payment
Account").  Agent  shall  instruct  the  depository  banks at which the  Blocked
Accounts are maintained to transfer the funds on deposit in the Blocked Accounts
to such  operating bank account of Borrowers as Borrowers may specify in writing
to Agent until such time as Agent shall notify the  depository  bank  otherwise.
Agent may  instruct  the  depository  banks at which the  Blocked  Accounts  are
maintained to transfer all funds received or deposited into the Blocked Accounts
to the Payment Account at any time that either:  (i) an Event of Default,  or an
act,  condition  or event  which  with  notice or  passage of time or both would
constitute  an Event of Default,  shall exist or have  occurred,  or (ii) Excess
Availability  shall  be less  than  $10,000,000  for  fifteen  (15)  consecutive
Business Days.  Borrowers agree that all payments made to such Blocked  Accounts
or other funds  received and collected by Lender,  whether on the Accounts or as
proceeds of Inventory or other Collateral or otherwise, shall be the property of
Lender.

          (b) For  purposes of  calculating  interest on the  Obligations,  such
payments  or other  funds  received  will be  applied  (conditional  upon  final
collection)  to the  Obligations  on the  Business  Day of  receipt  by Agent of
immediately  available  funds by  Agent in the  Payment  Account  provided  such
payments and notice  thereof are received in  accordance  with Agent's usual and
customary  practice  as in effect  from  time to time by 12 noon,  New York City
time,  on such day, and if not,  then on the next  Business Day. For purposes of
calculating  the amount of the Loans  available to  Borrowers,  such payments or
other funds received will be applied  (conditional upon final collection) to the
Obligations  on the  Business  Day of  receipt by Agent in the  Payment  Account
provided  such  payments  and notice  thereof are  received in  accordance  with
Agent's usual and customary practices as in effect from time to time by 12 noon,
New York City time, on such day, and if not, then on the next Business Day.

          (c) Borrowers and all of their Subsidiaries,  shareholders, directors,
employees,  agents and other  Affiliates  shall,  acting as  trustee  for Agent,
receive, as the property of Agent,



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<PAGE>

any  monies,  checks,  notes,  drafts or any other  payment  relating  to and/or
proceeds of Accounts or other  Collateral  which come into their  possession  or
under their control and immediately upon receipt thereof, shall deposit or cause
the same to be deposited in the Blocked Accounts, or remit the same or cause the
same to be remitted, in kind, to Agent. In no event shall the same be commingled
with any Borrower's own funds. Borrowers agree to reimburse Agent and Lenders on
demand for any  amounts  owed or paid to any bank at which a Blocked  Account is
established or any other bank or person  involved in the transfer of funds to or
from the Blocked  Accounts arising out of any payments by Agent or Lenders to or
indemnification of such bank or person. The obligation of Borrowers to reimburse
Agent and Lenders for such amounts  pursuant to this  Section 9.1 shall  survive
the termination or non-renewal of this Agreement.

          (d) Borrowers  shall  immediately  upon  obtaining  knowledge  thereof
report to Agent all reclaimed, repossessed or returned goods (other than returns
in the ordinary  course of business of Borrowers which shall only be reported to
Agent with such frequency and in such manner as Agent may  reasonably  require),
material  claims of Account  Debtors and any other matter  affecting  the value,
enforceability or collectibility of any Account.  At Agent's request,  any goods
reclaimed or repossessed  by or returned to Borrowers will be set aside,  marked
with Agent's name and held by Borrowers for the account of Agent and Lenders and
subject to the security interests of Agent and Lenders.  All claims and disputes
relating to Accounts are to be promptly  adjusted  within a reasonable  time, at
Borrowers'  own cost and expense.  Agent may, at its option,  settle,  adjust or
compromise  claims and disputes  relating to Accounts  which are not adjusted by
Borrowers within a reasonable time.

     9.2 RIGHT OF  INSPECTION;  ACCESS.  Agent and Lenders and their  respective
representatives  shall,  at all times during normal  business  hours,  have free
access to and right of inspection of the  Collateral and have full access to and
the right to examine and make copies of the books and  records of  Borrowers  to
confirm and verify all Accounts,  to perform  general  audits and to do whatever
else Agent and/or Lenders deem necessary to protect the interests of Lenders. At
any time on or after an Event of  Default,  Agent  and  Lenders  may at any time
during  normal  business  hours  examine on the premises of Borrowers or require
Borrowers  or any  accountants  and  auditors  employed by  Borrowers to deliver
copies of any books and  records  and Agent and  Lenders  may,  without  cost or
expense to them, use such of Borrowers' personnel,  supplies, computer equipment
and space at its  places of  business  as may be  reasonably  necessary  for the
handling of collections.

     9.3 SPECIFIC  POWERS.  Each of Borrowers hereby  constitutes  Agent and its
designees, as its attorney-in-fact,  with power of substitution, at the cost and
expense of Borrowers, to exercise at any time all or any of the following powers
which  appointment,  being coupled with an interest,  shall be irrevocable until
all  Obligations  have been  indefeasibly  paid in full:  (a) to receive,  take,
endorse, assign, deliver, accept and deposit, in the name of Agent or Borrowers,
any and all  checks,  notes,  drafts,  remittances  and  other  instruments  and
documents  or chattel  paper  relating  to the  Collateral;  (b) to  transmit to
Account  Debtors  notice of the  interest  of Agent and  Lenders  therein and to
request from such Account  Debtors at any time,  in the name of Agent or Lenders
or that of Agent's designee, information concerning the



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<PAGE>

Collateral and the amounts owing  thereon;  (c) on or after the occurrence of an
Event of Default,  or an act,  condition or event which with notice,  passage of
time or both would constitute an Event of Default,  to notify Account Debtors to
make payment  directly to Agent;  (d) on or after the  occurrence of an Event of
Default,  or an act,  condition or event which with  notice,  passage of time or
both would  constitute  an Event of  Default,  to take or bring,  in the name of
Agent or Borrowers,  all steps,  actions,  suits or proceedings  deemed by Agent
necessary  or  desirable  to effect  collection  of the  Collateral;  and (e) to
execute in  Borrowers'  name and on its behalf any UCC  financing  statements or
amendments thereto.  Each of Borrowers hereby releases Agent and each of Lenders
and their  respective  officers,  employees  and  designees,  from any liability
arising  from any act or acts under this  Agreement or in  furtherance  thereof,
whether of omission or commission,  and whether based upon any error of judgment
or mistake of law or fact,  except for Agent's or Lenders'  gross  negligence or
wilful misconduct as determined  pursuant to a final  non-appealable  order of a
court of competent jurisdiction.

SECTION 10.  EFFECTIVE DATE; TERMINATION; COSTS; MISCELLANEOUS

     10.1 AGENT.  Each of Lenders hereby appoints the Agent and the Agent hereby
agrees to act as agent under this Agreement and the other Financing  Agreements.
The Agent shall have and may exercise  such powers as are delegated to the Agent
by the terms hereof and of the Co-Lending and Agency Agreement,  dated March 23,
1993,  by and among  Agent and  Lenders,  as  amended.  Each of  Lenders  hereby
authorizes,  consents  and directs  Borrowers to deal with the Agent as the true
and lawful  agent of such Lender to the extent set forth  herein and at any time
directed by such Lender.

     10.2 TERM.

          (a) This  Agreement and the other  Financing  Agreements  shall become
effective as of the date hereof and shall  continue in full force and effect for
a term  ending on the date three (3) years from the date  hereof  (the  "Renewal
Date") and from year to year thereafter,  unless sooner  terminated  pursuant to
the terms hereof;  provided,  that,  Lenders or both  Borrowers  (but not either
Borrower alone) may terminate this Agreement and the other Financing  Agreements
effective on the Renewal Date or on the  anniversary  of the Renewal Date in any
year by giving to the  other  party at least  ninety  (90)  days  prior  written
notice.  This Agreement and all other  Financing  Agreements  must be terminated
simultaneously.

          (b) In addition,  without limiting the foregoing,  upon the occurrence
of an Event of  Default  or an act,  condition  or event  which  with  notice or
passage of time or both would constitute an Event of Default,  Agent and Lenders
may, at their option,  without  notice,  cease or suspend the making of Loans or
arranging for Letter of Credit  Accommodations or reduce the lending formulas or
amounts of Loans and Letter of Credit Accommodations available to Borrowers.



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<PAGE>

          (c) Upon the  effective  date of  termination  or  non-renewal  of the
Financing Agreements, Borrowers shall pay to Agent for the account of Lenders in
full, all outstanding and unpaid Obligations (including, but not limited to, the
Loans and all interest,  fees  (including  the early  termination  fees provided
herein,  if  applicable),  charges,  expenses  and other  amounts  provided  for
hereunder,  under the other Financing Agreements or otherwise) and shall furnish
cash  collateral  to Agent in such amounts as Agent  determines  are  reasonably
necessary  to  secure  Agent  from  loss,  cost,  damage or  expense,  including
attorneys'  fees  and  legal   expenses,   in  connection  with  any  contingent
Obligations,  including issued and outstanding  Letter of Credit  Accommodations
and checks or other payments provisionally credited to the Obligations and/or as
to which  Agent  has not yet  received  final  and  indefeasible  payment.  Such
payments and cash collateral shall be remitted by wire transfer in federal funds
to such bank  account of Agent,  as Agent may, in its  discretion,  designate in
writing to Borrowers  for such  purpose.  Interest at the Interest Rate shall be
due until  and  including  the next  Business  Day,  if the  amounts  so paid by
Borrowers  to the bank  account  designated  by Agent are  received in such bank
account later than 12:00 noon, New York, New York time.

          (d) No  termination  of the  Financing  Agreements  shall  relieve  or
discharge  Borrowers  of their  duties,  obligations  and  covenants  under  the
Financing   Agreements  until  all  Obligations  have  been  fully  indefeasibly
discharged and paid, and Agent's and Lenders'  continuing  security interests in
the Collateral shall remain in effect until all such Obligations have been fully
and indefeasibly discharged and paid.

          (e)  If  Lenders  terminate  this  Agreement  or the  other  Financing
Agreements  upon the  occurrence  of an Event of Default or,  subject to Section
3.10(e) hereof,  at the request of Borrowers prior to the Renewal Date, or prior
to any subsequent anniversary of the Renewal Date, in view of the impracticality
and extreme difficulty of ascertaining actual damages and by mutual agreement of
the parties as to a reasonable  calculation of Lenders' lost profits as a result
thereof, Borrowers hereby agree to pay to Agent for the account of Lenders, upon
the effective date of such  termination,  an early  termination fee in an amount
equal to:

               (i) two (2%) percent of the Maximum Credit,  if such  termination
is effective on or prior to the first anniversary of this Agreement; or

               (ii) one (1%) percent of the Maximum Credit,  if such termination
is effective  after the first  anniversary  of this Agreement but on or prior to
the second anniversary of this Agreement; or

               (iii)  one-half of one (1/2%) percent of the Maximum  Credit,  if
such termination is effective after the second anniversary of this Agreement but
on or prior to the date  which is one  hundred  eighty  (180)  days prior to the
third (3rd) anniversary of this Agreement; or

               (iv) zero (0%) percent,  if such  termination is effective  after
the date  which is one  hundred  eighty  (180)  days  prior to the  third  (3rd)
anniversary of this



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<PAGE>

Agreement and on or prior to the third (3rd) anniversary of this Agreement; or

               (v) one-half of one (1/2%) percent of the Maximum Credit, if such
termination is effective after the third (3rd) anniversary of this Agreement and
during any renewal period.

Such  early  termination  fee shall be  presumed  to be the  amount  of  damages
sustained by said early  termination and Borrowers  agrees that it is reasonable
under the circumstances  currently existing.  The early termination fee provided
for in this Section 10.2 shall be deemed included in the Obligations.

     10.3 EXPENSES AND ADDITIONAL FEES.

               (a) Each of Borrowers shall pay to Agent on demand all reasonable
costs and expenses  that Agent and Lenders pay or incur in  connection  with the
negotiation,  preparation,   consummation,   administration,   enforcement,  and
termination of this  Agreement and the other  Financing  Agreements,  including,
without  limitation:   (i)  reasonable   attorneys'  and  paralegals'  fees  and
disbursements  of counsel to Agent and  Lenders and any  Participant  (including
allocated  costs of  in-house  counsel);  (ii)  reasonable  costs  and  expenses
(including  reasonable  attorneys' and paralegals' fees and  disbursements,  and
allocated  costs of in-house  counsel) for any  amendment,  supplement,  waiver,
consent,  or subsequent closing in connection with the Financing  Agreements and
the  transactions  contemplated  thereby;  (iii) costs and  expenses of lien and
title  searches  and title  insurance;  (iv) taxes,  fees and other  charges for
recording any agreements or documents with the Office of Patents and Trademarks,
the Copyright Office or any other governmental authority,  and the filing of UCC
financing statements and continuations,  and other actions to perfect,  protect,
and  continue  the  security  interests  and liens of Agent and  Lenders  in the
Collateral;  (v) sums paid or  incurred  to pay any  amount  or take any  action
required of Borrowers under the Financing  Agreements that Borrowers fail to pay
or take; (vi) costs of appraisals and environmental  audits (including allocated
costs for in- house  appraisals  or  environmental  reviews),  inspections,  and
verifications of the Collateral  (except not for any audit or field  examination
charges and expenses);  (vii)  reasonable  costs and expenses of forwarding loan
proceeds,  collecting  checks and other items of payment,  and  establishing and
maintaining  payment  accounts  and lock  boxes;  (viii)  costs and  expenses of
preserving and protecting the Collateral; and (ix) reasonable costs and expenses
(including  reasonable  attorneys' and paralegals'  fees and  disbursements  and
allocated  costs of in-house  counsel) paid or incurred to obtain payment of the
Obligations, enforce the security interests and liens of Agent and Lenders, sell
or otherwise  realize upon the Collateral,  and otherwise enforce the provisions
of this Agreement and the other  Financing  Agreements,  or to defend any claims
made or  threatened  against Agent and Lenders  arising out of the  transactions
contemplated  hereby  (including,  without  limitation,   preparations  for  and
consultations concerning any such matters). The foregoing shall not be construed
to limit any other  provisions of the Financing  Agreements  regarding costs and
expenses to be paid by Borrowers.



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          (b) Each of  Borrowers  shall  pay to Agent and  Lenders  all of their
customary  charges and fees in connection with (i) any payment,  claim or refund
relating to the  dishonor of any checks or other  items of any of  Borrowers  or
Account Debtors, and (ii) wire transfers to Borrowers.

          (c) All sums  provided  for in this  Section 10.3 shall be part of the
Obligations,  shall be payable on demand, and shall accrue interest after demand
for payment thereof at the applicable  rate of interest then payable  hereunder.
Agent is hereby  irrevocably  authorized to charge any amounts payable hereunder
directly to any of the account(s) maintained by Agent with respect to Borrowers.

     10.4 SURVIVAL OF AGREEMENT. All agreements,  representations and warranties
contained herein or made in writing by the parties hereto in connection with the
transactions  contemplated  hereby shall  survive the  execution and delivery of
this  Agreement,  the other  Financing  Agreements and the  consummation  of the
transactions contemplated herein or therein regardless of any investigation made
by or on behalf of Lenders.

     10.5 NO WAIVER;  CUMULATIVE REMEDIES. No failure to exercise,  and no delay
in  exercising  on the part of Agent or Lenders  any right,  power or  privilege
under this  Agreement or under any of the other  Financing  Agreements  or other
documents  referred to herein or therein shall operate as a waiver thereof;  nor
shall any single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege  hereunder
or thereunder  preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of
any other right,  power and  privilege.  No notice to or demand on Borrowers not
required  hereunder  or any of the  other  Financing  Agreements  shall  entitle
Borrowers  to any  other  or  further  notice  or  demand  in  similar  or other
circumstances  or  constitute a waiver of the rights of Agent and Lenders to any
other or further  action in any  circumstances  without  notice or  demand.  The
rights  and  remedies  of Agent and  Lenders  under  this  Agreement,  the other
Financing  Agreements and any other present and future agreements between Agent,
Lenders and Borrowers are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies
provided  by law  or  under  any  of the  Financing  Agreements  or  such  other
agreements  and all such rights and remedies may be  exercised  successively  or
concurrently.

     10.6  NOTICES.  All  notices,  requests and demands  hereunder  shall be in
writing and (a) made to Agent and  Lenders at their  address set forth below and
to Borrowers at their chief executive  offices set forth below, or to such other
address  as  either  party  may  designate  by  written  notice  to the other in
accordance  with this  provisions,  and (b) deemed to have been given or made if
delivered in person,  immediately upon delivery;  if by facsimile  transmission,
immediately  upon sending and upon  confirmation  of receipt;  if by  nationally
recognized  overnight  courier  service  with  instructions  to deliver the next
Business  Day,  one (1) Business Day after  sending;  and if by certified  mail,
return receipt requested, five (5) days after mailing. All notices, requests and
demands upon the parties are to be given to the following  addresses (or to such
other  address  as any party may  designate  by notice in  accordance  with this
Section):



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<PAGE>

          If to Borrowers:    Pamida, Inc.
                              8800 F Street
                              Omaha, Nebraska 68127
                              Attention: Chief Financial Officer

          If to Agent
          or Congress:        Congress Financial Corporation (Southwest)
                              1201 Main Street
                              Dallas, Texas 75250
                              Attention: Mr. Edward B. Franco

          If to BABC:         BankAmerica Business Credit Inc.
                              40 East 52nd Street
                              New York, New York 10022
                              Attention: Senior Vice President
                              and Divisional Manager

     10.7 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement, the other Financing Agreements,  any
supplements hereto or thereto,  and any instruments or documents delivered or to
be delivered in connection  herewith or therewith represent the entire agreement
and  understanding  concerning the subject matter hereof and thereof between the
parties hereto,  and supersede all other prior and  contemporaneous  agreements,
understandings,  negotiations  and  discussions,  representations,   warranties,
commitments,  offers and  contracts  concerning  the subject  matter  hereof and
thereof, whether oral or written.

     10.8 AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS.  Neither this Agreement,  nor any of the other
Financing  Agreements or any other instrument or document  referred to herein or
therein may be changed,  waived,  discharged or terminated orally,  except by an
instrument  in  writing  signed by the party  against  whom  enforcement  of the
change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought.

     10.9 APPLICABLE LAW. The validity,  interpretation  and enforcement of this
Agreement and the other  Financing  Agreements  (other than the Mortgages to the
extent otherwise  specifically  provided therein) and any dispute arising out of
the relationship between the parties hereto,  whether in contract,  tort, equity
or  otherwise,  shall be governed by the internal  laws of the State of New York
(without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law).

     10.10 SUCCESSORS.  This Agreement,  the other Financing  Agreements and any
other document  referred to herein or therein shall be binding upon and inure to
the  benefit  of and be  enforceable  by  Agent,  Lenders,  Borrowers  and their
respective  successors  and assigns,  except that Borrowers may not assign their
rights  under  this  Agreement,  the other  Financing  Agreements  and any other
document  referred  to herein or therein  without the prior  written  consent of
Agent and Lenders. Any Lender may, after notice to Borrowers, assign its rights



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and  delegate  its  obligations  under this  Agreement  and the other  Financing
Agreements.  In  addition,  any Lender  may,  after  notice to  Borrowers,  sell
participations in, all or any part of the Loans, or any other interest herein to
another financial institution or other person. Agent and Lenders may furnish any
information  concerning  Borrowers in the  possession  of Agent and Lenders from
time to  time  to  assignees  and  Participants  or  prospective  assignees  and
Participants.

     10.11 PARTIAL  INVALIDITY.  If any provision of this Agreement or the other
Financing Agreements is held to be invalid or unenforceable,  such invalidity or
unenforceability  shall not  invalidate  this  Agreement or the other  Financing
Agreements as a whole but this Agreement or the particular  Financing Agreement,
as the  case  may be,  shall be  construed  as  though  it did not  contain  the
particular  provision or provisions held to be invalid or unenforceable  and the
rights and  obligations  of the parties  shall be construed and enforced only to
such extent as shall be permitted by law.

     10.12 HEADINGS.  The headings used herein are for  convenience  only and do
not constitute matters to be considered in interpreting this Agreement.

     10.13 PARTICIPANT'S SECURITY INTERESTS.  If a Participant shall at any time
participate  with  Lenders  in the  Loans and  Letter of Credit  Accommodations,
Borrowers hereby grant to such  Participant and such Participant  shall have and
is hereby  given,  a  continuing  lien on and  security  interest  in any money,
securities  and other  property of Borrowers in the custody or possession of the
Participant,  including the right of setoff,  to the extent of the Participant's
participation in the Obligations,  and such Participant  shall be deemed to have
the same right of setoff to the extent of its  participation in the Obligations,
as it would have if it were a direct Lender.

     10.14 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  THE PARTIES  HERETO HEREBY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY
IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING OF ANY KIND WITH RESPECT TO, IN CONNECTION  WITH, OR
ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE OTHER FINANCING AGREEMENTS,  THE OBLIGATIONS,
THE COLLATERAL OR ANY INSTRUMENT, DOCUMENT OR GUARANTY DELIVERED PURSUANT HERETO
OR TO  ANY OF  THE  FOREGOING,  OR  THE  VALIDITY,  PROTECTION,  INTERPRETATION,
ADMINISTRATION,  COLLECTION OR ENFORCEMENT  HEREOF OR THEREOF OR PURSUANT TO THE
OTHER  FINANCING  AGREEMENTS,  OR ANY OTHER CLAIM OR DISPUTE  HOWSOEVER  ARISING
BETWEEN BORROWERS AND AGENT AND/OR LENDERS.

     10.15 WAIVER OF COUNTERCLAIMS;  JURISDICTION;  SERVICE OF PROCESS.  EACH OF
BORROWERS HEREBY WAIVES ALL RIGHTS OF SETOFF AND RIGHTS TO IMPOSE  COUNTERCLAIMS
(OTHER  THAN  COMPULSORY  COUNTERCLAIMS)  IN THE  EVENT OF ANY  LITIGATION  WITH
RESPECT  TO ANY  MATTER  CONNECTED  WITH THIS  AGREEMENT,  THE  OTHER  FINANCING
AGREEMENTS,  THE  OBLIGATIONS,  THE COLLATERAL,  OR ANY TRANSACTION  BETWEEN THE
PARTIES HERETO, AND IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS AND SUBMITS



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<PAGE>

TO THE  NONEXCLUSIVE  JURISDICTION OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
IN NEW YORK CITY AND THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN  DISTRICT
OF NEW YORK AND THE DISTRICT  COURT OF THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE UNITED  STATES
DISTRICT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS AND THE COURTS OF ANY STATE IN WHICH
ANY OF THE COLLATERAL IS LOCATED AND OF ANY FEDERAL COURT LOCATED IN SUCH STATES
IN CONNECTION WITH ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO
THIS AGREEMENT, THE OTHER FINANCING AGREEMENTS, THE OBLIGATIONS,  THE COLLATERAL
OR ANY DOCUMENT,  INSTRUMENT OR GUARANTY  DELIVERED PURSUANT HERETO OR TO ANY OF
THE FOREGOING. IN ANY SUCH LITIGATION, EACH OF BORROWERS WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE
OF ANY SUMMONS,  COMPLAINT OR OTHER PROCESS AND AGREES THAT THE SERVICE  THEREOF
MAY BE MADE BY CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED  MAIL,  RETURN  RECEIPT  REQUESTED AND BY
TELECOPIER,  DIRECTED TO IT AT ITS CHIEF EXECUTIVE  OFFICE SET FORTH HEREIN,  OR
DESIGNATED  IN  WRITING  PURSUANT  TO THIS  AGREEMENT,  OR IN ANY  OTHER  MANNER
PERMITTED BY THE RULES OF SAID COURTS.  WITHIN  THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER  SERVICE,
THE BORROWERS NAMED IN SUCH SUMMONS,  COMPLAINT OR OTHER PROCESS SHALL APPEAR TO
ANSWER SUCH SUMMONS,  COMPLAINT OR OTHER PROCESS,  FAILING WHICH BORROWERS SHALL
BE DEEMED IN  DEFAULT  AND  JUDGMENT  MAY BE ENTERED  BY  LENDERS  AGAINST  SUCH
BORROWERS FOR THE AMOUNT OF THE CLAIM AND OTHER RELIEF REQUESTED THEREIN.

     10.16  INDEMNIFICATION.  Each of Borrowers hereby indemnifies,  defends and
holds each of Agent and Lenders, and its directors,  officers, agents, employees
and  counsel,  harmless  from and against any and all losses,  claims,  damages,
liabilities, deficiencies, judgments, penalties or expenses imposed on, incurred
by or asserted  against  any of them,  except as a result of Agent's or Lenders'
gross  negligence  or  wilful  misconduct  as  determined  pursuant  to a  final
non-appealable  order  of a court of  competent  jurisdiction,  whether  direct,
indirect  or  consequential  arising  out of or by  reason  of  any  litigation,
investigations,  claims, or proceedings (whether based on any federal,  state or
local laws or other  statutes or  regulations,  including,  without  limitation,
securities,  environmental, or commercial laws and regulations, under common law
or at equitable  cause,  or on contract or otherwise)  commenced or  threatened,
which  arise out of or are in any way based upon the  negotiation,  preparation,
execution,  delivery,   enforcement,   performance  or  administration  of  this
Agreement,  any  of the  other  Financing  Agreements,  or  any  undertaking  or
proceeding  related to any of the transactions  contemplated  hereby or any act,
omission to act, event or transaction  related or attendant thereto,  including,
without  limitation,  amounts paid in settlement,  court costs, and the fees and
expenses of counsel reasonably  incurred in connection with any such litigation,
investigation,  claim or proceeding.  Agent shall provide notice to Borrowers of
any  litigation  for which  Agent may seek  indemnification  under this  Section
10.16.  Without limiting the foregoing,  if, by reason of any suit or proceeding
of any kind, nature, or description  against  Borrowers,  or by Borrowers or any
other party  against  Agent and/or  Lenders,  which in Agent's or such  Lender's
discretion makes it advisable for Agent or such Lender to seek



                                       74

<PAGE>

counsel for protection and preservation of its liens and security interests,  or
to defend its own  interest,  such expenses and counsel fees shall be allowed to
Agent or such Lender.  To the extent that the undertaking to indemnify,  pay and
hold  harmless  set forth in this  Section  may be  unenforceable  because it is
violative of any law or public policy,  each of Borrowers  shall  contribute the
maximum  portion which it is permitted to pay and satisfy under  applicable law,
to the payment and  satisfaction  of all indemnified  matters  incurred by Agent
and/or  Lenders.  The  provisions  of  this  Section  10.16  shall  survive  the
termination  of  this  Agreement  and the  other  Financing  Agreements  and the
repayment of the  Obligations.  All of the foregoing costs and expenses shall be
part of the Obligations and secured by the Collateral.

     10.17 TEXAS DTPA WAIVER AND RELATED MATTERS.

          (a) Each of Borrowers  hereby  waives all  provisions of the Deceptive
Trade Practices Act-Consumer Protection Act ("DTPA"), other than Section 17.555,
pertaining to contribution and each of Borrowers (i) has assets of $5,000,000 or
more,  (ii) has knowledge and experience in financial and business  matters that
enable each of Borrowers  to evaluate the merits and risks of this  transaction,
and (iii) is not in a significantly  disparate  bargaining  position relative to
Agent or Lenders.

          (b) THE  NOTICE  IN  THIS SECTION  10.17(B)  RELATES  TO  ALL  OF  THE
FINANCING AGREEMENTS. THIS WRITTEN LOAN AGREEMENT REPRESENTS THE FINAL AGREEMENT
BETWEEN  THE  PARTIES  AND  MAY  NOT  BE  CONTRADICTED  BY  EVIDENCE  OF  PRIOR,
CONTEMPORANEOUS  OR  SUBSEQUENT  ORAL  AGREEMENTS  OF THE PARTIES.  THERE ARE NO
UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.

          (c) The  provisions  of Chapter 15 of the Texas Credit Code  (Vernon's
Texas Civil Statutes), Article 5069-15, as amended, are specifically declared by
all parties hereto not to be applicable to this Agreement or to any of the other
agreements executed in connection  herewith or to the transactions  contemplated
hereby or thereby.

     10.18  COUNTERPARTS.  This  Agreement  may be  executed  in any  number  of
counterparts, and by Agent, Lenders and Borrowers in separate counterparts, each
of which shall be an original,  but all of which shall  together  constitute one
and the same agreement.


                  [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]



                                       75

<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Agent, Lenders and Borrowers have caused these presents
to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.


AGENT                                   BORROWERS

CONGRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION          PAMIDA, INC.
  (SOUTHWEST), Agent
                                        By:____________________

By:____________________                 Title:_________________

Title:_________________

                                        SEAWAY IMPORTING COMPANY

                                        By:____________________

                                        Title:_________________


                                        LENDERS

CONGRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION          BANKAMERICA BUSINESS CREDIT, INC.  
(SOUTHWEST)

By:____________________                 By:____________________

Title:_________________                 Title:_________________



COMMITMENT:                             COMMITMENT:
- -----------                             -----------
$75,000,000                             $50,000,000

COMMITMENT PERCENTAGE:                  COMMITMENT PERCENTAGE:
- ----------------------                  ----------------------
         60%                                     40%



                                       76

<PAGE>



                REAFFIRMATION OF GUARANTEE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT


                                                                    July 2, 1998



Congress Financial Corporation (Southwest),
 individually and as Agent
1201 Main Street
Dallas, Texas 75250

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     Pamida,  Inc.  ("Pamida")  and  Seaway  Importing  Company  ("Seaway",  and
together with Pamida, and their respective successors and assigns, collectively,
"Borrowers") have entered into financing  arrangements  with Congress  Financial
Corporation (Southwest), in its capacity as agent pursuant to the Loan Agreement
(as hereinafter defined) acting for and on behalf of the financial  institutions
which are parties to the Loan Agreement as lenders (together with its successors
and assigns, in such capacity,  "Agent"),  and the financial  institutions which
are parties to the Loan Agreement as lenders (together with their successors and
assigns,  collectively,  "Lenders")  as set  forth  in  the  Loan  and  Security
Agreement,  dated as of March 30, 1993, among  Borrowers,  Agent and Lenders (as
the same  now  exists  or may  hereafter  be  amended,  modified,  supplemented,
extended, renewed, restated or replaced, the "Existing Agreement").

     In connection with such financing arrangements, Pamida Holdings Corporation
(together  with its  successors  and assigns,  "Guarantor")  has  absolutely and
unconditionally  guaranteed  all of the  obligations  of  Borrowers to Agent and
Lenders, as set forth in the Guarantee, dated as of March 30, 1993, by Guarantor
in favor of Agent  and  Lenders  (as the same now  exists  or may  hereafter  be
amended, modified,  supplemented,  extended,  renewed, restated or replaced, the
"Guarantee") and has granted to Agent, for itself and the benefit of Lenders,  a
security  interest in and lien upon certain of its assets and  properties as set
forth in the Security Agreement,  dated March 30, 1993, by Guarantor in favor of
Agent and Lenders (as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended, modified,
supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced, the "Security Agreement")
and the Pledge and Security  Agreement,  dated March 30,  1993,  by Guarantor in
favor of Agent and Lenders (as the same now exists or may  hereafter be amended,
modified,  supplemented,  extended,  renewal,  restated or replaced, the "Pledge
Agreement",  and  together  with  the  Security  Agreement,   collectively,  the
"Security Agreements").

     Borrowers and  Guarantors  have  requested  that Agent and Lenders  extend,
modify and restate the financing  arrangements  provided by Agent and Lenders to
Borrowers,  (including,  INTER ALIA,  an  increase in the maximum  amount of the
loans  and  other   financial   accommodations   available   to   Borrowers   to
$125,000,000),  and Agent and  Lenders  are  willing to so extend,  modify,  and
restate the financing arrangements as set forth in the Amended and Restated Loan
and Security  Agreement,  dated of even date herewith,  by and among  Borrowers,
Agent and Lenders (as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended, modified,
supplemented,  extended,  renewed,  restated or replaced, the "Loan Agreement").
All capitalized terms used herein shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the
Loan Agreement, unless otherwise defined herein.

     In  consideration  of  the  foregoing  and  the  agreements  and  covenants
contained herein, the undersigned agrees as follows:

          1.  Guarantor  hereby  acknowledges,  confirms and agrees that (a) the
Guarantee  and the  Security  Agreements  are in full  force and  effect and the
obligations of Guarantor  thereunder are valid,  binding and enforceable against
Guarantor  in  accordance  with the terms  thereof as of the date hereof and (b)
each of Agent and Lenders has and shall continue to have a security  interest in
and lien upon the assets and properties of Guarantor  heretofore granted to each
of  Agent  and  Lenders  pursuant  to the  Security  Agreements  to  secure  the
Obligations.

          2.  Guarantor's  obligations  under  the  Guarantee  and the  Security
Agreement  are  unconditionally  owing to Agent  and  Lenders,  without  offset,
defense or  counterclaim of any kind,  nature or description  whatsoever and the
extension,  modification and restatement of the Existing  Agreement  pursuant to
the Loan Agreement shall not, in any manner, be construed or constitute  payment
of or impair,  limit,  cancel or  extinguish  the  obligations,  liabilities  or
indebtedness  evidenced  by or  arising  under the  Guarantee  or  constitute  a
novation with respect thereto and the liens and security interests securing such
obligations,  liabilities or  indebtedness  shall not in any manner be impaired,
limited,  terminated,  waived or released.  Guarantor  hereby  acknowledges  and
consents  to  the  extension,  modification  and  restatement  of  the  Existing
Agreement  pursuant to the Loan Agreement and  acknowledges  and agrees that the
Guaranteed  Obligations (as such term is defined in the Guarantee)  shall extend
and apply to all Obligations arising under or pursuant to the Loan Agreement.

          3.  Except  as  modified   pursuant   hereto,   no  other  changes  or
modifications  to the Guarantee or Security  Agreements  are intended or implied
and in all other  respects  the  Guarantee  and Security  Agreements  are hereby
specifically  ratified,  restated  and  confirmed  by  Guarantor  as of the date
hereof.

          4. The validity,  interpretation and enforcement of this Reaffirmation
and any dispute  arising out of the  relationship  between the parties hereto in
connection  with  this  Reaffirmation,  whether  in  contract,  tort,  equity or
otherwise,  shall be  governed  by the  internal  laws of the  State of New York
(without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law).

          5.  This  Reaffirmation  shall  be  binding  upon  Guarantor  and  its
successors and assigns and inure to the benefit of each of Agent and the Lenders
and their respective successors and assigns.

     The  undersigned  has caused this  Reaffirmation  to be duly  executed  and
delivered by its authorized officer as of the day and year first above written.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        PAMIDA HOLDINGS CORPORATION

                                        By:    /s/ George R. Mihalko
                                        Title: Senior Vice President and Chief 
                                               Financial Officer







                                    GUARANTEE

                                                                  March 30, 1993



Congress Financial Corporation
 (Southwest), as agent for itself and
BA Business Credit Inc.
1201 Main Street
Dallas, Texas 75250

     Re:  Pamida, Inc. and Seaway Importing Company
          (individually and collectively, "Borrowers")

Gentlemen:

     Congress Financial Corporation (Southwest),  in its individual capacity and
BA Business  Credit  Inc.,  (individually  and  collectively,  "Lenders"),  with
Congress  Financial  Corporation  (Southwest),  as agent  for  Lenders  (in such
capacity,   "Agent")  are  contemporaneously   herewith  entering  into  certain
financing arrangements with Borrowers pursuant to which Agent may make loans and
advances  and provide  other  financial  accommodations  on behalf of Lenders to
Borrower  as set forth in the Loan and  Security  Agreement,  dated of even date
herewith,  by and among Borrowers,  Agent and Lenders (as the same now exists or
may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed or replaced,
the "Loan Agreement"), and other agreements,  documents and instruments referred
to therein or at any time executed and/or  delivered in connection  therewith or
related  thereto,  including,  but not limited to,  this  Guarantee  (all of the
foregoing,  together  with the  Loan  Agreement,  as the  same now  exist or may
hereafter be amended,  modified,  supplemented,  extended,  renewed, restated or
replaced, being collectively referred to herein as the "Financing Agreements").

     Due to the close business and financial relationships between Borrowers and
the  undersigned  ("Guarantor"),  in  consideration  of the benefits  which will
accrue to  Guarantor  and as an  inducement  for and in  consideration  of Agent
making loans and advances and providing other financial accommodations on behalf
of Lenders to Borrowers pursuant to the Financing  Agreements,  Guarantor hereby
absolutely and  unconditionally,  (a) guarantees and agrees to be liable for the
full and  indefeasible  payment  and  performance  when due of all  obligations,
liabilities  and  indebtedness  of any kind,  nature  and  description  owing by
Borrowers  to Agent  and/or  either  or both of  Lenders,  including  principal,
interest,  charges,  fees, premiums,  indemnities,  costs and expenses,  however
evidenced,  whether as  principal,  surety,  endorser,  guarantor or  otherwise,
whether arising under the other Financing  Agreements or otherwise,  whether now
existing or  hereafter  arising,  whether  arising  before,  during or after the
initial  or any  renewal  term of the Loan  Agreement  and the  other  Financing
Agreements or after the commencement of any case with respect to Borrowers under
the  U.S.  Bankruptcy  Code  or any  similar  statute  (and  including,  without
limitation,  any principal,  interest,  fees, costs, expenses and other amounts,
whether or not such  amounts are  allowable  either in whole or in part,  in any
such case or  similar  proceeding),  whether  direct or  indirect,  absolute  or
contingent,  joint or several, due or not due, primary or secondary,  liquidated
or unliquidated, secured or unsecured, original, renewed or extended and whether
arising  directly or however  acquired by Agent or Lenders,  including  from any
other person outright,  conditionally or as collateral security,  by assignment,
merger with any other person, participations or interests of Agent or Lenders in
the  obligations  of  Borrowers  to  others,   assumption,   operation  of  law,
subrogation  or otherwise  and (b) agrees to pay to Lenders on demand the amount
of all expenses  (including,  without limitation,  attorneys' fees and expenses)
incurred  by Agent or Lenders in  connection  with the  preparation,  execution,
delivery, recording,  administration,  collection, liquidation,  enforcement and
defense of Borrowers' obligations,  liabilities and indebtedness as aforesaid to
Agent and Lenders,  the rights of Agent and Lenders in any  collateral  or under
this Guarantee and all other Financing Agreements or in any way involving claims
by or against Agent or Lenders directly or indirectly  arising out of or related
to the relationships between Borrowers, Agent and Lenders,  Guarantor, Agent and
Lenders,  or any other  Obligor (as  hereinafter  defined),  Agent and  Lenders,
whether such  expenses are incurred  before,  during or after the initial or any
renewal term of the Loan Agreement and the other  Financing  Agreements or after
the  commencement  of any case with  respect to either of Borrowers or Guarantor
under  the U.S.  Bankruptcy  Code or any  similar  statute  (all of which  being
collectively referred to herein as the "Guaranteed Obligations").

     Notice of acceptance of this  Guarantee,  the making of loans and extension
of credit to Borrowers  and  presentment,  demand,  protest,  notice of protest,
notice of nonpayment  and all other notices to which  Borrowers or Guarantor are
entitled are hereby waived.  Guarantor also waives notice of and hereby consents
to,  (i)  any  amendment,  modification,  supplement,  renewal,  restatement  or
extensions of time of payment of or increase or decrease in the amount of any of
the  Guaranteed  Obligations  or to  the  other  Financing  Agreements  and  any
collateral,  and  the  guarantee  made  herein  shall  apply  to the  Guaranteed
Obligations  as  so  amended,  modified,  supplemented,   renewed,  restated  or
extended,  increased or  decreased,  (ii) the taking,  exchange,  surrender  and
releasing of collateral or guarantees now or at any time held by or available to
Agent or Lenders for the obligations of Borrowers or any other party at any time
liable  for  or in  respect  of the  Guaranteed  Obligations  (individually,  an
"Obligor"  and  collectively,   the  "Obligors"),  (iii)  the  exercise  of,  or
refraining from the exercise of any rights against  Borrowers,  Guarantor or any
other Obligor or any collateral, and (iv) the settlement,  compromise or release
of, or the waiver of any default  with respect to, any  Guaranteed  Obligations.
Guarantor  agrees  that the amount of the  Guaranteed  Obligations  shall not be
diminished  and the  liability  of  Guarantor  hereunder  shall not be otherwise
impaired or affected by any of the foregoing.

     This  Guarantee is a guaranty of payment and not of  collection.  Guarantor
agrees  that  Agent and  Lenders  need not  attempt to  collect  any  Guaranteed
Obligations  from Borrowers or other Obligors or to realize upon any collateral,
but may require Guarantor to make immediate payment of Guaranteed Obligations to
Lenders when due, whether by maturity, acceleration or otherwise, or at any time
thereafter.  Agent and Lenders may apply any amounts  received in respect of the
Guaranteed Obligations to any of the Guaranteed Obligations, in whole or in part
(including  attorneys' fees and legal expenses incurred by Agent or Lenders with
respect  thereto or otherwise  chargeable to Borrowers or Guarantor) and in such
order as Agent or Lenders may elect, whether or not then due.

     No invalidity,  irregularity or  unenforceability of all or any part of the
Guaranteed  Obligations shall affect,  impair or be a defense to this Guarantee,
nor shall any other  circumstance  which might  otherwise  constitute  a defense
available to or legal or  equitable  discharge of Borrowers in respect of any of
the Guaranteed  Obligations  or Guarantor in respect of this  Guarantee  affect,
impair or be a defense to this Guarantee.  Without  limitation of the foregoing,
the liability of Guarantor  hereunder shall not be discharged or impaired in any
respect by reason of any  failure  by Agent or  Lenders  to perfect or  continue
perfection of any lien or security interest in any collateral for the Guaranteed
Obligations  or any delay by Agent or  Lenders  in  perfecting  any such lien or
security interest. As to interest, fees and expenses,  whether arising before or
after the  commencement  of any case with  respect to  Borrowers  under the U.S.
Bankruptcy Code or any similar statute, Guarantor shall be liable therefor, even
if  Borrowers'  liability  for such  amounts  does not,  or ceases to,  exist by
operation of law.

     This  Guarantee  is  absolute,  unconditional  and  continuing.  Payment by
Guarantor  shall be made to Agent at the  office  of Agent  from time to time on
demand  as  Guaranteed  Obligations  become  due.  One  or  more  successive  or
concurrent  actions may be brought hereon against  Guarantor  either in the same
action in which  Borrowers  are sued or in  separate  actions.  In the event any
claim or action,  or action on any judgment,  based on this Guarantee is brought
against  Guarantor,  Guarantor  agrees  not to  deduct,  set-off,  or  seek  any
counterclaim  for or  recoup  any  amounts  which are or may be owed by Agent or
Lenders to Guarantor.

     Payment of all amounts now or  hereafter  owed to Guarantor by Borrowers or
any other Obligor is hereby subordinated in right of payment to the indefeasible
payment in full to Agent and Lenders of the Guaranteed Obligations and is hereby
assigned to Agent and Lenders as security therefor. Guarantor hereby irrevocably
and unconditionally waives and relinquishes all statutory,  contractual,  common
law,  equitable and all other claims against  Borrowers,  any collateral for the
Guaranteed  Obligations or other assets of Borrowers or any other  Obligor,  for
subordination, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution, indemnification, setoff
or other  recourse  in respect  to sums paid or payable to Agent and  Lenders by
Guarantor hereunder and Guarantor hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally
waives  and  relinquishes  any and all  other  benefits  which  Guarantor  might
otherwise  directly or indirectly receive or be entitled to receive by reason of
any amounts paid by or collected or due from  Guarantor,  Borrowers or any other
Obligor upon the Guaranteed Obligations or realized from their property.

     In case proceedings be instituted by or against Borrowers, Guarantor or any
other Obligor, in bankruptcy or insolvency, or for reorganization,  arrangement,
receivership,  or the like,  or if  Borrowers,  Guarantors  or any other Obligor
calls a  meeting  of  creditors  or makes  any  assignment  for the  benefit  of
creditors,  or upon the  occurrence of any event which  constitutes a default or
event of  default  under  the  other  Financing  Agreements,  the  liability  of
Guarantor  for the  entire  Guaranteed  Obligations  shall  mature,  even if the
liability of Borrowers or any other Obligor therefor does not.

     Guarantor  shall  continue  to be liable  hereunder  until  one of  Agent's
officers actually receives a written  termination  notice by certified mail; but
the giving of such notice shall not relieve  Guarantor  from  liability  for any
Guaranteed  Obligations  incurred  before  termination  or for  post-termination
collection  expenses  and  interest  pertaining  to any  Guaranteed  Obligations
arising before termination.

     The books and  records  of Agent  showing  the  account  between  Agent and
Borrowers  shall be  admissible in evidence in any action or proceeding as PRIMA
FACIE proof of the items therein set forth, and the monthly  statements of Agent
rendered  to  Borrowers,  to the  extent to which no written  objection  is made
within thirty (30) days from the date of sending thereof to Borrowers,  shall be
deemed  conclusively  correct and  constitute an account  stated  between Agent,
Lenders and Borrowers and be binding on Guarantor.

     No delay on the part of Agent or Lenders in exercising any rights hereunder
or failure to exercise the same shall  constitute  a waiver of such  rights.  No
notice or demand on Guarantor  shall be deemed to be a waiver of the  obligation
of Guarantor to take further action without notice or demand as provided herein.
No waiver of any of the rights  hereunder,  and no  modification or amendment of
this  Guarantee,  shall be deemed to be made by Agent or Lenders unless the same
shall be in writing duly signed on its or their behalf and each such waiver,  if
any, shall apply only with respect to the specific  instance  involved and shall
in no way impair Agent's or Lenders'  rights or the  obligations of Guarantor to
Agent or Lenders in any other respect at any other time.

     GUARANTOR  HEREBY  WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR  PROCEEDING OF ANY
KIND WITH RESPECT TO, IN CONNECTION WITH, OR ARISING OUT OF THIS GUARANTEE,  THE
OTHER FINANCING AGREEMENTS, THE GUARANTEED OBLIGATIONS,  ANY COLLATERAL THEREFOR
OR ANY INSTRUMENT,  DOCUMENT OR OTHER GUARANTEE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO ANY OF THE
FOREGOING,  OR  THE  VALIDITY,   PROTECTION,   INTERPRETATION,   ADMINISTRATION,
COLLECTION OR ENFORCEMENT  HEREOF OR THEREOF OR PURSUANT TO THE OTHER  FINANCING
AGREEMENTS,  OR ANY OTHER CLAIM OR DISPUTE  HOWSOEVER  ARISING BETWEEN GUARANTOR
AND AGENT OR GUARANTOR AND LENDERS.

     GUARANTOR  HEREBY  WAIVES  ALL  RIGHTS  OF  SETOFF  AND  RIGHTS  TO  IMPOSE
COUNTERCLAIMS  IN THE  EVENT  OF  ANY  LITIGATION  WITH  RESPECT  TO ANY  MATTER
CONNECTED WITH THIS GUARANTEE, THE OTHER FINANCING AGREEMENTS,  THE OBLIGATIONS,
ANY COLLATERAL  THEREFOR,  OR ANY TRANSACTION  BETWEEN THE PARTIES  HERETO,  AND
IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS AND SUBMITS TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE SUPREME
COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK IN NEW YORK CITY AND THE UNITED  STATES  DISTRICT
COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN  DISTRICT OF NEW YORK AND THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE STATE
OF TEXAS AND THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
AND THE COURTS OF ANY STATE IN WHICH ANY OF THE COLLATERAL IS LOCATED AND OF ANY
FEDERAL COURT LOCATED IN SUCH STATES IN CONNECTION  WITH ANY ACTION,  PROCEEDING
OR CLAIM  ARISING  OUT OF OR  RELATING TO THIS  GUARANTEE,  THE OTHER  FINANCING
AGREEMENTS, THE OBLIGATIONS, ANY COLLATERAL THEREFOR OR ANY DOCUMENT, INSTRUMENT
OR GUARANTEE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO ANY OF THE FOREGOING. IN ANY SUCH LITIGATION,
GUARANTOR WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF ANY SUMMONS, COMPLAINT OR OTHER PROCESS AND
AGREES THAT THE SERVICE  THEREOF MAY BE MADE BY  CERTIFIED OR  REGISTERED  MAIL,
RETURN  RECEIPT  REQUESTED  AND  BY  TELECOPIER,  DIRECTED  TO IT AT  ITS  CHIEF
EXECUTIVE  OFFICE SET FORTH HEREIN,  OR  DESIGNATED IN WRITING  PURSUANT TO THIS
GUARANTEE,  OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY THE RULES OF SAID COURTS. WITHIN
THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER SERVICE,  GUARANTOR  SHALL APPEAR TO ANSWER SUCH SUMMONS,
COMPLAINT OR OTHER PROCESS,  FAILING WHICH  GUARANTOR SHALL BE DEEMED IN DEFAULT
AND  JUDGMENT  MAY BE ENTERED BY AGENT AND  LENDERS  AGAINST  GUARANTOR  FOR THE
AMOUNT OF THE CLAIM AND OTHER RELIEF REQUESTED THEREIN.

     If after receipt of any payment of, or proceeds  applied to the payment of,
all or any part of the  Guaranteed  Obligations,  Agent or  Lenders  are for any
reason  required to surrender  such payment or proceeds to any person or entity,
because such payment or proceeds is invalidated, declared fraudulent, set aside,
determined  to be void or voidable  as a  preference,  or a  diversion  of trust
funds,  or for any other reason,  then the  Guaranteed  Obligations  or any part
thereof  intended  to be  satisfied  shall  be  revived  and  continue  and this
Guarantee  shall  continue in full force as if such  payment or proceeds had not
been received by Agent or Lenders and Guarantor  shall be liable to pay to Agent
or Lenders,  and hereby does indemnify  Agent and Lenders and hold them harmless
for the amount of such payment or proceeds  surrendered.  The provisions of this
paragraph  shall be and remain  effective  notwithstanding  any contrary  action
which may have been taken by Agent or Lenders in reliance  upon such  payment or
proceeds,  and any such contrary  action so taken shall be without  prejudice to
Agent's or Lenders' rights under this Guarantee and shall be deemed to have been
conditioned  upon such payment or proceeds having become final and  irrevocable.
The provisions of this paragraph shall survive the termination of this Guarantee
and the other Financing Agreements and the repayment of the Obligations.

     This  Guarantee  shall be binding upon  Guarantor  and its  successors  and
assigns and shall inure to the benefit of Agent and Lenders and their respective
successors,  endorsers,  transferees  and assigns.  All  references  to the term
"Guarantor"  wherever used herein shall mean  Guarantor and its  successors  and
assigns.  All references to the term "Borrowers" wherever used herein shall mean
both and each of them and their respective  successors and assigns,  jointly and
severally,  individually and collectively.  All references to the term "Lenders"
wherever  used  herein  shall  mean both and each of them and  their  respective
successors and assigns,  individually  and  collectively.  All references to the
term "Agent" shall be deemed to include its successors and assigns.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  Guarantor has executed and delivered this Guarantee as
of the day and year first above written.

                                        PAMIDA HOLDINGS CORPORATION

                                        By:    /s/ Richard W. Ramm
                                        Title: Executive Vice President
                                               
                                        Chief Executive Office:

                                        8800 "F" Street
                                        Omaha, Nebraska  68127





STATE OF NEW YORK   )
                    ) SS.:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK  )

     On this 30th day of March, 1993, before me personally came Richard W. Ramm,
to me known,  who stated  that he is the  Executive  Vice  President,  of PAMIDA
HOLDINGS  CORPORATION,  the  corporation  described  in and which  executed  the
foregoing instrument;  and that he signed his name thereto by order of the Board
of Directors of said corporation.


                                        /s/ Bruce Levine
                                        Notary Public

Commission expires:  August 11, 1993

<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
                             Financial Data Schedule
                  Item 601(c) of Regulation S-K Commercial and
                Industrial Companies Article 5 of Regulation S-X
                (Dollars is thousands, except per share amounts)

This  schedule  contains  summary  financial   information  extracted  from  the
Consolidated Balance Sheet of Pamida, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of August 2, 1998
and the related Consolidated Statement of Operations for the 26 weeks then ended
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000808304
<NAME>                        Pamida, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
<S>                                            <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                        6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              JAN-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                 FEB-02-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   AUG-02-1998
<CASH>                                               8,505
<SECURITIES>                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                       10,568
<ALLOWANCES>                                            50
<INVENTORY>                                        160,895
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   183,612
<PP&E>                                             104,396
<DEPRECIATION>                                      65,201
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     274,626
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                              144,873
<BONDS>                                            177,163
                                    0
                                              0
<COMMON>                                                 0
<OTHER-SE>                                         (51,715)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       274,626
<SALES>                                            314,701
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                   314,701
<CGS>                                              237,033
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      303,420
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                         0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  12,607
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     (1,326)
<INCOME-TAX>                                          (508)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                   (818)
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                          (818)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                            0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                            0
        


</TABLE>


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