ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP /DE/
8-K, 1999-09-21
BROADWOVEN FABRIC MILLS, MAN MADE FIBER & SILK
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                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                        Washington, D.C. 20549

                                Form 8-K
                             Current Report

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
                 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934



Date of Report: September 21, 1999               Commission file number: 0-16214
                                                                         -------
                        ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
                        -------------------------
       (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



         Delaware                                         14-0462060
         --------                                         ----------
(State or other jurisdiction of             (IRS Employer Identification Number)
 incorporation or organization)

1373 Broadway, Albany, New York                              12204
- -------------------------------                              -----
(Address of principal executive offices)                  (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:       518-445-2200
                                                          ------------


<PAGE>

                              EXHIBIT



10(i)(i)   - Credit Agreement, dated as of August 11, 1999 among the Registrant,
           certain  banks  listed   therein,   The  Chase   Manhattan   Bank  as
           Administrative  Agent,  Chase  Manhattan  International  Limited,  as
           London  Agent,  Citibank  N.A.,  as  Syndication  Agent  and Banc One
           Capital Markets, Inc., as Documentation Agent.

<PAGE>



                             SIGNATURES


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









                                   ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
                                   -------------------------
                                        (Registrant)


Date:  September 21, 1999


                                    By /s/ Michael C. Nahl
                                    ----------------------
                                    Michael C. Nahl
                                    Sr. Vice President and
                                    Chief Financial Officer

<PAGE>








                                 Exhibit 10(i)(i)





<PAGE>


                                                       CONFORMED COPY

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





                                 CREDIT AGREEMENT


                                   dated as of


                                 August 11, 1999


                                      among


                              ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP.


                              the Borrowing Subsidiaries



                               the Lenders Party Hereto


                                         and


                              THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
                               as Administrative Agent

                        CHASE MANHATTAN INTERNATIONAL LIMITED,
                                   as London Agent

                                   CITIBANK, N.A.,
                                as Syndication Agent

                           BANC ONE CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.,
                               as Documentation Agent

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

                                 CHASE SECURITIES INC.,
                                      as Arranger



- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                [CS&M 6700-874]
<PAGE>


                                   CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of August 11, 1999,
                           among   ALBANY   INTERNATIONAL   CORP.,   a  Delaware
                           corporation    (the    "Company"),    the   BORROWING
                           SUBSIDIARIES  from  time to time  party  hereto,  the
                           Lenders  referred to herein,THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
                           a New York  banking  corporation,  as  administrative
                           agent  for  the  Lenders  (in  such   capacity,   the
                           "Administrative    Agent"),   and   CHASE   MANHATTAN
                           INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, as London Agent.

       The  Company  intends  to  acquire  or cause one of its  subsidiaries  to
acquire (the  "Acquisition")  the paper machine clothing business (the "Acquired
Business")  of  the  Geschmay  Group("Geschmay")  for  cash  in  the  amount  of
approximately  US$232,000,000  through the purchase of (i)  2,899,200  shares of
Feltrificio  Veneto S.p.A.,  an Italian S.p.A.,  (ii) 100,000 shares of Geschmay
Asia  Private  Limited,  a Singapore  corporation,  (iii)  share  participations
(Geschaftsanteil)    representing   99%   of   the   share   participations   in
Wurttenbergische  Fitztuchfabrik  D. Geschmay  GmbH., a German GmbH, (iv) 24,722
shares  of  the  common  stock  of  Wangner  Systems  Corporation,   a  Delaware
corporation, (v) 99,994 shares of Cofpa S.A., a French societe anonyme, and (vi)
100% of the share participations  (Geschaftsanteil) in Geschmay Research GmbH, a
German GmbH,  all pursuant to the Share Purchase  Agreement  dated as of May 26,
1999 among  Mistral  International  Finance  A.G.,  Golden  Bridge S.A.  and the
Company (the "Share Purchase  Agreement").  In connection with the  Acquisition,
the Company intends to refinance  approximately  US$295,000,000  of its existing
indebtedness  (including  its existing bank credit  facility) and  approximately
US$50,000,000 of indebtedness associated with the Acquired Business.

       The Company has requested the Lenders to extend credit in the form of (a)
Term Loans  (such term and each other  capitalized  term used but not  otherwise
defined  herein having the meaning  assigned to it in Article I) in an aggregate
principal  amount not in excess of  $250,000,000  and (b) Revolving  Loans in an
aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not in excess of $500,000,000
minus the LC Exposure and the Swingline  Exposure at such time.  The Company has
requested  the Issuing  Banks to issue  Letters of Credit in an  aggregate  face
amount at any time  outstanding  not in excess of $40,000,000 to support payment
obligations  incurred  for  general  corporate  purposes  of the Company and the
Subsidiaries.  The  proceeds  of the  Loans  will be  used  (i) to  finance  the
Acquisition  andto pay related fees and  expenses,  (ii) to  refinance  existing
Indebtedness  of the Company and the  Acquired  Company and (iii) in the case of
Revolving Loans, for general corporate  purposes.  The Letters of Credit will be
used for general corporate purposes.

       The Lenders are  willing to extend  such credit to the  Borrowers  on the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.  Accordingly,  the parties
hereto agree as follows:

<PAGE>

                                ARTICLE I

                               Definitions
                               -----------

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

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

       "Acquired Business" shall have the meaning specified in the preamble
hereto.

       "Acquisition" shall have the meaning specified in the preamble hereto.


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

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

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

       "Affiliate"  means,  with respect to a specified  Person,  another Person
that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries,  Controls or is
Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person  specified.  The status
of any  individual  as an officer or director of any Person shall not, in and of
itself, be deemed to make such individual an Affiliate of such Person.

       "Agent and Administrative Fees" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 2.12(d).

       "Agents" means the Administrative Agent, the London Agent and the
Collateral Agent.

       "Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure" means the aggregate amount of the
Lenders' Revolving Credit Exposures.

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

       "Alternate  Currency"  means (a)  Euro,  (b)  Sterling  and (c) any other
freely available currency (i) that is freely transferable and freely convertible
into US Dollars and in which  dealings in deposits  are carried on in the London
interbank market,  (ii) that has been approved by the Administrative  Agent in a
notice  delivered  to the  Company  and  (iii) in  respect  of which one or more
Alternate Currency  Supplements shall have been executed and delivered by one or
more Borrowers,  one or more Fronting Lenders and the  Administrative  Agent and
shall be in effect.


<PAGE>

        "Alternate  Currency  Commitment"  means,  with respect to each Fronting
Lender and Alternate Currency Supplement, the commitment of such Fronting Lender
to make  Revolving  Alternate  Currency  Loans  under  Section  2.01(c) and such
Alternate Currency  Supplement,  as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time
to time pursuant to Section 2.08 and (b) reduced or increased  from time to time
pursuant to assignments by or to such Fronting Lender pursuant to Section 10.04.

       "Alternate Currency Exposure" means, with respect to any Revolving Lender
at any time, the sum at such time,  without  duplication,  of (a) such Revolving
Lender's  Applicable  Percentage of the aggregate US Dollar  Equivalents  of the
principal  amounts  of  the  outstanding   Revolving  Alternate  Currency  Loans
(excluding  any  Revolving  Alternate  Currency  Loans in  respect of which such
Revolving  Lender  has  made,  or is  required  to have  made,  payments  to the
applicable Fronting Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01(d)),  and (b) the aggregate
principal  amount at such time of the Revolving  Alternate  Currency  Loans that
have been converted to Dollar obligations and in respect of which such Revolving
Lender  has made,  or is  required  to have  made,  payments  to the  applicable
Fronting Lenders as provided in Section 2.01(f).


       "Alternate Currency Fronting Fee" shall have the meaning specified
inction 2.12(b)(ii).

       "Alternate Currency Participation Fee" shall have the meaning specified
in Section 2.12(b)(i).

       "Alternate Currency Supplement" means an agreement in the form of Exhibit
B hereto executed and delivered by one or more  Borrowers,  one or more Fronting
Lenders and the Administrative Agent as provided in Section 2.01(e).

       "Applicable  Agent"  means  (a)  with  respect  to a  Loan  or  Borrowing
denominated in Dollars or a Letter of Credit, the Administrative Agent, (b) with
respect to a Loan or Borrowing denominated in any Alternate Currency, the London
Agent.

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

       "Applicable Rate" means, for any day, with respect to (a) any ABR Loan or
Eurocurrency Loan or (b) the Commitment Fees, as the case may be, the applicable
rate per annum set forth under the appropriate caption in the table below, based
upon the Leverage Ratio:

                                        3
<PAGE>

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

                                ABR           Eurocurrency        Commitment Fee
  Leverage Ratio:             Spread             Spread                Rate
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Category 1
     >3.25                       0.50%         1.50%                   0.35%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Category 2
     >3.00 and <3.25             0.25%         1.25%                   0.30%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Category 3
     >2.75 and <3.00             0.125%        1.125%                  0.30%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Category 4
    >2.25 and <2.75              0.00%         1.00%                   0.25%

    Category 5
    <2.25                        0.00%         0.75%                   0.25%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Except as set forth below,  the Leverage  Ratio used to determine the Applicable
Rate during the period from and including any Financial  Statement Delivery Date
to but excluding  the next  Financial  Statement  Delivery Date shall be that in
effect at the date of the balance  sheet  required to be delivered on such first
Financial Statement Delivery Date under Section 5.01(a) or (b); provided that if
any  Financial  Statement  Delivery  Date shall have  occurred and the financial
statements  required to have been delivered under Section 5.01(a) or (b) by such
date have not been delivered,  the Applicable  Rate shall,  until such financial
statements shall have been delivered,  be determined by reference to Category 1.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, until the first Financial Statement Delivery Date
after December 31, 1999, the Applicable Rate will for all purposes be determined
by reference to Category 1 in the table above.

       "Arranger" means Chase Securities Inc. in its capacity as arranger of the
credit facilities provided for herein.


       "Assignment   and   Acceptance"   means  an  Assignment   and  Acceptance
substantially  in the form of Exhibit G or such other form as shall be  approved
by the Administrative Agent.

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

       "Borrower" means the Company or any Borrowing Subsidiary.

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

       "Borrowing  Minimum" means (a) in the case of a Borrowing  denominated in
US Dollars,  $5,000,000  and (b) in the case of a Borrowing  denominated  in any
Alternate  Currency,  the smallest amount of such Alternate Currency that (i) is
an integral  multiple of 1,000,000  units (or in the case of  Sterling,  500,000
units) of such Alternate  Currency and (ii) has a US Dollar Equivalent in excess
of $5,000,000.
                                   4
<PAGE>

       "Borrowing Multiple" means (a) in the case of a Borrowing  denominated in
US Dollars,  $1,000,000  and (b) in the case of a Borrowing  denominated  in any
Alternate Currency, 1,000,000 units (or, in the case of Sterling, 500,000 units)
of such Alternate Currency.

       "Borrowing  Subsidiary" means, at any time, each Subsidiary that has been
designated as a Borrowing Subsidiary by the Company pursuant to Section 2.21 and
that has not ceased to be a Borrowing Subsidiary as provided in such Section.

       "Borrowing  Subsidiary  Agreement" means a Borrowing Subsidiary Agreement
substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1.

       "Borrowing   Subsidiary   Termination"   means  a  Borrowing   Subsidiary
Termination substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2.

       "Borrowing  Request"  means a request by a Borrower  in  accordance  with
Section 2.03 and in a form provided by the Administrative Agent.

       "Business Day" means any day that is not a Saturday,  Sunday or other day
on which  commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to
remain  closed;  provided,  that (a)when used in connection  with a Eurocurrency
Loan denominated in Dollars,  the term "Business Day" shall also exclude any day
on which  banks are not open for  dealings  in deposits in Dollars in the London
interbank  market,  (b) when used in connection  with a Loan or Letter of Credit
denominated in any Alternate Currency (other than Euro), the term "Business Day"
shall also  exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in deposits
in the applicable  currency in the principal  financial center of the country of
such Alternate  Currency,  and (c) when used in connection with a Loan or Letter
of Credit  denominated  in Euro,  the term "Business Day" shall also exclude any
day on which  the  TARGET  payment  system  is not open  for the  settlement  of
payments in Euro.

       "Calculation Date" means the last Business Day of each calendar month.

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

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

       "Change in Control"  means (a) the  ownership,  directly  or  indirectly,
beneficially  or of record,  by any Person or group  (within  the meaning of the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934 and the rules of the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission thereunder as in effect on the date hereof) other than Permitted

                                   5
<PAGE>

Shareholders,  of shares  representing  more than 30% of the aggregate  ordinary
voting power  represented  by the issued and  outstanding  capital  stock of the
Company  at a  time  when  Permitted  Shareholders  together  do  not  have  the
unrestricted  power  directly or indirectly to vote or direct the vote of shares
representing  more  than  50% of  such  aggregate  ordinary  voting  power;  (b)
occupation  of a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of
directors of the Company by Persons who were neither (i)  nominated by the board
of directors of the Company nor (ii) appointed by directors so nominated; or (c)
the occurrence of any "change in control" or similar event, however denominated,
resulting  in an  obligation  on the part of the  Company or any  Subsidiary  to
repay,  redeem  or  repurchase,  or to offer to  repay,  redeem  or  repurchase,
Material Indebtedness.

       "Change in Law" means (a) the  adoption  of any law,  rule or  regulation
after the date of this Agreement,  (b) any change in any law, rule or regulation
or in the  interpretation or application  thereof by any Governmental  Authority
after the date of this  Agreement or (c) compliance by any Lender or any Issuing
Bank (or, for purposes of Section 2.15(b),  by any lending office of such Lender
or by such Lender's or such Issuing  Bank's  holding  company,  if any) with any
request,  guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any
Governmental Authority if such request, guideline or directive is made or issued
after the date of this  Agreement  and  reflects a change after the date of this
Agreement  in the  policies or  practices  to which such  request,  guideline or
333directive relates.

       "Chase" means The Chase Manhattan Bank and its successors.

       "Class",  when  used in  reference  to any Loan or  Borrowing,  refers to
whether  such  Loan,  or the Loans  comprising  such  Borrowing,  are  Revolving
Alternate Currency Loans,  Revolving Dollar Loans, Term Loans or Swingline Loans
and, when used in reference to any Commitment, refers to whether such Commitment
is a Revolving Commitment, Alternate Currency Commitment or Term
Commitment.

       "Closing Date" means the date of the initial Credit Event hereunder.

       "CMIL" means Chase Manhattan International Limited and its successors.

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

       "Collateral" means all the collateral subject to the Pledge Agreements or
any of them.

       "Collateral  Agent" means The Chase  Manhattan  Bank,  in its capacity as
collateral agent for the Secured Parties under the Pledge Agreement.

       "Collateral  Requirement" means, at any time, that (a) one or more Pledge
Agreements (or supplements  thereto) shall have been duly executed and delivered
by each  Borrower,  each  Domestic  Subsidiary  (other  than  (i)  any  Domestic
Subsidiary  that is a subsidiary of a Foreign  Subsidiary  and (ii)so long as it
does not own Specified  Intercompany  Indebtedness  (as defined below) or Equity
Interests in any Material Subsidiary, Wangner Systems Corporation) and each

                                   6
<PAGE>

Foreign Borrower or Foreign Parent (as such terms are defined below) existing at
such time and  directly  owning any  outstanding  Equity  Interests in any other
Subsidiary  (other  than an Excluded  Foreign  Subsidiary)  or any  Indebtedness
(other than  Indebtedness  arising under clause (c) or (d) of the  definition of
Indebtedness)  of the Company or any  Subsidiary in a principal  amount  greater
than $1,000,000 ("Specified  Intercompany  Indebtedness"),  and there shall have
been duly and  validly  pledged  to the  Collateral  Agent  thereunder,  for the
ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, as security for all the Obligations, (i)
all the outstanding Equity Interests in each Domestic  Subsidiary owned directly
by the Company or any Domestic  Subsidiary party to the Pledge  Agreement,  (ii)
65% of the  outstanding  voting Equity  Interests,  and 100% of the  outstanding
non-voting Equity Interests (or, in each case, such lesser  percentages as shall
be  owned by the  Company  and the  Domestic  Subsidiaries  party to the  Pledge
Agreements) in each Foreign Subsidiary owned in whole or in part directly by the
Company or any  Domestic  Subsidiary  party to a Pledge  Agreement  (other  than
Equity Interests in any Excluded Foreign  Subsidiary),  (iii) in the case of any
Foreign Subsidiary that is (A) a Borrower (a "Foreign  Borrower"),  (B) a direct
or indirect parent  corporation of a Foreign Borrower (a "Foreign  Parent"),  or
(C) a Subsidiary  directly owned in whole or in part by a Foreign  Borrower or a
Foreign Parent,  all the Equity Interests of such Foreign Subsidiary not pledged
pursuant to clause (ii) above (it being  understood  that such Equity  Interests
referred  to in this  clause  (iii) will  secure  only the  Obligations  of such
Foreign Borrower),  (iv) all Specified Intercompany Indebtedness that is owed to
the Company or any Domestic Subsidiary party to the Pledge Agreement, and (v) in
the  case  of  any  Foreign  Borrower  or  Foreign  Parent,  all  the  Specified
Intercompany  Indebtedness  that is owed to such  Foreign  Borrower  or  Foreign
Parent  and  that is not  pledged  pursuant  to  clause  (iv)  above  (it  being
understood  that such Specified  Intercompany  Indebtedness  referred to in this
clause (v) will secure only the Obligations of such Foreign  Borrower);  and (b)
any certificates,  promissory notes or other instruments representing the Equity
Interests and  Specified  Indebtedness  (other than any  Specified  Intercompany
Indebtedness  that has existed for not more than five Business  Days) pledged or
subjected to a charge under the Pledge  Agreements,  accompanied by stock powers
or other  instruments  of  transfer  endorsed  in blank,  shall be in the actual
possession of the Collateral Agent and all other steps required under applicable
law or requested by the  Collateral  Agent to ensure that the Pledge  Agreements
create valid,  first  priority,  perfected  Liens on all the Collateral  subject
thereto shall have been taken;  provided that if the perfection of a Lien on any
Collateral consisting of Equity Interests in any Foreign Subsidiary shall, under
the law of the jurisdiction of such Foreign Subsidiary, require any registration
with or action on the part of any Governmental  Authority,  or any other action,
and  if the  Company  or the  applicable  Domestic  Subsidiary  shall  be  using
commercially  reasonable  efforts  to  effect  such  registration  or  obtain or
complete such action, the failure to have effected such registration or obtained
or  completed  such action shall not, in and of itself,  prevent the  Collateral
Requirement  from being  satisfied until (x) the later of (i) the 90th day after
the date of the initial  Credit Event  hereunder and (ii) the 90th day after the
acquisition  of such  Collateral by the Company or a Domestic  Subsidiary or (y)
if, in the judgment of the Administrative  Agent, the Borrower is endeavoring in
good  faith to satisfy  the  Collateral  Requirement,  such later date as may be
agreed to by the Administrative Agent.

       "Commitment" means a Revolving Commitment, Alternate Currency Commitment
or Term Loan Commitment.

       "Commitment Fees" shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.12(a).

                                        7
<PAGE>

       "Company" shall have the meaning specified in the preamble hereto.

       "Company Existing Credit Agreement" means the Amended and Restated Credit
Agreement dated as of February 29, 1996, as amended, among the Company,  certain
banks and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as Agent.

       "Consolidated EBITDA" means, for any period,  Consolidated Net Income for
such period,  plus, without duplication and to the extent deducted from revenues
in determining  Consolidated Net Income,  the sum of (a)  Consolidated  Interest
Expense  for  such  period,   (b)  income  tax  expense  for  such  period,  (c)
depreciation,  depletion and  amortization  for such period and (d) all non-cash
charges  (including any non-cash  expenses  relating to stock option  exercises)
during such period,  and minus,  without  duplication,  all  non-cash  gains and
income  during such  period,  all  determined  on a  consolidated  basis for the
Company  and its  Subsidiaries  in  accordance  with  GAAP;  provided  that  the
following types of charges,  expenditures and expenses, to the extent they would
otherwise be deducted in determining  Consolidated EBITDA under this definition,
shall  not  reduce   Consolidated   EBITDA:   (i)  charges  in  connection  with
cost-cutting  measures  (including  charges in connection with  cost-cutting and
restructuring  announced  by the  Acquired  Business),  which  charges  are  (x)
certified to the Administrative  Agent by a Financial Officer of the Company and
(y) approved by the Board of Directors  of the Company and (ii)  capitalized  or
deferred  expenditures  and expenses  (including  financing costs) in connection
with the Acquisition.

       "Consolidated Interest Expense" means, for any period, the gross interest
expense,  whether expensed or capitalized  (including the interest  component in
respect of Capital  Lease  Obligations),  accrued or paid by the Company and its
Subsidiaries  during  such  period,   determined  on  a  consolidated  basis  in
accordance  with GAAP.  For purposes of the foregoing,  gross  interest  expense
shall be  determined  after giving  effect to any net  payments  received by the
Company or its  Subsidiaries  under  interest rate  protection  agreements,  the
effect of which is required to be reflected in the  Company's  income  statement
under "Interest Expense".

       "Consolidated  Net Income" means,  for any period,  net income or loss of
the Company and its  Subsidiaries  for such period  determined on a consolidated
basis in accordance with GAAP.

       "Consolidated  Subsidiary"  means  at any date  any  Subsidiary  or other
entity the accounts of which would be consolidated  with those of the Company in
its consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared
on such date.

       "Consolidated  Tangible  Net  Worth"  means at any date the  consolidated
common  shareholders'  equity of the Company and its  Consolidated  Subsidiaries
less their  consolidated  Intangible Assets, all determined as of such date. For
purposes of this definition, "Intangible Assets" means the amount (to the extent
reflected in determining such consolidated common  shareholders'  equity) of (i)
all write-ups (other than write-ups resulting from foreign currency transactions
and  write-ups of assets of a going  concern  business made within twelve months
after the acquisition of such business)  subsequent to June 30, 1999 in the book
value of any asset owned by the Company or a Consolidated  Subsidiary,  (ii) all
investments in unconsolidated Subsidiaries and all equity investments in Persons
which are not Subsidiaries, in each case to the extent that the carrying value

                                   8
<PAGE>


of such  investment on any Company's books exceeds its historical cost and (iii)
all unamortized  debt discount and expense,  unamortized  deferred  charges (but
only to the extent  that the  aggregate  amount  thereof  exceeds  $15,000,000),
goodwill,   patents,   trademarks,   service  marks,  trade  names,  copyrights,
organization or developmental expenses and other intangible assets.

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

       "Credit Event" means any borrowing or the issuance of any Letter of
Credit.

       "Credit Facility" means a Class of Commitments and the extensions of
credit thereunder.

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

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

       "Domestic   Subsidiary"  means  a  Subsidiary  that  is  incorporated  or
organized  in the  United  States of  America  or any  state or other  political
subdivision, territory or possession thereof.

       "Effective  Date"  means the date on which the  conditions  specified  in
Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.02).

       "EMU  Legislation"  means the legislative  measures of the European Union
for the introduction  of,  changeover to or operation of the Euro in one or more
member states.

       "Environmental   Laws"  means  all  laws,  rules,   regulations,   codes,
ordinances,  orders,  decrees,  judgments,   injunctions,   notices  or  binding
agreements  issued,  promulgated or entered into by any Governmental  Authority,
relating in any way to the  environment,  preservation or reclamation of natural
resources,  the  management,  release or  threatened  release  of any  Hazardous
Material or to health and safety matters.

       "Environmental  Liability"  means any liability,  contingent or otherwise
(including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines,
penalties  or  indemnities),  of any  Company  or  any  Subsidiary  directly  or
indirectly  resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law,
(b)  the  generation,  use,  handling,  transportation,  storage,  treatment  or
disposal of any Hazardous  Materials,  (c) exposure to any Hazardous  Materials,
(d) the  release or  threatened  release  of any  Hazardous  Materials  into the
environment  or (e) any  contract,  agreement  or other  consensual  arrangement
pursuant to which  liability  is assumed or imposed  with  respect to any of the
foregoing.

                                       9
<PAGE>

       "Equity  Interests"  means  any  shares  of  capital  stock,  partnership
interests,  membership  interests  in a limited  liability  company,  beneficial
interests in a trust or other equity  ownership  interests in a Person,  and any
warrants,  options  or  other  rights  to  acquire  any  such  equity  ownership
interests.

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

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

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

                  "Euro" or "E" means the single  currency of the European Union
as  constituted  by the Treaty on  European  Union and as referred to in the EMU
Legislation.

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

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

                  "Excess Cash Flow" means, for any period, the sum (without
duplication) of:

                  (a) Consolidated Net Income for such period, adjusted to
          exclude any gains or losses attributable to Prepayment Events; plus

                  (b)  depreciation,  amortization and other non-cash charges or
          losses deducted in determining  such  Consolidated  Net Income for
          such period; plus

                                        10
<PAGE>


                  (c) the sum of (i) the  amount,  if any,  by which Net Working
         Capital  decreased during such period (to the extent necessary to avoid
         duplication,  excluding the amount of any such decrease attributable to
         (A) a Prepayment  Event  described in clause (a) of the  definition  of
         "Prepayment  Event" or (B) a  non-cash  charge  or loss)  plus (ii) the
         aggregate  principal  amount of  Capital  Lease  Obligations  and other
         Indebtedness   incurred   during   such   period  to  finance   Capital
         Expenditures,  to the  extent  that  mandatory  principal  payments  in
         respect of such  Indebtedness  would not be  excluded  from  clause (f)
         below when made; minus

                  (d) the sum of (i) any non-cash  gains included in determining
         such  Consolidated Net Income for such period plus (ii) the amount,  if
         any,  by  which  Net  Working  Capital  increased  during  such  period
         (excluding  the  amount  of any  such  increase  attributable  to (A) a
         Prepayment   Event  described  in  clause  (a)  of  the  definition  of
         "Prepayment Event" or (B) a non-cash gain); minus

                  (e) Capital Expenditures for such period; minus

                  (f) the aggregate  principal  amount of mandatory  payments or
         prepayments  of  Indebtedness  by  the  Company  and  its  consolidated
         Subsidiaries during such period,  excluding (i) Indebtedness in respect
         of  Revolving  Loans and  Letters  of Credit,  (ii) Term Loans  prepaid
         pursuant to Section 2.11(c) or (d) and (iii)  repayments or prepayments
         of Indebtedness financed by incurring other Indebtedness, to the extent
         that mandatory principal payments in respect of such other Indebtedness
         would not be excluded from this clause (f) when made.


                  "Exchange  Rate"  means,  on  any  day,  with  respect  to any
Alternate  Currency,  the rate at which such Alternate Currency may be exchanged
into US Dollars (or, for purposes of Section  2.01(d)or  any other  provision of
this Agreement  requiring or permitting  the  conversion of Revolving  Alternate
Currency  Loans to  Revolving  Dollar  Loans,  the rate at which  Dollars may be
exchanged into such Alternate  Currency),  as set forth at  approximately  11:00
a.m.,  London  time,  on such day on the Reuters  World  Currency  Page for such
Alternate  Currency.  In the event that such rate does not appear on any Reuters
World  Currency Page, the Exchange Rate shall be determined by reference to such
other publicly available service for displaying  exchange rates as may be agreed
upon by the  Administrative  Agent and the  Company,  or, in the absence of such
agreement,  such Exchange Rate shall  instead be the  arithmetic  average of the
spot rates of  exchange  of the  Administrative  Agent in the  market  where its
foreign  currency  exchange  operations in respect of such Foreign  Currency are
then being  conducted,  at or about 10:00 a.m., local time, on such date for the
purchase  of US Dollars  (or such  Alternate  Currency,  as the case may be) for
delivery  two  Business  Days  later;  provided  that if at the time of any such
determination,  for  any  reason,  no  such  spot  rate  is  being  quoted,  the
Administrative   Agent,  after  consultation  with  the  Company,  may  use  any
reasonable  method  it  deems  appropriate  to  determine  such  rate,  and such
determination shall be presumed correct absent manifest error.

                  "Excluded  Divestitures"  means  (a) for the  two-year  period
commencing on the date hereof,  sales of assets by the Company or any Subsidiary
for cash Net Proceeds in an aggregate amount

                                        11
<PAGE>

not exceeding $50,000,000 or (b) at any time thereafter, when the Leverage Ratio
is less  than  2.50:1.00,  any sale of  assets  for cash by the  Company  or any
Subsidiary.

                  "Excluded   Foreign   Subsidiaries"   means   each  of  Albany
International  (China) Co. Ltd, a Chinese  Subsidiary,  Albany  Wallbergs  AB, a
Swedish Subsidiary,  Nordiska Industrie Produkte AG, a Swiss Subsidiary,  Albany
International  Feltros e Telas Industriais  Ltda., a Brazilian  Subsidiary,  and
Geschmay  Asia  Private  Limited,  a  Subsidiary  organized  under  the  laws of
Singapore.

                  "Excluded  Taxes"  means,  with respect to the  Administrative
Agent, any Lender,  any Issuing Bank or any other recipient of any payment to be
made by or on  account of any  obligation  of a  Borrower  hereunder,  (a) doing
business, income or franchise taxes imposed on (or measured by) such recipient's
net  income,  capital or any  similar  alternate  basis by the United  States of
America (or any state or municipality thereof), or by any Governmental Authority
as a result of a present or former  connection  between  the  recipient  and the
jurisdiction of the  Governmental  Authority  imposing such tax or any political
subdivision  or  taxing  authority  thereof  or  therein  (other  than  any such
connection  arising  solely from the  recipient  having  executed,  delivered or
performed  its  obligations  or  received a payment  under,  or  enforced,  this
Agreement or any other Loan  Document),  and (b) in the case of a Foreign Lender
(other than an  assignee  pursuant  to a request by the  Company  under  Section
2.20(b)), any withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign
Lender  (i) to the extent  such tax is in effect and would  apply as of the date
such  Foreign  Lender  becomes a party to this  Agreement or relates to payments
received by a new lending  office  designated  by such Foreign  Lender and is in
effect and would apply at the time such lending office is designated (other than
(A) any withholding tax imposed on a payment from a Payment Location outside the
United States or the United Kingdom,  and (B) any withholding tax imposed on any
payment by a Borrower to the extent that such Foreign  Lender (or its  assignor,
if any) was entitled,  at the time of  designation  of a new lending  office (or
assignment),  to receive  additional  amounts from the applicable  Borrower with
respect to any  withholding  tax pursuant to Section  2.18(a)),  or (ii) that is
attributable to such Foreign Lender's failure to comply with Section 2.18(e).

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

                  "Fees"  means the  Commitment  Fees,  the  Alternate  Currency
Participation  Fees, the LC Participation  Fees, the Alternate Currency Fronting
Fees, the LC Fronting Fees, the Issuing Bank Fees, the Agent and  Administrative
Fees and any other fees contemplated herein.


                 "Financial   Officer"  means,  as  to  any  Person,  the  chief
financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or controller of such
Person.

                                        12
<PAGE>

                  "Financial   Statement  Delivery  Date"  means  the  90th  day
following  the end of each fiscal year of the Company and the 45th day following
the end of each of the first  three  fiscal  quarters in each fiscal year of the
Company.

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

                  "Foreign Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary other than a
Domestic Subsidiary.

                  "Fronting   Lender"  means,  as  to  any  Alternate   Currency
Supplement, each Revolving Lender that has executed and delivered such Alternate
Currency  Supplement  as a Fronting  Lender.  Any  Fronting  Lender  may, in its
discretion,  arrange for one or more  Revolving  Alternate  Currency Loans to be
made by  Affiliates of such Fronting  Lender,  in which case the term  "Fronting
Lender" shall  include any such  Affiliate  with respect to Revolving  Alternate
Currency Loans made by it.

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

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

                  "Granting Lender" has the meaning specified in Section 10.04
(c).

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

                  "Guarantee  Requirement"  means,  at any  time,  that  (a) the
Subsidiary  Guarantee  Agreement  (or a  supplement  thereto)  shall  have  been
executed by (i) each  Domestic  Subsidiary  (other than any Domestic  Subsidiary
that is a  subsidiary  of a Foreign  Subsidiary)  existing at such time and (ii)
each Foreign  Subsidiary  that is a direct or indirect  parent  corporation of a
Borrower (it being  understood that each such Foreign  Subsidiary will guarantee
only the Obligations of such Borrower),

                                        13
<PAGE>

shall have been delivered to the Collateral Agent and shall be in full force and
effect and (b) the  Indemnity,  Subrogation  and  Contribution  Agreement  (or a
supplement  thereto)  shall have been  executed by the Company and each Domestic
Subsidiary party to the Subsidiary  Guarantee Agreement or any Pledge Agreement,
shall have been delivered to the Collateral Agent and shall be in full force and
effect.


                  "Guarantor" means the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor.

                  "Hazardous  Materials"  means  all  explosive  or  radioactive
substances  or wastes and all  hazardous  or toxic  substances,  wastes or other
pollutants,  including petroleum or petroleum distillates,  asbestos or asbestos
containing  materials,  polychlorinated  biphenyls,  radon  gas,  infectious  or
medical  wastes  and all other  substances  or wastes  of any  nature  regulated
pursuant to any Environmental Law.

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

                  "Immaterial  Subsidiary"  means any Subsidiary (other than any
Borrower,  any Guarantor or any  Subsidiary  that  directly or  indirectly  owns
capital stock of any Borrower or Guarantor) with respect to which both

                  (a) the sum of (i) the  consolidated  book value of the assets
         of such  Subsidiary and (ii) the aggregate  consolidated  book value of
         the assets of each other Subsidiary that has a lower  consolidated book
         value than the assets of the Subsidiary specified in clause (i) is less
         than 3% of the aggregate consolidated book value of the total assets of
         the Company and all the Subsidiaries, in each case determined as of the
         last day of the most  recently  ended  fiscal year for which  financial
         statements are available, and

                  (b) the sum of (i) such  Subsidiary's  consolidated net income
         and (ii) the aggregate consolidated net income of each other Subsidiary
         that has a lower  consolidated  net income than that of the  Subsidiary
         specified in clause (i) is less than 3% of Consolidated Net Income,  in
         each case for the most recently  ended fiscal year for which  financial
         statements are available.

                  "Indebtedness" of any Person means, without  duplication,  (a)
all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or with respect to deposits or
advances of any kind,  (b) all  obligations  of such Person  evidenced by bonds,
debentures,  notes or similar  instruments,  (c) all  obligations of such Person
under conditional sale or other title retention  agreements relating to property
acquired by such Person,  (d) all  obligations  of such Person in respect of the
deferred  purchase  price of property or services  (excluding  current  accounts
payable and obligations under Hedging  Agreements,  in each case incurred in the
ordinary course of business),  (e) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for
which the holder of such  Indebtedness  has an  existing  right,  contingent  or
otherwise,  to be secured  by) any Lien on  property  owned or  acquired by such
Person,  whether or not the Indebtedness  secured thereby has been assumed,  (f)
all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness  of others,  (g) all Capital Lease
Obligations  of such Person,  (h) all  obligations  of such Person as an account
party in respect of letters

                                        14
<PAGE>

of credit and  letters of  guaranty  and (i) all  obligations  of such Person in
respect of bankers'  acceptances.  The  Indebtedness of any Person shall include
the  Indebtedness  of any other entity  (including any partnership in which such
Person is a general  partner) to the extent such Person is liable  therefor as a
result of such Person's  ownership  interest in or other  relationship with such
entity,  except to the extent the terms of such  Indebtedness  provide that such
Person is not liable therefor.

                  "Indemnified Taxes" means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes and
Other Taxes.

                  "Indemnitee" shall have the meaning specified in Section 10.03
(b).

                  "Indemnity,  Subrogation and Contribution  Agreement" means an
Indemnity,  Subrogation and Contribution Agreement  substantially in the form of
Exhibit F hereto.

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

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

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

                  "Issuing  Bank" means The Chase  Manhattan Bank and up to four
other  Lenders  that may become  Issuing  Banks  hereunder  from time to time by
entering into Issuing Bank Agreements with the Company,  each in its capacity as
an issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder,  and the successors of any such person
in such  capacity as provided in Section  2.05(i).  Any Issuing Bank may, in its
discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates
of such Issuing Bank,  in which case the term  "Issuing  Bank" shall include any
such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it.

                  "Issuing  Bank  Agreement"  means an  Issuing  Bank  Agreement
between an Issuing Bank and the Company substantially in the form of Exhibit C.

                                        15
<PAGE>


                  "Issuing Bank Fee" shall have the meaning specified in Section
2.12(c)(ii).

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

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

                  "LC Participation Fee" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 2.12(c)(i).

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

                  "Letter of Credit" means any letter of credit issued under
Section 2.05.

                  "Leverage  Ratio" means,  on any date,  the ratio of (i) Total
Debt at such date to (ii)  Consolidated  EBITDA  for the  period of four  fiscal
quarters of the Company ended on or most recently prior to such date (and solely
for purposes of this definition, if any Person (including the Acquired Business)
shall have been acquired by the Company or its  consolidated  Subsidiaries or if
the Company shall have merged with any Person  during such period,  Consolidated
EBITDA shall be determined on a pro forma basis as if such acquisition or merger
had occurred at the beginning of such period).

                  "LIBO Rate" means, with respect to any Eurocurrency  Borrowing
for any Interest  Period,  the rate per annum determined by the Applicable Agent
at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on the Quotation Day for such Interest
Period by  reference to the British  Bankers'  Association  Interest  Settlement
Rates for  deposits  in the  currency of such  Borrowing  (as  reflected  on the
applicable Dow Jones Market screen), for a period equal to such Interest Period;
provided that, to the extent that an interest rate is not ascertainable pursuant
to the  foregoing  provisions  of this  definition,  "LIBO  Rate"  shall  be the
interest rate per annum  determined by the Applicable Agent to be the average of
the rates per annum at which  deposits  in the  currency of such  Borrowing  are
offered for such Interest Period to major banks in the London  interbank  market
by Chase at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on the date two Business Days
prior to the beginning of such Interest Period.

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

                                        16
<PAGE>


                  "Loan   Documents"   means  this  Agreement,   each  Borrowing
Subsidiary  Agreement,  each Borrowing  Subsidiary  Termination,  each Alternate
Currency  Supplement,  the  promissory  notes,  if any,  executed and  delivered
pursuant to 2.09(e), the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement,  the Pledge Agreements,
the Indemnity, Subrogation and Contribution Agreement and the Letters of Credit.

                  "Loan  Parties"  means the  Borrowers,  the Guarantors and the
Pledgors;  provided that,  solely for purposes of Section 6.07, the Loan Parties
shall not  include  any  Subsidiary  that is  excluded  from the  definition  of
"Pledgor" or "Subsidiary  Guarantor" pursuant to the proviso contained in either
such definition.

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

                  "Local Rate" when used in reference to any Alternate  Currency
Revolving  Loan  or  Borrowing,  refers  to  whether  such  Loan,  or the  Loans
comprising such Borrowing,  are bearing  interest at a local base rate set forth
in the Alternate Currency Supplement applicable thereto.

                  "Local  Time" means (a) with  respect to any Loan or Borrowing
denominated in Dollars or any Letter of Credit, New York City time, and (b) with
respect to any Loan or Borrowing  denominated in any Alternate Currency,  London
time  or,  in the  case of a Loan or  Borrowing  denominated  in any  particular
Alternate  Currency,  such  other  time as may be  specified  in the  applicable
Alternate Currency Supplement.

                  "London Agent" means Chase Manhattan International Limited.

                  "Material  Adverse  Change"  means any event,  development  or
circumstance  that has had or could  reasonably  be  expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.

                  "Material  Adverse Effect" means a material  adverse effect on
(a) the business,  operations,  property, condition,  financial or otherwise, or
prospects  of the  Company  and the  Subsidiaries  taken as a whole,  or (b) the
validity  or  enforceability  of any of the Loan  Documents  or the  rights  and
remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders thereunder.

                  "Material  Indebtedness"  means  Indebtedness  (other than the
Obligations),  or obligations in respect of one or more Hedging  Agreements,  of
any one or more of the Company and the  Subsidiaries  in an aggregate  principal
amount exceeding $10,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness,
the  "principal  amount" of the  obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary in
respect of any  Hedging  Agreement  at any time shall be the  maximum  aggregate
amount  (giving  effect to any netting  agreements  provided for in such Hedging
Agreement) that the Company or such Subsidiary  would be required to pay if such
Hedging Agreement were terminated at such time.

                  "Material Subsidiary" means each Subsidiary that is not an
Immaterial Subsidiary.

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

                                        17
<PAGE>

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

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

                  "Net Working Capital" means, at any date, (a) the consolidated
current assets of the Company and its Consolidated  Subsidiaries as of such date
(excluding cash and Permitted  Investments)  minus (b) the consolidated  current
liabilities  of the Company and its  Consolidated  Subsidiaries  as of such date
(excluding current liabilities in respect of Indebtedness).  Net Working Capital
at any  date  may be a  positive  or a  negative  number.  Net  Working  Capital
increases  when it becomes more positive or less negative and decreases  when it
becomes less positive or more negative.

                  "Non-Voting Equity Interests" means Equity Interests that are
not Voting Equity Interests.

                  "Obligations" means (a) the Borrowers'  obligations in respect
of the due and  punctual  payment of (i) the  principal  of and  interest on the
Loans  and  LC  Disbursements   when  and  as  due,  whether  at  maturity,   by
acceleration,  upon one or more dates set for prepayment or otherwise,  and (ii)
all Fees, expenses,  indemnities,  expense  reimbursement  obligations and other
obligations, monetary or otherwise, of the Borrowers under this Agreement or any
other Loan  Document and (b) all  obligations,  monetary or  otherwise,  of each
other Loan Party under each Loan Document to which it is a party.

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

                  "Participant" shall have the meaning specified in Section
10.04(f).

                  "Payment  Location" means an office,  branch or other place of
business of a Borrower from which any payment due hereunder shall be made.

                                        18
<PAGE>

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

                  "Permitted Investments" means:

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

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

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

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

                  (e) shares of money market mutual or similar funds that invest
         exclusively  in assets  satisfying  the  requirements  of  clauses  (a)
         through (d) above;

provided that, in the case of any investment by a Foreign Subsidiary, "Permitted
Investments" shall also include:  (i) direct obligations of the sovereign nation
(or any agency  thereof) in which such Foreign  Subsidiary  is organized  and is
conducting business or obligations fully and unconditionally  guaranteed by such
sovereign  nation  (or any agency  thereof),  (ii)  investments  of the type and
maturity  described in clauses (a) through (d) above of foreign obligors,  which
investments or obligors (or the parents of such obligors) have ratings described
in such clauses or equivalent  ratings from  comparable  foreign rating agencies
and  (iii)  shares  of  money  market  mutual  or  similar  funds  which  invest
exclusively in assets  otherwise  satisfying the requirements of this definition
(including this proviso).

                  "Permitted  Shareholders"  means (a) J. Spencer Standish,  (b)
any of J. Spencer Standish's descendants or legatees, (c) any executor, personal
representative  or spouse of J. Spencer Standish or any of his descendants,  (d)
any corporation, trust or other entity holding voting stock of the Company as to
which one or more of the Persons identified in the foregoing clauses (a) through
(c) have Control, (e) any trust as to which Persons so identified in clauses (a)
through (c) above hold at least 85% of the beneficial interest in the income and
principal of the trust disregarding the interests of the contingent remaindermen
and (f) any Employee  Stock  Ownership  Plan for the benefit of employees of the
Company.

                                        19
<PAGE>

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

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

                  "Pledge Agreements" means (a) a Pledge Agreement substantially
in the form of Exhibit E hereto and (b) in connection  with pledges of shares of
or other equity interests in Foreign  Subsidiaries,  other pledge  agreements or
similar  agreements in form and  substance  satisfactory  to the  Administrative
Agent.

                  "Pledgors" means the Company and each Subsidiary that is or is
required to be a party to a Pledge  Agreement  as a Pledgor,  and the  permitted
successors and assigns of each such Person;  provided that,  solely for purposes
of Sections 6.01,  6.03 and 6.07, any Subsidiary that has not pledged the equity
Interests held by it to secure the Obligations of the Company hereunder will not
be deemed to be a Pledgor.

                  "Prepayment Event" means:

                  (a) any sale, transfer or other disposition of any property or
         asset  of the  Company  or any  Subsidiary,  other  than  (i)  Excluded
         Divestitures, (ii) sale and leaseback transactions permitted by Section
         6.06(a) or (c), and (iii) dispositions permitted by clauses (c), (d) or
         (e) of Section 6.03; or

                  (b) any  casualty  or other  insured  damage to, or any taking
         under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar  proceeding
         of, any property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary, but only to
         the extent that the Net  Proceeds  therefrom  have not been  applied to
         repair, restore or replace such property or asset (and are not required
         to be paid under one or more contracts for such repair,  restoration or
         replacement  that have been  entered  into)  within 180 days after such
         event;  provided,  that the Company or any  Subsidiary may exclude from
         the operation of this clause (b) any damage to or taking of property or
         assets  that,  if they had  been  sold at the  time of such  damage  or
         taking,  would  have  constituted  Excluded  Divestitures  (and the Net
         Proceeds of any  property or assets  excluded  under such  subclause by
         reason of subclause (i) of clause (a) above will be applied against the
         amount  set  forth  in  clause  (a)  of  the   definition  of  Excluded
         Divestitures); or

                  (c) the  incurrence  by the  Company or any  Guarantor  of any
         Indebtedness  for borrowed money other than (i) the  Obligations,  (ii)
         purchase  money  Indebtedness  (including  Capital Lease  Obligations),
         (iii)  Indebtedness  owed  to  the  Company  or  any  Subsidiary,  (iv)
         Indebtedness  (including Capital Lease Obligations) incurred to finance
         Capital Expenditures, and (v) other Indebtedness in an aggregate amount
         not to exceed $50,000,000.

                                        20
<PAGE>

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

                  "Proposed  Acquisition" means the acquisition of a corporation
heretofore  identified  to the Lenders (the  "Acquired  Entity") by means of the
following  transactions:  (a) a wholly owned German  Subsidiary  ("German Sub"),
using   proceeds  of  capital   contributions   and/or  loans  from  its  parent
corporations  or  other  Affiliates,   acquires  the  share   participations  in
Wurttenbergische  Fitztuchfabrik  D. Geschmay  GmbH.  and,  through a Subsidiary
wholly owned by it ("German Sub 2"), acquires certain Foreign Subsidiaries owned
directly or indirectly by the Company and included in the Acquired Business, (b)
German Sub, using proceeds of capital contributions and/or loans from its parent
corporations,  purchases for cash in an amount  permitted under Section 6.07 the
share  participations  of any  shareholders of the Acquired Entity who desire to
receive cash for their share  participations,  or assets of the Acquired Entity,
(c) German Sub acquires  substantially all the remaining share participations of
the  Acquired  Entity from the holders of such  participations  in exchange  for
Equity  Interests  representing  less than 50% of the equity of German Sub,  (d)
after an interim period to be determined (estimated to be between three and five
years), (i) the Company acquires the Foreign  Subsidiaries owned by German Sub 2
in exchange for shares of common  stock of the Company (or, in the  alternative,
German  Sub or German  Sub 2 borrows  under  this  Agreement  or, to the  extent
permitted by Section 6.01, from one or more third parties, and uses the proceeds
of such borrowings to acquire from the Company shares of its common stock),  and
(ii) German Sub is split and the former holders of share  participations  in the
Acquired Entity receive shares of German Sub 2 (and no other  consideration)  in
exchange for their Equity Interests in German Sub (and at the time of the split,
the  assets of  German  Sub 2  consist  solely of shares of common  stock of the
Company).

                  "Quotation  Day"  means,  with  respect  to  any  Eurocurrency
Borrowing and any Interest Period, the day on which it is market practice in the
relevant interbank market for prime banks to give quotations for deposits in the
currency  of such  Borrowing  for  delivery  on the first  day of such  Interest
Period.  If such quotations  would normally be given by prime banks on more than
one day, the Quotation Day will be the last of such days.

                  "Receivables"  means all accounts,  contract  rights,  chattel
paper,  instruments,  general  intangibles and other assets arising out of or in
connection with the sale or lease of goods or the rendering of services.

                  "Refinancings" means the repayment with proceeds of Loans made
hereunder of the Indebtedness of the Company and the Acquired Business listed on
Schedule 1.01.

                  "Register" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.04.

                  "Regulation D" means Regulation D of the Board as from time to
time in effect  and all  official  rulings  and  interpretations  thereunder  or
thereof.

                                        21
<PAGE>

                  "Regulation T" means Regulation T of the Board as from time to
time in effect  and all  official  rulings  and  interpretations  thereunder  or
thereof.

                  "Regulation U" means Regulation U of the Board as from time to
time in effect  and all  official  rulings  and  interpretations  thereunder  or
thereof.

                  "Regulation X" means Regulation X of the Board as from time to
time in effect  and all  official  rulings  and  interpretations  thereunder  or
thereof.

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

                  "Required   Lenders"  means,  at  any  time,   Lenders  having
Revolving  Exposures,  Term Loans and unused Commitments  representing more than
50% of the sum of the total  Revolving  Exposures,  outstanding  Term  Loans and
unused Commitments at such time.

                  "Reset Date" shall have the meaning specified in Section 1.05.

                  "Restricted  Payment" means any dividend or other distribution
(whether  in cash,  securities  or other  property)  with  respect to any Equity
Interests of the Company,  or any payment (whether in cash,  securities or other
property),  including  any sinking  fund or similar  deposit,  on account of the
purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancelation or termination of any
such Equity Interests or any option,  warrant or other right to acquire any such
Equity  Interests;  provided  that  none of (a)  any  dividend  or  distribution
consisting  solely of common  stock of the  Company,  (b) the payment of cash in
lieu of fractional  shares in connection  with any such common stock dividend or
distribution  or (c) the  acceptance of shares of common stock of the Company in
payment of the exercise price of any option to acquire any such shares of common
stock of the Company shall constitute a Restricted Payment.

                  "Revolving Alternate Currency Borrowing" means a Borrowing
comprised of Revolving Alternate Currency Loans.

                  "Revolving Alternate Currency Loan" means a Loan made pursuant
to Section 2.01(c) that is denominated in an Alternate Currency.  Each Revolving
Alternate Currency Loan shall be a Eurocurrency Loan.

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

                  "Revolving Borrowing" means a Borrowing comprised of Revolving
Loans.

                  "Revolving  Commitment"  means,  with respect to any Lender at
any time, the commitment,  if any, of such Lender to make Revolving Dollar Loans
pursuant hereto and to acquire  participations in Revolving  Alternate  Currency
Loans, Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans hereunder, expressed as an

                                        22
<PAGE>

amount  representing  the maximum  aggregate  amount of such Lender's  Revolving
Credit  Exposure  hereunder,  as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to
time  pursuant to Section  2.08 and (b) reduced or  increased  from time to time
pursuant  to  Section  10.04.  The  initial  amount of each  Lender's  Revolving
Commitment is set forth in Schedule  2.01, or in the  Assignment  and Acceptance
pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its  Revolving  Commitment,  as
applicable.  The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders' Revolving  Commitments
is $500,000,000.

                  "Revolving  Credit Exposure" means, with respect to any Lender
at any time,  the sum at such time,  without  duplication,  of (a) the aggregate
principal amount at such time of all outstanding  Revolving Dollar Loans of such
Lender,  (b) such Lender's  Alternate  Currency  Exposure,  (c) such Lender's LC
Exposure and (d) such Lender's Swingline Exposure.

                  "Revolving  Credit  Lender"  means a Lender  with a  Revolving
Commitment or, if the Revolving Commitments have terminated or expired, a Lender
with Revolving Credit Exposure.

                  "Revolving Dollar Borrowing" mean a Borrowing comprised of
Revolving Dollar Loans.

                  "Revolving  Dollar Loan" means a Loan made pursuant to Section
2.01(b) that is denominated in US Dollars.

                  "Revolving Loans" means Revolving Dollar Loans and Revolving
Alternate Currency Loans.

                  "Revolving Maturity Date" means the fifth anniversary of the
Closing Date.

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

                  "Secured Parties" shall have the meaning assigned to such term
in the Pledge Agreements.

                  "Share Purchase Agreement" shall have the meaning specified in
the heading of this Agreement.

                  "SPC" has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(c).

                  "Specified  Intercompany  Indebtedness" shall have the meaning
specified in the definition of Collateral Requirement in this Section 1.01.

                                        23
<PAGE>


                  "Statutory  Reserve Rate" means, with respect to any currency,
a fraction  (expressed  as a decimal),  the numerator of which is the number one
and the  denominator  of which is the  number  one  minus the  aggregate  of the
maximum reserve,  liquid asset or similar  percentages  (including any marginal,
special,  emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established
by any  Governmental  Authority of the United States or of the  jurisdiction  of
such  currency or in which any subject  Loans in such currency are made to which
banks  in  such  jurisdiction  are  subject  for any  category  of  deposits  or
liabilities  customarily  used to fund loans in such currency or by reference to
which interest rates  applicable to Loans in such currency are determined.  Such
reserve,  liquid  asset or  similar  percentages  shall  include  those  imposed
pursuant to Regulation D (and for purposes of Regulation D,  Eurocurrency  Loans
shall be deemed to constitute Eurocurrency  Liabilities).  Loans shall be deemed
to be  subject to such  reserve  requirements  without  benefit of or credit for
proration,  exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any
Lender under Regulation D or any other  applicable law, rule or regulation.  The
Statutory  Reserve  Rate  shall  be  adjusted  automatically  on  and  as of the
effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

                 "Sterling" or "," means the lawful money of the United Kingdom.

                  "subsidiary"  means, with respect to any Person (the "parent")
at  any  date,  any  corporation,   limited  liability   company,   partnership,
association  or other  entity the accounts of which would be  consolidated  with
those of the parent in the parent's  consolidated  financial  statements if such
financial  statements  were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as
well  as  any  other  corporation,   limited  liability  company,   partnership,
association or other entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests
representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting
power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership
interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held, or (b) that is, as of
such date,  otherwise  Controlled,  by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of
the parent or by the  parent and one or more  subsidiaries  of the  parent.  For
purposes  of the  certificate  delivered  pursuant  to Section  4.01(c)  and for
purposes of Section  4.02(a),  references,  to  "subsidiaries"  herein  shall be
deemed,  on the Effective  Date and on the date of any  subsequent  borrowing to
finance the  acquisition of any Person,  to include any Person to be acquired on
such date as part of the Acquisition or otherwise.

                  "Subsidiary" means any subsidiary of the Company.

                  "Subsidiary  Guarantee  Agreement" means a Guarantee Agreement
substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto.

                  "Subsidiary  Guarantor"  means each  Subsidiary  that is or is
required to be a party to the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement,  and the permitted
successors and assigns of each such Person;  provided that,  solely for purposes
of Sections  6.01,  6.03 and 6.07,  any  Subsidiary  that has not guaranteed the
Obligations  of the  Company  hereunder  will not be deemed  to be a  Subsidiary
Guarantor.

                  "Swingline   Exposure"  means,  at  any  time,  the  aggregate
principal amount of all Swingline Loans  outstanding at such time. The Swingline
Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be such Lender's Applicable  Percentage
of the aggregate Swingline Exposure.

                                        24
<PAGE>

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

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

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

                  "Term Borrowing" means a Borrowing comprised of Term Loans.

                  "Term  Commitments"  means,  with respect to each Lender,  the
commitment, if any, of such Lender to make Term Loans hereunder, expressed as an
amount representing the maximum principal amount of the Term Loans to be made by
such Lender  hereunder,  as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time
pursuant to Section 2.08 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant
to  assignments  by or to such  Lender  pursuant to Section  10.04.  The initial
amount of each Lender's Term Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01, or in the
Assignment and  Acceptance  pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its
Term  Commitment,  as applicable.  The initial  aggregate amount of the Lenders'
Term Commitments is $250,000,000.

                  "Term Lender" means a Lender with a Term Commitment.

                  "Term Loan Availability Period" means the period commencing on
the Effective Date and ending on October 31, 1999.

                  "Term Loan" means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01(a).

                  "Term Maturity Date" means the fifth anniversary of the
Closing Date.

                  "Total Debt" means,  at any time, the sum of all  Indebtedness
that is or should be reflected as a liability on a consolidated balance sheet of
the Company and the Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.

                  "Total Revolving Commitment" means, at any time, the aggregate
amount of the Revolving  Commitments  in effect at such time. The initial amount
of the Total Revolving Commitment is $500,000,000.

                  "Transactions"  means (a) means the  execution,  delivery  and
performance  by each  Loan  Party of the Loan  Documents  to which it is to be a
party, the borrowing of the Loans, the use of the proceeds thereof, the issuance
and use of  Letters  of Credit  and the  creation  and  perfection  of the Liens
purported to be created by the Pledge  Agreements,  (b) the  Acquisition and (c)
the Refinancings.

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

                                        25

<PAGE>

                  "US Dollars" or "$" means the lawful currency of the United
States of America.

                  "US Dollar  Equivalent" means (a) as to any amount denominated
in  US  Dollars,  the  principal  amount  thereof,  and  (b)  as to  any  amount
denominated in an Alternate  Currency,  the US Dollar equivalent of such amount,
determined  by the  Administrative  Agent  pursuant  to  Section  1.05 using the
Exchange Rate with respect to such Alternate Currency at the time in effect.

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

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

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

                  SECTION  1.04.  Accounting  Terms;  GAAP.  Except as otherwise
expressly  provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall
be construed in accordance  with GAAP, as in effect from time to time;  provided
that, if the Company notifies the Administrative Agent that the Company requests
an amendment to any
provision  hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date
hereof in GAAP or in the application  thereof on the operation of such provision
(or if the  Administrative  Agent notifies the Company that the Required Lenders
request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose),

                                        26

<PAGE>

regardless  of whether any such  notice is given  before or after such change in
GAAP or in the application thereof,  then such provision shall be interpreted on
the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied  immediately before such change shall
have  become  effective  until such  notice  shall have been  withdrawn  or such
provision amended in accordance herewith.

                  SECTION 1.05.  Exchange  Rates.  (a) Not later than 1:00 p.m.,
London  time,  on each  Calculation  Date,  the  Administrative  Agent shall (i)
determine  the Exchange  Rate as of such  Calculation  Date with respect to each
Alternate Currency in which any Loan or Loans shall be outstanding and (ii) give
notice thereof to the Revolving  Lenders and the Company.  The Exchange Rates so
determined  shall  become  effective  on  the  first  Business  Day  immediately
following the relevant Calculation Date (a "Reset Date"), shall remain effective
until  the next  succeeding  Reset  Date,  and shall  for all  purposes  of this
Agreement  (other than Section 2.01(d),  10.13 or any other provision  expressly
requiring the use of a current  Exchange Rate) be the Exchange Rates employed in
converting any amounts between US Dollars and Alternate Currencies.

                  (b) Not later than 5:00 p.m.,  London time, on each Reset Date
and each date on which a Credit  Event shall  occur,  the  Administrative  Agent
shall (i) determine the aggregate US Dollar  Equivalent of the principal amounts
of the Loans then  outstanding  that are  denominated  in  Alternate  Currencies
(after  giving  effect to any Loans made or repaid on such date) and (ii) notify
the Company of the Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of the Lenders.

                  SECTION 1.06.  Redenomination  of Certain Foreign  Currencies.
(a) Each obligation of any party to this Agreement to make a payment denominated
in the national  currency  unit of any member  state of the European  Union that
adopts  the  Euro  as its  lawful  currency  after  the  date  hereof  shall  be
redenominated into Euro at the time of such adoption (in accordance with the EMU
Legislation).  If, in relation to the  currency  of any such member  state,  the
basis of accrual of  interest  expressed  in this  Agreement  in respect of that
currency  shall be  inconsistent  with any  convention or practice in the London
Interbank  Market for the basis of accrual of  interest  in respect of the Euro,
such  expressed  basis  shall be replaced by such  convention  or practice  with
effect  from the date on which such member  state  adopts the Euro as its lawful
currency; provided that if any Borrowing in the currency of such member state is
outstanding  immediately prior to such date, such replacement shall take effect,
with respect to such Borrowing, at the end of the then current Interest Period.

                  (b)  Without  prejudice  and  in  addition  to any  method  of
conversion  or  rounding  prescribed  by any EMU  Legislation  and  (i)  without
limiting the  liability  of any Company for any amount due under this  Agreement
and (ii) without  increasing any Revolving  Commitment of any Revolving  Lender,
all  references  in this  Agreement to minimum  amounts (or  integral  multiples
thereof)  denominated  in the national  currency unit of any member state of the
European Union that adopts the Euro as its lawful currency after the date hereof
shall,  immediately  upon such  adoption,  be  replaced  by  references  to such
reasonably  comparable and convenient amounts (or integral multiples thereof) in
the Euro as the Administrative Agent may specify.

                  (c) Each provision of this Agreement  shall be subject to such
reasonable changes of construction as the Administrative  Agent may from time to
time  specify in one or more  written  notices  delivered  to the  Company to be
appropriate to reflect the adoption of the Euro by any member state of

                                        27

<PAGE>

the European Union and any relevant market conventions or practices relating to
the Euro.


                                                ARTICLE II

                                                The Credits

                  SECTION  2.01.  Commitments.  (a)  Subject  to the  terms  and
conditions and relying upon the representations and warranties set forth herein,
each Term Lender  agrees,  severally and not jointly,  to make Term Loans to the
Company  on a single  date  during  the Term  Loan  Availability  Period,  in US
Dollars,  in an aggregate  principal  amount that does not exceed such  Lender's
Term  Commitment.  Amounts repaid or prepaid in respect of Term Loans may not be
reborrowed.

                 (b) Subject to the terms and  conditions  and relying  upon the
representations  and warranties set forth herein,  each Revolving  Credit Lender
agrees,  severally  and not  jointly,  to make  Revolving  Dollar  Loans  to any
Borrower,  at any time and from time to time during the  Revolving  Availability
Period,  in an aggregate  principal amount at any time outstanding that will not
result in (i) such Lender's  Revolving  Credit Exposure  exceeding its Revolving
Commitment or (ii) the Aggregate  Revolving Credit Exposure  exceeding the Total
Revolving Commitment.  Within the foregoing limits, the Borrower may borrow, pay
or prepay and reborrow Revolving Dollar Loans, subject to the terms,  conditions
and limitations set forth herein.

                  (c) Subject to the terms and  conditions  and relying upon the
representations  and warranties set forth herein,  each Fronting  Lender that is
party to any Alternate Currency Supplement agrees, severally and not jointly, to
make  Revolving  Alternate  Currency  Loans to any Borrower that is a designated
Borrower  under such  Alternate  Currency  Supplement in any Alternate  Currency
available under such Alternate Currency  Supplement at any time and from time to
time during the Revolving  Availability  Period in an aggregate principal amount
that will not result in (i) any Lender's Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding its
Revolving Commitment, (ii) the Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding the
Total  Revolving  Commitment,  or (iii) the  aggregate  principal  amount of the
Revolving Alternate Currency Loans made by such Fronting Lender pursuant to such
Alternate  Currency  Supplement   exceeding  such  Fronting  Lender's  Alternate
Currency  Commitment  (or any  subcommitment  of such Lender  applicable to such
Alternate  Currency) under such Alternate Currency  Supplement;  provided that a
Fronting  Lender  shall not be required  to, and shall not,  make any  Revolving
Alternate  Currency Loan if the Required  Lenders  shall have  delivered to such
Fronting Lender, not later than two Business Days prior to the date on which any
such Revolving  Alternate  Currency Loan shall have been scheduled to be made, a
notice  stating that a Default has occurred and is continuing and directing such
Fronting Lender not to make Revolving Alternate Currency Loans.

                  (d)  In  the  event  that  any  Revolving  Alternate  Currency
Borrowing  shall be  outstanding  and (i) the  principal  of or interest on such
Borrowing  shall not be paid within three  Business Days after the date on which
it is due and one or more Fronting Lenders holding a majority in interest of the
outstanding  Revolving  Alternate  Currency  Loans  included  in such  Revolving
Alternate Currency  Borrowing shall deliver to the Administrative  Agent and the
Company a request that the provisions of this

                                        28
<PAGE>


paragraph  take  effect with  respect to such  Borrowing  or (ii) the  Revolving
Commitments  shall be  terminated or the Loans  accelerated  pursuant to Article
VII, then (A) the Loans included in such Revolving  Alternate Currency Borrowing
and the interest  accrued thereon shall without further action be converted into
obligations  denominated in Dollars at the applicable  Exchange Rate on the date
of such conversion, as determined by the Administrative Agent and set forth in a
notice  delivered to the Company and each Revolving  Lender,  (B) each Revolving
Lender shall acquire at face value a participation in the Loans included in such
Revolving Alternate Currency Borrowing and the interest accrued thereon equal to
its Applicable Percentage of such obligations,  and shall pay the purchase price
for such  participation  by wire  transfer  of  immediately  available  funds in
Dollars to the Administrative  Agent in the manner provided in Section 2.06 (and
the  Administrative  Agent  shall  promptly  wire the amounts so received to the
applicable   Fronting  Lenders  ratably  in  accordance  with  their  respective
Revolving Alternate Currency Loans included in such Revolving Alternate Currency
Borrowing)  and (C) such Loans  converted  in  accordance  with clause (A) above
shall at all times thereafter, until repaid in accordance with the terms hereof,
bear  interest at the rate  applicable to overdue ABR  Borrowings  under Section
2.13(c),  and the  principal  of and  interest on such  converted  Loans will be
payable at the  applicable  times and places for  overdue  ABR  Borrowings.  The
obligations of the Revolving  Lenders to acquire and pay for  participations  in
Revolving  Alternate Currency Loans pursuant to this paragraph shall be absolute
and unconditional under any and all circumstances.

                  (e) One or more Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and one or
more  Revolving  Lenders may from time to time enter into one or more  Alternate
Currency Supplements pursuant to which such Revolving Lenders may agree to serve
as Fronting  Lenders in respect of one or more  Alternate  Currencies.  Any such
Alternate  Currency  Supplement  shall  set  forth  the  Alternate  Currency  or
Currencies in which Revolving Borrowings may be made under such Supplement,  the
Alternate  Currency  Commitment of each  Fronting  Lender party thereto (and, if
such  Alternate  Currency  Supplement  provides for  Borrowings in more than one
Alternate Currency, any limits on the amounts that may be borrowed in particular
Alternate Currencies covered thereby),  the Borrowers that may borrow under such
Alternate Currency  Supplement,  any special provisions for the times and places
at which  or the  Persons  to  which  Borrowing  Requests  are to be  delivered,
proceeds of Borrowings  are to be disbursed or payments in respect of Borrowings
are to be made or for the rates at which  interest is to accrue on Borrowings or
the  compensation  to be  payable  to  Fronting  Lenders  and any other  special
provisions  to  be  applicable  to  Borrowings  under  such  Alternate  Currency
Supplement.  Any special  provisions  referred to in the preceding sentence that
shall be included in any Alternate  Currency  Supplement  shall be applicable to
all Borrowings under such Alternate  Currency  Supplement,  notwithstanding  any
other  provision of this  Article II to the contrary  (and in the absence of any
such special provisions,  the applicable provisions set forth in this Article II
shall control).  Each Alternate Currency  Supplement shall be referred to in all
notices  hereunder  by  number,  with the first  Alternate  Currency  Supplement
entered into hereunder being referred to as "Alternate  Currency  Supplement No.
1" and successive  Supplements  being referred to by the succeeding  integers in
the  order  in  which  they  are  entered  into.   Multiple  Alternate  Currency
Supplements  providing for different funding,  pricing or other arrangements may
be entered into in respect of a single Alternate Currency.

                                        29
<PAGE>

                  SECTION 2.02.  Loans and Borrowings.  (a)  Each Term Loan
shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Term Loans made by the
Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Term Commitments.  Each
Revolving Dollar Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing  consisting of
Revolving  Dollar Loans made by the Revolving Credit Lenders ratably in
accordance with their respective Revolving  Commitments.  Each Revolving
Alternate Currency Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing  consisting of
Revolving  Alternate Currency Loans made to a single Borrower pursuant to the
same Alternate Currency Supplement,  denominated in the same  Alternate
Currency  and made by the  applicable  Fronting  Lenders ratably  in  accordance
with their  respective  applicable  Alternate  Currency Commitments under such
Alternate Currency Supplement.  The failure of any Lender to make any Loan
required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its  obligations
hereunder;  provided that the  Commitments  of the Lenders are several and no
Lender shall be  responsible  for any other  Lender's  failure to make Loans as
required.

                  (b) Subject to Section 2.14, (i) each Borrowing  (other than a
Swingline  Loan)  denominated  in US Dollars shall be comprised  entirely of ABR
Loans or Eurocurrency Loans as the applicable Borrower may request in accordance
herewith and (ii) each Borrowing  denominated in an Alternate  Currency shall be
comprised  entirely of Eurocurrency  Loans (or Local Rate Loans, if specified in
the applicable Alternate Currency  Supplement).  Each Swingline Loan shall be an
ABR Loan. Each Lender at its option may make any Eurocurrency Loan or Local Rate
Loan by causing any  domestic or foreign  branch or  Affiliate of such Lender to
make such Loan;  provided  that any exercise of such option shall not affect the
obligation  of any Borrower to repay such Loan in  accordance  with the terms of
this Agreement.

                  (c) At the  commencement  of  each  Interest  Period  for  any
Borrowing (other than a Swingline Loan), such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate
amount that is at least equal to the Borrowing  Minimum and an integral multiple
equal to the Borrowing Multiple; provided that an ABR Revolving Borrowing may be
in an  aggregate  amount  that is  equal to the  entire  unused  balance  of the
Revolving  Commitments or that is required to finance the reimbursement of an LC
Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.05(e). Each Swingline Loan shall be in
an amount that is an integral  multiple of  $1,000,000.  Borrowings of more than
one Type and Class may be  outstanding  at the same  time;  provided  that there
shall  not at any  time  be  more  than a total  of 12  Eurocurrency  Borrowings
outstanding.

                  (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement,  no
Borrower shall be entitled to request,  or to elect to convert or continue,  any
Borrowing if the Interest Period  requested with respect thereto would end after
the Revolving Maturity Date or the Term Maturity Date, as applicable

                                        30
<PAGE>


                  SECTION 2.03.  Requests for Borrowings.  (a)  To request a
Revolving Borrowing or Term Borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the Applicable
Agent of such request by telephone (i) in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing,
not later than 11:00 a.m., Local Time, three Business Days before the date of
the proposed Borrowing,  (ii) in the case of a Local Rate Borrowing,  not later
than the time specified in the applicable  Alternate Currency Supplement and
(iii) in the case of an ABR  Borrowing,  not later than  10:00  a.m.,  New York
City time,  on the Business Day of the proposed  Borrowing.  Each such
Borrowing  Request shall be irrevocable  and,  in the  case of a  telephonic
Borrowing  Request,  shall  be confirmed  promptly by hand  delivery or telecopy
to the  Applicable  Agent of a written  Borrowing  Request in a form approved by
the  Administrative  Agent and signed by the Borrower.  Each such Borrowing
Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

                  (A) the Borrower requesting such Borrowing and, if applicable,
         the Alternate  Currency  Supplement under which such Borrowing is to be
         made;

                  (B) the Class and Type of such Borrowing;

                  (C) the currency of such Borrowing;

                  (D) the amount of such Borrowing;

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

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

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

                  (H) in the case of a Borrowing in an Alternate  Currency,  the
         location  from which  payments of the principal of and interest on such
         Borrowing will be made.

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

                  SECTION 2.04.  Swingline  Loans.  (a) Subject to the terms and
conditions set forth herein, the Swingline Lender agrees to make Swingline Loans
in US Dollars to the Company from time to time during the Revolving Availability
Period in an aggregate  principal  amount at any time  outstanding that will not
result in (i) the aggregate  principal  amount of  outstanding  Swingline  Loans
exceeding $25,000,000 or (ii) the

                                        31
<PAGE>

Aggregate  Revolving Credit Exposure  exceeding the Total Revolving  Commitment;
provided  that the  Swingline  Lender  shall not be required to make a Swingline
Loan to refinance an outstanding Swingline Loan. Within the foregoing limits and
subject to the terms and  conditions  set forth herein,  the Company may borrow,
prepay and reborrow Swingline Loans.


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

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

                                        32
<PAGE>


Swingline Lender, as their interests may appear.  The purchase of participations
in a Swingline Loan pursuant to this paragraph  shall not relieve the Company of
any default in the payment thereof.

                  SECTION 2.05.  Letters of Credit.  (a)  General.  Subject to
the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Company may request the issuance
of Letters of Credit, denominated in US Dollars, for its own account or the
account of any Subsidiary (provided that the Company shall be a co-applicant and
co-obligor  with respect to each Letter of Credit  issued for the account of any
Subsidiary), in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the
applicable  Issuing Bank, at any time and from time to time during the Revolving
Availability  Period.  In the event of any  inconsistency  between the terms and
conditions of this  Agreement and the terms and conditions of any form of letter
of credit application or other agreement submitted by the Company to, or entered
into by the Company with, an Issuing Bank relating to any Letter of Credit,  the
terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control.

                  (b) Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Renewal, Extension; Certain
Conditions.  To request the  issuance  of a Letter of Credit (or the  amendment,
renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Company shall hand
deliver or telecopy (or transmit by electronic  communication,  if  arrangements
for  doing  so  have  been  approved  by the  applicable  Issuing  Bank)  to the
applicable Issuing Bank and the  Administrative  Agent (reasonably in advance of
the  requested  date of  issuance,  amendment,  renewal or  extension)  a notice
requesting  the  issuance of a Letter of Credit,  or  identifying  the Letter of
Credit to be amended,  renewed or extended, and specifying the date of issuance,
amendment,  renewal or extension  (which shall be a Business  Day),  the date on
which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with  paragraph (c)
of this Section),  the amount of such Letter of Credit,  the name and address of
the  beneficiary  thereof and such other  information  as shall be  necessary to
prepare,  amend,  renew or extend such Letter of Credit.  If  requested  by such
Issuing Bank,  the Company also shall submit a letter of credit  application  on
such Issuing Bank's standard form in connection with any request for a Letter of
Credit. A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, renewed or extended only if
(and upon issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit the
Company shall be deemed to represent and warrant  that),  after giving effect to
such  issuance,  amendment,  renewal or extension (i) the LC Exposure  shall not
exceed $40,000,000,  (ii) no Lender's Revolving Credit Exposure shall exceed its
Revolving  Commitment,  and (iii) the Aggregate  Revolving Credit Exposure shall
not exceed the Total Revolving Commitment.

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

                  (d) Participations.  By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or
an amendment to a Letter of Credit  increasing  the amount  thereof) and without
any further action on the part of any Issuing Bank or the Lenders,  each Issuing
Bank hereby grants to each Revolving  Lender,  and each Revolving  Lender hereby
acquires from the Issuing Bank, a  participation  in such Letter of Credit equal
to such Lender's Applicable Percentage from time to time of the aggregate amount
available  to be drawn  under such  Letter of Credit.  In  consideration  and in
furtherance  of the  foregoing,  each  Revolving  Lender hereby  absolutely  and
unconditionally  agrees to pay to the  Administrative  Agent, for the account of
each Issuing Bank, such Lender's  Applicable  Percentage of each LC Disbursement
made by such Issuing

                                        33
<PAGE>

Bank and not reimbursed by the Borrower on the date due as provided in paragraph
(e) of this Section, or of any reimbursement  payment required to be refunded to
the  Company  for any  reason.  Each  Lender  acknowledges  and agrees  that its
obligation to acquire  participations  pursuant to this  paragraph in respect of
Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any
circumstance  whatsoever,  including any amendment,  renewal or extension of any
Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or the reduction
or termination of the Revolving Commitments, and that each such payment shall be
made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.

                  (e)  Reimbursement.  If any  Issuing  Bank  shall  make any LC
Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit,  the Company shall reimburse such
LC Disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to such LC
Disbursement  not later than 12:00  noon,  New York City time,  on the date that
such LC  Disbursement is made, if the Company shall have received notice of such
LC  Disbursement  prior to 10:00 a.m.,  New York City time, on such date, or, if
such  notice has not been  received  by the  Company  prior to such time on such
date,  then not later than 12:00 noon,  New York City time,  on (i) the Business
Day that the Company  receives such notice,  if such notice is received prior to
10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the day of receipt,  or (ii) the Business Day
immediately  following the day that the Company  receives  such notice,  if such
notice is not received prior to such time on the day of receipt;  provided that,
if such LC Disbursement is not less than $1,000,000, the Company may, subject to
the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section
2.03 or 2.04 that such payment be financed  with an ABR  Revolving  Borrowing or
Swingline  Loan in an  equivalent  amount  and, to the extent so  financed,  the
Company's  obligation to make such payment  shall be discharged  and replaced by
the resulting ABR Revolving Borrowing or Swingline Loan. If the Company fails to
make such payment when due, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Revolving
Lender  of  the  applicable  LC  Disbursement,   and  such  Lender's  Applicable
Percentage  thereof.  Promptly following receipt of such notice,  each Revolving
Lender shall pay to the  Administrative  Agent its Applicable  Percentage of the
applicable LC Disbursement,  in the same manner as provided in Section 2.06 with
respect to Loans made by such  Lender (and  Section  2.06 shall  apply,  mutatis
mutandis,  to  the  payment  obligations  of the  Revolving  Lenders),  and  the
Administrative  Agent shall  promptly  pay to the  applicable  Issuing  Bank the
amounts so received by it from the Revolving Lenders. Promptly following receipt
by the  Administrative  Agent of any payment  from the Company  pursuant to this
paragraph,  the  Administrative  Agent  shall  distribute  such  payment to such
Issuing  Bank or, to the  extent  that  Revolving  Lenders  have  made  payments
pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse such Issuing Bank,  then to such Lenders
and the  Issuing  Bank as their  interests  may appear.  Any  payment  made by a
Revolving Lender pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse an Issuing Bank for any
LC  Disbursement  (other than the funding of ABR Revolving  Loans or a Swingline
Loan as  contemplated  above) shall not  constitute a Loan and shall not relieve
the Company of its obligation to reimburse such LC Disbursement.

                  (f)  Obligations   Absolute.   The  Company's   obligation  to
reimburse LC Disbursements as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section shall be
absolute,  unconditional  and  irrevocable,  and shall be performed  strictly in
accordance  with the terms of this  Agreement  under  any and all  circumstances
whatsoever and irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any
Letter of Credit or this Agreement,  or any term or provision therein,  (ii) any
draft or other document presented under a

                                        34
<PAGE>

Letter of Credit  proving to be forged,  fraudulent or invalid in any respect or
any statement  therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect,  (iii) payment
by any Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against  presentation of a draft or
other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit,  or
(iv) any other event or circumstance  whatsoever,  whether or not similar to any
of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section, constitute
a legal or equitable  discharge of, or provide a right of set-off  against,  the
Company's obligations  hereunder.  Neither the Administrative Agent, the Lenders
nor any Issuing Bank, nor any of their Related Parties, shall have any liability
or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of
any Letter of Credit or any  payment or failure to make any  payment  thereunder
(irrespective  of  any  of  the  circumstances  referred  to  in  the  preceding
sentence), or any error, omission,  interruption,  loss or delay in transmission
or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any
Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder),
any error in interpretation  of technical terms or any consequence  arising from
causes beyond the control of any Issuing Bank; provided that the foregoing shall
not be construed to excuse any Issuing Bank from liability to the Company to the
extent of any direct  damages (as opposed to  consequential  damages,  claims in
respect of which are hereby  waived by the  Company to the extent  permitted  by
applicable  law)  suffered  by the  Company  that are caused by (i) any  Issuing
Bank's  failure  to  exercise  care when  determining  whether  drafts and other
documents  presented  under a Letter of Credit  comply with the terms thereof or
(ii) any Issuing  Bank's  breach of its  obligation  to issue a Letter of Credit
pursuant to this Section 2.05. The parties hereto  expressly  agree that, in the
absence of gross negligence or wilful misconduct on the part of any Issuing Bank
(as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction),  such Issuing Bank
shall  be  deemed  to  have  exercised  care  in  each  such  determination.  In
furtherance of the foregoing and without  limiting the generality  thereof,  the
parties agree that,  with respect to documents  presented  which appear on their
face to be in substantial  compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, each
Issuing Bank may, in its sole  discretion,  either  accept and make payment upon
such documents without responsibility for further  investigation,  regardless of
any notice or information to the contrary,  or refuse to accept and make payment
upon such  documents if such  documents  are not in strict  compliance  with the
terms of such Letter of Credit.

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

                  (h) Interim  Interest.  If any Issuing  Bank shall make any LC
Disbursement,  then,  unless the Company shall reimburse such LC Disbursement in
full on the date such LC  Disbursement  is made, the unpaid amount thereof shall
bear interest,  for each day from and including the date such LC Disbursement is
made to but excluding the date that the Company reimburses such LC Disbursement,
at the rate per annum then applicable to ABR Revolving Loans;  provided that, if
the  Company  fails to  reimburse  such LC  Disbursement  when due  pursuant  to
paragraph  (e) of this  Section,  then Section  2.13(e)  shall  apply.  Interest
accrued pursuant to this paragraph shall be for the account of the Issuing Bank,
except

                                        35
<PAGE>

that interest  accrued on and after the date of payment by any Revolving  Lender
pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section to reimburse the Issuing Bank shall be
for the account of such Lender pro rata to the extent of such payment.

                  (i)  Replacement  of an Issuing Bank.  Any Issuing Bank may be
replaced at any time by written agreement among the Company,  the Administrative
Agent,  the  replaced   Issuing  Bank  and  the  successor   Issuing  Bank.  The
Administrative  Agent  shall  notify the Lenders of any such  replacement  of an
Issuing  Bank.  At the time any such  replacement  shall become  effective,  the
Company  shall pay all unpaid  fees  accrued  for the  account  of the  replaced
Issuing Bank pursuant to Section  2.12(c).  From and after the effective date of
any such  replacement,  (i) the successor Issuing Bank shall have all the rights
and  obligations of the replaced  Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect
to Letters of Credit to be issued  thereafter and (ii) references  herein to the
term  "Issuing  Bank"  shall be  deemed  to refer  to such  successor  or to any
previous  Issuing Bank, or to such successor and all previous  Issuing Banks, as
the context shall require.  After the  replacement of an Issuing Bank hereunder,
the replaced Issuing Bank shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have
all the rights and  obligations  of an Issuing  Bank under this  Agreement  with
respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such  replacement,  but shall
not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit.

                  (j) Cash  Collateralization.  If any  Event of  Default  shall
occur and be  continuing,  on the  Business  Day on which the  Company  receives
notice  from  the  Administrative  Agent or the  Required  Lenders  (or,  if the
maturity of the Loans has been accelerated,  Revolving Lenders with LC Exposures
representing greater than 50% of the total LC Exposure) demanding the deposit of
cash  collateral  pursuant to this  paragraph,  the Company  shall deposit in an
account with the Administrative  Agent, in the name of the Administrative  Agent
and for the benefit of the  Lenders,  an amount in cash equal to the LC Exposure
as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon;  provided that the
obligation to deposit such cash collateral shall become  effective  immediately,
and such deposit shall become  immediately  due and payable,  without  demand or
other  notice of any kind,  upon the  occurrence  of any Event of  Default  with
respect to the Company  described in clause (h) or (i) of Article VII. Each such
deposit shall be held by the Administrative  Agent as collateral for the payment
and performance of the  Obligations,  and the Company hereby creates in favor of
the  Collateral  Agent a security  interest in each such  deposit to secure such
Obligations. The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control,
including the exclusive right of withdrawal,  over such account.  Other than any
interest earned on the investment of such deposits,  which  investments shall be
made at the option and sole  discretion of the  Administrative  Agent and at the
Company's risk and expense,  such deposits shall not bear interest.  Interest or
profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account. Moneys in
such  account  shall be applied by the  Administrative  Agent to  reimburse  any
Issuing Bank for LC  Disbursements  for which it has not been reimbursed and, to
the  extent  not  so  applied,  shall  be  held  for  the  satisfaction  of  the
reimbursement obligations of the Company for the LC Exposure at such time or, if
the  maturity of the Loans has been  accelerated  (but subject to the consent of
Revolving Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the total LC
Exposure),  be applied to satisfy  other  obligations  of the Company under this
Agreement.  If the Company is  required to provide an amount of cash  collateral
hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default,  such amount (to
the extent not applied as  aforesaid)  shall be  returned to the Company  within
three Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived.

                                        36
<PAGE>

                  SECTION  2.06.  Funding of  Borrowings.  (a) Each Lender shall
make each Loan to be made by it hereunder  on the proposed  date thereof by wire
transfer of  immediately  available  funds in the  applicable  currency by 11:00
a.m.,  Local  Time,  to  the  account  of the  Applicable  Agent  most  recently
designated by it for such purpose for Loans of such Class and currency by notice
to the  applicable  Lenders;  provided  that  Swingline  Loans  shall be made as
provided in Section 2.04. The Applicable Agent will make such Loans available to
the applicable  Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts so received,  in like
funds, to an account of such Borrower  maintained by the Applicable Agent (i) in
New York City, in the case of Loans denominated in US Dollars, or (ii) in London
(or such other place as may be specified  in an  applicable  Alternate  Currency
Supplement),  in the case of Alternate  Currency Loans;  provided that Revolving
Loans  and  Swingline  Loans  made  to  finance  the   reimbursement  of  an  LC
Disbursement  shall be remitted by the  Administrative  Agent to the  applicable
Issuing Bank. If a Borrowing  shall not occur on such date because any condition
precedent  herein  specified shall not have been met, the Applicable Agent shall
return the amounts so received to the respective Lenders.

                  (b) Unless the  Applicable  Agent shall have  received  notice
from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing  that such Lender will
not  make  available  to the  Applicable  Agent  such  Lender's  share  of  such
Borrowing,  the Applicable Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share
available on such date in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section and may,
in reliance upon such assumption,  make available to the applicable  Borrower on
such date a corresponding  amount in the required currency.  In such event, if a
Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable  Borrowing  available to
the  Applicable  Agent,  then the applicable  Lender and the Borrower  severally
agree to pay to the  Applicable  Agent  forthwith  on demand such  corresponding
amount with  interest  thereon,  for each day from and  including  the date such
amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to
the Applicable  Agent,  at (i) in the case of such Lender,  a rate determined by
the Applicable  Agent to represent its cost of overnight or short-term  funds in
the relevant currency (which  determination  shall be conclusive absent manifest
error) or (ii) in the case of the Borrower,  the interest rate applicable at the
time to the Loans comprising such Borrowing.  If such Lender pays such amount to
the  Applicable  Agent,  then such amount shall  constitute  such  Lender's Loan
included in such Borrowing.

                                        37
<PAGE>

                  SECTION 2.07.  Interest Elections.  (a)  Each Borrowing
initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request
and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest
Period as specified in such Borrowing  Request.  Thereafter,  the applicable
Borrower may elect  to  convert  such  Borrowing  to a  different  Type or to
continue  such Borrowing  and,  in the case of a  Eurocurrency  Borrowing,  may
elect  Interest Periods  therefor,  all as provided in this Section and on terms
consistent with the  other  provisions  of this  Agreement  and,  in the  case
of any  Alternate Currency Revolving Borrowing, the applicable Alternate
Currency Supplement.  The Borrower may elect different  options with respect to
different  portions of the affected  Borrowing,  in which case each such portion
shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans  comprising  such
Borrowing,  and the Loans comprising  each  such  portion  shall  be  considered
a separate Borrowing.
Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  a Borrower  may not (A) elect to  convert  the
currency  in which any Loans are  denominated,  (B) elect to  convert  Alternate
Currency Loans to ABR Loans, (C) elect an Interest Period for Eurocurrency Loans
that does not comply  with  Section  2.02(d),  (D) elect to convert any Loans to
Eurocurrency  Loans that would result in the number of  Eurocurrency  Borrowings
exceeding the maximum number of Eurocurrency  Borrowings permitted under Section
2.02(c),  (E)  elect an  Interest  Period  for  Eurocurrency  Loans  unless  the
aggregate  outstanding  principal  amount of Eurocurrency  Loans  (including any
Eurocurrency  Loans made to the same  Borrower in the same  currency on the date
that such Interest  Period is to begin) to which such Interest Period will apply
complies  with the  requirements  as to  minimum  principal  amount set forth in
Section 2.02(c) or (F) elect to convert or continue any Swingline Loan.

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

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

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

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

                  (iii)  whether  the  resulting  Borrowing  is  to  be  an  ABR
         Borrowing, a Eurocurrency Borrowing or a Local Rate Borrowing; and

                                        38
<PAGE>
                  (iv) if the resulting  Borrowing is a Eurocurrency  Borrowing,
         the Interest  Period to be  applicable  thereto  after giving effect to
         such election,  which shall be a period  contemplated by the definition
         of the term "Interest Period".

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

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

                  (e) If the  applicable  Borrower  fails  to  deliver  a timely
Interest  Election  Request to the  Administrative  Agent electing to convert or
continue the Loans included in any Borrowing as provided in this Section and has
not theretofore  delivered a notice of prepayment  relating to such Loans,  then
such Borrower shall be deemed to have given the Applicable Agent, at the time by
which  such  an  Interest  Election  Request  would  have  been  required  to be
submitted,  an  Interest  Election  Request  electing  (i) in the  case of Loans
denominated in US Dollars,  to convert such Loans to (or continue such Loans as)
ABR  Loans,  and  (ii) in the  case of  Eurocurrency  Loans  denominated  in any
Alternate  Currency,  to  continue  such  Loans  as  Eurocurrency  Loans  for an
additional  Interest  Period  of one  month's  duration,  in each  case  with an
Interest Period commencing on the last day of the then current Interest Period.

                  (f) Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event
of Default has occurred and is continuing and the  Administrative  Agent, at the
request of the Required Lenders (or, for purposes of clause (iii) below, Lenders
holding a majority in interest of the Revolving  Alternate Currency Loans) shall
so notify the Company, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing (i) no
outstanding  Borrowing  may  be  converted  to or  continued  as a  Eurocurrency
Borrowing,  (ii) unless repaid,  each Eurocurrency  Borrowing  denominated in US
Dollars shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period
applicable  thereto  and  (iii)  each  Revolving  Borrowing  denominated  in  an
Alternate  Currency shall become due and payable on the last day of the Interest
Period  applicable  thereto.  The  foregoing  is without  prejudice to the other
rights and remedies available hereunder upon an Event of Default.

                  (g) A  Borrowing  of any  Class  may  not be  converted  to or
continued as a  Eurocurrency  Borrowing if after giving  effect  thereto (i) the
Interest Period therefor would commence before and end after a date on which any
principal  of the Loans of such Class is scheduled to be repaid and (ii) the sum
of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Eurocurrency Borrowings of such
Class with Interest Periods ending on or prior to such scheduled  repayment date
plus the aggregate  principal amount of outstanding ABR Borrowings of such Class
would be less  than  the  aggregate  principal  amount  of  Loans of such  Class
required to be repaid on such scheduled repayment date.

                  SECTION 2.08.  Termination and Reduction of Commitments.  (a)
Unless previously terminated, (i) the Term Commitments shall terminate at
5:00  p.m.,  New York City  time,  on the  Closing  Date and (ii) the  Revolving
Commitments  and the  Alternate  Currency  Commitments  shall  terminate  on the
Revolving Maturity Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the

                                        39
<PAGE>

Commitments  shall  terminate at 5:00 p.m.,  New York City time,  on October 31,
1999,  if the initial  Credit Event  hereunder  shall not have  occurred by such
time.

                  (b) The Company may at any time,  without  premium or penalty,
terminate,  or from time to time reduce, the Commitments of any Class;  provided
that (i) each such reduction shall be in an amount that is an integral  multiple
of  $1,000,000  and not less  than  $5,000,000  and (ii) the  Company  shall not
terminate or reduce the  Revolving  Commitments  if, after giving  effect to any
concurrent  prepayment of the Revolving  Loans in accordance  with Section 2.11,
the  Aggregate  Revolving  Credit  Exposure  would  exceed  the Total  Revolving
Commitment.

                  (c) Each reduction in the Term Commitments  hereunder shall be
made  ratably  among  the Term  Lenders  in  accordance  with  their  applicable
respective Term Commitments.  Each reduction in the Revolving  Commitments or in
the Alternate Currency Commitments under any Alternate Currency Supplement shall
be made ratably among the Revolving Credit Lenders or the Fronting Lenders party
to such Alternate  Currency  Supplement,  as the case may be, in accordance with
their respective  Revolving  Commitments or Alternate Currency Commitments under
such Alternate Currency Supplement, as applicable.

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

                 SECTION  2.09.  Repayment  of Loans;  Evidence of Debt (a) Each
Borrower hereby  unconditionally  promises to pay to the Applicable Agentfor the
accounts of the applicable  Revolving Lenders or Fronting  Lenders,  as the case
may be, the then unpaid  principal  amount of each Revolving Loan of such Lender
on the  Revolving  Maturity  Date  (or,  in the  case of a  Revolving  Alternate
Currency  Borrowing,  such earlier  date as may be  specified in the  applicable
Alternate Currency Supplement).  The Company hereby unconditionally  promises to
pay to the  Administrative  Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid
principal  amount of each Term Loan of such Lender as provided in Section  2.10.
The Borrower hereby unconditionally  promises to pay to the Swingline Lender the
then unpaid  principal amount of each Swingline Loan made to the Borrower on the
earlier of the Revolving  Maturity Date and the first date after such  Swingline
Loan is made that is the 15th day or the last day of a  calendar  month and that
is at least two Business Days after the day on which such  Swingline  Loan shall
have been made; provided that on each date on which a Revolving Dollar Borrowing
is made, the Borrower shall repay all Swingline Loans then outstanding.

                  (b) Each Lender shall  maintain in  accordance  with its usual
practice an account or accounts  evidencing the indebtedness of each Borrower to
such Lender resulting from each Loan made by

                                        40
<PAGE>

such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to
such Lender from time to time hereunder.

                  (c) The Administrative  Agent shall maintain accounts in which
it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made  hereunder,  the Class and Type
(and, in the case of a Revolving  Alternate Currency Loan, the currency) thereof
and the Interest Period applicable thereto,  (ii) the amount of any principal or
interest  due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each
Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the  Administrative
Agent or the London  Agent  hereunder  for the  account of the  Lenders and each
Lender's share thereof. The information  contained in such accounts will be made
available to the Company at reasonable times and upon reasonable request.

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

                  (e) Any Lender may request  that Loans of any Class made by it
to any Borrower be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the applicable
Borrower  shall  prepare,  execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory  note
payable to the order of such Lender (or, if requested  by such  Lender,  to such
Lender and its registered assigns) and in a form approved by the Company and the
Administrative  Agent.  Thereafter,  the Loans evidenced by such promissory note
and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment  pursuant to
Section  10.04)  be  represented  by one or more  promissory  notes in such form
payable to the order of the payee named therein (or, if such  promissory note is
a registered note, to such payee and its registered assigns).

                 SECTION 2.10. Amortization of Term Loans.  (a)  The Term
Borrowings will become due and payable on each date set forth below in the
aggregate principal amount set forth opposite such date:

                  Date                                        Amount

         September 30, 2001                               $40,000,000
         September 30, 2002                               $60,000,000
         September 30, 2003                               $70,000,000
         Term Maturity Date                               $80,000,000



                  (b) To the extent not  previously  paid,  all Term  Borrowings
shall be due and payable on the Term Maturity Date.

                  (c) Any  prepayment  of a Term  Borrowing  shall be applied to
reduce the  subsequent  scheduled  repayments of the Term  Borrowings to be made
pursuant to this Section  ratably in accordance  with the respective  amounts of
such scheduled repayments.

                                        41
<PAGE>

                  SECTION 2.11.  Prepayment.  (a) Each  Borrower  shall have the
right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing of such Borrower
in whole or in part,  subject to Section 2.17 but otherwise  without  premium or
penalty, subject to the requirements of this Section.

                  (b)  If,  on the  last  day of any  Interest  Period  for  any
Eurocurrency  Revolving  Borrowing,  or on any Interest Payment Date for any ABR
Revolving  Borrowing or any  Borrowing  under an Alternate  Currency  Supplement
bearing interest at a Local Rate (i) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Lender
exceeds its Revolving Commitment or (ii) the Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure
exceeds the Total Revolving Commitment,  the Borrower shall, on such day, prepay
the Revolving  Loans  comprising such Borrowing in an amount equal to the lesser
of (i) the amount necessary to eliminate such excess and (ii) the amount of such
Borrowing.  If, on any Reset  Date,  the  Aggregate  Revolving  Credit  Exposure
exceeds 105% of the Total Revolving Commitment,  then the Borrower shall, within
three  Business  Days,  prepay one or more  Revolving  Borrowings  or  Swingline
Borrowings in an aggregate  principal amount equal to the excess, if any, of the
Aggregate  Revolving  Credit  Exposure  (as of such  Reset  Date) over the Total
Revolving Commitment.

                  (c) In the event and on each  occasion  that any Net  Proceeds
are received by or on behalf of the Company or any  Subsidiary in respect of any
Prepayment  Event, the Company shall,  within three Business Days after such Net
Proceeds are received,  prepay Term Borrowings, if any shall remain outstanding,
in an  aggregate  amount  equal to (i) in the case of Net  Proceeds  received in
respect of any  Prepayment  Event of the type  specified in clause (a) or (b) of
the definition of "Prepayment  Event",  75% of such Net Proceeds and (ii) in the
case of Net  Proceeds  received in respect of any  Prepayment  Event of the type
specified in clause (c)of the  definition of Prepayment  Event,  50% of such Net
Proceeds; provided that, in the case of any event described in clause (a) of the
definition of the term "Prepayment  Event", if the Borrower shall deliver to the
Administrative Agent a certificate of a Financial Officer to the effect that the
Borrower and the  Subsidiaries  intend to apply the Net Proceeds from such event
(or a portion  thereof  specified  in such  certificate),  within 180 days after
receipt of such Net  Proceeds,  to acquire  real  property,  equipment  or other
assets to be used in the  Business of the  Borrower  and the  Subsidiaries,  and
certifying  that no Default has occurred and is  continuing,  then no prepayment
shall be required  pursuant to this  paragraph in respect of the Net Proceeds in
respect of such event (or the  portion of such net  proceeds  specified  in such
certificate,  if applicable)  except to the extent of any Net Proceeds therefrom
that have no been so applied by the end of such 180-day period,  at which time a
prepayment  shall be required in an amount equal to such Net Proceeds  that have
not been so applied.

                  (d) Not later than 90 days after the end of each  fiscal  year
of the Company  commencing  with the fiscal year ending  December 31, 2000,  the
Company  shall  calculate  Excess Cash Flow for such fiscal year and shall apply
50% of such Excess Cash Flow for such fiscal year to prepay Term Borrowings.

                  (e) On  the  date  of  any  termination  or  reduction  of the
Revolving  Commitments  pursuant to Section  2.08,  the  Borrowers  shall pay or
prepay so much of the  Revolving  Borrowings as shall be necessary in order that
the Aggregate  Revolving  Credit  Exposure shall not exceed the Total  Revolving
Commitment after giving effect to such termination or reduction.

                                        42
<PAGE>

                  (f)  Prior  to  any  optional  or  mandatory   prepayment   of
Borrowings hereunder, the Company shall select the Borrowing or Borrowings to be
prepaid  and shall  specify  such  selection  in the  notice of such  prepayment
pursuant to paragraph  (g) of this  Section;  provided  that each  prepayment of
Borrowings of any Class shall be applied to prepay ABR  Borrowings of such Class
before any other Borrowings of such Class.

                  (g) The Company shall notify the Applicable Agent (and, in the
case of  prepayment  of a Swingline  Loan,  the  Swingline  Lender) by telephone
(confirmed  by  telecopy)  of any  prepayment  hereunder  (i) in the  case  of a
prepayment of a Eurocurrency  Borrowing,  not later than 11:00 a.m., Local Time,
three  Business  Days  before  the  date of  prepayment,  (ii) in the  case of a
prepayment of an ABR  Borrowing,  not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time,
one  Business  Day  before  the  date of  prepayment  or  (iii)  in the  case of
prepayment of a Swingline  Loan,  not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time,
on the date of  prepayment.  Each such  notice  shall be  irrevocable  and shall
specify  the  prepayment  date and the  principal  amount of each  Borrowing  or
portion  thereof  to be  prepaid  and shall set forth in  reasonable  detail the
calculation  of the amount of such  prepayment;  provided  that,  if a notice of
prepayment is given in connection  with a conditional  notice of  termination of
the  Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.08, then such notice of prepayment
may be revoked if such  notice of  termination  is  revoked in  accordance  with
Section  2.08.  Promptly  following  receipt of any such  notice  relating  to a
Borrowing,  the  Applicable  Agent shall  advise the  applicable  Lenders of the
contents thereof. Each partial prepayment of any Borrowing shall be in an amount
that would be  permitted  in the case of an advance of a  Borrowing  of the same
Class and Type as provided in Section  2.02,  except as necessary to apply fully
the required  amount of a mandatory  prepayment.  Each prepayment of a Borrowing
shall be  applied  ratably  to the  Loans  included  in the  prepaid  Borrowing.
Prepayments  shall be accompanied by accrued  interest to the extent required by
Section  2.13.  Prepayments  shall be  subject to Section  2.17,  but  otherwise
without premium or penalty.

                  SECTION  2.12.  Fees.  (a) The  Company  agrees  to pay to the
Administrative  Agent  for  the  account  of  each  Revolving  Credit  Lender  a
commitment fee (a "Commitment  Fee"),  which shall accrue at the Applicable Rate
on the daily unused amount of the Revolving  Commitment of such Revolving Credit
Lender, in each case during the period from and including August 19, 1999 to but
excluding the date on which such Revolving  Commitment expires or is terminated.
Accrued  Commitment  Fees  shall be payable in arrears on the last day of March,
June, September and December of each year,  commencing on the first such date to
occur after the date hereof, and on the date on which the Revolving  Commitments
expire or are terminated.  All Commitment Fees shall be computed on the basis of
a year of 360 days and shall be payable  for the actual  number of days  elapsed
(including the first day but excluding the last day).

                  (b) The  Company  agrees  to pay (or to cause  the  applicable
Borrowing  Subsidiary to pay) (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of
each Revolving Lender a participation fee (an "Alternate Currency  Participation
Fee")  with  respect  to  its  obligation   under  Section  2.01(d)  to  acquire
participations in Revolving  Alternate Currency Loans, which shall accrue at the
Applicable  Rate used to determine the interest rate  applicable to Eurocurrency
Revolving Loans on the average daily amount of such Revolving Lender's Alternate
Currency Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to

                                        43
<PAGE>

Revolving   Alternate   Currency  Loans  that  have  been  converted  to  Dollar
obligations and in respect of which such Lender has made, or is required to have
made,  payments to the applicable  Fronting Lenders,  all as provided in Section
2.01(e))  during the period from and  including the date hereof to but excluding
the later of the date on which such Lender's Revolving Commitment terminates and
the date on which such Lender  ceases to have any Alternate  Currency  Exposure,
and (ii) to each Fronting Lender a fronting fee (an "Alternate Currency Fronting
Fee"),  which shall accrue at the rate of .125% per annum on the daily aggregate
amount of the Dollar Equivalents of such Fronting Lender's  Revolving  Alternate
Currency  Loans  during the period  from and  including  the date  hereof to but
excluding the later of the date of termination of the Revolving  Commitments and
the date on which  there  cease to be any  Revolving  Alternate  Currency  Loans
outstanding.  Alternate  Currency  Participation  Fees  and  Alternate  Currency
Fronting Fees accrued under this paragraph through and including the last day of
March,  June,  September and December of each year shall be payable on the third
Business Day following such last day, commencing on the first such date to occur
after the date hereof;  provided that all such Fees shall be payable on the date
on which the Revolving  Commitments  terminate and any such Fees accruing  after
the date on which  the  Revolving  Commitments  terminate  shall be  payable  on
demand.  All  Alternate  Currency  Participation  Fees  and  Alternate  Currency
Fronting Fees payable under this  paragraph  shall be computed on the basis of a
year of 360 days and shall be  payable  for the  actual  number of days  elapsed
(including the first day but excluding the last day).

                  (c) The Company agrees to pay (i) to the Administrative  Agent
for the account of each  Revolving  Credit  Lender a  participation  fee (an "LC
Participation  Fee") with  respect to its  participations  in Letters of Credit,
which shall accrue at the Applicable  Rate used in  determining  the interest on
Eurocurrency  Revolving  Loans,  on the average daily amount of such Lender's LC
Exposure  (excluding  any  portion  thereof   attributable  to  unreimbursed  LC
Disbursements)  during  the period  from and  including  the date  hereof to but
excluding  the later of the date on which  such  Lender's  Revolving  Commitment
terminates and the date on which such Lender ceases to have any LC Exposure, and
(ii) to each Issuing  Bank, a fronting fee (an "LC Fronting  Fee"),  which shall
accrue at the rate of .125% per annum on the average daily undrawn amount of the
outstanding Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank during the period from
and  including  the  Effective  Date to but  excluding  the later of the date of
termination of the Revolving  Commitments and the date on which the last of such
Letters  of  Credit  expires,  terminates  or is drawn in full,  as well as each
Issuing Bank's standard fees ("Issuing Bank Fees") with respect to the issuance,
amendment,  renewal  or  extension  of any  Letter of Credit  or  processing  of
drawings thereunder.  LC Participation Fees and LC Fronting Fees accrued through
and including the last day of March,  June,  September and December of each year
shall be payable on the third Business Day following  such last day,  commencing
on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date; provided that all such
Fees shall be payable on the date on which the Revolving  Commitments  terminate
and any such Fees  accruing  after the date on which the  Revolving  Commitments
terminate shall be payable on demand. Any other Fees payable to any Issuing Bank
pursuant to this paragraph shall be payable within 10 days after demand.  All LC
Participation Fees and LC Fronting Fees shall be computed on the basis of a year
of 360  days  and  shall  be  payable  for the  actual  number  of days  elapsed
(including the first day but excluding the last day).

                                        44
<PAGE>

                  (d) The Company agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for
its own account,  fees ("Agent and  Administrative  Fees") in the amounts and at
the  times  separately  agreed  upon in  writing  between  the  Company  and the
Administrative Agent.

                  (e) The  Company  agrees to pay,  through  the  Administrative
Agent,  up front fees in the amounts  heretofore  communicated to the Lenders by
the Company and the Administrative Agent.

                  (f) All Fees payable  hereunder  shall be paid on the dates on
which due, in immediately  available funds, to the  Administrative  Agent (or to
any  Fronting  Lender or Issuing  Bank,  in the case of Fees  payable to it) for
distribution,  in the case of Commitment Fees, Alternate Currency  Participation
Fees, LC Participation  Fees and up front fees, to the Lenders entitled thereto.
Fees paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances.

                  SECTION 2.13.  Interest. (a)  The Loans comprising each ABR
Borrowing (including each Swingline Loan) shall bear interest at the Alternate
Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.

                  (b) The Loans comprising each  Eurocurrency Term Borrowing and
each Eurocurrency Revolving Dollar Borrowing shall bear interest at the Adjusted
LIBO Rate for US Dollars for the  Interest  Period in effect for such  Borrowing
plus the Applicable Rate.

                  (c) The Loans comprising each Eurocurrency Revolving Alternate
Currency  Borrowing  shall  bear  interest  at the  Adjusted  LIBO  Rate for the
currency of and the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing.

                  (d) The Loans  comprising each Local Rate Revolving  Borrowing
shall bear interest at the rate or rates set forth in the  applicable  Alternate
Currency Supplement.

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

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

                                            45
<PAGE>

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

                  SECTION 2.14.  Alternate Rate of Interest.  If prior to the
commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurocurrency Borrowing:

                  (a) the Administrative  Agent determines or is notified by the
         Required  Lenders that deposits in the  principal  amounts of the Loans
         comprising  such  Borrowing and in the currency in which such Loans are
         to be denominated are not generally  available in the relevant  market;
         or

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

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


then the  Administrative  Agent shall give notice thereof to the Company and the
Lenders by  telephone  or telecopy as promptly as  practicable  thereafter  and,
until the  Administrative  Agent  notifies  the Company and the Lenders that the
circumstances  giving rise to such notice no longer  exist (it being agreed that
the  Administrative  Agent will so notify the Company  promptly after it becomes
aware that such  circumstances no longer exist), any request by a Borrower for a
Eurocurrency  Borrowing of the affected type or in the affected  currency,  or a
conversion to or continuation  of a Eurocurrency  Borrowing of the affected Type
or in the  affected  currency,  pursuant to Section 2.03 or 2.07 shall be deemed
rescinded and each outstanding Borrowing of the affected Type or in the affected
currency  that  shall not be repaid at the end of the then  applicable  Interest
Period shall  thereafter bear interest at the Applicable  Rate for  Eurocurrency
Loans of the same Class plus a rate determined by the Administrative Agent to be
representative   of  the  Lenders'   cost  of  funding  such   Borrowing.   Each
determination by the  Administrative  Agent hereunder shall be conclusive absent
manifest error.

                  SECTION 2.15.  Increased Costs.  (a)  If any Change in Law
(other than any Change in Law relating to Taxes, which shall be governed by
Section 2.18) shall:

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

                                        46
<PAGE>

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

and the result of any of the  foregoing  shall be to  increase  the cost to such
Lender of making or maintaining  any  Eurocurrency  Loan (or of maintaining  its
obligation  to make any such  Loan) or to  increase  the cost to such  Lender or
Issuing Bank of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit or
to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or Issuing
Bank hereunder (whether of principal,  interest or otherwise),  then the Company
will pay to such  Lender or Issuing  Bank,  as the case may be,  within 15 days,
such  additional  amount or amounts as will  compensate  such  Lender or Issuing
Bank,  as the case may be,  for such  additional  costs  incurred  or  reduction
suffered.

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

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

                  (d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or Issuing Bank
to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of
such Lender's or Issuing Bank's right to demand such compensation; provided that
the  Company  shall not be  required  to  compensate  a Lender or  Issuing  Bank
pursuant to this Section for any  increased  costs or  reductions  incurred more
than 180 days prior to the date that such  Lender or Issuing  Bank,  as the case
may be,  notifies the Company of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased
costs or reductions  and of such Lender's or Issuing  Bank's  intention to claim
compensation  therefor;  provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise
to such increased  costs or reductions is  retroactive,  then the 180-day period
referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive  effect
thereof.

                                        47
<PAGE>

                 SECTION 2.16. Change in Legality. (a) Notwithstanding any other
provision  herein,  if,  after  the date  hereof,  (i) any  change in any law or
regulation  or in  the  interpretation  thereof  by any  Governmental  Authority
charged with the administration or interpretation thereof shall make it unlawful
for any Lender to make or maintain any Eurocurrency  Loan or Alternate  Currency
Loan or (ii) there shall have  occurred any change in national or  international
financial,  political or economic conditions (including the imposition of or any
change in  exchange  controls)  or currency  exchange  rates which would make it
impracticable  for  any  Lender  to  make  Loans  denominated  in any  Alternate
Currency,  then,  by written  notice to the  Company  and to the  Administrative
Agent:

                  (i)  such  Lender  may  declare  that  Eurocurrency  Loans  or
         Alternate  Currency Loans (in the affected currency or currencies),  as
         the  case  may be,  will  not  thereafter  (for  the  duration  of such
         unlawfulness  or  impracticability)  be made by such Lender  hereunder,
         whereupon  any  request  for  a  Eurocurrency  Borrowing  or  Alternate
         Currency  Borrowing (in the affected  currency or  currencies),  as the
         case may be,  shall,  as to such Lender only, be deemed (A) in the case
         of a request for a Loan denominated in US Dollars, a request for an ABR
         Loan  or (B) in the  case of a  request  for a Loan  denominated  in an
         Alternate Currency, to have been withdrawn; and

                  (ii)  such   Lender  may   require   (A)  that  all   affected
         Eurocurrency  Loans  made  by  it  and  denominated  in US  Dollars  be
         converted to ABR Loans,  and (B) that all affected  Eurocurrency  Loans
         made by it and  denominated  in one or  more  Alternate  Currencies  be
         prepaid,   in  which  event  all  such  Eurocurrency   Loans  shall  be
         automatically converted to ABR Loans or prepaid, as the case may be, as
         of the  effective  date of such  notice as provided  in  paragraph  (b)
         below.

In the event any Lender shall  exercise its rights under (i) or (ii) above,  all
payments and prepayments of principal which would otherwise have been applied to
repay the US Dollar  Eurocurrency Loans that would have been made by such Lender
or the  converted US Dollar  Eurocurrency  Loans of such Lender shall instead be
applied to repay the ABR Loans made by such Lender in lieu of, or resulting from
the conversion of, such Eurocurrency Loans.

                  (b) For purposes of this Section 2.16, a notice to the Company
by any Lender shall be effective  as to each such Loan,  if lawful,  on the last
day of the Interest Period currently applicable to such Loan; in all other cases
such notice shall be effective on the date of receipt by the Company.

                  SECTION 2.17. Break Funding Payments.  In the event of (a) the
payment of any principal of any Eurocurrency  Loan other than on the last day of
an Interest  Period  applicable  thereto  (including  as a result of an Event of
Default), (b) the conversion of any Eurocurrency Loan other than on the last day
of the Interest Period applicable thereto,  (c) the failure to borrow,  convert,
continue or prepay any Revolving  Loan or Term Loan on the date specified in any
notice  delivered  pursuant  hereto,  (d)  the  conversion  of and  purchase  of
participations  in any  Alternate  Currency  Revolving  Loan pursuant to Section
2.01(f) or (e) the  assignment of any  Eurocurrency  Loan other than on the last
day of the Interest  Period  applicable  thereto as a result of a request by the
Borrower  pursuant to Section  2.20,  then,  in any such event,  the  applicable
Borrower  shall   compensate   each  Lender  for  the  loss,  cost  and  expense
attributable to such

                                        48
<PAGE>

event.  In the case of a Eurocurrency  Loan,  such loss,  cost or expense to any
Lender  shall be deemed to include an amount  determined  by such Lender in good
faith to be the excess,  if any, of (i) the amount of interest  which would have
accrued on the principal amount of such Loan had such event not occurred, at the
Adjusted LIBO Rate that would have been  applicable to such Loan, for the period
from the date of such event to the last day of the then current  Interest Period
therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow,  convert or continue,  for the
period that would have been the  Interest  Period for such Loan),  over (ii) the
amount of interest which would accrue on such  principal  amount for such period
at the  interest  rate  which  such  Lender  would  bid  were it to bid,  at the
commencement  of such period,  for dollar  deposits of a  comparable  amount and
period from other banks in the eurocurrency  market. A certificate of any Lender
setting  forth any amount or amounts  that such  Lender is  entitled  to receive
pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the applicable Borrower and shall
be conclusive  absent  manifest  error.  The applicable  Borrower shall pay such
Lender  the  amount  shown as due on any such  certificate  within 10 days after
receipt thereof.

                  SECTION 2.18. Taxes. (a) Any and all payments by or on account
of any  obligation of any Loan Party  hereunder or under any other Loan Document
shall be made free and clear of and without  deduction for any Indemnified Taxes
or Other Taxes, except as required by law; provided that if any Loan Party shall
be required to deduct any  Indemnified  Taxes or Other Taxes from such payments,
then (i) the sum payable  shall be  increased  as necessary so that after making
all required  deductions  (including  deductions  applicable to additional  sums
payable under this  Section) the Agent,  Lender or Issuing Bank (as the case may
be)  receives  an amount  equal to the sum it would  have  received  had no such
deductions  been made, (ii) such Loan Party shall make such deductions and (iii)
such Loan Party shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant  Governmental
Authority in accordance with applicable law.

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

                  (c) The Company shall indemnify,  or cause the applicable Loan
Party to indemnify,  each Agent,  each Lender and each Issuing  Bank,  within 10
days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes
or Other Taxes paid by such Agent,  Lender or Issuing  Bank, as the case may be,
on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any  obligation  of a Loan
Party hereunder or under any other Loan Document (including Indemnified Taxes or
Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this
Section) and any penalties,  interest and reasonable  expenses arising therefrom
or with respect thereto,  whether or not such  Indemnified  Taxes or Other Taxes
were  correctly  or legally  imposed or  asserted by the  relevant  Governmental
Authority;  provided,  that the Company shall have no obligation to pay or cause
to be paid any amounts in respect of  Indemnified  Taxes or Other Taxes if it is
not the customary  practice of the Lender at the time such taxes are assessed or
imposed to claim  reimbursement for, or indemnity with respect to, such taxes in
respect  of  similar  payments  or  transactions  involving  similarly  situated
borrowers. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered
to the  Company by a Lender or Issuing  Bank or by an Agent on its own behalf or
on behalf of a Lender or an Issuing Bank,  shall be conclusive  absent  manifest
error.

                                        49
<PAGE>

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

                  (e) Any Foreign  Lender that is entitled to an exemption  from
or reduction of  withholding  tax under the law of the  jurisdiction  in which a
Borrower is located,  or any treaty to which such  jurisdiction is a party, with
respect to  payments  under this  Agreement  or any other  Loan  Document  shall
deliver to the Company (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or
times  prescribed by applicable law and after receiving  written notice from the
Company,  such  properly  completed  and executed  documentation  prescribed  by
applicable  law or  reasonably  requested  by the  Company as will  permit  such
payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate; provided that such
Foreign Lender shall not be required to deliver such  documentation with respect
to an entitlement to an exemption from or reduction of withholding  tax that was
not in effect on the date such Lender became a party to this Agreement.

                  (f) If the  Administrative  Agent or a Lender  or the  Issuing
Bank has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been  indemnified  by
the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid  additional  amounts
pursuant to this Section  2.18,  it shall pay such refund to the  Borrower  (but
only to the extent of indemnity  payments  made, or additional  amounts paid, by
the  Borrower  under this  Section 2.18 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to
such refund), net of all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative
Agent or such Lender or the Issuing  Bank and without  interest  (other than any
interest  paid by the  relevant  Governmental  Authority  with  respect  to such
refund); provided, however, that the Borrower agrees to pay, upon the request of
the Administrative  Agent or such Lender or the Issuing Bank, the amount paid to
the  Borrower  (plus any  penalties,  interest or other  charges  imposed by the
relevant  Governmental  Authority) to the Administrative Agent or such Lender or
the  Issuing  Bank in the event the  Administrative  Agent or such Lender or the
Issuing  Bank is required to repay such refund to such  Governmental  Authority.
Nothing contained in this Section 2.18(f) shall require the Administrative Agent
or any Lender or the  Issuing  Bank to make  available  its tax  returns (or any
other  information  relating  to its Taxes  that it deems  confidential)  to the
Borrower or any other Person.

                  SECTION 2.19. Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment;  Sharing
of Setoffs.  (a) Each Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it
hereunder or under any other Loan Document (whether of principal, interest, Fees
or reimbursement of LC Disbursements,  or of amounts payable under Section 2.15,
2.17 or 2.18,  or  otherwise)  prior to 12:00  noon,  local time at the place of
payment, on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without setoff or
counterclaim.  Any  amounts  received  after  such time on any date may,  in the
discretion of the Applicable  Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next
succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. Unless and
until otherwise specified, all such payments shall be made to the Administrative
Agent at its offices at 270 Park  Avenue,  New York,  New York,  except (i) that
payments in respect of Alternate Currency Borrowings shall be made to the London
Agent at its offices at Trinity  Tower, 9 Thomas More Street,  London,  England,
(ii) for payments to be made directly to an Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender
as expressly provided herein, (iii) that payments pursuant to Sections 2.15,

                                        50
<PAGE>
2.17 or 2.18 and 10.03 shall be made  directly to the Persons  entitled  thereto
and (iv) that  payments  pursuant to other Loan  Documents  shall be made to the
Persons specified therein. Each such payment shall be made in US Dollars, except
that the  principal  of and  interest on any Loan  denominated  in an  Alternate
Currency  shall  be  made in  such  currency.  The  Administrative  Agent  shall
distribute any such payments  received by it for the account of any other Person
to the appropriate  recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment
under any Loan  Document  shall be due on a day that is not a Business  Day, the
date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding  Business Day, and, in
the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for
the period of such extension.

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

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

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<PAGE>

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

                  (e) If any Lender  shall fail to make any payment  required to
be made by it hereunder,  then the  Administrative  Agent may, in its discretion
(notwithstanding  any contrary provision  hereof),  apply any amounts thereafter
received by the Administrative Agent or the London Agent for the account of such
Lender  to  satisfy  such  Lender's   obligations  until  all  such  unsatisfied
obligations are fully paid.

                  SECTION 2.20. Mitigation Obligations;  Replacement of Lenders.
(a) If any Lender requests  compensation under Section 2.15, or if a Borrower is
required  to pay  any  additional  amount  to  any  Lender  or any  Governmental
Authority  for the  account of any Lender  pursuant to Section  2.18,  then such
Lender shall use reasonable  efforts to designate a different lending office for
funding or booking its Loans  hereunder or to assign its rights and  obligations
hereunder  to  another  of its  offices,  branches  or  affiliates,  if,  in the
reasonable  judgment of such Lender,  such  designation  or assignment (i) would
eliminate or reduce  amounts  payable  pursuant to Section 2.15 or 2.18,  as the
case may be,  in the  future  and (ii)  would  not  subject  such  Lender to any
unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be  disadvantageous to such
Lender. The Borrowers agree to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by
any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

                  (b) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, or
if a Borrower  is  required  to pay any  additional  amount to any Lender or any
Governmental  Authority for the account of any Lender  pursuant to Section 2.18,
or if any Lender  defaults in its obligation to fund Loans  hereunder,  then the
Company may, at its sole expense and effort,  upon notice to such Lender and the
Administrative  Agent,  require  such  Lender to assign  and  delegate,  without
recourse  (in  accordance  with and  subject to the  restrictions  contained  in
Section 10.04),  all its interests,  rights and obligations under this Agreement
to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another
Lender,  if a Lender  accepts such  assignment);  provided  that (i) the Company
shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative  Agent (and,
if a Revolving  Commitment is being  assigned,  each Fronting Lender and Issuing
Bank  and the  Swingline  Lender),  which  consent  shall  not  unreasonably  be
withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the
outstanding  principal of its Loans and  participations  in Revolving  Alternate
Currency Loans, LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans,  accrued interest thereon,
accrued fees and all other amounts  payable to it  hereunder,  from the assignee
(to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees)

                                        52
<PAGE>

or the Borrowers (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case of any
such assignment  resulting from a claim for  compensation  under Section 2.15 or
payments  required to be made pursuant to Section  2.18,  such  assignment  will
result in a reduction in such  compensation  or payments.  A Lender shall not be
required to make any such  assignment and  delegation  if, prior  thereto,  as a
result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise,  the circumstances entitling the
Company to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

                  SECTION  2.21.  Borrowing   Subsidiaries.   On  or  after  the
Effective  Date,  the Company may designate  any  Subsidiary of the Company as a
Borrowing  Subsidiary  by  delivery to the  Administrative  Agent of a Borrowing
Subsidiary  Agreement executed by such Subsidiary and the Company, and upon such
delivery such Subsidiary shall for all purposes of this Agreement be a Borrowing
Subsidiary and a party to this  Agreement  until the Company shall have executed
and delivered to the  Administrative  Agent a Borrowing  Subsidiary  Termination
with respect to such  Subsidiary,  whereupon such Subsidiary shall cease to be a
Borrowing  Subsidiary  and  a  party  to  this  Agreement.  Notwithstanding  the
preceding sentence, no Borrowing Subsidiary Termination will become effective as
to any  Borrowing  Subsidiary at a time when any principal of or interest on any
Loan to such Borrowing Subsidiary shall be outstanding hereunder,  provided that
such  Borrowing  Subsidiary  Termination  shall be effective  to terminate  such
Borrowing Subsidiary's right to make further Borrowings under this Agreement. As
soon as  practicable  upon  receipt of a  Borrowing  Subsidiary  Agreement,  the
Administrative Agent shall send a copy thereof to each Lender.


                                                ARTICLE III

                                      Representations and Warranties

                  Each  Borrower  represents  and  warrants  to the  Lenders  as
follows (with each representation and warranty set forth in this Article, to the
extent it (a) relates to the Acquired Business and (b) is made or deemed made on
or at any time  during the period of three  months  following  the date  hereof,
being made or deemed made only to the actual knowledge of the Borrowers):

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

                                        53
<PAGE>
                 SECTION 3.02. Authorization;  Enforceability.  The Transactions
to be entered  into by each Loan Party are within  such Loan  Party's  corporate
powers  and have  been  duly  authorized  by all  necessary  corporate  and,  if
required,  stockholder  action.  This  Agreement  has  been  duly  executed  and
delivered by the Company and constitutes,  and each other Loan Document to which
any Loan Party is to be a party, when executed and delivered by such Loan Party,
will constitute,  a legal,  valid and binding  obligation of the Company or such
Loan  Party,  as the case may be,  enforceable  in  accordance  with its  terms,
subject to  applicable  bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,  moratorium or
other  laws  affecting  creditors'  rights  generally  and  subject  to  general
principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity
or at law.

                  SECTION  3.03.  Governmental  Approvals;  No  Conflicts.   The
Transactions  (a) do not require any consent or  approval  of,  registration  or
filing with or any other action by any Governmental Authority, or the expiration
of any  waiting  or  similar  period  imposed  by  law  or by  any  Governmental
Authority,  except such as have been  obtained or made and are in full force and
effect or have expired,  as the case may be, except for any such approvals which
have  already  been  obtained,  (b)  will  not  violate  any  applicable  law or
regulation  or the  charter,  by-laws or other  organizational  documents of the
Company or any other Loan Party or any order of any Governmental Authority,  (c)
will not violate or result in a default under any material indenture,  agreement
or other  instrument  binding upon the Company or any Subsidiary or their assets
(other  than  agreements  relating to  Indebtedness  to be repaid as part of the
Refinancings),  or give rise to a right  thereunder to require any payment to be
made by the Company or any  Subsidiary,  and (d) will not result in the creation
or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Company or any Subsidiary,  except
Liens created under the Loan Documents.

                  SECTION  3.04.  Financial  Statements;   No  Material  Adverse
Change. (a) The Company has heretofore furnished to the Lenders its consolidated
balance sheet and statements of income,  retained earnings and cash flows (i) as
of and for each of the fiscal years ended  December 31, 1998 and 1997,  reported
on by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent public accountants, and (ii) as of
and for the fiscal  quarter  and the  portion of the fiscal year ended March 31,
1999,  certified  by its chief  financial  officer.  Such  financial  statements
present fairly, in all material respects,  the financial position and results of
operations and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of
such dates and for such  periods in  accordance  with GAAP,  subject to year-end
audit  adjustments  and the absence of footnotes  in the case of the  statements
referred to in clause (ii) above.

                  (b) The Company has  heretofore  furnished  to the Lenders its
pro forma  consolidated  balance sheet (based on  information as of December 31,
1998),  prepared  giving effect to the  Acquisition,  the  Refinancings  and the
related Borrowings hereunder as if such transactions had occurred on the date of
such  balance  sheet.  Such pro forma  consolidated  balance  sheet (i) has been
prepared  in good  faith  based on  assumptions  believed  by the  Company to be
reasonable,  (ii) to the  Company's  best  knowledge,  accurately  reflects  all
material  adjustments   necessary  to  give  effect  to  the  Acquisition,   the
Refinancings and the related Borrowings  hereunder and (iii) presents fairly, in
all material  respects,  the pro forma financial position of the Company and its
consolidated Subsidiaries (including the Acquired Business and its subsidiaries)
as of December 31, 1998, as if the Acquisition, the Refinancings and the related
Borrowings hereunder had occurred on such date.

                                        54
<PAGE>

                  (c) Except as described in the Company's  Quarterly  Report on
Form 10-Q for the fiscal  quarter  ended March 31,  1999,  and in the  Company's
press  releases  dated  July 8 and July 23,  1999,  copies  of which  have  been
furnished  to the  Lenders,  there has been no  Material  Adverse  Change  since
December 31, 1998.

                 SECTION  3.05.  Properties;  Liens.  (a) The  Company  and each
Subsidiary has good title to, or valid leasehold  interests in, all its real and
personal  properties  and  assets  material  to its  business,  except for minor
defects in title that do not interfere  with its ability to conduct its business
as  currently  conducted  or to  utilize  its  properties  and  assets for their
intended purposes.  All such owned properties and assets, and all such leasehold
interests,  are free and clear of Liens,  other than Liens  expressly  permitted
under Section 6.02.

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

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

                  (b) Neither the Company nor any  Subsidiary  (i) has failed to
comply  with any  Environmental  Law or to obtain,  maintain  or comply with any
permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) has
become subject to any Environmental Liability,  (iii) has received notice of any
claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (iv) knows of any basis for
any Environmental Liability,  except, in each case, for failures and liabilities
that,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  could not  reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect.

                  SECTION  3.07.  Compliance  with Laws.  The  Company  and each
Subsidiary  is in  compliance  with all  laws,  regulations  and  orders  of any
Governmental  Authority  applicable  to it or its  property,  except  where  the
failure  to be in  compliance,  individually  or in  the  aggregate,  could  not
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

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

                  SECTION 3.09.  Taxes.  The Company and each Subsidiary has
timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports required to have
been filed and has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been

                                        55
<PAGE>

paid by it,  except  (a) any Taxes  that are being  contested  in good faith by
appropriate  proceedings and for which the Company or such  Subsidiary, as
applicable, has set aside on its books adequate reserves or (b) to the extent
that the  failure  to do so could  not  reasonably  be  expected  to result in a
Material Adverse Effect.

                  SECTION  3.10.  ERISA.  No  ERISA  Event  has  occurred  or is
reasonably  expected to occur  that,  when taken  together  with all other ERISA
Events for which liability is reasonably  expected to occur, could reasonably be
expected  to result in a  Material  Adverse  Effect.  The  present  value of all
accumulated  benefit  obligations  of all  under-funded  Plans,  other  than the
portion of the  underfunding of any Plan described in Section 4063 of ERISA that
is  attributable  to  contributing  sponsors  under such Plan that are not under
common  control with the Company or any  Subsidiary  (based on an  allocation of
such liability  consistent  with the procedures set forth in Section  4063(b) of
ERISA)  (based on the  assumptions  used for  purposes of Statement of Financial
Accounting  Standards  No.  87)  did  not,  as of the  date of the  most  recent
financial  statements  reflecting such amounts,  exceed by more than $40,000,000
the fair market value of the assets of all such under-funded  Plans. The Company
and each  Subsidiary  has complied in all material  respects with all applicable
laws & regulations relating to employee benefit plans.

                  SECTION  3.11.  Disclosure.  None  of the  reports,  financial
statements,  certificates or other written information furnished by or on behalf
of any Loan Party to the  Administrative  Agent or any Lender in connection with
the  negotiation  of this  Agreement  or any other Loan  Document  or  delivered
hereunder or thereunder  (as modified or  supplemented  by other  information so
furnished)  contains  any  material  misstatement  of fact or omits to state any
material  fact  necessary to make the  statements  therein,  in the light of the
circumstances  under which they were made, not  misleading;  provided that, with
respect to projected  financial  information,  the Borrowers represent only that
such   information   was  prepared  in  good  faith,   subject  to  the  express
qualifications set forth in such projections, based upon assumptions believed by
it to be reasonable at the time.

                  SECTION 3.12. Subsidiaries.  Schedule 3.12 sets forth the name
and  jurisdiction of organization  of, and the ownership of the Company and each
other Subsidiary in, each Subsidiary, identifying each such Subsidiary that is a
Loan Party, in each case as of the Effective Date.

                  SECTION  3.13.   Solvency.   After  the  consummation  of  the
Acquisition  and the  related  Borrowings  hereunder,  (a) the fair value of the
assets of each Loan Party will exceed its debts and  liabilities,  subordinated,
contingent or otherwise;  (b) the present fair saleable value of the property of
each Loan Party will be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the
probable liability of its debts and other liabilities,  subordinated, contingent
or otherwise,  as such debts and other liabilities  become absolute and matured;
(c) each Loan Party will be able to pay its debts and liabilities, subordinated,
contingent  or  otherwise,  as such debts and  liabilities  become  absolute and
matured;  and (d) each Loan Party will not have unreasonably  small capital with
which to conduct  the  business  in which it is engaged as such  business is now
conducted and is proposed to be conducted following the Closing Date.

                                        56
<PAGE>


                 SECTION  3.14.  Federal  Reserve  Regulations.  No  part of the
proceeds of any Loan or any Letter of Credit will be used,  whether  directly or
indirectly, and whether immediately,  incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or
carry "margin  stock",  within the meaning of Regulation U (other than shares of
the Company's  common stock, to the extent  permitted under Section 6.05), or to
refinance Indebtedness  originally incurred for such purpose, or for any purpose
that entails a violation of, or that is inconsistent with, the provisions of the
Regulations of the Board,  including Regulation U or X. Not more than 25% of the
assets subject to the restrictions of Sections 2.11(c) (to the extent applicable
to Prepayment  Events referred to in clause (a) of the definition of such term),
6.02  and  6.03  will at any  time  consist  of  Margin  Stock  (as  defined  in
Regulations U and X of the Board). The Company will not permit the Collateral to
include  any  Margin  Stock  unless  it  shall  first  have   delivered  to  the
Administrative  Agent,  for each Lender, a statement on Federal Reserve Form U-1
establishing  to the  satisfaction of the  Administrative  Agent and such Lender
that the credit extended hereunder will comply with Regulations U and X.

                  SECTION  3.15.  Pledge  Agreements.  Each Pledge  Agreement is
effective to create in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of
the Secured Parties,  a legal,  valid and enforceable  security  interest in the
Collateral   described  therein  and,  when  certificates  or  promissory  notes
representing such Collateral are delivered to the Collateral Agent and the other
actions  specified  in such  Pledge  Agreement  have  been  taken,  such  Pledge
Agreement will  constitute a duly perfected  first priority Lien on and security
interest in all right,  title and  interest of each pledgor  thereunder  in such
Collateral, in each case prior and superior in right to any other Person.

                  SECTION 3.16. Year 2000. Any reprogramming  required to permit
the proper  functioning,  in and  following  the year 2000,  of (i) the material
computer  systems  of the  Company  and  the  Subsidiaries  and  (ii)  equipment
containing  embedded  microchips  (including  systems and equipment  supplied by
others or with which the Company's or such Subsidiary's  systems interface) that
is material to the  business  of the  Company and the  Subsidiaries,  taken as a
whole,  and the testing of all such systems and equipment,  as so  reprogrammed,
will be completed by September 30, 1999. The cost to the Company and each of its
Subsidiaries of such reprogramming and testing and of the reasonably foreseeable
consequences  of  year  2000  to  the  Company  and  each  of  the  Subsidiaries
(including, without limitation,  reprogramming errors and the failure of others'
systems  or  equipment)  will not,  in the  aggregate,  result in a Default or a
Material Adverse Effect. Except for such of the reprogramming referred to in the
preceding sentence as may be necessary,  the computer and management information
systems of the  Company  and each of the  Subsidiaries  are and,  with  ordinary
course upgrading and  maintenance,  will continue for the term of this Agreement
to be,  sufficient to permit the Company and each of the Subsidiaries to conduct
its business without the occurrence of any Material Adverse Effect.

                                        57
<PAGE>

                                                ARTICLE IV

                                                Conditions

                  SECTION 4.01. The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and
of the  Issuing  Banks to issue  Letters  of Credit  hereunder  shall not become
effective  until the date on which  each of the  following  conditions  has been
satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.02):

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

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

                  (c) The  Administrative  Agent  shall  have  received,  with a
         counterpart  or copy for each Lender,  a  certificate  of a responsible
         officer  of the  Company  confirming  as of the  Closing  Date  (i) the
         accuracy of all  representations  and  warranties in the Loan Documents
         and (ii) that there  exists no Default,  in each such case after giving
         effect to the Acquisition,  the Refinancings and the other Transactions
         that are to occur on the Closing Date.

                  (d) The  Administrative  Agent  shall  have  received,  with a
         counterpart or copy for each Lender,  the Target  Financial  Statements
         and the 1998 Business Consolidated Financial Statements
         (as such terms are defined in the Share Purchase Agreement).

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

                  (f)  All  material  governmental  and  third  party  approvals
         necessary in connection with the Transactions  shall have been obtained
         and shall be in full force and effect. The  Administrative  Agent shall
         have received a certificate of a responsible  officer of the Company to
         the  foregoing  effect,  to  which  shall  be  attached  copies  of all
         approvals so obtained.

                  (g) The  Collateral  Requirement  shall  be  satisfied  in all
         material respects and in a manner satisfactory to the Collateral Agent.

                                        58
<PAGE>

                  (h)  The Guarantee Requirement shall be satisfied.

                  (i) The  Administrative  Agent shall have received a favorable
         written opinion (addressed to the Administrative  Agent, the Collateral
         Agent,  the  Issuing  Banks  and the  Lenders)  of each of (i)  Cleary,
         Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton, counsel for the Loan Parties, substantially
         in the form of Exhibit H-1, (ii) Thomas H. Hagoort,  General Counsel of
         the Company,  substantially  in the form of Exhibit H-2, and (iii) such
         special  and local  counsel as may be  required  by the  Administrative
         Agent, in each case covering such matters relating to the Loan Parties,
         the Loan  Documents or the  Transactions  as the  Administrative  Agent
         shall reasonably request.

                  (j) (i) The Company  Existing Credit  Agreement and each other
         instrument or agreement evidencing or governing  Indebtedness listed on
         Schedule  1.01 and any  commitments  of the lenders or other  creditors
         thereunder shall have been or shall  simultaneously be terminated,  all
         amounts outstanding  thereunder shall have been or shall simultaneously
         be paid in  full  and all  Liens,  if  any,  securing  the  obligations
         thereunder  or under any  related  agreements  shall have been or shall
         simultaneously be released and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall have
         received   evidence   satisfactory   in  form  and   substance   to  it
         demonstrating such termination, payment and release.

                  (k) The Share  Purchase  Agreement  shall be in full force and
         effect  and shall not have  been  amended  in any  respect  that  would
         adversely affect in any material respect the rights or interests of the
         Lenders.

                  (l) The  Acquisition  shall have been  consummated or shall be
         consummated  simultaneously  on the Closing Date, in either case in all
         material  respects in accordance  with the terms of the Share  Purchase
         Agreement  (and  without  the  waiver  of any  such  material  terms or
         conditions  thereto  unless agreed to in writing by the  Administrative
         Agent).

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

                  (a) The  representations and warranties of each Loan Party set
         forth  in the Loan  Documents  (except,  in the  case of any  Revolving
         Borrowing  that  does  not  result  in an  increase  in  the  Aggregate
         Revolving Credit Exposure, the representations and warranties set forth
         in  Sections  3.04(c)  and 3.06) shall be true and correct on and as of
         the date of such Borrowing or the date of issuance,  amendment, renewal
         or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable.

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

                                       59

<PAGE>

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

                  SECTION  4.03.   Initial   Credit  Event  for  each  Borrowing
Subsidiary.  The  obligation  of each  Lender  to make  Loans  to any  Borrowing
Subsidiary is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

                  (a) The  Administrative  Agent  (or its  counsel)  shall  have
         received such Borrowing  Subsidiary's  Borrowing  Subsidiary  Agreement
         duly executed by all parties thereto.

                  (b) The  Administrative  Agent shall have received a favorable
         written opinion of counsel for such Borrowing  Subsidiary covering such
         other matters  relating to such  Borrowing  Subsidiary or its Borrowing
         Subsidiary  Agreement,  and  to  any  related  Obligations  of  Foreign
         Subsidiaries as Guarantors or Pledgors under the Pledge  Agreement,  as
         the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request.

                  (c)  The   Administrative   Agent  shall  have  received  such
         documents and certificates as the  Administrative  Agent or its counsel
         may reasonably request relating to the organization, existence and good
         standing  of  such  Borrowing  Subsidiary,  the  authorization  of  the
         Transactions  insofar as they relate to such  Borrowing  Subsidiary and
         any other legal  matters  relating to such  Borrowing  Subsidiary,  its
         Borrowing  Subsidiary  Agreement or such Transactions,  all in form and
         substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.


                                                 ARTICLE V

                                           Affirmative Covenants

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

                                        60

<PAGE>
                  SECTION 5.01.  Financial Statements and Other Information.
The Company will furnish to the Administrative Agent with copies for each
Lender:

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

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

                  (c)  concurrently  with any delivery of  financial  statements
         under clause (a) or (b) above, a certificate of a Financial  Officer of
         the Company (i) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if
         a Default has occurred,  specifying the details  thereof and any action
         taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto,  (ii) setting forth
         reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with Sections
         6.08 and 6.09 and (iii)  stating  whether  any change in GAAP or in the
         application  thereof  has  occurred  since  the  date of the  Company's
         audited  financial  statements  referred to in Section 3.04 and, if any
         such change has occurred,  specifying  the effect of such change on the
         financial statements accompanying such certificate;

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

                  (e)  concurrently  with any delivery of  financial  statements
         under clause (a) above, a certificate  signed by a Financial Officer of
         the Company  setting forth the amount,  if any, of Excess Cash Flow for
         such fiscal year and the calculation thereof in reasonable detail;

                                        61
<PAGE>


                  (f) not later  than the last day of the  second  month of each
         fiscal year of the  Company,  a detailed  consolidated  budget for such
         fiscal year  (including  a  projected  consolidated  balance  sheet and
         related statements of projected  operations and cash flow as of the end
         of and for such fiscal year), consistent in form and substance with the
         budgets  heretofore  prepared  by  the  Company  and  furnished  to the
         Administrative  Agent and,  promptly when  available,  any  significant
         revisions to such budget;

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

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

                  SECTION 5.02.  Notices of Material Events.  If, to the
knowledge of any Financial Officer or other executive officer of the Company,
any of the following events has occurred:

                  (a) any Default;

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

                  (c) any ERISA  Event that,  alone or  together  with any other
         ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result
         in liability of the Company or its  Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount
         exceeding $10,000,000; or

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

then the Company will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender prompt
written  notice of such  occurrence.  Each notice  delivered  under this Section
shall be  accompanied by a statement of a Financial  Officer or other  executive
officer of the Company  setting  forth the  details of the event or  development
requiring  such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect
thereto.

                  SECTION  5.03.  Existence;  Conduct of  Business.  The Company
will,  and will  cause each of the  Subsidiaries  to, do or cause to be done all
things necessary to preserve,  renew and keep in full force and effect its legal
existence and the rights, licenses, permits,  privileges,  franchises,  patents,
copyrights,  trademarks  and trade names material to the conduct of its business
and the business of the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided

                                        62
<PAGE>

that the foregoing  shall not prohibit any merger,  consolidation,  liquidation,
dissolution or other transaction permitted under Section 6.03.

                  SECTION 5.04.  Payment of  Obligations.  The Company will, and
will  cause  each  of the  Subsidiaries  to,  pay  its  Indebtedness  and  other
obligations,  including Tax liabilities, before the same shall become delinquent
or in  default,  except  where  (a) the  validity  or  amount  thereof  is being
contested  in good  faith by  appropriate  proceedings  and the  Company or such
Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate  reserves with respect thereto in
accordance  with GAAP or (b) failure to pay could not  reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect.

                  SECTION 5.05. Maintenance of Properties. The Company will, and
will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, keep and maintain all property  material
to the conduct of its business in good  working  order and  condition,  ordinary
wear  and  tear  excepted;   except  for  such  cases  of  non-compliance  that,
individually or in the aggregate,  could not reasonably be expected to result in
a Material Adverse Effect.

                  SECTION 5.06. Insurance.  (a) The Company will, and will cause
each Subsidiary to,  maintain,  with financially  sound and reputable  insurance
companies, insurance against such risks (and with such risk retentions) as shall
be customary  for  companies of  established  reputation  engaged in the same or
similar businesses,  and will furnish,  and cause each Subsidiary to furnish, to
the  Lenders,  at  the  request  of the  Administrative  Agent,  information  in
reasonable detail as to the insurance carried by it.

                  SECTION  5.07.  Books  and  Records;  Inspection  Rights.  The
Company will, and will cause each of its  Subsidiaries  to, keep proper books of
record and  account in which  full,  true and  correct  entries  are made of all
dealings  and  transactions  in relation to its  business  and  activities.  The
Company  will,  and  will  cause  each  of  its   Subsidiaries  to,  permit  any
representatives  designated  by the  Administrative  Agent or any  Lender,  upon
reasonable  prior notice,  to visit and inspect its  properties,  to examine and
make extracts from its books and records,  and to discuss its affairs,  finances
and  condition  with  its  officers  and  independent  accountants,  all at such
reasonable times and as often as reasonably requested;  provided that nothing in
this  Section  shall  require any Loan Party to  disclose  any  confidential  or
proprietary information constituting trade secrets.

                  SECTION 5.08. Compliance with Laws. The Company will, and will
cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with all laws, rules,  regulations and
orders of any Governmental Authority (including Environmental Laws and ERISA and
the rules and regulations  thereunder) applicable to it or its property,  except
where  the  failure  to do so,  individually  or in  the  aggregate,  could  not
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

                  SECTION  5.09.  Use of  Proceeds  and  Letters of Credit.  The
Borrowers  will use the proceeds of the Loans and the Letters of Credit only for
the purposes set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

                                        63
<PAGE>

                  SECTION 5.10. Further  Assurances.  The Company will, and will
cause  each of the  Subsidiaries  to,  execute  any and all  further  documents,
financing  statements,  agreements and instruments,  and take all further action
(including filing Uniform  Commercial Code and other financing  statements) that
may be  required  under  applicable  law,  or that  the  Required  Lenders,  the
Administrative  Agent or the Collateral Agent may reasonably  request,  in order
that the Guarantee Requirement and the Collateral Requirement shall be satisfied
at all times.

                  SECTION 5.11. Ownership of Subsidiaries. (a) The Company will,
and will cause each of the  Subsidiaries to, ensure that all Equity Interests in
Domestic Subsidiaries (other than minority interests owned by parties other than
the  Company  and  the   Subsidiaries   and  Equity   Interests  in   Immaterial
Subsidiaries)  are owned directly or indirectly at all times only by the Company
or one or more other Domestic  Subsidiaries and that all the Equity Interests of
such  latter  Domestic  Subsidiaries  are  pledged  to secure  the  Obligations;
provided,  that if the Company  shall acquire any foreign  corporation  or other
entity that shall own one or more domestic  corporations  or other  entities not
formed in  contemplation of such  acquisition,  the provisions of this paragraph
shall not apply to such domestic  corporations  or other  entities until 90 days
have  passed  following  such  acquisition,  and shall in no event  require  any
transfer of any such domestic corporation or other entity if and for so long as,
in the  judgment of the  Company,  significant  adverse tax  consequences  would
result.

                  (b) The Company will, and will cause each of its  Subsidiaries
to,  ensure that any  Foreign  Subsidiary  (including  each  Foreign  Subsidiary
acquired in connection with the  Acquisition),  other than any Excluded  Foreign
Subsidiary or Immaterial  Subsidiary  (and other than the 8% Equity  Interest in
Albany  International Ltd. owned directly by the Company or a 2% Equity Interest
in AI Financial Services Company (Ireland)),  is owned directly or indirectly at
all times by a Domestic  Subsidiary  and that all the Equity  Interests  of such
Domestic Subsidiary are pledged to secure the Obligations;  provided that if any
transfer of Equity  Interests  in any  Foreign  Subsidiary  required  under this
paragraph shall,  under the law of the jurisdiction of such Foreign  Subsidiary,
require  any  registration  with  or  action  on the  part  of any  Governmental
Authority,  or any other action,  and if the Company shall be using commercially
reasonable  efforts  to effect  such  registration  or obtain or  complete  such
action,  the failure to have effected such registration or obtained or completed
such action shall not, in and of itself,  result in a breach of the requirements
of this paragraph  until (x) the later of (i) the 90th day after the date of the
initial  Credit Event  hereunder and (ii) the 90th day after the  acquisition of
such  Foreign  Subsidiary  by the  Company  or a  Subsidiary  or (y) if,  in the
judgment of the  Administrative  Agent, the Company is endeavoring in good faith
to satisfy the requirements of this paragraph,  such later date as may be agreed
to by the Administrative Agent.

                                        64
<PAGE>

                                                ARTICLE VI

                                            Negative Covenants

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

                  SECTION  6.01.  Subsidiary  Debt.  The  sum of (a)  the  total
Indebtedness of all Consolidated  Subsidiaries (excluding (i) Indebtedness under
this Agreement,  (ii) Indebtedness  existing on the date hereof and set forth on
Schedule 6.01, (iii)  Indebtedness owed to the Company or to a Subsidiary,  (iv)
reimbursement  obligations in respect of undrawn  letters of credit  incurred in
the  ordinary  course  of  business  and  (v)  Indebtedness  of  any  Subsidiary
Guarantor)  plus  (b)  the  aggregate  unliquidated  amount  of all  Receivables
theretofore sold by all Consolidated Subsidiaries (excluding Receivables sold to
the Company or to a Subsidiary, other than a Subsidiary that serves as a conduit
in a sale or financing transaction with one or more third parties (provided that
a sale of Receivables  to a Subsidiary  and any resale of such  Receivables to a
third  party will be counted as a single sale of such  Receivables))  will at no
time exceed $75,000,000.

                  SECTION 6.02.  Negative Pledge.  Neither the Company nor any
Consolidated Subsidiary will create, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any
asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, except:

                  (a)  Liens  (including  existing  Liens on the  assets  of the
         Acquired  Business and its  subsidiaries)  existing on the date hereof,
         securing Indebtedness  outstanding on the date hereof, and set forth on
         Schedule 6.02;

                  (b) any Lien on any asset  securing  Indebtedness  incurred or
         assumed  for the  purpose of  financing  all or any part of the cost of
         acquiring  such asset,  provided  that such Lien attaches to such asset
         concurrently with or within 180 days after the acquisition thereof;

                  (c)  any  Lien  existing  on  any  asset  of  any  corporation
         (including  any Lien on the  assets of the  Acquired  Business  and its
         subsidiaries)  at the time  such  corporation  becomes  a  Consolidated
         Subsidiary, provided that (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation
         of or in  connection  with such  corporation  becoming  a  Consolidated
         Subsidiary,  (ii) such Lien  shall not apply to any other  property  or
         assets of the  Company  or any  Subsidiary  and (iii)  such Lien  shall
         secure  only  those  obligations  which it  secures  on the  date  such
         corporation becomes a Consolidated Subsidiary and extensions,  renewals
         and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal
         amount thereof;

                  (d) any Lien on any asset of any  corporation  existing at the
         time  such  corporation  is  merged  or  consolidated  with or into the
         Company or any Consolidated Subsidiary and not created in contemplation
         of such event; provided that such Lien shall not extend to other assets
         of the

                                        65
<PAGE>

         Company or such  Consolidated  Subsidiary  and shall  secure only those
         obligations   which  it  secures   on  the  date  of  such   merger  or
         consolidation and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do
         not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;

                  (e) any Lien  existing on any asset  prior to the  acquisition
         thereof by the Company or any  Consolidated  Subsidiary and not created
         in contemplation of such acquisition;

                  (f)  any  Lien  arising  out  of the  refinancing,  extension,
         renewal or refunding of any Indebtedness  secured by any Lien permitted
         by any of the  foregoing  clauses  of  this  Section  (other  than  the
         existing  Liens  on  the  assets  of  the  Acquired  Business  and  its
         subsidiaries  permitted  by  clause  (a)  above);  provided  that  such
         Indebtedness  is not  increased  and is not  secured by any  additional
         assets;

                  (g) Liens for taxes that are not yet subject to penalties  for
         non-payment  or are being  contested  in good  faith,  or minor  survey
         exceptions or minor  encumbrances,  easements or other rights of others
         with respect to, or zoning or other governmental restrictions as to the
         use of, real property that do not, in the aggregate,  materially impair
         the use of such  property in the  operation  of the  businesses  of the
         Company and the Subsidiaries;

                  (h) (i) Liens  arising out of judgments or awards  against the
         Company or any  Subsidiary  with  respect to which the  Company or such
         Subsidiary is, in good faith,  prosecuting an appeal or proceedings for
         review and (ii) Liens incurred by the Company or any Subsidiary for the
         purpose of  obtaining a stay or discharge  in any legal  proceeding  to
         which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party; provided that the Liens
         permitted by the foregoing clause (ii) shall not secure  obligations in
         an  aggregate   principal  amount   outstanding  in  excess  of  5%  of
         Consolidated Tangible Net Worth;

                  (i) (i) carriers', warehousemen's,  mechanics', materialmen's,
         repairmen's,  landlord's  or other like Liens  arising in the  ordinary
         course of business  for sums which are not overdue for a period of more
         than 60 days or which are being  contested in good faith by appropriate
         proceedings,  (ii)  pledges or deposits  in  connection  with  workers'
         compensation,   unemployment   insurance  and  other  social   security
         legislation and deposits securing liability to insurance carriers under
         insurance or self-insurance arrangements,  and (iii) deposits to secure
         the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for Indebtedness),
         leases (other than Capital Lease Obligations),  statutory  obligations,
         surety and appeal bonds,  performance  bonds and other obligations of a
         like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business; and

                  (j) Liens not otherwise  permitted by the foregoing clauses of
         this Section  securing  Indebtedness in an aggregate  principal  amount
         outstanding not to exceed 5% of Consolidated Tangible Net Worth.

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                  SECTION 6.03. Consolidations,  Mergers and Sales of Asses. The
Company will not, and will not permit any of the Subsidiaries to, consolidate or
merge with, or sell, lease or otherwise  dispose of any of its assets to, or, in
the case of a Subsidiary,  issue or sell any Equity Interests in such Subsidiary
to, any Person (other than the Company or a Subsidiary), except that, so long as
no Default would result under any other provision of this Agreement:

                  (a) any  Person  may merge  with and into the  Company  or any
         Subsidiary  Guarantor;  provided  that the  Company or such  Subsidiary
         Guarantor, as the case may be, is the surviving Person;

                  (b)  any  Person  other  than  the  Company  or  a  Subsidiary
         Guarantor  may  merge  with  and  into  any  Subsidiary  that  is not a
         Subsidiary  Guarantor;  provided that such  Subsidiary is the surviving
         Person;

                  (c)  subject to  Sections  5.11 and 6.07,  the  Company or any
         Subsidiary may sell, lease or otherwise dispose of any of its assets to
         the Company or any other Subsidiary;

                  (d) the Company or any Subsidiary may sell, lease or otherwise
         dispose of any of its inventory in the ordinary  course of business and
         any of its assets which are obsolete, excess or unserviceable;

                  (e) any Foreign Subsidiary may sell Receivables in one or more
         transactions  in the ordinary  course of business and  consistent  with
         past practice,  the proceeds of which transactions are used for working
         capital;

                  (f)  the  Company  and the  Subsidiaries  may  consummate  the
         Proposed Acquisition (including the issuance of Equity Interests by the
         German LP described in the definition of such term);

                  (g) the  Company and the  Subsidiaries  may carry out sale and
         leaseback transactions permitted under Section 6.06;

                  (h) the Company or any Subsidiary may sell, lease or otherwise
         dispose of Equity  Interests in any Subsidiary,  and any Subsidiary may
         issue and sell its Equity Interests,  to one or more Persons other than
         the Company and the  Subsidiaries  in an aggregate  amount for all such
         transactions  that will not  result in  Subsidiaries  in which  Persons
         other than the Company and the  Subsidiaries  hold  minority  interests
         representing more than 7.5% of Consolidated Tangible Net Worth; and

                  (i) the Company or any Subsidiary may sell, lease or otherwise
         dispose of any of its assets for fair value (other than as permitted by
         clauses (a) through (h) above);  provided that (i) no such  transaction
         shall involve more than 15% of the  consolidated  assets of the Company
         and the  Subsidiaries,  (ii) no such  transaction,  when taken together
         with  all  previous   such   transactions,   shall  result  in  all  or
         substantially  all of the assets of the  Company  and the  Subsidiaries
         having been sold or otherwise  disposed  of, (iii) no such  transaction
         shall result in a reduction in the  percentage of the Equity  Interests
         of any  Subsidiary  owned  directly or indirectly by the Company unless
         all the Equity Interests in such Subsidiary owned

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         directly or  indirectly by the Company are disposed of and (iv) the Net
         Proceeds from any such transaction shall be used to prepay Loans to the
         extent required under and in accordance with Section 2.11(c).

                  SECTION 6.04.  Transactions with Affiliates.  The Company will
not, and will not permit any  Subsidiary  to,  directly or  indirectly,  pay any
funds  to or for the  account  of,  make  any  investment  in or  engage  in any
transaction  with any Affiliate  (other than the Company or a Subsidiary none of
the Equity  Interests in which are owned  directly or indirectly by an Affiliate
of the Company that is not a Subsidiary), except that:

                  (a) the Company may declare and pay any dividend permitted by
Section 6.05;

                  (b) the Company or any Subsidiary may make payments or provide
         compensation,  and reimburse related expenses, for services rendered by
         (i) any  Affiliate  who is an  officer,  director  or  employee  of the
         Company or any Subsidiary and (ii) J. Spencer Standish;

                  (c) the Company or any Subsidiary may make any investment
permitted by Section 6.07;

                  (d)  the  Company  or any  Subsidiary  may  make  sales  to or
         purchases  from any  Affiliate  and, in  connection  therewith,  extend
         credit, may make payments or provide compensation for services rendered
         by any  Affiliate,  and may  engage in any other  transaction  with any
         Affiliate,  in  each  case  in the  ordinary  course  of  business  and
         consistent  with past practice and on terms and  conditions at least as
         favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary as the terms and conditions
         that would apply (i) in an arm's length  transaction  with a Person not
         an Affiliate or (ii) in the case of a transaction  relating to pension,
         deferred  compensation,  insurance  or  other  benefit  plans  with  an
         Affiliate  employee,  in a  similar  transaction  with a  non-Affiliate
         employee; and

                  (e) the Company or any Subsidiary  may engage in  transactions
         with the entities listed on Schedule 6.04 to the extent consistent with
         past practice.

                  SECTION  6.05.  Restricted  Payments.  The  Company  will  not
declare or make any Restricted  Payment unless,  immediately after giving effect
to such Restricted Payment, (a) the Leverage Ratio does not exceed 2.75 to 1.00,
(b) no Default  shall have  occurred  and be  continuing  and (c) the sum of all
Restricted  Payments  (including such Restricted Payment) made during the period
of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending with the fiscal quarter in which such
Restricted  Payment  is to be made will not  exceed  the  greater  of (i) 50% of
Consolidated  Net  Income  for the period of four  consecutive  fiscal  quarters
ending with the fiscal quarter immediately preceding the fiscal quarter in which
such Restricted Payment was declared and (ii) $25,000,000.

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                  SECTION 6.06. Limitations on Sale-Leasebacks. The Company will
not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any arrangement, directly
or indirectly, with any Person whereby the Company or such Subsidiary shall sell
or transfer  property,  whether  now owned or  hereafter  acquired,  and then or
thereafter  rent or lease as lessee  such  property  or any part  thereof or any
other  property  which  the  Company  or  any  Subsidiary  intends  to  use  for
substantially  the same  purpose  or  purposes  as the  property  being  sold or
transferred,  unless (a) such  transaction  is  effected  within 180 days of the
initial  acquisition  of the  property  by the  Company or such  Subsidiary  and
results in a lease  obligation  incurred or assumed for the purpose of financing
all or any part of the cost of acquiring  such asset,  (b) the Net Proceeds from
any such  transaction  are used to prepay  loans  under and in  accordance  with
Section  2.11(c) or (c) after giving  effect to any such sale or  transfer,  the
aggregate fair market value of all property of the Company and its  Subsidiaries
so sold or transferred  after the date hereof,  and not permitted  under clauses
(a) or (b) above, does not exceed $75,000,000.

                  Section 6.07.  Investments,  Loans,  Advances,  Guarantees and
Acquisitions.  The  Company  will not,  and will not permit any  Subsidiary  to,
purchase, hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger with any Person that
was not a Subsidiary  prior to such merger) any Equity  Interests,  evidences of
Indebtedness or other securities  (other than any Hedging Agreement entered into
in the  ordinary  course of  business)  of, make or permit to exist any loans or
advances  (excluding  accounts  receivable  arising out of the sale of goods and
services  reflected  on the  Company's  balance  sheet as  current  assets)  to,
Guarantee any  obligations  of, or make or permit to exist any investment or any
other  interest in, any other Person,  or purchase or otherwise  acquire (in one
transaction  or a  series  of  transactions)  any  assets  of any  other  Person
constituting a business unit (a "business unit"), except:

                  (a) the Acquisition (and all intercompany loans,  advances and
         investments  by  which  the  amounts  payable  in the  Acquisition  are
         transferred to the Subsidiaries paying such amounts);

                  (b) Permitted Investments;

                  (c) (i) investments existing on the date hereof in the capital
         stock of Subsidiaries or in Indebtedness of Subsidiaries and (ii) other
         investments existing on the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 6.07;

                  (d)  investments,  loans and advances made or acquired as part
         of the Proposed  Acquisition,  as set forth in the  definition  of such
         term;  provided  that (i) the Acquired  Entity is engaged in a business
         permitted  under  Section  6.10,  (ii)  the  consideration  paid to the
         sellers of share participations in the Acquired Entity or for assets of
         the Acquired  Entity  permitted  under this clause (d) shall not exceed
         (A) cash in an aggregate  amount not in excess of  $75,000,000  and (B)
         Equity  Interests in the Company or German Sub with a fair market value
         on  the  date  the  Acquired  Entity  is  acquired  not  in  excess  of
         $125,000,000  minus  the  amount  of  the  cash  paid  pursuant  to the
         preceding  clause (A), (iii) such Equity  Interests of German Sub shall
         not be redeemable  at the option of the holder,  or contain any term or
         be subject to any provision  that could  require the issuer  thereof to
         redeem or repurchase such Equity Interests,  prior to the Term Maturity
         Date, except that such Equity Interests may entitle the holders thereof
         to cause a  liquidation  of German  Sub in which such  holders  will be
         entitled, at the

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<PAGE>

         election of the Company,  to receive only shares of common stock of the
         Company (and the Company covenants that the assets  distributed to such
         holders upon any such  liquidation  will consist only of such shares of
         common  stock) and (iv) the  aggregate  fair market value of the assets
         (other than  common  stock of the  Company)  contributed  or  otherwise
         transferred by the Company and the Subsidiaries (other than German Sub)
         to  and  held  by  German  Sub  and  its  subsidiaries,  valued  at the
         respective  times at which such  assets are  contributed  or  otherwise
         transferred, shall not at any time exceed $175,000,000;

                  (e)  acquisitions  of assets of or Equity  Interests  in other
         Persons with an aggregate  fair market value for all such  acquisitions
         not to  exceed  $250,000,000  for  consideration  consisting  solely of
         common stock of the Company;

                 (f)  acquisitions  of assets of or  Equity  Interests  in other
         Persons for cash in an aggregate  amount for all such  acquisitions not
         to exceed $25,000,000; provided that additional Equity Interests may be
         acquired for cash if (i) at the time of and after giving effect to each
         such  acquisition  and any related  incurrences  of  Indebtedness,  the
         Leverage Ratio is less than 2.50 to 1.00 and (ii) the aggregate  amount
         of all  acquisitions  made  under  this  clause  (f)  does  not  exceed
         $100,000,000;

                  (g) (i) any investment,  loan or advance by a Loan Party in or
         to  another  Loan  Party,  (ii) any  investment,  loan or  advance by a
         Subsidiary  that is not a Loan Party in or to a Loan  Party,  (iii) any
         investment,  loan or advance by any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party
         to any  other  Subsidiary  that  is  not a  Loan  Party  and  (iv)  any
         investment, loan or advance by any Loan Party to any Subsidiary that is
         not a Loan  Party;  provided  that  each  investment,  loan or  advance
         referred  to in the  preceding  clause  (iv) must be in an  outstanding
         principal  amount  which,   together  with  the  aggregate  outstanding
         principal amount of all other investments, loans and advances permitted
         by such clause (iv), shall not exceed $75,000,000 at any time;

                  (h) Guarantees constituting  Indebtedness permitted by Section
         6.01;  provided that a Subsidiary shall not Guarantee any obligation of
         the Company unless such  Subsidiary also has Guaranteed the Obligations
         of the Company hereunder;

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

                  (j) loans or other advances to employees  consistent with past
         practice; and

                  (k) other  investments not permitted under clauses (a) through
         (i) above in an aggregate amount not exceeding $50,000,000 at any time.

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<PAGE>

                  SECTION 6.08.  Leverage Ratio.  The Company will not permit
the Leverage Ratio on any date during any of the periods set forth below and to
exceed the ratio set forth opposite such period:

                  Period                                          Ratio

                  Through 12/31/00                   4.50 to 1.00
                  1/1/01 through 12/31/01            3.50 to 1.00
                  Thereafter                         3.00 to 1.00


                 SECTION 6.09.  Interest  Coverage  Ratio.  The Company will not
permit the ratio of Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Interest Expense for any
period of four fiscal quarters,  commencing with the period ending September 30,
1999,  to be less than (a) for any  period  ending on or prior to  December  31,
2000,  2.25 to 1.00, or (b) for any period ending after December 31, 2000,  3.00
to 1.00.

                 SECTION 6.10. Lines of Business. The Company will not, and will
not permit any  Subsidiary  to,  engage at any time in any  business or business
activity  other than a business  conducted  by the Company and its  Subsidiaries
(including  the Acquired  Business)  on the date hereof and business  activities
reasonably incidental thereto.


                                                ARTICLE VII

                                             Events of Default

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

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

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

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

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<PAGE>

                  (d) the  Company  or any  Subsidiary  shall fail to observe or
         perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.02,
         5.03 (with respect to the existence of any  Borrower),  5.09 or 5.11 or
         in Article VI;

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

                  (f) the  Company  or any  Subsidiary  shall  fail to make  any
         payment  (whether of principal or interest and regardless of amount) in
         respect of any Material Indebtedness, when and as the same shall become
         due and payable;

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

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

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

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

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<PAGE>

                  (k) one or more  judgments  for the  payment  of  money  in an
         aggregate amount in excess of $10,000,000 shall be rendered against the
         Company,  any Subsidiary or any combination  thereof and the same shall
         remain  undischarged  for a period of 30 consecutive  days during which
         execution  shall not be  effectively  stayed,  or any  action  shall be
         legally taken by a judgment  creditor to attach or levy upon any assets
         of the Company or any Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment;

                  (l) an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of
         the Required  Lenders,  when taken together with all other  unsatisfied
         liabilities in connection  with ERISA Events that have occurred,  could
         reasonably  be expected to result in  liability  of the Company and the
         Subsidiaries  in an aggregate  amount  exceeding (i) $10,000,000 in any
         year or (ii) $25,000,000 in the aggregate;

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

                  (n) any  guarantee  of any  Guarantor  hereunder  or under the
         Subsidiary  Guarantee Agreement shall cease to be, or shall be asserted
         by any Loan Party not to be, a legal,  valid and binding  obligation of
         such Guarantor; or

                  (o) a Change in Control shall occur;

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

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<PAGE>

                                               ARTICLE VIII

                                                The Agent

                  In order to expedite  the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement,  Chase  is  hereby  appointed  to act  as  Administrative  Agent  and
Collateral Agent, and CMIL is hereby appointed to act as London Agent, on behalf
of the Lenders and each Issuing Bank. Each of the Lenders,  each assignee of any
such Lender and each Issuing Bank hereby  irrevocably  authorizes  the Agents to
take such  actions on behalf of such Lender or assignee or such Issuing Bank and
to exercise  such powers as are delegated to the Agents by the terms of the Loan
Documents,  together with such actions and powers as are  reasonably  incidental
thereto.  The Administrative Agent and, to the extent expressly provided herein,
the London Agent are hereby expressly authorized by the Lenders and each Issuing
Bank, without hereby limiting any implied authority, (a) to receive on behalf of
the Lenders and the Issuing  Banks all  payments of principal of and interest on
the Loans,  all payments in respect of L/C  Disbursements  and all other amounts
due to the  Lenders  hereunder,  and  promptly to  distribute  to each Lender or
Issuing Bank its proper share of each payment so received; (b) to give notice on
behalf of each of the Lenders to the  Company of any Event of Default  specified
in this  Agreement  of which  the  Administrative  Agent  has  actual  knowledge
acquired in connection with its agency hereunder;  and (c) to distribute to each
Lender copies of all notices, financial statements and other materials delivered
by the Company or any other Loan Party  pursuant to this  Agreement or the other
Loan Documents as received by the  Administrative  Agent.  Without  limiting the
generality of the  foregoing,  if all  applicable  mandatory  prepayments  under
Section  2.11(c) shall have been made or arrangements  therefor  satisfactory to
the Administrative  Agent shall have been entered into, the Administrative Agent
and the  Collateral  Agent  are  hereby  expressly  authorized  to  release  any
Guarantor from its obligations  hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and
release  the  security  interest  in any  Collateral,  in the event that all the
capital stock of such Guarantor, or such Collateral,  shall be sold, transferred
or otherwise  disposed of to a Person that is not an Affiliate of the Company in
a transaction  permitted by Section  6.03,  and to execute any and all documents
(including  releases)  with  respect  to the  Collateral  and the  rights of the
Secured  Parties with respect  thereto,  in each case as  contemplated by and in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

                  With respect to any Loans made by it hereunder,  each Agent in
its  individual  capacity and not as Agent shall have the same rights and powers
as any other  Lender and may  exercise  the same as though it were not an Agent,
and the Agents and their  Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to and
generally  engage in any kind of business with the Company or any  Subsidiary or
other Affiliate thereof as if it were not an Agent.

                  The  Agents  shall not have any duties or  obligations  except
those expressly set forth in the Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality
of the  foregoing,  (a) no Agent  shall be  subject  to any  fiduciary  or other
implied duties,  regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing,
(b) no Agent  shall have any duty to take any  discretionary  action or exercise
any  discretionary  powers,  except  discretionary  rights and powers  expressly
contemplated  by the Loan  Documents that the Agent is required to exercise upon
receipt of notice in writing by the  Required  Lenders (or such other  number or
percentage  of the  Lenders as shall be  necessary  under the  circumstances  as
provided in Section  10.02),  and (c) except as expressly  set forth in the Loan
Documents, no Agent

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<PAGE>

shall have any duty to disclose, and no Agent shall be liable for the failure to
disclose,  any  information  relating to the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries
that is communicated  to or obtained by the institution  serving as Agent or any
of its Affiliates in any capacity. No Agent shall be liable for any action taken
or not taken by it with the  consent or at the request of the  Required  Lenders
(or such other number or percentage  of the Lenders as shall be necessary  under
the  circumstances  as provided  in Section  10.02) or in the absence of its own
gross  negligence  or  wilful  misconduct.  No  Agent  shall be  deemed  to have
knowledge of any Default  unless and until  written  notice  thereof is given to
such Agent by the Company or a Lender,  and no Agent shall be responsible for or
have any duty to  ascertain  or  inquire  into (i) any  statement,  warranty  or
representation  made in or in  connection  with  any  Loan  Document,  (ii)  the
contents of any  certificate,  report or other document  delivered  hereunder or
thereunder or in  connection  herewith or therewith,  (iii) the  performance  or
observance of any of the covenants,  agreements or other terms or conditions set
forth herein or therein,  (iv) the validity,  enforceability,  effectiveness  or
genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document,
or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere in
any Loan Document,  other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to
be delivered to such Agent.

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

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

                  Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Agent
as provided in this paragraph, any Agent may resign at any time by notifying the
Lenders,  the Issuing  Banks and the  Company.  Upon any such  resignation,  the
Required  Lenders shall have the right,  in  consultation  with the Company,  to
appoint  a  successor.  If no  successor  shall  have been so  appointed  by the
Required Lenders and shall have accepted such  appointment  within 30 days after
the retiring Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Agent may,
on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks,  appoint a successor Agent which
shall be a bank with an office in New York,  New York,  or an  Affiliate  of any
such bank.  Upon the  acceptance  of its  appointment  as Agent  hereunder  by a
successor,  such  successor  shall  succeed  to and become  vested  with all the
rights,  powers,  privileges and duties of the retiring Agent,  and the retiring
Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations  hereunder.  After the
Agent's resignation hereunder,  the provisions of this Article and Section 10.03
shall continue in effect for the

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<PAGE>

benefit of such retiring  Agent,  its  sub-agents and their  respective  Related
Parties in respect  of any  actions  taken or omitted to be taken by any of them
while it was acting as Agent.

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



                                                ARTICLE IX

                                                 Guarantee

                  In order to induce the Lenders to extend credit hereunder, the
Company hereby irrevocably and unconditionally  guarantees, as a primary obligor
and not merely as a surety, the Obligations. The Company further agrees that the
due and punctual payment of the Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole
or in part, without notice to or further assent from it, and that it will remain
bound upon its Guarantee hereunder notwithstanding any such extension or renewal
of any  Obligation.  Each and every  default in payment of the  principal of and
premium,  if any, or interest  on any  Obligation  shall give rise to a separate
cause of action  hereunder,  and separate suits may be brought hereunder as each
cause of action arises.

                  The Company waives  presentment to, demand of payment from and
protest to any Borrowing  Subsidiary of any of the Obligations,  and also waives
notice of acceptance of its  obligations  and notice of protest for  nonpayment.
The  obligations  of the  Company  hereunder  shall not be  affected  by (a) the
failure of any  Secured  Party to assert  any claim or demand or to enforce  any
right or remedy against any Loan Party under the  provisions of this  Agreement,
any other Loan Document or otherwise; (b) any extension or renewal of any of the
Obligations;  (c) any  rescission,  waiver,  amendment  or  modification  of, or
release from,  any of the terms or provisions of this  Agreement,  any Borrowing
Subsidiary Agreement or any other Loan Document or agreement; (d) the release of
(or the  failure to perfect a security  interest  in) any  security  held by any
Secured Party for the  performance  of the  Obligations  or any of them; (e) the
failure or delay of any Secured  Party to exercise  any right or remedy  against
any other guarantor of the Obligations;  (f) the failure of any Secured Party to
assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under any Loan Document, any
guarantee or any other  agreement  or  instrument;  (g) any default,  failure or
delay,  wilful or otherwise,  in the performance of the Obligations;  or (h) any
other  act,  omission  or delay to do any  other  act  which may or might in any
manner or to any extent vary the risk of the Company or  otherwise  operate as a
discharge  of the Company as a matter of law or equity or which would  impair or
eliminate any right of the Company to subrogation.

                  The  Company  further  agrees  that  its  agreement  hereunder
constitutes  a promise of payment  when due  (whether or not any  bankruptcy  or
similar proceeding shall have stayed the accrual or

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<PAGE>

collection of any of the Obligations or operated as a discharge thereof) and not
merely of collection,  and waives any right to require that any resort be had by
any Secured  Party to any balance of any deposit  account or credit on the books
of any Secured Party in favor of any Borrower or any other Person.

                  The obligations of the Company  hereunder shall not be subject
to any  reduction,  limitation,  impairment or termination  for any reason,  and
shall not be subject  to any  defense or  setoff,  counterclaim,  recoupment  or
termination   whatsoever,   by  reason   of  the   invalidity,   illegality   or
unenforceability of the Obligations, any impossibility in the performance of the
Obligations or otherwise.

                  The  Company  further  agrees that its  obligations  hereunder
shall continue to be effective or be  reinstated,  as the case may be, if at any
time  payment,  or any part  thereof,  of any  Obligation  is  rescinded or must
otherwise be restored by any Secured Party upon the bankruptcy or reorganization
of any Borrower or otherwise.

                  In  furtherance  of the foregoing and not in limitation of any
other  right which any  Secured  Party may have at law or in equity  against the
Company by virtue  hereof,  upon the failure of any Borrowing  Subsidiary to pay
any Obligation  when and as the same shall become due,  whether at maturity,  by
acceleration,  after  notice of  prepayment  or  otherwise,  the Company  hereby
promises to and will,  upon  receipt of written  demand by any Agent,  forthwith
pay, or cause to be paid, to the  Administrative  Agent for  distribution to the
Secured  Parties in cash an amount equal to the sum of (i) the unpaid  principal
amount of such  Obligations  then due, (ii) accrued and unpaid interest and fees
on such  Obligations  and (iii) all other  monetary  Obligations  then due.  The
Company further agrees that if payment in respect of any Obligation shall be due
in a currency  other than  Dollars  and/or at a place of payment  other than New
York and if, by reason of any Change in Law,  disruption  of currency or foreign
exchange  markets,  war or civil  disturbance or similar event,  payment of such
Obligation in such currency or at such place of payment shall be impossible  or,
in the judgment of any Secured Party,  not consistent with the protection of its
rights or interests,  then, at the election of such Secured  Party,  the Company
shall make  payment of such  Obligation  in Dollars  (based upon the  applicable
Exchange  Rate in effect on the date of payment)  and/or in New York,  and shall
indemnify  such  Secured  Party  against  any losses or  expenses  that it shall
sustain as a result of such alternative payment.

                  Upon  payment in full by the Company of any  Obligation,  each
Lender shall, in a reasonable manner,  assign the amount of such Obligation owed
to it and so paid to the Company,  such assignment to be pro tanto to the extent
to which the Obligation in question was discharged by the Company,  or make such
disposition  thereof as the Company  shall direct (all  without  recourse to any
Secured Party and without any representation or warranty by any Secured Party).

                  Upon payment by the Company of any sums as provided above, all
rights of Company against any Borrowing  Subsidiary  arising as a result thereof
by  way  of  right  of  subrogation  or  otherwise  shall  in  all  respects  be
subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior indefeasible payment in
full of all the  Obligations  owed by such  Borrowing  Subsidiary to the Secured
Parties.

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<PAGE>

                  Nothing  shall  discharge  or  satisfy  the  liability  of the
Company hereunder except the full performance and payment of the Obligations.

                  Each reference  herein to any Secured Party shall be deemed to
include their or its  successors  and assigns,  in whose favor the provisions of
this Guarantee shall also inure.



                                                 ARTICLE X

                                               Miscellaneous

                  SECTION  10.01.  Notices.  Except in the case of  notices  and
other communications  expressly permitted to be given by telephone,  all notices
and other  communications  provided  for herein shall be in writing and shall be
delivered  by  hand  or  overnight  courier  service,  mailed  by  certified  or
registered mail or sent by telecopy, as follows:

                  (a) if to the Company or any Borrowing  Subsidiary,  to it, or
         to it in care of the  Company,  as the case may be,  at 1373  Broadway,
         Albany, New York 12204, Attention of John C.
         Treanor, Treasurer  (Facsimile No. 518-445-2250);

                  (b) if to the  Administrative  Agent,  to The Chase  Manhattan
         Bank, Loan and Agency Services Group,  One Chase Plaza,  8th Floor, New
         York,   New  York  10081,   Attention   of  May  Fong   (Telecopy   No.
         212-552-5650),  with a copy to The Chase  Manhattan  Bank, 12 Corporate
         Woods  Boulevard,  4th Floor,  Albany,  New York  12211,  Attention  of
         Kristin J. Sands (Facsimile No.
         518-436-9811);

                  (c)  if  to  the  London  Agent,  to  it  at  Chase  Manhattan
         International  Limited,  Trinity Tower,  9 Thomas More Street,  London,
         England  E19YT  Attention  of  Loans  Agency  Division   (Telecopy  No.
         011-44-171-777-2360);  with  a  copy  to the  Administrative  Agent  as
         provided in paragraph (b) above;

                  (d) if to the Swingline  Lender, to it at One Chase Plaza, 8th
         Floor,  New York,  New York 10081,  Attention of May Fong (Telecopy No.
         (212) 552-5650); and

                  (e) if to Chase in its capacity as an Issuing  Bank,  to it at
         The  Chase  Manhattan  Bank,  4  Chase  Metrotech  Center,  8th  Floor,
         Brooklyn, New York, 11245, Attention of Richard L. Snyder (Telecopy No.
         (718) 242-6501); and

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

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

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<PAGE>

                  SECTION 10.02. Waivers; Amendments. (a) No failure or delay by
any  Agent,  any  Issuing  Bank or any Lender in  exercising  any right or power
hereunder or under any other Loan Document  shall  operate as a waiver  thereof,
nor shall any single or  partial  exercise  of any such  right or power,  or any
abandonment  or  discontinuance  of steps  to  enforce  such a right  or  power,
preclude  any other or further  exercise  thereof or the  exercise  of any other
right or power. The rights and remedies of the Agents, the Issuing Banks and the
Lenders  hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not
exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of
any provision of any Loan Document or consent to any departure by any Loan Party
therefrom shall in any event be effective  unless the same shall be permitted by
paragraph  (b) of this  Section,  and  then  such  waiver  or  consent  shall be
effective  only in the  specific  instance  and for the purpose for which given.
Without  limiting  the  generality  of the  foregoing,  the  making of a Loan or
issuance  of a Letter  of  Credit  shall  not be  construed  as a waiver  of any
Default,  regardless  of whether any Agent,  any Lender or any Issuing  Bank may
have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.

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<PAGE>

                  (b) Neither this Agreement nor any other Loan Document  (other
than any Alternate Currency  Supplement) nor any provision hereof or thereof may
be waived,  amended or modified except, in the case of this Agreement,  pursuant
to an agreement  or  agreements  in writing  entered into by the Company and the
Required  Lenders  or, in the case of any other Loan  Document,  pursuant  to an
agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Administrative  Agent and
the Loan Party or Loan Parties that are parties  thereto,  in each case with the
consent of the  Required  Lenders;  provided  that no such  agreement  shall (i)
increase  any  Commitment  of any Lender  without  the  written  consent of such
Lender,  (ii)  reduce the  principal  amount of any Loan or LC  Disbursement  or
reduce  the rate of  interest  thereon,  or reduce any Fees  payable  hereunder,
without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby,  (iii) postpone the
date  of any  scheduled  payment  of the  principal  amount  of any  Loan  or LC
Disbursement,  or any interest thereon, or any fees payable hereunder, or reduce
the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment,  or postpone the scheduled date
of  expiration  of any  Commitment,  without the written  consent of each Lender
affected  thereby,  (iv)  change  Section  2.19(b) or (c) in a manner that would
alter the pro rata  sharing of payments  required  thereby,  without the written
consent of each Lender  affected  thereby,  (v) change any of the  provisions of
this Section or the definition of "Required  Lenders" or any other  provision of
any Loan Document  specifying the number or percentage of Lenders (or Lenders of
any Class) required to waive,  amend or modify any rights thereunder or make any
determination  or grant any consent  thereunder,  without the written consent of
each Lender (or each Lender of such Class, as the case may be), (vi) release (A)
the  Company  from  its  obligations  as a  Guarantor  hereunder  or (B)  all or
substantially  all  the  other  Guarantors  from  their  obligations  under  the
Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement without the written consent of each Lender, (vii)
release all or substantially  all of the Collateral from the Liens of the Pledge
Agreements  without  the  written  consent  of each  Lender,  (viii)  change any
provision of any Loan Document in a manner that by its terms  adversely  affects
the rights in respect of payments due to Lenders of any Class  differently  than
those in respect of  payments  due to Lenders  of any other  Class  without  the
written  consent of Lenders  holding a majority in  interest of the  outstanding
Loans and unused Commitments of the adversely affected Class or (ix) subordinate
the Obligations to any other  Indebtedness  without the consent of each affected
Lender;  provided  further that (A) no such  agreement  shall  amend,  modify or
otherwise  affect  the rights or duties of any Agent,  any  Issuing  Bank or the
Swingline  Lender without the prior written consent of such Agent,  such Issuing
Bank or the  Swingline  Lender,  as the  case  may  be.  No  Alternate  Currency
Supplement may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or
agreements in writing entered into by each of the parties thereto.

                  (c) Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  any Pledge Agreement may,
and upon the request of the Company shall,  be amended,  modified or terminated,
without the necessity of any further approval by the Lenders, in order to effect
the release of the Liens granted under such Pledge Agreement with respect to any
Collateral  that is being sold or  otherwise  disposed of to a Person other than
the Company or a Subsidiary in a transaction  permitted by this  Agreement.  The
Lenders hereby  expressly  authorize the Collateral Agent to, and the Collateral
Agent hereby agrees to, execute all such  instruments  and documents the Company
may  reasonably  request to  effectuate  the  foregoing,  provided that any such
execution and delivery  shall be at the  Company's  expense and shall be without
recourse to representation or warranty by the Collateral Agent.

                  SECTION 10.03.  Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.  (a)  The
Company shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the
Arranger, the Agents and their Affiliates, including the reasonable fees,
charges and disbursements of counsel for the Arranger and the Agents, in

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<PAGE>


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

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

                  (c)  Each  Lender  severally  agrees  to the  extent  that the
Company  fails to pay any amount  required  to be paid by it to any  Agent,  any
Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section,
to pay to such Agent or Issuing Bank or the  Swingline  Lender,  as the case may
be, such Lender's pro rata share  (determined as of the time that the applicable
unreimbursed  expense or  indemnity  payment is sought) of such  unpaid  amount;
provided that the  unreimbursed  expense or  indemnified  loss,  claim,  damage,
liability  or related  expense,  as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted
against  such Agent or Issuing Bank or the  Swingline  Lender in its capacity as
such. For purposes of this Section  10.03(c) hereof, a Lender's "pro rata share"
shall be determined  based upon its share of the sum of the Aggregate  Revolving
Credit Exposure, outstanding Term Loans and unused Commitments at the time.

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<PAGE>

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

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

                  (f) For purposes of enforcing  security interests on behalf of
Secured  Parties,  the Collateral  Agent shall be the joint and several creditor
with each of the Lenders as described herein.

                  SECTION 10.04.  Successors and Assigns.  (a) The provisions of
this  Agreement  shall be binding  upon and inure to the  benefit of the parties
hereto and their respective  successors and assigns  permitted hereby (including
any Affiliate of an Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit),  except that
a Borrower  and a  Guarantor  may not assign or  otherwise  transfer  any of its
rights or  obligations  hereunder  (other than as  expressly  permitted  hereby)
without  the  prior  written  consent  of each  Lender  (and any such  attempted
assignment  or transfer by a Borrower  without  such  consent  shall be null and
void).  Nothing in this Agreement,  expressed or implied,  shall be construed to
confer  upon  any  Person  (other  than the  parties  hereto,  their  respective
successors and assigns  permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of the Issuing
Bank that issues any Letter of Credit) and, to the extent expressly contemplated
hereby,  the Related  Parties of the Agents,  the Issuing Banks and the Lenders)
any  legal or  equitable  right,  remedy  or claim  under or by  reason  of this
Agreement.

                  (b) Any Lender may  assign to one or more  assignees  all or a
portion of its rights and obligations  under this Agreement  (including all or a
portion of its Commitments and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that
(i) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender,
the Company and the  Administrative  Agent (and, in the case of an assignment of
all or a portion of a Revolving  Commitment,  each  Fronting  Lender and Issuing
Bank and the  Swingline  Lender) must give their prior  written  consent to such
assignment (which consent shall not be unreasonably  withheld or delayed),  (ii)
except in the case of an  assignment  to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or
an  assignment  of  the  entire  remaining  amount  of  the  assigning  Lender's
Commitments  or Loans,  the amount of the  Commitments or Loans of the assigning
Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment
and   Acceptance   with  respect  to  such   assignment   is  delivered  to  the
Administrative  Agent) shall not be less than $5,000,000  unless the Company and
the Administrative Agent otherwise consent, (iii) the parties to each assignment
shall  execute  and  deliver  to the  Administrative  Agent  an  Assignment  and
Acceptance,  together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500,  and (iv)
the assignee,  if it shall not be a Lender,  shall deliver to the Administrative
Agent an Administrative Questionnaire;  and provided further that any consent of
the Company otherwise  required under this paragraph shall not be required if an
Event of Default  under  clause (h) or (i) of Article  VII has  occurred  and is
continuing.  Subject to acceptance and recording  thereof  pursuant to paragraph
(e) of this  Section,  from and  after  the  effective  date  specified  in each
Assignment and Acceptance the assignee  thereunder  shall be a party hereto and,
to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and

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<PAGE>

Acceptance,  have the rights and  obligations of a Lender under this  Agreement,
and the  assigning  Lender  thereunder  shall,  to the  extent  of the  interest
assigned by such  Assignment and  Acceptance,  be released from its  obligations
under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance  covering
all of the assigning Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement,  such
Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the
benefits of Sections  2.15,  2.17,  2.18 and 10.03).  Notwithstanding  any other
provision  of this  Agreement,  if any Lender  shall assign any of its rights or
obligations  hereunder to any assignee  (including any Affiliate of such Lender)
that,  but for this  sentence,  would be entitled,  immediately  following  such
assignment,  to claim a greater amount than such assigning  Lender under Section
2.15, 2.17 or 2.18, such assignee shall not have the right to claim such greater
amount;  provided,  that nothing in this  sentence  shall limit the right of any
such  assignee  to make claims (i) for amounts not in excess of those that could
have been claimed by the assigning Lender,  (ii) to the extent such claims arise
from one or more Changes in Law, or from the  designation of Payment  Locations,
after the date of such  assignment or (iii) to the extent such claims arise from
payments  made to such  assignee  in  respect  of  participations  in  Revolving
Alternate Currency Loans or LC Disbursements  acquired by it pursuant to Section
2.01(d)  or  2.05(d).  Any  assignment  or  transfer  by a Lender  of  rights or
obligations  under this Agreement that does not comply with this paragraph shall
be  treated  for  purposes  of this  Agreement  as a sale by  such  Lender  of a
participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (f) of
this Section.

                  (c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein,
any Lender (a "Granting  Lender") may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle
(an  "SPC"),  identified  as such in writing  from time to time by the  Granting
Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Company, the option to provide to any
Borrower all or any part of any Loan that such Granting  Lender would  otherwise
be obligated to make to such Borrower pursuant to this Agreement;  provided that
(i) nothing  herein shall  constitute a commitment  by any SPC to make any Loan,
(ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise  fails to provide
all or any part of such Loan,  the  Granting  Lender  shall be obligated to make
such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof. The making of a Loan by an SPC hereunder
shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting  Lender to the same extent,  and as
if, such Loan were made by such Granting Lender. Each party hereto hereby agrees
that no SPC shall be liable  for any  indemnity  or similar  payment  obligation
under this  Agreement  (all  liability  for which shall remain with the Granting
Lender). In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which
agreement shall survive the termination of this  Agreement)  that,  prior to the
date that is one year and one day after the  payment in full of all  outstanding
commercial paper or other senior  indebtedness of any SPC, it will not institute
against,  or  join  any  other  person  in  instituting  against,  such  SPC any
bankruptcy,  reorganization,  arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings
under  the  laws  of the  United  States  or any  State  thereof.  In  addition,
notwithstanding  anything to the contrary  contained in this paragraph,  any SPC
may (i) with notice to, but without the prior  written  consent of, the Borrower
and the  Administrative  Agent and without  paying any  processing fee therefor,
assign all or a portion of its interests in any Loans to the Granting  Lender or
to any financial  institution  (consented to by the Borrower and  Administrative
Agent)  providing  liquidity and/or credit support to or for the account of such
SPC to  support  the  funding or  maintenance  of Loans and (ii)  disclose  on a
confidential basis any non-public  information  relating to its Loans (A) to any
rating agency,  commercial  paper dealer or provider of any surety  undertaking,
guarantee  or credit or  liquidity  enhancement  to such SPC that,  in each case
shall  have been  advised of the  confidentiality  of such  information  and the
restrictions

                                        83
<PAGE>


contained in Section 10.12 on its disclosure to third  parties,  or (B) to other
Persons as provided, and subject to the limitations set forth, in Section 10.12.
The SPC shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.17 and 2.18 to the
same extent, and subject to the same limitations, as if it were a Lender and had
acquired its interest by  assignment  pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section.
This paragraph may not be amended  without the written  consent of any SPC which
shall have made a Loan hereunder for as long as such Loan shall be outstanding.

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

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

                  (f) Any Lender may,  without the consent of the  Company,  the
Administrative  Agent,  any Fronting  Lender,  any Issuing Bank or the Swingline
Lender,  sell  participations  to  one  or  more  banks  or  other  entities  (a
"Participant") in all or a portion of such Lender's rights and obligations under
this  Agreement  (including  all or a portion of its  Commitments  and the Loans
owing to it);  provided that (i) such Lender's  obligations under this Agreement
shall remain unchanged,  (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the
other  parties  hereto for the  performance  of such  obligations  and (iii) the
Borrowers, the Agents, the Issuing Banks and the other Lenders shall continue to
deal solely and  directly  with such  Lender in  connection  with such  Lender's
rights and  obligations  under  this  Agreement.  Any  agreement  or  instrument
pursuant to which a Lender sells such a  participation  shall  provide that such
Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce the Loan  Documents and to approve
any amendment,  modification  or waiver of any provision of the Loan  Documents;
provided  that such  agreement or  instrument  may provide that such Lender will
not,  without  the  consent  of  the   Participant,   agree  to  any  amendment,
modification or waiver  described in the first proviso to Section  10.02(b) that
affects such  Participant.  Subject to paragraph  (g) of this Section and giving
effect to the limitations set forth in the second to last sentence of clause (b)
of this Section,  the Borrowers agree that each Participant shall be entitled to
the benefits of Sections 2.15,  2.17 and 2.18 to the same extent as if it were a
Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment  pursuant to paragraph (b) of
this Section (but shall

                                        84
<PAGE>


not be entitled to receive any greater  amount  under  Section 2.15 or 2.18 than
the Lender from which such  Participant  purchased  its  participation).  To the
extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits
of Section 10.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to
be subject to Section 2.19(c) as though it were a Lender.

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

                  SECTION   10.05.   Survival.   All   covenants,    agreements,
representations  and  warranties  made by the Loan Parties in the Loan Documents
and in the  certificates  or other  instruments  delivered in connection with or
pursuant to this  Agreement or any other Loan  Document  shall be  considered to
have been  relied  upon by the  other  parties  hereto  and  shall  survive  the
execution  and  delivery of the Loan  Documents  and the making of any Loans and
issuance of any Letters of Credit,  regardless of any investigation  made by any
such  other  party or on its  behalf and  notwithstanding  that any  Agent,  any
Issuing  Bank or any Lender may have had notice or  knowledge  of any Default or
incorrect  representation  or  warranty  at the  time  any  credit  is  extended
hereunder,  and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal
of or any accrued  interest on any Loan or any Fee or any other  amount  payable
under  this  Agreement  is  outstanding  and  unpaid or any  Letter of Credit is
outstanding and so long as the Commitments  have not expired or terminated.  The
provisions of Sections 2.14,  2.15,  2.17, 2.18 and 10.03 and Article VIII shall
survive and remain in full force and effect  regardless of the  consummation  of
the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration
or termination of the Letters of Credit and the  Commitments or the  termination
of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

                  SECTION 10.06. Counterparts;  Integration; Effectiveness. This
Agreement may be executed in  counterparts  (and by different  parties hereto on
different counterparts),  each of which shall constitute an original, but all of
which when taken together shall  constitute a single  contract.  This Agreement,
the other Loan  Documents,  and any separate  letter  agreements with respect to
fees payable to the  Administrative  Agent  constitute the entire contract among
the parties  relating to the subject  matter  hereof and  supersede  any and all
previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject
matter hereof.  Except as provided in Section 4.01,  this Agreement shall become
effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative  Agent and when
the  Administrative  Agent shall have received  counterparts  hereof which, when
taken  together,  bear the signatures of each of the other parties  hereto,  and
thereafter  shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto
and their respective successors and assigns. Delivery of an executed counterpart
of a  signature  page of this  Agreement  by  facsimile  shall be  effective  as
delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

                  SECTION 10.07.  Severability.  Any provision of this Agreement
held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to
such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality
or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and

                                        85
<PAGE>


enforceability  of the  remaining  provisions  hereof;  and the  invalidity of a
particular  provision in a particular  jurisdiction  shall not  invalidate  such
provision in any other jurisdiction.

                  SECTION 10.08.  Right of Setoff.  If an Event of Default shall
have  occurred  and be  continuing,  each Lender and each of its  Affiliates  is
hereby  authorized  at any time and from  time to time,  to the  fullest  extent
permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special,
time or demand,  provisional or final) at any time held and other obligations at
any time owing by such Lender or  Affiliate  to or for the credit or the account
of any Borrower  against any of and all the  obligations  of the Borrower at the
time existing under this Agreement held by such Lender,  irrespective of whether
or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this  Agreement and although
such obligations may be unmatured.  The rights of each Lender under this Section
are in addition to other  rights and  remedies  (including  any other  rights of
setoff) which such Lender may have.

                  SECTION 10.09.  Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to
Service of Process.  (a)  This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with
and governed by the law of the State of New York.

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

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

                  (d)  Each  party to this  Agreement  irrevocably  consents  to
service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 10.01.  Nothing
in this  Agreement or any other Loan Document will affect the right of any party
to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

                  SECTION 10.10.  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  EACH PARTY HERETO
HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT
MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING

                                        86

<PAGE>

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

                  SECTION 10.11. Headings.  Article and Section headings and the
Table of Contents used herein are for  convenience  of reference  only,  are not
part of this  Agreement  and shall not affect the  construction  of, or be taken
into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

                 SECTION 10.12.  Confidentiality.  Each Agent,  Issuing Bank and
Lender agrees to maintain the  confidentiality  of the  Information  (as defined
below),  except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates'
directors,  officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel
and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure
is made will be  informed of the  confidential  nature of such  Information  and
instructed to keep such Information  confidential),  (b) to the extent requested
by any regulatory  authority,  (c) to the extent  required by applicable laws or
regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process,  (d) to any other party
to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder
or any suit,  action or proceeding  relating to this Agreement or any other Loan
Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an
agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section,
to any  assignee  of or  Participant  in,  or  any  prospective  assignee  of or
Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement,  (g) with
the  consent of the Company or (h) to the extent  such  Information  (i) becomes
publicly  available  other than as a result of a breach of this  Section or (ii)
becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender on
a nonconfidential  basis from a source other than the Company.  For the purposes
of this Section,  "Information" means all information  received from the Company
relating to the Company or its business, other than any such information that is
available  to any Agent,  any  Issuing  Bank or any Lender on a  nonconfidential
basis prior to  disclosure by the Company.  Any Person  required to maintain the
confidentiality  of  Information as provided in this Section shall be considered
to have complied  with its  obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the
same degree of care to maintain the  confidentiality of such Information as such
Person would accord to its own confidential information.

                  SECTION  10.13.  Conversion  of  Currencies.  (a) If,  for the
purpose of  obtaining  judgment in any court,  it is  necessary to convert a sum
owing hereunder in one currency into another currency, each party hereto agrees,
to the fullest  extent that it may  effectively do so, that the rate of exchange
used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking  procedures in the
relevant  jurisdiction  the first  currency  could be purchased  with such other
currency  on the  Business  Day  immediately  preceding  the day on which  final
judgment is given.

                                        87
<PAGE>

                  (b) The obligations of each party hereto in respect of any sum
due to any other party hereto or any holder of the  obligations  owing hereunder
(the "Applicable  Creditor") shall,  notwithstanding  any judgment in a currency
(the "Judgment Currency") other than the currency in which such sum is stated to
be due hereunder (the  "Agreement  Currency"),  be discharged only to the extent
that, on the Business Day following  receipt by the  Applicable  Creditor of any
sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency,  the Applicable Creditor may
in  accordance  with normal  banking  procedures  in the  relevant  jurisdiction
purchase the Agreement Currency with the Judgment Currency; if the amount of the
Agreement  Currency  so  purchased  is less than the sum  originally  due to the
Applicable Creditor in the Agreement Currency,  such party agrees, as a separate
obligation and  notwithstanding  any such judgment,  to indemnify the Applicable
Creditor  against such loss. The  obligations  of the parties  contained in this
Section 10.13 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of
all other amounts owing hereunder.

                  SECTION  10.14.  Interest  Rate  Limitation.   Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary,  if at any time the interest rate applicable to
any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as
interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively  the "Charges"),  shall
exceed the maximum lawful rate (the "Maximum Rate") which may be contracted for,
charged,  taken,  received  or  reserved  by the  Lender  holding  such  Loan in
accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest  payable in respect of such
Loan hereunder,  together with all Charges payable in respect thereof,  shall be
limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful,  the interest and Charges
that would have been  payable in respect of such Loan but were not  payable as a
result of the  operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and
Charges  payable to such  Lender in respect of other  Loans or periods  shall be
increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount,
together with interest  thereon at the Federal Funds  Effective Rate to the date
of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.

                                        88
<PAGE>


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


                                                    ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP.,

                                                    by /s/ Michael C. Nahl
                                                    Name:  Michael C. Nahl
                                                    Title: Senior Vice President
                                                           and Chief
                                                           Financial Officer


                                                    ABN AMRO BANK N.V.,

                                                    by  /s/  Wayne Rancourt
                                                    Name:  Wayne Rancourt
                                                    Title: Vice President

                                                    by  /s/  Paul S. Faust
                                                    Name:  Paul S. Faust
                                                    Title: Vice President


                                                    CREDIT AGRICOLE INDOSUEZ,

                                                    by  /s/  Craig Welch
                                                    Name:  Craig Welch
                                                    Title: First Vice President

                                                    by  /s/  Sarah McClintock
                                                    Name:  Sarah McClintock
                                                    Title: Vice President


                                                    THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK
                                                       OF CHICAGO,
                                                    by /s/ Stephen E. McDonald
                                                    Name: Stephen E. McDonald
                                                    Title:Senior Vice President


                                                    BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

                                                    by  /s/ John W.Pocalyko
                                                    Name:  John W. Pocalyko
                                                    Title: Managing Director


<PAGE>

                                                     BANKBOSTON, N.A.,

                                                     by  /s/  Paula Zaiken
                                                     Name:  Paula Zaiken
                                                     Title: Director



<PAGE>




                                                     BANK OF MONTREAL,

                                                     by/s/ Jordan Fragiacomo
                                                     Name:   Jordan Fragiacomo
                                                     Title:  Director


                                                     THE BANK OF NEW YORK,

                                                     by  /s/Thomas C. McCrohan
                                                     Name:   Thomas C. McCrohan
                                                     Title:  Vice President


                                                     CITIBANK, N.A.,

                                                     by /s/  Stuart G. Miller
                                                     Name:   Stuart G. Miller
                                                     Title:  Vice President and
                                                               S.C.O


                                                     CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON,

                                                     by /s/ David W. Kratovil
                                                     Name:  David W. Kratovil
                                                     Title: Director

                                                     by  /s/ James P. Moran
                                                     Name:   James P. Moran
                                                     Title:  Director


                                                     DRESDNER BANK AG, New York
                                                      and Grand Cayman Branches,

                                                     by  /s/ Ken Hamilton
                                                     Name:   Ken Hamilton
                                                     Title:Senior Vice President

                                                     by  /s/ Deborah Slusarczyk
                                                     Name:   Deborah Slusarczyk
                                                     Title:  Vice President

<PAGE>


                                              EVERGREEN BANK,

                                              by /s/Jerome A. Mastrianni
                                              Name: Jerome A. Mastrianni
                                              Title: Vice President

                                              FLEET NATIONAL BANK,

                                              by /s/ Michael C. Ankrom, Jr.
                                              Name:   Michael C. Ankrom, Jr.
                                              Title:  Vice President


                                               HSBC BANK USA,

                                               by  /s/ William M. Holland
                                               Name:   William M. Holland
                                               Title:  Vice President


                                               KEY BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

                                               by  /s/Daniel W. Lally
                                               Name:  Daniel W. Lally
                                               Title: Assistant Vice President


                                               CREDIT LYONNAIS NEW YORK BRANCH,

                                               by  /s/  Vladimir Labun
                                               Name:  Valdimir Labun
                                               Title: First Vice President
                                                        - Manager


                                               MANUFACTURERS AND TRADERS
                                                 TRUST COMPANY,

                                               by  /s/ Timothy W. Bruculere
                                               Name:   Timothy W. Bruculere
                                               Title:  Vice President


<PAGE>


                                                MERITA BANK plc,

                                                by  /s/  William Keller
                                                Name:   William Keller
                                                Title:    Vice President

                                                by  /s/  John F. Kehnle
                                                Name:    John F. Kehnle
                                                Title:   Vice President


                                                THE SANWA BANK LIMITED,

                                                by  /s/  Stephen C. Small
                                                Name:   Stephen C. Small
                                                Title:    Vice President and
                                                  Area Manager


                                                THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA
                                                 (New York),

                                                by  /s/ John Campbell
                                                Name:   John Campbell
                                                Title:  Vice President


<PAGE>



                                                THE SUMITOMO BANK LTD.,

                                                by  /s/  C. Michael Garrido
                                                Name:  C. Michael Garrido
                                                Title  Senior Vice President


                                                SUNTRUST BANKS, INC.,

                                                by  /s/  Bradley J. Staples
                                                Name:   Bradley J. Staples
                                                Title:    Vice President


                                                TROY SAVINGS BANK,

                                                by  /s/ Stephan Von Schenk
                                                Name:   Stephan Von Schenk
                                                Title:    Vice President


                                                WACHOVIA BANK, N.A.,

                                                by  /s/ Fitzhugh Wickham
                                                Name:   Fitzhugh Wickham
                                                Title:  Vice President



                                                THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
                                                individually and as
                                                Administrative Agent,

                                                by  /s/  Kristin Sands
                                                Name:   Kristin Sands
                                                Title:    Vice President


                                                CHASE MANHATTAN INTERNATIONAL
                                                   LIMITED, as London Agent,

                                                by  /s/Stephen Clarke
                                                Name:  Stephen Clarke
                                                Title: Second Vice President

                                                by  /s/ Stephen Hurford
                                                Name:   Stephen Hurford
                                                Title:  Vice President


<PAGE>



                                             TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                   ARTICLE I  Definitions
                                                                            Page

      SECTION 1.01.  Defined Terms.............................................1
      SECTION 1.02.  Classification of Loans and Borrowings...................21
      SECTION 1.03.  Terms Generally..........................................21
      SECTION 1.04.  Accounting Terms; GAAP...................................22
      SECTION 1.05.  Exchange Rates...........................................22
      SECTION 1.06.  Redenomination of Certain Foreign Currencies.............22


                                   ARTICLE II The Credits

      SECTION 2.01.  Commitments..............................................23
      SECTION 2.02.  Loans and Borrowings.....................................24
      SECTION 2.03.  Requests for Borrowings..................................25
      SECTION 2.04.  Swingline Loans..........................................26
      SECTION 2.05.  Letters of Credit........................................26
      SECTION 2.06.  Funding of Borrowings....................................30
      SECTION 2.07.  Interest Elections.......................................30
      SECTION 2.08.  Termination and Reduction of Commitments.................32
      SECTION 2.09.  Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt.....................32
      SECTION 2.10.  Amortization of Term Loans...............................33
      SECTION 2.11.  Prepayment...............................................33
      SECTION 2.12.  Fees.....................................................35
      SECTION 2.13.  Interest.................................................36
      SECTION 2.14.  Alternate Rate of Interest...............................37
      SECTION 2.15.  Increased Costs..........................................37
      SECTION 2.16.  Change in Legality.......................................38
      SECTION 2.17.  Break Funding Payments...................................39
      SECTION 2.18.  Taxes....................................................39
      SECTION 2.19.  Payments Generally;Pro Rata Treatment;Sharing of Setoffs.40
      SECTION 2.20.  Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders...........42
      SECTION 2.21.  Borrowing Subsidiaries...................................42


                                    ARTICLE III Representations and Warranties

      SECTION 3.01.  Organization; Powers.....................................43
      SECTION 3.02.  Authorization; Enforceability............................43
      SECTION 3.03.  Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts.....................43
      SECTION 3.04.  Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Change.........43
      SECTION 3.05.  Properties; Liens........................................44
      SECTION 3.06.  Litigation and Environmental Matters.....................44
      SECTION 3.07.  Compliance with Laws.....................................44

<PAGE>

      SECTION 3.08.  Investment and Holding Company Status....................44
      SECTION 3.09.  Taxes....................................................45
      SECTION 3.10.  ERISA....................................................45
      SECTION 3.11.  Disclosure...............................................45
      SECTION 3.12.  Subsidiaries.............................................45
      SECTION 3.13.  Solvency.................................................45
      SECTION 3.14.  Federal Reserve Regulations..............................45
      SECTION 3.15.  Pledge Agreement.........................................46
      SECTION 3.16.  Year 2000................................................46

                                      ARTICLE IV Conditions

      SECTION 4.01.  Effectiveness of Facilities..............................46
      SECTION 4.02.  Conditions to All Extensions of Credit...................47
      SECTION 4.03.  Initial Credit Event for each Borrowing Subsidiary.......48

                                      ARTICLE V Affirmative Covenants

      SECTION 5.01.  Financial Statements and Other Information...............48
      SECTION 5.02.  Notices of Material Events...............................50
      SECTION 5.03.  Existence; Conduct of Business...........................50
      SECTION 5.04.  Payment of Obligations...................................50
      SECTION 5.05.  Maintenance of Properties................................50
      SECTION 5.06.  Insurance................................................50
      SECTION 5.07.  Books and Records; Inspection Rights.....................50
      SECTION 5.08.  Compliance with Laws.....................................51
      SECTION 5.09.  Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit....................51
      SECTION 5.10.  Further Assurances.......................................51
      SECTION 5.11.  Ownership of Subsidiaries................................51

                                      ARTICLE VI Negative Covenants

      SECTION 6.01.  Subsidiary Debt..........................................52
      SECTION 6.02.  Negative Pledge..........................................52
      SECTION 6.03.  Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets..............53
      SECTION 6.04.  Transactions with Affiliates.............................54
      SECTION 6.05.  Restricted Payments......................................54
      SECTION 6.06.  Limitations on Sale-Leasebacks...........................55
      SECTION 6.07.  Investments,Loans, Advances,Guarantees and Acquisitions..55
      SECTION 6.08.  Leverage Ratio...........................................56
      SECTION 6.09.  Interest Coverage Ratio..................................56
      SECTION 6.10.  Lines of Business........................................57

                                     ARTICLE VII  Events of Default...........57

                                     ARTICLE VIII The Agent...................59

                                     ARTICLE IX Guarantee.....................61
<PAGE>


                                     ARTICLE X Miscellaneous

      SECTION 10.01.  Notices.................................................62
      SECTION 10.02.  Waivers; Amendments.....................................63
      SECTION 10.03.  Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver......................64
      SECTION 10.04.  Successors and Assigns..................................65
      SECTION 10.05.  Survival................................................67
      SECTION 10.06.  Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness................68
      SECTION 10.07.  Severability............................................68
      SECTION 10.08.  Right of Setoff.........................................68
      SECTION 10.09.  Governing Law;Jurisdiction;Consent to Service of Process68
      SECTION 10.10.  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL....................................69
      SECTION 10.11.  Headings................................................69
      SECTION 10.12.  Confidentiality.........................................69
      SECTION 10.13.  Conversion of Currencies................................70
      SECTION 10.14.  Interest Rate Limitation................................70


<PAGE>




      SCHEDULES:

      Schedule  1.01--Indebtedness To Be Refinanced
      Schedule  2.01--Commitments
      Schedule  3.06--Disclosed  Matters
      Schedule  3.12--Subsidiaries
      Schedule  6.01--Existing Indebtedness
      Schedule  6.01--Existing Liens
      Schedule  6.04--Certain Transactions with Affiliates
      Schedule  6.07--Existing Investments

      EXHIBITS:

      Exhibit A-1--Form of Borrowing  Subsidiary  Agreement
      Exhibit A-2--Form of Borrowing Subsidiary Termination
      Exhibit B--Form of Alternate Currency Supplement
      Exhibit C--Form of Issuing Bank Agreement
      Exhibit D--Form of Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement
      Exhibit E--Form of Pledge Agreement
      Exhibit F--Form of Indemnity,  Subrogation and Contribution Agreement
      Exhibit G--Form of Assignment and Acceptance
      Exhibit H-1--Form of Opinion of Cleary,  Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton
      Exhibit H-2--Form of Opinion of Thomas H. Hagoort, General Counsel of
                    Albany International Corp.

                                         4



                                                                  CONFORMED COPY

<PAGE>



                                            SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE AGREEMENT dated
                           as of August 24, 1999, among each of the subsidiaries
                           of  Albany  International   Corporation,  a  Delaware
                           corporation  (the  "Company"),  listed on  Schedule I
                           hereto or  becoming  a party  hereto as  provided  in
                           Section  19 (the  "Subsidiary  Guarantors"),  and THE
                           CHASE  MANHATTAN BANK, as  administrative  agent (the
                           "Administrative  Agent")  for the Lenders (as defined
                           in the Credit Agreement referred to below).

                  Reference is made to the Credit  Agreement  dated as of August
11, 1999 (as amended,  supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the
"Credit Agreement"),  among the Company, the Borrowing Subsidiaries from time to
time party thereto, the lenders from time to time party thereto (the "Lenders"),
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Administrative Agent,  Swingline Lender and Issuing
Bank, and Chase Manhattan  International  Limited,  as London Agent (the "London
Agent").  Capitalized  terms used herein and not defined  herein  shall have the
meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

                  The Lenders have agreed to make Loans to the Borrowers and the
Issuing  Bank has agreed to issue  Letters of Credit  pursuant  to, and upon the
terms and subject to the conditions specified in, the Credit Agreement.  Each of
the Subsidiary  Guarantors  acknowledges that it will derive substantial benefit
from the making of the Loans by the Lenders  and the  issuance of the Letters of
Credit by the Issuing Bank. The  obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of
the Issuing  Bank to issue  Letters of Credit are  conditioned  on,  among other
things,  the  execution  and  delivery  by  the  Subsidiary  Guarantors  of  the
Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement. In order to induce the Lenders to make Loans and
the Issuing Bank to issue the Letters of Credit,  the Subsidiary  Guarantors are
willing to execute this Agreement.

                  Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                  SECTION    1.    Guarantee.    Each    Subsidiary    Guarantor
unconditionally  guarantees,  jointly with the other  Subsidiary  Guarantors and
severally,  as a primary  obligor  and not  merely as a surety,  (a) the due and
punctual  payment  of (i) the  principal  of and  interest  (including  interest
accruing  during the pendency of any  bankruptcy,  insolvency,  receivership  or
other similar  proceeding,  regardless  of whether  allowed or allowable in such
proceeding) on the Loans, when and as due, whether at maturity, by acceleration,
upon one or more  dates set for  prepayment  or  otherwise,  (ii)  each  payment
required  to be made  under the  Credit  Agreement  in  respect of any Letter of
Credit,  when and as due,  including  payments  in respect of  reimbursement  of
disbursements,  interest  thereon and obligations to provide cash collateral and
(iii) all other  monetary  obligations,  including  fees,  costs,  expenses  and
indemnities,  whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise
(including monetary  obligations incurred during the pendency of any bankruptcy,
insolvency,  receivership  or other  similar  proceeding,  regardless of whether
allowed or allowable in such proceeding), of the Company or any other Subsidiary
to the Lenders  under the Credit  Agreement or any other Loan  Document and, (b)
the due and  punctual  payment  of all  obligations  of the  Company  under each
Hedging Agreement entered into (i) prior to the date hereof with any

<PAGE>

counterparty that is a Lender (or an Affiliate  thereof) on the date hereof or
(ii) on or after the date hereof with any counterparty that is a Lender (or an
Affiliate thereof) at the time such Hedging Agreement is entered into (all the
obligations referred to in the preceding clauses (a) and (b), being collectively
called the "Obligations"); provided that, notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  any
Subsidiary Guarantor that is a Foreign Subsidiary guarantees only the
Obligation of its direct and indirect subsidiaries that are Borrowers under the
Credit Agreement (and  not any Obligations of the Company or any Domestic
Subsidiary).  Each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees that the Obligations may be
extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice to or further assent
from it, and that it will remain bound upon its guarantee notwithstanding any
extension or renewal of any Obligation.

                  SECTION 2.  Obligations  Not  Waived.  To the  fullest  extent
permitted by applicable law, each Subsidiary  Guarantor  waives  presentment to,
demand of payment  from and  protest to the  Company or to any other  Subsidiary
Guarantor of any of the Obligations, and also waives notice of acceptance of its
guarantee and notice of protest for nonpayment.  To the fullest extent permitted
by applicable law, the obligations of each Subsidiary  Guarantor hereunder shall
not be affected by (a) the failure of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank
or any Lender to assert any claim or demand or to enforce or exercise  any right
or remedy  against  the  Company  or any other  Subsidiary  Guarantor  under the
provisions of the Credit  Agreement,  any other Loan Document or otherwise,  (b)
any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of, or any release from any of
the terms or provisions of, this Agreement,  any other Loan Document,  any other
Guarantee or any other agreement, including with respect to any other Subsidiary
Guarantor  under  this  Agreement,  or (c) the  failure  of the  Company  or any
Subsidiary to comply with Section 5.10 of the Credit Agreement and Section 19.

                  SECTION 3.  Guarantee of Payment.  Each  Subsidiary  Guarantor
further  agrees that its  guarantee  constitutes a guarantee of payment when due
and not of collection, and waives any right to require that any resort be had by
the  Administrative  Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender to any balance of any
deposit account or credit on the books of the Administrative  Agent, the Issuing
Bank or any Lender in favor of the Company,  any other  Subsidiary  Guarantor or
any other Person.

                  SECTION 4. No  Discharge or  Diminishment  of  Guarantee.  The
obligations of each Subsidiary  Guarantor  hereunder shall not be subject to any
reduction, limitation,  impairment or termination for any reason (other than the
payment  in full in cash of the  Obligations),  including  any claim of  waiver,
release,  surrender,  alteration or compromise  of any of the  Obligations,  and
shall not be subject  to any  defense or  setoff,  counterclaim,  recoupment  or
termination   whatsoever   by   reason   of  the   invalidity,   illegality   or
unenforceability   of  the  Obligations  or  otherwise.   Without  limiting  the
generality  of the  foregoing,  the  obligations  of each  Subsidiary  Guarantor
hereunder  shall not be  discharged  or  impaired or  otherwise  affected by the
failure of the  Administrative  Agent,  the Issuing Bank or any Lender to assert
any claim or demand or to enforce  any remedy  under the Credit  Agreement,  any
other Loan  Document  or any other  instrument  or  agreement,  by any waiver or
modification of any provision of any thereof, by any default,  failure or delay,
wilful or otherwise, in the performance of the Obligations,  or by any other act
or  omission  that may or might in any manner or to any extent  vary the risk of
any Subsidiary  Guarantor or that would otherwise operate as a discharge of each
Subsidiary  Guarantor  as a matter of law or equity  (other  than the payment in
full in cash of all the Obligations).

                  SECTION 5. Defenses of Company  Waived.  To the fullest extent
permitted  by  applicable  law,  each of the  Subsidiary  Guarantors  waives any
defense  based on or  arising  out of any  defense  of the  Company or any other
Subsidiary  Guarantor or the  unenforceability  of the  Obligations  or any part
thereof from any cause,  or the cessation from any cause of the liability of the
Company or any other Subsidiary

<PAGE>

Guarantor, other than the final payment in full in cash of the Obligations.  The
Administrative  Agent,  the Issuing Bank and the Lenders may, at their election,
foreclose on any security held by one or more of them by one or more judicial or
nonjudicial  sales,  accept  an  assignment  of any  such  security  in  lieu of
foreclosure,  compromise or adjust any part of the  Obligations,  make any other
accommodation with the Company,  any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other guarantor
or exercise any other right or remedy available to them against the Company, any
Subsidiary  Guarantor or any other guarantor,  without affecting or impairing in
any way the liability of any Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder except to the extent
the Obligations have been fully, finally and indefeasibly paid in cash. Pursuant
to applicable law, each of the Subsidiary  Guarantors waives any defense arising
out of any such  election  even  though  such  election  operates,  pursuant  to
applicable  law,  to  impair or to  extinguish  any  right of  reimbursement  or
subrogation or other right or remedy of such  Subsidiary  Guarantor  against the
Company or any other Subsidiary  Guarantor or guarantor,  as the case may be, or
any security.

                  SECTION 6. Agreement to Pay; Subordination.  In furtherance of
the foregoing  and not in limitation of any other right that the  Administrative
Agent,  the  Issuing  Bank or any  Lender  has at law or in equity  against  any
Subsidiary  Guarantor by virtue  hereof,  upon the failure of the Company or any
Subsidiary  Guarantor  to pay any  Obligation  when and as the same shall become
due,  whether at  maturity,  by  acceleration,  after  notice of  prepayment  or
otherwise,  each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby promises to and will forthwith pay,
or cause to be paid,  to the  Administrative  Agent,  the  Issuing  Bank or such
Lender as designated thereby in cash the amount of such unpaid Obligations. Upon
payment by any Subsidiary Guarantor of any sums to the Administrative Agent, the
Issuing  Bank or any Lender as  provided  above,  all rights of such  Subsidiary
Guarantor  against the Company or any other  Subsidiary  Guarantor  arising as a
result  thereof  by way of right of  subrogation,  contribution,  reimbursement,
indemnity or otherwise  shall in all respects be subordinate and junior in right
of payment to the prior payment in full in cash of all the Obligations.  Each of
the  Subsidiary  Guarantors  further  agrees  that if  payment in respect of any
Obligation  shall be due in a currency  other than Dollars  and/or at a place of
payment  other than New York and if, by reason of any Change in Law,  disruption
of currency or foreign  exchange  markets,  war or civil  disturbance or similar
event,  payment of such  Obligation in such currency or at such place of payment
shall be impossible or, in the judgment of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing
Bank or any  Lender,  not  consistent  with  the  protection  of its  rights  or
interests,  then, at the election of such Administrative  Agent, Issuing Bank or
Lender,  each  Subsidiary  Guarantor  shall make payment of such  Obligation  in
Dollars  (based  upon the  applicable  Exchange  Rate in  effect  on the date of
payment)  and/or in New York,  and shall  indemnify such  Administrative  Agent,
Issuing Bank or Lender against any losses or expenses that it shall sustain as a
result of such alternative payment. In addition, any indebtedness of the Company
or any Subsidiary Guarantor now or hereafter held by any Subsidiary Guarantor is
hereby  subordinated  in right of  payment  to the prior  payment in full of the
Obligations. If any amount shall erroneously be paid to any Subsidiary Guarantor
on account of (i) such subrogation,  contribution,  reimbursement,  indemnity or
similar right or (ii) any such indebtedness of the Company, such amount shall be
held in trust for the benefit of the Lenders and shall  forthwith be paid to the
Administrative  Agent to be credited  against  the  payment of the  Obligations,
whether  matured  or  unmatured,  in  accordance  with the  terms of the  Credit
Agreement or any other Loan Document.

                                        3
<PAGE>

                  SECTION  7.  Information.  Each of the  Subsidiary  Guarantors
assumes  all  responsibility  for  being  and  keeping  itself  informed  of the
Company's and the other Subsidiary  Guarantors'  financial condition and assets,
and of all  other  circumstances  bearing  upon  the risk of  nonpayment  of the
Obligations  and the nature,  scope and extent of the risks that such Subsidiary
Guarantor   assumes  and  incurs   hereunder,   and  agrees  that  none  of  the
Administrative  Agent,  the Issuing  Bank and the Lenders  will have any duty to
advise any of the  Subsidiary  Guarantors of  information  known to it or any of
them regarding such circumstances or risks.

                  SECTION 8. Representations and Warranties; Agreements. Each of
the  Subsidiary  Guarantors  represents  and  warrants  as to  itself  that  all
representations  and warranties relating to it contained in any Loan Document to
which it is a party are true and correct in all material  respects.  Each of the
Subsidiary  Guarantors  agrees that the provisions of Section 2.18 of the Credit
Agreement shall apply equally to each Guarantor with respect to payments made by
it hereunder.

                  SECTION 9.  Termination.  The  Guarantees  made  hereunder (a)
shall, subject to clause (b) below, terminate when all the Obligations have been
paid in full and the Lenders have no further commitment to lend under the Credit
Agreement  and the Issuing Bank has no further  commitment  to issue  Letters of
Credit and (b) shall continue to be effective or be reinstated,  as the case may
be, if at any time payment,  or any part thereof, of any Obligation is rescinded
or must otherwise be restored by the  Administrative  Agent, the Issuing Bank or
any Lender or any Subsidiary  Guarantor upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of
the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or otherwise.

                  SECTION 10. Binding Agreement;  Assignments.  Whenever in this
Agreement  any of the parties  hereto is referred  to, such  reference  shall be
deemed to include the successors  and assigns of such party;  and all covenants,
promises and  agreements by or on behalf of the Subsidiary  Guarantors  that are
contained  in this  Agreement  shall bind and inure to the benefit of each party
hereto and their respective  successors and assigns. This Agreement shall become
effective as to any Subsidiary  Guarantor when a counterpart  hereof executed on
behalf  of  such   Subsidiary   Guarantor  shall  have  been  delivered  to  the
Administrative  Agent,  and a  counterpart  hereof  shall have been  executed on
behalf of the  Administrative  Agent,  and thereafter shall be binding upon such
Subsidiary   Guarantor  and  the  Administrative   Agent  and  their  respective
successors  and  assigns,  and shall  inure to the  benefit  of such  Subsidiary
Guarantor, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders, and their
respective  successors and assigns,  except that no Subsidiary  Guarantor  shall
have the right to assign its rights or  obligations  hereunder  or any  interest
herein (except in connection with any  transaction  permitted by Section 6.06 of
the Credit  Agreement),  and any such attempted  assignment  shall be void. This
Agreement  shall be  construed  as a  separate  agreement  with  respect to each
Subsidiary  Guarantor  and may be  amended,  modified,  supplemented,  waived or
released with respect to any  Subsidiary  Guarantor  without the approval of any
other  Subsidiary  Guarantor and without  affecting the obligations of any other
Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder.

                  SECTION 11. Waivers; Amendment. (a) No failure or delay of the
Administrative  Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender in exercising any power or
right  hereunder  shall  operate  as a waiver  thereof,  nor shall any single or
partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment

                                        4
<PAGE>

or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power,  preclude any other
or further  exercise  thereof or the  exercise of any other right or power.  The
rights and remedies of the Administrative  Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender
hereunder  or  under  the  Credit  Agreement  or any  other  Loan  Document  are
cumulative  and are not  exclusive  of any  rights or  remedies  that they would
otherwise  have. No waiver of any provision of this  Agreement or any other Loan
Document or consent to any departure by any Subsidiary Guarantor therefrom shall
in any event be effective  unless the same shall be  permitted by paragraph  (b)
below,  and then such waiver or consent shall be effective  only in the specific
instance  and for the  purpose  for  which  given.  No  notice  or demand on any
Subsidiary  Guarantor in any case shall entitle such Subsidiary Guarantor to any
other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

                  (b) Neither this  Agreement  nor any  provision  hereof may be
waived,  amended or modified except pursuant to a written agreement entered into
between  the   Subsidiary   Guarantors  to  which  such  waiver,   amendment  or
modification  relates  and the  Administrative  Agent  (with the  prior  written
consent of the  Lenders or the  Required  Lenders if  required  under the Credit
Agreement).

                  SECTION 12.  GOVERNING LAW. THIS  AGREEMENT  SHALL BE GOVERNED
BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

                  SECTION 13. Notices.  All communications and notices hereunder
shall be in  writing  and  given as  provided  in  Section  10.01 of the  Credit
Agreement. All communications and notices hereunder to each Subsidiary Guarantor
shall be given to it in care of the Company.

                  SECTION  14.  Survival  of  Agreement;  Severability.  (a) All
covenants,  agreements,  representations  and warranties  made by the Subsidiary
Guarantors  herein and in the  certificates  or other  instruments  prepared  or
delivered in connection  with or pursuant to this Agreement  shall be considered
to have been relied upon by the  Administrative  Agent, the Issuing Bank and the
Lenders  and  shall  survive  the  making  by the  Lenders  of the Loans and the
issuance  of  Letters  of  Credit  by  the  Issuing  Bank   regardless   of  any
investigation made by any of them or on their behalf, and shall continue in full
force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan
or any  other fee or amount  payable  under  this  Agreement  or any other  Loan
Document is outstanding and unpaid and as long as the Commitments  have not been
terminated.

                  (b) In the event any one or more of the  provisions  contained
in this  Agreement  should be held  invalid,  illegal  or  unenforceable  in any
respect,  the validity,  legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions
contained  herein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby (it being
understood  that  the  invalidity  of a  particular  provision  in a  particular
jurisdiction shall not in and of itself affect the validity of such provision in
any other jurisdiction).  The parties shall endeavor in good-faith  negotiations
to  replace  the  invalid,   illegal  or  unenforceable  provisions  with  valid
provisions  the  economic  effect of which comes as close as possible to that of
the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

                  SECTION 15.  Counterparts.  This  Agreement may be executed in
counterparts,  each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when
taken together shall constitute a single

                                        5
<PAGE>


contract,  and shall become  effective as provided in Section 10. Delivery of an
executed signature page to this Agreement by facsimile  transmission shall be as
effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

                  SECTION   16.   Rules   of   Interpretation.   The   rules  of
interpretation specified in Sections 1.03, 1.04 and 1.05 of the Credit Agreement
shall be applicable to this Agreement.

                  SECTION 17.  Jurisdiction;  Consent to Service of Process. (a)
Each Subsidiary  Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally  submits,  for
itself and its property, to the nonexclusive  jurisdiction of any New York State
court or Federal court of the United States of America sitting in New York City,
and any appellate  court from any thereof,  in any action or proceeding  arising
out of or relating to this  Agreement,  or for recognition or enforcement of any
judgment,  and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally
agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding  may be heard
and  determined  in such New York State or, to the extent  permitted  by law, in
such Federal  court.  Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in
any such action or proceeding  shall be conclusive  and may be enforced in other
jurisdictions  by suit on the judgment or in any other  manner  provided by law.
Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that the Administrative  Agent,
the  Issuing  Bank or any  Lender  may  otherwise  have to bring  any  action or
proceeding  relating to this Agreement  against any Subsidiary  Guarantor or its
properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

                  (b)  Each   Subsidiary   Guarantor   hereby   irrevocably  and
unconditionally  waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do
so, any  objection  that it may now or hereafter  have to the laying of venue of
any suit,  action or proceeding  arising out of or relating to this Agreement in
any New  York  State  or  Federal  court.  Each  of the  parties  hereto  hereby
irrevocably  waives,  to the fullest extent  permitted by law, the defense of an
inconvenient  forum to the  maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such
court.

                  (c)  Each  party to this  Agreement  irrevocably  consents  to
service of process in the manner  provided for notices in Section 13. Nothing in
this  Agreement  will affect the right of any party to this  Agreement  to serve
process in any other manner permitted by law.

                  SECTION 18.  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  EACH PARTY  HERETO  HEREBY
WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE
TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION  DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY  ARISING
OUT OF,  UNDER OR IN  CONNECTION  WITH THIS  AGREEMENT.  EACH  PARTY  HERETO (A)
CERTIFIES  THAT NO  REPRESENTATIVE,  AGENT OR  ATTORNEY  OF ANY OTHER  PARTY HAS
REPRESENTED,  EXPRESSLY  OR  OTHERWISE,  THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE
EVENT OF LITIGATION,  SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING  WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES
THAT IT AND THE OTHER  PARTIES  HERETO  HAVE  BEEN  INDUCED  TO ENTER  INTO THIS
AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS,  THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS
SECTION.

                  SECTION  19.  Additional  Subsidiary  Guarantors.  Pursuant to
Section 5.10 of the Credit  Agreement,  certain  additional  Subsidiaries may be
required under the terms of the Credit Agreement from

                                        6
<PAGE>

time to time to  enter  into  this  Agreement  as  Subsidiary  Guarantors.  Upon
execution  and  delivery  by the  Administrative  Agent and a  Subsidiary  of an
instrument  in the form of Annex 1, such  Subsidiary  shall  become a Subsidiary
Guarantor  hereunder with the same force and effect as if originally  named as a
Subsidiary Guarantor herein. The execution and delivery of such instrument shall
not require the consent of any Subsidiary  Guarantor  hereunder.  The rights and
obligations of each  Subsidiary  Guarantor  hereunder shall remain in full force
and effect  notwithstanding  the addition of any new  Subsidiary  Guarantor as a
party to this Agreement.

                  SECTION 20. Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing,  each of the Administrative  Agent, the Issuing Bank
and the Lenders is hereby  authorized  at any time and from time to time, to the
fullest  extent  permitted  by law,  to set off and apply  any and all  deposits
(general or special, time or demand,  provisional or final) at any time held and
other  Indebtedness at any time owing by such Person to or for the credit or the
account of any Subsidiary  Guarantor  against any or all the obligations of such
Subsidiary Guarantor now or hereafter existing under this Agreement held by such
Person,  irrespective  of whether or not such Person  shall have made any demand
under this Agreement and although such obligations may be unmatured.  The rights
of each Person  under this  Section are in addition to other rights and remedies
(including other rights of setoff) which such Person may have.

                  SECTION 21. Conversion of Currencies.  (a) If, for the purpose
of  obtaining  judgment  in any court,  it is  necessary  to convert a sum owing
hereunder in one currency into another  currency,  each party hereto agrees,  to
the fullest extent that it may effectively do so, that the rate of exchange used
shall be that at which in  accordance  with  normal  banking  procedures  in the
relevant  jurisdiction  the first  currency  could be purchased  with such other
currency  on the  Business  Day  immediately  preceding  the day on which  final
judgment is given.

                  (b) The obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of
any sum due to any party hereto or any holder of the obligations owing hereunder
(the "Applicable  Creditor") shall,  notwithstanding  any judgment in a currency
(the "Judgment Currency") other than the currency in which such sum is stated to
be due hereunder (the  "Agreement  Currency"),  be discharged only to the extent
that, on the Business Day following  receipt by the  Applicable  Creditor of any
sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency,  the Applicable Creditor may
in  accordance  with normal  banking  procedures  in the  relevant  jurisdiction
purchase the Agreement Currency with the Judgment Currency; if the amount of the
Agreement  Currency  so  purchased  is less than the sum  originally  due to the
Applicable Creditor in the Agreement Currency, such Subsidiary Guarantor agrees,
as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the
Applicable  Creditor  against  such  loss.  The  obligations  of the  Subsidiary
Guarantors  contained in this Section 21 shall survive the  termination  of this
Agreement and the payment of all other amounts owing hereunder.


<PAGE>

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


                                              ALBANY INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH CO.,

                                              by  /s/ Francis L. McKone
                                              Name:  Francis L. McKone
                                              Title: Chairman


                                              ALBANY INTERNATIONAL
                                              TECHNIWEAVE, INC.
                                              by  /s/ John C. Treanor
                                              Name:  John C. Treanor
                                                         Title: Treasurer


                                              ALBANY INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS
                                              ONE, INC.,

                                              by  /s/ Frank R. Schmeler
                                              Name:  Frank R. Schmeler
                                              Title: President


                                              ALBANY INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS
                                              TWO, INC.,

                                              by  /s/ Frank R. Schmeler
                                              Name: Frank R. Schmeler
                                              Title President


                                              WANGNER SYSTEMS CORPORATION,

                                              by  /s/ John C. Treanor
                                              Name:  John C. Treanor
                                              Title: Vice President

<PAGE>

                                              WANGNER FORMING FABRICS, INC.,

                                              by  /s/ John C. Treanor
                                              Name:  John C. Treanor
                                              Title: Vice President


                                              GESCHMAY WET FELTS, INC.,

                                              by  /s/ John C. Treanor
                                              Name: John C. Treanor
                                              Title:Vice President

<PAGE>


                                                   BRANDON DRYING FABRICS, INC.,

                                                   by  /s/ John C. Treanor
                                                   Name:  John C. Treanor
                                                   Title:  Vice President


                                                   THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
                                                     as Administrative Agent,

                                                   by  /s/ Kristin Sands
                                                   Name: Kristin Sands
                                                   Title Vice President


<PAGE>


                                                               SCHEDULE I TO THE
                                                  SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE AGREEMENT



                                           SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS


Albany International Holdings One, Inc.
Albany International Holdings Two, Inc.
Albany International Techniweave, Inc.
Albany International Research Co.
Wangner Systems Corporation
Wangner Forming Fabrics, Inc.
Geschmay Wet Felts, Inc.
Brandon Drying Fabrics, Inc.



<PAGE>
                                                                 ANNEX 1 to the
                                                            Guarantee Agreement

                                              SUPPLEMENT NO. dated as of
                                        , to the SUBSIDIARY  GUARANTEE
                           AGREEMENT dated as of  August  24,  1999 (as
                           amended,  supplemented  or otherwise  modified from
                           time to time, the "Guarantee Agreement"), among each
                           of the Subsidiaries of Albany International
                           Corporation,  A  Delaware  corporation (the
                           "Company"), listed  on  Schedule  I  thereto
                           collectively,  the "Subsidiary  Guarantors")  and THE
                           CHASE  MANHATTAN BANK, as  administrative  agent (the
                           "Administrative  Agent")  for the Lenders (as defined
                           in the Credit Agreement referred to below).

                  A.  Reference  is made to the  Credit  Agreement  dated  as of
August 11, 1999 (as amended,  supplemented  or otherwise  modified  from time to
time, the "Credit  Agreement"),  among the Company,  the Borrowing  Subsidiaries
from time to time party  thereto,  the lenders  from time to time party  thereto
(the  "Lenders"),The  Chase Manhattan Bank, as Administrative  Agent,  Swingline
Lender and Issuing Bank and Chase  Manhattan  International  Limited,  as London
Agent.

                  B.  Capitalized  terms used and not otherwise  defined  herein
shall have the meanings  assigned to such terms in the  Guarantee  Agreement and
the Credit Agreement.

                  C. The Subsidiary  Guarantors  have entered into the Guarantee
Agreement  in order to induce the Lenders to make Loans and the Issuing  Bank to
issue  Letters of Credit.  The  undersigned  Subsidiary of the Company (the "New
Subsidiary  Guarantor")  is executing  this  Supplement in  accordance  with the
requirements of the Credit Agreement to become a Subsidiary  Guarantor under the
Guarantee  Agreement in order to induce the Lenders to make additional Loans and
as consideration for Loans previously made.

                  Accordingly,  the Administrative  Agent and the New Subsidiary
Guarantor agree as follows:

                  SECTION 1. In  accordance  with  Section  19 of the  Guarantee
Agreement,  the New  Subsidiary  Guarantor  by its  signature  below  becomes  a
Subsidiary  Guarantor  under the  Guarantee  Agreement  with the same  force and
effect as if  originally  named  therein as a Subsidiary  Guarantor  and the New
Subsidiary  Guarantor  hereby (a) agrees to all the terms and  provisions of the
Guarantee Agreement  applicable to it as a Subsidiary  Guarantor  thereunder and
(b) represents and warrants that the  representations  and warranties made by it
as a Subsidiary  Guarantor thereunder are true and correct on and as of the date
hereof.  Each reference to a "Subsidiary  Guarantor" in the Guarantee  Agreement
shall be deemed to include the New Subsidiary Guarantor. The Guarantee Agreement
is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

                  SECTION  2.  The  New  Subsidiary   Guarantor  represents  and
warrants to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders that this
Supplement  has  been  duly  authorized,   executed  and  delivered  by  it  and
constitutes its legal, valid and binding  obligation,  enforceable against it in
accordance  with  its  terms,  subject  to  applicable  bankruptcy,  insolvency,
reorganization,  moratorium or other laws affecting  creditors' rights generally
and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in
a proceeding in equity or at law.

<PAGE>

                  SECTION 3. This  Supplement  may be executed in  counterparts,
each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together
shall constitute a single contract.  This Supplement shall become effective when
the  Administrative  Agent shall have received  counterparts  of this Supplement
that, when taken together,  bear the signatures of the New Subsidiary  Guarantor
and the  Administrative  Agent.  Delivery of an executed  signature page to this
Supplement  by  facsimile  transmission  shall be as  effective as delivery of a
manually executed counterpart of this Supplement.

                  SECTION  4.  Except  as  expressly  supplemented  hereby,  the
Guarantee Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

                  SECTION 5. THIS SUPPLEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

                  SECTION 6. In case any one or more of the provisions contained
in this  Supplement  should be held  invalid,  illegal or  unenforceable  in any
respect,  the validity,  legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions
contained herein and in the Guarantee Agreement shall not in any way be affected
or impaired  thereby (it being  understood  that the  invalidity of a particular
provision hereof in a particular  jurisdiction shall not in and of itself affect
the validity of such  provision in any other  jurisdiction).  The parties hereto
shall  endeavor in good-faith  negotiations  to replace the invalid,  illegal or
unenforceable  provisions  with valid  provisions  the economic  effect of which
comes as close as  possible  to that of the  invalid,  illegal or  unenforceable
provisions.

                  SECTION 7. All  communications  and notices hereunder shall be
in writing and given as provided in Section 13 of the Guarantee Agreement.

                  SECTION 8. The New  Subsidiary  Guarantor  agrees to reimburse
the Administrative Agent for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection
with this  Supplement,  including the fees,  disbursements  and other charges of
counsel for the Administrative Agent.

<PAGE>


                  IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the New  Subsidiary  Guarantor  and the
Administrative  Agent  have  duly  executed  this  Supplement  to the  Guarantee
Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

                                                   [Name Of New Subsidiary
Guarantor],

                                                    by _________________________
                                                    Name:
                                                    Title:
                                                    Address:_______________
                                                            _______________
                                                            _______________


                                                    THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as
                                                    Administrative Agent,

                                                    by _________________________
                                                    Name:
                                                    Title:




<PAGE>


                                                                  CONFORMED COPY



                                    INDEMNITY,   SUBROGATION  and   CONTRIBUTION
                           AGREEMENT  dated as of August 24, 1999,  among ALBANY
                           INTERNATIONAL  CORP.,  a  Delaware  corporation  (the
                           "Company"),  each Subsidiary of the Company listed on
                           Schedule  I hereto  or  becoming  a party  hereto  as
                           provided in Section 12 (the "Subsidiary  Guarantors")
                           and  THE  CHASE   MANHATTAN   BANK,   ("Chase"),   as
                           administrative   agent   (in   such   capacity,   the
                           "Administrative  Agent")  for the Lenders (as defined
                           in the Credit Agreement referred to below).

                  Reference  is made to (a) the  Credit  Agreement  dated  as of
August 11, 1999 (as amended,  supplemented  or otherwise  modified  from time to
time, the "Credit  Agreement"),  among the Company,  the Borrowing  Subsidiaries
from time to time party  thereto,  the lenders  from time to time party  thereto
(the  "Lenders"),   Chase,  as  administrative  agent  (in  such  capacity,  the
"Administrative  Agent"),  collateral  agent (in such capacity,  the "Collateral
Agent"),  Swingline  Lender and Issuing Bank, and Chase Manhattan  International
Limited, as London Agent and (b) the Subsidiary  Guarantee Agreement dated as of
August 24, 1999, among the Subsidiary  Guarantors and the  Administrative  Agent
(as  amended,  supplemented  or  otherwise  modified  from  time  to  time,  the
"Guarantee  Agreement").  Capitalized  terms used herein and not defined  herein
shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

                  The Lenders have agreed to make Loans to the Borrowers and the
Issuing  Bank has agreed to issue  Letters of Credit  pursuant  to, and upon the
terms and subject to the  conditions  specified  in, the Credit  Agreement.  The
Subsidiary  Guarantors  have  guaranteed the Loans made to the Borrowers and the
other  Obligations  (as  defined in the  Guarantee  Agreement)  under the Credit
Agreement or any other Loan Document  pursuant to the Guarantee  Agreement;  the
Subsidiary  Guarantors  have also  granted  Liens on and  security  interests in
certain  of their  assets to secure  the  Obligations.  The  obligations  of the
Lenders to make Loans are conditioned on, among other things,  the execution and
delivery by the Borrowers and the  Subsidiary  Guarantors of an agreement in the
form hereof.

                  Accordingly,  each Borrower, each Subsidiary Guarantor and the
Administrative Agent agree as follows:

                  SECTION 1. Indemnity and  Subrogation.  (a) In addition to all
such rights of indemnity and  subrogation as the Subsidiary  Guarantors may have
under  applicable law (but subject to Section 3), the Company agrees that in the
event a payment shall be made by any Person under the Guarantee  Agreement,  the
Company shall indemnify such Person for the full amount of such payment, and the
Company  shall be  subrogated  to the rights of the Person to whom such  payment
shall have been made to the extent of such payment.

                  (b)  In  addition  to  all  such  rights  of   indemnity   and
subrogation  as the  Subsidiary  Guarantors  may have under  applicable law (but
subject to Section  3),  each  Borrowing  Subsidiary  agrees that in the event a
payment shall be made by any Subsidiary  Guarantor under the Guarantee Agreement
with respect to an  Obligation  of such  Borrowing  Subsidiary,  such  Borrowing
Subsidiary shall indemnify such

<PAGE>

Subsidiary  Guarantor for the full amount of such payment,  and such  Subsidiary
Guarantor  shall be  subrogated to the rights of the Person to whom such payment
shall have been made to the extent of such payment.

                  SECTION  2.  Contribution  and  Subrogation.  Each  Subsidiary
Guarantor (a "Contributing  Subsidiary Guarantor") agrees (subject to Section 3)
that,  in the event a payment  shall be made by any other  Subsidiary  Guarantor
under the Guarantee Agreement and such other Subsidiary Guarantor (the "Claiming
Subsidiary Guarantor") shall not have been fully indemnified by the Borrowers as
provided in Section 1, each  Contributing  Subsidiary  Guarantor shall indemnify
the  Claiming  Subsidiary  Guarantor  in an amount  equal to the  amount of such
payment  multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator  shall be the net worth
of the  Contributing  Subsidiary  Guarantor on the date hereof or on the date on
which  enforcement is being sought,  whichever is greater,  and the  denominator
shall be the  aggregate net worth of all the  Subsidiary  Guarantors on the date
hereof  (or, in the case of any  Subsidiary  Guarantor  becoming a party  hereto
pursuant to Section 12, the date of the Supplement hereto executed and delivered
by such  Subsidiary  Guarantor)  or on the  date on which  enforcement  is being
sought, whichever is greater; provided that,  notwithstanding the foregoing, any
Subsidiary  Guarantor that is a Foreign  Subsidiary shall indemnify the Claiming
Subsidiary  Guarantor only to the extent that the Claiming Subsidiary  Guarantor
made a payment with respect to an  obligation  of a Borrower that is a direct or
indirect  subsidiary  of such Foreign  Subsidiary  (and such Foreign  Subsidiary
shall not have any  liability  whatsoever  with respect to any payment made by a
Claiming  Subsidiary  Guarantor  which is either  the  Company  or any  Domestic
Subsidiary).  Any  Contributing  Subsidiary  Guarantor  making any  payment to a
Claiming Subsidiary  Guarantor pursuant to this Section 2 shall be subrogated to
the rights of such Claiming  Subsidiary  Guarantor under Section 1 to the extent
of such payment.

                  SECTION 3.  Subordination.  Notwithstanding  any  provision of
this Agreement to the contrary,  all rights of the Subsidiary  Guarantors  under
Sections 1 and 2 and all other rights of indemnity,  contribution or subrogation
under   applicable  law  or  otherwise  shall  be  fully   subordinated  to  the
indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Obligations.  No failure on the part
of any Borrower or any  Subsidiary  Guarantor  to make the payments  required by
Sections  1 and 2 (or  any  other  payments  required  under  applicable  law or
otherwise)  shall in any respect limit the  obligations  and  liabilities of any
Subsidiary  Guarantor  with  respect  to its  obligations  hereunder,  and  each
Subsidiary  Guarantor shall remain liable for the full amount of the obligations
of such Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder.

                  SECTION 4. Termination. This Agreement shall survive and be in
full force and effect so long as any Obligation is outstanding  and has not been
indefeasibly  paid in full in cash or the Commitments under the Credit Agreement
have not been  terminated,  and shall continue to be effective or be reinstated,
as the  case  may be,  if at any  time  payment,  or any  part  thereof,  of any
Obligation  is  rescinded or must  otherwise  be restored by the  Administrative
Agent,  the  Issuing  Bank or any Lender or any  Subsidiary  Guarantor  upon the
bankruptcy  or  reorganization  of any  Borrower,  any  Subsidiary  Guarantor or
otherwise.

                  SECTION 5.  GOVERNING LAW.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED
BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

                  SECTION 6. No Waiver; Amendment. (a) No failure on the part of
the  Administrative  Agent,  the Issuing  Bank or any  Subsidiary  Guarantor  to
exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy hereunder shall
operate as a waiver  thereof,  nor shall any single or partial  exercise  of any
such right, power or remedy by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any
Subsidiary  Guarantor  preclude  any other or  further  exercise  thereof or the
exercise of any other right, power or

<PAGE>

remedy. All remedies hereunder are cumulative and are not exclusive of any other
remedies provided by law. None of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and
the Subsidiary  Guarantors  shall be deemed to have waived any rights  hereunder
unless such waiver shall be in writing and signed by such parties.

                  (b) Neither this  Agreement  nor any  provision  hereof may be
waived,  amended or modified except pursuant to a written agreement entered into
between the Borrowers,  the Subsidiary  Guarantors and the Administrative  Agent
(with the prior  written  consent  of the  Lenders  or the  Required  Lenders if
required under the Credit Agreement).

                  SECTION 7.  Notices.  All communications and notices hereunder
shall be in writing and given as provided in the Guarantee Agreement and
addressed as specified therein.

                  SECTION 8. Binding  Agreement;  Assignments.  Whenever in this
Agreement  any of the parties  hereto is referred  to, such  reference  shall be
deemed to include the successors  and assigns of such party;  and all covenants,
promises and  agreements  by or on behalf of the parties  that are  contained in
this  Agreement  shall  bind  and  inure  to the  benefit  of  their  respective
successors and assigns.  Neither any Borrower nor any  Subsidiary  Guarantor may
assign or  transfer  any of its rights or  obligations  hereunder  (and any such
attempted  assignment  or  transfer  shall be void)  without  the prior  written
consent of the  Required  Lenders,  except in  connection  with any  transaction
permitted  by  Section  6.06  of  the  Credit  Agreement.   Notwithstanding  the
foregoing, at the time any Subsidiary Guarantor is released from its obligations
under the Guarantee  Agreement in accordance  with such Guarantee  Agreement and
the Credit Agreement, such Subsidiary Guarantor will cease to have any rights or
obligations under this Agreement.

                  SECTION  9.  Survival  of  Agreement;  Severability.  (a)  All
covenants and  agreements  made by the Borrowers and each  Subsidiary  Guarantor
herein and in the  certificates  or other  instruments  prepared or delivered in
connection  with this Agreement  shall be considered to have been relied upon by
the  Administrative  Agent,  the  Issuing  Bank,  the  Lenders  and  each  other
Subsidiary  Guarantor  and shall  survive the making by the Lenders of the Loans
and the issuance of Letters of Credit by the Issuing Bank and shall  continue in
full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any
Loans or any other fee or  amount  payable  under  the  Credit  Agreement,  this
Agreement or any other Loan  Document is  outstanding  and unpaid and as long as
the Commitments have not been terminated.

                  (b) In the  event  that  any  one or  more  of the  provisions
contained in this Agreement should be held invalid,  illegal or unenforceable in
any  respect,  the  validity,  legality  and  enforceability  of  the  remaining
provisions contained herein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby
(it  being  understood  that  the  invalidity  of a  particular  provision  in a
particular  jurisdiction  shall not in and of itself affect the validity of such
provision in any other  jurisdiction).  The parties shall endeavor in good-faith
negotiations to replace the invalid,  illegal or  unenforceable  provisions with
valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that
of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

                  SECTION 10.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in
counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each
of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together
shall constitute a single contract.  This Agreement shall be effective with


<PAGE>

respect to any Subsidiary  Guarantor when a counterpart bearing the signature of
such Subsidiary Guarantor shall have been delivered to the Administrative Agent.
Delivery  of  an  executed   signature  page  to  this  Agreement  by  facsimile
transmission  shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart
of this Agreement.

                  SECTION 11.  Rules of Interpretation.  The rules of
interpretation specified in Sections 1.03, 1.04 and 1.05 of the Credit Agreement
shall be applicable to this Agreement.

                  SECTION  12.  Additional  Subsidiary  Guarantors.  Pursuant to
Section 5.10 of the Credit  Agreement,  certain  additional  Subsidiaries may be
required under the terms of the Credit Agreement from time to time to enter into
this  Agreement as a Subsidiary  Guarantors.  Upon execution and delivery by the
Administrative  Agent and a Subsidiary  of an instrument in the form of Annex 1,
such  Subsidiary  shall become a Subsidiary  Guarantor  hereunder  with the same
force and effect as if originally named as a Subsidiary  Guarantor  herein.  The
execution and delivery of such  instrument  shall not require the consent of any
Subsidiary  Guarantor  hereunder.  The rights and obligations of each Subsidiary
Guarantor  hereunder shall remain in full force and effect  notwithstanding  the
addition of any new Subsidiary Guarantor as a party to this Agreement.

                  SECTION 13.  Jurisdiction;  Consent to Service of Process. (a)
Each Subsidiary  Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally  submits,  for
itself and its property, to the nonexclusive  jurisdiction of any New York State
court or Federal court of the United States of America sitting in New York City,
and any appellate  court from any thereof,  in any action or proceeding  arising
out of or relating to this  Agreement,  or for recognition or enforcement of any
judgment,  and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally
agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding  may be heard
and  determined  in such New York State or, to the extent  permitted  by law, in
such Federal  court.  Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in
any such action or proceeding  shall be conclusive  and may be enforced in other
jurisdictions  by suit on the judgment or in any other  manner  provided by law.
Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that the Administrative  Agent,
the  Issuing  Bank or any  Lender  may  otherwise  have to bring  any  action or
proceeding  relating to this Agreement  against any Subsidiary  Guarantor or its
properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

                  (b)  Each   Subsidiary   Guarantor   hereby   irrevocably  and
unconditionally  waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do
so, any  objection  that it may now or hereafter  have to the laying of venue of
any suit,  action or proceeding  arising out of or relating to this Agreement in
any New  York  State  or  Federal  court.  Each  of the  parties  hereto  hereby
irrevocably  waives,  to the fullest extent  permitted by law, the defense of an
inconvenient  forum to the  maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such
court.

                  (c)  Each  party to this  Agreement  irrevocably  consents  to
service of process in the manner  provided  for notices in Section 7. Nothing in
this  Agreement  will affect the right of any party to this  Agreement  to serve
process in any other manner permitted by law.

                  SECTION 14.  Waiver of Jury Trial.  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY
WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE
TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING

<PAGE>

OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY HERETO (A)
CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS
REPRESENTED,  EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE,  THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE
EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER  AND (B)  ACKNOWLEDGES
THAT IT AND THE OTHER  PARTIES  HERETO  HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS
AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS,  THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS
SECTION.

<PAGE>


                  IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  parties  hereto  have  caused  this
Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized  officers as of the date first
appearing above.



                                                     ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP.,

                                                     by  /s/ Frank R. Schmeler
                                                     Name:  Frank R. Schmeler
                                                     Title: President


                                                     ALBANY INTERNATIONAL
                                                     RESEARCH CO.,

                                                     by  /s/ Francis L. McKone
                                                     Name:  Francis L. McKone
                                                     Title: Chairman


                                                     ALBANY INTERNATIONAL
                                                     TECHNIWEAVE, INC.,

                                                     by  /s/ John C. Treanor
                                                     Name:  John C. Treanor
                                                     Title: Treasurer


                                                   ALBANY INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS
                                                     ONE, INC.,

                                                      by  /s/Frank R. Schmeler
                                                      Name:  Frank R. Schmeler
                                                      Title: President


                                                   ALBANY INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS
                                                     TWO., INC,

                                                       by  /s/ Frank R. Schmeler
                                                       Name:   Frank R. Schmeler
                                                       Title:  President


                                                    WANGNER SYSTEMS CORPORATION,

                                                       by  /s/John C. Treanor
                                                       Name:  John C. Treanor
                                                       Title: Vice President


<PAGE>

                                                     WANGNER FORMING FABRICS,
                                                     INC.,

                                                       by  /s/ John C. Treanor
                                                       Name:   John C. Treanor
                                                       Title:  Vice President



                                                     GESCHMAY WET FELTS, INC.,

                                                       by  /s/ John C. Treanor
                                                       Name:   John C. Treanor
                                                       Title:  Vice President


                                                   BRANDON DRYING FABRICS, INC.,

                                                       by  /s/ John C. Treanor
                                                       Name:   John C. Treanor
                                                       Title:  Vice President


                                                   THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as
                                                      Administrative Agent,

                                                       by  /s/ Kristin Sands
                                                       Name:   Kristin Sands
                                                       Title:  Vice President


<PAGE>


                                                                      SCHEDULE I
                                                   to the Indemnity, Subrogation
                                                      and Contribution Agreement


                                           SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS


Albany International Holdings One, Inc.
Albany International Holdings Two, Inc.
Albany International Techniweave, Inc.
Albany International Research Co.
Wangner Systems Corporation
Wangner Forming Fabrics, Inc.
Geschmay Wet Felts, Inc.
Brandon Drying Fabrics, Inc.

<PAGE>



                                                                      ANNEX 1 to
                                                  the Indemnity, Subrogation and
                                                          Contribution Agreement



                                    SUPPLEMENT  NO.  [ ] dated as of [ ], to the
                           Indemnity,  Subrogation  and  Contribution  Agreement
                           dated  as of  August  24,  1999  (as the  same may be
                           amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time
                           to time, the "Indemnity, Subrogation and Contribution
                           Agreement"),  among  ALBANY  INTERNATIONAL  CORP.,  a
                           Delaware corporation (the "Company"), each Subsidiary
                           of the  Company  listed on  Schedule  I thereto  (the
                           "Subsidiary  Guarantors"),  and THE  CHASE  MANHATTAN
                           BANK, as  administrative  agent (the  "Administrative
                           Agent")  for the  Lenders  (as  defined in the Credit
                           Agreement referred to below).


                  A. Reference is made to (a) the Credit  Agreement  dated as of
August 11, 1999 (as amended,  supplemented  or otherwise  modified  from time to
time, the "Credit  Agreement"),  among the Company,  the Borrowing  Subsidiaries
from time to time party  thereto,  the lenders  from time to time party  thereto
(the  "Lenders"),  The Chase  Manhattan  Bank, as  administrative  agent for the
Lenders (in such capacity,  the  "Administrative  Agent"),  Swingline Lender and
Issuing Bank, and Chase Manhattan  International  Limited,  as London Agent, and
(b) the Subsidiary  Guarantee  Agreement dated as of August 11, 1999,  among the
Subsidiary  Guarantors and the Administrative Agent (as the same may be amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified, the "Guarantee Agreement").

                  B.  Capitalized  terms used herein and not  otherwise  defined
herein  shall  have  the  meanings  assigned  to such  terms  in the  Indemnity,
Subrogation and Contribution Agreement and the Credit Agreement.

                  C.  The   Borrowers,   the   Subsidiary   Guarantors  and  the
Administrative   Agent  have  entered  into  the  Indemnity,   Subrogation   and
Contribution  Agreement  in order to induce  the  Lenders  to make Loans and the
Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit.  Pursuant to Section 5.10 of the Credit
Agreement,  certain  additional  Subsidiaries may be required under the terms of
the Credit Agreement from time to time to enter into the Indemnity,  Subrogation
and  Contribution  Agreement  as  Subsidiary  Guarantors.   Section  12  of  the
Indemnity,  Subrogation  and  Contribution  Agreement  provides that  additional
Subsidiaries  of  the  Company  may  become  Subsidiary   Guarantors  under  the
Indemnity,  Subrogation and Contribution  Agreement by execution and delivery of
an instrument in the form of this Supplement.  The undersigned Subsidiary of the
Company  (the "New  Subsidiary  Guarantor")  is  executing  this  Supplement  in
accordance with the  requirements of the Credit Agreement to become a Subsidiary
Guarantor under the Indemnity,  Subrogation and Contribution  Agreement in order
to induce the Lenders to make  additional  Loans and the  Issuing  Bank to issue
Letters of Credit and as consideration  for Loans previously made and Letters of
Credit previously issued.

                  Accordingly,  the Administrative  Agent and the New Subsidiary
Guarantor agree as follows:
<PAGE>

                  SECTION 1. In  accordance  with  Section 12 of the  Indemnity,
Subrogation  and  Contribution  Agreement,  the New Subsidiary  Guarantor by its
signature below becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indemnity,  Subrogation
and Contribution Agreement with the same force and effect as if originally named
therein as a Subsidiary Guarantor and the New Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees
to all the terms and provisions of the Indemnity,  Subrogation and  Contribution
Agreement applicable to it as a Subsidiary Guarantor thereunder.  Each reference
to a  "Subsidiary  Guarantor" in the  Indemnity,  Subrogation  and  Contribution
Agreement  shall  be  deemed  to  include  the  New  Subsidiary  Guarantor.  The
Indemnity,  Subrogation and Contribution Agreement is hereby incorporated herein
by reference.

                  SECTION  2.  The  New  Subsidiary   Guarantor  represents  and
warrants to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders that this
Supplement  has  been  duly  authorized,   executed  and  delivered  by  it  and
constitutes its legal, valid and binding  obligation,  enforceable against it in
accordance  with  its  terms,  subject  to  applicable  bankruptcy,  insolvency,
reorganization,  moratorium or other laws affecting  creditors' rights generally
and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in
a proceeding in equity or at law.

                  SECTION 3. This  Supplement  may be executed  in  counterparts
(and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall
constitute an original,  but all of which when taken together shall constitute a
single contract.  This Supplement shall become effective when the Administrative
Agent shall have  received  counterparts  of this  Supplement  that,  when taken
together,   bear  the  signatures  of  the  New  Subsidiary  Guarantor  and  the
Administrative  Agent. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Supplement
by facsimile transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed
counterpart of this Supplement.

                  SECTION  4.  Except  as  expressly  supplemented  hereby,  the
Indemnity, Subrogation and Contribution Agreement shall remain in full force and
effect.

                  SECTION 5. THIS SUPPLEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

                  SECTION 6. In the event that any one or more of the provisions
contained in this Supplement should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in
any  respect,  the  validity,  legality  and  enforceability  of  the  remaining
provisions  contained herein and in the Indemnity,  Subrogation and Contribution
Agreement  shall  not in any way be  affected  or  impaired  thereby  (it  being
understood  that  the  invalidity  of a  particular  provision  in a  particular
jurisdiction shall not in and of itself affect the validity of such provision in
any  other  jurisdiction).  The  parties  hereto  shall  endeavor  in  goodfaith
negotiations to replace the invalid,  illegal or  unenforceable  provisions with
valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that
of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

                  SECTION 7. All  communications  and notices hereunder shall be
in writing and given as provided in Section 7 of the Indemnity,  Subrogation and
Contribution  Agreement.  All  communications  and notices  hereunder to the New
Subsidiary  Guarantor  shall be given to it at the  address  set forth under its
signature.

                  SECTION 8. The New  Subsidiary  Guarantor  agrees to reimburse
the Administrative Agent for its out-of-pocket  expenses in connection with this
Supplement,  including the fees, other charges and  disbursements of counsel for
the Administrative Agent.

<PAGE>

                  IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the New  Subsidiary  Guarantor  and the
Administrative  Agent  have duly  executed  this  Supplement  to the  Indemnity,
Subrogation  and  Contribution  Agreement  as of the day and  year  first  above
written.


                                             [Name Of New Subsidiary Guarantor],

                                                 by ___________________________
                                                 Name:
                                                 Title:
                                                 Address:



                                                 THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
                                                  as Administrative Agent,

                                                  by ___________________________
                                                  Name:
                                                  Title:
<PAGE>

                                                                      SCHEDULE I
                                          to Supplement No.___ to the Indemnity,
                                          Subrogation and Contribution Agreement



                                           SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS



Name                                Address







<PAGE>
                                                                  CONFORMED COPY



                                 PLEDGE AGREEMENT dated as of August 24, 1999,
                           among ALBANY  INTERNATIONAL  CORP., a Delaware
                           corporation (the  "Company"),  each  Subsidiary  of
                           the  Company listed  on  Schedule  I hereto  or
                           becoming  a party hereto as provided in Section 24
                           (collectively,  the "Subsidiary Pledgors"; the
                           Company and the Subsidiary Pledgors  being  referred
                           to collectively as the "Pledgors")  and THE CHASE
                           MANHATTAN BANK, a New York banking corporation
                           ("Chase"), as collateral agent (in such capacity,
                           the "Collateral  Agent"), for the Secured Parties (as
                           defined below).


         Reference  is made to (a) the Credit  Agreement  dated as of August 11,
1999 (as amended,  supplemented  or otherwise  modified  from time to time,  the
"Credit Agreement"),  among the Company, the Borrowing Subsidiaries from time to
time party thereto, the lenders from time to time party thereto (the "Lenders"),
Chase, as administrative agent (in such capacity,  the "Administrative  Agent"),
swingline lender (in such capacity, the "Swingline Lender") and issuing bank (in
such capacity,  the "Issuing Bank"), and Chase Manhattan  International Limited,
as London Agent,  and (b) the Guarantee  Agreement and the other Loan  Documents
referred  to in the Credit  Agreement.  Capitalized  terms used and not  defined
herein shall have  meanings  assigned to them in the Credit  Agreement,  and the
rules of  construction  set forth in Section 1.02 of the Credit  Agreement shall
apply equally to this Agreement.

         The Lenders have agreed to make Loans to the  Borrowers and the Issuing
Bank has agreed to issue  Letters of Credit  for the  account of the  Borrowers,
pursuant to, and upon the terms and subject to the conditions  specified in, the
Credit  Agreement.  The  obligations  of the  Lenders  to make  Loans and of the
Issuing  Bank to issue  Letters  of Credit are  conditioned  upon,  among  other
things,  the execution and delivery by the Pledgors of a Pledge Agreement in the
form hereof to secure (a) the due and punctual  payment of (i) the  principal of
and interest (including interest accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy,
insolvency,  receivership  or other  similar  proceeding,  regardless of whether
allowed or allowable in such proceeding) on the Loans,  when and as due, whether
at  maturity,  by  acceleration,  upon one or more dates set for  prepayment  or
otherwise,  (ii) each payment  required to be made under the Credit Agreement in
respect of any Letter of Credit,  when and as due, including payments in respect
of reimbursement of  disbursements,  interest thereon and obligations to provide
cash collateral and (iii) all other monetary obligations, including fees, costs,
expenses and indemnities,  whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed
or otherwise (including monetary obligations incurred during the pendency of any
bankruptcy, insolvency,  receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of
whether  allowed  or  allowable  in  such  proceeding),  of the  Company  or any
Subsidiary to the Lenders under the Credit  Agreement or any other Loan Document
and (b) unless otherwise  agreed to in writing by the applicable  Lender thereto
the due and  punctual  payment  of all  obligations  of the  Company  under each
Hedging   Agreement  entered  into  (i)  prior  to  the  date  hereof  with  any
counterparty  that is a Lender (or an  Affiliate  thereof) on the date hereof or
(ii) on or after the date hereof with any  counterparty  that is a Lender (or an
Affiliate  thereof) at the time such Hedging  Agreement is entered into (all the
obligations  referred to in the preceding  clauses (a) and (b) being referred to
collectively called the "Obligations"). Each Pledgor agrees that the Obligations
may be extended or renewed, in whole or in

<PAGE>

part,  without  notice  to or  further  assent  from it,  and that the  security
interest granted  hereunder and the obligations of each Pledgor will survive any
extension or renewal of any Obligation.

         Accordingly, the Pledgors and the Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself
and each Secured Party (and each of their  respective  successors  and assigns),
hereby agree as follows:

                  SECTION 1. Pledge.  The Pledgors  referred to in the following
clauses (a), (b) and (c) hereby pledge, transfer,  grant, bargain, sell, convey,
hypothecate,   set  over  and  deliver   and  create  a  security   interest  in
(collectively,  "Pledge") unto the Collateral Agent, its successors and assigns,
for the benefit of the Lenders,  the Agents,  the Swingline Lender,  the Issuing
Bank and each other Person to whom any of the  Obligations  are or shall be owed
(collectively,  the " Secured Parties"), the respective assets described in such
clauses  (collectively,  the "Collateral") to secure the respective  Obligations
referred to therein:

                  (a)  As   security   for  the  payment  in  full  of  all  the
         Obligations, the Company and each Pledgor that is a Domestic Subsidiary
         hereby Pledges all such Pledgor's right,  title and interest in, to and
         under  (i) all  the  outstanding  Equity  Interests  in  each  Domestic
         Subsidiary  owned by it on the date  hereof  or at any time  hereafter,
         (ii) 65% of the outstanding  voting Equity  Interests,  and 100% of the
         outstanding  non-voting Equity Interests (or, in each case, such lesser
         percentages as shall be owned by it) in each Foreign  Subsidiary (other
         than any  Excluded  Foreign  Subsidiary)  in  which it owns any  Equity
         Interests  on the date  hereof  or at any  time  hereafter,  (iii)  all
         Specified  Intercompany  Indebtedness  owed to it,  (iv) all  payments,
         whether of dividends or other  distributions,  principal or interest or
         otherwise,  and  whether  of cash or other  assets,  from  time to time
         received,  receivable  or  otherwise  distributed,  in  respect  of, in
         exchange for or upon the  conversion of the  securities  referred to in
         clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above;  (v) subject to Section 5, all rights
         and privileges of such Pledgor with respect to the securities and other
         property  referred to in clauses (i), (ii),  (iii) and (iv) above;  and
         (vi) all proceeds of any of the foregoing.

                  (b) As security for the payment in full of the Obligations, if
         any, of each of its subsidiaries that is a Foreign  Subsidiary (but not
         the Obligations of the Company or any Domestic Subsidiary), the Company
         and each Pledgor that is a Domestic  Subsidiary  hereby  Pledges all of
         such Pledgor's  right,  title and interest in, to and under (i) all the
         outstanding Equity Interests in each such Foreign Subsidiary owing such
         Obligations  (whether as a Borrower or as a  Guarantor)  owned by it on
         the date hereof or at any time  hereafter  that are not  pledged  under
         paragraph (a) above,  (ii) all payments,  whether of dividends or other
         distributions or otherwise,  and whether of cash or other assets,  from
         time to time received,  receivable or otherwise distributed, in respect
         of, in exchange for or upon the conversion of the  securities  referred
         to in clause  (i)  above;  (iii)  subject  to Section 5, all rights and
         privileges  of such Pledgor with  respect to the  securities  and other
         property  referred  to in  clauses  (i) and  (ii)above;  and  (iv)  all
         proceeds of any of the foregoing.

                  (c) As security for the payment in full of its Obligations and
         the  Obligations of its  subsidiaries  (but not the  Obligations of the
         Company or any  Domestic  Subsidiary),  each  Pledgor that is a Foreign
         Subsidiary  hereby  Pledges  all of such  Pledgor's  right,  title  and
         interest in, to and under (i) all the outstanding  Equity  Interests in
         each  Subsidiary  owned  by it on  the  date  hereof  or  at  any  time
         hereafter,  (ii) all Specified  Intercompany  Indebtedness owed to such
         Pledgor,  together with any  certificates  or instruments  representing
         such Equity Interests or specified Intercompany Indebtedness, (iii) all
         payments, whether of dividends or other

<PAGE>

         distributions,  principal or interest or otherwise, and whether of cash
         or other assets,  from time to time  received,  receivable or otherwise
         distributed,  in respect of, in exchange for or upon the  conversion of
         the securities  referred to in clauses (i) or (ii) above;  (iv) subject
         to Section 5, all rights and privileges of such Pledgor with respect to
         the securities and other property  referred to in clauses (i), (ii) and
         (iii) above; and (v) all proceeds of any of the foregoing.

         TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the  Collateral,  together  with all right,  title,
interest,  powers,  privileges and preferences pertaining or incidental thereto,
unto the Collateral  Agent, its successors and assigns,  for the ratable benefit
of the Secured Parties,  forever;  subject, however, to the terms, covenants and
conditions hereinafter set forth.

                  SECTION 2. Delivery of the  Collateral;  Perfection.  (a) Each
Pledgor  agrees  promptly to deliver or cause to be delivered to the  Collateral
Agent any and all certificates or instruments representing any Equity Interests,
Specified Company  Indebtedness or other assets now or hereafter included in the
Collateral  (collectively,  the  "Pledged  Securities").  Upon  delivery  to the
Collateral  Agent, all Pledged  Securities shall be accompanied by stock or note
powers duly executed in blank or other  instruments of transfer  satisfactory to
the  Collateral  Agent  and by  such  other  instruments  and  documents  as the
Collateral Agent may reasonably request.

         (b) Each  Pledgor  agrees  to take  from  time to time  all such  other
actions as shall be required under applicable law or reasonably requested by the
Collateral  Agent to perfect and maintain the  perfection of the Lien created by
this  Agreement,  including,  in the case of any  Collateral  in which such Lien
cannot be perfected by the possession of certificates or instruments, the filing
of all such financing statements and similar documents, and the obtaining of all
such acknowledgments of clearing corporations, brokers and other intermediaries,
as shall be required for such  perfection  under the Uniform  Commercial Code or
other law of any applicable jurisdiction.

         (c)  The  Equity  Interests  and  Specified  Intercompany  Indebtedness
initially included in the Collateral are set forth in Schedule II hereto. At the
time any  additional  Equity  Interests or Specified  Intercompany  Indebtedness
shall  become  part  of  the  Collateral,  the  Borrower  shall  deliver  to the
Collateral  Agent a revised  Schedule II, which shall  supersede  all  Schedules
previously delivered pursuant to the requirements of this paragraph.

         (d) Each Pledgor  will cause any  Specified  Intercompany  Indebtedness
owed to such Pledgor that has been in existence for more than five Business Days
to be evidenced by a duly executed promissory note that is pledged and delivered
to the  Collateral  Agent  pursuant to the terms  hereof.  Each Pledgor  agrees,
without limiting its obligations  under paragraph (a) or (b) above,  that to the
extent it is  required to pledge any limited  liability  or limited  partnership
interest in any  Domestic  Subsidiary  hereunder,  it will either (i) cause such
Subsidiary to provide in such Subsidiary's  limited liability company or limited
partnership  agreement that its limited liability company or limited partnership
interests,  as the case may be, shall be represented by  certificates,  shall be
deemed  "securities"  within the meaning of Section  8-102 and Section  8-103 of
Article 8 of the Uniform  Commercial  Code and shall be governed by Article 8 of
the Uniform  Commercial  Code,  or (ii) at no time permit the limited  liability
company or limited  partnership  agreement of such  Subsidiary to contain any of
the provisions referred to

                                        3
<PAGE>

in the  preceding  clause (i) and make or cause to be made all  filings and take
all other actions  required under  paragraph (b) above for the perfection of the
Collateral Agent's Lien in the limited liability company or limited  partnership
interests of such Subsidiary  under Article 9 of the Uniform  Commercial Code as
in effect in each applicable jurisdiction.

                  SECTION 3.  Representations, Warranties and Covenants.  Each
Pledgor hereby represents, warrants and covenants, as to itself and the
Collateral pledged by it hereunder, to and with the Collateral Agent that:

                  (a) the  Equity  Interests  pledged  hereunder  represent  the
         percentages  set forth on  Schedule  II of the issued  and  outstanding
         Equity Interests of each class of the issuers thereof;

                  (b) except for the security  interest  granted  hereunder  and
         except for Liens  permitted  under  clauses  (a) through (i) of Section
         6.02 of the Credit Agreement, such Pledgor (i) is and will at all times
         continue to be the direct  owner,  beneficially  and of record,  of the
         Collateral  listed in Schedule  II as being owned by it,  except to the
         extent  permitted by Section 6.03 of the Credit  Agreement,  (ii) holds
         the same free and clear of all Liens,  (iii)  will make no  assignment,
         pledge,  hypothecation or transfer of, or create or permit to exist any
         security  interest  in or other  Lien on,  the  Collateral,  other than
         pursuant hereto,  and (iv) subject to Section 5, will cause any and all
         Collateral,  whether for value paid by such Pledgor or otherwise, to be
         forthwith  deposited with the Collateral  Agent and pledged or assigned
         hereunder;

                  (c) such Pledgor (i) has the power and authority to pledge the
         Collateral  in the manner  hereby  done or  contemplated  and (ii) will
         defend its title or  interest  thereto or therein  against  any and all
         Liens (other than the Lien created by this Agreement), however arising,
         of all Persons whomsoever;

                  (d) no consent of any other Person  (including  equity holders
         or  creditors  of  any  Pledgor)  and no  consent  or  approval  of any
         Governmental  Authority or any securities  exchange was or is necessary
         to the validity of the pledge  effected  hereby other than such as have
         been obtained or are not yet required to have been  obtained  under the
         terms of the Credit Agreement;

                  (e) by virtue of the execution and delivery by the Pledgors of
         this  Agreement and the other actions that have been taken  pursuant to
         this  Agreement  (or are not yet  required to have been taken under the
         terms of the Credit  Agreement),  the  Collateral  Agent will  obtain a
         valid and  perfected  first  Lien  upon and  security  interest  in the
         Collateral  as  security  for  the  payment  and   performance  of  the
         Obligations;

                  (f) the pledge  effected  hereby is  effective  to vest in the
         Collateral  Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties,  the rights of the
         Collateral Agent in the Collateral as set forth herein;

                  (g) all of the Equity  Interests  pledged  hereunder have been
         duly   authorized   and   validly   issued   and  are  fully  paid  and
         nonassessable;

                                        4
<PAGE>

                  (h) all  information  set forth herein relating to the Pledged
         Stock is accurate and complete in all material  respects as of the date
         hereof; and

                  (i)  within 45 days  after the end of each  fiscal  quarter of
         each fiscal year,  each holder of Specified  Intercompany  Indebtedness
         shall furnish to the Collateral Agent new Schedules to the Intercompany
         Notes evidencing such Specified Intercompany  Indebtedness updating the
         amount of  Specified  Intercompany  Indebtedness  held by such  holder;
         provided  that  upon  receipt  of  any  such  updated  Schedules,   the
         Collateral Agent shall return the old Schedules,  marked cancelled,  to
         such holder.

                  SECTION 4.  Registration in Nominee Name;  Denominations.  The
Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, shall have the right (in its
sole and absolute  discretion) to hold the Equity Interests pledged hereunder in
its own name as pledgee, the name of its nominee (as pledgee or as sub-agent) or
the  name of the  Pledgors,  endorsed  or  assigned  in blank or in favor of the
Collateral Agent. Each Pledgor will promptly give to the Collateral Agent copies
of any notices or other  communications  received by it with  respect to pledged
Equity  Interests  registered in the name of such Pledgor.  The Collateral Agent
shall at all times  have the right to  exchange  any  certificates  representing
pledged Equity Interests for certificates of smaller or larger denominations for
any purpose consistent with this Agreement.

                  SECTION 5. Voting  Rights;  Dividends and  Interest,  etc. (a)
Unless and until an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing:

                  (i) Each  Pledgor  shall be entitled  to exercise  any and all
         voting and/or other consensual rights and powers inuring to an owner of
         pledged Equity Interests or any part thereof for any purpose consistent
         with the terms of this  Agreement,  the Credit  Agreement and the other
         Loan Documents;  provided such Pledgor will not be entitled to exercise
         any such right if the result  thereof  would  reasonably be expected to
         materially  and adversely  affect the rights inuring to a holder of the
         pledged  Equity  Interests  or the  rights and  remedies  of any of the
         Secured  Parties  under this  Agreement or the Credit  Agreement or any
         other Loan  Document or the ability of the Secured  Parties to exercise
         the same.

                  (ii) The  Collateral  Agent shall  execute and deliver to each
         Pledgor,  or cause to be executed and  delivered to each  Pledgor,  all
         such proxies,  powers of attorney and other instruments as such Pledgor
         may  reasonably  request for the purpose of  enabling  such  Pledgor to
         exercise the voting and/or  consensual rights and powers it is entitled
         to exercise  pursuant to subparagraph (i) above and to receive the cash
         dividends  it is entitled to receive  pursuant  to  subparagraph  (iii)
         below.

                  (iii) Each Pledgor shall be entitled to receive and retain any
         and all cash  dividends,  interest  and  principal  paid on the  Equity
         Interests or Indebtedness  pledged  hereunder to the extent and only to
         the  extent  that such  cash  dividends,  interest  and  principal  are
         permitted by, and  otherwise  paid in  accordance  with,  the terms and
         conditions  of the  Credit  Agreement,  the other  Loan  Documents  and
         applicable  laws. To the extent limited by Section 1 above, all noncash
         dividends,  interest and  principal,  and all  dividends,  interest and
         principal  paid or payable in cash or  otherwise in  connection  with a
         partial or total liquidation or dissolution,

                                        5
<PAGE>

         return of capital,  capital surplus or paid-in  surplus,  and all other
         distributions  (other than  distributions  referred to in the preceding
         sentence)  made on or in respect of the Pledged  Equity  Interests  and
         Indebtedness,  whether  paid or payable in cash or  otherwise,  whether
         resulting from a subdivision,  combination or  reclassification  of the
         outstanding  Equity  Interests of the issuer of any thereof or received
         in  exchange  for  Pledged  Securities  or  any  part  thereof,  or  in
         redemption  thereof,  or as a  result  of  any  merger,  consolidation,
         acquisition  or other  exchange of assets to which such issuer may be a
         party or otherwise, shall be and become part of the Collateral, and, if
         received by any Pledgor,  shall not be  commingled by such Pledgor with
         any of its other funds or property but shall be held separate and apart
         therefrom,  shall be held in trust for the  benefit  of the  Collateral
         Agent and shall be forthwith  delivered to the Collateral  Agent in the
         same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement).

         (b) Upon the  occurrence  and  during  the  continuance  of an Event of
Default, all rights of any Pledgor to dividends, interest or principal that such
Pledgor is  authorized  to receive  pursuant to paragraph  (a)(iii)  above shall
cease,  and all such rights  shall  thereupon  become  vested in the  Collateral
Agent,  which shall have the sole and  exclusive  right and authority to receive
and retain such  dividends,  interest or principal.  All dividends,  interest or
principal  received by the Pledgor  contrary to the provisions of this Section 5
shall  be held in  trust  for the  benefit  of the  Collateral  Agent,  shall be
segregated  from other  property or funds of such Pledgor and shall be forthwith
delivered  to the  Collateral  Agent upon demand in the same form as so received
(with any necessary endorsement). Any and all money and other property paid over
to or received  by the  Collateral  Agent  pursuant  to the  provisions  of this
paragraph  (b) shall be  retained  by the  Collateral  Agent in an account to be
established by the Collateral Agent upon receipt of such money or other property
and shall be applied in accordance  with the  provisions of Section 7. After all
Events of Default have been cured or waived, the Collateral Agent shall,  within
five  Business  Days after all such Events of Default have been cured or waived,
repay to each  Pledgor  all  cash  dividends,  interest  or  principal  (without
interest),  that such Pledgor would otherwise be permitted to retain pursuant to
the terms of paragraph (a)(iii) above and which remain in such account.

         (c) Upon the  occurrence  and  during  the  continuance  of an Event of
Default,  upon notice to the Company that the Collateral  Agent intends to or is
exercising  its rights  under this  Section  5(c),  all rights of any Pledgor to
exercise the voting and consensual  rights and powers it is entitled to exercise
pursuant  to  paragraph  (a)(i) of this  Section 5, and the  obligations  of the
Collateral Agent under paragraph (a)(ii) of this Section 5, shall cease, and all
such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Collateral  Agent,  which shall
have the sole and  exclusive  right and  authority  to exercise  such voting and
consensual rights and powers,  provided that,  unless otherwise  directed by the
Required  Lenders,  the Collateral  Agent shall have the right from time to time
following  and  during  the  continuance  of an Event of  Default  to permit the
Pledgors to exercise such rights. After all Events of Default have been cured or
waived,  such Pledgor will have the right to exercise the voting and  consensual
rights and powers that it would  otherwise  be entitled to exercise  pursuant to
the terms of paragraph (a)(i) above.

                  SECTION 6.  Remedies upon Default.  Upon the occurrence and
during the continuance of an Event of Default, subject to applicable regulatory
and legal requirements, the Collateral Agent may sell the Collateral, or any

                                        6
<PAGE>

part thereof,  at public or private sale or at any broker's  board or on any
securities  exchange,  for cash,  upon  credit or for future delivery as the
Collateral Agent shall deem  appropriate.  The Collateral Agent shall be
authorized  at any such sale (if it deems it advisable to do so)to restrict the
prospective bidders or purchasers to Persons who will represent and agree
that they are  purchasing  the  Collateral  for their own  account for
investment  and not with a view to the  distribution  or sale thereof,  and upon
consummation  of any such  sale the  Collateral  Agent  shall  have the right to
assign,  transfer  and  deliver  to the  purchaser  or  purchasers  thereof  the
Collateral so sold. Each such purchaser at any such sale shall hold the property
sold absolutely free from any claim or right on the part of any Pledgor, and, to
the extent  permitted by applicable law, the Pledgors hereby waive all rights of
redemption,  stay, valuation and approval any Pledgor now has or may at any time
in the future  have under any rule of law or statute now  existing or  hereafter
enacted.

         The Collateral Agent shall give a Pledgor 10 days' prior written notice
(which each Pledgor  agrees is  reasonable  notice within the meaning of Section
9-504(3) of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York or
its equivalent in other  jurisdictions)  of the Collateral  Agent's intention to
make any sale of such Pledgor's Collateral. Such notice, in the case of a public
sale, shall state the time and place for such sale and, in the case of a sale at
a broker's board or on a securities exchange,  shall state the board or exchange
at which such sale is to be made and the day on which the Collateral, or portion
thereof,  will first be offered for sale at such board or  exchange  and for any
other  private  sale,  shall  state the time and date after  which such sale may
commence.  Any  such  public  sale  shall be held at such  time or times  within
ordinary  business hours and at such place or places as the Collateral Agent may
fix and state in the notice of such sale. At any such sale, the  Collateral,  or
portion thereof, to be sold may be sold in one lot as an entirety or in separate
parcels,  as the  Collateral  Agent  may (in its sole and  absolute  discretion)
determine.  The Collateral  Agent shall not be obligated to make any sale of any
Collateral  if it shall  determine  not to do so,  regardless  of the fact  that
notice of sale of such Collateral  shall have been given.  The Collateral  Agent
may, without notice or publication,  adjourn any public or private sale or cause
the same to be adjourned from time to time by announcement at the time and place
fixed for sale, and such sale may,  without further notice,  be made at the time
and  place to which  the same was so  adjourned.  In case any sale of all or any
part of the Collateral is made on credit or for future delivery,  the Collateral
so sold may be retained by the Collateral  Agent until the sale price is paid in
full by the purchaser or purchasers thereof,  but the Collateral Agent shall not
incur any liability in case any such purchaser or purchasers  shall fail to take
up and pay for the  Collateral  so sold and, in case of any such  failure,  such
Collateral may be sold again upon like notice.  At any public (or, to the extent
permitted by applicable law,  private) sale made pursuant to this Section 6, any
Secured Party may bid for or purchase,  free from any right of redemption,  stay
or  appraisal  on the part of any  Pledgor  (all said  rights  being also hereby
waived and released),  the  Collateral or any part thereof  offered for sale and
may make  payment on account  thereof by using any claim then due and payable to
it from such Pledgor as a credit  against the purchase  price,  and it may, upon
compliance  with the terms of sale,  hold,  retain and dispose of such  property
without further  accountability to such Pledgor  therefor.  For purposes hereof,
(a) a written  agreement to purchase the Collateral or any portion thereof shall
be treated as a sale thereof,  (b) the  Collateral  Agent shall be free to carry
out such sale  pursuant  to such  agreement  and (c) such  Pledgor  shall not be
entitled to the return of the Collateral or any portion  thereof subject thereto
(other  than any  proceeds  remaining  after the  Obligations  have been paid in
full),  notwithstanding  the fact that  after the  Collateral  Agent  shall have
entered into such an agreement  all Events of Default  shall have been  remedied
and the  Obligations  paid in full. As an alternative to exercising the power of
sale herein

                                        7
<PAGE>

conferred upon it, the Collateral Agent may proceed by a suit or suits at law or
in equity to foreclose  upon the  Collateral  and to sell the  Collateral or any
portion  thereof  pursuant to a judgment  or decree of a court or courts  having
competent  jurisdiction  or  pursuant  to  a  proceeding  by  a  court-appointed
receiver.

         SECTION 7. Application of Proceeds of Sale. The proceeds of any sale of
Collateral pursuant to Section 6, as well as any Collateral  consisting of cash,
shall be applied by the Collateral Agent as follows:

                  FIRST,  to the payment of all  reasonable  costs and  expenses
         incurred  by the  Collateral  Agent in  connection  with  such  sale or
         otherwise in connection with this Agreement, any other Loan Document or
         any of the  Obligations,  including all court costs and the  reasonable
         fees and expenses of its agents and legal counsel, the repayment of all
         advances made by the Collateral Agent hereunder or under any other Loan
         Document  on behalf of any Pledgor  and any other  reasonable  costs or
         expenses  incurred  in  connection  with the  exercise  of any right or
         remedy hereunder or under any other Loan Document;

                  SECOND,  to the payment in full of the Obligations  secured by
         such  Collateral  (the amounts so applied to be  distributed  among the
         applicable  Secured  Parties pro rata in accordance with the amounts of
         such  Obligations  owed to them on the date of any such  distribution);
         and

                  THIRD, to the Pledgors,  their successors or assigns,  or as a
         court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct.

         The Collateral  Agent shall have absolute  discretion as to the time of
application  of any such  proceeds,  moneys or balances in accordance  with this
Agreement.  Upon any sale of the Collateral by the Collateral  Agent  (including
pursuant to a power of sale granted by statute or under a judicial  proceeding),
the  receipt of the  purchase  money by the  Collateral  Agent or of the officer
making the sale shall be a sufficient  discharge to the  purchaser or purchasers
of the  Collateral  so sold  and  such  purchaser  or  purchasers  shall  not be
obligated to see to the  application of any part of the purchase money paid over
to the  Collateral  Agent or such  officer or be  answerable  in any way for the
misapplication thereof.

                  SECTION 8. Reimbursement of Collateral Agent. (a) Each Pledgor
agrees to pay upon  demand  to the  Collateral  Agent the  amount of any and all
reasonable   expenses,   including  the  reasonable   fees,  other  charges  and
disbursements  of its counsel and of any experts or agents,  that the Collateral
Agent may incur in connection  with (i) the  administration  of this  Agreement,
(ii) the custody or preservation  of, or the sale of,  collection from, or other
realization  upon, any of the  Collateral,  (iii) the exercise or enforcement of
any of the rights of the Collateral  Agent hereunder or (iv) the failure by such
Pledgor to perform or observe any of the provisions hereof.

         (b) Without  limitation of its  indemnification  obligations  under the
other Loan Documents, each Pledgor jointly and severally agrees to indemnify the
Collateral  Agent and the other  Indemnitees  against,  and hold each Indemnitee
harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and

                                        8
<PAGE>

related  expenses,   including   reasonable  counsel  fees,  other  charges  and
disbursements, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in
any way connected  with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this
Agreement or any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated
hereby or thereby,  the  performance by the parties  hereto of their  respective
obligations  thereunder or the  consummation of the  Transactions  and the other
transactions  contemplated thereby or (ii) any claim, litigation,  investigation
or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether or not any Indemnitee is
a party thereto,  provided that such indemnity  shall not, as to any Indemnitee,
be available to the extent that such losses,  claims,  damages,  liabilities  or
related expenses are determined by a final,  non-appealable  judgment of a court
of competent  jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross  negligence or wilful
misconduct of such Indemnitee.

         (c)  Any  amounts  payable  under  this  Section  shall  be  additional
Obligations secured hereby and by the other Security  Documents.  The provisions
of this Section 8 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless
of  the  termination  of  this  Agreement  or  any  other  Loan  Document,   the
consummation of the transactions  contemplated  hereby,  the repayment of any of
the Obligations,  the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision of
this  Agreement or any other Loan  Document or any  investigation  made by or on
behalf of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party. All amounts due under
this  Section 8 shall be  payable  on  written  demand  therefor  and shall bear
interest at the rate specified in Section 2.13 of the Credit Agreement.

                  SECTION 9. Collateral Agent Appointed  Attorney-in-Fact.  Each
Pledgor  hereby  appoints  the  Collateral  Agent the  attorney-in-fact  of such
Pledgor for the purpose of carrying out the  provisions  of this  Agreement  and
taking any action and executing any  instrument  that the  Collateral  Agent may
deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes hereof, which appointment
is irrevocable and coupled with an interest.  Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing,  the Collateral  Agent shall have the right,  upon the occurrence
and  during  the  continuance  of an  Event  of  Default,  with  full  power  of
substitution  either  in the  Collateral  Agent's  name  or in the  name of such
Pledgor, to ask for, demand, sue for, collect,  receive and give acquittance for
any and all moneys  due or to become due under and by virtue of any  Collateral,
to endorse checks, drafts, orders and other instruments for the payment of money
payable  to  the  Pledgor   representing  any  interest  or  dividend  or  other
distribution  payable  in respect of the  Collateral  or any part  thereof or on
account thereof and to give full discharge for the same, to settle,  compromise,
prosecute or defend any action, claim or proceeding with respect thereto, and to
sell, assign, endorse, pledge, transfer and to make any agreement respecting, or
otherwise deal with, the same; provided,  however, that nothing herein contained
shall be construed as requiring or obligating the  Collateral  Agent to make any
commitment or to make any inquiry as to the nature or sufficiency of any payment
received by the Collateral  Agent, or to present or file any claim or notice, or
to take any action with  respect to the  Collateral  or any part  thereof or the
moneys due or to become due in respect thereof or any property  covered thereby.
The Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties shall be accountable only for
amounts  actually  received as a result of the exercise of the powers granted to
them herein, and neither they nor their officers, directors, employees or agents
shall be  responsible  to any Pledgor  for any act or failure to act  hereunder,
except for their own gross negligence or wilful misconduct.

                                        9
<PAGE>

                  SECTION 10. Waivers; Amendment. (a) No failure or delay of the
Collateral  Agent in exercising any power or right  hereunder shall operate as a
waiver  thereof,  nor shall any single or partial  exercise of any such right or
power, or any abandonment or  discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or
power,  preclude  any other or further  exercise  thereof or the exercise of any
other right or power.  The rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent hereunder
and of the other Secured  Parties under the other Loan  Documents are cumulative
and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would  otherwise have.
No waiver of any provisions of this Agreement or consent to any departure by any
Pledgor  therefrom  shall in any event be  effective  unless  the same  shall be
permitted  by  paragraph  (b) below,  and then such  waiver or consent  shall be
effective only in the specific  instance and for the purpose for which given. No
notice or demand on any Pledgor in any case shall  entitle  such  Pledgor to any
other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

         (b) Neither  this  Agreement  nor any  provision  hereof may be waived,
amended or modified except pursuant to a written  agreement entered into between
the  Collateral  Agent and the  Pledgor or Pledgors  with  respect to which such
waiver,  amendment or modification is to apply,  subject to any consent required
in  accordance  with  Section  10.02  of  the  Credit  Agreement.  Each  Pledgor
acknowledges that the rights and  responsibilities of the Collateral Agent under
this Agreement  with respect to any action taken by the Collateral  Agent or the
exercise or non-exercise by the Collateral Agent of any option,  right, request,
judgment or other right or remedy  provided  for herein or  resulting or arising
out of this Agreement  shall,  as between the  Collateral  Agent and the Secured
Parties,  be governed by the Credit  Agreement and by such other agreements with
respect  thereto as may exist from time to time among them,  but, as between the
Collateral  Agent and such Pledgor,  the Collateral  Agent shall be conclusively
presumed  to be  acting  as agent for the  Secured  Parties  with full and valid
authority so to act or refrain from  acting,  and no Pledgor  shall be under any
obligation, or entitlement, to make any inquiry respecting such authority.

                  SECTION 11.  Securities  Act,  etc. In view of the position of
the Pledgors in relation to the Pledged Securities,  or because of other current
or future circumstances,  a question may arise under the Securities Act of 1933,
as now  or  hereafter  in  effect,  or any  similar  statute  hereafter  enacted
analogous in purpose or effect  (such Act and any such  similar  statute as from
time to time in effect being called the AFederal  Securities Laws@) with respect
to  any  disposition  of  the  Collateral  permitted  hereunder.   Each  Pledgor
understands that compliance with the Federal Securities Laws might very strictly
limit the course of conduct of the Collateral Agent if the Collateral Agent were
to attempt to dispose of all or any part of the Collateral, and might also limit
the  extent to which or the  manner in which any  subsequent  transferee  of any
Collateral  could  dispose  of the same.  Similarly,  there  may be other  legal
restrictions  or limitations  affecting the  Collateral  Agent in any attempt to
dispose  of all or part of the  Collateral  under  applicable  Blue Sky or other
state  securities  laws or similar  laws  analogous  in purpose or effect.  Each
Pledgor  recognizes  that in  light of such  restrictions  and  limitations  the
Collateral  Agent may,  with  respect to any sale of the  Collateral,  limit the
purchasers  to those  who will  agree,  among  other  things,  to  acquire  such
Collateral  for their own account,  for  investment,  and not with a view to the
distribution or resale  thereof.  Each Pledgor  acknowledges  and agrees that in
light of such  restrictions and limitations,  the Collateral  Agent, in its sole
and  absolute  discretion,  (a) may proceed to make such a sale whether or not a
registration  statement for the purpose of registering  such  Collateral or part
thereof shall have been filed under the Federal

                                        10
<PAGE>

Securities  Laws and (b) may  approach  and  negotiate  with a single  potential
purchaser  to effect such sale.  Each Pledgor  acknowledges  and agrees that any
such sale might  result in prices and other terms less  favorable  to the seller
than if such sale were a public sale without such restrictions.  In the event of
any such sale, the Collateral Agent shall incur no  responsibility  or liability
for selling  all or any part of the  Collateral  at a price that the  Collateral
Agent,  in its sole and absolute  discretion,  may in good faith deem reasonable
under the  circumstances,  notwithstanding  the possibility that a substantially
higher  price  might have been  realized if the sale were  deferred  until after
registration  as aforesaid or if more than a single  purchaser were  approached.
The provisions of this Section 11 will apply  notwithstanding the existence of a
public or private  market upon which the  quotations  or sales prices may exceed
substantially the price at which the Collateral Agent sells.

                  SECTION  12.  Security  Interest  Absolute.  All rights of the
Collateral Agent hereunder,  the grant of a security  interest in the Collateral
and  all  obligations  of  each  Pledgor   hereunder,   shall  be  absolute  and
unconditional  irrespective of (a) any lack of validity or enforceability of the
Credit Agreement,  any other Loan Document, any agreement with respect to any of
the  Obligations  or any other  agreement or  instrument  relating to any of the
foregoing,  (b) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any
other term of, all or any of the  Obligations,  or any other amendment or waiver
of or any consent to any  departure  from the Credit  Agreement,  any other Loan
Document or any other agreement or instrument  relating to any of the foregoing,
(c) any  exchange,  release or  nonperfection  of any other  collateral,  or any
release or amendment or waiver of or consent to or departure  from any guaranty,
for all or any of the  Obligations  or (d) any  other  circumstance  that  might
otherwise  constitute a defense  available to, or a discharge of, any Pledgor in
respect  of the  Obligations  or in respect of this  Agreement  (other  than the
indefeasible payment in full of all the Obligations).

                  SECTION 13. Releases and  Termination.  This Agreement and the
security  interest  granted hereby shall terminate when all the Obligations have
been indefeasibly paid in full, the Lenders have no further  commitment to lend,
the L/C  Exposure  has been  reduced to zero and the Issuing Bank has no further
commitment  to issue  Letters of Credit  under the Credit  Agreement.  Upon such
Termination,  the Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver to the Pledgors, at
the Pledgors' expense,  all Uniform  Commercial Code termination  statements and
similar  documents which the Pledgors shall reasonably  request to evidence such
termination.  Any execution and delivery of termination  statements or documents
pursuant  to this  Section 13 shall be without  recourse  to or  warranty by the
Collateral Agent. A Subsidiary Pledgor shall  automatically be released from its
obligations  hereunder  and the  security  interest  in the  Collateral  of such
Subsidiary  Pledgor  shall be  automatically  released in the event that all the
Equity  Interests  of such  Subsidiary  Pledgor  shall be sold,  transferred  or
otherwise  disposed of to a person other than the Company or an Affiliate of the
Company in a transaction permitted under the terms of the Credit Agreement.  Any
Collateral  granted  hereunder  shall be  released  (automatically  and  without
further action on the part of the Collateral  Agent) upon the sale,  transfer or
other  disposition of such Collateral to a transferee  other than the Company or
an  Affiliate of the  Company,  to the extent that such sale,  transfer or other
disposition is permitted under the Credit Agreement.

                  SECTION 14.  Notices.  All communications and notices
hereunder shall be in writing and given as provided in Section 10.01 of the
Credit Agreement.  All communications and notices hereunder to any

                                        11
<PAGE>

Subsidiary  Pledgor  shall be given to it at the  address for notices set forth
on Schedule I.

                  SECTION 15. Further Assurances. Each Pledgor agrees to do such
further acts and things, and to execute and deliver such additional conveyances,
assignments, agreements and instruments, as the Collateral Agent may at any time
reasonably request in connection with the administration and enforcement of this
Agreement  or with  respect to the  Collateral  or any part  thereof or in order
better to assure and confirm unto the  Collateral  Agent its rights and remedies
hereunder.

                  SECTION 16.  Successors and Assigns;  Binding Effect;  Several
Agreement;  Assignments. Whenever in this Agreement any of the parties hereto is
referred  to,  such  reference  shall be deemed to include  the  successors  and
assigns of such party;  and all  covenants,  promises  and  agreements  by or on
behalf of any Pledgor that are contained in this Agreement  shall bind and inure
to the benefit of its  successors  and  assigns.  This  Agreement  shall  become
effective as to any Pledgor when a counterpart hereof executed on behalf of such
Pledgor  shall have been  delivered to the  Collateral  Agent and a  counterpart
hereof  shall  have  been  executed  on  behalf  of the  Collateral  Agent,  and
thereafter shall be binding upon such Pledgor and the Collateral Agent and their
respective  successors  and  assigns,  and shall  inure to the  benefit  of such
Pledgor,  the  Collateral  Agent  and  the  other  Secured  Parties,  and  their
respective  successors and assigns,  except that no Pledgor shall have the right
to assign its rights  hereunder or any interest herein or in the Collateral (and
any such attempted  assignment shall be void), except as expressly  contemplated
by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents. This Agreement shall be construed
as a  separate  agreement  with  respect  to each  Pledgor  and may be  amended,
modified,  supplemented,  waived or released with respect to any Pledgor without
the approval of any other Pledgor and without  affecting the  obligations of any
other Pledgor hereunder.

                  SECTION  17.  Survival  of  Agreement;  Severability.  (a) All
covenants,  agreements,  representations  and  warranties  made by each  Pledgor
herein and in the  certificates  or other  instruments  prepared or delivered in
connection  with or pursuant to this  Agreement or any other Loan Document shall
be  considered  to have been relied upon by the  Collateral  Agent and the other
Secured Parties and shall survive the making by the Lenders of the Loans and the
issuance  of the  Letters  of  Credit by the  Issuing  Bank,  regardless  of any
investigation made by the Secured Parties or on their behalf, and shall continue
in full force and effect until this Agreement shall terminate.

         (b) Any  provision  of this  Agreement  held to be invalid,  illegal or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective
to the  extent  of  such  invalidity,  illegality  or  unenforceability  without
affecting the validity,  legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions
hereof;   and  the  invalidity  of  a  particular   provision  in  a  particular
jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.  The
Parties  shall  endeavor in  good-faith  negotiations  to replace  any  invalid,
illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of
which  comes  as  close  as  possible  to  that  of  the  invalid,   illegal  or
unenforceable provisions.

                                        12
<PAGE>

                  SECTION 18.  GOVERNING LAW.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED
BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

                  SECTION 19.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in
counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts),  each
of which shall  constitute an original,  but all of which,  when taken together,
shall  constitute a single  contract,  and shall become effective as provided in
Section  16.  Delivery of an executed  counterpart  of a signature  page to this
Agreement by telecopy  shall be as effective as delivery of a manually  executed
counterpart of this Agreement.

                  SECTION 20.  Rules of Interpretation.  The rules of
interpretation specified in Sections 1.03, 1.04 and 1.05 of the Credit Agreement
shall be  applicable  to this  Agreement.  Section  headings used herein are for
convenience  of reference  only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not to
affect the construction of, or be taken into  consideration in interpreting this
Agreement.

                  SECTION 21.  Jurisdiction;  Consent to Service of Process. (a)
Each Pledgor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally  submits, for itself and its
property, to the nonexclusive  jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of
New York sitting in New York County or the United States  District  Court of the
Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof,  in any
action or proceeding  arising out of or relating to this  Agreement or the other
Loan Documents,  or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment,  and each of
the parties hereto hereby  irrevocably and  unconditionally  agrees that, to the
extent  permitted by applicable law, all claims in respect of any such action or
proceeding  may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent
permitted by law, in such Federal court.  Each of the parties hereto agrees that
a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be
enforced in other  jurisdictions  by suit on the judgment or in any other manner
provided  by law.  Nothing  in this  Agreement  shall  affect any right that the
Collateral  Agent or any other  Secured  Party may  otherwise  have to bring any
action or  proceeding  relating to this  Agreement  or the other Loan  Documents
against any Pledgor or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

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

         (c) Each party to this  Agreement  irrevocably  consents  to service of
process in the manner  provided  for  notices  in  Section  14.  Nothing in this
Agreement  will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process
in any other manner permitted by law.

                  SECTION 22.  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY
WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE
TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING

                                        13
<PAGE>

OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION  WITH THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY HERETO (A)
CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS
REPRESENTED,  EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE,  THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE
EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER  AND (B)  ACKNOWLEDGES
THAT IT AND THE OTHER  PARTIES  HERETO  HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS
AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS,  THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS
SECTION.

                  SECTION 23. Additional  Pledgors.  Pursuant to Section 5.10 of
the Credit Agreement,  certain additional Subsidiaries may be required under the
terms of the Credit  Agreement from time to time to enter into this Agreement as
Subsidiary  Pledgors.  Upon execution and delivery by the Collateral Agent and a
Subsidiary of an instrument in the form of Annex 1, such Subsidiary shall become
a Subsidiary  Pledgor  hereunder with the same force and effect as if originally
named as a  Subsidiary  Pledgor  herein.  The  execution  and  delivery  of such
instrument  shall not require the consent of any Pledgor  hereunder.  The rights
and obligations of each Pledgor  hereunder shall remain in full force and effect
notwithstanding  the addition of any new  Subsidiary  Pledgor as a party to this
Agreement.

                                        14
<PAGE>


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


                                                     ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP.,

                                                     by  /s/ Frank R. Schmeler
                                                     Name:   Frank R. Schmeler
                                                     Title:  President


                                        ALBANY INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS ONE, INC.,

                                                     by  /s/ Frank R. Schmeler
                                                     Name:   Frank R. Schmeler
                                                     Title:  President


                                        ALBANY INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS TWO, INC.,

                                                     by  /s/ Frank R. Schmeler
                                                     Name:   Frank R. Schmeler
                                                     Title:  President


                                         ALBANY INTERNATIONAL TECHNIWEAVE, INC.,

                                                      by  /s/ John C. Treanor
                                                      Name:   John C. Treanor
                                                      Title:  Treasurer


                                              ALBANY INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH CO.,

                                                       by  /s/ Francis L. McKone
                                                       Name:   Francis L. McKone
                                                       Title:  Chairman


                                                  WANGNER FORMING FABRICS, INC.,

                                                       by  /s/ John C. Treanor
                                                       Name:   John C. Treanor
                                                       Title:  Vice President
                                                         and Assistant Secretary


                                                     GESCHMAY WET FELTS, INC.,

                                                       by  /s/  John C. Treanor
                                                       Name:    John C. Treanor
                                                       Title:   Vice President

<PAGE>



                                                    BRANDON DRYING FABRICS, INC.

                                                       by  /s/ John C. Treanor
                                                       Name:   John C. Treanor
                                                       Title:  Vice President


                                                     THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
                                                       as Collateral Agent,

                                                       by  /s/ Kristin Sands
                                                       Name:   Kristin Sands
                                                       Title:  Vice President



<PAGE>


                                                               Schedule I to the
                                                                Pledge Agreement

                                            SUBSIDIARY PLEDGORS


Albany International Holdings One, Inc.
Albany International Holdings Two, Inc.
Albany International Techniweave, Inc.
Albany International Research Co.
Wangner Forming Fabrics, Inc.
Geschmay Wet Felts, Inc.
Brandon Drying Fabrics, Inc.

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                                                                                                                 Schedule II to the
                                                                                                                   Pledge Agreement




                                                                       EQUITY INTERESTS

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

 Name of Entity whose Equity Interests are      Registered Owner of Equity      Class of  Certificate No.      Ownership Percentage
    being pledged (and jurisdiction of           Interests being pledged        Equity    and Number of       Represented by Equity
               organization)                                                    Interests Equity Interests   Interests Being Pledged
- --------------------------------------------   -----------------------------    --------- ------------------          --------------
- --------------------------------------------   -----------------------------    --------- ------------------          --------------
<S>                                            <C>                              <C>        <C>                          <C>
Albany International Techniweave Inc.          Albany International Corp.       Common     Certificate No. 4            100%
DELAWARE                                                                                   representing  100
                                                                                           Equity Interests
- --------------------------------------------   -----------------------------    --------- --------------------        --------------
- --------------------------------------------   -----------------------------    --------- --------------------        --------------

Albany International Holdings One, Inc.        Albany International Corp.       Common     Certificate No. 1             100%
DELAWARE                                                                                   representing  100
                                                                                           Equity Interests
- --------------------------------------------   -----------------------------    ---------  -------------------        --------------
- --------------------------------------------   -----------------------------    ---------  -------------------        --------------

Albany International Holdings Two, Inc.        Albany International Corp.       Common     Certificate No. 1             100%
DELAWARE                                                                                   representing 100
                                                                                           Equity Interests

                                                                                Common     Certificate No. 2             100%
                                                                                           representing 2
                                                                                           Equit Interests
- --------------------------------------------   -----------------------------    --------   -------------------       ---------------
- --------------------------------------------   -----------------------------    --------   -------------------       ---------------

Albany International Research Co.              Albany International Corp.       Common     Certificate No. 2             100%
DELAWARE                                                                                   representing 1,000
                                                                                           Equity Interests
- --------------------------------------------   -----------------------------    --------   -------------------       ---------------
- --------------------------------------------   -----------------------------    -------    -------------------       ---------------

Albany International Canada Inc.               Albany International             Class A    Certificate No. PA-2          100%
Ontario, CANADA                                Holdings Two, Inc.               Preferred  representing 40,000
                                                                                           Equity Interests

                                                                                Class B    Certificate No. PB-2          100%
                                                                                Preferred  representing 189,000
                                                                                           Equity Interests

                                                                                Common     Certificate No. C-3            65%
                                                                                           representing 2,800
                                                                                           Equity Interests

</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>

- --------------------------------------------   -----------------------------    --------   ---------------------     ---------------
- --------------------------------------------   -----------------------------    --------   ---------------------     ---------------
<S>                                            <C>                              <C>       <C>                        <C>
AI Finance Canada Inc.                         Albany International             Common    Certificate No. 2                 65%
Alberta, CANADA                                Holdings Two, Inc.                         representing 6,500
                                                                                          Equity Interests
- --------------------------------------------   -----------------------------    --------  ----------------------     ---------------
- --------------------------------------------   -----------------------------    --------  ----------------------     ---------------

AI Financial Services Company                  Albany International             Common    Certificate No. 2                 65%
IRELAND                                        Holdings Two., Inc.                        representing 65 Equity
                                                                                          Interests
- --------------------------------------------   -----------------------------    --------  ------------------------   ---------------
- --------------------------------------------   -----------------------------    --------  ------------------------   ---------------

Albany International Korea Inc.                Albany International             Common    Certificate No. 2                 65%
KOREA                                          Holdings Two, Inc.                         representing 1,235,000
                                                                                          Equity Interests
- --------------------------------------------   -----------------------------    --------- ------------------------   ---------------
- --------------------------------------------   -----------------------------    --------- ------------------------   ---------------

Telas Industriales de Mexico S.A. de C.V.      Albany International             Common    Certificate No. 3                 65%
MEXICO                                         Holdings Two, Inc.                         representing 259,999
                                                                                          Equity Interests
- --------------------------------------------   -----------------------------    --------  -----------------------    ---------------
- --------------------------------------------   -----------------------------    --------  -----------------------    ---------------

Albany Nordiskafilt Aktiebolag                 Albany International             Common    Interim Certificate                65%
SWEDEN                                         Holdings Two, Inc.                         representing 934,111
                                                                                          Equity Interests

                                                                                Common    Certificate No.1                   65%
                                                                                          representing 690,889
                                                                                          Equity Interests
- --------------------------------------------   -----------------------------    --------  ---------------------      ---------------
- --------------------------------------------   -----------------------------    --------  ---------------------      ---------------

Nomafa Aktiebolag                              Albany International             Common    Certificate No. 1                  65%
SWEDEN                                         Holdings Two, Inc.                         representing 72,000
                                                                                          Equity Interests
- --------------------------------------------   -----------------------------    --------  ---------------------      ---------------
- --------------------------------------------   -----------------------------    --------  ---------------------      ---------------

Albany International Limited                   Albany International Corp.       Common    Certificate No. 0001               27%
UNITED KINGDOM                                                                            representing 1,840,000
                                                                                          Equity Interests
- --------------------------------------------   -----------------------------    --------- ------------------------  ----------------
- --------------------------------------------   -----------------------------    --------- ------------------------  ----------------

Wangner Systems Corporation                    Albany International Corp.       Common    Certificate                       100%
DELAWARE                                                                                  representing 24,722
                                                                                          Equity Interests
- --------------------------------------------   -----------------------------    --------- ------------------------   ---------------
- --------------------------------------------   -----------------------------    --------- ------------------------   ---------------
<PAGE>
</TABLE>


<TABLE>
<S>                                            <C>                              <C>       <C>                         <C>
M & I Door Systems Limited                     Albany International             Common    Certificate No. C-10               65%
Ontario, CANADA                                Holdings Two, Inc.                         representing 1, 178
                                                                                          Equity Interests
- --------------------------------------------   -----------------------------    --------- ------------------------   ---------------
- --------------------------------------------   -----------------------------    --------- ------------------------   ---------------

Albany International Pty., Ltd.                Albany International             Common    Certificate No. 15                 65%
AUSTRALIA                                      Holdings Two, Inc.                         representing 87,913
                                                                                --------- ------------------------    --------------
</TABLE>
<PAGE>


<TABLE>





                                                         DEBT SECURITIES AND PROMISSORY NOTES

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

Pledgor                      Issuer                                             Principal Amount       Balance as of August 24, 1999
- ---------------------------- -------------------------------------------        -----------------      -----------------------------
- ---------------------------- -------------------------------------------        -----------------      -----------------------------
<S>                          <C>                                                <C>                   <C>
Albany International Corp.   Albany International BV                            NLG 45,204,020         NLG 45,204,020
- ---------------------------- -------------------------------------------        -----------------      ----------------------------
- ---------------------------- -------------------------------------------        -----------------      ----------------------------

Albany International Corp.   Albany Nordiskafilt GmbH                           DEM 4,000,000          DEM 4,000,000
- ---------------------------- -------------------------------------------        -----------------      ----------------------------
- ---------------------------- -------------------------------------------        ------------------     ----------------------------

Albany International Corp.   Schieffer Tor und Schutzsysteme GmbH               DEM 3,000,000          DEM 3,000,000
- ---------------------------- -------------------------------------------        ------------------     ----------------------------
- ---------------------------- -------------------------------------------        ------------------     ----------------------------

Albany International Corp.   M & I Door Systems Limited                         CAD 800,000            CAD 800,000
- ---------------------------- -------------------------------------------        ------------------     ----------------------------
- ---------------------------- -------------------------------------------        ------------------     ----------------------------

Albany International Corp.   Albany International Italia, S.p.A.*               EUR 30,916,333         EUR 30,916,333
                                                                                DEM 19,986, 441        DEM 19,986, 441
- ---------------------------- -------------------------------------------        ------------------     ----------------------------
- ---------------------------- -------------------------------------------        ------------------     ----------------------------

Albany International Corp.   Albany International Holdings, S.A.*               DEM 24,368,620         DEM 24,368,620
                                                                                DEM 3,026,550          DEM 3,026,550
- ---------------------------- -------------------------------------------        ------------------    -----------------------------
- ---------------------------- -------------------------------------------        ------------------    -----------------------------

Albany International Corp.   Albany International Holdings Two, Inc.            USD 48,160,000         USD 48,160,000
- ---------------------------- -------------------------------------------        ------------------    -----------------------------
- ---------------------------- -------------------------------------------        ------------------    -----------------------------

Albany International Corp.   Albany International Holdings One, Inc.            USD 108,345,394       USD 108,345,394
- ---------------------------- -------------------------------------------        ------------------    -----------------------------
- ---------------------------- -------------------------------------------        ------------------    -----------------------------

Albany International Corp.   Wangner Systems Corporation                        USD 10,000,000        USD 10,000,000
- ---------------------------- -------------------------------------------        ------------------    -----------------------------
- ---------------------------- -------------------------------------------        ------------------    -----------------------------

Albany International Corp.   Geschmay Asia Private Limited                      S$ 800,000            S$ 800,000
- ---------------------------- -------------------------------------------        ------------------    -----------------------------
- ---------------------------- -------------------------------------------        ------------------    -----------------------------

Albany International Corp.   Albany International S.A. de C.V.                  USD 2,400,000         USD 2,400,000
- ---------------------------- -------------------------------------------        ------------------    -----------------------------


*Relevant note evidences two separate disbursements.

</TABLE>

<PAGE>


                                                                  Annex 1 to the
                                                                Pledge Agreement

                                                     SUPPLEMENT NO.    dated as
                           of [        ], to the PLEDGE AGREEMENT dated as of
                           August 24, 1999 (the "Pledge Agreement"), among
                           ALBANY  INTERNATIONAL CORP., a Delaware  corporation
                           (the "Company"), each subsidiary  of  the  Company
                           listed on Schedule I thereto (collectively, the
                           "Subsidiary Pledgors"; the Company and Subsidiary
                           Pledgors are referred to collectively herein as the
                           "Pledgors") and THE CHASE MANHATTAN  BANK, a New York
                            banking corporation ("Chase"), as Collateral Agent
                           (in such capacity, the "Collateral  Agent"),  for the
                           Secured Parties (as defined below).

                  A.  Reference  is made to the  Credit  Agreement  dated  as of
August 11, 1999 (as amended,  supplemented  or otherwise  modified  from time to
time, the "Credit  Agreement"),  among the Company,  the Borrowing  Subsidiaries
from time to time party  thereto,  the lenders  from time to time party  thereto
(the "Lenders"),  Chase, as Collateral Agent,  administrative  agent,  swingline
lender and issuing bank, and Chase Manhattan  International  Limited,  as London
Agent.

                  B.  Capitalized  terms used herein and not  otherwise  defined
herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

                  C. The  Pledgors  have  entered  into the Pledge  Agreement in
order to induce the Lenders to make Loans and the Issuing Bank to issue  Letters
of Credit. Pursuant to Section 5.10 of the Credit Agreement,  certain additional
Subsidiaries  may be required to enter into the Pledge  Agreement as  Subsidiary
Pledgors.  The  undersigned  Subsidiary  (the ANew  Pledgor@) is executing  this
Supplement in accordance with the  requirements of the Credit  Agreement and the
Pledge  Agreement to become a Subsidiary  Pledgor under the Pledge  Agreement in
order to induce the Lenders to make  additional  Loans and the  Issuing  Bank to
issue  additional  Letters of Credit and as  consideration  for Loans previously
made and Letters of Credit previously issued.

         Accordingly, the Collateral Agent and the New Pledgor agree as follows:

                  SECTION  1.  In  accordance  with  Section  23 of  the  Pledge
Agreement,  the New Pledgor by its  signature  below becomes a Pledgor under the
Pledge  Agreement with the same force and effect as if originally  named therein
as a  Pledgor  and the New  Pledgor  hereby  agrees  (a) to all  the  terms  and
provisions of the Pledge Agreement  applicable to it as a Pledgor thereunder and
(b) represents and warrants that the  representations  and warranties made by it
as a Pledgor  thereunder  are true and correct on and as of the date hereof.  In
furtherance of the foregoing,  the New Pledgor,  as security for the payment and
performance  in full of the  Obligations  (as defined in the Pledge  Agreement),
does  hereby  create  and grant to the  Collateral  Agent,  its  successors  and
assigns, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, their successors and assigns, a
security  interest  in and lien on all of the New  Pledgor's  right,  title  and
interest in and to the  Collateral  (as defined in the Pledge  Agreement) of the
New  Pledgor.  Each  reference to a  ASubsidiary  Pledgor@ or a APledgor@ in the
Pledge  Agreement  shall be  deemed  to  include  the New  Pledgor.  The  Pledge
Agreement is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

                  SECTION 2. The New  Pledgor  represents  and  warrants  to the
Collateral  Agent and the other Secured  Parties that this  Supplement  has been
duly authorized,  executed and delivered by it and constitutes its legal,  valid
and binding  obligation,  enforceable  against it in accordance  with its terms.
<PAGE>

                  SECTION 3. This  Supplement  may be executed  in  counterparts
(and by different parties hereto an different counterparts), each of which shall
constitute an original,  but all of which when taken together shall constitute a
single  contract.  This  Supplement  shall become  effective when the Collateral
Agent shall have  received  counterparts  of this  Supplement  that,  when taken
together,  bear the  signatures  of the New  Pledgor and the  Collateral  Agent.
Delivery of an executed  signature page to this  Supplement by telecopy shall be
as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Supplement.

                  SECTION 4. The New Pledgor hereby represents and warrants that
Schedule  II  attached  hereto  includes a true and  correct  listing of all the
Equity Interests and Specified  Intercompany  Indebtedness owned by it (and such
Schedule  shall be  substituted  for  Schedule  II to the  Pledge  Agreement  as
heretofore in effect).

                  SECTION 5. Except as expressly supplemented hereby, the Pledge
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

                  SECTION 6. THIS SUPPLEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

                  SECTION  7.  Any  provision  of  this  Supplement  held  to be
invalid,  illegal  or  unenforceable  in  any  jurisdiction  shall,  as to  such
jurisdiction,  be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity,  illegality,  or
unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality, and enforceability of
the remaining provisions hereof and the Pledge Agreement;  and the invalidity of
a particular  provision in a particular  jurisdiction  shall not invalidate such
provision in any other  jurisdiction.  The Parties shall  endeavor in good-faith
negotiations to replace any invalid,  illegal or  unenforceable  provisions with
valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that
of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

                  SECTION 8. All  communications  and notices hereunder shall be
in writing  and given as  provided  in Section 14 of the Pledge  Agreement.  All
communications  and notices hereunder to the New Pledgor shall be given to it at
the address set forth under its signature hereto.

                  SECTION 9. The New Pledgor  agrees to reimburse the Collateral
Agent  for  its  reasonable  out-of-pocket  expenses  in  connection  with  this
Supplement,  including the reasonable fees,  other charges and  disbursements of
counsel for the Collateral Agent.


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the New Pledgor and the Collateral Agent have duly
executed this  Supplement  to the Pledge  Agreement as of the day and year first
above written.


                                                     [Name of New Pledgor],

                                                     by

                                                     Name:
                                                     Title:
                                                     Address:

<PAGE>

                                                     THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
                                                      as Collateral Agent,

                                                     by

                                                     Name:
                                                     Title:



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