ROBBINS & MYERS INC
8-K, 1998-01-05
PUMPS & PUMPING EQUIPMENT
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<PAGE>   1
                       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 (Date of earliest event reported): December 19, 1997

                              ROBBINS & MYERS, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

             Ohio                         0-288                 31-0424220
(State or other jurisdiction of         (Commission            (IRS Employer
incorporation or organization)          File Number)         Identification No.)


  1400 Kettering Tower, Dayton, OH                                45423
(Address of principal executive offices)                        (Zip code)

                                  937-222-2610
               (Registrant's telephone number including area code)

                                 Not applicable
         (Former name and former address, if changed since last report)













<PAGE>   2



ITEM 2.  ACQUISITION OR  DISPOSITION OF ASSETS

On November 20, 1997, Robbins & Myers, Inc. (the "Company") and J.M. Huber
Corporation ("Seller") entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the
"Agreement"). A copy of the Agreement is Exhibit 2.1 to this Report.

Pursuant to the Agreement, on December 19, 1997, the Company acquired all of
the outstanding capital stock of Flow Control Equipment Inc. ("FCE") from
Seller for $108,500,000 paid to Seller in cash (or $104,000,000 after
application of available FCE cash) at the closing (the "Purchase Price"). The
Purchase Price, as provided in Section 2.4 of the Agreement, is subject to
adjustment based on the balance sheet of FCE to be prepared as of the closing
date.

FCE, with annual sales of approximately $60 million, supplies a broad line of
products for use in artificial lift applications in the oil and gas recovery
markets, including rod guides, wellhead equipment and valves. FCE also supplies
closures and valves for gas transmission and distribution applications. The
Company intends to continue to operate these businesses.

In connection with the purchase, the Company entered into an Amended and
Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of November 25, 1997 (the "Amended Credit
Agreement"), with the Lenders named in the Amended Credit Agreement, Bank One,
N.A, as Administrative Agent, and NationsBank, N.A., as Documentation and
Syndication Agent. The Amended Credit Agreement replaces the original credit
agreement entered into on November 26, 1996. The Amended Credit Agreement
provides, among other things, that the Company may borrow on a revolving credit
basis up to a maximum of $200,000,000. All outstanding loans under the
agreement are due and payable November 25, 2002. The Company borrowed an
additional $108,500,000 under the Amended Credit Agreement for the purpose of
paying  the Purchase Price. At the close of business on December 31, 1997, the
Company had total borrowings of $148,000,000 under the Amended Credit
Agreement. The Amended Credit Agreement is filed as Exhibit 4.1 to this Report
and reference is made to such agreement for additional information.

There is no material relationship between the Seller and the Company or any
affiliate, director, or officer of the Company or any associate of any director
or officer of the Company.


                                       -2-

<PAGE>   3



ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

                  (A) Financial statements of businesses acquired. The Company
intends to file as an amendment to this Report as soon as practicable, but no
later than March 6, 1998, the following audited consolidated financial
statements (which include FCE and its subsidiary FCE Flow Control Equipment,
Ltd.) and related notes thereto:

                  (1) Consolidated Balance Sheet of FCE at December 19, 1997;

                  (2) Consolidated Statement of Income of FCE for the period
         January 1, 1997 to December 19, 1997; and

                  (3) Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow of FCE for the period
         January 1, 1997 to December 19, 1997.

                  (B) Pro forma financial information (unaudited).

                  (1) Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at
         November 30, 1997;

                  (2) Pro Forma Condensed Statement of Consolidated Operations
         for the year ended August 31, 1997 and the three-month period ended 
         November 30, 1997; and

                  (3) Notes to the Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial
         Information.

                  (C) See Index to Exhibits.


                                   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.

                                 Robbins & Myers, Inc.

Date: January 5, 1998

                                 By: /s/ Stephen R. Ley
                                     -------------------------------
                                 Stephen R. Ley, Vice President, Finance
                                 and Chief Financial Officer


                                       -3-

<PAGE>   4


                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS
                                -----------------


(2)        PLAN OF ACQUISITION, REORGANIZATION, ARRANGEMENT,
           LIQUIDATION OR SUCCESSION:

           2.1   Stock Purchase Agreement between J.M. Huber Corporation, as
                 Seller, and Robbins & Myers, Inc., as Purchaser, dated November
                 20, 1997.


(4)        INSTRUMENTS DEFINING THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS,
           INCLUDING DEBENTURES:

           4.1   Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of November 25,
                 1997 among Robbins & Myers, Inc., the Lenders named therein,
                 Bank One, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and NationsBank, N.
                 A., as Documentation and Syndication Agent.


                                       -4-


<PAGE>   1
                                                                     Exhibit 2.1
================================================================================

                            STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                                   DATED AS OF

                                NOVEMBER 20, 1997

                                     BETWEEN


                             J.M. HUBER CORPORATION

                                       AND

                              ROBBINS & MYERS, INC.

================================================================================



<PAGE>   2



                            STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

         STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this "AGREEMENT") dated as of November 20,
1997, between J.M. Huber Corporation, a New Jersey corporation ("SELLER"), and
Robbins & Myers, Inc., an Ohio corporation ("ACQUIROR").

                                    RECITALS:

         A. Seller owns all of the issued and outstanding capital stock (the
"STOCK") of Flow Control Equipment, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("FCE"), which
owns all of the issued and outstanding shares of FCE Flow Control Equipment
Ltd., an Alberta corporation ("FCE LTD." and, together with FCE, the
"COMPANIES").

         B. The Companies presently conduct the business of manufacturing,
distributing and selling Industrial Flow Control Products and Oil Field
Products.

         C. Seller and Acquiror have determined to enter into this Agreement
which, among other things, provides for Seller to sell, transfer and convey
("TRANSFER") to Acquiror, and Acquiror to purchase and receive from Seller, all
of the issued and outstanding Stock.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, warranties,
covenants and agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable
consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged,
Acquiror and Seller hereby agree as follows:


                                       1

<PAGE>   3



                                    ARTICLE I
                                  DEFINITIONS

         1.1 DEFINITIONS. The following terms used herein shall have the
         following meanings: "ACCOUNTANTS" has the meaning set forth in Section
         2.4(c). "ACQUIROR" means Robbins & Myers, Inc., an Ohio corporation.

         "ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

         "AFFILIATE" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person who is
directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under the common control
with such Person. For the purposes of this definition, the term "control," when
used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly,
of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of
such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or
otherwise.

         "AGREEMENT" means this Stock Purchase Agreement, together with the
Schedules hereto.

         "ANTITRUST DIVISION" means the Antitrust Division of the Department of
Justice.

         "BENEFIT ARRANGEMENT" means any employment, severance or similar
contract or arrangement (whether or not written) or any plan, policy, fund,
program or contract or arrangement (whether or not written) that requires
payment by FCE or FCE Ltd. and provides for compensation, bonus, profit-sharing,
stock option or other stock related rights or other forms of incentive or
deferred compensation, vacation benefits, insurance coverage (including any
self-insured arrangements), health or medical benefits, disability benefits,
workers' compensation, supplemental unemployment benefits, severance benefits
and post-employment or retirement benefits (including compensation, pension,
health, medical or life insurance or other benefits) that is not an Employee
Plan.


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<PAGE>   4



         "BUSINESS" means, whether as part of the Industrial Flow Control
Products business or the Oil Field Products business, the engineering, design,
manufacture, marketing, distribution or sale of products, parts, accessories or
services offered for sale by either of the Companies during 1997, (the "Current
Products and Services"), and any products or services which now or hereafter are
developed for the same applications as those for which the Current Products and
Services are used. Current Products and Services include, among others, rod
guides, stuffing boxes, blow-out preventers, ball valves, needlevalves, plug
valves, casing heads, chokes and hammer unions for applications in the oil and
gas industry and quick opening closures, lubricated plug valves, and other flow
control products for gas transmission and distribution applications.

         "CLOSING" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.

         "CLOSING CONDITION MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" means, with respect to the
Companies, such state of facts, event, change or effect as has had, or would
reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse effect (i) on the business,
results of operations, or financial condition of the Companies taken as a whole,
other than events, changes or developments relating to the economy in general or
resulting from industry-wide developments affecting Persons in businesses
similar to the Business, or (ii) on the ability of Seller to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

         "CLOSING DATE" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.

         "CLOSING DATE BALANCE SHEET" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.4(a).

         "COMPANIES" has the meaning set forth in Recital "A."

         "COMPANIES' BENEFITS" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.10.


                                        3


<PAGE>   5



         "CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT" means the Confidentiality Agreement dated
September 16, 1997 between Seller and Acquiror.

         "CONTRACT" means and includes any of the following which either of the
Companies is a party to, is bound by, or by which any property or assets of
either of them may be bound: (i) all real property leases; (ii) all leases of
tangible personal property having rentals in excess of $50,000 due over the
remaining term of the lease; (iii) all active franchise, dealer, or other
distribution agreements pursuant to which either of the Companies sells or
otherwise distributes its products or services or pursuant to which any person
sells or otherwise distributes products or services of either of the Companies
that cannot be terminated by the Companies on notice of 90 days or less without
material penalty or charge; (iv) any material agreement involving the licensing
of Proprietary Information that requires payments by the Companies in any
twelve-month period in excess of $10,000; (v) any confidentiality agreement that
remains effective that was entered into by the Companies in connection with an
acquisition or potential acquisition of a business by the Companies; (vi) any
agreement, arrangement, or commitment which materially restricts the conduct of
any line of business by either of the Companies; (vii) any agreement, for which
either of the Companies will have a liability after the Effective Time, with or
benefitting any director or officer of either of the Companies or with or
benefitting any Affiliate of Seller and which provides for aggregate payments by
the Companies in any calendar year in excess of $60,000, exclusive of salary and
payments under Employee Plans or a Benefit Arrangement applicable to more than
two persons; (viii) any agreement, indenture or other instrument relating to the
borrowing of money by either of the Companies that will not be discharged at or
prior to the Effective Time; (ix) any agreement pursuant to which either of the
Companies is obligated to lend money or make advances to any person (other than
routine advances to any employee,




                                        4


<PAGE>   6



deposits or advances in respect of products purchased in the ordinary course of
business, and advances made to an employee in connection with the relocation of
such employee by either of the Companies); (x) any agreement, arrangement or
commitment to guarantee the obligations of or to indemnify or exonerate from
liability any director or officer of either of the Companies (other than
pursuant to applicable law or the charter or by-laws of either of the
Companies); (xi) any Tax allocation or Tax sharing agreement that will not be
terminated at or prior to the Effective Time; (xii) any agreement or arrangement
relating to the voting or disposition of any securities of either of the
Companies (other than pursuant to applicable law or the charter or by-laws of
either of the Companies); (xiii) any other contract, commitment, agreement,
guarantee agreement or understanding, whether written or oral, which involves
more than $500,000 and is not terminable without penalty upon not more than 90
days' notice; and (xiv) any material partnership, joint venture, or other
agreement pursuant to which any of the Companies holds an equity interest in any
person or entity (other than publicly traded securities held in an Employee
Plan).

         "DIRECTING PARTY" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1(e).

         "EFFECTIVE TIME" means 11:59 p.m. on the Closing Date.

         "EMPLOYEE PLAN" means any "employee benefit plan," as defined in
Section 3(3) of ERISA.

         "EMPLOYEES" means the employees of the Companies immediately prior to
the Closing.

         "ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS" means any and all Laws existing on the Closing
Date relating to discharge or releases of Hazardous Materials into the
environment including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, ground
water, or land, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, use,

                                        5


<PAGE>   7



treatment, storage, disposal, or handling of Hazardous Materials or the clean-up
or other remediation thereof.

         "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

         "FCE" has the meaning set forth in Recital A.

         "FCE BYLAWS" means the bylaws of FCE as in effect on the date hereof.

         "FCE CHARTER" means the certificate of incorporation of FCE as in
effect on the date hereof.

         "FCE LTD." has the meaning set forth in Recital A.

         "FCE LTD. BYLAWS" means the bylaws of FCE Ltd. as in effect on the date
hereof.

         "FCE LTD. CHARTER" means the articles of incorporation of FCE Ltd. as
in effect on the date hereof.

         "FINAL NET WORTH" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5.

         "FINANCIAL STATEMENTS" means the audited consolidated balance sheets of
the Company as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the related consolidated
statements of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows for the fiscal
year ended on December 31, 1996 and 1995, copies of which are attached hereto as
Schedule 3.14.

         "FORMER PROPERTIES" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.3.

         "FTC" means the Federal Trade Commission.

         "GAAP" means United States generally accepted accounting principles
taken as a whole applied in a manner consistent with the Financial Statements.


                                        6


<PAGE>   8



         "GAAP EXCEPTIONS" means (i) such departures from GAAP as are listed in
Note 1 to the December 31, 1996 Financial Statements (ii) deferred taxes and any
liability for Taxes payable by Seller pursuant to this Agreement shall be
eliminated, and (iii) no liability shall be recorded to reflect any acceleration
made under Section 5.8 of that certain Acquisition Agreement dated July 31, 1996
between FCE Ltd. and Enterra Patco Oilfield Products Limited or under Section
5.8 of that certain Acquisition Agreement dated July 31, 1996, between FCE and
Enterra Patco Oilfield Products, Inc.

         "GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY" means any United States or Canadian federal,
state, local provincial or municipal government, court, administrative agency or
commission or other governmental or other regulatory authority or agency.

         "HAZARDOUS MATERIALS" means any substance defined as toxic, radioactive
or otherwise hazardous under any Laws and petroleum and any constituent thereof.

         "HSR ACT" means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of
1976, as amended.

         "HSR FILINGS" means any filings required under the HSR Act.

         "INDUSTRIAL FLOW CONTROL PRODUCTS" means the products manufactured and
sold by the Companies that are listed on Schedule 1.1(a) hereto.

         "INTERCOMPANY ACCOUNTS" means any amount owed between either of the
Companies, on the one hand, and Seller or any of Seller's Affiliates (other than
one of the Companies), on the other hand, including those amounts recorded as
receivables for, or payables with respect to, health and medical, workers'
compensation and other employee-related insurance plans, but excluding amounts
owed in respect of products or services purchased in the ordinary course of
business.




                                        7


<PAGE>   9



         "INTERIM BALANCE SHEET" means the unaudited consolidated balance sheet
of the Companies dated as of August 31, 1997 attached hereto as Schedule 1.1(c).

         "INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS" means the unaudited consolidated
statement of operations for the eight-month period ended August 31, 1997
attached hereto as Schedule 1.1(d) and the Interim Balance Sheet.

         "LAWS" means all applicable laws, regulations, rules, judgments, orders
and decrees of Governmental Entities.

         "LEASED REAL PROPERTY" means the land, buildings or other real property
listed on Schedule 3.5 as currently being leased by either of the Companies.

         "LIABILITIES" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.2.

         "LIEN" means, with respect to any property or asset, any mortgage,
lien, pledge, charge, security interest, restriction on voting or transfer, or
other encumbrance.

         "MATERIAL" when used herein to limit a representation or warranty of a
party shall be interpreted as follows:

                (i) whenever any representation or warranty of Seller contains
         an exception or limitation relating to "materiality," "material
         adverse" events or omissions, "material adverse effects" or similar
         concepts (other than "Closing Condition Material Adverse Effect")
         (collectively, "Materiality Tests"), such Materiality Tests shall be
         deemed to have been met (i.e., such events or omissions shall be deemed
         to be "material," "materially adverse," have a "material adverse
         effect" or otherwise meet a similar test), and such representation or
         warranty shall be deemed to have been breached, if such breach results
         in an adverse impact with respect to the Companies' assets of $100,000
         or an adverse impact with respect to the Companies' consolidated
         earnings of $100,000;




                                        8


<PAGE>   10



         provided, however, that such Materiality Tests shall be deemed not to
         have been met and no breach shall be deemed to have occurred if the
         event or omission results from events, changes or development relating
         to the economy in general or resulting from industry-wide developments
         affecting Persons in businesses similar to the Business; and

               (ii) whenever any representation or warranty of Acquiror contains
         a Materiality Test, such representation or warranty shall be deemed to
         have been breached, if such breach results in an adverse impact with
         respect to Seller's assets of $100,000 or an adverse impact with
         respect to Seller's earnings of $100,000. 

         "NET WORTH" means the amount by which total assets exceed total
liabilities as determined by the Closing Date Balance Sheet.

         "NONCOMPETITION AGREEMENT" means an agreement in the form attached as
Exhibit A to be entered into between Seller and Acquiror at the Closing.

         "OBJECTION NOTICE" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(b).

         "OBJECTION PERIOD" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(b).

         "OIL FIELD PRODUCTS" means the products manufactured and sold by the
Companies that are listed on Schedule 1.1(b) hereto.

         "OWNED REAL PROPERTY" means the land, buildings, and other real
property located at the premises listed on Schedule 3.5 as currently being owned
by the Company.

         "PERMIT" means any license, franchise, permit, concession, approval or
registration from, of or with a Governmental Entity.

         "PERMITTED LIENS" means (i) Liens for Taxes not yet due and payable or
being contested in good faith, (ii) mechanic's and materialman's Liens and other
Liens arising as a matter of Law,




                                        9


<PAGE>   11



(iii) purchase money security interests and (iv) Liens and imperfections of
title that do not individually or in the aggregate materially detract from the
value, or impair the use, of the assets as presently used.

         "PERSON" means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, association, trust or other entity or organization, including
without limitation, a Governmental Entity.

         "PRODUCTS" means Industrial Flow Control Products and Oil Field
Products.

         "PROPRIETARY INFORMATION" means all rights of any of the Companies
under any patent, trademark, service mark, trade name or copyright (or
registrations or applications therefor) and all other intellectual property
rights, inventions, know-how, confidential business information, trade secrets
or proprietary information, drawings, processes and formulae used in the
Business.

         "PURCHASE PRICE" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

         "RECORDS" means, in the case of each of the Companies, all books and
records of the Company including, without limitation, its tax returns, minute
books, stock records, general ledger, all property and equipment records,
production records, engineering records, purchasing and sales records, personnel
and payroll records, accounting records, magnetic copies of computer files and
documentation, customer and vendor lists, and other records and files of the
Company kept in the ordinary course of its business and in the possession of the
Companies, Seller, or any Affiliate of Seller.

         "SELLER" means J. M. Huber Corporation, a New Jersey corporation.

         "STOCK" has the meaning set forth in Recital "A."




                                       10


<PAGE>   12



         "TAX" means any United States or Canadian federal, state, local,
provincial or municipal net income, gross income, gross receipts, sales, goods
and services, use, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, profits, withholding,
payroll, employment, excise, stamp, occupation, property, customs, duties or
other type of fiscal levy and all other taxes of any kind whatsoever, together
with any interest and penalties imposed or assessed with respect thereto.

         "TAX RETURN" means any return, report, statement, information statement
or similar document required to be filed with any Governmental Entity with
respect to Taxes.

         "THRESHOLD" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.4(a).

         "TRANSFER" has the meaning set forth in Recital "C."

         "WARN" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3.

                                   ARTICLE II
                         PURCHASE AND SALE OF THE STOCK

         2.1 Sale and Transfer of the Stock. Subject to the conditions to
Closing set forth in Article VII herein, at the Closing Seller will Transfer to
Acquiror, and Acquiror will purchase and accept from Seller, all of the Stock.

         2.2 Payment. In consideration of the Transfer of the Stock and the
other undertakings of Seller under this Agreement, at the Closing Acquiror will
pay to Seller $108,500,000 (the "PURCHASE PRICE") via wire transfer of
immediately available funds to an account designated by Seller.

         2.3 Closing. Unless this Agreement has been terminated and the
transactions contemplated under this Agreement have been abandoned pursuant to
Section 8.1 and subject to the fulfillment or, if permitted, waiver of the
conditions set forth in Article VII, the closing of the Transfer of the Stock
(the "CLOSING") will take place at the offices of Jones, Day, Reavis &




                                       11


<PAGE>   13



Pogue, Dallas, Texas at 9:00 a.m. on the later of the (i) fifth business day
following the fulfillment or, if permissible, waiver of the conditions set forth
in Section 7.1 or (ii) December 19, 1997, unless another date or time is agreed
to in writing by the parties to this Agreement (the "CLOSING DATE"). The Closing
will be effective as of the Effective Time.



                                       12


<PAGE>   14



         2.4 Net Worth Statement.

                  (a) As promptly as practicable and in any event within 70 days
after the Closing Date, Seller will prepare and deliver to Acquiror (i) a
consolidated balance sheet of the Companies immediately prior to the Effective
Time prepared in accordance with GAAP except for the GAAP Exceptions (the
"CLOSING DATE BALANCE SHEET"), (ii) a certificate of Seller (the "NET WORTH
STATEMENT") based on the Closing Date Balance Sheet setting forth Seller's
calculation of the Net Worth and (iii) a report (the "Report") of KPMG Peat
Marwick to the effect that they have audited the Closing Date Balance Sheet in
accordance with generally accepted auditing standards (the "Audit") and that the
Closing Date Balance Sheet presents fairly, in accordance with GAAP and in all
material respects, the financial condition of the Companies on a consolidated
basis, subject to the GAAP Exceptions, immediately prior to the Effective Time.
The cost of the Report and the Audit shall be paid by Acquiror. Seller will
afford representatives of Acquiror the opportunity to participate in and review
Seller's preparation of the Closing Date Balance Sheet and the Net Worth
Statement, including without limitation the opportunity to observe any physical
inventory count and other accounting procedures. If Acquiror and Seller agree
upon the calculation of the Net Worth within 30 days after the delivery to
Acquiror of the Closing Date Balance Sheet and Net Worth Statement, Sections
2.4(b) and 2.4(c) will not apply; however, if Acquiror and Seller do not so
agree, then Sections 2.4(b) and 2.4(c) will apply.

                  (b) If Acquiror disagrees with Seller's calculation of the Net
Worth, Acquiror may, within 30 days (the "OBJECTION PERIOD") after the delivery
to Acquiror of the Closing Date Balance Sheet and Net Worth Statement, deliver a
notice (the "OBJECTION NOTICE") to Seller disputing such calculation and setting
forth Acquiror's calculation thereof. Any Objection Notice




                                       13


<PAGE>   15



shall specify in reasonable detail those items or amounts as to which Acquiror
disagrees, and Acquiror shall be deemed to have agreed with all other items and
amounts contained in the Closing Date Balance Sheet (except such items as may
reasonably be affected by the items as to which Acquiror has disagreed). If
Acquiror does not deliver the Objection Notice within the Objection Period,
Acquiror shall be deemed to agree in all respects with Seller's calculation of
the Net Worth.

                  (c) If an Objection Notice shall be properly and timely
delivered, Acquiror and Seller shall cause Deloitte & Touche, Houston, Texas
(or, if they are unable or unwilling to serve, a firm of independent accountants
of nationally recognized standing reasonably satisfactory to Acquiror and Seller
(which shall not have any material relationship with Acquiror, Seller or the
Companies)) (the "ACCOUNTANTS") to promptly review this Agreement and the
disputed items or amounts for the purpose of calculating the Net Worth. In
making such calculation, the Accountants shall independently determine Net Worth
in accordance with this Agreement and shall deliver to Acquiror and Seller, as
promptly as practicable, a written report setting forth their calculation of Net
Worth. If such calculation is between Seller's and Acquiror's calculation of Net
Worth, then the Accountants' determination shall be used for purposes of this
Article II. If such calculation is not between Seller's and Acquiror's
calculation of Net Worth, then the Net Worth that is closest to the Net Worth
calculated by the Accountants shall be used for purposes of this Article II. The
cost of the Accountants' review and report shall be divided equally between
Seller and Acquiror.

                  (d) Each of Acquiror and Seller will cooperate and assist in
the preparation of the Closing Date Balance Sheet and the Net Worth Statement
and in the conduct of the reviews




                                       14


<PAGE>   16



referred to in this Section 2.4, including, without limitation, Acquiror making
available to the extent necessary or helpful books, records, work papers and
personnel of the Companies.

         2.5 Net Worth Adjustment. If the Final Net Worth is calculated to be in
excess of $26,000,000, Acquiror shall have no obligation to pay to Seller the
amount of such excess. If the Final Net Worth is calculated to be less than
$26,000,000, Seller shall pay to Acquiror within five days of such final
calculation the amount of such deficiency; provided, however, that to the extent
there is a deficiency and such deficiency is caused in whole or in part by an
increase in accruals for matters that Seller will pay directly pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement (including Article X), such deficiency shall be reduced
by the amount of the accrual increase over that included in the Interim Balance
Sheet. "FINAL NET WORTH" means the amount of the Net Worth as finally determined
pursuant to Section 2.4; provided, however, that in no event shall the Final Net
Worth be more than Seller's calculation of the Net Worth delivered pursuant to
Section 2.4(a) or less than Acquiror's calculation of the Net Worth delivered
pursuant to Section 2.4(b). The amount of any payment to be made pursuant to
this Section 2.5 will bear interest from the Closing Date to the date of payment
at a rate per annum equal to the lesser of (i) the "Prime Rate" published by The
Wall Street Journal, in the "Money Rates" section thereof on the first business
day following the Closing Date, or (ii) the maximum rate permitted by applicable
Law. Such interest shall be calculated daily on the basis of a 365-day year and
the actual number of days elapsed.




                                       15


<PAGE>   17



                                   ARTICLE III
                    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER

         Seller hereby represents and warrants to Acquiror as follows:

         3.1 Corporate Organization and Qualification. Each of Seller, FCE and
FCE Ltd. is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation. Each of Seller, FCE and FCE
Ltd. is duly qualified as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which
the properties owned, leased or operated, or the business conducted, by it
require such qualification, except for any such failures so to qualify which
would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect.
Each of Seller, FCE and FCE Ltd. has the requisite corporate power and authority
to own and operate its properties and carry on its businesses as they are now
being conducted. Seller has heretofore made available to Acquiror true, correct
and complete copies of the FCE Charter, FCE Bylaws, FCE Ltd. Charter and FCE
Ltd. Bylaws.

         3.2 Corporate Authority. Seller has the requisite corporate power and
authority to execute, deliver and carry out the terms of this Agreement and any
other agreement or instrument to be executed by and delivered by it in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution
and delivery by Seller of this Agreement and such other agreements and
instruments contemplated hereby and thereby and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated to be performed hereunder and thereunder have been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate actions, including approval of the
Board of Directors of Seller. This Agreement is, and the other agreements and
instruments to be executed and delivered in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby will, as of the Effective Time, be, a legal,
valid and binding obligation of Seller, enforceable against it in accordance
with their




                                       16


<PAGE>   18



terms except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors'
rights generally.

         3.3 Conflicts and Defaults. Neither the execution and delivery of this
Agreement or the other documents and instruments to be executed and delivered by
Seller pursuant hereto, nor the consummation by Seller of the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby (i) will violate any provision of the charter or
by-laws of Seller, (ii) will, to Seller's knowledge, violate or be in conflict
with any applicable law or any applicable judgment, decree, injunction or order
of any Governmental Entity, or (iii) subject to obtaining the consents set forth
on Schedule 3.3, will, to Seller's knowledge, violate or conflict with or
constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both,
would constitute a default) under or will result in the termination of, or
accelerate the performance required by, or result in the creation of any Lien,
upon any of the assets of the Companies under, any term or provision of the
charter or by-laws of the Companies or of any contract, commitment,
understanding, arrangement, agreement, order, arbitration award, judgment,
decree or restriction of any kind or character to which Seller is a party or by
which Seller or any of its assets or properties may be bound or affected, other
than violations, conflicts, defaults, termination, accelerations or Liens which
would not have a material adverse effect on the Companies.

         3.4      Capital Stock.

                  (a) The authorized capital stock of FCE consists of 100,000
shares of voting common stock, par value $.10 per share of which 1,000 shares
are issued and outstanding and 10,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.10
per share, of which no shares are issued and outstanding. The Stock constitutes
all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of FCE. Seller is the registered
and beneficial owner of the Stock, free and clear of any Liens.




                                       17


<PAGE>   19



                  (b) The Stock has been duly authorized and validly issued and
is fully paid and non-assessable. There are no (i) securities of Seller or FCE
convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of FCE, (ii)
warrants, options or other rights to acquire from Seller or FCE, or other
obligations of Seller or FCE to issue, any capital stock or securities
convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock of FCE, or (iii) bonds,
debentures, notes or other obligations or securities of Seller or FCE the
holders of which have the right to vote with the stockholders of FCE on any
matter submitted for the vote of FCE stockholders.

                  (c) The authorized capital stock of FCE Ltd. consists of an
unlimited number of Class "A" common voting shares, of which 1,001,000 shares
are issued and outstanding, an unlimited number of Class "B" common voting
shares, of which no shares are issued and outstanding, an unlimited number of
Class "C" non-voting shares, of which no shares are issued and outstanding, and
an unlimited number of preferred shares, of which no shares are issued and
outstanding. FCE is the registered and beneficial owner of all of such issued
and outstanding common shares, free and clear of any Liens.

                  (d) All of the issued and outstanding shares of FCE Ltd. have
been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.
There are no (i) securities of Seller, FCE or FCE Ltd. convertible into or
exchangeable for shares of FCE Ltd., (ii) warrants, options or other rights to
acquire from Seller, FCE or FCE Ltd., or other obligations of Seller, FCE or FCE
Ltd. to issue, any shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable for
shares of FCE Ltd., or (iii) bonds, debentures, notes or other obligations or
securities of Seller, FCE or FCE Ltd. the holders of which have the right to
vote with the shareholders of FCE Ltd. on any matter submitted for the vote of
FCE Ltd. shareholders.




                                       18


<PAGE>   20



                  (e) Schedule 3.4 sets forth the names of the directors and
officers of each of the Companies and the jurisdictions in which each of the
Companies is qualified to do business as a foreign corporation.

         3.5 Real Property Schedule. Set forth on Schedule 3.5 is a complete
list of all Owned Real Property and Leased Real Property identified by street
address. Listed on Schedule 3.5 is any lease, sublease or other agreement under
which either of the Companies has rights with respect to the Leased Real
Property. None of the Owned Real Property or Leased Real Property is leased or
subleased by either of the Companies to another person.

         3.6 Product Warranties. A true and accurate copy of warranties which
each of the Companies is presently offering to customers in connection with the
sale of its products or the rendering of services is included at Schedule 3.6.
Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.6, neither of the Companies is subject to any
warranty obligation in connection with goods or services provided by either of
them (or the Business when it was operated as a division of Seller) which
extends beyond twelve months.

         3.7 Compliance with Applicable Laws. Except as listed in Schedule 3.7,
(i) to Seller's knowledge, each of the Companies is in compliance with all Laws
applicable to it, except where the failure to be in compliance would not have,
individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect and (ii) the
Companies have not received any written notice of any administrative, civil or
criminal investigation or audit by any Governmental Entity relating to the
Companies that would have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse
effect; provided, however, that this Section 3.7 shall not apply to
environmental matters which shall be governed by Section 3.13 only.




                                       19


<PAGE>   21



         3.8 Litigation. Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.8, there are no
civil, criminal or administrative actions or suits pending or, to Seller's
knowledge, threatened against FCE or FCE Ltd. that would have, individually or
in the aggregate, a material adverse effect if decided adversely. Neither of the
Companies is in violation of any material judgment, decree, injunction or order
outstanding against either of them.

         3.9 Taxes. As of the Closing Date, (i) each Tax Return required to be
filed by the Companies or with respect to their assets or operations that is
required to be filed on or before such date (taking into account applicable
extensions) will have been filed, (ii) each of such Tax Returns will be true,
correct and complete in all respects material to the Companies, and (iii) all
Taxes shown thereon as due and owing shall have been paid.

         3.10 Employee Plans and Benefit Arrangements. Schedule 3.10 identifies
each Employee Plan and Benefit Arrangement that is entered into, maintained,
administered or contributed to, as the case may be, by the Companies or under
which they have any material liability or obligation (collectively, the
"Companies' Benefits"). Seller has furnished or made available to Acquiror
copies or descriptions of the Companies' Benefits (and, if applicable, related
trust agreements) and all amendments thereto. To Seller's knowledge, each such
of the Companies' Benefits has been maintained in compliance with its terms and
with the requirements prescribed by any and all applicable Laws, except where
noncompliance would not result in, individually or in the aggregate, a material
adverse effect.

         3.11 Labor Relations. Neither of the Companies is a party to any
collective bargaining or union contract, and, to Seller's knowledge, no labor
union is attempting to gain representation of any employees of the Companies.


                                       20


<PAGE>   22



         3.12 Contracts. Schedule 3.12 is a true and complete list of all
Contracts of either of the Companies other than Employee Plans and Benefit
Arrangements of the Companies which are listed or described at Schedule 3.10 and
real estate leases which are listed on Schedule 3.5, Seller has furnished or
made available to Acquiror true and complete copies of each Contract listed on
Schedule 3.12 and each real estate lease listed on Schedule 3.5. Except as set
forth on Schedule 3.12 neither of the Companies is in default in any material
respect under any Contract, except for such instances of default which do not,
either alone or in the aggregate, materially adversely affect the financial
condition or operations of the Companies. There are no persons holding powers of
attorney from either of the Companies other than power of attorney relating to
export, import and customs matters.

         3.13 Environmental Compliance. Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.13
hereto, to the knowledge of Seller (i) the Companies are in compliance with all
limitations, restrictions, conditions, standards, prohibitions, requirements,
obligations, schedules and timetables contained in any Environmental Laws
applicable to the Companies except where such noncompliance would not,
individually or in the aggregate, result in a material adverse effect, (ii) no
event, condition, circumstance, activity, practice, incident, or action has
occurred or exists that may give rise to any liabilities based on or related to
any applicable Environmental Laws or activities regulated thereby, except where
such liabilities would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a
material adverse effect, and (iii) there is no civil, criminal or administrative
action, suit, demand, claim, hearing, written notice or demand letter, notice of
violation or proceeding pending or threatened against the Companies relating in
any way to any applicable Environmental Laws that would have, individually or in
the aggregate, a material adverse effect if decided adversely. Except as set
forth in Schedule 3.13, any Hazardous Materials removed




                                       21


<PAGE>   23



from the Owned Real Property, the Leased Real Property, or any other property
currently or previously owned, leased, or operated by either of the Companies
during the time the property was owned, leased, or operated by either of the
Companies was removed, transported off-site, treated, stored or disposed of in
compliance with applicable Environmental Laws, except for such minor instances
of noncompliance which do not, either alone or in the aggregate, materially
adversely affect the financial condition or operations of the Companies.

         3.14 Financial Statements. The Financial Statements, copies of which
are attached hereto as Schedule 3.14, present fairly, in conformity with GAAP
(except as may be indicated in the notes thereto), the consolidated financial
position of the Companies as of the date thereof and its results of operations
and cash flows for the fiscal period then ended. The Interim Financial
Statements have been presented in a manner consistent with the December 31, 1996
Financial Statements, except for the absence of footnotes, the omission of
statements of stockholders' equity and cash flows, and as noted in the Interim
Financial Statements.

         3.15 GST Regulation. FCE Ltd. is duly registered with Revenue Canada,
Customs and Excise for Goods and Services Tax purposes and its GST registration
number is 899772752RT.

         3.16 Proprietary Property. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.8, there
are no pending or, to the best of Seller's knowledge, threatened interference,
opposition or infringement actions, or any other proceedings with respect to the
Proprietary Information. Schedule 3.16 lists all of the patents, registered
trademarks, service marks, trade names and registered copyrights and all
applications for any of the foregoing which are owned by either of the
Companies. Subject to being challenged during any unexpired opposition period
provided under applicable law or to being contested as improperly issued under
applicable law, one of the Companies will be on the Closing Date the owner and
have good title to the such patents and registered trademarks in the




                                       22


<PAGE>   24



listed jurisdictions and, to Seller's knowledge, good title to all of the other
Proprietary Information. To Seller's knowledge, each of the Companies has the
right to use all of the other Proprietary Information it uses. Acquiror
acknowledges that Seller does not make any representation or warranty hereunder
that third parties cannot and do not lawfully possess and use in their business
trade secrets, know-how, patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names,
copyrights, applications for any of the foregoing and other similar proprietary
or intellectual property rights or interests which are similar to the
Proprietary Information. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.16, to Seller's
knowledge, there is no infringement or misappropriation of the Proprietary
Information. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, Seller does not make any
representation or warranty with respect to the validity of any patents.

         3.17 Affiliates. No substantial part of the Business is conducted
through any Affiliate of Seller other than the Companies.

         3.18 Certain Matters. Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.18, since
August 31, 1997 the Companies have not (i) declared, paid, set aside or made any
dividend or other distribution or payment (whether in cash, stock or property)
with respect to, or purchased or redeemed, any shares of their capital stock
(other than with respect to Taxes as permitted in Section 5.1), (ii) other than
in the ordinary course of business, leased, sold or disposed of, or contracted
to lease, sell or dispose of, in any single transaction or group of related
transactions, any asset or group of assets having a value, or selling price, or
aggregate rental, in excess of $100,000, or (iii) other than in the ordinary
course of business, leased, purchased or otherwise acquired, in any single
transaction or group of related transactions, any asset or group of assets
having a purchase price or lease payments in excess of $100,000, except in
accordance with the capital expenditure projects or projects listed as Schedule
5.1.




                                       23


<PAGE>   25



         3.19 Customers and Suppliers. Set forth on Schedule 3.19 are (i)
suppliers or other vendors of the Companies from whom the Companies have
purchased more than $200,000 in products and services (other than professional
services) between January 1, 1997 and October 31, 1997 and (ii) customers who
have purchased more than $200,000 in products and services from the Companies
between January 1, 1997 and October 31, 1997.

         3.20 Tangible Personal Property. As of the Effective Time, the
Companies will have title to the material tangible personal property included in
the Closing Date Balance Sheet, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted
Liens.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ACQUIROR

         Acquiror hereby represents and warrants to Seller as follows:

         4.1 Corporate Organization and Qualification. Acquiror is a corporation
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
State of Ohio and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation in each
jurisdiction in which the properties owned, leased or operated, or the
businesses conducted, by it require such qualification.

         4.2 Corporate Authority. Acquiror has the requisite corporate power and
authority to own and operate its properties and carry on its businesses as they
are now being conducted, and to execute, deliver and carry out the terms of the
Agreement and any other agreement or instrument to be executed by and delivered
by it in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The
execution and delivery by Acquiror of this Agreement and such other agreements
and instruments contemplated hereby and thereby and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated to be performed hereunder and thereunder have been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate actions, including approval of the
Board of




                                       24


<PAGE>   26



Directors of Acquiror. This Agreement is, and the other agreements and
instruments to be executed and delivered in connection with the transaction
contemplated hereby and thereby will, as of the Effective Time, be, a legal,
valid and binding obligation of Acquiror, enforceable against it in accordance
with their terms except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of
creditors' rights generally.

         4.3 Conflicts and Defaults. Neither the execution and delivery of this
Agreement or the other documents and instruments to be executed and delivered by
Acquiror pursuant hereto, nor the consummation by Acquiror of the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby (i) will violate any provision of the articles of
incorporation or code of regulations of Acquiror, (ii) will, to Acquiror's
knowledge, violate or be in conflict with any applicable law or any applicable
judgment, decree, injunction or order of any Governmental Entity, or (iii) will,
to Acquiror's knowledge, violate or conflict with or constitute a default (or an
event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default)
under or will result in the termination of, or accelerate the performance
required by, or result in the creation of any Lien, upon any of the assets of
the Acquiror under, any term or provision of the charter or by-laws of the
Acquiror or of any contract, commitment, understanding, arrangement, agreement,
order, arbitration award, judgment, decree or restriction of any kind or
character to which Acquiror is a party or by which Acquiror or any of its assets
or properties may be bound or affected, other than violations or conflicts which
would not have a material adverse effect on the Acquiror.

         4.4 Consents and Approvals. Other than the filing of applicable HSR
Filings and the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period
thereunder, no consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration,
declaration or filing with, any Governmental Entity or Person




                                       25


<PAGE>   27



is required with respect to Acquiror in connection with the execution, delivery
or performance by Acquiror of its obligations under this Agreement except for
consents, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations or
filings the failure of which to obtain or to make would not have, individually
or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on Acquiror's ability to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

         4.5 Investment Only. Acquiror is acquiring the Stock solely for the
purpose of investment and not with a view to, or for sale or other disposition
in connection with, any distribution thereof. Acquiror acknowledges that the
Stock is not registered under the Act, or any applicable state securities laws
and that the Stock may not be transferred, pledged or sold except pursuant to
the registration provisions of the Act and such laws or pursuant to applicable
exemptions therefrom. Acquiror has such knowledge, experience and skill in
evaluating and investing in common stocks and other securities, based on actual
participation in financial investment and business matters, so that it is
capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Stock and has
such knowledge, experience and skill in financial and business matters that it
is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the investment in FCE and the
suitability of the sale as an investment and can bear the economic risk of an
investment in the Stock. No guarantees have been made or can be made with
respect to the future value, if any, of the stock, or the profitability or
success of the businesses of the Companies.

         4.6 Disclosure of Information. Acquiror acknowledges that it or its
representatives have been furnished with all information regarding the Companies
and their businesses, assets, results of operations and financial condition that
Acquiror has requested. Acquiror further represents that it has had an
opportunity to access the Companies' facilities, to make such inspections as
Acquiror has desired, to ask questions of and receive answers from the Companies




                                       26


<PAGE>   28



and their representatives regarding the Companies and their businesses, assets,
results of operations, and financial condition and the terms and conditions of
the sale of the Stock. Acquiror acknowledges that Seller has made no
representation or warranty as to the Companies, or their businesses, assets,
results of operations or financial condition, except as expressly set forth in
this Agreement. All representations and warranties, express or implied, of
Seller or the Companies that are not expressly set forth in this Agreement are
hereby waived and released.

         4.7 Brokers and Finders. None of Acquiror or any of its directors,
officers or employees has employed any broker or finder or incurred any
liability for any brokerage fees, commissions or finders fees in connection with
the transactions contemplated hereby, except for arrangements with Furman Selz
L.L.C.

         4.8 Funds for the Acquisition. Acquiror has funds available to it
sufficient to pay in cash the Purchase Price and all of its fees and expenses
relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

                                    ARTICLE V

               CERTAIN ADDITIONAL COVENANTS OF SELLER AND ACQUIROR

         5.1 Conduct of the Companies and Seller. During the period from the
date of this Agreement and continuing until the Closing, Seller shall, except as
otherwise contemplated by this Agreement or as described on Schedule 5.1:

                  (a) (i) cause each of the Companies to conduct its business in
         the ordinary course thereof consistent with past practice; provided,
         however, that the Companies shall be permitted to pay or dividend to
         Seller an amount equal to the United States income Taxes (other than
         Taxes for which Seller is responsible under Section 9.2(d)) on the
         income of the Companies from August 31, 1997 through the Effective Time
         calculated in




                                       27


<PAGE>   29



         a manner consistent with past practices, and (ii) not permit either of
         the Companies to declare, set aside, pay or make any dividend or other
         distribution or payment (whether in cash, stock or property) with
         respect to, or purchase or redeem, any shares of their capital stock
         except as provided in clause (i) with respect to Taxes.

                  (b) not permit any of the Companies to make any change or
         amendment to or repeal their respective charter or bylaws or comparable
         governing instruments.

                  (c) not permit any of the Companies to issue or sell shares of
         capital stock or any other securities of any of them or issue any
         securities convertible into or exchangeable for, or rights to purchase
         relating to, or enter into any contract, commitment or arrangement with
         respect to the issuance of, any shares of capital stock or any other
         securities of any of them, or adjust, split, combine or reclassify any
         of their capital stock or other securities, or amend, permit
         acceleration of, or otherwise make any other changes in their capital
         structures.

                  (d) not permit any of the Companies to (i) adopt or amend any
         bonus, profit sharing, compensation, severance, stock option, pension,
         retirement or other employee benefit agreement, trust, plan or
         arrangement for the benefit or welfare of any present or former
         director, officer or employee of any of the Companies or (ii) increase
         the compensation or fringe benefits of any present or former director,
         officer or employee (except that, in the case of employees who are not
         officers, individual merit increases and promotional increases, not to
         exceed 10% of salary, in accordance with past practices may be granted,
         but no across-the-board or generally applicable increases may be
         granted), or pay any bonus, compensation or benefit not required by any
         existing Employee Plan or Benefit Arrangement, or hire any employee at
         an annual rate of




                                       28


<PAGE>   30



         compensation (including anticipated incentive compensation, if any) in
         excess of $50,000, or enter into any contract, agreement, commitment or
         arrangement to do any of the foregoing.

                  (e) not permit any of the Companies to, other than in the
         ordinary course of business, lease, sell or dispose of, or contract to
         lease, sell or dispose of, in any single transaction or series of
         related transactions, any asset or group of assets having a value, or
         selling price, or aggregate rental, in excess of $100,000.

                  (f) not permit any of the Companies to, other than in the
         ordinary course of business, lease, purchase or otherwise acquire, in
         any single transaction or series of related transactions, any asset or
         group of assets having a value or purchase price, or lease payments, in
         excess of $100,000, except that each of the Companies shall be
         permitted to, and shall, continue any existing capital expenditure
         projects or programs listed in Schedule 5.1 in a manner consistent with
         the performance of such projects or programs prior to the date of this
         Agreement.

                  (g) not permit any of the Companies to make any investment
         (whether by acquisition of stock, capital contribution or otherwise)
         in, or make any loan or advance to, or enter into or renew any
         guarantee on behalf of, any person which continues after the Effective
         Time (other than routine advances to any employees, deposits or
         advances in respect of products purchased in the ordinary course of
         business, and advances made to an employee in connection with the
         relocation of such employee by either of the Companies). 

         5.2 Access, Information and Confidentiality.




                                       29


<PAGE>   31



                  (a) During the period from the date of this Agreement to the
Effective Time, Seller shall, upon reasonable notice from Acquiror, cause each
of the Companies to provide to Acquiror and Acquiror's authorized
representatives reasonable access during normal business hours to the facilities
and to the books and records of each of the Companies and shall cause the
officers and the officers of each of the Companies to promptly furnish Acquiror
with such information with respect to the business and properties of each of the
Companies as Acquiror or its authorized representatives from time to time may
reasonably request. Acquiror shall use such access in a manner that does not
unnecessarily interfere with the Companies' business.

                  (b) Acquiror shall indemnify and hold Seller and the Companies
and their respective employees and agents, and each of them, harmless from and
against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without
limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees incurred in connection therewith) arising
out of or resulting from Acquiror's exercise of its rights under this Section
5.2.

         5.3 Confidentiality. After the Effective Time, Seller shall keep
confidential, except as to directors and officers of Acquiror and its
Affiliates, all information concerning the Companies and the Business which was
considered confidential by Seller or any of the Companies prior to the Closing
Date, PROVIDED, that Seller may disclose the terms of this Agreement (A) to any
lender or investor, or prospective lender or investor, who, in the case of any
commercial loan or limited private placement of securities, agrees to keep such
information confidential, (B) to the extent necessary in connection with an
offering of securities other than of the type referred to in Clause (A), and (C)
to the extent required by law; PROVIDED FURTHER, that Seller shall not have any
obligation under this Section 5.3, (x) with respect to information readily
ascertainable from public or published information or trade sources, (y) with
respect to pre-Closing financial




                                       30


<PAGE>   32



information concerning the Companies in connection with or as a part of
financial information concerning Seller, and (z) with respect to information
about the Liabilities for which Seller has an indemnity obligation under this
Agreement.

         5.4 Disclosure Supplements. From time to time prior to the Closing (and
subject to the rights of Acquiror under section 8.1(iii)), Seller by written
notice to Acquiror may supplement or amend the Schedules to this Agreement
(other than Schedules 1.1(c), 3.13 or 5.1) with respect to any matter which may
arise hereafter and (i) which, if existing or occurring at or prior to the date
hereof, would have been required to be set forth or described in the Schedules
to this Agreement, or (ii) which is necessary to correct any information in the
Schedules to this Agreement or in any representation and warranty of Seller
which has been rendered materially inaccurate thereby. The written notice
pursuant to this Section 5.4 will be deemed to have amended the appropriate
Schedules, to have qualified the representations and warranties contained in
Article III, and to have cured any misrepresentation or breach of warranty that
otherwise might have existed hereunder by reason of such matter.

         5.5 Maintenance of Insurance. Seller will cause the Companies to
maintain until the Effective Time all material policies of insurance in effect
on the date hereof relating to the Business.

         5.6 Satisfaction of Conditions.

                  (a) Each party to this Agreement shall use reasonable efforts
to satisfy promptly all conditions precedent to the obligations of the other
party to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. This
Section 5.6(a) shall terminate as of the Effective Time.




                                       31


<PAGE>   33



                  (b) In addition to the obligations set forth in Section
5.6(a), Acquiror, at its own expense, will timely and promptly make all filings
(other than Seller's filings) which are required under the HSR Act. Acquiror
will furnish to Seller such necessary information and reasonable assistance as
Seller may reasonably request in connection with the preparation of necessary
filings or submissions to any Governmental Entity, including, without
limitation, any HSR Filings. Acquiror will supply Seller with copies of all
correspondence, filings or communications (or memoranda setting forth the
substance thereof) between Acquiror or any of its respective representatives, on
the one hand, and the FTC or Antitrust Division or any member of their
respective staffs, on the other hand, with respect to this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby. Acquiror agrees to use its best effort to
obtain the approval of the FTC or the Antitrust Division, as the case may be, to
the purchase of the Stock by Acquiror, or the lapse (prior to the thirty-fifth
day after the date of this Agreement) of the waiting period under the HSR Act,
without the commencement of litigation, or threat thereof, by the appropriate
governmental enforcement agency to restrain the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, including by agreeing to divest, hold separate or place in trust
pending divestiture or further governmental investigation, such operations of
Acquiror's or the Companies' business as may be required, requested or necessary
to obtain the approval or early termination by the appropriate governmental
enforcement agency.

                  (c) Acquiror shall use its best efforts to defend any lawsuits
or other legal proceedings, whether judicial or administrative, whether brought
derivatively or on behalf of third parties (including governmental agencies or
officials), challenging this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby.




                                       32


<PAGE>   34



         5.7 Public Announcements. Seller and Acquiror agree that no press
release or other public statements with respect to the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement shall be issued unless the content and timing thereof are
mutually agreed upon; provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall
prohibit any party from issuing any press release or other public statement
which such party in good faith believes is required by applicable law or
regulation or by a proper order of any Governmental Entity; and provided
further, however, that no party shall disclose the financial terms of this
Agreement except to the extent required by law. The initial press release
announcing this Agreement shall be a joint press release, and, if Purchaser
reasonably determines it is appropriate, may include the amount of the Purchase
Price. Thereafter, Seller and Acquiror shall consult with each other in issuing
any press releases or otherwise making public statements with respect to the
transactions contemplated hereby and in making any filings with any Governmental
Entity. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Seller and Acquiror
shall consult with each other concerning the timing and content of
communications to customers of the Companies concerning this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby. Seller shall take reasonable commercial steps
to cause each of the Companies, prior to Closing, to restrict their press
releases and other public statements to the communications which Acquiror and
Seller approve or are otherwise permitted under this Section.

         5.8 Further Assurances. From and after the Closing, each of Seller and
Acquiror shall execute and deliver, in the name and on behalf of Seller or
Acquiror, as appropriate, any assignments or assurances and to take and do, in
the name and on behalf of Seller or Acquiror, as appropriate, any other actions
and things reasonably necessary to carry out the intention of this Agreement.

         5.9 Consents.




                                       33


<PAGE>   35



                  (a) Prior to or at the Closing, Seller shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to obtain all consents or waivers from third parties
necessary to assure that the sale of the Stock to Acquiror does not result in
termination of any of the Contracts; provided that obtaining any such consents
or waivers shall not be a condition precedent to the occurrence of the Closing
and the failure to obtain any such consents and waivers shall not constitute a
breach of this Agreement.

                  (b) Acquiror agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to
assist in the obtaining of the consents or waivers referred to in Section
5.9(a), including providing any requested guarantees of the Contracts.

         5.10 Environmental Inspection and Assessment. At Acquiror's expense,
Acquiror may cause an environmental consulting firm reasonably acceptable to
Seller to conduct an inspection and environmental assessment of the real
properties owned or leased by the Companies (the "Real Property"). The scope of
such inspection and assessment will consist of a so-called "Phase I" preliminary
environmental audit of the Real Property. Acquiror will not conduct any
additional procedures, including without limitation, taking of groundwater
samples, soil test borings, effluent or other discharge analyses, without
Seller's prior written consent. Acquiror will coordinate with Seller on the
timing of the physical inspection. Acquiror will indemnify, defend and hold
Seller and the Companies harmless from and against any and all Liabilities that
may be suffered or incurred by Seller or the Companies as a result of any act or
omission of Acquiror, the environmental consultant engaged by Acquiror, or their
agents, subcontractors or representatives in the implementation of the
environmental inspection and assessment.

         5.11 Employee Communications. Prior to the Closing, Acquiror shall not
communicate with Employees with respect to matters arising in connection with
the transactions contemplated




                                       34


<PAGE>   36



by this Agreement without the prior written consent of Seller, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided, however, that Seller hereby
consents to Acquiror communicating with H.M. Hoff, D.P. Jatzlau, Larry Angelo,
S.L. Witte, G.W. Sikes and R. Williams regarding employment with the Companies
following the Closing Date.

         5.12 Intercompany Accounts. Prior to the Effective Time, Seller shall
cause all Intercompany Accounts to be paid.

         5.13 Access to Books, Records and Personnel. Following the Closing,
Acquiror shall, and shall cause the Companies and the employees of Acquiror and
the Companies to, upon reasonable request, fully cooperate with Seller and
afford to Seller and its counsel, accountants and other authorized
representatives reasonable access during normal business hours to all books,
records, data, facilities, properties and personnel (and permit Seller and its
counsel, accountants and other authorized representatives to make copies of such
books, records and other data), to the extent that such access may be reasonably
requested by Seller (i) to facilitate the investigation, litigation or final
disposition of any claim which may have been or may be made against Seller or
any of its Affiliates in connection with this Agreement, the Companies or the
Business, (ii) to facilitate the preparation by Seller of materials necessary
for any audit, examination or proceeding or (iii) for any other reasonable
business purpose.

         5.14 Huber Name. Immediately after the Closing, Acquiror shall cause
the Companies to relinquish to Seller any and all rights the Companies may have
in and to the names "J.M. Huber," "Huber" and similar names and in and to things
incorporating, using or referring to such names.

         5.15 Release. Immediately following the Closing, Acquiror shall, and
shall cause the Companies to, release each of the persons elected or appointed
as director or officer of either of




                                       35


<PAGE>   37



the Companies at any time prior to the Effective Time (in his or her capacity as
a director, former director, officer or former officer), such release to be of
all liability such persons in such capacities may have to the Companies or their
shareholders.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                                EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

         6.1 Maintenance of Benefits.

                  (a) For a period of 12 months following the Closing Date,
Acquiror shall, subject to the following provisions of this paragraph, cause the
Companies to (i) maintain without amendment or modification the FCE Enhanced
Severance Plan and the FCE Severance Pay Policy except that such Plan and Policy
may be modified to state that a relocation or reassignment to a different
facility of the Companies, Acquiror or an Affiliate of Acquiror is not a
termination of employment if the commute to such other facilities is a
reasonable commute within the meaning of WARN, (ii) provide Employees with the
same base pay levels and comparable long-term and short-term incentive
compensation bonus opportunities as were in place immediately prior to the
Closing and (iii) other than as otherwise provided in the preceding clauses (i)
and (ii), provide the Employees with compensation and benefits comparable to the
Companies' Benefits. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, (1) nothing
herein will confer third-party beneficiary rights on any individual Employee or
group of Employees, (2) nothing herein will prohibit Acquiror from permitting
the Companies to substitute any compensation or benefit plan, program,
arrangement or structure for Employees so long as such Employees are treated on
substantially the same basis as similarly situated employees of Acquiror and its
Affiliates prior to the Transfer, provided that (x) this sentence shall not
apply to the plans described in Section 6.1(a)(i) and the base pay levels and
bonus opportunities described in




                                       36


<PAGE>   38



Section 6.1(a)(ii) for 12 months following the Closing Date and (y) the
comparability of the various benefits noted in Section 6.1(a)(iii) above is
maintained and (3) nothing in this Section 6.1(a) will limit Acquiror's right to
permit the Companies to terminate the employment of any Employee as of or
following the Closing.

                  (b) From and after the Closing, Acquiror will cause the
Companies to (i) perform when due all obligations under each retention agreement
to which either of the Companies is a party in accordance with the terms and
conditions of each such agreement as in effect on the Closing Date and (ii) give
the Employees credit for purposes of eligibility and vesting under any plans or
arrangements maintained for such Employees to the same extent as the service
recognized for such purposes under the Companies' Benefits immediately prior to
the Closing. From and after the Closing, Employee Plans and Benefit Arrangements
relating to Employees shall (i) recognize all pre-Closing service recognized by
the Companies for eligibility purposes, (ii) waive all pre-existing condition
exclusions for all Employees, and (iii) credit each such Employee for purposes
of deductible limits and copayment requirements with amounts so credited with
respect to that portion of the calendar year preceding the Closing. From and
after the Closing, Acquiror will cause the Companies to make all required
contributions and payments under or in respect of the Companies' Benefits
existing as of the Closing.

         6.2 Vacation and Sick Leave. From and after the Closing, Acquiror will
cause the Companies to maintain vacation and sick leave policies for the
Employees no less favorable than those maintained by the Companies immediately
prior to the Closing, and to credit all service earned by the Employees prior to
the Closing and to accept all vacation and sick leave days accrued by the
Employees as of the Closing.




                                       37


<PAGE>   39



         6.3 WARN. Acquiror shall not, at any time prior to 180 days after the
Closing Date, effectuate a "plant closing" or "mass layoff" as those terms are
defined in the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988, as
amended, ("WARN") affecting in whole or in part any facility, site of
employment, operating unit or employee of the Companies without complying fully
with the requirements of WARN.

                                   ARTICLE VII
                           CONDITIONS TO THE TRANSFER

         7.1 Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party. The obligations of
each of Seller and Acquiror to consummate the Transfer of the Stock are subject
to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

                  (a) the waiting period, if any, under the HSR Act relating to
the transactions contemplated under this Agreement shall have expired or been
terminated; and

                  (b) no provision of any applicable Law and no judgment,
injunction, order or decree shall prohibit the consummation of the Transfer of
the Stock or the transactions contemplated under this Agreement.

         7.2 Conditions to the Obligations of Seller. The obligation of Seller
to consummate the Transfer of the Stock is subject to the satisfaction (or
written waiver by Seller) of each of the following further conditions:

                  (a) Acquiror shall have performed and complied with in all
material respects all obligations and covenants required to be performed or
complied with by it under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date and
Seller shall have received a certificate signed by an executive officer of
Acquiror on behalf of Acquiror to the foregoing effect;




                                       38


<PAGE>   40



                  (b) the representations and warranties of Acquiror contained
in this Agreement and in any certificate or other writing delivered by Acquiror
pursuant thereto shall be true in all material respects at and as of the Closing
Date as if made at and as of such time;

                  (c) the Purchase Price shall have been paid by Acquiror via
wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by Seller;
and

                  (d) Acquiror shall have delivered to Seller copies of
resolutions of the Board of Directors of Acquiror authorizing the purchase of
the Stock pursuant to this Agreement and copies of all resolutions of Acquiror's
Board of Directors authorizing this Agreement, the transactions contemplated
hereby or otherwise relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby, certified by the Secretary (or an Assistant Secretary) of Acquiror as
being in full force and effect on the Closing Date.

         7.3 Conditions to the Obligations of Acquiror. The obligation of
Acquiror to consummate the Transfer of the Stock is subject to the satisfaction
(or written waiver by Acquiror) of each of the following further conditions:

                  (a) Seller shall have performed and complied with in all
material respects all obligations and covenants, required to be performed or
complied with by it under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date and
Acquiror shall have received a certificate signed by an executive officer of
Seller on behalf of Seller to the foregoing effect;

                  (b) the representations and warranties of Seller contained in
this Agreement and in any certificate or other writing delivered by Seller
pursuant hereto shall be true in all material respects at and as of the Closing
Date as if made at and as of such time (other than inaccuracies that in the
aggregate would not have a Closing Condition Material Adverse Effect




                                       39


<PAGE>   41



and other than representations and warranties made as of a specific time or date
which shall have been true at and as of such time or date);

                  (c)      Each of the following shall have been delivered to
                           Acquiror at the Closing: 

                           (i) the Noncompetition Agreement dated the Closing
                  Date and duly executed by an authorized officer of Seller;

                           (ii) copies of resolutions of the Board of Directors
                  of Seller authorizing the sale of the Stock pursuant to this
                  Agreement and copies of all resolutions of Seller's Board of
                  Directors authorizing this Agreement, the transactions
                  contemplated hereby or otherwise relating to this Agreement
                  and the transactions contemplated hereby, certified by the
                  Secretary (or an Assistant Secretary) of Seller as being in
                  full force and effect on the Closing Date;

                           (iii) stock certificates representing all of the
                  outstanding capital stock of FCE Ltd., registered in the name
                  of FCE, with each certificate being free and clear of any
                  Liens; and

                           (iv) an opinion, dated the Closing Date, of Jones,
                  Day, Reavis & Pogue, in customary form and with customary
                  assumptions and qualifications, to the effect that (i) the
                  execution, delivery and performance by Seller of this
                  Agreement has been duly authorized, (ii) this Agreement has
                  been duly executed and delivered by Seller and (iii) this
                  Agreement would constitute a valid and binding obligation of
                  Seller enforceable against Seller in accordance with its terms
                  if this Agreement were governed by the internal substantive
                  laws of the State of Texas (without application of the Texas
                  rules and principles of conflicts of laws).




                                       40


<PAGE>   42



                  (d) Seller shall have delivered to Acquiror at Closing the
Stock free and clear of all Liens and encumbrances with the certificate or
certificates evidencing the Stock duly endorsed; and

                  (e) Seller shall have delivered to Acquiror a title insurance
commitment with respect to each parcel of Owned Real Property.

                                  ARTICLE VIII
                                   TERMINATION

         8.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions
contemplated hereby may be abandoned at any time prior to the Closing:

                  (i) by mutual written consent of Seller and Acquiror;

                  (ii) by Seller, so long as Seller is not then in material
                  breach of this Agreement, (A) after December 31, 1997 if the
                  Closing shall not have occurred on or before such date or (B)
                  at any time in the event Acquiror is in material breach of any
                  of its obligations under this Agreement;

                  (iii) by Acquiror, provided it is not in breach of any of its
                  obligations hereunder, if any supplemental disclosure provided
                  by Seller pursuant to Section 5.4 would result in a Closing
                  Condition Material Adverse Effect and Acquiror exercises this
                  right within ten days of its receipt of the relevant
                  supplemental disclosure; and

                  (iv) by Acquiror, so long as Acquiror is not then in material
                  breach of this Agreement, on the later of (i) thirty-five days
                  after the condition in Section 7.1(a) has been satisfied and
                  (ii) January 15, 1998. 


         8.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination of this
Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1 hereof, this Agreement, except for the last
sentence of Section 5.10 and the




                                       41


<PAGE>   43



provisions of Sections 11.4, 11.9, 11.10 and 11.11, shall forthwith become null
and void and have no effect, without any liability on the part of either party
or their respective directors, officers or stockholders. Nothing in this Article
VIII shall, however, relieve either party to this Agreement of liability for
breach of this Agreement occurring prior to such termination, or for breach of
any provision of this Agreement which specifically survives termination
hereunder.

                                   ARTICLE IX
                                   TAX MATTERS

         9.1 Preparation of Tax Returns; Responsibility for Taxes.

                  (a) Seller shall prepare and file (or cause to be prepared and
filed) its consolidated United States federal income Tax Returns, and all other
consolidated, combined and unitary income Tax Returns in which any of the
Companies is required to be included with the Seller or any other Affiliates of
Seller, and shall include the Companies in such Tax Returns for all taxable
periods ending on or before the Closing Date and the pre-Closing portion of any
taxable period that includes, but does not end on, the Closing Date to the
extent required or permitted by applicable Law. Seller shall be responsible for
the timely payment (and entitled to any refund) of all Taxes due with respect to
the periods covered by such Tax Returns.

                  (b) Except as provided in Section 9.1(a), Acquiror shall
prepare and file (or cause to be prepared and filed) all Tax Returns relating to
the FCE, FCE Ltd. and their operations or assets that are required to be filed
(taking into account applicable extensions) after the Closing Date, including
without limitation Canadian income Tax Returns for FCE Ltd. for the year ending
December 31, 1997. Acquiror shall be responsible for the timely payment (and
entitled to any refund) of all Taxes due with respect to the periods covered by
such Tax Returns.




                                       42


<PAGE>   44



                  (c) Any Tax Returns to be prepared by Acquiror for any period
that includes the Closing Date shall be prepared in a manner consistent with
practices followed in prior years with respect to similar Tax Returns, except
for changes required by changes in Law or fact. To assist in achieving such
consistency, at least 30 days prior to the due date for such Tax Return (taking
into account extensions) Acquiror will provide a draft copy of such return to
Seller and will consult with, and cause the Companies to consult with, Seller in
good faith to ensure conformity with prior practice and consistency with returns
to be prepared by Seller pursuant to Section 9.1(a).

                  (d) Acquiror shall not file, or permit FCE Ltd. to file, an
amended Tax Return with respect to FCE Ltd. for any taxable period ending on or
prior to the Closing Date.

                  (e) Seller and Acquiror will, and Acquiror will cause the
Companies to, in all reasonable respects cooperate with each other in the
conduct of any Tax audit or similar proceedings involving or otherwise relating
to the Companies (or the income therefrom or assets thereof) with respect to any
Tax and each will execute and deliver such powers of attorney and other
documents as are necessary to carry out the intent of this Section 9.1(e). In
the event of any Tax audit or similar proceedings involving (in whole or in
part) Tax Returns prepared by the Seller under Section 9.1(a), if Seller and its
Affiliates are not the primary parties to such proceedings, (i) Acquiror will,
and will cause the Companies to, promptly notify Seller of the pendency of such
audit or proceeding; (ii) if Seller so elects, Seller or its designated
accountants or counsel will be permitted at its own cost and expense to
participate in such audit or proceedings and all appeals therefrom; (iii)
Acquiror and its Affiliates will direct and control such audit or proceedings
except for audits and proceedings where the majority of the potential liability
relates to such Tax Returns, which audits and proceedings Seller shall have the
right to




                                       43


<PAGE>   45



direct and control, subject in each case to the right of the non-controlling
party to approve any settlements or decisions to appeal, which approval shall
not be unreasonably withheld. In any event, the party conducting or directing
such audit or other proceedings (the "Directing Party") will consult in good
faith with the other party on all decisions relating to such audit and
proceedings, and will provide such party with copies of all documents received
or submitted during such audit and proceedings (redacted as appropriate to
preserve the confidentiality of the Affiliates of the Directing Party).

                  (f) Seller will cause any Tax sharing agreement between the
Companies and Seller or its Affiliates to be terminated, effective as of the
Closing, to the extent that any such agreement relates to the Companies, and
after the Closing none of the Companies shall have any obligation under any such
agreement for any past, present or future period.

         9.2 Section 338 Elections. (a) It is the intention of the parties that
the sale of Stock of the Company and resulting transfer of ownership of FCE Ltd.
be treated for federal income tax purposes as a sale of assets to the maximum
extent permitted by law, and that the gain from such deemed sales shall be
included in the consolidated federal income tax return of Seller. Accordingly,
Seller and Acquiror will join in making a timely election under Section
338(h)(10) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, with respect to the
purchase of Stock of the Company pursuant to this Agreement, and Acquiror will
make (or cause to be made) a Section 338(g) election with respect to FCE Ltd and
give (or cause to be given) notice thereof to Seller as required by Treasury
Regulation section 1.338-1(g)(4). To the extent requested by Acquiror, Seller
and Acquiror shall join in the making of a similar election under the income Tax
laws of any state or locality. The parties agree to negotiate in good faith to
arrive at all allocations of purchase price required for any of the foregoing
elections or other Tax reporting needs of the




                                       44


<PAGE>   46



parties, including without limitation allocations between the stock of FCE Ltd.
and the other assets of the Company and allocations between the Oil Field
Products business and the Industrial Flow Control Products business of the
Company and of FCE Ltd.

         (b) Acquiror will deliver to Seller a duly executed and completed
Internal Revenue Service Form 8023 (and any similar state or local Tax form) as
well as drafts of any required attachments (each a "Section 338 Form"), no later
than sixty calendar days prior to the date such Section 338 Form is required to
be filed. In the event of any dispute with regard to the content of any Section
338 Form, the parties will negotiate in good faith to attempt to resolve such
dispute. Once finalized, the Seller will promptly cause each Section 338 Form to
be duly executed by an officer of Seller, and will return such Section 338 Form
to Acquiror. Acquiror will duly and timely file the Section 338 Forms in
accordance with applicable Tax laws, and will provide written evidence to the
Seller that it has done so.

         (c) Acquiror and Seller agree to report the transaction contemplated by
this Agreement in a manner consistent with the parties' election under Section
338(h)(10) (and, where applicable, similar state or local elections) and not to
take any position contrary thereto. Neither Acquiror nor Seller will, and each
will cause their affiliates not to, take any action to modify or revoke the
elections contained in or the content of any Section 338 Form (or comparable
state or local form) without the express written consent of the other party.

         (d) The Seller will pay any Tax attributable to the making of a Section
338(h)(10) Election and shall indemnify the Companies and the Acquiror against
any failure to pay such Tax; provided, however, that Acquiror shall reimburse
Seller for one-half of any incremental increase in the state and local income
and franchise Tax paid by Seller and its Affiliates as a




                                       45


<PAGE>   47



result of such Section 338(h)(10) elections (such reimbursement by Acquiror not
to exceed $250,000).

         9.3      Access to Information.

                  (a) From and after the Closing, Seller shall grant to Acquiror
(or its designee) access at all reasonable times after reasonable advance notice
to all of the information, books and records, relating to FCE or FCE Ltd. within
the possession of Seller (including work papers and correspondence with taxing
authorities) and shall afford Acquiror (or its designee) the right (at
Acquiror's expense) to take extracts therefrom and make copies thereof, to the
extent reasonably necessary to permit Acquiror (or its designee) to prepare Tax
Returns and to respond to any audit, inquiry proceeding or other action with
respect to such Tax Returns.

                  (b) From and after the Closing, Acquiror shall grant to Seller
(or its designee) access at all reasonable times after reasonable advance notice
to all of the information, books and records, relating to FCE or FCE Ltd. within
the possession of Acquiror, FCE or FCE Ltd. (including work papers and
correspondence with taxing authorities) and shall afford Seller (or its
designee) the right (at Seller's expense) to take extracts therefrom and make
copies thereof, to the extent reasonably necessary to permit Seller (or its
designee) to prepare Tax Returns and to respond to any audit, inquiry proceeding
or other action with respect to such Tax Returns. In addition, and without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, to permit Seller to comply with its
obligations under Section 9.1(a), Acquiror will prepare (or cause the Companies
to prepare in accordance with prior practices) and deliver to Seller, as soon as
reasonably practical after receipt of a request therefor from Seller, the
standard income tax data reporting package and audit working paper files
traditionally provided by the Companies to Seller and all other data regarding




                                       46


<PAGE>   48



the Companies reasonably requested by Seller for the preparation of any Tax
Return under Section 9.1(a).

         9.4 Transfer Taxes. Acquiror shall be responsible for the payment of
all state, local, provincial and municipal transfer, sales, use or other similar
Taxes (and all recording or filing fees) resulting from the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.

         9.5 Tax Indemnification by Acquiror.

             (a) From and after the Closing Date, Acquiror shall indemnify
Seller and its Affiliates from and against any and all Taxes (other than Taxes
to be paid by Seller pursuant to Section 9.1(a)) relating to the Companies or
their properties.

             (b) From and after the Closing Date, Seller shall indemnify
Acquiror and its Affiliates from and against (i) any and all Taxes to be paid by
Seller pursuant to Section 9.1(a) and (ii) any liability of the Companies with
respect to Tax Returns filed on a combined or consolidated basis with Seller or
its Affiliates, including without limitation any such liability of the Companies
pursuant to U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 or any similar state or
local tax provision.

                                    ARTICLE X
                            SURVIVAL; INDEMNIFICATION

         10.1 Survival of Representations and Warranties and Covenants. EXCEPT
AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT, THERE ARE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR
WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO SELLER OR THE
COMPANIES OR THEIR BUSINESSES, ASSETS, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS, OR FINANCIAL
CONDITION. WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING, SELLER AND THE
COMPANIES MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS




                                       47


<PAGE>   49



OR WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO (i) ANY PROJECTIONS, ESTIMATES OR BUDGETS
DELIVERED TO OR MADE AVAILABLE TO ACQUIROR OF FUTURE REVENUES, FUTURE RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (OR ANY COMPONENT THEREOF), FUTURE CASH FLOWS OR FUTURE FINANCIAL
CONDITION (OR ANY COMPONENT THEREOF) OF THE COMPANIES, OR (ii) ANY OTHER
INFORMATION OR DOCUMENTS MADE AVAILABLE TO ACQUIROR OR ITS COUNSEL, ACCOUNTANTS
OR ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE COMPANIES, OR (iii) EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET
FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT, THE CONDITION OF ANY ASSETS BEING TRANSFERRED,
INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION COMPLIANCE WITH ANY ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS OR OTHER
LAWS. The several representations and warranties of the parties contained in
this Agreement (or in any document delivered in connection herewith) will
survive the Closing Date; provided, however, such representations and warranties
will expire twelve months after the Closing Date except (i) with respect to
claims asserted by Acquiror or Seller with respect to such representations and
warranties prior to such expiration in which case they will survive until the
resolution of such claims in accordance with this Article X; (ii) that the
representations and warranties of Seller contained in Sections 3.2 and 3.4 and
the representations and warranties or Acquiror contained in Sections 4.2, 4.5
and 4.6 will remain operative and in full force and effect until the expiration
of any applicable statute of limitations (giving effect to any tolling, waiver
or extension thereof) and, if there is no applicable statue of limitations, then
without any time limitation; and (iii) that the representations and warranties
made in Section 3.13 will expire eighteen months after the Closing Date. The
several covenants of the parties contained in this Agreement (or in any document
delivered in connection herewith) that require



                                       48


<PAGE>   50



performance after the Closing will remain operative and in full force and effect
without any time limitation, except as any such covenant will be limited in
duration by the express terms hereof.

         10.2 Indemnification by Acquiror. Subject to the terms and conditions
of this Article X, from and after the Closing, Acquiror will indemnify, defend
and hold Seller, its Affiliates, and their respective directors, officers,
representatives, employees and agents harmless from and against any and all
claims, actions, suits, demands, assessments, judgments, losses, liabilities,
damages, costs, royalties, payments, license fees and expenses (including
interest, penalties, reasonable attorneys' fees, accounting fees and
investigation costs) (collectively, "LIABILITIES") resulting from or arising out
of (i) any breach of any representation or warranty of Acquiror contained herein
or in any other closing document delivered by Acquiror in connection herewith,
or (ii) any breach of any covenant of Acquiror contained herein or in any other
closing document delivered by Acquiror in connection herewith, which covenant
requires performance by Acquiror after the Closing, or (iii) the operation by
Acquiror of the Business after the Closing, except to the extent Seller is
required to indemnify Acquiror with respect thereto; (iv) any matter or item
disclosed on Schedules 3.7, 3.8 (other than items 1 and 5(a) and (b) disclosed
thereon), 3.10, or 3.13, (v) any liability reserved against or included in the
Financial Statements or the Closing Date Balance Sheet or reserved against or
included in the Final Net Worth but in both cases only to the extent of the
reserve or accrual for such liability, or (vi) any liability, including, but not
limited to, liabilities relating to Hazardous Materials or Environmental Laws,
of either of the Companies or relating to the Business with respect to which
Seller is not required to indemnify Acquiror pursuant to this Agreement.

         10.3 Indemnification by Seller. Subject to the terms and conditions of
this Article X, from and after the Closing, Seller will indemnify, defend and
hold Acquiror, its Affiliates




                                       49


<PAGE>   51



(including the Companies), and their respective directors, officers,
representatives, employees and agents harmless from and against any all
Liabilities resulting from or arising out of (i) any breach of any
representation or warranty of Seller or its Affiliates contained herein or in
any other closing document delivered by Seller or any Affiliate of Seller in
connection herewith, (ii) any breach of any covenant of Seller or any Affiliate
of Seller contained herein or in any other closing document delivered by Seller
or any Affiliate of Seller in connection herewith, except for those covenants
that terminate at or prior to the Effective Time or that are not applicable
after the Closing, (iii) any real property owned by Seller or an Affiliate of
Seller which was disposed of prior to August 1, 1996 or any real property leased
or otherwise used by Seller or any Affiliate of Seller as to which the lease or
the right of use terminated prior to August 1, 1996 (the "Former Properties"),
(iv) any Hazardous Materials that were removed prior to August 1, 1996 from (A)
the Former Properties or (B) any real property owned by Seller or an Affiliate
of Seller, including the Companies, or (C) any real property leased or otherwise
used by Seller or an Affiliate of Seller, including the Companies, (v) any
director, officer, or employee benefit, welfare, or pension, profit sharing, or
retirement plan or arrangement of Seller or an Affiliate of Seller (other than
an Employee Plan or Benefit Arrangement listed on Schedule 3.10) provided the
Liabilities arose prior to August 1, 1996, (vi) any obligation of the Companies,
with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to the Effective Time, to
indemnify any person elected or appointed a director or officer of either of the
Companies at any time prior to the Effective Time, in his or her capacity as a
director or officer of either of the Companies or a former director or officer
of either of the Companies, arising under either of the Companies' charter,
bylaws, by contract or otherwise, provided, however, this clause (vi) does not
apply to (a) such obligations of either of the Companies to Michael Tiner,
Michael J. Jacobson, John Rutherford and




                                       50


<PAGE>   52



Christopher Jenny as to any matter for which insurance proceeds are not
available to Michael Tiner, Michael J. Jacobson, John Rutherford and Christopher
Jenny or (b) any officer who remains, or becomes, an employee or consultant to
either of the Companies after the Effective Time or (c) any claim against a
director or officer brought by the Companies or any shareholder of the
Companies, (vii) any legal matter disclosed or required to be disclosed in
Schedule 3.8 other than (a) the legal matters involving standard product
warranties of the Companies identified on Schedule 3.6 and (b) items 2, 3, 4 and
5(c)-(g) of Schedule 3.8; provided, however, that in no event shall Seller have
an indemnity obligation, whether directly or indirectly, with respect to items
5(a) and (b) (the "Sable Proceedings") for payments or damages in respect of
sales of products after the Effective Time, for loss of revenues after the
Effective Time or any act or omission of the Companies after the Effective Time,
(viii) any actual bodily injury or physical damage to properties (other than
products manufactured or serviced by the Companies) or persons which actually
happened prior to the Effective Time and is attributable to a product
manufactured or service performed or the omission of a service that should have
been performed by either of the Companies or by the Seller or an Affiliate of
Seller, (ix) except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, any
legal, environmental review or investment banking expenses of Seller or either
of the Companies related to the sale of the Stock by Seller provided, in the
case of the Companies, such expenses are attributable to periods prior to the
Effective Time or (x) Liens, other than Permitted Liens, against tangible
personal property included in the Closing Date Balance Sheet.

         10.4 Limitations.

              (a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this agreement, 
no person or entity shall be entitled to receive any amount in respect of
breaches of representations and




                                       51


<PAGE>   53



warranties made by Seller in this Agreement or in any closing document (i) until
the aggregate of all Liabilities arising from breaches of such representations
and warranties shall exceed $1,500,000 (the "Threshold"), and, when such
Threshold is reached, indemnification shall not be available for the first
$500,000 of such Liabilities or (ii) in excess of $22,000,000 in the aggregate,
above which amount Seller will have no obligation or liability to indemnify
Acquiror, its Affiliates or their respective directors, officers,
representatives, employees and agents hereunder, at law or in equity (except
that this limitation shall not apply to a breach of any representation in
Sections 3.2 and 3.4(a), (b), (c) and (d)).

                  (b) Acquiror will not be entitled to indemnification from
Seller for any Liabilities (i) unless and until Acquiror and the Companies have
reasonably pursued to final conclusion all claims for insurance available to
them and their Affiliates with respect to such Liabilities and (ii) to the
extent of insurance proceeds actually received by Acquiror or the Companies or
their Affiliates with respect to such Liabilities.

         10.5 Procedure. In the event that any third party claim or demand shall
be asserted against any indemnified party in respect of any Liabilities, the
indemnified party shall promptly, and in any event within 30 days after the
receipt of notice of such claim or demand which may give rise to a claim under
this Article X, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the
indemnifying party hereunder, cause written notice thereof to be given to the
indemnifying party; provided, however, that failure to so notify the
indemnifying party shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations
it may have to the indemnified party or its Affiliates hereunder, except to the
extent that it is prejudiced by such failure. In the event any claim or demand
for indemnification is made under this Article X, the indemnifying party shall
be entitled to meaningfully participate therein and, upon delivery by the
indemnifying party to the




                                       52


<PAGE>   54



indemnified party of written notice, the indemnifying party may assume and
control the defense thereof with counsel of its choice, and thereafter the
indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party hereunder for
any fees of other counsel subsequently accrued by the indemnified party in
connection with the defense thereof. In the event that any claim or demand is
made under this Article X, the indemnifying party and the indemnified party
shall cooperate fully with each other in connection with the defense,
negotiation or settlement of any such claim or demand. If the indemnifying party
assumes the defense of an action, (a) the indemnified party shall be entitled to
participate therein at its sole cost and expense; and (b) no settlement or
compromise thereof may be effected by the indemnified party without the consent
of the indemnifying party. If the indemnifying party does not assume the defense
of an action, no compromise or settlement thereof may be effected at the expense
of the indemnifying party without the consent of the indemnifying party, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

         10.6 Exclusive Remedies. From and after the Closing, Acquiror's and
Seller's right to indemnification under this Article X with respect to any
Liabilities shall be their sole and exclusive remedy for damages under or with
respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (other than
the Noncompetition Agreement), and they shall not be entitled to pursue, and
hereby expressly waive, any and all rights that may otherwise be available
either at law or in equity with respect thereto. Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, Acquiror and Seller waive to the fullest extent permitted by
law any claim or cause of action which they might otherwise assert, including,
without limitation, under the common law or federal or state securities, trade
regulations or other laws, by reason of this Agreement or the transactions




                                       53


<PAGE>   55



contemplated hereby, except for claims and causes of action brought pursuant to
this Article X or the Noncompetition Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE XI
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         11.1 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including the Schedules hereto
and the Confidentiality Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties
hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all
prior agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, with respect to the
subject matter hereof and thereof.

         11.2 Notices. All notices, requests and other communications to any
party hereunder shall be in writing (including facsimile) and shall be given

         if to Seller, to:

                  J.M. Huber Corporation
                  333 Thornall Street
                  Edison, New Jersey  08818
                  Facsimile:  (908) 603-8730
                  Attention:  General Counsel

         with a copy to:

                  Jones Day Reavis & Pogue
                  2300 Trammell Crow Center
                  2001 Ross Avenue
                  Dallas, Texas  75201
                  Facsimile:  (214) 969-5100
                  Attention:  Henry L. Gompf

         if to Acquiror to:

                  Robbins & Myers, Inc.
                  1400 Kettering Tower
                  Dayton, Ohio  45423
                  Facsimile:  (937) 225-3344
                  Attention:  Daniel W. Duval, President and
                              Chief Executive Officer




                                       54


<PAGE>   56



         with a copy to:

                  Thompson, Hine & Flory L.L.P.
                  2000 Courthouse Plaza N.E.
                  Dayton, Ohio  45401
                  Facsimile:  (937) 443-6635
                  Attention:  Joseph M. Rigot, Esq.

or such other address or facsimile number as such party may hereafter specify
for the purpose by notice to the other parties hereto. Each such notice, request
or other communication shall be effective (i) if given by facsimile
transmission, when such facsimile is transmitted to the facsimile number
specified in this Section 11.2 and the appropriate confirmation is received, or
(ii) if given by any other means, when delivered at the address specified in
this Section 11.2.

         11.3     Amendments; No Waivers.

                  (a) Any provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived
prior to the Closing Date if, and only if, such amendment or waiver is in
writing and signed, in the case of an amendment, by Seller and Acquiror or in
the case of a waiver, by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective.

                  (b) No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right,
power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any
single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise
thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege.

         11.4 Expenses. Except as otherwise provided herein, all costs and
expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement shall be paid by the party
incurring such cost or expense, except for any filing fees associated with HSR
Filings, which filing fees shall be borne solely by Acquiror.




                                       55


<PAGE>   57



         11.5 Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors and assigns, provided that, no party may assign, delegate or
otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without
the consent of the other parties hereto. Notwithstanding anything contained in
this Agreement to the contrary, nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied,
is intended to confer on any person other than the parties hereto or their
respective successors and permitted assigns, any rights, remedies obligations or
liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement.

         11.6 Certain Interpretive Matters.

             (a) Unless the context otherwise requires, (i) all references in
this Agreement to Sections, Articles or Schedules are to Sections, Articles or
Schedules of or to this Agreement, (ii) each term defined in this Agreement has
the meaning ascribed to it, (iii) each accounting term not otherwise defined in
this Agreement as the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP and (iv)
words in the singular include the plural and vice versa. All references to "$"
or dollar amounts will be to lawful currency of the United States of America.

             (b) Titles and headings to Sections herein are inserted for
convenience of reference only, and are not intended to be a part of or to affect
the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. No provision of this Agreement
will be interpreted in favor of, or against, any of the parties hereto by reason
of the extent to which any such party or its counsel participated in the
drafting thereof or by reason of the extent to which any such provision is
inconsistent with any prior draft hereof or thereof.

         11.7 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance
with and governed by the substantive law of the State of New Jersey regardless
of the laws that might otherwise govern under principles of conflict of laws
applicable thereto.




                                       56


<PAGE>   58



         11.8 Counterparts; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be signed in any
number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect
as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. This
Agreement may be signed by facsimile. This Agreement shall become effective when
each party hereto shall have received counterparts hereof signed by all of the
other parties hereto.

         11.9 Knowledge. For purposes of this Agreement, "to the knowledge of
Seller" shall mean actual knowledge of the persons identified on Schedule 11.9.

         11.10 Consent to Jurisdiction. Any suit, action or proceeding seeking
to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in
connection with, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be
brought in the State and Federal Courts in the State of New York. The parties
hereto consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of such court (and of the
appropriate appellate courts therefrom) in any such suit, action or proceeding
and irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, any objection
which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit,
action or proceeding in any such court or that any such suit, action or
proceeding which is brought in any such court has been brought in an
inconvenient forum. Process in any such suit, action or proceeding may be served
on any party anywhere in the world, whether within or without the jurisdiction
of any such court. Without limiting the foregoing, the parties hereto agree that
service of process on such party may be made upon the designated person at the
address provided in Section 11.2 hereof and shall be deemed to be effective
service of process on such party.

         11.11 Confidentiality. Each of Seller and Acquiror agrees to maintain
in strict confidence any and all information each party learns or discovers
about the other or its respective Affiliates during the course of the
negotiation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and




                                       57


<PAGE>   59



agrees to abide by the terms and conditions set forth in the Confidentiality
Agreement. This Section 11.11 shall not apply to any information that is, or
could reasonably be, learned or discovered through any independent source that
is not obligated to maintain such information as confidential.

         11.12 Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of
this Agreement is determined by a Governmental Entity to be invalid, void or
unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and
restrictions of this Agreement will remain in full force and effect and will in
no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.

         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.

                            J.M. HUBER CORPORATION

                            By: /s/ Peter T. Francis
                               -----------------------------------------
                               Name: Peter T. Francis
                                    ------------------------------------
                               Title: Board Chair, President and CEO
                                     -----------------------------------

                            ROBBINS & MYERS, INC.

                            By: /s/ Daniel W. Duval
                               -----------------------------------------
                                 Daniel W. Duval, President and CEO



                                       58


<PAGE>   60


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                                                                Page
                                                                                                                ----

<S>                                                                                                              <C>
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS.............................................................................................2
         1.1      Definitions.....................................................................................2

ARTICLE II PURCHASE AND SALE OF THE STOCK........................................................................11
         2.1      Sale and Transfer of the Stock.................................................................11
         2.2      Payment........................................................................................11
         2.3      Closing........................................................................................11
         2.4      Net Worth Statement............................................................................12
         2.5      Net Worth Adjustment...........................................................................14

ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER.............................................................14
         3.1      Corporate Organization and Qualification.......................................................14
         3.2      Corporate Authority............................................................................15
         3.3      Conflicts and Defaults.........................................................................15
         3.4      Capital Stock..................................................................................16
         3.5      Real Property Schedule.........................................................................17
         3.6      Product Warranties.............................................................................18
         3.7      Compliance with Applicable Laws................................................................18
         3.8      Litigation.....................................................................................18
         3.9      Taxes..........................................................................................18
         3.10     Employee Plans and Benefit Arrangements........................................................19
         3.11     Labor Relations................................................................................19
         3.12     Contracts......................................................................................19
         3.13     Environmental Compliance.......................................................................20
         3.14     Financial Statements...........................................................................20
         3.15     GST Regulation.................................................................................21
         3.16     Proprietary Property...........................................................................21
         3.17     Affiliates.....................................................................................22
         3.18     Certain Matters................................................................................22
         3.19     Customers and Suppliers........................................................................22
         3.20     Tangible Personal Property.....................................................................22

ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ACQUIROR............................................................23
         4.1      Corporate Organization and Qualification.......................................................23
         4.2      Corporate Authority............................................................................23
         4.3      Conflicts and Defaults.........................................................................23
         4.4      Consents and Approvals.........................................................................24
         4.5      Investment Only................................................................................24
         4.6      Disclosure of Information......................................................................25
         4.7      Brokers and Finders............................................................................25
         4.8      Funds for the Acquisition......................................................................26

</TABLE>



                                       (i)


<PAGE>   61

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                               Page
                                                                                                               ----
<S>                                                                                                          <C>
ARTICLE V CERTAIN ADDITIONAL COVENANTS OF SELLER AND ACQUIROR....................................................26
         5.1      Conduct of the Companies and Seller............................................................26
         5.2      Access, Information and Confidentiality........................................................28
         5.3      Confidentiality................................................................................29
         5.4      Disclosure Supplements.........................................................................29
         5.5      Maintenance of Insurance.......................................................................30
         5.6      Satisfaction of Conditions.....................................................................30
         5.7      Public Announcements...........................................................................31
         5.8      Further Assurances.............................................................................32
         5.9      Consents.......................................................................................32
         5.10     Environmental Inspection and Assessment........................................................33
         5.11     Employee Communications........................................................................33
         5.12     Intercompany Accounts..........................................................................33
         5.13     Access to Books, Records and Personnel.........................................................34
         5.14     Huber Name.....................................................................................34
         5.15     Release........................................................................................34

ARTICLE VI EMPLOYEE BENEFIT......................................................................................34
         6.1      Maintenance of Benefits........................................................................34
         6.2      Vacation and Sick Leave........................................................................36
         6.3      WARN...........................................................................................36

ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS TO THE TRANSFER...........................................................................37
         7.1      Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party....................................................37
         7.2      Conditions to the Obligations of Seller........................................................37
         7.3      Conditions to the Obligations of Acquiror......................................................38

ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION.........................................................................................40
         8.1      Termination....................................................................................40
         8.2      Effect of Termination..........................................................................40

ARTICLE IX TAX MATTERS...........................................................................................41
         9.1      Preparation of Tax Returns; Responsibility for Taxes...........................................41
         9.2      Section 338 Elections..........................................................................43
         9.3      Access to Information..........................................................................44
         9.4      Transfer Taxes.................................................................................45
         9.5      Tax Indemnification by Acquiror................................................................46

ARTICLE X SURVIVAL; INDEMNIFICATION..............................................................................46
         10.1     Survival of Representations and Warranties and Covenants.......................................46
         10.2     Indemnification by Acquiror....................................................................47
         10.3     Indemnification by Seller......................................................................48

</TABLE>



                                      (ii)


<PAGE>   62

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                               Page
                                                                                                               ----
<S>                                                                                                          <C>
         10.4     Limitations....................................................................................50
         10.5     Procedure......................................................................................51
         10.6     Exclusive Remedies.............................................................................52

ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS.........................................................................................52
         11.1     Entire Agreement...............................................................................52
         11.2     Notices........................................................................................53
         11.3     Amendments; No Waivers.........................................................................54
         11.4     Expenses.......................................................................................54
         11.5     Successors and Assigns.........................................................................54
         11.6     Certain Interpretive Matters...................................................................55
         11.7     Governing Law..................................................................................55
         11.8     Counterparts; Effectiveness....................................................................55
         11.9     Knowledge......................................................................................55
         11.10    Consent to Jurisdiction........................................................................56
         11.11    Confidentiality................................................................................56
         11.12    Severability...................................................................................56
</TABLE>




                                      (iii)




<PAGE>   1
                                                                     Exhibit 4.1

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

                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                          DATED AS OF NOVEMBER 25, 1997

                                      AMONG

                             ROBBINS & MYERS, INC.,

                            THE LENDERS NAMED HEREIN,

                                 BANK ONE, N.A.,
                             AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

                                       AND

                               NATIONSBANK, N.A.,

                     AS DOCUMENTATION AND SYNDICATION AGENT

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

<PAGE>   2




                                                                  EXECUTION COPY


                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                          DATED AS OF NOVEMBER 25, 1997

                                      AMONG

                             ROBBINS & MYERS, INC.,

                            THE LENDERS NAMED HEREIN,

                                 BANK ONE, N.A.,
                             AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

                                       AND

                               NATIONSBANK, N.A.,
                     AS DOCUMENTATION AND SYNDICATION AGENT

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

<PAGE>   3



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

Article  Section                                                                                                 Page
- -------  -------                                                                                                 ----
<S>                                                                                                               <C>
ARTICLE I  DEFINITIONS..........................................................................................  1
         SECTION 1.01.  Defined Terms...........................................................................  1
         SECTION 1.02.  Terms Generally......................................................................... 25
         SECTION 1.03.  Types of Borrowings..................................................................... 25

ARTICLE II  THE CREDITS......................................................................................... 25
         SECTION 2.01.  Restructuring of Loans.................................................................. 25
         SECTION 2.02.  Commitment to Make Loans................................................................ 26
         SECTION 2.03.  Loans................................................................................... 26
         SECTION 2.04.  Notice of Borrowings.................................................................... 28
         SECTION 2.05.  Notes; Repayment of Loans............................................................... 29
         SECTION 2.06.  Fees.................................................................................... 30
         SECTION 2.07.  Interest on Loans....................................................................... 31
         SECTION 2.08.  Default Interest........................................................................ 32
         SECTION 2.09.  Alternate Rate of Interest.............................................................. 33
         SECTION 2.10.  Termination and Reduction of Commitments; Extension of
                        Commitments............................................................................. 33
         SECTION 2.11.  Conversion and Continuation Options..................................................... 34
         SECTION 2.12.  Mandatory Repayments and Prepayments.................................................... 35
         SECTION 2.13.  Optional Prepayments.................................................................... 36
         SECTION 2.14.  Reserve Requirements; Change in Circumstances........................................... 37
         SECTION 2.15.  Change in Legality...................................................................... 38
         SECTION 2.16.  Indemnity............................................................................... 39
         SECTION 2.17.  Pro Rata Treatment...................................................................... 39
         SECTION 2.18.  Sharing of Setoffs...................................................................... 40
         SECTION 2.19.  Payments................................................................................ 40
         SECTION 2.20.  Taxes................................................................................... 41
         SECTION 2.21.  Assignment of Commitments Under Certain Circumstances;
                        Duty to Mitigate........................................................................ 44
         SECTION 2.22.  Swingline Loans......................................................................... 45
         SECTION 2.23.  Letters of Credit....................................................................... 46

ARTICLE III  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES..................................................................... 51
         SECTION 3.01.  Organization; Powers.................................................................... 51
         SECTION 3.02.  Authorization........................................................................... 51
         SECTION 3.03.  Enforceability.......................................................................... 51
         SECTION 3.04.  Consents and Governmental Approvals..................................................... 52
         SECTION 3.05.  Financial Statements; Undisclosed Liabilities........................................... 52
         SECTION 3.06.  No Material Adverse Change.............................................................. 52
         SECTION 3.08.  Subsidiaries............................................................................ 53
         SECTION 3.07.  Title to Properties; Possession Under Leases............................................ 52
</TABLE>


<PAGE>   4

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                                                           <C>
         SECTION 3.09.  Litigation; Compliance with Laws........................................................ 53
         SECTION 3.10.  Agreements.............................................................................. 53
         SECTION 3.11.  Federal Reserve Regulations............................................................. 54
         SECTION 3.12.  Investment Company Act; Public Utility Holding Company
                        Act..................................................................................... 54
         SECTION 3.13.  Use of Proceeds......................................................................... 54
         SECTION 3.14.  Tax Returns............................................................................. 54
         SECTION 3.15.  No Material Misstatements............................................................... 55
         SECTION 3.16.  Employee Benefit Plans.................................................................. 55
         SECTION 3.17.  Environmental and Safety Matters........................................................ 56
         SECTION 3.18.  Security Interests...................................................................... 56
         SECTION 3.19.  Solvency................................................................................ 56
         SECTION 3.20.  Transactions with Affiliates and Shareholders........................................... 57
         SECTION 3.21.  Insurance............................................................................... 57
         SECTION 3.22.  Labor Matters........................................................................... 58
         SECTION 3.23.  Covenants Contained in the Original Credit Agreement.................................... 58

ARTICLE IV  CONDITIONS OF LENDING............................................................................... 58
         SECTION 4.01.  Conditions Precedent to the Effective Date.............................................. 58
         SECTION 4.02.  All Credit Events....................................................................... 61
         SECTION 4.03.  Conditions Precedent to Extension of Credit for FCE
                        Acquisition............................................................................. 62

ARTICLE V  AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS................................................................................ 62
         SECTION 5.01.  Existence; Businesses and Properties.................................................... 62
         SECTION 5.02.  Insurance............................................................................... 63
         SECTION 5.03.  Obligations and Taxes................................................................... 63
         SECTION 5.04.  Financial Statements, Reports, etc...................................................... 64
         SECTION 5.05.  Other Information....................................................................... 66
         SECTION 5.06.  ERISA................................................................................... 67
         SECTION 5.07.  Maintaining Records; Access to Properties and Inspections............................... 67
         SECTION 5.08.  Use of Proceeds......................................................................... 67
         SECTION 5.09.  Interest Rate Protection Agreements..................................................... 67
         SECTION 5.10.  Fiscal Year............................................................................. 68
         SECTION 5.11.  Compliance with Environmental Laws; Preparation of
                        Environmental Reports................................................................... 68
         SECTION 5.12.  Subsidiaries............................................................................ 68
         SECTION 5.13.  Further Assurances...................................................................... 69
         SECTION 5.14.  Certain Post-Closing Covenants.......................................................... 69

ARTICLE VI  NEGATIVE COVENANTS.................................................................................. 69
         SECTION 6.01.  Indebtedness............................................................................ 70
         SECTION 6.02.  Negative Pledge......................................................................... 72
         SECTION 6.03.  Sale and Lease-Back Transactions........................................................ 74
         SECTION 6.04.  Investments, Loans and Advances......................................................... 74
         SECTION 6.05.  Mergers, Consolidations, Dispositions and Acquisitions.................................. 76
         SECTION 6.06.  Dividends, Distributions and Other Restricted Payments.................................. 77
</TABLE>


                                       ii
<PAGE>   5
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


<S>                                                                                                           <C>
         SECTION 6.07.  Impairment of Security Interests........................................................ 78
         SECTION 6.08.  Limitation on Restrictions on Subsidiary Dividends, etc................................. 78
         SECTION 6.09.  No Other Negative Pledges............................................................... 79
         SECTION 6.10.  Transactions with Affiliates and Shareholders........................................... 79
         SECTION 6.11.  Business of Borrower and Subsidiaries................................................... 79
         SECTION 6.12.  Certain Amendments...................................................................... 80
         SECTION 6.13.  Capital Expenditures.................................................................... 80
         SECTION 6.14.  Financial Covenants..................................................................... 80

ARTICLE VII  EVENTS OF DEFAULT.................................................................................. 81

ARTICLE VIII  THE AGENTS AND ISSUING BANK....................................................................... 84
         SECTION 8.01.  Appointment and Authorization........................................................... 84
         SECTION 8.02.  Liability of Agents..................................................................... 85
         SECTION 8.03.  Action by Agents........................................................................ 85
         SECTION 8.04.  Successor Agents........................................................................ 86
         SECTION 8.05.  Agent and Affiliate..................................................................... 86
         SECTION 8.06.  Indemnification......................................................................... 86
         SECTION 8.07.  Credit Decision......................................................................... 87

ARTICLE IX  MISCELLANEOUS....................................................................................... 87
         SECTION 9.01.  Notices................................................................................. 87
         SECTION 9.02.  Survival of Agreement................................................................... 88
         SECTION 9.03.  Binding Effect.......................................................................... 88
         SECTION 9.04.  Successors and Assigns.................................................................. 88
         SECTION 9.05.  Expenses; Indemnity..................................................................... 91
         SECTION 9.06.  Right of Setoff......................................................................... 94
         SECTION 9.07.  Applicable Law.......................................................................... 94
         SECTION 9.08.  Waivers; Amendment...................................................................... 94
         SECTION 9.09.  Interest Rate Limitation................................................................ 95
         SECTION 9.10.  Entire Agreement........................................................................ 95
         SECTION 9.11.  Severability............................................................................ 96
         SECTION 9.12.  Counterparts............................................................................ 96
         SECTION 9.13.  Headings................................................................................ 96
         SECTION 9.14.  Remedies................................................................................ 96
         SECTION 9.15.  Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process............................................. 96
Schedules
- ---------

Schedule 1.01           Restricted Subsidiaries
Schedule 2.02(a)        Revolving Credit Commitment
Schedule 3.05(b)        Liabilities
Schedule 3.08           Subsidiaries
Schedule 3.09           Litigation; Compliance with Laws
Schedule 3.10           Material Contracts
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   6
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


<S>                    <C>                                  
Schedule 3.16           Employee Benefit Plans
Schedule 3.17           Environmental Matters
Schedule 3.18           Filings
Schedule 3.20           Transactions with Affiliates and Shareholders
Schedule 3.22           Labor Matters
Schedule 5.14           Post Closing Matters
Schedule 6.01           Indebtedness
Schedule 6.02           Liens
Schedule 6.04           Investments


Exhibits
- --------

Exhibit A-1 Form of Revolving Credit Note 
Exhibit A-2 Form of Swingline Note
Exhibit B-1 Form of Borrower's Consent and Agreement 
Exhibit B-2 Form of Subsidiaries' Consent and Agreement 
Exhibit C   Form of Intercompany Note 
Exhibit D   Form of Assignment and Acceptance 
Exhibit E   Form of Opinion of Counsel 
Exhibit F   Form of Compliance Certificate 
Exhibit G   Form of Supplemental Agreement
Exhibit H   Form of Notice of Borrowing/Conversion 
Exhibit I   Form of Subordinated Note
</TABLE>


                                       iv
<PAGE>   7
         AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of November 25, 1997,
among ROBBINS & MYERS, INC., an Ohio corporation, the Lenders (as defined in
this Amended Agreement), BANK ONE, N.A., as Administrative Agent and Issuing
Bank, and NATIONSBANK, N.A., as Documentation and Syndication Agent.

         The Borrower (such term, and all other capitalized terms in this
paragraph, being used as defined in this Amended Agreement below) requested the
Lenders to extend, on the Closing Date, credit to the Borrower in the aggregate
principal amount of up to $150,000,000, pursuant to the terms and conditions of
the Original Credit Agreement (as defined below). The Borrower has requested
that the Lenders (i) terminate their commitments to make Tranche B Revolving
Loans (as defined in the Original Credit Agreement), (ii) increase their
commitments to make Tranche A Revolving Loans (as defined in the Original Credit
Agreement) from $100,000,000 to $200,000,000, (iii) increase the dollar
limitations for Capital Expenditures set forth in Section 6.13 of the Original
Credit Agreement from $30,000,000 to $40,000,000 and (iv) make certain other
amendments and modifications to the Original Credit Agreement. The Lenders are
willing to make such amendments and modifications to the Original Credit
Agreement upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.
Accordingly, the parties hereto agree that, on the Effective Date, this Amended
Agreement will become effective and the Original Credit Agreement will be
amended to read as follows:

                                    ARTICLE I

                                   DEFINITIONS

         SECTION 1.01. DEFINED TERMS. As used in this Amended Agreement, the
following terms shall have the meanings specified below:

         "ABN AMRO FOREIGN CURRENCY LETTERS OF CREDIT" shall mean, collectively,
Letters of Credit issued pursuant to Section 2.23(a)(iii) by ABN AMRO Bank N.V.
for the sole purpose of collateralizing Indebtedness of RMG, the German
Subsidiary, the UK Subsidiary and the Canadian Subsidiary as permitted pursuant
to Section 6.01(o).

         "ABR BORROWING" shall mean a Borrowing comprised of ABR Loans.

         "ABR LOAN" shall mean any ABR Revolving Loan or any Swingline Loan.

         "ABR REVOLVING LOAN" shall mean any Revolving Loan and any Swingline
Loan bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base
Rate in accordance with the provisions of Article II.

         The term "ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS" shall have the meaning assigned to that
term in Section 2.20(a).

         "ADJUSTED LIBO RATE" shall mean, with respect to any Eurodollar
Borrowing for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards,
if necessary, to the next 1/16 

<PAGE>   8

of 1%) equal to the product of (a) the LIBO Rate in effect for that Interest
Period and (b) Statutory Reserves.

         "ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT" shall mean Bank One, N.A., in its capacity as
administrative agent for the Lenders under this Amended Agreement, and its
successors in that capacity.

         "ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE" shall mean, with respect to each Lender,
the administrative questionnaire in the form submitted to that Lender by the
Administrative Agent and returned to the Administrative Agent duly completed by
the applicable Lender.

         "AFFILIATE" shall mean, when used 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.

         "AGENTS" shall mean the Administrative Agent and the Syndication Agent.

         "ALTERNATE BASE RATE" shall mean, for any day, a rate per annum
(rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to the greater of
(a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus 0.50% and (b)
the Prime Rate in effect on such day. If the Administrative Agent shall have
determined (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that
it is unable to ascertain the Federal Funds Effective Rate for any reason,
including the inability or failure of the Administrative Agent to obtain
sufficient quotations in accordance with the terms of this Amended Agreement,
the Alternate Base Rate shall be determined without regard to clause (a) of the
first sentence of this definition until the circumstances giving rise to that
inability no longer exist. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change
in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be effective on the
effective date of the applicable change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds
Effective Rate, respectively, without notice to the Borrower.

         "AMENDED AGREEMENT" shall mean this Amended and Restated Credit
Agreement, as amended, modified, extended, restated or supplemented from time to
time.

         "APPLICABLE ABR MARGIN" shall mean, with respect to any Revolving Loan
or Swingline Loan outstanding on any day:

         (i)      0.0%, if such day falls within a Level I Pricing Period;

         (ii)     0.0%, if such day falls within a Level II Pricing Period;

         (iii)    0.0%, if such day falls within a Level III Pricing Period;

         (iv)     0.0%, if such day falls within a Level IV Pricing Period;

         (v)      .125%, if such day falls within a Level V Pricing Period; and

         (vi)     .25%, if such day falls within a Level VI Pricing Period.




                                       2
<PAGE>   9

         "APPLICABLE LAWS" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 3.09(b).

         "APPLICABLE LIBOR MARGIN" shall mean, with respect to any Revolving
Loan outstanding on any day:

         (i)      0.40%, if such day falls within a Level I Pricing Period;

         (ii)     0.50%, if such day falls within a Level II Pricing Period;

         (iii)    0.625%, if such day falls within a Level III Pricing Period;

         (iv)     0.75%, if such day falls within a Level IV Pricing Period;

         (v)      1.00%, if such day falls within a Level V Pricing Period; and

         (vi)     1.25%, if such day falls within a Level VI Pricing Period.

         "APPLICABLE PERCENTAGE" of any Lender shall mean a fraction (expressed
as a percentage) the numerator of which is such Lender's Revolving Credit
Commitment and the denominator of which is the aggregate of all Revolving Credit
Commitments.

         "ACQUIRED ENTITY" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.04(g).

         "ASSET SALE" shall mean any sale, lease, transfer, assignment,
condemnation, taking or other disposition or series of related sales, leases,
transfers, assignments or dispositions (including dispositions in the nature of
casualties, to the extent covered by insurance) of any businesses, business
units, assets (including licenses, trademarks and other intangibles and the
Capital Stock of any Subsidiary) or other properties of the Borrower or any
Subsidiary (each referred to for the purposes of this definition as a
"disposition") by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (including any
disposition by means of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction) other
than (i) a disposition by a Subsidiary to the Borrower, (ii) a disposition by
the Borrower or a Subsidiary to a Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is a Qualified
Acquisition Subsidiary and (iii) a disposition permitted by Sections 6.05(a),
(b), (c), (e) and (g).

         "ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE" shall mean an assignment and acceptance
entered into by a Lender and an assignee, and accepted by the Administrative
Agent, in the form of Exhibit D or such other form as shall be approved by the
Administrative Agent.

         "BANK ONE FOREIGN CURRENCY LETTERS OF CREDIT" shall mean Letters of
Credit issued pursuant to Section 2.23(a)(ii) by Bank One, N.A.

         "BOARD" shall mean the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
of the United States.

         "BORROWER" shall mean Robbins & Myers, Inc., an Ohio corporation, and
its successors.



                                       3
<PAGE>   10

         "BORROWER'S CONSENT AND AGREEMENT" shall mean the Borrower's Consent
and Agreement dated as of the Effective Date between the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B-1.

         "BORROWING" shall mean a group of Loans of a single Class and Type made
by the Lenders on a single date and as to which a single Interest Period is in
effect.

         "BREAKAGE EVENT" shall have the meaning assigned to that term in
Section 2.16.

         "BUSINESS DAY" shall mean any day (other than a Saturday, Sunday or a
day which is a legal holiday in the States of North Carolina, Ohio or New York)
on which banks are open for business in Charlotte, North Carolina, Dayton, Ohio
and New York City; PROVIDED, THAT, when used in connection with a LIBOR Loan,
the term "BUSINESS DAY" shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open
for dealings in dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

         "CANADIAN SUBSIDIARY" shall mean Robbins & Myers Canada Ltd., a
corporation organized and existing under the laws of Canada.

         "CAPITAL EXPENDITURES" shall mean, for any period, the sum of all
expenditures (whether paid in cash or other consideration or accrued as a
liability) which would, in accordance with GAAP, be included on a consolidated
statement of cash flows of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for
such period as additions to property, plant and equipment, Capital Lease
Obligations or similar items; PROVIDED, THAT, the foregoing shall exclude all
such expenditures to the extent made with insurance proceeds or condemnation
awards as permitted pursuant to Section 6.05(e).

         "CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS" of any person shall mean 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, for the purposes of this Amended Agreement, the amount of such obligations
at any time shall be the capitalized amount thereof at such time determined in
accordance with GAAP.

         "CAPITAL STOCK" of any person shall mean any and all shares,
partnership, limited liability company and other interests, rights to purchase,
warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in
(however designated) the equity of such person.

         "CASH EQUIVALENTS" shall mean:

                  (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 180 days from the date of acquisition
         thereof;

                                       4
<PAGE>   11

                  (b) investments in commercial paper maturing within 180 days
         from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of
         acquisition, the highest credit rating obtainable from Standard &
         Poor's Corporation or from Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
         respectively;

                  (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 Lender or 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
         $300,000,000;

                  (d) money market funds substantially all of whose assets are
         comprised of securities of the types described in (a) through (c)
         above;

                  (e) cash deposits in any deposit account or in any cash
         collateral account with any Lender; and

                  (f) other investment instruments approved in writing by the
         Agents and offered by financial institutions which have a combined
         capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than
         $300,000,000.

         "CASH TAX EXPENSE" shall mean, for any period for any person, the
amount of expense for Federal, state, local and other income taxes of such
person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in
accordance with GAAP (assuming such person was deemed to be the common parent of
an affiliated group (within the meaning of Section 1504 of the Code) of which
only such person and its subsidiaries were members), for such period, but
excluding deferred income tax expense.

         "CHANGE OF CONTROL" means and shall be deemed to have occurred on (a)
the date upon which a transaction or event or any series of transactions or
events occurs that is required to be reported on Schedule 13D pursuant to
Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder,
whereby a person or group, as used for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange
Act (other than M.H.M. & Co., Ltd., an Ohio limited partnership ("M.H.M.")), has
or will become the Beneficial Owner of 30% or more of the outstanding Voting
Shares or the date upon which the Borrower first learns that a person or group
(other than M.H.M.) has or will become the Beneficial Owner of 30% or more of
the outstanding Voting Shares; (b) the date of a change in the composition of
the Board of Directors of the Borrower (the "Board of Directors") such that
individuals who were members of the Board of Directors on the date two years
prior to such change (or who were subsequently elected to fill a vacancy in the
Board of Directors by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the
directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of such two
year period) no longer constitute a majority of the Board of Directors; (c) the
date either the Board of Directors or shareholders approve a merger or
consolidation of the Borrower with any other person, other than a merger or
consolidation which would result in the Voting Shares outstanding immediately
prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by
being converted into Voting Shares of the surviving entity) at 


                                       5
<PAGE>   12

least 80% of the total voting power represented by the Voting Shares of such
surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; (d)
the date either the Board of Directors or shareholders of the Borrower approve a
plan of liquidation of the Borrower or an agreement for the sale, lease,
transfer or other disposition by the Borrower of all or substantially all the
Borrower's assets, or (e) the date that members of the Murch family,
individually or collectively, no longer are the Beneficial Owners of a majority
of the Voting Stock of M.H.M. For purposes of this definition, "Beneficial
Owner" means the person or group has the power, directly or indirectly, to vote
or direct the vote of, and the power to dispose, or direct the disposition of,
Voting Shares; "Voting Shares" means the Capital Stock of the Borrower entitled
to vote generally in the election of directors of the Borrower; and "Voting
Stock" means the Capital Stock of M.H.M. entitled to vote generally on the
management and affairs of M.H.M.

         "CHARGES" shall have the meaning assigned to that term in Section 9.09.

         "CLASS" shall have the meaning assigned to that term in Section 1.03.

         "CLOSING DATE" shall mean November 26, 1996.

         "CODE" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as the same may be
amended from time to time.

         "COLLATERAL" shall mean all the collateral pledged or purported to be
pledged pursuant to any of the Collateral Documents, including all Intercompany
Notes and the Capital Stock of all Restricted Subsidiaries.

         "COLLATERAL DOCUMENTS" shall mean the Pledge Agreement and all other
documents and instruments executed and delivered pursuant to the terms hereof or
thereof in order to secure any Obligations or perfect any Lien granted for the
benefit of the Lenders pursuant thereto.

         "COMMITMENT" shall mean, with respect to any Lender, such Lender's
Revolving Credit Commitment and, in the case of the Swingline Lender, its
Swingline Commitment and, in the case of the Issuing Bank, the Letter of Credit
Commitment.

         "COMMITMENT FEE" shall have the meaning assigned to that term in
Section 2.06(a).

         "COMMONLY CONTROLLED ENTITY" shall mean an entity, whether or not
incorporated, which is under common control with the Borrower within the meaning
of Section 4001 of ERISA or is part of a group which includes the Borrower and
which is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

         "CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION MEMORANDUM" shall mean the confidential
information memorandum of the Borrower dated October, 1996.


                                       6
<PAGE>   13

         "CONSOLIDATED EBIT" shall mean, for any period for any person,
Consolidated Net Income of such person for such period, PLUS, to the extent
deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, (a) the sum
of (i) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period, and (ii) Cash Tax Expense
for such period, MINUS, to the extent added in computing such Consolidated Net
Income for such period, (b) the sum of (i) any interest income and (ii) any
non-cash income or non-cash gains during such period that requires footnote
disclosure on financial statements, reports or other filings pursuant to or in
accordance with GAAP or applicable SEC regulations, all as determined on a
consolidated basis with respect to such person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries
in accordance with GAAP.

         "CONSOLIDATED EBITDA" shall mean, for any period for any person,
Consolidated Net Income of such person for such period, PLUS, to the extent
deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, (a) the sum
of (i) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period, (ii) Cash Tax Expense for
such period, and (iii) depreciation, depletion, amortization of intangibles and
other non-cash charges or non-cash losses, MINUS, to the extent added in
computing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, (b) the sum of (i) any
interest income, and (ii) any non-cash income or non-cash gains during such
period that requires footnote disclosure on financial statements, reports or
other filings pursuant to or in accordance with GAAP or applicable SEC
regulations, all as determined on a consolidated basis with respect to such
person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.

         "CONSOLIDATED FIXED CHARGE COVERAGE RATIO" shall mean, for the Borrower
as of any date, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBIT for the Reference Period with
respect to such date, to (b) Consolidated Interest Expense for such Reference
Period; PROVIDED, THAT, if, since the beginning of the applicable Reference
Period, (A) the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary has issued or incurred
any Indebtedness that remains outstanding as of the end of such Reference Period
in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or pursuant to Sections 6.01(d),
6.01(g) or 6.01(j), Consolidated Interest Expense for such Reference Period
shall be calculated after giving effect on a pro forma basis to (I) such
Indebtedness as if such Indebtedness had been issued or incurred on the first
day of such Reference Period and (II) the discharge of any other Indebtedness
repaid, repurchased or otherwise discharged with the proceeds of such new
Indebtedness as if such discharge had occurred on the first day of such
Reference Period, (B) the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary shall have
made any Asset Sale with a net book value in excess of $1,000,000, the
Consolidated EBIT for the applicable Reference Period shall be reduced by an
amount equal to the Consolidated EBIT (if positive) directly attributable to the
assets which are the subject of such Asset Sale for such Reference Period, or
increased by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBIT (if negative), directly
attributable thereto for such Reference Period and Consolidated Interest Expense
for such Reference Period shall be reduced by an amount equal to the
Consolidated Interest Expense directly attributable to any Indebtedness of the
Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary repaid or otherwise discharged with
respect to the Borrower and its continuing Consolidated Subsidiaries in
connection with such Asset Sale for such Reference Period (or, if the Capital
Stock of any Consolidated Subsidiary is sold, the Consolidated Interest Expense
for such Reference Period directly attributable to the Indebtedness of such
Consolidated Subsidiary to the extent the Borrower and its continuing
Consolidated 


                                       7
<PAGE>   14

Subsidiaries are no longer liable for such Indebtedness after such sale), and
(C) the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary shall have made a Permitted
Acquisition, Consolidated EBIT for the applicable Reference Period shall be
calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Permitted
Acquisition occurred on the first day of such Reference Period. For purposes of
this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to an acquisition of
assets, (i) the amount of income or earnings relating thereto and the amount of
Consolidated Interest Expense associated with any Indebtedness issued or
incurred in connection therewith, the pro forma calculations shall be determined
in good faith by a responsible Financial Officer of the Borrower and (ii) if any
Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma
effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in
effect on the date of the beginning of the applicable Reference Period had been
the applicable rate for the entire period. Whenever pro forma effect is to be
given to any event or for any Reference Period, the pro forma calculations made
shall be cumulative of all events for which pro forma effect is to be given that
have occurred within or that relate to the applicable Reference Period.

         "CONSOLIDATED INTEREST EXPENSE" shall mean, for any period for any
person, the sum (without duplication) of (a) the gross amount of interest
expense, both expensed and capitalized, of such person and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, for
such period, exclusive of any non-cash interest expense related to original
issue discount notes and pay-in-kind notes, and (b) all amounts paid (net of any
amounts received) by such person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries pursuant to
Interest Rate Protection Agreements for such period.

         "CONSOLIDATED LEVERAGE RATIO" shall mean, for the Borrower as of any
date, the ratio of (a) Total Debt on such date to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for
the Reference Period applicable to such date; PROVIDED, THAT, if, since the
beginning of the applicable Reference Period, (A) the Borrower or any
Consolidated Subsidiary has issued or incurred any Indebtedness that remains
outstanding as of the end of such Reference Period in connection with any
Permitted Acquisition or pursuant to Sections 6.01(d), 6.01(g) or 6.01(j),
Consolidated Interest Expense for such Reference Period shall be calculated
after giving effect on a pro forma basis to (I) such Indebtedness as if such
Indebtedness had been issued or incurred on the first day of such Reference
Period and (II) the discharge of any other Indebtedness repaid, repurchased or
otherwise discharged with the proceeds of such new Indebtedness as if such
discharge had occurred on the first day of such Reference Period, (B) the
Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary shall have made any Asset Sale with a
net book value in excess of $1,000,000, the Consolidated EBITDA for such
Reference Period shall be reduced by the amount equal to Consolidated EBITDA (if
positive) directly attributable to the assets which are the subject of such
Asset Sale for such Reference Period, or increased by an amount equal to the
Consolidated EBITDA (if negative), directly attributable thereto for such
Reference Period, and Consolidated Interest Expense for such Reference Period
shall be reduced by an amount equal to the Consolidated Interest Expense
directly attributable to any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Consolidated
Subsidiary repaid or otherwise discharged with respect to the Borrower and its
continuing Consolidated Subsidiaries in connection with such Asset Sale for such
Reference Period (or, if the Capital Stock of any Consolidated Subsidiary is
sold, the Consolidated Interest Expense for such Reference Period directly
attributable to the Indebtedness of such Consolidated Subsidiary to the extent
the Borrower 


                                       8
<PAGE>   15

and its continuing Consolidated Subsidiaries are no longer liable for such
Indebtedness after such sale), and (C) the Borrower or any Consolidated
Subsidiary shall have made a Permitted Acquisition, Consolidated EBITDA for such
Reference Period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if
such Permitted Acquisition occurred on the first day of such Reference Period.
For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to an
acquisition of assets, (i) the amount of income or earnings relating thereto and
the amount of Consolidated Interest Expense associated with any Indebtedness
issued or incurred in connection therewith, the pro forma calculations shall be
determined in good faith by a responsible Financial Officer of the Borrower and
(ii) if any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given
pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if
the rate in effect on the date of the beginning of the applicable Reference
Period had been the applicable rate for the entire period. Whenever pro forma
effect is to be given to any event or for any Reference Period, the pro forma
calculations made shall be cumulative of all events for which pro forma effect
is to be given that have occurred within or that relate to the applicable
Reference Period.

         "CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME" shall mean, for any period for any person,
net income or loss of such person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such
period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; PROVIDED,
THAT, there shall be excluded from such calculation of net income or loss (a)
the income of any person in which any other person (other than such person or
any of its subsidiaries or any director holding qualifying shares in accordance
with applicable law) has a joint interest, except to the extent of the amount of
dividends or other distributions actually paid to such person or any of its
Wholly Owned Subsidiaries by such other person during such periods, (b) the
income (or loss) of any other person accrued prior to the date it becomes a
subsidiary of such person or is merged into or consolidated with such person or
any of its subsidiaries or the date that such other person's assets are acquired
by such person or any of its subsidiaries, (c) the income of any subsidiary of
such person to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or
similar distributions by such subsidiary of that income is not at the time
permitted by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument,
judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to
that subsidiary, except that, with respect to the Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries, the income of the German Subsidiary shall not be subject to
exclusion from the Borrower's Consolidated Net Income pursuant to this clause
(c) solely because of negative retained earnings existing as of the Closing Date
that prevent, under German law, the payment of dividends by the German
Subsidiary; (d) any after-tax gains attributable to sales of assets out of the
ordinary course of business and (e) (to the extent not included in clauses (a)
through (d) above) any non-cash extraordinary gains.

         "CONSOLIDATED NET WORTH" shall mean, as of any date of determination,
the total of all amounts which would in accordance with GAAP be included on a
consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as
of such date as stockholder's equity, LESS any amounts attributable to
Disqualified Stock.

         "CONSOLIDATED PRICING RATIO" shall mean, for the Borrower as of any
date, the ratio of (a) Total Debt on such date, less the aggregate principal
amount of Letters of Credit outstanding on such date, to (b) Consolidated EBITDA
for the Reference Period applicable to such date; PROVIDED, THAT, if, since the
beginning of the applicable Reference Period, (A) the 


                                       9
<PAGE>   16

Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary has issued or incurred any Indebtedness
that remains outstanding as of the end of such Reference Period in connection
with any Permitted Acquisition or pursuant to Sections 6.01(d), 6.01(g) or
6.01(j), Consolidated Interest Expense for such Reference Period shall be
calculated after giving effect on a pro forma basis to (I) such Indebtedness as
if such Indebtedness had been issued or incurred on the first day of such
Reference Period and (II) the discharge of any other Indebtedness repaid,
repurchased or otherwise discharged with the proceeds of such new Indebtedness
as if such discharge had occurred on the first day of such Reference Period, (B)
the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary shall have made any Asset Sale with
a net book value in excess of $1,000,000, the Consolidated EBITDA for such
Reference Period shall be reduced by the amount equal to Consolidated EBITDA (if
positive) directly attributable to the assets which are the subject of such
Asset Sale for such Reference Period, or increased by an amount equal to the
Consolidated EBITDA (if negative), directly attributable thereto for such
Reference Period, and Consolidated Interest Expense for such Reference Period
shall be reduced by an amount equal to the Consolidated Interest Expense
directly attributable to any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Consolidated
Subsidiary repaid or otherwise discharged with respect to the Borrower and its
continuing Consolidated Subsidiaries in connection with such Asset Sale for such
Reference Period (or, if the Capital Stock of any Consolidated Subsidiary is
sold, the Consolidated Interest Expense for such Reference Period directly
attributable to the Indebtedness of such Consolidated Subsidiary to the extent
the Borrower and its continuing Consolidated Subsidiaries are no longer liable
for such Indebtedness after such sale), and (C) the Borrower or any Consolidated
Subsidiary shall have made a Permitted Acquisition, Consolidated EBITDA for such
Reference Period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if
such Permitted Acquisition occurred on the first day of such Reference Period.
For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to an
acquisition of assets, (i) the amount of income or earnings relating thereto and
the amount of Consolidated Interest Expense associated with any Indebtedness
issued or incurred in connection therewith, the pro forma calculations shall be
determined in good faith by a responsible Financial Officer of the Borrower and
(ii) if any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given
pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if
the rate in effect on the date of the beginning of the applicable Reference
Period had been the applicable rate for the entire period. Whenever pro forma
effect is to be given to any event or for any Reference Period, the pro forma
calculations made shall be cumulative of all events for which pro forma effect
is to be given that have occurred within or that relate to the applicable
Reference Period.

         "CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES" shall mean, for any person, all
subsidiaries of such person that should be consolidated with such person for
financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP.

         "CONTROL" shall mean the possession, direct or indirect, of the power
to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a person,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise,
and "Controlling" and "Controlled" shall have meanings correlative thereto.

         "DEFAULT" shall mean any event or condition which upon notice, lapse of
time or both would constitute an Event of Default.



                                       10
<PAGE>   17

         "DETERMINATION DATE" shall mean:

                  (a) in connection with the issuance of, or participation in,
         any Foreign Currency Letter of Credit, the Business Day of such
         issuance or participation;

                  (b) in connection with any extension of any Foreign Currency
         Letter of Credit, the Business Day of such extension;

                  (c) the date of any reduction of the Revolving Credit
         Commitments pursuant to the terms of Section 2.10; or

                  (d) for purposes of Section 2.12(c), the last Business Day of
         each calendar month.

         "DISQUALIFIED STOCK" of any person shall mean (a) any Capital Stock of
such person or any subsidiary of such person which by its terms (or by the terms
of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable or
exercisable), upon the happening of any event or otherwise (i) matures or is
mandatorily redeemable or subject to any mandatory repurchase requirement,
pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, (ii) is convertible into or
exchangeable or exercisable for Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or (iii) is
redeemable or subject to any repurchase requirement exercisable at the option of
the holder thereof, in whole or in part, in each case on or prior to the first
anniversary of the Revolving Credit Maturity Date (or, if earlier, the first
anniversary of the date on which all the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid
in full in cash and the Commitments have been terminated) and (b) any Preferred
Stock of a subsidiary of such person.

         "DOLLAR AMOUNT" shall mean (a) with respect to dollars or an amount
denominated in dollars, such amount and (b) with respect to an amount of any
Foreign Currency or an amount denominated in such Foreign Currency, the Dollar
Equivalent of such amount on the applicable date of determination.

         "DOLLAR EQUIVALENT" shall mean, on any date, with respect to an amount
denominated in a Foreign Currency, the amount of dollars into which the
Administrative Agent could, in accordance with its practice from time to time in
the interbank foreign exchange market, convert such amount of such Foreign
Currency at its spot selling rate of exchange effective for that date for the
immediate exchange of such currencies (inclusive of all reasonable related costs
of conversion, if any are actually incurred, and based on the market rates
available to Administrative Agent) applicable to the relevant transaction at or
about 11:00 a.m., Eastern Standard Time, on such date.

         "DOLLARS" or "$" shall mean lawful money of the United States of
America.

         "DOMESTIC SUBSIDIARY" shall mean any Subsidiary incorporated or
organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or
the District of Columbia; PROVIDED, that, for purposes of this Amended
Agreement, Robbins & Myers International Sales Company, Inc., a U.S. Virgin
Islands Corporation, shall not be considered a Domestic Subsidiary.



                                       11
<PAGE>   18

         "EASTERN STANDARD TIME" shall mean Eastern Standard Time or, if
applicable, Daylight Savings Time in the eastern time zone in which Dayton, Ohio
is located.

         "EFFECTIVE DATE" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 4.01.

         "ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as the same may be amended from time to time.

         "EURODOLLAR BORROWING" shall mean a Borrowing comprised of Revolving
Loans bearing interest at a rate based on the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

         "EVENT OF DEFAULT" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Article VII.

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

         "EXCLUDED TAXES" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 2.20(a).

         "FCE ACQUISITION" shall mean the acquisition by the Borrower of all of
the issued and outstanding Capital Stock of Flow Control Equipment Inc., a
Delaware corporation, pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of
November 20, 1997, between the Borrower, as buyer, and J.M. Huber Corporation, a
New Jersey, corporation, as seller.

         "FAIR MARKET VALUE" shall mean with respect to any Permitted
Acquisition, the value that would be obtained in an arm's-length transaction
between an informed and willing seller under no compulsion to sell and an
informed and willing buyer.

         "FEDERAL FUNDS EFFECTIVE RATE" shall mean, for any day, the weighted
average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the
Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published 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 which is a Business Day, the average
of the quotations for the day of such transactions received by the
Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing
selected by it. Each change in the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be
effective on the date thereof, without notice to the Borrower.

         "FEE LETTER" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section
2.06(c).

         "FEES" shall mean the Commitment Fees, the Letter of Credit Fees, the
Fronting Fees and the other fees payable pursuant to the Fee Letter.

         "FINANCIAL OFFICER" of any corporation shall mean the chief financial
officer, principal accounting officer or similar officer of such corporation.

         "FISCAL YEAR" shall mean, when used with respect to any year, the
Fiscal Year of the Borrower ending on August 31 of such year.




                                       12
<PAGE>   19

         "FOREIGN CURRENCY" shall mean (i) with respect to the ABN AMRO Foreign
Currency Letters of Credit issued to collateralize Indebtedness permitted
pursuant to Section 6.01(o)(i), Italian lira, (ii) with respect to the ABN AMRO
Foreign Currency Letters of Credit issued to collateralize Indebtedness
permitted pursuant to Section 6.01(o)(ii), German marks, (iii) with respect to
the ABN AMRO Foreign Currency Letters of Credit issued to collateralize
Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.01(o)(iii), English pounds
sterling, (iv) with respect to the ABN AMRO Foreign Currency Letters of Credit
issued to collateralize Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.01(iv),
Singapore dollars and (v) with respect to the Bank One Foreign Currency Letters
of Credit, such currencies as may be agreed upon by Bank One, N.A. and the
Borrower, from time to time.

         "FOREIGN CURRENCY LETTER OF CREDIT EXPOSURE" shall mean all Letter of
Credit Exposure attributable to Foreign Currency Letters of Credit.

         "FOREIGN CURRENCY LETTERS OF CREDIT" shall mean, collectively, the ABN
AMRO Foreign Currency Letters of Credit and the Bank One Foreign Currency
Letters of Credit.

         "FOREIGN SUBSIDIARY" shall mean any Subsidiary which is not a Domestic
Subsidiary (including, without limitation, Robbins & Myers International Sales
Company, Inc.).

         "FRONTING FEE" shall mean, collectively, the Bank One Fronting Fee and
the ABN AMRO Fronting Fee.

         "GAAP" shall mean United States generally accepted accounting
principles, applied on a consistent basis.

         "GERMAN SUBSIDIARY" shall mean Pfaudler-Werke GMBH, a German limited
liability company.

         "GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY" shall mean any Federal, state, local or
foreign governmental department, commission, board, bureau, authority, agency,
court, instrumentality or judicial or regulatory body or entity.

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



                                       13
<PAGE>   20

         "GUARANTEE AGREEMENT" shall mean the Guarantee Agreement dated November
26, 1996 among the Domestic Subsidiaries and the Administrative Agent, as
amended from time to time.

         "GUARANTOR" shall mean any guarantor under the Guarantee Agreement.

         "HAZARDOUS MATERIALS" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 3.17.

         "INDEBTEDNESS" of any person shall mean, without duplication, (a) all
obligations of such person for borrowed money or with respect to deposits or
advances of any kind made with or to such person, (b) all obligations of such
person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments (other than
obligations under surety bonds incurred in the ordinary course of business), (c)
all obligations of such person upon which interest charges are customarily paid,
(d) all obligations of such person under conditional sale or other title
retention agreements relating to property or assets purchased by such person,
(e) all obligations of such person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase
price of property or services, (f) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for
which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or
otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such
person, whether or not the obligations secured thereby have been assumed, (g)
all Guarantees by such person of Indebtedness of others, (h) all Capital Lease
Obligations of such person, (i) all obligations of such person in respect of
Interest Rate Protection Agreements, (j) all obligations of such person,
contingent or otherwise, as an account party in respect of letters of credit and
bankers' acceptances and (k) all obligations of such person to contribute money
or other property to any other person. The Indebtedness of any person shall
include, without duplication, the Indebtedness of any partnership in which such
person is a general partner and of any trust or other entity formed or utilized
in connection with a securitization of assets of such person. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Indebtedness of any person shall exclude all trade accounts
payable, customer advance payments, and accrued expenses determined in
accordance with GAAP and all of which arise or are incurred in the ordinary
course of business.

         "INDEMNIFIED PARTY" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 9.05(b).

         "INDEMNITY, SUBROGATION AND CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT" shall mean the
Indemnity, Subrogation and Contribution Agreement dated November 26, 1996 among
the Borrower, the Domestic Subsidiaries and the Administrative Agent, as amended
from time to time.

         "INDIAN AFFILIATE" shall mean Gujarat Machinery Manufacturing Co., an
Indian corporation.

         "INTERCOMPANY INDEBTEDNESS" shall mean Indebtedness of the Borrower or
any Subsidiary to (a) any Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary
or (b) the Borrower.

         "INTERCOMPANY NOTES" shall mean the promissory notes issued as
contemplated by Sections 6.01(c) and 6.04(b), in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit C.



                                       14
<PAGE>   21

         "INTEREST PAYMENT DATE" shall mean, with respect to any Loan, all of
the following to the extent applicable: (a) the last day of the Interest Period
applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part, (b) if such Loan is
part of any Eurodollar Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three
months' duration, each day that would have been an Interest Payment Date had
successive Interest Periods of three months' duration been applicable to such
Borrowing, (c) if such Loan is part of any Eurodollar Borrowing, the date of any
repayment or prepayment of the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part, (d) if
such Loan is a part of any ABR Borrowing, the date of any prepayment of the
Borrowing required pursuant to the terms of Section 2.12 and (e) any conversion
of any Eurodollar Borrowing to any ABR Borrowing.

         "INTEREST PERIOD" shall mean (a) as to any Eurodollar Borrowing, the
period commencing on the date of such Borrowing or on the last day of the
immediately preceding Interest Period applicable to such Borrowing, as the case
may be, and ending on the numerically corresponding day (or, if there is no
numerically corresponding day, on the last day) in the calendar month that is 1,
2, 3 or 6 months thereafter, as the Borrower may elect, subject to the
availability thereof, as determined by the Administrative Agent, and (b) as to
any ABR Borrowing (including any ABR Borrowing comprised of Swingline Loans),
the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing or on the last day of the
immediately preceding Interest Period applicable to such Borrowing, as the case
may be, and ending on the earliest of (i) the next succeeding March 31, June 30,
September 30 or December 31, (ii) the Revolving Credit Maturity Date and (iii)
the date such Borrowing is prepaid in accordance with Section 2.12; PROVIDED,
THAT, 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, in
the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing only, 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. Interest shall accrue from and including the
first day of an Interest Period to, but excluding, the last day of such Interest
Period.

         "INTEREST RATE PROTECTION AGREEMENT" shall mean any interest rate swap,
collar, cap or other arrangement requiring payments contingent upon interest
rates.

         "ISSUING BANK" shall mean, as the case may be, Bank One, N.A., in its
capacity as the issuer of Letters of Credit (other than the ABN AMRO Foreign
Currency Letters of Credit), and its successors in such capacity, and, with
respect to the ABN AMRO Foreign Currency Letters of Credit only, ABN AMRO Bank
N.V., and its successors in such capacity.

         "LENDER" shall mean each financial institution listed on the signature
pages hereof, each assignee which becomes a Lender pursuant to Section 9.04(b),
and their respective successors (including the Swingline Lender).

         "LETTERS OF CREDIT" shall mean any and all letters of credit issued by
Bank One, N.A. or ABN AMRO Bank N.V. pursuant to Section 2.23.

         "LETTER OF CREDIT AVAILABILITY PERIOD" shall mean the period from and
including the Effective Date to but excluding the earlier of (a) the date five
Business Days prior to the 


                                       15
<PAGE>   22

Revolving Credit Maturity Date and (b) the termination of the Revolving Credit
Commitments of the Lenders in accordance with the terms hereof.

         "LETTER OF CREDIT COMMITMENT" shall mean the commitment of the Issuing
Bank to issue Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 2.23.

         "LETTER OF CREDIT DISBURSEMENT" shall mean a payment or disbursement
made by the Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit.

         "LETTER OF CREDIT EXPOSURE" shall mean at any time an amount equal to
the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of
Credit, PLUS (b) the aggregate amount of all Letter of Credit Disbursements not
yet reimbursed by the Borrower as provided in Section 2.23. The Letter of Credit
Exposure of any Lender at any time shall mean its Applicable Percentage of the
aggregate Letter of Credit Exposure at such time.

         "LETTER OF CREDIT FEE" shall have the meaning assigned to that term in
Section 2.06(b)(i).

         "LEVEL I PRICING PERIOD" shall mean, subject to Section 2.07(c), any
period on or after the Effective Date during which the Consolidated Pricing
Ratio is less than or equal to 1.50:1.00 and no Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing.

         "LEVEL II PRICING PERIOD" shall mean, subject to Section 2.07(c), any
period on or after the Effective Date during which the Consolidated Pricing
Ratio is greater than 1.50:1.00 but less than or equal to 2.00:1.00 and no Event
of Default has occurred and is continuing.

         "LEVEL III PRICING PERIOD" shall mean, subject to Section 2.07(c), any
period on or after the Effective Date during which the Consolidated Pricing
Ratio is greater than 2.00:1.00 but less than or equal to 2.50:1.00 and no Event
of Default has occurred and is continuing.

         "LEVEL IV PRICING PERIOD" shall mean, subject to Section 2.07(c), any
period on or after the Effective Date during which the Consolidated Pricing
Ratio is greater than 2.50:1.00 but less than or equal to 3.00:1.00 and no Event
of Default has occurred and is continuing.

         "LEVEL V PRICING PERIOD" shall mean, subject to Section 2.07(c), any
period on or after the Effective Date during which the Consolidated Pricing
Ratio is greater than 3.00:1.00 but less than or equal to 3.50:1.00 and no Event
of Default has occurred and is continuing.

         "LEVEL VI PRICING PERIOD" shall mean any period on or after the
Effective Date which is not a Level I Pricing Period, Level II Pricing Period,
Level III Pricing Period, Level IV Pricing Period or Level V Pricing Period.




                                       16
<PAGE>   23

         "LIBO RATE" shall mean, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for
any Interest Period, the rate (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16
of 1%) per annum designated as the British Bankers' Association settlement rate,
which appears on the display on page 3750 (under the caption "USD") of the
Telerate Services, Incorporated screen (the "Telerate Screen") (or on such other
display as may replace such page on the Telerate Screen) as of 11:00 a.m.
(London time) two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest
Period, for a period of time comparable to such Interest Period; PROVIDED, THAT,
if no offered quotations appear on the Telerate Screen or if quotations are not
given on the Telerate Screen for the selected period, then the LIBO Rate shall
be the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%)
appearing on Reuters Screen LIBO Page as the London interbank offered rate for
deposits in dollars at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days
prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for a term comparable to such
Interest Period; and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that if more than one rate is specified
on Reuters Screen LIBO Page, the applicable rate shall be the arithmetic mean of
all such rates.

         "LIBOR LOAN" shall mean any Revolving Loan bearing interest at a rate
determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate in accordance with the
provisions of Article II.

         "LIEN" shall mean, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, deed of
trust, lien, pledge, easement, restriction, restrictive covenant, lease,
sublease, option, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in
respect of such asset. For purposes hereof, the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall
be deemed to own subject to a lien any asset which it has acquired or holds
subject to the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale
agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement relating to such asset.

         "LOAN DOCUMENTS" shall mean this Amended Agreement, the Notes, the
Letters of Credit, the Guarantee Agreement, the Indemnity, Subrogation and
Contribution Agreement, the Intercompany Notes, the Collateral Documents, the
Borrower's Consent and Agreement, the Subsidiaries' Consent and Agreement any
Interest Rate Protection Agreements entered into by the Borrower with any Lender
or Affiliate thereof as permitted hereunder and any Supplemental Agreements.

         "LOANS" shall mean any or all of the Revolving Loans and the Swingline
Loans.

         "MARGIN STOCK" shall have the meaning assigned to such term under
Regulation U.

         "MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE" shall mean a material adverse change in the
business, assets, liabilities, financial condition, prospects or results of
operations of Borrower and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

         "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" shall mean (a) a materially adverse effect on
the material existing agreements and relationships, business, financial
condition or results of operations of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, taken
as a whole, (b) a material impairment of the ability of the Borrower or any of
the Subsidiaries to perform its material obligations under any Loan Document to
which it is or will be a party or (c) a material impairment of the rights of or
benefits available to the Lenders under any Loan Document. In determining
whether any 



                                       17
<PAGE>   24

individual event would result in a Material Adverse Effect, notwithstanding that
such event does not itself have such effect, a Material Adverse Effect shall be
deemed to have occurred if the cumulative effect of such event and all other
then existing events would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

         "MATERIAL CONTRACTS" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 3.10(a).

         "MAXIMUM RATE" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section
9.09.

         "MEXICAN SUBSIDIARY" shall mean Pfaudler S.A. de C.V., a Mexican
corporation.

         "MULTIEMPLOYER PLAN" shall mean a Plan which is a multiemployer plan as
defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

         "NMSI" shall mean NationsBanc Montgomery Securities, Inc. (f/k/a
NationsBanc Capital Markets, Inc.).

         "NET CASH PROCEEDS" shall mean, with respect to any Prepayment Event,
an amount equal to (a) the gross cash proceeds (including insurance proceeds and
condemnation awards in the case of any casualty) actually paid to or actually
received by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary from or in respect of
such event (including cash received as proceeds from any noncash consideration
received in respect of any such event), LESS (b) the sum of (i) any expenses
reasonably incurred by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in respect of such
Prepayment Event, including, in the case of a sale or issuance of Capital Stock,
underwriters' fees, discounts or commissions and, in the case of a disposition
of assets or properties, commissions, (ii) in the case of a disposition of
assets or properties, amounts required to be applied to repay Indebtedness
(other than Loans) associated with the assets or properties subject to such
Prepayment Event and (iii) in the case of a disposition of assets or properties,
taxes paid or payable by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries (as determined
reasonably and in good faith by a Financial Officer of the Borrower) in respect
of such Prepayment Event.

         "NEW LENDING OFFICE" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 2.20(f).

         "NON-U.S. LENDER" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 2.20(g).

         "NOTES" shall mean the Revolving Credit Notes and the Swingline Note.

         "OBLIGATIONS" shall mean (a) the Borrower's obligations in respect of
the due and punctual payment of principal of and interest (including interest
accruing after the filing of a petition initiating any proceeding referred to in
paragraph (g) or (h) of Article VII of this Amended Agreement) on the Loans and
all amounts drawn under the Letters of Credit, when and as due, whether at
maturity, by acceleration, upon one or more dates set for prepayment or
otherwise, (b) all Fees, expenses, indemnities and expense reimbursement
obligations of the Borrower under the Original Agreement, this Amended
Agreement, the Fee Letter, or any other Loan Document and (c) all other
obligations, monetary or otherwise, of the 


                                       18
<PAGE>   25

Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries under any Loan Document (including any
Interest Rate Protection Agreement entered into by the Borrower after the
Closing Date with any Lender or Affiliate of a Lender as permitted under this
Amended Agreement) to which it is a party, in each case, whether now owing or
hereafter existing.

         "OFFICER'S CERTIFICATE" shall mean, as to any corporation, a
certificate executed on its behalf by the Chairman of the Board of Directors (if
an officer) or its President or one of its Vice Presidents and its Treasurer, or
Controller, or one of its Assistant Treasurers or Assistant Controllers, and, as
to any partnership, a certificate executed on behalf of such partnership by its
general partner in a manner which would qualify such certificate as an Officer's
Certificate of such general partner hereunder.

         "ORIGINAL CREDIT AGREEMENT" shall mean the Credit Agreement dated as of
November 26, 1996 among the Borrower, the lenders named therein, Bank One, N.A.
(f/k/a Bank One, Dayton, N.A.), as Administrative Agent and Issuing Bank, and
NationsBank, N.A., as Documentation and Syndication Agent, as amended, modified
or supplemented from time to time.

         "OTHER TAXES" shall have the meaning assigned to that term in Section
2.20(b).

         "PBGC" shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established
pursuant to Subtitle A of Title IV of ERISA or any successor thereto.

         "PERFECTION CERTIFICATE" shall mean a certificate from the Borrower and
the Subsidiaries dated November 26, 1996.

         "PERMITTED ACQUISITION" shall have the meaning assigned to that term in
Section 6.04(g).

         "PERMITTED INDEBTEDNESS" shall mean Indebtedness permitted pursuant to
Section 6.01.

         A "PERSON" shall mean any natural person, corporation, business trust,
joint venture, association, company, limited liability company, partnership,
government (or any agency or political subdivision thereof) or other entity.

         "PLAN" shall mean at a particular time, any employee benefit plan which
is covered by ERISA and in respect of which the Borrower or a Commonly
Controlled Entity is (or, if such plan were terminated at such time, would under
Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an "employer" as defined in Section 3(5)
of ERISA.

         "PLEDGE AGREEMENT" shall mean the Pledge and Security Agreement among
the Borrower, the Domestic Subsidiaries and the Administrative Agent dated as of
November 26, 1996 as amended from time to time.

         "PREFERRED STOCK", as applied to the Capital Stock of any corporation,
shall mean Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated) which is
preferred as to the payment of dividends, or as to the distribution of assets
upon any voluntary or involuntary 


                                       19
<PAGE>   26

liquidation or dissolution of such corporation, over shares of Capital Stock of
any other class of such corporation.

         "PREPAYMENT EVENT" shall mean (a) the issuance or sale by the Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries of any Capital Stock of the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries (other than (i) the conversion of any of the Subordinated Notes to
Capital Stock of the Borrower pursuant to the terms thereof, (ii) any such
issuance or sale solely to the Borrower or any of the Wholly Owned Subsidiaries,
and (iii) any issuance of Capital Stock pursuant to employee or director stock
plans of the Borrower or pursuant to the Borrower's Investor Stock Purchase
Plan), (b) the contribution of capital to the equity of the Borrower or any of
its Subsidiaries, whether or not Capital Stock is issued on account thereof
(except as expressly permitted by the terms of Sections 6.04(a)(ii) and
6.04(j)), or (c) any other Asset Sale. The foregoing definition shall not be
deemed to imply that any such action or event is permitted under this Amended
Agreement.

         "PRIME RATE" shall mean the rate of interest per annum adopted from
time to time by the Administrative Agent as its prime rate as announced and in
effect at its principal office in Dayton, Ohio. Each change in the Prime Rate
shall be effective on the date such change is adopted, without notice to the
Borrower. The Prime Rate is a reference rate used by the Administrative Agent in
determining interest rates on certain loans and is not intended to be the lowest
rate of interest charged on any extension of credit to any debtor.

         "PURCHASE MONEY INDEBTEDNESS" shall mean Indebtedness of the Borrower
or any Subsidiary in respect of which a Lien described in Section 6.02(i) is
incurred.

         "QUALIFIED ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY" shall mean (i) any Domestic
Subsidiary, (ii) any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary as long
as the Agents shall have received an opinion of counsel in form, content and as
to counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Agents stating that the Administrative
Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, has a valid, perfected and first priority
security interest, pursuant to the Pledge Agreement, in the applicable
percentage of the Capital Stock of that Subsidiary as required by the Pledge
Agreement, (iii) the UK Subsidiary, as long as the Agents shall have received an
opinion of counsel in form, content and as to counsel reasonably satisfactory to
the Agents stating that the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, has
a valid, perfected and first priority security interest, pursuant to the Pledge
Agreement, in the applicable percentage of the Capital Stock of the parent or
parents of the UK Subsidiary (whether directly or indirectly), as required or
contemplated by the Pledge Agreement, and (iv) the Mexican Subsidiary, as long
as the Agents shall have received an opinion of counsel in form, content and as
to counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Agents stating that the Administrative
Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, has a valid, perfected and first priority
security interest, pursuant to the Pledge Agreement, in the applicable
percentage of the Capital Stock of the parent or parents of the Mexican
Subsidiary (whether directly or indirectly), as required or contemplated by the
Pledge Agreement.

         "REFERENCE PERIOD" with respect to any date shall mean the period of
four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower immediately preceding such date
or, if such date is the last day of a fiscal quarter, ending on such date.




                                       20
<PAGE>   27

         "REGISTER" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section
9.04(d).

         "REGULATION G" shall mean Regulation G of the Board as from time to
time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or
thereof.

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

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

         "REPORTABLE EVENT" shall mean any of the events set forth in Section
4043(c) of ERISA, other than those events as to which the PBGC has waived either
the 30-day notice period or the penalty for failure to give notice.

         "REQUIRED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS" shall mean, with respect to any period,
the financial statements of the Borrower for such period required under Section
5.04.

         "REQUIRED LENDERS" shall mean, at any time, Lenders holding Loans
(excluding Swingline Loans), Letter of Credit Exposure, and Swingline Exposure
and having Revolving Credit Commitments representing in the aggregate at least a
majority of the sum at such time of (a) the aggregate principal amount of the
Loans outstanding (excluding Swingline Loans), (b) the aggregate amount of
Letter of Credit Exposure, (c) the aggregate amount of Swingline Exposure and
(d) the aggregate amount of unused Revolving Credit Commitments.

         "RESPONSIBLE OFFICER" of any person shall mean and include the
president, chief executive officer, chief operating officer, any financial
officer, any vice president, the general counsel or any other senior officer of
such person (or, in the case of a partnership, of a general partner thereof).

         "RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARY" shall mean (i) all Domestic Subsidiaries of the
Borrower, none of the Capital Stock of which is owned by Unrestricted
Subsidiaries and (ii) all Foreign Subsidiaries of the Borrower, all of the
Capital Stock of which is owned directly by the Borrower or a Wholly Owned
Domestic Subsidiary, or any subsidiary described in clauses (i) or (ii) that is
formed or acquired after the date hereof; PROVIDED, THAT, nothing in this
definition shall be deemed to permit any such formation or acquisition of a
subsidiary. Each of such Domestic and Foreign Subsidiaries existing as of the
Effective Date are listed on Schedule 1.01.

         "REVOLVING CREDIT AVAILABILITY PERIOD" shall mean the period from and
including the Effective Date to but excluding the termination of the Revolving
Credit Commitments of the Lenders in accordance with the terms hereof.

         "REVOLVING CREDIT BORROWING" shall mean a Borrowing comprised of
Revolving Loans.

                                       21
<PAGE>   28

         "REVOLVING CREDIT COMMITMENT" shall mean, with respect to each Lender,
the commitment of such Lender to make Revolving Loans hereunder as set forth on
Schedule 2.02(a), or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such
Lender assumed its Revolving Credit Commitment, as applicable, as the same may
be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.10 and (b) reduced or
increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender
pursuant to Section 9.04.

         "REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY" shall mean the Revolving Loans, the
Swingline Loans and the Letters of Credit provided or participated in by the
Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to this Amended Agreement and the other Loan
Documents.

         "REVOLVING CREDIT MATURITY DATE" shall mean November 25, 2002.

         "REVOLVING CREDIT NOTES" shall mean a promissory note of the Borrower,
substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 hereto, evidencing Revolving Loans.

         "REVOLVING LOANS" shall mean the revolving loans made by the Lenders to
the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.02(a) of this Amended Agreement and Section
2.01(a) of the Original Agreement. Each Revolving Loan shall be a LIBOR Loan or
an ABR Loan.

         "RMG" shall mean Robbins & Myers Glass S.p.A., a corporation organized
and existing under the laws of Italy.

         "SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission, and any
successor thereto.

         "SECURED PARTIES" shall mean (a) the Lenders and the Issuing Bank, (b)
the Administrative Agent and the Syndication Agent, in their capacities as such
under each Loan Document, (c) each Agent or Lender with which the Borrower
enters into an Interest Rate Protection Agreement pursuant to the Original
Agreement or this Amended Agreement, in its capacity as a party to such
agreement, (d) the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken
by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries under any Loan Document and (e) the
successors and assigns of the foregoing.

         "SHAREHOLDER" shall mean, as of any date, any person or "group" (within
the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) (a) which beneficially owns as
of such date Capital Stock of the Borrower (or of any person Controlling the
Borrower) representing 5% or more of the aggregate ordinary voting power of all
the outstanding Capital Stock of the Borrower (or of such person Controlling the
Borrower) and (b) of which the Borrower has knowledge.

         "SINGLE EMPLOYER PLAN" shall mean any Plan which is covered by Title IV
of ERISA, but which is not a Multiemployer Plan.

         "SOLVENT" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section
3.19(a).



                                       22
<PAGE>   29

         "STATUTORY RESERVES" shall mean a fraction (expressed as a decimal),
the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the
number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages (including any
marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal
established by the Board and any other domestic banking authority (and with
respect to any Non-U.S. Lender, any foreign banking authority) to which the
Administrative Agent or any Lender (including any branch, Affiliate or other
fronting office making or holding a Loan) is subject for Eurocurrency
Liabilities (as defined in Regulation D of the Board). Such reserve percentages
shall include those imposed pursuant to such Regulation D. LIBOR Loans shall be
deemed to constitute Eurocurrency Liabilities and to be subject to such reserve
requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets
which may be available from time to time to any Lender under such Regulation D.
Statutory Reserves shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective
date of any change in any reserve percentage.

         "SUBORDINATED NOTES" shall mean (i) the $65,000,000 6.5% Convertible
Subordinated Notes due September 1, 2003, and all documents and instruments
pursuant to which they were issued or related in any way thereto, (ii) the
promissory notes issued or to be issued by Glasteel Parts and Services, Inc., a
Subsidiary of the Borrower, to Pharaoh Corp. (and the associated subordinated
guarantees of the Borrower with respect to each such note) pursuant to the Asset
Purchase Agreement dated as of February 28, 1995 between the Borrower and
Pharaoh Corp., and all documents and instruments pursuant to which they were
issued or related in any way thereto and (iii) the two Promissory Notes dated
February 28, 1995 in the original principal amount of $1,917,857 each from
Pfaudler, Inc. (a Subsidiary of the Borrower) to Ron Gale and Jan Gale,
respectively, and the associated Subordinated Guaranty of the Borrower with
respect to each such note of even date therewith, and all documents and
instruments pursuant to which they were issued or related in any way thereto.

         The term "SUBSIDIARY" shall mean, with respect to any person (referred
to in this definition as the "parent"), any corporation, partnership,
association or other business entity (a) of which Capital Stock representing
more than 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power or more than 50% of the
ownership interests is, at the time any determination is being made, owned,
Controlled or held, or (b) which is, at the time any determination is made,
otherwise Controlled, by (i) the parent, (ii) one or more subsidiaries of the
parent or (iii) the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent.

         "SUBSIDIARY" shall mean the subsidiaries of the Borrower existing as of
the Effective Date and listed on Schedule 3.08 and other subsidiaries of the
Borrower that are permitted to be created or acquired hereafter pursuant to the
express terms of this Amended Agreement.

         "SUBSIDIARIES' CONSENT AND AGREEMENT" shall mean the Subsidiaries'
Consent and Agreement dated as of the Effective Date among the Domestic
Subsidiaries, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit B-2.

         "SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT" shall mean an agreement between a Subsidiary
and the Administrative Agent in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G, as
amended from time to time.



                                       23
<PAGE>   30

         "SUZHOU PFAUDLER" shall mean Suzhou Pfaudler Glass-lined Equipment
Company Limited, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the
Peoples Republic of China.

         "SWINGLINE BORROWING" shall mean a Borrowing comprised of Swingline
Loans.

         "SWINGLINE COMMITMENT" shall mean the commitment of the Swingline
Lender to make loans pursuant to Section 2.02(c) and Section 2.22, as the same
may be reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.10.

         "SWINGLINE EXPOSURE" shall mean at any time the aggregate principal
amount at such time of all outstanding Swingline Loans. The Swingline Exposure
of any Lender at any time shall equal its Applicable Percentage of the aggregate
Swingline Exposure at such time.

         "SWINGLINE LENDER" shall mean Bank One, N.A., and its successors in
such capacity.

         "SWINGLINE LOANS" shall mean any loan made by the Swingline Lender
pursuant to Section 2.02(c) and 2.22.

         "SWINGLINE NOTE" shall mean a promissory note of the Borrower,
substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2 hereto, evidencing Swingline Loans.

         "SYNDICATION AGENT" shall mean NationsBank, N.A., in its capacity as
syndication agent and documentation agent for the Lenders hereunder, and its
successors in such capacity.

         "TAXES" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 
         2.20(a).

         "TOTAL DEBT" shall mean, without duplication, as of any date, the
aggregate amount of (a) all Revolving Loans, Letters of Credit and Swingline
Loans outstanding as of such date and (b) all other Indebtedness (other than (i)
Interest Rate Protection Agreements permitted by Section 6.01(h), (ii) the
obligations of the German Subsidiary with respect to its unfunded German pension
plan and (iii) post retirement obligations of the Borrower and the Domestic
Subsidiaries) of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of such date,
determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, which by its terms
or by the terms of any instrument or agreement relating thereto matures more
than one year from the date of the initial creation thereof (including any
current installment thereof due within one year of the date of determination);
PROVIDED, THAT, Total Debt shall include any Indebtedness which does not
otherwise come within the foregoing definition but which is directly or
indirectly renewable or extendible at the option of the debtor to a date one
year or more (including an option of the debtor under a revolving credit or
similar agreement obligating the lender or lenders to extend credit over a
period of one year or more) from the date of the initial creation thereof.

         "TRANSFEREE" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section
2.20(a).

         "TYPE" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.03.

                                       24
<PAGE>   31

         "UK SUBSIDIARY" shall mean Robbins & Myers U.K. Limited, an English
corporation.

         "UNRESTRICTED SUBSIDIARY" shall mean any Subsidiary other than a
Restricted Subsidiary.

         "VOTING STOCK" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the
definition of "Change of Control".

         "WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY" shall mean, at any time, any Subsidiary, all
of the Capital Stock of which is at such time directly or indirectly owned by
the Borrower.

         SECTION 1.02. TERMS GENERALLY. The definitions in Section 1.01 shall
apply equally to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined.
Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding
masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words "include", "includes" and
"including" shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase "without limitation".
All references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be
deemed references to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to,
this Amended Agreement unless the context shall otherwise require. Unless
otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial
nature used herein shall be interpreted in accordance with GAAP, as in effect
from time to time; PROVIDED, THAT, for purposes of (a) making any calculation
contemplated by the provisions of Article II and (b) determining compliance with
any covenant set forth in Article VI, such terms shall be construed in
accordance with GAAP as in effect on the date of this Amended Agreement applied
on a basis consistent with the application used in preparing the audited
financial statements of the Borrower referred to in Section 3.05.

         SECTION 1.03. TYPES OF BORROWINGS. The term "Borrowing" refers to the
portion of the aggregate principal amount of Loans of any Class outstanding
hereunder which bears interest of a specific Type and for a specific Interest
Period pursuant to a notice of Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.04. Each Lender's
ratable share of each Borrowing is referred to herein as a separate "Loan".
Borrowings and Loans hereunder are distinguished by "Class" and "Type". The
"Class" of a Loan or of a Commitment to make such a Loan or of a Borrowing
comprising such Loans refers to whether such Loan is a Revolving Loan or a
Swingline Loan. The "Type" of a Loan refers to whether such Loan is an ABR Loan
or a LIBOR Loan. Borrowings and Loans may (but need not) be identified both by
Class and Type (E.G., a "LIBOR Revolving Loan" is a Loan which is both a
Revolving Loan and a LIBOR Loan).

                                   ARTICLE II

                                   THE CREDITS

         SECTION 2.01. RESTRUCTURING OF LOANS. When this Amended Agreement
becomes effective, without further action by any person, all outstanding Loans
under the Original Credit Agreement shall become Loans hereunder, and shall be
subject hereto, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate
principal amount of such outstanding Loans. All 


                                       25
<PAGE>   32

such Loans hereunder shall be of the same Type, and shall have the same Interest
Period, as the corresponding Loans outstanding under the Original Credit
Agreement.

         SECTION 2.02. COMMITMENT TO MAKE LOANS. (a) Subject to the terms and
conditions and relying upon the representations and warranties herein set forth,
each Lender agrees, severally and not jointly, to make Revolving Loans to the
Borrower, at any time and from time to time during the Revolving Credit
Availability Period, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time
outstanding not to exceed the excess, if any, of such Lender's Revolving Credit
Commitment set forth opposite its name on Schedule 2.02(a) (as the same may be
reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.10 or changed from time to time
pursuant to an assignment in accordance with Section 9.04) over the sum of its
Applicable Percentage of outstanding and unpaid Revolving Loans at such time,
PLUS the Dollar Amount of its Letter of Credit Exposure at such time PLUS its
Swingline Exposure at such time.

         (b) The Borrower may borrow, pay or prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans
during the Revolving Credit Availability Period, within the limits set forth in
Section 2.02(a) and upon the other terms and subject to the other conditions and
limitations set forth herein.

         (c) Subject to the terms and conditions and relying on the
representations and warranties herein set forth, the Swingline Lender agrees to
make loans to the Borrower, from time to time during the Revolving Credit
Availability Period, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time
outstanding not to exceed the lesser of (i) $10,000,000 and (ii) the excess, if
any, of the aggregate amount of all Lenders' Revolving Credit Commitments, as
the same may be reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.10 or changed
from time to time pursuant to an assignment in accordance with Section 9.04,
over the sum of (A) the then outstanding and unpaid Revolving Credit Loans, (B)
the then outstanding Dollar Amount of aggregate Letter of Credit Exposure and
(C) the then outstanding aggregate Swingline Exposure. Each Swingline Loan shall
be in a principal amount that is an integral multiple of $100,000.

         SECTION 2.03. LOANS. (a) Each Loan (other than Swingline Loans) shall
be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans made by the Lenders ratably
in accordance with their respective Revolving Credit Commitments based on their
Applicable Percentage; PROVIDED, THAT, the failure of any Lender to make any
Loan shall not in itself relieve any other Lender of its obligation to lend
hereunder (it being understood, however, that no Lender shall be responsible for
the failure of any other Lender to make any Loan required to be made by such
other Lender). The Loans comprising any Borrowing (other than a Borrowing
comprised of Swingline Loans) shall be in an aggregate principal amount which is
(i) an integral multiple of $100,000 and not less than $500,000 in the case of
LIBOR Loans and (ii) an integral multiple of $100,000 in the case of ABR Loans.

         (b) A particular Borrowing (other than a Borrowing comprised of
Swingline Loans) shall consist solely of ABR Loans or LIBOR Loans as the
Borrower may request pursuant to Section 2.04; PROVIDED, THAT, if an Event of
Default or Default shall have occurred and be continuing (i) the Borrower shall
not be entitled to request any LIBOR Loans and (ii) no Loans of any Type shall
be made unless such Event of Default or Default shall have been waived in
accordance with Section 9.08(b); PROVIDED, THAT, the 


                                       26
<PAGE>   33

Administrative Agent shall not be deemed liable to the Lenders for disbursing
Loan proceeds received from a Lender if the Administrative Agent had no
knowledge of the existence of a Default or Event of Default. Each Lender may at
its option fulfill its Commitment with respect to any LIBOR Loan by causing any
domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan;
PROVIDED, THAT, any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of
the Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Amended
Agreement and the applicable Note. Borrowings of more than one Type and LIBOR
Loans bearing interest for more than one specific Interest Period may be
outstanding at the same time; PROVIDED, THAT, the Borrower shall not be entitled
to request any Borrowing or any continuation or conversion thereof which, if
made, would result in an aggregate of more than ten separate LIBOR Loans of any
Lender being outstanding hereunder at any one time. For purposes of the
foregoing, Loans having different Interest Periods, regardless of whether they
commence on the same date, shall be considered separate Loans.

         (c) All Swingline Loans shall be ABR Loans. No Swingline Loan shall be
a LIBOR Loan.

         (d) Subject to Section 2.03(h) and Section 2.17, each Lender shall make
each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire
transfer of immediately available funds to the Administrative Agent in Dayton,
Ohio, not later than 4:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, and the Administrative
Agent shall by 6:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, credit or wire transfer the
amounts so received to an account in the name of the Borrower maintained with
the Administrative Agent or, if a Borrowing shall not occur on such date because
any condition precedent herein specified shall not have been met, return the
amounts so received to the respective Lenders.

         (e) If the Administrative Agent has not received from the Borrower the
payment required by Section 2.23(g) by 2:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on the
date of notice from the Issuing Bank that payment of a draft presented under any
Letter of Credit has been or will be made, as provided in Section 2.23(g), the
Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Issuing Bank and each Lender of
the Letter of Credit Disbursement and the currency in which such disbursement is
denominated and, in the case of each Lender, its pro rata portion of such Letter
of Credit Disbursement. Not later than 2:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on the
next Business Day, each Lender shall make available its pro rata share (based on
such Lender's Applicable Percentage) of such Letter of Credit Disbursement in
the currency of such disbursement, in funds immediately available in Dayton,
Ohio, to the Administrative Agent at its address set forth in Section 9.01, and
the Administrative Agent will promptly make such funds available to the Issuing
Bank. The Administrative Agent will promptly remit to each Lender that shall
have made such funds available its pro rata portion (based on such Lender's
Applicable Percentage) of any amounts subsequently received by the
Administrative Agent from the Borrower in respect of such Letter of Credit
Disbursement in the currency in which it was received.

         (f) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a
Lender prior to the date of any Borrowing, or prior to the time of any required
payment by any Lender in respect of a Letter of Credit Disbursement, that such
Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender's portion
of such Borrowing or payment, 


                                       27
<PAGE>   34

the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such portion
available to the Administrative Agent on the date of such Borrowing or payment
in accordance with Section 2.03(a), and the Administrative Agent may, in
reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower or the Issuing
Bank, as the case may be, on such date a corresponding amount. If and to the
extent that such Lender shall not have made such portion available to the
Administrative Agent, such Lender and the Borrower severally agree to repay to
the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount together
with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is made available
to the Borrower or the Issuing Bank (or, if the Administrative Agent and the
Issuing Bank are the same person, from the date of such payment in respect of a
Letter of Credit Disbursement), as applicable, until the date such amount is
repaid to the Administrative Agent at, (i) in the case of the Borrower, the
interest rate applicable thereto pursuant to Section 2.07 or 2.23(g), as
applicable, and (ii) in the case of such Lender, the Federal Funds Effective
Rate. If such Lender shall repay to the Administrative Agent such corresponding
amount in respect of a Borrowing, such amount shall constitute such Lender's
Loan as part of such Borrowing for purposes of this Amended Agreement.

         (g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Amended Agreement, the
Borrower shall not be entitled to request any Eurodollar Borrowing if the
Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Revolving
Credit Maturity Date. Any Revolving Credit Borrowing which cannot be refinanced
as a Eurodollar Borrowing by reason of the preceding sentence shall be
automatically converted at the end of the Interest Period in effect for such
Borrowing into an ABR Borrowing.

         (h) The Borrower may refinance all or any part of any Revolving Credit
Borrowing with a Revolving Credit Borrowing of the same or a different Type,
upon the terms and subject to the conditions and limitations set forth in this
Amended Agreement. Any Revolving Credit Borrowing or part thereof so refinanced
shall be deemed for all purposes to be simultaneously repaid or prepaid in
accordance with Section 2.05 or 2.13, as applicable, with the proceeds of a new
Revolving Credit Borrowing and the proceeds of such new Revolving Credit
Borrowing (to the extent they do not exceed the principal amount of the
Borrowing being refinanced) shall not be paid by the Lenders to the
Administrative Agent or by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower pursuant to
Section 2.03(d).

         SECTION 2.04. NOTICE OF BORROWINGS. In order to request a Borrowing
(other than a Swingline Loan), the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent
written or telecopy notice (or telephone notice promptly confirmed in writing or
by telecopy) (a) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 12:00
noon, Eastern Standard Time, two Business Days before a proposed Borrowing and
(b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 12:00 noon, Eastern Standard
Time, on the Business Day of a proposed Borrowing. Any such notice of Borrowing
shall be irrevocable, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit H hereto,
and shall in each case refer to this Amended Agreement and specify (i) whether
the Borrowing then being requested is to be a Eurodollar Borrowing or an ABR
Borrowing; (ii) the date of such Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day) and
the amount thereof; and (iii) if such Borrowing is to be a Eurodollar Borrowing,
the Interest Period with respect thereto. If no election as to the Type of
Borrowing is specified in any such notice, then the requested Borrowing shall be
an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period with respect to any 


                                       28
<PAGE>   35

Eurodollar Borrowing is specified in any such notice, then the Borrower shall be
deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month's duration. If the
Borrower shall not have given notice in accordance with this Section 2.04 of its
election to refinance a Revolving Credit Borrowing prior to the end of the
Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing, then the Borrower shall (unless
such Borrowing is repaid at the end of such Interest Period) be deemed to have
given notice of an election to refinance such Borrowing with an ABR Borrowing.
The Administrative Agent shall, by 2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, on the day
it receives a notice hereunder from the Borrower, advise the applicable Lenders
of any notice given pursuant to this Section 2.04 and of each Lender's portion
of the requested Borrowing.

         SECTION 2.05. NOTES; REPAYMENT OF LOANS. (a) The Revolving Loans made
by each Lender shall be evidenced by a Revolving Credit Note, duly executed and
delivered on behalf of the Borrower, dated the Effective Date, substantially in
the form attached hereto as Exhibit A-1, with the blanks appropriately filled,
payable to the order of such Lender in a principal amount equal to such Lender's
Revolving Credit Commitment. The outstanding principal balance of each Revolving
Loan, as evidenced by each applicable Revolving Credit Note, shall be payable on
the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Revolving Loan and on the
Revolving Credit Maturity Date, and shall bear interest from the date of the
first Borrowing hereunder on the outstanding principal balance thereof as set
forth in Section 2.07. Each Lender shall, and is hereby authorized by the
Borrower to, endorse on the schedule attached to each Revolving Credit Note
delivered to such Lender (or on a continuation of such schedule attached to such
Revolving Credit Note and made a part thereof), or otherwise to record in such
Lender's internal records, an appropriate notation evidencing the date and
amount of each applicable Loan from such Lender, each payment and prepayment of
principal of any such Loan, each payment of interest on any such Loan and the
other information provided for on such schedule; PROVIDED, THAT, the failure of
any Lender to make such a notation or any error therein shall not affect the
obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans made by such Lender in accordance
with the terms of this Amended Agreement and the applicable Revolving Credit
Notes.

         (b) The Swingline Loans made by the Swingline Lender shall be evidenced
by a Swingline Note, duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Borrower,
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A-2, with the blanks
appropriately filled, payable to the order of the Swingline Lender in a
principal amount equal to the Swingline Commitment. The outstanding principal
balance of each Swingline Loan, as evidenced by the applicable Swingline Note,
shall be payable on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such
Swingline Loan and on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date. The Swingline Note
shall bear interest from the date of the first Borrowing hereunder on the
outstanding principal balance thereof as set forth in Section 2.07. The
Swingline Lender shall, and is hereby authorized by the Borrower to, endorse on
the schedule attached to the Swingline Note (or on a continuation of such
schedule attached to the Swingline Note and made a part thereof), or otherwise
to record in the Swingline Lender's internal records, an appropriate notation
evidencing the date and amount of each applicable Swingline Loan from the
Swingline Lender, each payment and prepayment of principal of any Swingline
Loan, each payment of interest on any such Loan and the other information
provided for on such schedule; PROVIDED, THAT, the failure of the Swingline
Lender to make such a notation or any error therein shall 

                                       29
<PAGE>   36

not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Swingline Loans made by
the Swingline Lender in accordance with the terms of this Amended Agreement and
the Swingline Note.

         SECTION 2.06. FEES. (a) The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative
Agent for the account of each Lender, on the last day of March, June, September
and December in each year and on the date on which the Revolving Credit
Commitment of such Lender shall expire or be terminated as provided herein, a
commitment fee (a "Commitment Fee") on the average daily unused amount of the
Revolving Credit Commitment (for purposes of this calculation only, outstanding
Swingline Borrowings in which the Swingline Lender has not required the other
Lenders to participate pursuant to Section 2.22(c), shall not be considered as
usage of their respective Revolving Credit Commitments, except that such
Swingline Borrowings shall count as usage of the Swingline Lender's Revolving
Credit Commitment) (as the same may be reduced from time to time pursuant to
Section 2.10) of such Lender during the preceding quarter (or shorter period
commencing with the Effective Date or ending with the date on which the
Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender shall be terminated), equal to (A)
during any Level I Pricing Period, 0.125% per annum; (B) during any Level II
Pricing Period, 0.150% per annum; (C) during any Level III Pricing Period,
0.200% per annum; (D) during any Level IV Pricing Period, 0.250% per annum; (E)
during any Level V Pricing Period, 0.300% per annum; and (F) during any Level VI
Pricing Period, 0.375% per annum. All Commitment Fees shall be computed on the
basis of the actual number of days elapsed in a year of 360 days. The Commitment
Fees due to each Lender shall commence to accrue on the Effective Date and cease
to accrue on the date on which the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender
shall be terminated as provided herein.

         (b) The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent (i) for the
account of each Lender, on the last day of March, June, September and December
of each year and on the date on which the Revolving Credit Commitment of such
Lender shall expire or be terminated as provided herein, a letter of credit fee
(a "LETTER OF CREDIT FEE") equal to (A) such Lender's Applicable Percentage of
the Dollar Amount of the aggregate Letter of Credit Exposure (excluding the
portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed Letter of Credit Disbursements)
existing as of the first day of the quarter then ended (or shorter period
commencing with the Effective Date or ending with the date on which all Letters
of Credit have been canceled or have expired and the Revolving Credit
Commitments of all Lenders shall have been terminated) plus the Dollar Amount of
the face amount of each Letter of Credit issued during such quarter (or shorter
period commencing with the Effective Date or ending with the date on which all
Letters of Credit have been canceled or have expired and the Revolving Credit
Commitments of all Lenders shall have been terminated), in each case the date of
determination for such Dollar Amounts being the last day of the applicable
quarter then ended (or shorter period commencing with the Effective Date or
ending with the date on which all Letters of Credit have been cancelled or have
expired and the Revolving Credit Commitments of all Lenders shall have been
terminated), multiplied by (B) a per annum rate equal to the Applicable LIBOR
Margin in effect from time to time during such period, (ii) for the account of
Bank One, N.A., in its capacity as an Issuing Bank, on the last day of March,
June, September and December of each year, a fronting fee (the "BANK ONE
FRONTING FEE") of 0.125% per annum on the sum of (A) the aggregate Letter of
Credit 


                                       30
<PAGE>   37

Exposure (excluding the portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed Letter of
Credit Disbursements and excluding Letter of Credit Exposure resulting from ABN
AMRO Foreign Currency Letters of Credit) existing as of the first day of the
quarter then ended (or shorter period commencing with the date hereof or ending
with the Revolving Credit Maturity Date) and (B) the face amount of each Letter
of Credit (other than Foreign Currency Letters of Credit) and the Dollar
Equivalent amount of the face amount of each Bank One Foreign Currency Letter of
Credit issued during such quarter, in each case the date of determination for
such Dollar Equivalent amount being the last day of the applicable quarter then
ended (or shorter period commencing with the Effective Date or ending with the
date on which all Letters of Credit have been cancelled or have expired and the
Revolving Credit Commitments of all Lenders shall have been terminated), and,
with respect to each Letter of Credit (other than ABN AMRO Foreign Currency
Letters of Credit), any other customary fees of Bank One, N.A. agreed upon by
the Borrower and Bank One, N.A. in connection with the issuance, amendment or
transfer of any Letter of Credit (other than ABN AMRO Foreign Currency Letters
of Credit) or any Letter of Credit Disbursement, and (iii) for the account of
ABN AMRO Bank N.V., in its capacity as an Issuing Bank, on the last day of
March, June, September and December of each year, a fronting fee (the "ABN AMRO
FRONTING FEE") of 0.125% per annum on the sum of (A) the Dollar Equivalent
amount of the aggregate Foreign Currency Letter of Credit Exposure (excluding
the portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed Letter of Credit Disbursements
and excluding Letter of Credit Exposure resulting from Bank One Foreign Currency
Letters of Credit) existing as of the first day of the quarter then ended (or
shorter period commencing with the date hereof or ending with the Revolving
Credit Maturity Date) and (B) the Dollar Equivalent amount of the face amount of
each ABN AMRO Foreign Currency Letter of Credit issued during such quarter, in
each case the date of determination for such Dollar Equivalent amount being the
last day of the applicable quarter then ended (or shorter period commencing with
the Effective Date or ending with the date on which all Letters of Credit have
been cancelled or have expired and the Revolving Credit Commitments of all
Lenders shall have been terminated), and, with respect to each ABN AMRO Foreign
Currency Letter of Credit, any other customary fees of ABN AMRO Bank N.V. agreed
upon by the Borrower and ABN AMRO Bank N.V., in connection with the issuance,
amendment or transfer of any ABN AMRO Foreign Currency Letter of Credit or any
Letter of Credit Disbursement. All Letter of Credit Fees and Fronting Fees shall
be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in a year of 360
days.

         (c) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Agents, for their own accounts,
the fees set forth in the Fee Letter dated October 2, 1996 among NMSI, the
Agents and the Borrower and in the applicable provisions of the Commitment
Letter dated October 2, 1996 among such parties (together, the "FEE LETTER") in
the amounts and on the dates provided in the Fee Letter. Such fees shall be in
addition to reimbursement of the Agents' reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.

         (d) All Fees shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available
funds. Once paid, none of the Fees shall be refundable under any circumstances
(absent manifest error).

         SECTION 2.07. INTEREST ON LOANS. (a) Subject to the provisions of
Section 2.08, each Revolving Loan and each Swingline Loan comprising an ABR
Borrowing shall bear 


                                       31
<PAGE>   38

interest for each day from the date such Loan is made until it becomes due
(computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a year of 365
or 366 days, as the case may be when determined by reference to the Prime Rate
and over a year of 360 days at all other times) at a rate per annum equal to the
Alternate Base Rate, plus the Applicable ABR Margin in effect from time to time
for such Class of Loan. So long as any ABR Borrowing is outstanding, the
Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower of any change in the
Prime Rate.

         (b) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.08, each Revolving Loan
comprising a Eurodollar Borrowing shall bear interest for each day from the date
such Loan is made until it becomes due (computed on the basis of the actual
number of days elapsed over a year of 360 days) at a rate per annum equal to the
Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing, plus
the Applicable LIBOR Margin in effect from time to time for such Class of Loan.

         (c) Each Level I Pricing Period, Level II Pricing Period, Level III
Pricing Period, Level IV Pricing Period, Level V Pricing Period or Level VI
Pricing Period (each a "Pricing Period") shall commence on (and include) the
date that is the first day of the third month following the end of each Fiscal
Quarter of the Borrower and shall terminate on the day before the beginning of
the next Pricing Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the
Borrower has failed to deliver any Required Financial Statements when due in
accordance with Section 5.04, a Level VI Pricing Period shall be deemed to be in
effect beginning as of the first day of the third month following the end of the
Fiscal Quarter for which any Required Financial Statement was not timely
delivered and such Level VI Pricing Period shall remain effective until a Fiscal
Quarter in which Borrower has delivered the Required Financial Statements when
due in accordance with Section 5.04, and then the applicable Pricing Period as
determined pursuant hereto with reference to the Required Financial Statements
shall become effective on the date determined above.

         (d) Interest on each Loan shall be payable on the Interest Payment
Dates applicable to such Loan, except as otherwise provided in this Amended
Agreement. The applicable Alternate Base Rate or Adjusted LIBO Rate for each
Interest Period or day within an Interest Period, as the case may be, shall be
determined by the Administrative Agent in good faith, and such determination
shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

         SECTION 2.08. DEFAULT INTEREST. If and for so long as any Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing, interest shall accrue, to the
extent permitted by applicable law, on the outstanding amount of all Obligations
during the period from (and including) the date of such Event of Default to (but
not including) the date of actual payment (after as well as before judgment) at
(a) in the case of principal of or interest on any Loan, the rate per annum
(computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a year of 365
or 366 days, as the case may be, when determined by reference to the Prime Rate
and over a year of 360 days at all other times) applicable to such Loan during
such period pursuant to Section 2.07, plus 2.00% or (b) in the case of any other
amount, a rate per annum (computed on the basis of the actual number of days
elapsed over a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, when determined by
reference to the Prime Rate and over a year of 360 days at all other times)
equal to the rate applicable to ABR Loans during such period 


                                       32
<PAGE>   39

pursuant to Section 2.07, plus 2.00%. The Borrower shall pay all such accrued
but unpaid interest from time to time upon demand.

         SECTION 2.09. ALTERNATE RATE OF INTEREST. In the event, and on each
occasion, that on the day two Business Days prior to the commencement of any
Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing the Administrative Agent shall have
reasonably determined that dollar deposits in the principal amounts of the Loans
comprising such Borrowing are not generally available in the applicable
interbank market, or that the rates at which such dollar deposits are being
offered will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Lenders of making
or maintaining LIBOR Loans during such Interest Period, or that reasonable means
do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate, the Administrative Agent
shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, give written or telecopy notice of
such determination to the Borrower and the Lenders. In the event of any such
determination, any request by the Borrower for a Eurodollar Borrowing pursuant
to Section 2.04 or 2.11 shall, until the Administrative Agent shall have advised
the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice
no longer exist, be deemed to be a request for an ABR Borrowing. Each
determination by the Administrative Agent hereunder shall be conclusive absent
manifest error.

         SECTION 2.10. TERMINATION AND REDUCTION OF COMMITMENTS; EXTENSION OF
COMMITMENTS. (a) The Revolving Credit Commitments and the Swingline Commitment
shall be automatically terminated at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on the
Revolving Credit Maturity Date.

         (b) Upon at least five Business Days' prior irrevocable written or
telecopy notice to the Administrative Agent, the Borrower may at any time in
whole permanently terminate, or in part permanently reduce, the Revolving Credit
Commitments; PROVIDED, THAT, (i) each partial reduction of the Revolving Credit
Commitments shall be in a minimum aggregate principal amount which is an
integral multiple of $500,000 and not less than $1,000,000, and (ii) the
aggregate of Revolving Credit Commitments shall not be reduced to an amount that
is less than the Dollar Amount of all aggregate Letter of Credit Exposure at
that time.

         (c) On the date of each mandatory payment or prepayment of Loans (or
provision of cash collateral in respect of outstanding Letters of Credit) in
accordance with Sections 2.11(b) or (c), the Revolving Credit Commitments shall
be permanently reduced by an aggregate amount equal to the amount of such
required payment or prepayment (or provision of cash collateral).

         (d) Each reduction in the Revolving Credit Commitments shall be made
ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Revolving Credit
Commitments and each such reduction shall proportionately reduce the Swingline
Commitment. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account
of the Lenders, on the date of each termination or reduction of the Revolving
Credit Commitments, the Commitment Fees on the amount of the Revolving Credit
Commitments so terminated or reduced accrued to the date of such termination or
reduction.



                                       33
<PAGE>   40

         SECTION 2.11. CONVERSION AND CONTINUATION OPTIONS. Except with respect
to Borrowings comprised of Swingline Loans, as to which this Section 2.11 shall
not apply, the Borrower shall have the right at any time upon prior irrevocable
notice to the Administrative Agent (a) not later than 12:00 noon, Eastern
Standard Time, on the day of conversion, to convert any Eurodollar Borrowing
into an ABR Borrowing, (b) not later than 12:00 noon, Eastern Standard Time, two
Business Days prior to conversion or continuation, to convert any ABR Borrowing
into a Eurodollar Borrowing or to continue any Eurodollar Borrowing as a
Eurodollar Borrowing for an additional Interest Period and (c) not later than
12:00 noon, Eastern Standard Time, two Business Days prior to conversion, to
convert the Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing to another
permissible Interest Period, subject in each case to the following:

                  (i) each conversion or continuation shall be made pro rata
         among the Lenders in accordance with the respective principal amounts
         of the Loans comprising the converted or continued Borrowing;

                  (ii) the aggregate principal amount of such Borrowing
         converted into or continued as (A) a Eurodollar Borrowing, shall be an
         integral multiple of $100,000 and not less than $500,000 or (B) an ABR
         Borrowing, shall be the lesser of (I) the remaining outstanding
         principal amount of such Borrowing and (II) an integral multiple of
         $100,000;

                  (iii) each conversion or continuation shall be effected by
         each Lender by applying the proceeds of the new Loan of such Lender
         resulting from such conversion or continuation to the Loan (or portion
         thereof) of such Lender being converted or continued;

                  (iv) accrued interest on a LIBOR Loan (or portion thereof)
         being converted or continued shall be paid by the Borrower at the time
         of conversion;

                  (v) if any Eurodollar Borrowing is converted or continued at a
         time other than the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, the
         Borrower shall pay, upon demand, any amounts due to the Lenders
         pursuant to Section 2.16;

                  (vi) any portion of a Borrowing maturing or required to be
         repaid in less than one month may not be converted into or continued as
         a Eurodollar Borrowing; and

                  (vii) any portion of a Eurodollar Borrowing which cannot be
         converted into or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing by reason of
         clause (vi) above shall be automatically converted at the end of the
         Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing into an ABR Borrowing.

         Each notice pursuant to this Section 2.11 shall be irrevocable, shall
be in substantially the form of Exhibit H hereto and shall in each case refer to
this Amended Agreement and specify (I) the principal amount, the Class, the Type
and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period of the Borrowing
that the Borrower requests be converted or 

                                       34
<PAGE>   41

continued, (II) whether such Borrowing is to be converted to or continued as a
Eurodollar Borrowing or an ABR Borrowing, (III) if such notice requests a
conversion, the date of such conversion (which shall be a Business Day) and (IV)
if such Borrowing is to be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing,
the Interest Period with respect thereto. If no Interest Period is specified in
any such notice with respect to any conversion to or continuation as a
Eurodollar Borrowing, the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest
Period of one month's duration. The Administrative Agent shall advise the other
Lenders of any notice given pursuant to this Section 2.11 and of each Lender's
portion of any converted or continued Borrowing. If the Borrower shall not have
given notice in accordance with this Section 2.11 to continue any Borrowing into
a subsequent Interest Period (and shall not otherwise have given notice in
accordance with this Section 2.11 to convert such Borrowing), such Borrowing
shall, at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto (unless repaid
pursuant to the terms hereof), automatically be continued into a new Interest
Period as an ABR Borrowing.

         SECTION 2.12.  MANDATORY REPAYMENTS AND PREPAYMENTS.

         (a) On the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, all Revolving Credit
Borrowings and all Swingline Borrowings shall be due and payable to the extent
not previously paid and all Letter of Credit Exposure (if any) shall be
terminated or cash collateralized in a manner satisfactory to the Agents.

         (b) In the event and on each occasion that a Prepayment Event occurs,
the Borrower shall give to the Administrative Agent written or telecopy notice
of such event, the amount of Net Cash Proceeds expected to be received therefrom
and the expected schedule for receiving such proceeds. On the date of receipt by
the Borrower or any Subsidiary of Net Cash Proceeds from such Prepayment Event,
the Borrower shall prepay Loans in an aggregate principal amount equal to the
lesser of (x) 100% of such Net Cash Proceeds received and (y) the amount of Net
Cash Proceeds required to reduce the Commitments (as contemplated by Section
2.10(c)) to, but not below, $100,000,000; PROVIDED, THAT in the case of an Asset
Sale, (i) no such prepayment shall be required unless the aggregate amount of
Net Cash Proceeds received from such Asset Sale and all other Asset Sales
occurring during the same Fiscal Year of the Borrower equals or exceeds
$1,000,000 and (ii) any such receipt of Net Cash Proceeds that would otherwise
result in prepayment of a lesser amount under this subparagraph (c) shall
cumulate until the aggregate amount of such Net Cash Proceeds received and not
yet applied equals or exceeds $1,000,000, at which time such prepayment shall be
made.

         (c) In the event and on each occasion that the sum of (i) the aggregate
outstanding principal amount of Revolving Credit Loans, (ii) the aggregate
Dollar Amount of all Letter of Credit Exposure, and (iii) the aggregate
Swingline Exposure (collectively, the "REVOLVING LOAN EXPOSURE") exceeds the
aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments at such time, the Borrower
shall immediately prepay Revolving Loans such that the aggregate Dollar Amount
of all Revolving Loan Exposure is equal to or less than the aggregate Revolving
Credit Commitments. In the event that on the last day of any calendar month or
on any other Determination Date, the Dollar Amount of the Foreign Currency
Letter of Credit Exposure resulting from the ABN AMRO Foreign Currency Letters
of Credit exceeds 


                                       35
<PAGE>   42

$48,000,000, then the Borrower shall cash collateralize Foreign Currency Letter
of Credit Exposure resulting from the ABN AMRO Foreign Currency Letters of
Credit (in each instance, in dollars or in a Foreign Currency reasonably
required by the Issuing Bank) to the extent, if necessary, so that (i) the
Dollar Amount (determined as of such date) of all aggregate Revolving Loan
Exposure is equal to or less than the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments
existing at that time and (ii) the Dollar Amount (determined as of such date) of
all Foreign Currency Letter of Credit Exposure resulting from the ABN AMRO
Foreign Currency Letters of Credit is equal to or less than $46,500,000 (and
thereupon such cash shall be deemed to reduce the Letter of Credit Exposure for
purposes of this Section 2.12(c)). In the event that on the last day of any
calendar month or on any other Determination Date, the Dollar Amount of the
aggregate Letter of Credit Exposure resulting from Letters of Credit issued by
Bank One, N.A., exceeds $25,000,000, then the Borrower shall cash collateralize
such Letter of Credit Exposure (in each instance, in dollars or in a Foreign
Currency reasonably required by the Issuing Bank) to the extent, if necessary,
so that (i) the Dollar Amount (determined as of such date) of all aggregate
Revolving Loan Exposure is equal to or less than the aggregate Revolving Credit
Commitments existing at that time and (ii) the Dollar Amount (determined as of
such date) of all aggregate Letter of Credit Exposure resulting from Letters of
Credit issued by Bank One, N.A. is equal to or less than $25,000,000 (and
thereupon such cash shall be deemed to reduce the Letter of Credit Exposure for
purposes of this Section 2.12(c)).

         (d) All mandatory prepayments under Section 2.12(b) or (c) shall be
applied (to the extent applicable) (i) FIRST, to reduce the outstanding
principal amount of the Revolving Credit Loans and (ii) SECOND, to the extent
that the remaining amount of such prepayment is greater than the aggregate
principal amount of outstanding Loans, to provide cash collateral in an amount
equal to all such Letter of Credit Exposure (the amount to be deposited shall be
denominated in the currency or currencies of the Letter(s) of Credit then
outstanding) (and thereupon such cash shall be deemed to reduce the Letter of
Credit Exposure for purposes of this Section 2.12(d)). Subject to the foregoing
provisions, any mandatory prepayment of Loans of any Class pursuant to Section
2.12(b) or (c) shall be applied to prepay all ABR Loans of such Class before any
LIBOR Loans of such Class are prepaid.

         (e) Each payment of Borrowings pursuant to this Section 2.12 (except
partial prepayments of ABR Borrowings) shall be accompanied by accrued interest
on the principal amount paid to but excluding the date of payment. All payments
under this Section 2.12 shall be subject to Section 2.16, but otherwise shall be
without premium or penalty.

         SECTION 2.13. OPTIONAL PREPAYMENTS. (a) Subject to Section 2.13(b), the
Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any
LIBOR Loans, in whole or in part, upon giving prior written or telecopy notice
(or telephone notice promptly confirmed by written or telecopy notice) to the
Administrative Agent, at least three Business Days prior to the date of
prepayment; PROVIDED, THAT each partial prepayment of LIBOR Loans shall be in an
amount which is an integral multiple of $500,000 and not less than $1,000,000
and a partial prepayment of a Eurodollar Borrowing under this Section 2.13(a)
shall not be made that would result in the remaining aggregate outstanding
principal amount thereof being less than $500,000. Each notice of prepayment
shall specify the prepayment date, the Class, the Type, the Interest Period of
the Borrowing to be prepaid and 


                                       36
<PAGE>   43

the principal amount thereof to be prepaid, shall be irrevocable and shall
commit the Borrower to prepay such Borrowing by the amount stated therein on the
date stated therein.

         (b) All prepayments under this Section 2.13 shall be subject to Section
2.16 but otherwise shall be without premium or penalty. All prepayments under
this Section 2.13 shall be accompanied by accrued interest on the principal
amount being prepaid to, but excluding, the date of payment.

         SECTION 2.14. RESERVE REQUIREMENTS; CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES. (a)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Amended Agreement, if after the date
of this Amended Agreement any change in applicable law or regulation or in the
interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged
with the interpretation or administration thereof (whether or not having the
force of law) shall change the basis of taxation of payments to any Lender or
the Issuing Bank of the principal of or interest on any LIBOR Loan made by such
Lender or any Fees or other amounts payable hereunder (other than changes in
respect of taxes imposed on the overall net income of such Lender or the Issuing
Bank by the jurisdiction in which such Lender or the Issuing Bank has its
principal office or by any state of the United States or by any political
subdivision or taxing authority therein), or shall 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 or the
Issuing Bank (except any such reserve requirement that is reflected in the
Adjusted LIBO Rate) or shall impose on such Lender or the Issuing Bank or the
applicable interbank market any other condition affecting this Amended Agreement
or LIBOR 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 or the Issuing Bank of making or maintaining any LIBOR Loan or
increase the cost to any Lender of issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit
or purchasing or maintaining a participation therein or to reduce the amount of
any sum received or receivable by such Lender (or Affiliate or parent thereof
which fairly allocates any such increase to the Lender) or the Issuing Bank
hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise) by an amount deemed by
such Lender or the Issuing Bank to be material, then the Borrower will pay to
such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, upon demand such additional
amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the
case may be, for such additional costs actually incurred or reduction suffered.

         (b) If any Lender or the Issuing Bank shall have determined that the
adoption after the date hereof of any law, rule, regulation, agreement or
guideline regarding capital adequacy, or any change after the date hereof in any
such law, rule, regulation, agreement or guideline or in the interpretation or
administration thereof by any Governmental Authority (including the National
Association of Insurance Commissioners) charged with the interpretation or
administration thereof, or compliance by any Lender (or any lending office of
such Lender) or the Issuing Bank or any Lender's or the Issuing Bank's holding
company with any request or directive regarding capital adequacy (whether or not
having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority has or would have the
effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender's or the Issuing Bank's
capital or on the capital of such Lender's or the Issuing Bank's holding
company, if any, as a consequence of this Amended Agreement or the Loans made or
participations in Letters of Credit purchased by such Lender pursuant 

                                       37
<PAGE>   44

hereto or the Letters of Credit issued by the Issuing Bank pursuant hereto to a
level below that which such Lender or the Issuing Bank or such Lender's or the
Issuing Bank's holding company could have achieved but for such applicability,
adoption, change or compliance (taking into consideration such Lender's or the
Issuing Bank's policies and the policies of such Lender's or the Issuing Bank's
holding company with respect to capital adequacy) by an amount deemed by such
Lender or the Issuing Bank to be material, then, from time to time the Borrower
shall pay to such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such
additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank
or such Lender's or the Issuing Bank's holding company for any such reduction
suffered.

         (c) A certificate of a Lender or the Issuing Bank setting forth the
circumstances requiring the payment of compensation, the calculations with
respect thereto, and the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender
or the Issuing Bank or its holding company, as applicable, as specified in
paragraph (a) or (b) above shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be
conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender or the
Issuing Bank the amount shown as due on any such certificate delivered by it
within 10 days after its receipt of the same.

         (d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the Issuing Bank to
demand compensation for any increased costs or reduction in amounts received or
receivable or reduction in return on capital shall not constitute a waiver of
such Lender's or the Issuing Bank's right to demand such compensation. The
protection of this Section 2.14 shall be available to each Lender and the
Issuing Bank regardless of any possible contention of the invalidity or
inapplicability of the law, rule, regulation, agreement, guideline or other
change or condition that shall have occurred or been imposed. In the event any
Lender or the Issuing Bank ever receives a refund from any applicable
Governmental Authority of any amount paid by the Borrower on account of the
provisions of this Section 2.14, the applicable Lender or Issuing Bank, as the
case may be, shall repay those refunded amounts to the Borrower.

         SECTION 2.15. CHANGE IN LEGALITY. (a) Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Amended Agreement, if after the date hereof, 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 LIBOR Loan or to give effect to its
obligations as contemplated hereby with respect to any LIBOR Loan, then, by
written notice to the Borrower and to the Administrative Agent, such Lender may:

                  (i) declare that LIBOR Loans will not thereafter (for the
         duration of such unlawfulness) be made by such Lender hereunder (or be
         continued for additional Interest Periods and ABR Loans will not
         thereafter (for such duration) be converted into LIBOR Loans),
         whereupon any request for a Eurodollar Borrowing (or to convert an ABR
         Borrowing to a Eurodollar Borrowing or to continue a Eurodollar
         Borrowing for an additional Interest Period) shall, as to such Lender
         only, be deemed a request for an ABR Loan (or a request to continue an
         ABR Loan as such for an additional Interest Period or to convert a
         LIBOR Loan into an ABR Loan, as the case may be), unless such
         declaration shall be subsequently withdrawn; and



                                       38
<PAGE>   45

                  (ii) require that all outstanding LIBOR Loans made by it be
         converted to ABR Loans, in which event all such LIBOR Loans shall be
         automatically converted to ABR Loans 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 that would otherwise have been applied to
repay the LIBOR Loans that would have been made by such Lender or the converted
LIBOR 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 LIBOR
Loans.

         (b) For purposes of this Section 2.15, a notice to the Borrower by any
Lender shall be effective as to each LIBOR Loan made by such Lender, if lawful,
on the last day of the Interest Period currently applicable to such LIBOR Loan
and in all other cases such notice shall be effective on the date of receipt by
the Borrower.

         SECTION 2.16. INDEMNITY. The Borrower shall indemnify each Lender
against any loss or expense that such Lender may sustain or incur as a
consequence of (a) any event, other than a default by the Agents or such Lender
in the performance of its obligations hereunder, which results in (i) such
Lender receiving or being deemed to receive any amount on account of the
principal of any LIBOR Loan prior to the end of the Interest Period in effect
therefor, (ii) the conversion of any LIBOR Loan to a Loan of another Type, or
the conversion of the Interest Period with respect to any LIBOR Loan, in each
case other than on the last day of the Interest Period in effect therefor, (iii)
any LIBOR Loan to be made by such Lender (including any LIBOR Loan to be made
pursuant to a conversion or continuation under Section 2.11) not being made
after notice of such Loan shall have been given by the Borrower hereunder (any
of the events referred to in this clause (a) being called a "BREAKAGE EVENT") or
(b) any default by the Borrower in the making of any payment or prepayment
required to be made hereunder. In the case of any Breakage Event, such loss
shall include an amount equal to the excess, as reasonably determined by such
Lender, of (i) its cost of obtaining funds for the LIBOR Loan that is the
subject of such Breakage Event for the period from the date of such Breakage
Event to the last day of the Interest Period in effect (or that would have been
in effect) for such Loan over (ii) the amount of interest likely to be realized
by such Lender in redeploying the funds released or not utilized by reason of
such Breakage Event for such period. A certificate of any Lender setting forth
any amount or amounts which such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this
Section 2.16 shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent
manifest error. The Borrower shall pay each Lender the amount shown as due on
any such certificate delivered by it within 10 days after its receipt of the
same.

         SECTION 2.17. PRO RATA TREATMENT. Except as required under Section 2.15
and as provided in this Section 2.17 with respect to Swingline Loans, each
Borrowing, each payment or prepayment of principal of any Borrowing, each
payment of interest on the Loans, each payment of the Commitment Fees, each
reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitments and each refinancing of any
Borrowing with, conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing
as, a Borrowing of any Type shall be allocated pro rata among the Lenders in
accordance with their respective applicable Commitments (or, if such 

                                       39
<PAGE>   46

Commitments shall have expired or been terminated, in accordance with the sum of
(a) the respective principal amounts of their applicable outstanding Loans and
(b) the respective amounts of their Letter of Credit Exposure). For purposes of
determining the available Revolving Credit Commitments of the Lenders at any
time, each outstanding Swingline Loan shall be deemed to have utilized the
Revolving Credit Commitments of the Lenders (including those Lenders which shall
not have made Swingline Loans) pro rata in accordance with such respective
Revolving Credit Commitments. Each Lender agrees that in computing such Lender's
portion of any Borrowing to be made hereunder, the Administrative Agent may, in
its discretion, round each Lender's percentage of such Borrowing to the next
higher or lower whole dollar amount.

         SECTION 2.18. SHARING OF SETOFFS. Each Lender agrees that if it shall,
through the exercise of a right of banker's lien, setoff or counterclaim against
the Borrower, or pursuant to a secured claim under Section 506 of Title 11 of
the United States Code or other security or interest arising from, or in lieu
of, such secured claim, received by such Lender under any applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency or other similar law or otherwise or by any other means, obtain
payment (voluntary or involuntary) in respect of any Loan or Loans as a result
of which the unpaid principal portion of its Loans of any Class shall be
proportionately less than the unpaid principal portion of the Loans of such
Class of any other Lender, it shall be deemed simultaneously to have purchased
from such other Lender at face value, and shall promptly pay to such other
Lender the purchase price for, a participation in such Loans of such other
Lender, so that the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Loans and
participations in Loans of any Class held by each Lender shall be in the same
proportion to the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Loans of such Class
then outstanding as the principal amount of its Loans of such Class prior to
such exercise of banker's lien, setoff or counterclaim or other event was to the
principal amount of all Loans of such Class outstanding prior to such exercise
of banker's lien, setoff or counterclaim or other event; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that, if any such purchase or purchases or adjustments shall be made pursuant to
this Section 2.18 and the payment giving rise thereto shall thereafter be
recovered, such purchase or purchases or adjustments shall be rescinded to the
extent of such recovery and the purchase price or prices or adjustment restored
without interest. For purposes of this Section 2.18, the Revolving Loans of any
Lender shall include such Lender's Letter of Credit Exposure. The Borrower
expressly consents to the foregoing arrangements and agrees that any Lender
holding a participation in a Loan deemed to have been so purchased may exercise
any and all rights of banker's lien, setoff or counterclaim with respect to any
and all moneys owing by the Borrower to such Lender by reason thereof as fully
as if such Lender had made a Loan directly to the Borrower in the amount of such
interest.

         SECTION 2.19. PAYMENTS. (a) Unless expressly provided otherwise herein,
the Borrower shall make each payment (including principal of or interest on any
Borrowing or any Fees or other amounts) hereunder or under any other Loan
Document without setoff, defense or counterclaim not later than 12:00 noon,
Eastern Standard Time, on the date when due in dollars to the Administrative
Agent at its offices in Dayton, Ohio, in immediately available funds. Any such
payment received after such time on any date shall be deemed made on the next
Business Day.



                                       40
<PAGE>   47

         (b) Whenever any payment (including principal of or interest on any
Borrowing or any Fees or other amounts) hereunder or under any other Loan
Document shall become due, or otherwise would occur, on a day that is not a
Business Day, such payment may be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and
such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of
interest or Fees, if applicable.

         SECTION 2.20. TAXES. (a) Any and all payments by or on behalf of the
Borrower or any Subsidiary hereunder and under any other Loan Document shall be
made, in accordance with Section 2.19, free and clear of and without deduction
for any and all current or future taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or
withholdings, and all liabilities with respect thereto, EXCLUDING (i) income
taxes or branch profit taxes imposed on the net income of any Agent, any Lender
or the Issuing Bank (or any transferee or assignee thereof, including a
participation holder (any such entity a "TRANSFEREE")) and (ii) franchise taxes
imposed on the net income of any Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Bank (or
Transferee), in each case by the jurisdiction under the laws of which any Agent,
such Lender or the Issuing Bank (or Transferee) is organized or any political
subdivision thereof or the jurisdiction in which such Lender or Transferee has
its applicable lending office (all such nonexcluded taxes, levies, imposts,
deductions, charges, withholdings and liabilities, collectively or individually,
being called "TAXES" and all such excluded taxes, levies, imposts, deductions,
charges, withholdings and liabilities being called "EXCLUDED TAXES"). Subject to
the provisions of Section 2.20(f) if the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall be
required to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder or
under any other Loan Document to any Lender or the Issuing Bank (or any
Transferee) or either Agent, (A) the sum payable shall be increased by the
amount (an "ADDITIONAL AMOUNT") necessary so that after making all required
deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under
this Section 2.20 but excluding Excluded Taxes) such Lender or the Issuing Bank
(or Transferee) or Agent, as the case may be, shall receive an amount equal to
the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (B) the
Borrower or such Subsidiary shall make such deductions and (C) the Borrower or
such Subsidiary shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental
Authority in accordance with applicable law.

         (b) In addition, the Borrower agrees to pay to the relevant
Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law, any current or future
stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or
similar levies (including mortgage recording taxes and similar fees) that arise
from any payment made hereunder or under any other Loan Document or from the
execution, delivery or registration of, or otherwise with respect to, this
Amended Agreement or any other Loan Document ("OTHER TAXES").

         (c) The Borrower will indemnify each Lender (or Transferee), each Agent
and the Issuing Bank (or Transferee) for the full amount of Taxes and Other
Taxes paid by such Lender (or Transferee) or Agent or the Issuing Bank, as the
case may be, and any liability (excluding Excluded Taxes, but including
penalties, interest and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and
expenses)) arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes
or Other Taxes were correctly or legally asserted by the relevant Governmental
Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability and the
method of computation thereof prepared by the Administrative Agent, the
Syndication Agent, 



                                       41
<PAGE>   48

a Lender or the Issuing Bank (or Transferee) or any Agent on its behalf, absent
manifest error, shall be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes. Such
indemnification shall be made within 30 days after the date any Agent, any
Lender or the Issuing Bank (or Transferee), as the case may be, makes written
demand therefor and provides the Borrower with the certificate described above.

         (d) If any Lender (or Transferee) or Agent shall become aware that it
is entitled to claim a refund in respect of Taxes or Other 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 2.20, it shall promptly notify
the Borrower of the availability of such refund claim and shall, within 30 days
after receipt of a request by the Borrower, make a claim to such Governmental
Authority for such refund at the Borrower's expense. If any Lender (or
Transferee) or Agent receives a refund (including pursuant to a claim for refund
made pursuant to the preceding sentence) in respect of any Taxes or Other 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 2.20, it
shall within 30 days from the date of such receipt, so long as no Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing, pay over such refund to the Borrower
(but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid,
by the Borrower under this Section 2.20 with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes
giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of such Lender
(or Transferee) or Agent and without interest (other than interest paid by the
relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that the Borrower, upon the request of such Lender (or Transferee) or Agent,
agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus penalties, interest
or other charges) to such Lender (or Transferee) or Agent in the event such
Lender (or Transferee) or Agent is required to repay such refund to such
Governmental Authority.

         (e) As soon as practicable after the date of any payment of Taxes or
Other Taxes by the Borrower or any Subsidiary to the relevant Governmental
Authority, the Borrower or such Subsidiary will deliver to the Administrative
Agent, at its address referred to in Section 9.01, the original or a certified
copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing payment
thereof.

         (f) Each Lender (or Transferee) that is organized under the laws of a
jurisdiction other than the United States, any State thereof or the District of
Columbia (a "NON-U.S. LENDER") shall deliver to the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent two copies of (i) either United States Internal Revenue
Service Form 1001 or Form 4224, or, in the case of a Non-U.S. Lender claiming
exemption from U.S. Federal withholding tax under Section 871(h) or 881(c) of
the Code with respect to payments of "portfolio interest", a Form W-8, or any
subsequent versions thereof or successors thereto (and, if such Non-U.S. Lender
delivers a Form W-8, a certificate representing that such Non-U.S. Lender is not
a bank for purposes of Section 881(c) of the Code, is not a 10-percent
shareholder (within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code) of the
Borrower and is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower
(within the meaning of Section 864(d)(4) of the Code)), properly completed and
duly executed by such Non-U.S. Lender claiming complete exemption from, or
reduced rate of, U.S. Federal withholding tax on payments by the Borrower under
this Amended Agreement and the other Loan Documents and (ii) an Internal Revenue
Service 


                                       42
<PAGE>   49

Form W-8 or W-9 entitling such Non-U.S. Lender to receive a complete exemption
from United States backup withholding tax. Such forms shall be delivered by each
Non-U.S. Lender on or before the date it becomes a party to this Amended
Agreement (or, in the case of a Transferee that is a participation holder, on or
before the date such participation holder becomes a Transferee hereunder) and on
or before the date, if any, such Non-U.S. Lender changes its applicable lending
office by designating a different lending office (a "NEW LENDING OFFICE"). In
addition, each Non-U.S. Lender shall deliver such forms promptly upon the
obsolescence or invalidity of any form previously delivered by such Non-U.S.
Lender. If a Non-U.S. Lender who has delivered the forms referred to above on
the date it becomes a party to this Amended Agreement (or, in the case of a
Transferee, on the date that it becomes a Transferee hereunder) determines that
it is unable subsequently to submit to the Borrower any such form, or that it is
required to withdraw or cancel any such form, such Non-U.S. Lender shall
promptly notify the Borrower of such fact. Notwithstanding any other provision
of this Section 2.20(g), a Non-U.S. Lender shall not be required to deliver any
form pursuant to this Section 2.20(g) that such Non-U.S. Lender is not legally
able to deliver.

         (g) The Borrower shall not be required to indemnify any Non-U.S.
Lender, or to pay any additional amounts to any Non-U.S. Lender, in respect of
United States Federal withholding tax pursuant to paragraph (a) or (c) above to
the extent that (i) the obligation to pay such additional amounts would not have
arisen but for a failure by such Non-U.S. Lender to comply with Section 2.20(f)
or (ii) the obligation to withhold amounts with respect to United States Federal
withholding tax existed on the date such Non-U.S. Lender become a party to this
Amended Agreement (or, in the case of a Transferee that is a participation
holder, on the date such participation holder became a Transferee hereunder) or,
with respect to payments to a New Lending Office, the date such Non-U.S. Lender
designated such New Lending Office with respect to a Loan; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that this clause (ii) shall not apply (A) to any Transferee or New Lending
Office that becomes a Transferee or New Lending Office as a result of an
assignment, participation, transfer or designation made at the request of the
Borrower and (B) to the extent the indemnity payment or additional amounts any
Transferee, or any Lender (or Transferee) acting through a New Lending Office,
would be entitled to receive (without regard to this clause (ii)) do not exceed
the indemnity payment or additional amounts that the person making the
assignment, participation or transfer to such Transferee, or Lender (or
Transferee) making the designation of such New Lending Office, would have been
entitled to receive in the absence of such assignment, participation, transfer
or designation or (ii) the obligation to pay such additional amounts would not
have arisen but for a failure by such Non-U.S. Lender to comply with the
provisions of paragraph (f) above.

         (h) Nothing contained in this Section 2.20 shall require any Lender or
the Issuing Bank (or Transferee) or any Agent to make available any of its tax
returns (or any other information that it deems to be confidential or
proprietary).

         (i) The provisions of this Section 2.20 shall remain operative and in
full force and effect regardless of the expiration of the term of this Amended
Agreement, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the
repayment of any of the Loans, the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or
provision of this Amended Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Agent or any Lender.



                                       43
<PAGE>   50

         SECTION 2.21. ASSIGNMENT OF COMMITMENTS UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES;
DUTY TO MITIGATE. (a) In the event (i) any Lender or the Issuing Bank delivers a
certificate requesting compensation pursuant to Section 2.14, (ii) any Lender or
the Issuing Bank delivers a notice described in Section 2.15 or (iii) the
Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or the Issuing
Bank or any Governmental Authority on account of any Lender or the Issuing Bank
pursuant to Section 2.20, the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort
(including with respect to the processing and recordation fee referred to in
Section 9.04(b)), upon notice to such Lender or the Issuing Bank and the Agents,
as the case may be, require such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as applicable, to
transfer and assign, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the
restrictions contained in Section 9.04), all of its interests, rights and
obligations under this Amended Agreement to an assignee reasonably acceptable to
the Agents that shall assume such assigned obligations (which assignee may be
another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), PROVIDED, THAT (A) such
assignment shall not conflict with any law, rule or regulation or order of any
court or other Governmental Authority having jurisdiction, (B) the Borrower
shall have received the prior written consent of the Agents (and, if a Revolving
Credit Commitment is being assigned, of the Issuing Bank and the Swingline
Lender), which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, (C) no Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (D) the Borrower or such
assignee shall have paid to the affected Lender or the Issuing Bank in
immediately available funds an amount equal to the sum of 100% of the principal
of and interest accrued to the date of such payment on the outstanding Loans or
Letter of Credit Disbursements of such Lender or the Issuing Bank, respectively,
plus all Fees and other amounts accrued for the account of such Lender or the
Issuing Bank hereunder (including any amounts under Section 2.14 and Section
2.16); PROVIDED, FURTHER, that if prior to any such assignment the circumstances
or event that resulted in such Lender's notice or certificate under Section 2.14
or 2.15 or demand for additional amounts under Section 2.20, as the case may be,
shall cease to exist or become inapplicable for any reason or if such Lender
shall waive its rights in respect of such circumstances or event under Section
2.14, 2.15 or 2.20, as the case may be, then such Lender shall not thereafter be
required to make any such assignment hereunder.

         (b) If (i) any Lender or the Issuing Bank shall request compensation
under Section 2.14, (ii) any Lender or the Issuing Bank delivers a notice
described in Section 2.15 or (iii) the Borrower is required to pay any
additional amount to any Lender or the Issuing Bank or any Governmental
Authority on account of any Lender or the Issuing Bank, pursuant to Section
2.20, then such Lender or the Issuing Bank shall use reasonable efforts (which
shall not require such Lender or the Issuing Bank to incur an unreimbursed loss
or unreimbursed cost or expense or otherwise take any action inconsistent with
its internal policies or legal or regulatory restrictions or suffer any
disadvantage or burden deemed by it to be significant) (A) to file any
certificate or document reasonably requested in writing by the Borrower or (B)
to assign its rights and delegate and transfer its obligations hereunder to
another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if such filing or assignment
would reduce its claims for compensation under Section 2.14 or enable it to
withdraw its notice pursuant to Section 2.15 or would reduce amounts payable
pursuant to Section 2.20, as the case may be, in the future. The Borrower hereby
agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender or the
Issuing Bank in connection with any such filing or assignment, delegation and
transfer.



                                       44
<PAGE>   51

         SECTION 2.22.  SWINGLINE LOANS.

         (a) SWINGLINE LOANS. The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent
by telecopy, or by telephone (confirmed by telecopy), not later than 12:00
(noon), Eastern Standard Time, on the day of a proposed Swingline Loan. Such
notice shall be delivered on a Business Day, shall be irrevocable and shall
refer to this Amended Agreement and shall specify the requested date (which
shall be a Business Day) and amount of such Swingline Loan. The Administrative
Agent will promptly advise the Swingline Lender of any notice received from the
Borrower pursuant to this paragraph (a). The Swingline Lender shall make each
Swingline Loan available to the Borrower by means of a credit to the general
deposit account of the Borrower with the Swingline Lender by 6:00 p.m. on the
date such Swingline Loan is so requested.

         (b) PREPAYMENT. The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from
time to time to prepay any Swingline Loan, in whole or in part, upon giving
written or telecopy notice (or telephone notice promptly confirmed by written,
or telecopy notice) to the Swingline Lender and to the Administrative Agent
before 12:00 noon, Eastern Standard Time, on the date of prepayment at the
Swingline Lender's address for notices specified in Section 9.01.

         (c) PARTICIPATIONS. The Swingline Lender may by written notice given to
the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on any
Business Day require the Lenders to acquire participations on such Business Day
in all or a portion of the Swingline Loans outstanding. Such notice shall
specify the aggregate amount of Swingline Loans in which Lenders will
participate. The Administrative Agent will, by 2:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time,
on the date of receipt of such notice, give notice to each Lender, specifying in
such notice such Lender's Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans.
In furtherance of the foregoing, each Lender hereby absolutely and
unconditionally agrees, upon receipt of notice as provided above, to pay to the
Administrative Agent by 4:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on the date such
notice is received from the Swingline Lender, for the account of the Swingline
Lender, such Lender's Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans.
Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire
participations in Swingline Loans pursuant to this paragraph is absolute and
unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever,
including the occurrence and continuance of a Default or an Event of Default,
and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement,
withholding or reduction whatsoever. Each Lender shall comply with its
obligation under this paragraph by wire transfer of immediately available funds,
in the same manner as provided in Section 2.03(d) with respect to Loans made by
such Lender (and Section 2.03(c) shall apply, MUTATIS MUTANDIS, to the payment
obligations of the Lenders) and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to
the Swingline Lender the amounts so received by it from the Lenders. The
Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower of any participations in any
Swingline Loan acquired pursuant to this paragraph and thereafter payments in
respect of such Swingline Loan shall be made to the Administrative Agent and not
to the Swingline Lender. Any amounts received by the Swingline Lender from the
Borrower (or other party on behalf of the Borrower) in respect of a Swingline
Loan after receipt by the Swingline Lender of the proceeds of a sale of
participations therein shall be promptly remitted to the Administrative Agent;
any such 


                                       45
<PAGE>   52

amounts received by the Administrative Agent shall be promptly remitted by the
Administrative Agent to the Lenders that shall have made their payments pursuant
to this paragraph and to the Swingline Lender, as their interests may appear.
The purchase of participations in a Swingline Loan pursuant to this paragraph
shall not relieve the Borrower (or other party liable for obligations of the
Borrower) of any default in the payment thereof.

         SECTION 2.23. LETTERS OF CREDIT. (a) The Borrower may request the
issuance of (i) Letters of Credit in dollars, in form and substance reasonably
acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank, for the account of
the Borrower or any Subsidiary, at any time and from time to time during the
Letter of Credit Availability Period; PROVIDED, THAT, any such Letter of Credit
shall be issued only if, and each request by the Borrower for the issuance of
any Letter of Credit shall be deemed a representation and warranty of the
Borrower that, immediately following the issuance of such Letter of Credit, (A)
the aggregate Dollar Amount of Letter of Credit Exposure resulting from Letters
of Credit issued by Bank One, N.A., does not exceed $25,000,000, and (B) the sum
of the Dollar Amount of all aggregate Letter of Credit Exposure, the aggregate
Swingline Exposure and the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Revolving
Loans does not exceed the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments
at such time, (ii) Bank One Foreign Currency Letters of Credit, in form and
substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing
Bank, for the account of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, at any time and from
time to time during the Letter of Credit Availability Period; PROVIDED, THAT,
any such Bank One Foreign Currency Letter of Credit shall be issued only if, and
each request by the Borrower for the issuance of any such Bank One Foreign
Currency Letter of Credit shall be deemed a representation and warranty of the
Borrower that, immediately following the issuance of such Bank One Foreign
Currency Letter of Credit (A) the aggregate Dollar Amount of aggregate Letter of
Credit Exposure resulting from Letters of Credit issued by Bank One, N.A., does
not exceed $25,000,000 and (B) the sum of the Dollar Amount of all aggregate
Letter of Credit Exposure, the aggregate Swingline Exposure and the aggregate
principal amount of outstanding Revolving Loans does not exceed the aggregate
amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments at such time, and (iii) ABN AMRO
Foreign Currency Letters of Credit, in form and substance reasonably acceptable
to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank, for the account of the
Borrower or any Subsidiary, at any time and from time to time during the Letter
of Credit Availability Period; PROVIDED, THAT, any such ABN AMRO Foreign
Currency Letter of Credit shall be issued only if, and each request by the
Borrower for the issuance of any such ABN AMRO Foreign Currency Letter of Credit
shall be deemed a representation and warranty of the Borrower that, immediately
following the issuance of such ABN AMRO Foreign Currency Letter of Credit, (A)
the aggregate Dollar Amount of Foreign Currency Letter of Credit Exposure
resulting from the ABN AMRO Foreign Currency Letters of Credit does not exceed
$46,500,000 and (B) the sum of the Dollar Amount of all aggregate Letter of
Credit Exposure, the aggregate Swingline Exposure and the aggregate principal
amount of outstanding Revolving Loans does not exceed the aggregate amount of
the Revolving Credit Commitments at such time. For purposes hereof, the
"issuance" of a Letter of Credit includes the amendment, renewal or extension of
a Letter of Credit.



                                       46
<PAGE>   53

         (b) Each Letter of Credit shall expire no later than the earlier of
(i)(A) in the case of standby Letters of Credit, three years after the date of
issuance of such Letter of Credit, subject to extension (including pursuant to
an automatic renewal provision in customary form), and (B) in the case of trade
Letters of Credit, 270 days after the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit
and (ii) the fifth Business Day prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.

         (c) Each issuance of any Letter of Credit shall be made on at least two
Business Days' prior irrevocable written or telecopy notice (such notice to be
delivered by 12:00 noon, Eastern Standard Time) from the Borrower (or such
shorter notice as shall be acceptable to the Issuing Bank) to the Administrative
Agent and the Issuing Bank specifying whether such Letter of Credit is a standby
Letter of Credit or a trade Letter of Credit, the date of issuance, the date on
which such Letter of Credit is to expire, the amount of such Letter of Credit,
whether such Letter of Credit is to be issued in dollars or a Foreign Currency
(and if such Letter of Credit is to be issued in a Foreign Currency, the
applicable Foreign Currency and whether such Letter of Credit is to be a Bank
One Foreign Currency Letter of Credit or an ABN AMRO Foreign Currency Letter of
Credit), the name and address of the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit, and
such other information as may be necessary or desirable to complete such Letter
of Credit; PROVIDED, THAT, with respect to ABN AMRO Foreign Currency Letters of
Credit any such Letter of Credit issued in the same Foreign Currency shall be
issued in amounts that shall not be less than the approximate Dollar Equivalent
of US $2,000,000 or multiples thereof (or such other amounts as agreed to by the
Issuing Bank in its sole discretion), however, with respect to ABN AMRO Letters
of Credit to be issued in Singapore dollars, no such Letter of Credit shall be
issued in an amount that is less than the approximate Dollar Equivalent of U.S.
$250,000 or multiples thereof. The Issuing Bank will give the Administrative
Agent prompt notice of the issuance and amount of such Letter of Credit and the
expiration date of such Letter of Credit (and the Administrative Agent shall
give prompt notice thereof to the Syndication Agent and each Lender). During the
Letter of Credit Availability Period, the Issuing Bank also will give the
Administrative Agent (i) if and when requested, notice of the amount available
to be drawn under each outstanding Letter of Credit and (ii) prompt notice of
any payment or disbursement that has been or will be made under any Letter of
Credit. Each Letter of Credit (other than Foreign Currency Letters of Credit)
issued hereunder will be subject to the Uniform Customs and Practices for
Documentary Credits, as in effect from time to time. Each Foreign Currency
Letter of Credit issued hereunder shall be subject to and incorporate the
Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, 1993 Revision,
International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 500 (the "UCP") (other than
Articles 41 and 43 thereof with respect to standby Letters of Credit); to the
extent not inconsistent with the UCP, Article 5 of the Uniform Commercial Code
as adopted in Ohio ("ARTICLE 5"); and Section 5-102(a)(10) of the 1995 Official
Text with comments of the Uniform Commercial Code Revised Article 5, as
promulgated by the American Law Institute and National Conference of
Commissioners on Uniform State Laws ("REVISED ARTICLE 5"), which section of
Revised Article 5 shall govern and control over any inconsistent provision of
the UCP or Article 5.



                                       47
<PAGE>   54

         (d) By the issuance of a Letter of Credit and without any further
action on the part of the Issuing Bank, the Agents or the Lenders in respect
thereof, the Issuing Bank hereby grants to each Lender, and each Lender hereby
acquires from the Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal
to such Lender's Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be
drawn under such Letter of Credit, effective upon the issuance of such Letter of
Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Lender hereby
absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, on
behalf of the Issuing Bank, in accordance with Section 2.03(e), such Lender's
Applicable Percentage of the amount of each Letter of Credit Disbursement in the
currency of such disbursement made by the Issuing Bank and not reimbursed by the
Borrower when due in accordance with Section 2.23(g).

         (e) Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire
participations pursuant to Section 2.23(d) in respect of Letters of Credit is
absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance
whatsoever, including the occurrence and continuance of a Default or Event of
Default, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement,
withholding or reduction whatsoever.

         (f) The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account
of the Lenders and the Issuing Bank, as applicable, a nonrefundable Letter of
Credit Fee and Fronting Fee in accordance with Section 2.06(b). In addition to
the foregoing fees and commissions, the Borrower shall pay or reimburse the
Issuing Bank for such normal and customary costs and expenses, including,
without limitation, administrative, issuance, amendment, payment and negotiation
charges, as are incurred or charged by the Issuing Bank in issuing, effecting
payment under, amending or otherwise administering any Letter of Credit
(including any Letter of Credit issued for the account of a Subsidiary).

         (g) The Borrower hereby agrees to reimburse the Issuing Bank for any
payment or disbursement made by the Issuing Bank under any Letter of Credit
(including any Letter of Credit issued for the account of a Subsidiary), by
making payment in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent on
the same Business Day after receipt of notice of such payment or disbursement
(or notice that such payment or disbursement will be made), in the amount and
currency of such payment or disbursement, plus interest on the amount so paid or
disbursed by the Issuing Bank, at a rate per annum equal to the greater of (i)
the rate applicable to ABR Loans pursuant to Section 2.07 or (ii) the cost on a
per annum basis to the Issuing Bank of the funds so paid or disbursed under the
Letter of Credit plus the Applicable LIBOR Margin (such cost plus such margin
being referred to herein as the "Cost of Funds"); PROVIDED, THAT, if such amount
is not reimbursed prior to 2:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on the same
Business Day after receipt by the Borrower of the notice of such payment or
disbursement (or notice that such payment or disbursement will be made),
interest shall thereafter accrue on such unreimbursed amount at a rate per annum
equal to the greater of (i) the rate applicable to ABR Loans during such period
pursuant to Section 2.07, plus 2.00% or (ii) the Cost of Funds plus 2.00%. The
Administrative Agent shall promptly pay any such amounts received by it to the
Issuing Bank. Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Agent,
each Issuing Bank, and each Lender (in any capacity hereunder) from and against
any and all loss, liability, cost, and expense arising at any time or times from
the exchange of one or more currencies for one or more other currencies
hereunder.



                                       48
<PAGE>   55

         (h) The Borrower's obligation to reimburse Letter of Credit
Disbursements as provided in Section 2.23(g) shall be absolute, unconditional
and irrevocable and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of
this Amended Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever, and
irrespective of:

                  (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of
         Credit or any other Loan Document or any term or provision therein;

                  (ii) the existence of any claim, setoff, defense or other
         right which the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other person may at any
         time have against the beneficiary under any Letter of Credit, the
         Issuing Bank, the Agents, any Lender or any other person, whether in
         connection with this Amended Agreement, any other Loan Document or any
         other related or unrelated agreement or transaction;

                  (iii) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of
         Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any
         respect or failing to comply with the Uniform Customs and Practices for
         Documentary Credits, as in effect from time to time, or any statement
         therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect;

                  (iv) payment by the Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit
         against presentation of a draft or other document which does not comply
         with the terms of such Letter of Credit;

                  (v) any amendment, waiver or consent in respect of this
         Amended Agreement or any other Loan Document; and

                  (vi) any other act or omission or delay of any kind or any
         other circumstance or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any
         of the foregoing and whether or not foreseeable, that might, but for
         the provisions of this Section 2.23(h), constitute a legal or equitable
         discharge of the Borrower's obligations hereunder.

         (i) Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the foregoing
paragraph (h), it is expressly understood and agreed that the absolute and
unconditional obligation of the Borrower hereunder to reimburse Letter of Credit
Disbursements will not be excused by the gross negligence or willful misconduct
of the Issuing Bank. However, the preceding sentence and the provisions of
Section 2.23(h) shall not be construed to excuse the Issuing Bank from liability
to the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to consequential
damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrower to the
extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by the Borrower that are caused by
the Issuing Bank's bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct in
determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of
Credit comply with the terms thereof. It is understood that the Issuing Bank may
accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without
responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or
information to the contrary and, in making any payment under any Letter of
Credit (i) the Issuing Bank's exclusive reliance in good faith on the documents
presented to it under such Letter of Credit as to any and all matters set forth
therein, including reliance on the amount of any draft presented under such
Letter of Credit, if such document on its face appears to be in order, 


                                       49
<PAGE>   56

and whether or not any other statement or any other document presented pursuant
to such Letter of Credit proves to be forged or invalid or any statement therein
proves to be inaccurate or untrue in any respect whatsoever and (ii) any
noncompliance in any immaterial respect of the documents presented under such
Letter of Credit with the terms thereof shall, in each case, be deemed not to
constitute bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Issuing
Bank.

         (j) The Issuing Bank shall, promptly following its receipt thereof,
examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a
Letter of Credit. The Issuing Bank shall as promptly as possible give telephonic
notification, confirmed by telex or telecopy, to the Administrative Agent and
the Borrower of such demand for payment and whether the Issuing Bank has made or
will make a Letter of Credit Disbursement thereunder; PROVIDED, THAT, the
failure to give such notice shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to
reimburse any such Letter of Credit Disbursement in accordance with this Section
2.23. The Administrative Agent shall promptly give each Lender notice thereof.

         (k) In the event that the Borrower is required pursuant to the terms of
this Amended Agreement or any other Loan Document to provide cash collateral in
respect of the Letter of Credit Exposure, the Borrower shall deposit in an
account with the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of each Lender, an amount
in cash equal to the amount of such Letter of Credit Exposure (or such lesser
amount as shall be required hereunder or thereunder); the amount to be deposited
shall be denominated in the currency or currencies of the Letter(s) of Credit
outstanding as determined by the relevant Issuing Bank(s). Such deposit shall be
held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance
of the Obligations to Lenders. 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 in
Cash Equivalents, which investments shall be made as directed by the Borrower
(subject, however, to the preservation of such deposits in the currency in which
deposited and unless such investments shall be contrary to applicable law or
regulation or a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, in which case the Administrative Agent shall determine in its
discretion whether to make investments and, if so, shall determine in its
discretion the Cash Equivalents to be selected), such deposits shall not bear
interest. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in
such account. Borrower hereby pledges all such deposits and accounts and cash
collateral, together with the proceeds, investments, and increases thereof and
the interest thereon, to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Issuing
Banks and the other Lenders to secure payment and performance of the
Obligations. Moneys in such account shall automatically be applied by the
Administrative Agent to reimburse the Issuing Bank for Letter of Credit
Disbursements and, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, to satisfy
the Obligations to the Lenders. If the Borrower is required to provide an amount
of cash collateral hereunder as a result of an Event of Default, such amount (to
the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrower within
three Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived. If
the Borrower is required to provide an amount of cash collateral hereunder
pursuant to Section 2.12(c), such amount (to the extent not applied as
aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrower upon demand; PROVIDED, THAT, after
giving effect to such return, (i) the sum of the Dollar Amount of the aggregate
Letter of Credit Exposure, plus the aggregate outstanding Swingline Exposure,
plus the aggregate outstanding 


                                       50
<PAGE>   57

principal amount of Revolving Loans would not exceed the aggregate Revolving
Credit Commitments, (ii) the Dollar Amount of Letters of Credit issued by Bank
One, N.A. does not exceed $25,000,000, (iii) the Dollar Amount of the ABN AMRO
Foreign Currency Letters of Credit does not exceed $46,500,000 and (iv) no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

                                   ARTICLE III

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         The Borrower represents and warrants to each of the Lenders that:

         SECTION 3.01. ORGANIZATION; POWERS. Each of the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries (a) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (b) has all requisite power
and authority to own its property and assets and to carry on its business as now
conducted and as proposed to be conducted, (c) is qualified to do business in
every jurisdiction where such qualification is required, except where the
failure so to qualify would not result in a Material Adverse Effect, and (d) has
the requisite power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its
obligations under each of the Loan Documents and each other agreement or
instrument contemplated thereby to which it is or will be a party and, in the
case of the Borrower, to obtain extensions of credit hereunder.

         SECTION 3.02. AUTHORIZATION. The execution, delivery and performance by
each of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries of each of the Loan Documents to which
it is or will be a party (including the exercise of remedies thereunder) and, in
the case of the Borrower, the extensions of credit hereunder (a) have been duly
authorized by all requisite corporate or partnership and, if required,
stockholder action and (b) will not (i) violate (A) any provision of law,
statute, rule or regulation, (B) any provision of the certificate of
incorporation, partnership agreement, operating agreement or other constitutive
documents or by-laws of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, (C) any order of any
Governmental Authority or (D) any provision of any Material Contract or other
indenture, agreement or instrument to which the Borrower or any of the
Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or any of their property is or
may be bound, (ii) be in conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute
(alone or with notice or lapse of time or both) a default or give rise to
increased, additional, accelerated or guaranteed rights of any person under any
Material Contract or other indenture, agreement or instrument or (iii) except
for the Liens of the Collateral Documents, result in the creation or imposition
of any Lien upon or with respect to any property or assets now owned or
hereafter acquired by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries.

         SECTION 3.03. ENFORCEABILITY. This Amended Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by the Borrower and constitutes, and each other Loan
Document when executed and delivered by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries
will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such party enforceable
against such party in accordance with 


                                       51
<PAGE>   58

its terms, subject to the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
arrangement, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, voidable preference or similar
laws and the application of equitable principles generally.

         SECTION 3.04. CONSENTS AND GOVERNMENTAL APPROVALS. No action, consent
or approval of, registration or filing with or any other action by (a) any
Governmental Authority, (b) any creditor or shareholder of the Borrower or any
creditor, shareholder, partner or member of the Subsidiaries, (c) any
counterparty to a Material Contract or (d) except where failure to take or
obtain such action, consent or approval of, registration or filing with or such
other action could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect,
any other person, is or will be required in connection with the Revolving Credit
Facility or the performance by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries of the
Loan Documents to which it is or will be a party, in each case except such as
have been made or obtained and are in full force and effect.

         SECTION 3.05. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS; UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. (a) The
Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Lenders its consolidated balance sheet
and statements of income and cash flows as of and for the 1997 Fiscal Year,
audited by and accompanied by the unqualified opinion of Ernst & Young LLP,
independent public accountants and (ii) its unaudited consolidating balance
sheet and statements of income and cash flows for the 1997 Fiscal Year. Such
financial statements present fairly the financial condition and results of
operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as
of such dates and for such periods. Such balance sheet and the notes thereto
disclose all material liabilities, direct, contingent or otherwise, of the
Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof for which
disclosure is required in accordance with GAAP. Such financial statements were
prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis, except as
otherwise noted therein.

         (b) As of the Effective Date, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries do not
have any material liability, contingent or otherwise, required by GAAP to be set
forth on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower, except (i) as set forth
in the financial statements referred to in Section 3.05(a), (ii) for items set
forth in Schedule 3.05(b) and (iii) for liabilities and obligations incurred in
the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.

         SECTION 3.06. NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE. Since August 31, 1997, and as
of the Effective Date, there has not been any Material Adverse Change in the
business of the Borrower.

         SECTION 3.07. TITLE TO PROPERTIES; POSSESSION UNDER LEASES. (a) Each of
the Borrower and the Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to, or valid
leasehold interests or licenses in, all its properties and assets (including
without limitation, real property and intellectual property interests), except
for defects in title that do not materially interfere with its ability to
conduct its business as currently conducted or to utilize such properties and
assets for their intended purposes. All such properties and assets are free and
clear of Liens, other than Liens permitted by Section 6.02.


                                       52
<PAGE>   59

         (b) Each of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries has complied in all
material respects with all obligations under all material leases to which it is
a party and all such leases are in full force and effect. Each of the Borrower
and the Subsidiaries enjoys peaceful and undisturbed possession under all such
material leases.

         SECTION 3.08. SUBSIDIARIES. Schedule 3.08 sets forth a list of all of
the Subsidiaries, the respective jurisdictions of organization thereof and the
percentage ownership interest, direct or indirect, of the Borrower therein. All
of the Subsidiaries are Consolidated Subsidiaries.

         SECTION 3.09. LITIGATION; COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. (a) As of the Effective
Date, except as set forth in Schedule 3.09 or as fully covered by third party
insurance, there are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened
litigation, arbitrations or other proceedings against the Borrower or any
Subsidiary involving a claim for more than $200,000. Except as noted on Schedule
3.09, there are no lawsuits, claims, arbitrations or other proceedings which, if
adversely determined, whether individually or in the aggregate, would have a
Material Adverse Effect. As of the Effective Date, to the knowledge of the
Borrower, except as set forth in Schedule 3.09, neither the Borrower nor any
Subsidiary is a party or subject to or in default under any material judgment,
order, injunction or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitration
tribunal. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.09, there are no actions, suits,
investigations or proceedings at law or in equity or by or before any arbitrator
or Governmental Authority now pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower,
threatened against or affecting the Borrower, any of the Subsidiaries or any
business, property or rights of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries (i)
which involve any Loan Document or (ii) as to which there is a reasonable
possibility of an adverse determination and which, if adversely determined,
could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.

         (b) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.09, the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable statutes, laws, ordinances,
rules, orders and regulations of any Governmental Authority ("APPLICABLE LAWS")
including those relating to the environment, taxes and occupational health and
safety, except for instances of noncompliance that, in the aggregate, could not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in
Schedule 3.09 and as of the Effective Date, neither the Borrower nor any
Subsidiary has received any written communication during the past three years
from a Governmental Authority that alleges that the Borrower or a Subsidiary is
not in compliance in any material respect with any Applicable Laws. Except as
set forth in Schedule 3.09 and as of the Effective Date, to the knowledge of the
Borrower, there is no pending or threatened investigation of the Borrower or a
Subsidiary by any Governmental Authority.

         SECTION 3.10. AGREEMENTS. (a) Each indenture or other agreement or
instrument evidencing Indebtedness and each other material agreement, contract,
lease, license, commitment or other instrument (within the meaning of 17 C.F.R.
Section 229.601(b)(10)(1996)) to which the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries
is  a party or by which it or any of its properties or assets are or may be
bound as of the Effective Date is listed on Schedule 3.10 hereto (collectively
with the Subordinated Notes and any agreements listed on Schedule 3.20, the
"MATERIAL CONTRACTS").



                                       53
<PAGE>   60

         (b) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.10, all the Material Contracts
are valid, binding and in full force and effect in all material respects. Except
as set forth in Schedule 3.10, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries have performed
all material obligations required to be performed by them to date under the
Material Contracts and they are not in breach or default in any material respect
thereunder and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, no other party to any of the
Material Contracts is in breach or default in any material respect thereunder.
Neither the Borrower, nor any of the Subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the
Borrower, any other party to any Material Contract has given notice of
termination of, or taken any action inconsistent with the continuation of, any
Material Contract. None of such other parties has any presently exercisable
right to terminate any Material Contract nor will any such other party have any
right to terminate any Material Contract on account of the execution, delivery
or performance of the Loan Documents.

         SECTION 3.11. FEDERAL RESERVE REGULATIONS. (a) Neither the Borrower nor
any of the Subsidiaries is engaged principally, or as one of its important
activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or
carrying Margin Stock.

         (b) No part of the proceeds of any Loan and no Letter of Credit will be
used, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or
ultimately, for any purpose which entails a violation of, or which is
inconsistent with, the provisions of the regulations of the Board, including
Regulation G, U and X.

         SECTION 3.12. INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT; PUBLIC UTILITY HOLDING COMPANY
ACT. Neither the Borrower nor any of the Subsidiaries is (a) an "investment
company" as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company
Act of 1940 or (b) a "holding company" as defined in, or subject to regulation
under, the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or (c) subject to
regulation as a "public utility" or a "public service corporation" or the
equivalent under any Federal or state law.

         SECTION 3.13. USE OF PROCEEDS. The proceeds of all Loans will be used
solely (a) to provide for the ongoing working capital requirements of the
Borrower and the Subsidiaries and for general corporate purposes (including
working capital, Capital Expenditures in the ordinary course of business and
Permitted Acquisitions) and (b) to pay related fees and expenses. The Letters of
Credit will be issued solely (i) to support various financial and other
performance obligations of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries incurred in the
ordinary course of business and (ii) with respect to the ABN AMRO Letters of
Credit, to collateralize certain permitted Indebtedness of certain Foreign
Subsidiaries.

         SECTION 3.14. TAX RETURNS. Each of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries
has filed or caused to be filed all Federal, state and local tax returns
required to have been filed by it and has paid or caused to be paid all taxes
shown to be due and payable on such returns or on any assessments received by
it, except taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings diligently pursued and for which adequate reserves in accordance
with GAAP have been set aside on its financial statements.



                                       54
<PAGE>   61

         SECTION 3.15. NO MATERIAL MISSTATEMENTS. The Confidential Information
Memorandum and the exhibits and schedules (except for forecasts and projections)
furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Lenders in connection with the
negotiation of any Loan Document or included therein or delivered pursuant
thereto, when taken as a whole and evaluated in the context presented, do not
contain any material misstatement of fact or omit to state any material fact
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the
circumstances under which such information was provided. Any such exhibit or
schedule which constitutes a forecast or a projection was prepared in good
faith, was based on assumptions that the Borrower believes to be reasonable and
was based on the best information reasonably available to the Borrower. The
Borrower has no reason to believe that any such forecasts or projections are
misleading in any material respect in light of the circumstances existing at the
time of preparation thereof.

         SECTION 3.16. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS. (a) Except as set forth in
Schedule 3.16, each of the Borrower and the Commonly Controlled Entities is in
compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA and
the regulations and published interpretations thereunder. Neither a Reportable
Event nor an "accumulated funding deficiency" (within the meaning of Section 412
of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA) has occurred within the last five years
with respect to any Plan, and each Plan has complied in all material respects
with the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code. No termination of a Single
Employer Plan has occurred and no Lien in favor of the PBGC or a Plan has arisen
during the five years prior to the Effective Date.

         (b) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.16, the present value of all
accrued benefits under each Single Employer Plan in which the Borrower or any
Commonly Controlled Entity is a participant (based on those assumptions used to
fund the Plans) did not, as of the last annual valuation date, exceed the value
of the assets of such Plan allocable to such accrued benefits.

         (c) Neither the Borrower nor any Commonly Controlled Entity has had a
complete or partial withdrawal from any Multiemployer Plan, and neither the
Borrower nor any Commonly Controlled Entity would become subject to any
liability under ERISA if the Borrower or any such Commonly Controlled Entity
were to withdraw completely from all Multiemployer Plans as of the last
valuation date.

         (d) No such Multiemployer Plan is in "reorganization" or "insolvent,"
within the meaning of such terms as used in ERISA.

         (e) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.16, neither the Borrower nor any
Commonly Controlled Entity has any liability for post retirement benefits to be
provided to its current and former employees.

         (f) No prohibited transaction under ERISA or the Code has occurred with
respect to any Multiemployer Plan or Single Employer Plan which could have a
Material Adverse Effect.




                                       55
<PAGE>   62

         SECTION 3.17. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY MATTERS. As of the Effective
Date, except as set forth in Schedule 3.17, each of the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries has complied in all material respects with all applicable Federal,
state, local and other statutes, ordinances, orders, judgments, rulings and
regulations relating to protection of the environment or to employee health or
safety. As of the Effective Date, except as set forth in Schedule 3.17, neither
the Borrower nor any Subsidiary has received notice of any material failure so
to comply. The facilities of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries do not manage or
contain any hazardous wastes, hazardous substances, hazardous materials, toxic
substances, toxic pollutants or similarly denominated substances, as those terms
or similar terms are used in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the
Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act, the
Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, the Toxic Substance Control Act, the
Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act or any other applicable law relating to
protection of the environment, human health or to employee health and safety
(collectively, "HAZARDOUS Materials"), in violation in any material respect of
any such law or any regulations promulgated pursuant thereto. Except as set
forth in Schedule 3.17, to the knowledge of the Borrowers, there are no events,
conditions or circumstances involving environmental pollution, regulation or
control or employee health or safety that are reasonably likely to result in any
material liabilities being incurred by the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

         SECTION 3.18. SECURITY INTERESTS. (a) The Administrative Agent for the
benefit of the Secured Parties will at all times have the Liens provided for in
the Collateral Documents and, subject to the filing by the Administrative Agent
of continuation statements to the extent required by the Uniform Commercial Code
and the continuing possession by the Administrative Agent of the certificates
representing the securities pledged pursuant to the Pledge Agreement, the
Collateral Documents will at all times constitute a valid and continuing lien of
record and first priority perfected security interest in all the Collateral
referred to therein. No filings or recordings are required in order to perfect
the security interests created under the Collateral Documents, except for
filings or recordings listed on Schedule 3.18. All such listed filings and
recordings will have been made on or prior to the Effective Date.

         (b) All of the shares of common stock of each Subsidiary have been duly
and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and nonassessable, and were
not issued in violation of the preemptive rights of any stockholder. The
Borrower owns, directly or indirectly, good and valid title to 100% (or such
other percentage as the Borrower does own, directly or indirectly, as noted on
Schedule 3.08) of the Capital Stock of each Subsidiary, free and clear of all
Liens, other than the Liens of the Collateral Documents, of every kind, whether
absolute, matured, contingent or otherwise. There are no existing options,
warrants, calls or commitments relating to, or any securities or rights
convertible into, exercisable for or exchangeable for, any Capital Stock of the
Subsidiaries.

         SECTION 3.19. SOLVENCY. (a) After the making of each Loan made on the
Effective Date and the uses of proceeds therefrom, each of the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries will be Solvent on the Effective Date. "SOLVENT" means, with
respect to any person, that (i) the fair value of the assets of such person, at
a fair valuation, will exceed the debts and liabilities, subordinated,
contingent or otherwise, of such person; (ii) the present fair saleable 


                                       56
<PAGE>   63

value of the property of such person will be greater than the amount that will
be required to pay the liabilities of such person on its debts and other
liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other
liabilities become absolute and matured; (iii) such person will be able to pay
its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts
and liabilities become absolute and matured; and (iv) such person will not have
an unreasonably small amount of capital with which to conduct the businesses in
which it is engaged as such businesses are now conducted and are proposed to be
conducted. With respect to any contingent liabilities, such liabilities shall be
computed at the amount which, in light of all the facts and circumstances
existing at the time, represents the amount which can reasonably be expected to
become an actual or matured liability.

         (b) The Borrower does not intend to, or to permit any of the
Subsidiaries to, and does not believe that the Borrower or any of the
Subsidiaries will, incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they
mature taking into account the timing of and amounts of cash to be received by
the Borrower or any such Subsidiary and the timing of and amounts of cash to be
payable on or in respect of indebtedness of the Borrower or any such Subsidiary.

         SECTION 3.20. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES AND SHAREHOLDERS. Except as
set forth in Schedule 3.20 and except for agreements and arrangements among the
Borrower and Wholly Owned Subsidiaries or among Wholly Owned Subsidiaries,
neither the Borrower nor any of the Subsidiaries is a party to, and none of the
properties and assets of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries is subject to
or bound by, any agreement or arrangement with, (a) any Affiliate of the
Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries, except in each case those agreements or
arrangements that are entered into on terms not less favorable to the Borrower
or any Subsidiary as a comparable transaction on an arm's-length basis with an
unrelated third party or as may be expressly permitted by Section 6.10, or (b)
any Shareholder. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.20 and except for
transactions among the Borrower and Wholly Owned Subsidiaries or among Wholly
Owned Subsidiaries, neither the Borrower nor any of the Subsidiaries is engaged
in any transaction with (i) any Affiliate of the Borrower or of any Subsidiary,
except in each case those agreements or arrangements that are entered into on
terms not less favorable to the Borrower or any Subsidiary as a comparable
transaction on an arm's-length basis with an unrelated third party or as may be
expressly permitted by Section 6.10, or (ii) any Shareholder.

         SECTION 3.21. INSURANCE. The Borrower and the Subsidiaries maintain
policies of fire and casualty, liability, business interruption and other forms
of insurance in such amounts, with such deductibles and against such risks and
losses, all of which are in accordance with normal industry practices. All such
policies are in full force and effect, all premiums due and payable thereon have
been paid (other than retroactive or retrospective premium adjustments that are
not yet, but may be, required to be paid with respect to any period under
comprehensive general liability and workmen's compensation insurance policies),
and no notice of cancellation or termination has been received with respect to
any such policy which has not been replaced on substantially similar terms prior
to the date of such cancellation. The activities and operations of the Borrower
and the Subsidiaries have been conducted in a manner so as to conform in all
material respects to all applicable provisions of such insurance policies.



                                       57
<PAGE>   64

         SECTION 3.22. LABOR MATTERS. (i) As of the Effective Date, except as
set forth in Schedule 3.22, there is no labor strike, dispute, work stoppage or
lockout pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against the
Borrower or a Subsidiary, (ii) to the knowledge of the Borrower, as of the
Effective Date, no union organizational campaign is in progress with respect to
the employees of the Borrower or a Subsidiary; (iii) as of the Effective Date,
there is no unfair labor practice charge or complaint against the Borrower or a
Subsidiary pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened before the
National Labor Relations Board; (iv) there are no pending or threatened union
grievances against the Borrower or a Subsidiary as to which there is a
reasonable possibility of adverse determination and that, if so determined,
would have a Material Adverse Effect; (v) there are no pending, or, to the
knowledge of the Borrower, threatened, charges against the Borrower, a
Subsidiary or any current or former employee of the Borrower before the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission or any state or local agency responsible for
the prevention of unlawful employment practices which individually or in the
aggregate are reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (vi) as
of the Effective Date, none of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries has received
written notice during the past three years of the intent of any Governmental
Authority responsible for the enforcement of labor or employment laws to conduct
an investigation of the Borrower or a Subsidiary and, to the knowledge of the
Borrower, no such investigation is in progress.

         (b) No employee or agent of the Borrower or any Subsidiary that has not
signed a confidentiality and non-compete agreement is privy to any information
that, if disseminated to an unrelated third party, could have a Material Adverse
Effect.

         SECTION 3.23. COVENANTS CONTAINED IN THE ORIGINAL CREDIT AGREEMENT. The
requirements of Section 5.14 of the Original Credit Agreement have been
satisfied (or waived) in all respects.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                              CONDITIONS OF LENDING

         SECTION 4.01. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE. This Amended
Agreement shall become effective on the first date (the "EFFECTIVE DATE") when
all of the following conditions precedent set forth in this Section 4.01, and
the additional conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.02, have been
satisfied:

                  (a) The Agents shall have received (i) counterparts hereof
         signed by each of the parties (or, in the case of any Lender as to
         which an executed counterpart shall not have been received, telecopy or
         other written confirmation from such party in form satisfactory to the
         Agents of the execution of a counterpart hereof by such Lender), (ii)
         counterparts of the Borrower's Consent and Agreement signed by each of
         the parties thereto (or, in the case of any Lender as to which an
         executed counterpart shall not have been received, telecopy or other
         written confirmation from such party in form satisfactory to the Agents
         of the execution of the counterpart thereof by such Lender), and (iii)
         counterparts of the Subsidiary's Consent and 


                                       58
<PAGE>   65

         Agreement signed by each of the parties thereto (or, in the case of any
         Lender as to which an executed counterpart shall not have been
         received, telecopy or other written confirmation from such party in
         form satisfactory to the Agents of the execution of the counterpart
         thereof by such Lender).

                  (b) The Administrative Agent shall have received for the
         account of each Lender a duly executed Note or Notes, dated the
         Effective Date, complying with the provisions of Section 2.05. On the
         Effective Date, the Lenders under the Original Credit Agreement will
         return the Notes dated as of the Closing Date to the Borrower for
         cancellation, and such Notes will be replaced, as applicable, by the
         Notes dated the Effective Date and issued to the Lenders hereunder.

                  (c) The Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties
         shall have a security interest in the Collateral of the type and
         priority described in the Collateral Documents, perfected to the extent
         contemplated by Section 3.18 and the Administrative Agent shall have
         received:

                           (i) confirmation by the Borrower that the
                  Administrative Agent has previously received certificates
                  representing all Pledged Securities (as defined in the Pledge
                  Agreement), accompanied by stock powers endorsed in blank;

                           (ii) confirmation by the Borrower that no additional
                  filing, registration or recordation of any document (including
                  any Uniform Commercial Code financing statement) is required
                  to be filed, registered or recorded in order to create in
                  favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the
                  Secured Parties a valid, legal and perfected security interest
                  in or Lien on the Collateral; and

                           (iii) searches of Uniform Commercial Code filings in
                  the jurisdiction of the chief executive office of the Borrower
                  and each Subsidiary and each jurisdiction where any Collateral
                  is located and where a filing was made in connection with the
                  Original Credit Agreement and the Collateral Documents,
                  confirming the perfected security interest in the Collateral
                  in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the
                  Secured Parties.

                  (d) The Agents shall have received an opinion of Thompson Hine
         & Flory LLP, counsel to the Borrower and the Subsidiaries,
         substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto dated the Effective Date
         and addressed to the Agents and the Lenders.

                  (e) The Agents shall have received:

                           (i) an Officer's Certificate, dated the Effective
                  Date and signed by a Responsible Officer of each of the
                  Borrower and the Subsidiaries confirming compliance with the
                  conditions precedent set forth in subparagraphs (g), (h), (i)
                  and (j) of this Section 4.01 and in subparagraphs (b), (c) and
                  (d) of Section 4.02;


                                       59
<PAGE>   66


                           (ii) an Officer's Certificate, dated the Effective
                  Date and signed by a Responsible Officer of each of the
                  Borrower and the Domestic Subsidiaries certifying that the
                  copies of the long form certificates of incorporation and
                  other constitutive documents, including all amendments
                  thereto, of each of the Borrower, the Domestic Subsidiaries
                  and all Foreign Subsidiaries delivered pursuant to the
                  execution of the Original Credit Agreement or in connection
                  with any Supplemental Agreement executed prior to the
                  Effective Date, have not been modified or amended in any
                  respect and remain in full force and effect in accordance with
                  their terms;

                           (iii) a certificate as to the good standing of each
                  such party as of a recent date, from such Secretary of State
                  (or other domestic or foreign authority (where available));

                           (iv) a certificate of the Secretary or Assistant
                  Secretary of each of the Borrower, the Domestic Subsidiaries,
                  dated the Effective Date and certifying (A) that the by-laws
                  or comparable governing instruments of such party delivered
                  pursuant to the execution of the Original Credit Agreement or
                  in connection with any Supplemental Agreement executed prior
                  to the Effective Date, have not been modified or amended in
                  any respect and remain in full force and effect in accordance
                  with their terms, (B) that attached thereto is a true and
                  complete copy of resolutions duly adopted by the Board of
                  Directors or comparable governing body of such party (or, in
                  the case of any partnership, of the general partner of such
                  party) authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of
                  this Amended Agreement, the Borrower's Consent and Agreement
                  and the Subsidiaries' Consent and Agreement, and, in the case
                  of the Borrower, the extensions of credit hereunder, and that
                  such resolutions have not been modified, rescinded or amended
                  and are in full force and effect, (C) that the certificate of
                  incorporation or other constitutive documents of such party
                  have not been amended since the date of the last amendment
                  thereto shown on the certificate of good standing furnished
                  pursuant to clause (iii) above, and (D) as to the incumbency
                  and specimen signature of each officer executing any Loan
                  Document or any other document delivered in connection
                  herewith on behalf of such party; and

                           (v) such other documents, opinions, certificates and
                  agreements in connection with the Revolving Credit Facility,
                  in form and substance satisfactory to the Agents, as it shall
                  reasonably request.

                  (f) The Borrower shall have paid all Fees and other amounts
         due and payable to the Agents or any Lender on or prior to the
         Effective Date, including, without limitation, all fees and other
         amounts accrued to the Effective Date to the Administrative Agent for
         the account of each Lender pursuant to Section 2.05 of the Original
         Credit agreement.

                  (g) No Material Adverse Change shall have occurred since
         August 31, 1997. 



                                       60
<PAGE>   67


                  (h) The Lenders shall have received evidence satisfactory to
         each of them that the Borrower and the Subsidiaries have obtained all
         governmental (whether domestic or foreign), shareholder and third party
         consents and approvals and expiration of all applicable waiting or
         appeal periods necessary or, in the opinion of the Lenders, appropriate
         in connection with the Revolving Credit Facility and the pledge of the
         Collateral for the Revolving Credit Facility without any action being
         taken that could restrain, prevent or impose any material adverse
         condition on the Borrower, the Subsidiaries (or any of them) or the
         transactions contemplated hereby or that could seek or threaten any of
         the foregoing, and no law or regulation or condition shall be
         applicable which in the judgment of the Lenders could have such effect.

                  (i) There shall not exist any action, suit, investigation or
         proceeding pending or threatened in any court or before any arbitrator
         or Governmental Authority that purports to adversely affect the
         Revolving Credit Facility or that could have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (j) None of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries shall be in
         violation of any law, rule or regulation, or in default with respect to
         any judgment, writ, injunction or decree of any Governmental Authority,
         where such violation or default could reasonably be expected to result
         in a Material Adverse Effect.

         SECTION 4.02. ALL CREDIT EVENTS. The obligations of the Lenders to make
Loans hereunder, and the obligation of the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of
Credit hereunder, are subject to the satisfaction of the conditions that on the
date of each Borrowing and on the date of issuance of each Letter of Credit:

                  (a) The Agents shall have received a notice of such Borrowing
         as required by Section 2.04 or Section 2.11, or a notice requesting the
         issuance of such Letter of Credit as required by Section 2.23(c), or a
         notice requesting a Swingline Borrowing as required by Section 2.22(a),
         as applicable.

                  (b) The representations and warranties set forth in Article
         III and the representations and warranties of the Borrower and the
         Subsidiaries set forth in the other Loan Documents shall be true and
         correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such
         Borrowing or the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit with the
         same effect as though made on and as of such date, except to the extent
         such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date
         (in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and
         correct in all material respects on and as of such earlier date).

                  (c) At the time of and immediately after such Borrowing or the
         issuance of such Letter of Credit, the aggregate outstanding principal
         amount of the Loans of each Class, the Swingline Exposure and the
         Letter of Credit Exposure shall not exceed the limitations set forth in
         Sections 2.02.




                                       61
<PAGE>   68

                  (d) At the time of and immediately after such Borrowing or the
         issuance of such Letter of Credit, no Default or Event of Default shall
         have occurred and be continuing.

Each Borrowing hereunder and each issuance of a Letter of Credit hereunder shall
be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower on the
date of such Borrowing or issuance of such Letter of Credit as to the matters
specified in paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) of this Section 4.02. For purposes of
this Section 4.02, a "Borrowing" does not include a conversion or continuation
of a previously outstanding Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.11.

         SECTION 4.03. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO EXTENSION OF CREDIT FOR FCE
ACQUISITION. The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans hereunder, the
proceeds of which are used to finance the FCE Acquisition, are subject to the
satisfaction of the following conditions on the dated of such Borrowing:

                  (a) all conditions precedent contained in Section 4.01 and
         4.02 of this Amended Agreement shall have been satisfied, in the sole
         discretion of the Administrative Agent; and

                  (b) the terms and conditions of the Consent Letter dated as of
         November 19, 1997 among the Agents and the Lenders with respect to the
         FCE Acquisition shall be true and correct in all respects.

                                    ARTICLE V

                              AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

         The Borrower covenants and agrees with each Lender that so long as this
Amended Agreement shall remain in effect and until the Commitments have been
terminated and the Loans, together with interest, Fees and all other Obligations
have been paid in full, all Letters of Credit have been canceled or have
expired, and all amounts drawn thereunder have been reimbursed in full, unless
the Required Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing:

         SECTION 5.01. EXISTENCE; BUSINESSES AND PROPERTIES. (a) The Borrower
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, except as otherwise expressly permitted under Sections 6.05(a) and
(b).

         (b) The Borrower will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, do
or cause to be done all things necessary to obtain, preserve, renew, extend and
keep in full force and effect the rights, leases, privileges, licenses, permits,
franchises, authorizations, patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade names and all
other intellectual property material to the conduct of its business; maintain
and operate such business in substantially the manner in which it is presently
conducted and operated; comply in all material respects with all applicable
laws, rules, regulations (including any zoning, building, ordinance, code or
approval or any building permits or any restrictions of record or agreements
affecting real 



                                       62
<PAGE>   69

property and excluding environmental laws, which are subject to the provisions
of Section 5.11) and judgments, writs, injunctions, decrees and orders of any
Governmental Authority, whether now in effect or hereafter enacted; and at all
times maintain and preserve all property material to the conduct of such
business and keep such property in good repair, working order and condition
(subject to ordinary wear and tear) and from time to time make, or cause to be
made, all needful and proper repairs, renewals, additions, improvements and
replacements thereto necessary in order that the business carried on in
connection therewith may be properly conducted at all times.

         SECTION 5.02. INSURANCE. (a) The Borrower will, and will cause each of
the Subsidiaries to, keep its insurable properties fully insured at all times by
financially sound and reputable insurers; such insurance to include fire and
other risks insured against by extended coverage, public and product liability
insurance against claims for personal injury or death or property damage
occurring upon, in, about or in connection with the use of any properties owned,
occupied or controlled by it and business interruption insurance, and maintain
such other insurance as may be required by law and as is customary in the
industry. The Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent on the
Effective Date a report from the Borrower's independent insurance consultant
demonstrating that the insurance required by this Section 5.02 is in effect.

         (b) The Borrower will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, on
the request of the Agents, deliver original or certified copies of all insurance
policies to the Agents.

         (c) In connection with the covenants set forth in this Section 5.02, it
is understood and agreed that:

                  (i) none of the Agents, the Lenders, the Issuing Bank or their
         respective agents or employees shall be liable for any loss or damage
         insured by the insurance policies required to be maintained under this
         Section 5.02, it being understood that (A) the Borrower and the
         Subsidiaries shall look solely to their insurance companies or any
         other parties other than the aforesaid parties for the recovery of such
         loss or damage and (B) such insurance companies shall have no rights of
         subrogation against the Agents, the Lenders, the Issuing Bank or their
         agents or employees;

                  (ii) upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Borrower
         will permit an insurance consultant retained by the Agents, at the
         expense of the Borrower, to review the insurance policies maintained by
         the Borrower and the Subsidiaries; and

                  (iii) the designation of any form, type or amount of insurance
         coverage by the Agents or the Lenders under this Section 5.02 shall in
         no event be deemed a representation, warranty or advice by the Agents
         or the Lenders that such insurance is adequate for the purposes of the
         business of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries or the protection of
         their properties.

         SECTION 5.03. OBLIGATIONS AND TAXES. The Borrower will, and will cause
each of the Subsidiaries to, pay all of its Indebtedness and other obligations
promptly and in accordance with their terms and pay and discharge promptly when
due all taxes, assessments and 



                                       63
<PAGE>   70

governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or upon its income or profits or
in respect of its property, before the same shall become delinquent or in
default, as well as all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies or
otherwise which, if unpaid, might give rise to a Lien upon such properties or
any part thereof; PROVIDED, THAT, such payment and discharge shall not be
required with respect to any such tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim so long
as the validity or amount thereof shall be contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings diligently pursued and the Borrower shall have set aside
on its books adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP with respect thereto and
such contest operates to suspend collection of the contested obligation, tax,
assessment or charge and enforcement of a Lien.

         SECTION 5.04. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, REPORTS, ETC. The Borrower will
furnish to the Agents and each Lender:

                  (a) as soon as available, and in any event within 105 days
         after the end of each Fiscal Year (i) its consolidated and
         consolidating balance sheet and related consolidated and consolidating
         statements of operations and cash flows, showing the consolidated and
         consolidating financial position of the Borrower and its Consolidated
         Subsidiaries as of the close of such Fiscal Year and the consolidated
         and consolidating results of their operations and cash flows during
         such year, in each case setting forth in comparative form the figures
         for the preceding Fiscal Year, with all of the consolidated statements
         having been audited by a nationally recognized independent public
         accounting firm and accompanied by an opinion of such accountants
         (which shall not be qualified in any material respect) to the effect
         that such financial statements fairly present the consolidated
         financial position and consolidated results of operations and cash
         flows of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries in accordance
         with GAAP consistently applied and (ii) copies of its Annual Report on
         Form 10-K prepared in compliance with the requirements therefor and
         filed with the SEC;

                  (b) as soon as available, and in any event within 45 days
         after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each Fiscal
         Year (i) its consolidated balance sheet and related consolidated
         statements of operations and cash flows, showing the consolidated
         financial position of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as
         of the close of such fiscal quarter, the consolidated results of their
         operations and cash flows during such fiscal quarter and the then
         elapsed portion of such Fiscal Year and the consolidated cash flows for
         the then elapsed portion of such Fiscal Year, all certified by one of
         its Financial Officers as fairly presenting the consolidated financial
         position and consolidated results of operations and cash flows of the
         Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP
         consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and
         (ii) copies of its Quarterly Report on form 10-Q prepared in compliance
         with the requirements therefore and filed with the SEC;

                  (c) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements
         under paragraph (a) or (b) above, an Officer's Certificate of the
         Borrower certifying that no Default or Event of Default has occurred
         or, if such a Default or Event of Default has occurred, specifying the
         nature and extent thereof and any corrective action taken or proposed
         to be taken with respect thereto;



                                       64
<PAGE>   71

                  (d) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements
         under paragraph (a) or (b) above, a certificate of a Financial Officer
         of the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit F hereto, (i)
         setting forth computations in reasonable detail satisfactory to the
         Administrative Agent demonstrating compliance with the covenants
         contained in Sections 6.13 and 6.14, (ii) setting forth computations in
         reasonable detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent
         demonstrating the Consolidated Pricing Ratio and (iii) stating whether,
         since the date of the most recent Required Financial Statements
         previously delivered, there has been any material change in the
         generally accepted accounting principles applied in the preparation of
         the Borrower's financial statements and, if so, describing such change;

                  (e) promptly upon their becoming publicly available, copies of
         all (i) financial statements, reports, notices and proxy statements
         sent or made available by the Borrower to all of its security holders
         in compliance with the Exchange Act or any comparable Federal or state
         laws relating to the disclosure by any person of information to its
         security holders, (ii) all regular and periodic reports and all
         registration statements and prospectuses filed by the Borrower with any
         securities exchange or with the SEC, and (iii) all press releases and
         other statements made available by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries
         concerning material developments in the business of the Borrower or any
         of the Subsidiaries, as the case may be;

                  (f) promptly upon completion, but in any event not later than
         45 days after the commencement of each Fiscal Year, a copy of
         projections by the Borrower of its consolidated balance sheet and
         related consolidated statements of operations and cash flows for such
         Fiscal Year (including all material assumptions to such projections)
         and a budget for such Fiscal Year, all in form customarily prepared by
         the Borrower's management, such projected financial statements to be
         accompanied by a certificate of a Financial Officer to the effect that
         such projected financial statements have been prepared in good faith,
         based on assumptions that the Borrower believes to be reasonable and
         based on the best information available to the Borrower and that such
         Financial Officer has no reason to believe they are misleading in any
         material respect in light of the circumstances existing at the time of
         preparation thereof;

                  (g) at least 10 but not more than 30 days prior to any
         Permitted Acquisition, financial projections covering the period from
         the date of such Permitted Acquisition through the Revolving Credit
         Maturity Date giving effect to such Permitted Acquisition and
         demonstrating compliance by the Borrower on a pro forma basis with the
         covenants in Article VI from and after the date of, and after giving
         effect to such Permitted Acquisition through the Revolving Credit
         Maturity Date (such projections to be certified by a Financial Officer
         of the Borrower as having been prepared in good faith on the basis of
         assumptions believed by the Borrower to be reasonable);

                  (h) as soon as available, and in any event within 15 days of
         receipt, any final management letter issued or provided by the auditors
         of the Borrower or any Subsidiary; and

                                       65
<PAGE>   72

                  (i) promptly, from time to time, such other information
         regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of
         the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of any
         Loan Document, as either Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.

         SECTION 5.05. OTHER INFORMATION. (a) The Borrower will furnish to the
Agents prompt written notice of the following:

                  (i) any Default or Event of Default, specifying the nature and
         extent thereof and the corrective action (if any) proposed to be taken
         with respect thereto;

                  (ii) the filing or commencement of, or any threat or notice of
         intention of any person to file or commence, any action, suit or
         proceeding, whether at law or in equity or by or before any
         Governmental Authority, against or affecting the Borrower or any of the
         Subsidiaries (A) which, if adversely determined, could individually or
         in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
         Effect or (B) which involves a claim or series of related claims
         against the Borrower or any Subsidiary in excess of $500,000; PROVIDED,
         THAT, the Borrower is not required to give written notice of claims
         fully covered by third party insurance;

                  (iii) all matters materially affecting the value,
         enforceability or collectibility of any material portion of its assets,
         including changes to significant contracts, schedules of equipment,
         changes of significant equipment or real property, the reclamation or
         repossession of, or the return to the Borrower or any of the
         Subsidiaries of, a material amount of goods and material claims or
         disputes asserted by any customer or other obligor, which matters could
         have a Material Adverse Effect;

                  (iv) any material adverse change in the relationship between
         any of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any of
         its respective suppliers, licensors or customers, on the other hand,
         which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

                  (v) all proposed amendments to any material agreement relating
         to Indebtedness to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is a party; and

                  (vi) any development that individually or in the aggregate has
         resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material
         Adverse Effect.

         (b) Immediately upon receipt by the Borrower, the Borrower shall
provide the Agents and the Lenders with copies of all notices (including notices
of default), statements and financial information received from any other
creditor or lessor with respect to any item of Indebtedness which, if not paid,
could give rise to an Event of Default or the repossession of material property
from the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries.



                                       66
<PAGE>   73

         (c) Any notification required by this Section 5.05 shall be accompanied
by a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower setting forth the
details of the specified events and the action which the Borrower proposes to
take with respect thereto.

         SECTION 5.06. ERISA. (a) The Borrower will, and will cause each of the
Subsidiaries to, comply in all material respects with the applicable provisions
of ERISA and the Code.

         (b) The Borrower will promptly give notice to the Agents and each
Lender of the following events, as soon as possible and in any event within 30
days after the Borrower knows or has reason to know thereof: (i) the occurrence
or expected occurrence of any Reportable Event with respect to any Plan, a
failure to make any required contribution to a Plan, any filing by the Borrower
with the PBGC of a notice of intent to terminate a Plan, any receipt by the
Borrower of notice from the PBGC of the intention of the PBGC to terminate a
Plan or appoint a trustee to administer a Plan, any Lien in favor of the PBGC or
a Plan, or any withdrawal from, or the termination, reorganization or insolvency
(within the meaning of such terms as used in ERISA) of, any Multiemployer Plan;
or (ii) the institution of proceedings or the taking of any other action by the
PBGC or the Borrower or any Commonly Controlled Entity or any Multiemployer Plan
with respect to the withdrawal from, or the termination, reorganization or
insolvency (within the meaning of such terms as used in ERISA) of, any Single
Employer Plan or Multiemployer Plan.

         SECTION 5.07. MAINTAINING RECORDS; ACCESS TO PROPERTIES AND
INSPECTIONS. The Borrower will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, keep
proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries in
conformity with GAAP and all requirements of law are made of all dealings and
transactions in relation to its business and activities. The Borrower will, and
will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, permit any representatives designated by
either Agent or any Lender to visit and inspect the financial records and the
properties of the Borrower or any Subsidiary at reasonable times and as often as
reasonably requested, and to make extracts from and copies of such financial
records, and permit any representatives designated by either Agent or any Lender
to discuss the affairs, finances and condition of the Borrower or any Subsidiary
with the officers thereof and independent accountants therefor (with
representatives of the Borrower present unless an Event of Default or Default
has occurred and is continuing).

         SECTION 5.08. USE OF PROCEEDS. The Borrower will use the proceeds of
the Loans and request the issuance of Letters of Credit only for the purposes
set forth in Section 3.13.

         SECTION 5.09. INTEREST RATE PROTECTION AGREEMENTS. After the Effective
Date in the event the Borrower elects to enter into and thereafter maintain in
full force and effect Interest Rate Protection Agreements, then such Interest
Rate Protection Agreements shall be at rates and on terms reasonably
satisfactory to the Agents and the Borrower; PROVIDED, THAT, it is understood
and agreed that any Interest Rate Protection Agreement entered into with any
person other than a Lender must be unsecured. The Borrower will promptly deliver
evidence of the execution and delivery of such Interest Rate Protection
Agreements to the Administrative Agent.



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         SECTION 5.10. FISCAL YEAR. The Borrower will cause its Fiscal Year to
end on August 31 in each year. The Borrower will cause each Subsidiary to cause
their respective Fiscal Years to end on the date in each year that is the date
of such Subsidiaries' Fiscal Year end in effect as of the Effective Date.

         SECTION 5.11. COMPLIANCE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS; PREPARATION OF
ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTS. (a) The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to,
comply, and use its best efforts to cause all lessees and other persons
occupying the properties owned or leased by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries to
comply, in all material respects with all environmental laws and environmental
permits applicable to its operations and properties except to the extent that
the failure to comply therewith could not reasonably be expected to result in
liability in excess of $500,000; obtain and renew all material environmental
permits necessary for its operations and properties; and conduct any remedial
action required under, and in accordance with, environmental laws, except to the
extent that: (i) the cost of such remedial action could not reasonably be
expected to exceed $500,000; or (ii) the necessity of any such remedial action
is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings timely instituted
and diligently pursued and in the manner provided by applicable law.

         (b) If a Default or Event of Default caused by reason of a breach of
Section 3.17 or 5.11(a) shall have occurred and be continuing, or if the laws of
the United States or any state in which the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries
leases or owns property provide that a Lien upon the property of the Borrower or
any of the Subsidiaries may be obtained for the removal of Hazardous Materials
which have been released, at the request of the Required Lenders through the
Administrative Agent, the Borrower will provide to the Lenders within 45 days
after such request, at the expense of the Borrower, an environmental site
assessment report for the properties which are the subject of such Default or
Event of Default prepared by an environmental consulting firm reasonably
acceptable to the Agents and indicating the presence or absence of Hazardous
Materials and the estimated cost of any compliance or remedial action in
connection with such properties. To the extent any such Hazardous Materials are
located therein or thereunder that either (i) subjects a property to Lien or
(ii) requires removal to safeguard the health of any person, the Borrower shall,
and shall cause each of the Subsidiaries to, remove, or cause to be removed,
such Lien and such Hazardous Materials at the Borrower's expense.

         SECTION 5.12. SUBSIDIARIES. The Borrower shall cause each and every
Domestic Subsidiary that is (i) existing as of the Closing Date, to execute and
deliver a Guarantee Agreement, Indemnity, Subrogation and Contribution
Agreement, Intercompany Note, Pledge Agreement and other Collateral Documents as
may be required by the Agents, and (ii) organized or acquired subsequent to the
Closing Date, to execute and deliver an Intercompany Note and a Supplemental
Agreement immediately upon and contemporaneously with their organization or
acquisition. The Borrower will cause each and every Foreign Subsidiary that is
existing as of the Closing Date, or organized or is acquired subsequent thereto,
to (x) execute and deliver an Intercompany Note in accordance with the terms of
Section 5.14; PROVIDED, THAT, Foreign Subsidiaries that are not Wholly Owned
Subsidiaries shall not be required to execute an Intercompany Note unless and
until the applicable Foreign Subsidiary incurs Intercompany Indebtedness to the
Borrower or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary, at which
time and as a condition to that borrowing, such 



                                       68
<PAGE>   75

Foreign Subsidiary shall execute and deliver an Intercompany Note, and (y) in
the event any Foreign Subsidiary borrows funds (as permitted hereunder) in
excess of $250,000 from the Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary,
contemporaneously with such borrowing, deliver an opinion of counsel reasonably
required by the Agents regarding the enforceability thereof and the Lender's
security interest therein. Nothing in this Section 5.12 shall be deemed to imply
that any such acquisition or organization of a Subsidiary is permitted under
this Amended Agreement.

         SECTION 5.13. FURTHER ASSURANCES. Within 10 days after a request by
either of the Agents or the Required Lenders, the Borrower will, and will cause
each Subsidiary 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 or the Agents may reasonably
request), in order to effectuate the transactions contemplated by the Loan
Documents and in order to grant, maintain, preserve, protect and perfect the
validity and first priority of the security interests created or intended to be
created by the Collateral Documents. Such security interests and Liens will be
created under the Collateral Documents and other security agreements,
instruments and documents in form and substance satisfactory to the Agents, and
the Borrower shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Lenders all such
instruments and documents (including legal opinions and lien searches) as the
Agents shall reasonably request to evidence compliance with this Section 5.13.
The Borrower agrees to provide such evidence as the Agents shall reasonably
request as to the perfection and priority status of each such security interest
and Lien.

         SECTION 5.14. CERTAIN POST-CLOSING COVENANTS. With respect to those
Foreign Subsidiaries that are Wholly Owned Subsidiaries and listed on Schedule
5.14, the Borrower agrees to cause such Foreign Subsidiaries to execute and
deliver to the Borrower, and then to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the
Pledge Agreement, all within 30 days from the Effective Date, Intercompany Notes
executed on behalf of such Foreign Subsidiaries. It is understood and agreed
that, with respect to any Foreign Subsidiary listed on Schedule 5.14, until the
covenants and requirements set forth in this Section 5.14 with respect to such
Foreign Subsidiary have been satisfied in full, in the reasonable opinion of the
Agents, such Foreign Subsidiary shall not be permitted to incur Intercompany
Indebtedness in excess of that permitted pursuant to the Original Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                               NEGATIVE COVENANTS

         The Borrower covenants and agrees with each Lender that so long as this
Amended Agreement shall remain in effect and until the Commitments have been
terminated and the Loans, together with interest, Fees and all other Obligations
have been paid in full, all Letters of Credit have been canceled or have expired
and all amounts drawn thereunder have been reimbursed in full, unless the
Required Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing:



                                       69
<PAGE>   76

         SECTION 6.01. INDEBTEDNESS. The Borrower will not, and will not cause
or permit any of the Subsidiaries to, incur, create, issue, assume, guarantee or
permit to exist any Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock, except:

                  (a) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock existing on the
         Effective Date that is set forth in Schedule 6.01 (but not any
         extension, renewal, increase or refinancing thereof, other than the
         refinancing of Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(d) (i) if such
         refinancing is within the terms and limits of Section 6.01(d)(i));

                  (b) Indebtedness created and evidenced by the Loan Documents;

                  (c) Intercompany Indebtedness existing on the Effective Date
         that is set forth on Schedule 6.01, or arising thereafter; PROVIDED,
         THAT (i) in the case of Intercompany Indebtedness existing on the
         Effective Date, all such Indebtedness is listed on Schedule 6.01, (ii)
         in the case of Intercompany Indebtedness arising after the Effective
         Date, all such Indebtedness is evidenced by Intercompany Notes pledged
         to the Agents and the Lenders pursuant to the Pledge Agreement and is
         permitted pursuant to Section 6.04(b); PROVIDED, THAT, the aggregate
         Intercompany Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries to the Borrower or
         any Domestic Subsidiary shall not exceed $20,000,000 at any time and,
         contemporaneously with any loan or advance to a Foreign Subsidiary, if
         required by the terms of Section 5.12, the Borrower shall deliver or
         cause to be delivered to the Administrative Agent an opinion of counsel
         to such Foreign Subsidiary, in form and substance reasonably
         satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, stating that the applicable
         Intercompany Note is the valid, binding and enforceable obligation of
         such Foreign Subsidiary and (iii) Intercompany Indebtedness that is
         created between Domestic Subsidiaries that are Wholly Owned
         Subsidiaries is not required to be evidenced by Intercompany Notes;
         PROVIDED, THAT, such Indebtedness (i) is incurred in good faith, in the
         ordinary course of business, and for a legitimate company purpose, (ii)
         is unsecured and (iii) is, by its terms, not assignable, transferrable,
         sellable, or otherwise pledgeable to any third party;

                  (d) (i) Indebtedness for borrowed money of Foreign
         Subsidiaries to unrelated third parties (including guarantees with
         respect thereto by the Borrower or any other Subsidiaries, as long as
         those guarantees are unsecured (except for Liens on the assets (other
         than Capital Stock) of the applicable Foreign Subsidiary)) that does
         not exceed $15,000,000 in an aggregate amount outstanding at any time,
         (which Indebtedness includes the Indebtedness described in item 4 of
         Schedule 6.01) and (ii) in the event the Borrower acquires a majority
         (or more) of the total outstanding Capital Stock of the Indian
         Affiliate as permitted by Section 6.04(g), then the Indebtedness for
         borrowed money of the Indian Affiliate existing as of the Effective
         Date that does not exceed $6,000,000;

                  (e) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Wholly Owned
         Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary to Foreign Subsidiaries;
         PROVIDED, THAT such Indebtedness is unsecured and is created and
         outstanding under an agreement or instrument pursuant to which such
         Indebtedness is subordinated to the Obligations secured under the

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<PAGE>   77

         Collateral Documents at least to the extent provided in the instrument
         attached hereto as Exhibit I;

                  (f) Indebtedness owed to any person providing worker's
         compensation, health, disability or other employee benefits, property,
         casualty or liability insurance to the Borrower or any Subsidiary, so
         long as such Indebtedness shall not be in excess of the amount of the
         unpaid cost or estimated or negotiated amounts of, and shall be
         incurred only to defer the cost or estimated or negotiated amounts of,
         such insurance for the applicable insurance period for which such
         Indebtedness is incurred and such Indebtedness shall be outstanding
         only during such period (which period shall not extend beyond the date
         that is two years after the date on which such Indebtedness is
         incurred);

                  (g) Indebtedness (including Capital Lease Obligations and
         Purchase Money Indebtedness) issued or assumed as the deferred purchase
         price of property or services (excluding trade accounts payable arising
         in the ordinary course of business and paid in accordance with
         customary trade terms) in a principal amount at any time outstanding
         not in excess of $5,000,000 and incurred to finance Capital
         Expenditures permitted by Section 6.13;

                  (h) Interest Rate Protection Agreements entered into in
         accordance with Section 5.09;

                  (i) Indebtedness for advances permitted by Sections 6.04(d);

                  (j) Indebtedness issued to a seller or assumed as the deferred
         purchase price of a person (or to which the acquired person is
         subject), business or asset in connection with a Permitted Acquisition
         pursuant to Section 6.04(g); PROVIDED, THAT (i) such Indebtedness is
         not secured by a Lien on any assets other than assets acquired in such
         Permitted Acquisition, (ii) any Indebtedness issued or assumed pursuant
         to this Section 6.01(j) may not be refinanced in any manner except with
         Revolving Loans and (iii) the aggregate principal amount of all such
         Indebtedness outstanding at any time shall not exceed $10,000,000;

                  (k) Indebtedness from one Wholly Owned Foreign Subsidiary to
         another Wholly Owned Foreign Subsidiary; PROVIDED, THAT, such
         Indebtedness (i) is incurred in good faith, in the ordinary course of
         business, and for a legitimate company purpose, (ii) is unsecured and
         (iii) is, by its terms, not assignable, transferrable, sellable, or
         otherwise pledgeable to any third party;

                  (l) Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries pursuant to foreign
         currency hedge contracts entered into in the ordinary course of
         business;

                  (m) Indebtedness of Glasteel Parts and Services, Inc. that
         exists solely as a result of their general partnership interest in
         Universal Glasteel Equipment, an Ohio general partnership ("UGE")
         resulting from Indebtedness for borrowed money 


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<PAGE>   78

         incurred by UGE for the purpose of making a loan to Galeglass, Inc. (or
         an Affiliate thereof) in an amount not to exceed $2,000,000;

                  (n) Indebtedness of Suzhou Pfaudler to the Borrower or a
         Domestic Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed
         $1,100,000; PROVIDED, THAT (i) such Indebtedness is evidenced by a
         promissory note and other documents and instruments that are in form
         and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the
         Required Lenders, and (ii) such note and any liens and security
         interests granted by Suzhou Pfaudler to the Borrower (or applicable
         Domestic Subsidiary) to collateralize such Indebtedness are assigned to
         the Lenders pursuant to the terms of the Collateral Documents; and

                  (o) Indebtedness of (i) RMG in an aggregate principal amount
         not to exceed $27,000,000 that is collateralized by an ABN AMRO Foreign
         Currency Letter of Credit, (ii) the German Subsidiary in an aggregate
         principal amount not to exceed $6,000,000 that is collateralized by an
         ABN AMRO Foreign Currency Letter of Credit, (iii) the UK Subsidiary in
         an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $13,000,000 that is
         collateralized by an ABN AMRO Foreign Currency Letter of Credit; and
         (iv) the Canadian Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount not to
         exceed $500,000 that is collateralized by an ABN AMRO Foreign Currency
         Letter of Credit; PROVIDED, THAT, in each case, such Indebtedness shall
         be unsecured.

         SECTION 6.02. NEGATIVE PLEDGE. The Borrower will not, and will not
cause or permit any of the Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or permit to
exist any Lien on any property or assets (including Capital Stock or other
securities of any Subsidiary or other person) now owned or hereafter acquired by
it or on any income or revenues or rights in respect of any thereof, except:

                  (a) Liens existing on the Effective Date and that are set
         forth in Schedule 6.02, provided that such Liens secure only those
         obligations which they secure on the Effective Date;

                  (b) Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent on behalf of
         the Secured Parties created by the Collateral Documents;

                  (c) Liens for taxes not yet due or which are being contested
         in compliance with Section 5.03;

                  (d) carriers', warehousemen's, mechanic's, materialmen's,
         repairmen's or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of
         business and securing obligations that are not due or which are being
         contested in compliance with Section 5.03;

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



                                       72
<PAGE>   79

                  (f) 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;

                  (g) zoning restrictions, easements, rights-of-way and
         restrictions on use of real property existing as of the Effective Date
         or incurred in the ordinary course of business which, in the aggregate,
         are not substantial in amount and do not materially detract from the
         value of the property subject thereto or interfere with the ordinary
         conduct of the business of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries;

                  (h) unperfected Liens arising by operation of law under
         Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code in favor of unpaid sellers or
         prepaying buyers of goods relating to amounts that are not past due in
         accordance with their respective terms of sale;

                  (i) purchase money security interests in real property,
         improvements thereto or equipment hereafter acquired (or, in the case
         of improvements, constructed) by the Borrower or any Subsidiary;
         PROVIDED, THAT (i) such security interests secure Indebtedness
         permitted by Section 6.01(g), (ii) such security interests are
         incurred, and the Indebtedness secured thereby is created, within 90
         days after such acquisition (or completion of construction), (iii) the
         Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed 100% of the lesser of the
         cost or the fair market value of such real property, improvements or
         equipment at the time of such acquisition (or completion of
         construction) and (iv) such security interests do not apply to any
         other property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

                  (j) leases or subleases which are entered into in the ordinary
         course of the business and which do not interfere in any material
         respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower or
         its Subsidiaries;

                  (k) Liens existing on any asset (other than Capital Stock)
         acquired in a Permitted Acquisition or on the assets (other than
         Capital Stock) of any person acquired in a Permitted Acquisition;
         PROVIDED, THAT, (i) the Indebtedness secured by any such Lien is
         permitted under Section 6.01(j), (ii) any such Lien is created at the
         time of completion of the Permitted Acquisition, (iii) the Indebtedness
         secured thereby does not exceed 100% of the lesser of the cost or the
         fair market value of the asset acquired at the time of the Permitted
         Acquisition and (iv) such Liens are confined solely to the asset
         acquired (or assets of the person acquired) and do not apply to any
         other asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary; and

                  (l) Liens on assets (other than Capital Stock) of Foreign
         Subsidiaries securing Indebtedness or guarantees permitted under
         Section 6.01(d).



                                       73
<PAGE>   80

         SECTION 6.03. SALE AND LEASE-BACK TRANSACTIONS. The Borrower will not,
and will not cause or permit any of the Subsidiaries to, enter into any
arrangement, directly or indirectly, with any person whereby it shall sell or
transfer any property, real or personal, used or useful in its business, whether
now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such property or
other property which it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or
purposes as the property being sold or transferred; PROVIDED, THAT, the Borrower
may enter into such a transaction if, and only if, a legitimate tax purpose
exists for such transaction and the aggregate fair market value of the assets
that are the subject of such transaction or transactions does not exceed
$5,000,000 at any one time.

         SECTION 6.04. INVESTMENTS, LOANS AND ADVANCES. The Borrower will not,
and will not cause or permit any of the Subsidiaries to, purchase, hold or
acquire any Capital Stock, evidences of indebtedness or other securities of,
make or permit to exist any loans, extensions of credit or advances to, make
guarantees in favor of, or make or permit to exist any other investment, capital
contribution or other interest in, any other person, except:

                  (a) (i) equity investments existing on the Effective Date by
         the Borrower in the Subsidiaries and listed on Schedule 6.04, (ii)
         contributions of equity made after the Effective Date to Wholly Owned
         Subsidiaries of the Borrower that do not exceed $1,000,000 in the
         aggregate during any Fiscal Year, as long as such contributions are not
         made for the purpose of funding an acquisition not otherwise permitted
         hereunder, and (iii) treasury stock held by the Borrower and its
         Subsidiaries on the Effective Date and listed on Schedule 6.04 or
         acquired by the Borrower or a Subsidiary as permitted pursuant to
         Section 6.06(a);

                  (b) loans and advances made after the Effective Date by the
         Borrower or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary
         to any Subsidiary or the Borrower; PROVIDED, THAT, any such loan or
         advance (i) is evidenced by an Intercompany Note pledged and delivered
         to the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties pursuant
         to the Pledge Agreement (other than as excepted in clause (iii) of
         Section 6.01(c)), and (ii) is otherwise permitted pursuant to Section
         6.01(c);

                  (c) trade accounts receivable (and related notes and
         instruments) arising in the ordinary course of business consistent with
         past practices;

                  (d) (i) advances to employees for home-swing loans and moving
         and travel expenses in the ordinary course of business consistent with
         past practices, and guarantees by the Borrower in connection with
         home-swing loans of third parties to employees, that, in the aggregate,
         do not exceed $1,000,000 at any one time outstanding and (ii) loans to
         executive officers of the Borrower to assist in the payment of taxes
         resulting from an election made under Section 83(b) of the Code which
         shall not exceed $500,000 in the aggregate at any one time outstanding;

                  (e)      Cash Equivalents;



                                       74
<PAGE>   81

                  (f) securities held by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries
         prior to the Effective Date and listed in Schedule 6.04;

                  (g) (i) the FCE Acquisition and (ii) one or more non-hostile
         acquisitions by the Borrower or any Qualified Acquisition Subsidiary of
         assets or Capital Stock (other than Margin Stock) of any other person
         (such assets, in the case of an asset acquisition, or person, in the
         case of the acquisition of Capital Stock, is referred to herein as the
         "ACQUIRED ENTITY") so long as (A) in the case of an acquisition of
         assets, such assets are to be used, and in the case of an acquisition
         of Capital Stock, the person so acquired is engaged, in a business
         generally considered to be a part of the fluids management industry,
         (B) the Borrower shall have provided the Lenders with the financial
         projections required by Section 5.04(g) and such other information as
         the Lenders shall reasonably request, (C) on the date of such
         acquisition and immediately after giving effect thereto, the
         representations and warranties set forth in Article III shall be true
         and correct in all material respects with the same effect as though
         made on and as of such date and no Default or Event of Default shall
         exist, (D) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 3.75 to
         1.00 calculated on a pro forma basis, (E) the Consolidated Fixed Charge
         Coverage Ratio shall not be less than 2.00 to 1.00 calculated on a pro
         forma basis, (F) in the case of an acquisition of Capital Stock of a
         person, then simultaneously with any such acquisition, the
         Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties shall be
         granted (I) in the case of a person organized under the laws of the
         United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, a first
         priority security interest in all of such Capital Stock acquired by the
         Borrower or any Qualified Acquisition Subsidiary as part of such
         acquisition, and (II) in the case of a person organized under the laws
         of a jurisdiction other than the United States, any State thereof or
         the District of Columbia, that will be acquired directly by the
         Borrower or a Domestic Subsidiary, a first priority security interest
         in 65% of all of the Capital Stock of the person so acquired, and in
         all cases the Borrower shall, and shall cause any applicable Subsidiary
         to, execute any documents (including a Supplemental Agreement,
         Intercompany Note, financing statements and other Collateral Documents)
         and take all action (including filing financing statements and
         obtaining and providing consents, and legal opinions) that may be
         required under applicable law, or that the Agents may request, in order
         to grant, preserve, protect and perfect such security interest, (G) in
         the case of an acquisition of Capital Stock of a person, the Borrower
         acquires directly or indirectly 100% of the Capital Stock of such
         person; PROVIDED, THAT, with respect to the Indian Affiliate, the
         Borrower may acquire less than all but at least a majority interest in
         the Indian Subsidiary for a total aggregate consideration not to exceed
         $10,000,000, and (H) except with respect to the FCE Acquisition, the
         aggregate Fair Market Value of consideration, whether payable upon
         consummation thereof or in the form of earn-outs, non-competes or other
         deferred payment arrangements, for all such acquisitions made during
         any Fiscal Year, including cash, securities, other property and the
         assumption of Indebtedness (if permitted), shall not exceed the
         difference between (I) the greater of (x) $25,000,000 or (y) 20% of the
         Borrower's Consolidated Net Worth as of the end of the preceding Fiscal
         Year, and (II) the amount of any Indebtedness incurred as permitted
         pursuant to Section 6.01(j) that remains outstanding at the time of
         determination (any 


                                       75
<PAGE>   82

         acquisition satisfying each of the criteria set forth in the preceding
         clauses (i) and (ii) being referred to herein as a "PERMITTED
         ACQUISITION");

                  (h) loans and advances made after the Effective Date by (i)
         any Foreign Subsidiaries to the Borrower or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary
         that is a Domestic Subsidiary that are permitted pursuant to Section
         6.01(e) and (ii) any Wholly Owned Foreign Subsidiary to another Wholly
         Owned Foreign Subsidiary that are permitted pursuant to Section
         6.01(k);

                  (i) loans to any Affiliate of the Borrower or its
         Subsidiaries; PROVIDED, THAT, (i) such loans do not exceed an aggregate
         amount equal to $1,000,000 at any one time outstanding, and (ii) all
         such loans are evidenced by Intercompany Notes pledged to the Agents
         and the Lenders pursuant to the Pledge Agreement; and

                  (j) a contribution of assets to the Borrower or any Wholly
         Owned Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary to the extent permitted
         by Section 6.05(g).

         SECTION 6.05. MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS, DISPOSITIONS AND ACQUISITIONS.
The Borrower will not, and will not cause or permit any of the Subsidiaries to,
(i) merge into or consolidate with any other person, (ii) permit any other
person to merge into or consolidate with it, (iii) sell, transfer, lease or
otherwise dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or
any substantial part of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired)
(iv) issue, sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of any Capital Stock of
any Subsidiary to, or permit any Subsidiary to accept any capital contribution
from, any person, or (v) purchase, lease or acquire (in one transaction or a
series of transactions) all or any substantial part of the assets of any other
person, except that:

                  (a) any Foreign Subsidiary may be merged, liquidated or
         consolidated with or into another Foreign Subsidiary if, immediately
         after giving effect to such transaction, no condition or event shall
         exist which constitutes a Default or Event of Default;

                  (b) any Subsidiary may be merged, liquidated or consolidated
         with or into the Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary that is a Wholly
         Owned Subsidiary if, immediately after giving effect to such
         transaction, no condition or event shall exist which constitutes a
         Default or Event of Default and the Borrower or such Domestic
         Subsidiary, as applicable, is the surviving entity;

                  (c) the Borrower and any of the Subsidiaries may sell
         inventory in the ordinary course of business for fair value and on an
         arm's-length basis (and as may be permitted pursuant to Section 6.10)
         and may purchase inventory in the ordinary course of business;

                  (d) the Borrower and any of the Subsidiaries may sell damaged,
         worn out or obsolete tangible assets or scrap in the ordinary course of
         business and in a commercially reasonable manner, so long as the Net
         Cash Proceeds of any such disposition are applied as required by
         Section 2.12(d);




                                       76
<PAGE>   83

                  (e) the foregoing shall not be deemed violated by any casualty
         or condemnation affecting assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, so
         long as (i) the Borrower or its applicable Subsidiary reinvests the Net
         Cash Proceeds of any such casualty of condemnation within 270 days of
         the date of such casualty or condemnation (or if the Required Lenders
         agree to a longer period, such longer period) in assets of a like kind
         and character to those that were destroyed or taken or (ii) if the
         Borrower or its applicable Subsidiary does not reinvest the Net Cash
         Proceeds of any such casualty or condemnation as provided in the
         preceding clause (i) within the period provided in clause (i), the Net
         Cash Proceeds thereof are immediately applied as required by Section
         2.12(d);

                  (f) the Borrower and any of the Subsidiaries may sell, lease,
         transfer, assign or dispose of assets to any other person to the extent
         that the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds from such sale, lease, transfer,
         assignment or other disposition to such person do not exceed $500,000,
         so long as (I) the fair market value of all property disposed of
         pursuant to this clause (f) does not exceed $2,000,000 in the aggregate
         in any Fiscal Year and (II) the Net Cash Proceeds of any such
         disposition are applied as required by Section 2.12(d);

                  (g) any of the Subsidiaries may transfer assets consisting of
         plant, property and equipment (in accordance with GAAP) to the Borrower
         or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary which is a Domestic Subsidiary;

                  (h) the Borrower or a Qualified Acquisition Subsidiary may
         make Permitted Acquisitions to the extent permitted by Section 6.04(g);

                  (i) the Borrower may make equity contributions to Wholly Owned
         Subsidiaries to the extent permitted by Section 6.04(a)(ii);

                  (j) the Borrower and the Subsidiaries may make Capital
         Expenditures to the extent permitted by Section 6.13;

                  (k) the Borrower and any applicable Subsidiary may acquire the
         Capital Stock of the Borrower or the Subsidiaries to the extent
         permitted by Section 6.06(a); and

                  (l) a non-Wholly owned Foreign Subsidiary may issue Capital
         Stock to third parties as long as (i) the proceeds thereof are used for
         working capital purposes of such Subsidiary or to finance the
         acquisition of capital assets in the ordinary course of business; and
         (ii) the issuer remains a majority-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower
         after the issuance of such Capital Stock.

         SECTION 6.06. DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND OTHER RESTRICTED PAYMENTS.
(a) The Borrower will not, and will not cause or permit any of the Subsidiaries
to, (i) declare or pay, directly or indirectly, any dividend or make any other
distribution (by reduction of capital or otherwise and including any tax sharing
or indemnification payments), whether in cash, property, securities or a
combination thereof, with respect to any Capital Stock of the 



                                       77
<PAGE>   84

Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries, (ii) except as expressly permitted pursuant
to Section 6.06(b) below and except for Capital Stock reacquired by the Borrower
in connection with the exercise of stock options granted pursuant to employee or
director stock option plans of the Borrower or in connection with withholding
taxes due under any stock plan in which employees or directors participate,
directly or indirectly redeem, purchase, retire or otherwise acquire for value,
any Capital Stock of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries, whether such
acquisition is made at the option of the Borrower or such Subsidiary or at the
option of the holder of such Capital Stock and whether or not such acquisition
is required under the terms and conditions applicable to such Capital Stock or
set aside any amount for any such purpose, (iii) release, cancel, compromise or
forgive in whole or in part any Indebtedness evidenced by the Intercompany Notes
or (iv) directly or indirectly redeem, purchase, prepay, retire, defease or
otherwise acquire for value any Indebtedness (other than Obligations), whether
such acquisition is made at the option of the Borrower or such Subsidiary or at
the option of the holder of such Indebtedness and whether or not such
acquisition is required under the terms and conditions applicable to such
Indebtedness, or set aside any amount for any such purpose, except for
repayments of principal of any such Indebtedness in accordance with the
scheduled amortization thereof; PROVIDED, THAT (x) any Subsidiary may declare
and pay dividends or make other distributions to the Borrower or any Wholly
Owned Subsidiary and (y) as long as no Event of Default then exists, the
Borrower may pay cash dividends to the holders of its Capital Stock and
repurchase or redeem Capital Stock of the Borrower in each Fiscal Year of the
Borrower that do not exceed the greater of (x) twenty percent (20%) of the
Borrower's Consolidated Net Income for the preceding Fiscal Year or (y)
$2,500,000.

         (b) In connection with a Permitted Acquisition in which Capital Stock
of the Borrower is to be issued as all or part of the consideration therefor,
the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary may repurchase a number of shares of the
Capital Stock of Borrower which is not greater than the number of shares of
Borrower's Capital Stock issued or to be issued in connection with the Permitted
Acquisition so long as: (i) all of such Capital Stock is repurchased during the
fiscal quarter of Borrower in which the Permitted Acquisition occurs, and (ii)
the aggregate consideration paid for the Capital Stock so repurchased, together
with all other consideration paid in such Permitted Acquisition (other than
consideration consisting of a number of shares of Borrower's Capital Stock not
greater than the number of shares so repurchased) does not exceed the amount
permitted by Section 6.04(g); PROVIDED, THAT, any such repurchase of Capital
Stock of the Borrower in connection with a Permitted Acquisition that is not
completed must otherwise be permitted under Section 6.06(a).

         SECTION 6.07. IMPAIRMENT OF SECURITY INTERESTS. The Borrower will not,
and will not permit any of the Subsidiaries to, take or omit to take any action,
which action or omission might or would have the result of materially impairing
the security interests in favor of the Administrative Agent on behalf of the
Secured Parties with respect to the Collateral, and the Borrower will not, and
will not permit any of the Subsidiaries to, grant to any person (other than the
Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties pursuant to the Loan
Documents) any interest whatsoever in the Collateral.

         SECTION 6.08. LIMITATION ON RESTRICTIONS ON SUBSIDIARY DIVIDENDS, ETC.
The Borrower will not, and will not cause or permit any of the Subsidiaries to,
directly or 



                                       78
<PAGE>   85

indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any
consensual encumbrance or restriction or any restriction in its articles of
incorporation (except restrictions imposed by state law), By-laws or comparable
governing instruments on the ability of any Subsidiary to (a) pay dividends or
make any other distributions on or in respect of its Capital Stock, or pay any
indebtedness owed to the Borrower or any Subsidiary, (b) make loans or advances
to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or (c) except in agreements entered into in
connection with a transaction permitted by Section 6.02(i), transfer any of its
properties or assets to the Borrower or any Subsidiary, except for such
encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of (i) customary
non-assignment provisions in any lease governing a leasehold interest or in any
other contract governing a contract right which in the ordinary course of
business is not assignable or (ii) this Amended Agreement and the Collateral
Documents.

         SECTION 6.09. NO OTHER NEGATIVE PLEDGES. The Borrower will not, and
will not cause or permit any of the Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly,
enter into any agreement prohibiting the creation or assumption of any Lien upon
the properties or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, whether now owned or
hereafter acquired, or requiring an obligation to be secured if some other
obligation is secured, except for this Amended Agreement and except in
agreements entered into in connection with a transaction permitted by Section
6.02(i), Section 6.02(l) or Section 6.01(o).

         SECTION 6.10. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES AND SHAREHOLDERS. The
Borrower will not, and will not cause or permit any of the Subsidiaries to, sell
or transfer any property or assets to, or purchase or acquire any property or
assets from, or otherwise enter into or maintain any other transactions with,
any Affiliate of the Borrower or any of the Shareholders, except that so long as
no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the
Borrower or any Subsidiary may enter into any of the foregoing transactions in
the ordinary course of business at prices and on terms and conditions that are
(i) set forth in writing and (ii) as favorable to the Borrower or such
Subsidiary as would be obtainable at the time in a comparable transaction on an
arm's-length basis from an unrelated third party. The provisions of this Section
6.10 shall not prohibit (A) any payment expressly permitted under Section 6.04
or 6.06, (B) any transaction entered into and maintained among the Borrower and
any Restricted Subsidiaries or among Restricted Subsidiaries and (C) payment of
compensation to employees and directors in the ordinary course of business.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) the Borrower and the Subsidiaries may engage
in transactions on a non-arm's-length basis in connection with "beachhead"
pricing in new markets as long as such transactions are permitted by the rules
and regulations regarding international transfer pricing set forth in the
Internal Revenue Code, and (y) except as required by other provisions of this
Amended Agreement, permitted transactions between Subsidiaries are not required
to be in writing.

         SECTION 6.11. BUSINESS OF BORROWER AND SUBSIDIARIES. (a) The Borrower
will not, and will not cause or permit any of the Subsidiaries to, engage at any
time in any business or business activity other than the businesses conducted by
it on the Closing Date, other businesses generally considered to be a part of
the fluids management industries and business activities reasonably incidental
thereto.



                                       79
<PAGE>   86

         (b) The Borrower will not own, form or acquire any subsidiaries other
than (i) Subsidiaries existing on the Effective Date as set forth on Schedule
3.08 and (ii) subsidiaries expressly permitted to be owned, formed, or acquired
by the terms of this Amended Agreement.

         SECTION 6.12. CERTAIN AMENDMENTS. The Borrower will not, and will not
cause or permit any of the Subsidiaries to, enter into any amendment,
modification or waiver of (a) the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws or
comparable governing instruments of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries as
in effect on the Effective Date, other than amendments, modifications and
waivers which are not, individually or in the aggregate, adverse in any material
respect to the rights or interests of the Lenders, or (b) the Subordinated
Notes.

         SECTION 6.13. CAPITAL EXPENDITURES. The Borrower will not permit the
aggregate amount of Capital Expenditures made by the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole in any Fiscal Year to exceed the sum of (i)
$40,000,000, plus (ii) the amount, if any, by which Capital Expenditures for the
previous Fiscal Year (other than any Fiscal Year prior to the 1997 Fiscal Year),
are less than $40,000,000.

         SECTION 6.14.  FINANCIAL COVENANTS.

                  (a) CONSOLIDATED FIXED CHARGE COVERAGE RATIO. The Borrower
         will not permit the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for any
         Reference Period to be less than 2.00 to 1.00 at any time during the
         term of this Amended Agreement.

                  (b) CONSOLIDATED LEVERAGE RATIO. The Borrower will not permit
         the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for any Reference Period to exceed 3.75
         to 1.00 at any time during the term of this Amended Agreement.

                  (c) MINIMUM CONSOLIDATED NET WORTH. The Borrower will not
         permit its Consolidated Net Worth as of the last day of any fiscal
         quarter of the Borrower to be less than the Minimum Compliance Level at
         any time during the term of this Amended Agreement. The "Minimum
         Compliance Level" shall be $94,054,000 as of August 31, 1997 and shall
         be increased as of the last day of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower
         ending after the Effective Date by an amount equal to the sum of (a)
         50% of Consolidated Net Income (if positive) for such fiscal quarter
         and (b) 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds of the issuance of any Capital
         Stock of the Borrower or any Subsidiary; PROVIDED, THAT, nothing in
         this paragraph shall be construed to permit the issuance of any such
         Capital Stock. It is understood that the first increase in the Minimum
         Compliance Level pursuant to the foregoing provisions shall be
         determined as of the Borrower's fiscal quarter ending November 30,
         1997. The foregoing increases in the Minimum Compliance Level shall be
         fully cumulative and no reduction in the Minimum Compliance Level shall
         be made to reflect negative Consolidated Net Income for any period.



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<PAGE>   87

                                   ARTICLE VII

                                EVENTS OF DEFAULT

                  In case of the happening of any of the following events (each
an "EVENT OF DEFAULT" and collectively the "EVENTS OF DEFAULT"):

                  (a) default shall be made in the payment of any principal of
         any Loan or any reimbursement obligation in respect of a Letter of
         Credit 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 by
         acceleration thereof or otherwise;

                  (b) default shall be made in the payment of any interest on
         any Loan or any Fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred
         to in paragraph (a) above) due under any Loan Document, when and as the
         same shall become due and payable, and such default shall continue
         unremedied for a period of three Business Days;

                  (c) default shall be made in the due observance or performance
         by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any covenant, condition or
         agreement contained in Section 5.01(a), 5.05, 5.08, 5.09, 5.10, 5.12,
         5.13 or 5.14 or in Article VI;

                  (d) default shall be made in the due observance or performance
         by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any covenant, condition or
         agreement contained herein and in any other Loan Document (other than
         those specified in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) above) and such default
         shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after such default
         becomes known to a Responsible Officer of the Borrower or such
         Subsidiary;

                  (e) any representation or warranty made or deemed made in any
         Loan Document or the extensions of credit hereunder, or any
         representation, warranty, statement or information contained in any
         report, certificate, financial statement or other instrument furnished
         in connection with or pursuant to any Loan Document, shall prove to
         have been false or misleading in any material respect when so made,
         deemed made or furnished;

                  (f) the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall (i) fail to pay any
         principal or interest, regardless of amount, due in respect of any
         Indebtedness in a principal amount in excess of $500,000, when and as
         the same shall become due and payable, or (ii) fail to observe or
         perform any other term, covenant, condition or agreement contained in
         any agreement or instrument evidencing or governing any Indebtedness in
         excess of $4,000,000 if the effect of any failure referred to in this
         clause (ii) is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such
         Indebtedness or a trustee on its or their behalf to cause, with or
         without the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, such
         Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity;



                                       81
<PAGE>   88

                  (g) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an
         involuntary petition shall be filed in a court of competent
         jurisdiction seeking (i) relief in respect of the Borrower or any
         Subsidiary, or of a substantial part of its property or assets, under
         Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter
         amended, or any other Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency,
         receivership or similar law, (ii) the appointment of a receiver,
         trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for
         the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or for a substantial part of its
         property or assets, or (iii) the winding-up or liquidation of the
         Borrower or any Subsidiary; and 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;

                  (h) the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily
         commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking relief under Title
         11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended,
         or any other Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency,
         receivership or similar law, (ii) consent to the institution of, or
         fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or
         the filing of any petition described in paragraph (g) above, (iii)
         apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee,
         custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for such party
         or for a substantial part of its property or 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, (vi) become unable, admit in writing its
         inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due or
         (vii) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the
         foregoing;

                  (i) one or more judgments or orders for the payment of money
         in an aggregate amount in excess of $500,000 shall be rendered against
         the Borrower or 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 judgment
         creditor shall levy upon assets or properties of the Borrower or any
         Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment;

                  (j) (i) any person shall engage in any "prohibited
         transaction" (as defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the
         Code) involving any Plan, (ii) any "accumulated funding deficiency" (as
         defined in Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived, shall exist
         with respect to any Plan, or any Lien shall arise on the assets of the
         Borrower or any Commonly Controlled Entity in favor of the PBGC or a
         Plan, (iii) a Reportable Event shall occur with respect to, or
         proceedings shall commence to have a trustee appointed (or a trustee
         shall be appointed) to administer, or to terminate, any Single Employer
         Plan, which Reportable Event or commencement of proceedings or
         appointment of a trustee is, in the reasonable opinion of the Required
         Lenders, likely to result in the termination of such Plan for purposes
         of Title IV of ERISA, (iv) any Single Employer Plan shall terminate for
         purposes of Title IV of ERISA, (v) the Borrower or any Commonly
         Controlled Entity shall, or in the reasonable opinion of the Required
         Lenders is likely to, incur any liability in connection with a
         withdrawal from, or the termination, reorganization or insolvency of
         (within the meaning of such terms as used in ERISA), a Multiemployer
         Plan or 


                                       82
<PAGE>   89

         (vi) any other event or condition shall occur or exist with respect to
         a Plan; and, in each case in clauses (i) through (vi) above, such event
         or condition, together with all other such events or conditions, if
         any, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the
         Borrower and the Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding
         $2,500,000 or require payments by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries
         exceeding $1,000,000 in any year;

                  (k) any Lien purported to be created by any Collateral
         Document shall cease to be, or shall for any reason be asserted by the
         Borrower or any Subsidiary not to be, a valid, perfected, first
         priority Lien on the securities, properties or assets covered thereby,
         except as priority may be affected by Liens permitted under Section
         6.02 and except for releases of Collateral in accordance with all
         applicable provisions of this Amended Agreement and the Collateral
         Documents;

                  (l) any Loan Document or any material provision of any Loan
         Document shall be declared by any Governmental Authority to be invalid
         or unenforceable in whole or in part, or shall be asserted by the
         Borrower or any Subsidiary not to be, in full force and effect and
         enforceable in accordance with its terms;

                  (m) any adverse change in the material agreements or
         relationships of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries shall occur and such
         event or condition, together with all other such events or conditions,
         if any, could, in light of all the then existing circumstances,
         reasonably be expected to result in net losses, claims or actions
         (after tax) to which the Borrower or its Subsidiaries are or may become
         subject (with or without the passage of time) in an amount equal to or
         greater than the greater of (i) $10,000,000 or (ii) 7% of the
         Borrower's Consolidated Net Worth;

                  (n) any material intellectual property or any material license
         relating thereto shall be invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part
         or shall for any reason not be in full force and effect and enforceable
         by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries or shall infringe the rights of
         any other person or any other adverse change in the material
         intellectual property rights of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries shall
         occur and such event or condition, together with all other such events
         or conditions, if any, could reasonably be expected to have a Material
         Adverse Effect;

                  (o) either (i) the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall be liable,
         whether directly, indirectly through required indemnification of any
         person or otherwise, for the costs of investigation and/or remediation
         of any Hazardous Material originating from or affecting property or
         properties, whether or not owned, leased or operated by the Borrower or
         any Subsidiary, which liability, together with all other such
         liabilities, could reasonably be expected to exceed $10,000,000 or
         require payments exceeding $3,000,000 in any year or (ii) any Federal,
         state, regional, local or other environmental regulatory agency or
         authority shall commence an investigation or take any other action that
         could reasonably be expected to be determined adversely to the Borrower
         or any Subsidiary and, on the basis of such a determination, to have a
         Material Adverse Effect; or



                                       83
<PAGE>   90

                  (p) there shall occur (i) any Change of Control (as defined in
         this Amended Agreement) or (ii) any change of control as contemplated
         by any of the Subordinated Notes;

then, and in every such event, and at any time thereafter during the continuance
of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required
Lenders shall, take one or more of the following actions, at the same or
different times: (i) by notice to the Borrower terminate the Commitments and
they shall immediately terminate; (ii) by notice to the Borrower declare the
Loans then outstanding to be forthwith due and payable (in whole or, in the sole
discretion of the Required Lenders, from time to time in part, provided that any
such partial acceleration shall be made pro rata based on the outstanding
principal amount of Loans of each Class), whereupon the principal of the Loans
so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and
any unpaid accrued Fees and all other liabilities of the Borrower accrued
hereunder or under any other Loan Document, shall thereupon become immediately
due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or any other notice of any
kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower, anything
contained herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding;
(iii) require cash collateral as contemplated by Section 2.23(k) in an amount
not exceeding the Letter of Credit Exposure; (iv) exercise any remedies
available under the Guarantee Agreement, the Collateral Documents or otherwise;
or (v) any combination of the foregoing; PROVIDED, THAT, in the case of (A) any
of the Events of Default with respect to the Borrower described in paragraph (g)
or (h) above or (B) the Event of Default specified in paragraph (p) above, the
Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then
outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and any unpaid accrued Fees
and all other liabilities of the Borrower accrued hereunder or under any other
Loan Document, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment,
demand, protest or any other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby
expressly waived by the Borrower, anything contained herein or in any other Loan
Document to the contrary notwithstanding.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                           THE AGENTS AND ISSUING BANK

         SECTION 8.01. APPOINTMENT AND AUTHORIZATION. (a) Each of the Lenders,
and each subsequent holder of any Note by its acceptance thereof, hereby
irrevocably appoints and authorizes each of the Agents and the Issuing Bank to
take such actions as agent on behalf of such Lender or holder and to exercise
such powers as are specifically delegated to such Agent or the Issuing Bank, as
the case may be, by the terms and provisions hereof and of the other Loan
Documents, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental
thereto.

         (b) The Administrative Agent is hereby expressly authorized by the
Lenders, without hereby limiting any implied authority, and hereby agrees (in
the case of clause (ii) below, at the direction of the Required Lenders), (i) to
receive on behalf of the Lenders all payments of principal of and interest on
the Loans and all other amounts due to the Lenders hereunder, and promptly to
distribute to each Lender its proper share of each payment so 


                                       84
<PAGE>   91

received; (ii) to give notice on behalf of each of the Lenders to the Borrower
of any Event of Default specified in this Amended Agreement of which the
Administrative Agent has actual knowledge acquired in connection with its agency
hereunder; (iii) to give notice to the Lenders of any Event of Default specified
in this Amended Agreement of which the Administrative Agent has actual knowledge
acquired in connection with its agency hereunder; and (iv) to distribute to each
Lender copies of all notices, financial statements and other materials delivered
by the Borrower pursuant to this Amended Agreement as received by the
Administrative Agent.

         SECTION 8.02. LIABILITY OF AGENTS. Neither the Agents, the Issuing
Bank, nor any of their respective directors, officers, employees or agents,
shall be liable as such for any action taken or omitted to be taken by any of
them, except for such party's own gross negligence or willful misconduct, or be
responsible for any statement, warranty or representation herein or the contents
of any document delivered in connection herewith, or be required to ascertain or
to make any inquiry concerning the performance or observance by the Borrower or
any Subsidiary of any of the terms, conditions, covenants or agreements
contained in any Loan Document. Neither the Agents nor the Issuing Bank shall be
responsible to the Lenders or the holders of the Notes for the due execution,
genuineness, validity, enforceability or effectiveness of this Amended
Agreement, the Notes or any other Loan Documents or other instruments or
agreements. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank may deem and
treat the payee of any Note as the owner thereof for all purposes hereof until
it shall have received from the payee of such Note notice, given as provided
herein, of the transfer thereof in compliance with Section 9.04. Each of the
Agents and the Issuing Bank shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or
refraining from acting, in accordance with written instructions signed by the
Required Lenders and, except as otherwise specifically provided herein, such
instructions and any action or inaction pursuant thereto shall be binding on all
the Lenders and each subsequent holder of any Note. The Agents, the Issuing Bank
and the Required Lenders shall, in the absence of knowledge to the contrary, be
entitled to rely on any instrument or document believed by it in good faith to
be genuine and correct and to have been signed or sent by the proper person or
persons. Neither the Agents, the Issuing Bank nor any of their respective
directors, officers, employees or agents, shall have any responsibility to the
Borrower on account of the failure of or delay in performance or breach by any
Lender of any of its obligations hereunder or to any Lender on account of the
failure of or delay in performance or breach by any other Lender or the Borrower
or any Subsidiary of any of their respective obligations hereunder or under any
other Loan Document or in connection herewith or therewith. The Agents and the
Issuing Bank may execute any and all duties hereunder by or through agents or
employees, shall be entitled to consult with legal counsel, independent public
accountants and other experts selected by it with respect to all matters arising
hereunder and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in
good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or
experts.

         SECTION 8.03. ACTION BY AGENTS. The Lenders hereby acknowledge that
neither the Agents nor the Issuing Bank shall be under any duty to take any
discretionary action permitted to be taken by it pursuant to the provisions of
this Amended Agreement unless it shall be requested in writing to do so by the
Required Lenders. The obligations of the Agents and the Issuing Bank under the
Loan Documents are only those expressly set forth 


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<PAGE>   92

herein and therein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no Agent
shall be required to take any action with respect to any Default or Event of
Default, except as expressly required pursuant to Article VII.

         SECTION 8.04. SUCCESSOR AGENTS. Subject to the appointment and
acceptance of a successor Agent, the Agents and the Issuing Bank (except, in the
case of the Issuing Bank, in respect of Letters of Credit issued by it) may
resign at any time by notifying the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon any such
resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor
subject to approval by the Borrower (which shall not be unreasonably withheld).
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 or
Issuing Bank, as the case may be, gives notice of its resignation, then the
retiring Agent or Issuing Bank, as the case may be, on behalf of the Lenders,
shall appoint a successor Agent or Issuing Bank, as applicable, which shall be a
commercial bank organized or licensed under the laws of the United States of
America or of any State thereof and having a combined capital and surplus of at
least $500,000,000 or an Affiliate of any such bank. Upon the acceptance of any
appointment as an Agent or Issuing Bank, as the case may be, hereunder by a
successor bank, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all the
rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Agent or Issuing Bank and
the retiring Agent or Issuing Bank shall be discharged from its duties and
obligations hereunder. After the resignation of an Agent or the Issuing Bank, as
the case may be, hereunder, the provisions of this Article and Section 9.05
shall continue in effect for its benefit in respect of any actions taken or
omitted to be taken by it while it was acting as an Agent or Issuing Bank.

         SECTION 8.05. AGENT AND AFFILIATE. With respect to the Loans made by it
hereunder, the Letters of Credit issued by it hereunder and the Notes issued to
it, the Agents and the Issuing Bank, each in its individual capacity and not as
an Agent or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, shall have the same rights and
powers as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not an
Agent or the Issuing Bank. The Agents and the Issuing Bank (and its Affiliates)
may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of
business and transactions with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate
thereof as if it were not an Agent or the Issuing Bank (or such Affiliate
thereof).

         SECTION 8.06. INDEMNIFICATION. Each Lender agrees (a) to reimburse each
of the Agents and the Issuing Bank, on demand, in the amount of its pro rata
share (as determined under Section 2.17) of any expenses incurred for the
benefit of the Lenders by such Agent or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be,
including counsel fees and compensation of agents and employees paid for
services rendered on behalf of the Lenders, which shall not have been reimbursed
by the Borrower and (b) to indemnify and hold harmless each of the Agents, the
Issuing Bank and any of their respective directors, officers, employees or
agents, on demand, in the amount of such pro rata share, from and against any
and all liabilities, taxes, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions,
judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature
whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against it in its
capacity as an Agent or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, or any of them in
any way relating to or arising out of this Amended Agreement or any other Loan
Document or any action taken or omitted by it or any of them under this Amended
Agreement or any other such Loan Document, to the extent the same shall not have
been 


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<PAGE>   93

reimbursed by the Borrower; PROVIDED, THAT, no Lender shall be liable to any
Agent or the Issuing Bank for any portion of such liabilities, obligations,
losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or
disbursements resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such
Agent, the Issuing Bank or any of their respective directors, officers,
employees or agents.

         SECTION 8.07. CREDIT DECISION. Each Lender acknowledges that it has,
independently and without reliance upon the Agents, the Issuing Bank 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
Amended Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and
without reliance upon the Agents, the Issuing Bank 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 Amended Agreement or any other Loan Document, any
related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

                                   ARTICLE IX

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         SECTION 9.01. NOTICES. Notices and other communications provided for
herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier
service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopy as follows:

                  (a) if to the Borrower, to it at 1400 Kettering Tower, Dayton,
         Ohio 45423, Attention of Stephen R. Ley (Telecopy No. (937) 225-3354),
         with a copy to Thompson Hine & Flory LLP, 2000 Courthouse Plaza, N.E.,
         P.O. Box 8801, Dayton, Ohio 45401-8801, Attention of David A. Neuhardt,
         Esq. (Telecopy No:
         (937) 443-6635);

                  (b) if to the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank, to it
         at Kettering Tower, 40 North Main Street, 3rd Floor, Dayton, Ohio
         45423, Attention of Mr. Paul A. Harris (Telecopy No. (513) 449-4885),
         with a copy to Banc One Corporation, Legal Department, 100 East Broad
         Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215, Attention of David Raybuck, Esq.
         (Telecopy No. (614) 248-4189);

                  (c) if to the Syndication Agent, to it at (i) NationsBank
         Corporate Center, 100 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, North Carolina
         28255, Attention of Mr. Philip S. Durand (Telecopy No: (704) 388-0960),
         and (ii) NationsBank Corporate Center, 100 North Tryon Street,
         Charlotte, North Carolina 28255, Attention of Mr. Daniel Montgomery
         (Telecopy No: (704) 388-9441), with a copy to Fennebresque, Clark,
         Swindell & Hay, at NationsBank Corporate Center, 100 North Tryon
         Street, Suite 2900, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202-4011, Attention of
         Marvin L. Rogers, Esq. (Telecopy No. (704) 347-3838); and



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<PAGE>   94

                  (d) if to a Lender, to it at its address (or telecopy number)
         set forth in Schedule 2.01(a), or in the Assignment and Acceptance
         pursuant to which such Lender shall have become a party hereto.

All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance
with the provisions of this Amended Agreement shall be deemed to have been given
on the date of receipt if delivered by hand or overnight courier service or sent
by telecopy or on the date three Business Days after dispatch by certified or
registered mail if mailed, in each case delivered, sent or mailed (properly
addressed) to such party as provided in this Section 9.01 or in accordance with
the latest unrevoked direction from such party given in accordance with this
Section 9.01. In all events, notice shall be deemed effective immediately upon
refusal of delivery thereof irrespective of the method of such delivery.

         SECTION 9.02. SURVIVAL OF AGREEMENT. All covenants, agreements,
representations and warranties made by the Borrower herein and in the
certificates or other instruments prepared or delivered in connection with or
pursuant to this Amended Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be
considered to have been relied upon by the Lenders, the Agents and the Issuing
Bank and shall survive the making by the Lenders of the Loans, the execution and
delivery to the Lenders of the Notes evidencing such Loans, and the issuance of
the Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by the Lenders, the
Agents or the Issuing Bank 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, any
Fee, any Letter of Credit Disbursement or any other amount payable under this
Amended Agreement or any other Loan Document is outstanding and unpaid or any
Letter of Credit is outstanding and so long as the Commitments have not been
terminated. The provisions of Section 2.14, 2.16, 2.20 and 9.05 shall remain
operative and in full force and effect regardless of the expiration of the term
of this Amended Agreement, the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby, the repayment of any of the Loans, the expiration of the Commitments,
the expiration of any Letter of Credit, the invalidity or unenforceability of
any term or provision of this Amended Agreement or any other Loan Document or
any investigation made by or on behalf of the Agent, the Issuing Bank or any
Lender.

         SECTION 9.03. BINDING EFFECT. This Amended Agreement shall become
effective on the Effective Date.

         SECTION 9.04. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. (a) All covenants, promises and
agreements by or on behalf of the Borrower, the Agents, the Issuing Bank or the
Lenders that are contained in this Amended Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of their respective permitted successors and assigns.

         (b) Each Lender may assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of
its interests, rights and obligations under this Amended Agreement (including
all or a portion of its Commitments, the Loans at the time owing to it, the
Notes held by it and the participations in Letters of Credit held by it) to
other financial institutions; PROVIDED, THAT, the Borrower (unless an Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing), the Agents and, in the case of
an assignment of a Revolving Credit Commitment, the Issuing Bank must give their
prior written consent to such assignment (which consent shall not be
unreasonably 


                                       88
<PAGE>   95

withheld). No Lender shall assign to any financial institution other than an
existing Lender, a Commitment in an amount less than $10,000,000; PROVIDED,
THAT, a Lender may assign Commitments to a financial institution in amounts less
than $10,000,000 as long as (i) no Commitments are assigned in amounts less than
$5,000,000, (ii) any Lender desiring to assign Commitments in amounts less that
$10,000,000 shall first notify the Borrower and the Agents at which time the
Borrower shall have 30 days to identify a financial institution of its choice
willing to assume the Commitments to be assigned by such Lender (which financial
institution shall be reasonably acceptable to the Agents) and (iii) after such
assignment is made, no Lender shall hold less than $5,000,000 in total
Commitments. The parties to each such assignment (including, but not limited to,
an assignment by a Lender to another Lender) shall execute and deliver to the
Administrative Agent an Assignment and Acceptance, together with the Note or
Notes subject to such assignment and a processing and recordation fee of $3,500
and the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender or an Affiliate thereof, shall
deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire. Upon
acceptance and recording pursuant to Section 9.04(e), from and after the
effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, which effective date
shall be at least five Business Days after the execution thereof (unless the
Administrative Agent shall otherwise agree), (A) the assignee thereunder shall
be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment
and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Amended
Agreement and (B) the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the
interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, be released from its
obligations under this Amended Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and
Acceptance covering all or the remaining portion of an assigning Lender's rights
and obligations under this Amended Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a
party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.14,
2.16, 2.20 and 9.05, as well as to any Fees accrued for its account to the
effective date of the Assignment and not yet paid).

         (c) By executing and delivering an Assignment and Acceptance, the
assigning Lender thereunder and the assignee thereunder shall be deemed to
confirm to and agree with each other and the other parties hereto as follows:
(i) such assigning Lender warrants that it is the legal and beneficial owner of
the interest being assigned thereby free and clear of any adverse claim arising
in respect of any action by the assigning Lender; (ii) except as set forth in
clause (i) above, such assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and
assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or
representations made in or in connection with this Amended Agreement, any other
Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or
the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or
value of this Amended Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other instrument
or document furnished pursuant hereto, or the financial condition of the
Borrower or any Subsidiary or the performance or observance by the Borrower or
any Subsidiary or the performance or observance by the Borrower or any
Subsidiary of any of its obligations under this Amended Agreement, any other
Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto;
(iii) such assignee represents and warrants that it is legally authorized to
enter into such Assignment and Acceptance; (iv) such assignee confirms that it
has received a copy of this Amended Agreement and the other Loan Documents,
together with copies of the most recent Required Financial Statements and such
other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own
credit analysis and decision to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance; (v)
such assignee will 


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<PAGE>   96

independently, and without reliance upon the Agents, the Issuing Bank, such
assigning Lender or any other Lender and based on such documents and information
as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit
decisions in taking or not taking action under this Amended Agreement; (vi) such
assignee appoints and authorizes the Agents and the Issuing Bank to exercise
such powers under this Amended Agreement as are delegated to such party by the
terms hereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental hereto; and
(vii) such assignee agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms
all the obligations which by the terms of this Amended Agreement are required to
be performed by it as a Lender.

         (d) The Administrative Agent shall maintain at one of its offices in
Dayton, Ohio (or such other reasonable location as the Administrative Agent may
select with prompt notice to the Lenders), 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 Commitments of, and principal amount of the
Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the
"REGISTER"). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive in the absence of
manifest error and the Borrower, the Agents 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 Amended Agreement. The Register shall
be available for inspection by the Borrower, the Issuing Bank and any Lender, at
any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

         (e) Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Acceptance
executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee together with the Note or Notes
subject to such assignment, an Administrative Questionnaire completed in respect
of the assignee (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder or
shall be an Affiliate of a Lender), the processing and recordation fee referred
to in Section 9.04(b) and, if required, the written consent of the Borrower, the
Agents and the Issuing Bank to such assignment, the Administrative Agent shall
(i) accept such Assignment and Acceptance, (ii) record the information contained
therein in the Register and (iii) give prompt notice thereof to the Issuing
Bank, the Syndication Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower. Within five Business
Days after receipt of notice, the Borrower, at its own expense, shall execute
and deliver to the Administrative Agent, in exchange for the surrendered Note or
Notes, a new Note or Notes payable to the order of such assignee in a principal
amount equal to the applicable portion thereof (and the corresponding
Commitment, if any) assumed by it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance
and, if the assigning Lender has retained any portion of such Note or Notes (and
such Commitment, if any), a new Note or Notes payable to the order of such
assigning Lender in a principal amount equal to the applicable portion of such
Note or Notes (and such Commitment, if any) retained by it. Such new Note or
Notes shall be in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal
amount of such surrendered Note; such new Note or Notes shall be dated the date
of the surrendered Notes which they replace and shall otherwise be in
substantially the form of Exhibits A-1 and A-2 hereto, as applicable. Canceled
Notes shall be returned to the Borrower.

         (f) Each Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower, the Agents or
the Issuing Bank, sell participations in all or a portion of its rights and
obligations under this Amended Agreement (including all or a portion of its
Commitment, the Loans owing to it, 


                                       90
<PAGE>   97

the Notes held by it and the participations in Letters of Credit held by it) to
one or more participants; PROVIDED, THAT, (i) such Lender's obligations under
this Amended Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) the sum of (A) the principal
amount of the outstanding Loans subject to such participation and (B) the unused
amount of the Commitments of the Lender subject to such participation shall be
not less than the lesser of (I) $5,000,000 and (II) the entire remaining amount
of the outstanding Loans and unused Commitments of such Lender, (iii) such
Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the
performance of such obligations, (iv) the participating banks or other entities
shall be entitled to the benefit of the cost protection and indemnity provisions
contained in Sections 2.13, 2.15 and 2.19 to the same extent as if they were
Lenders (except that no participant shall be entitled to claim any amount
greater than its pro rata share of the amount that could have been claimed by
the Lender from which it acquired its participation) and (v) the Borrower, the
Agents, the Issuing Bank and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and
directly with the Lender from which the participant acquired its interest in
connection with such Lender's rights and obligations under this Amended
Agreement, and such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce the
obligations of the Borrower relating to the Loans and to approve any amendment,
modification or waiver of any provision of this Amended Agreement (other than
amendments, modifications or waivers decreasing any fees payable hereunder or
the amount of principal of or the rate at which interest is payable on the
Loans, extending any scheduled principal payment date or date fixed for the
payment of interest on the Loans or increasing or extending the Commitments).

         (g) Any Lender or participant may, in connection with any assignment or
participation or proposed assignment or participation pursuant to this Section
9.04, disclose to the assignee or participant or proposed assignee or
participant any information relating to the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries
furnished to such Lender by or on behalf of the Borrower or any of the
Subsidiaries; PROVIDED, THAT, prior to any such disclosure of non-public
information, each such assignee or participant or proposed assignee or
participant shall execute an agreement whereby such assignee or participant
shall agree (subject to customary exceptions) to preserve the confidentiality of
such information.

         (h) Assignments and participations pursuant to this Section 9.04 need
not be pro rata among the Revolving Credit Facility.

         (i) Any Lender may at any time assign all or any portion of its rights
under this Amended Agreement and the Notes issued to it to a Federal Reserve
Bank to secure extensions of credit by such Federal Reserve Bank to such Lender;
PROVIDED, THAT, no such assignment shall release a Lender from any of its
obligations hereunder or substitute any such Federal Reserve Bank for such
Lender as a party hereto.

         (j) The Borrower shall not assign or delegate any of its rights or
duties hereunder or any interest herein (whether voluntarily, by operation of
law or otherwise). Any purported assignment or delegation in violation of the
foregoing shall be void.

         SECTION 9.05. EXPENSES; INDEMNITY. (a) The Borrower agrees to pay all
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any Agent, NMSI or the Issuing
Bank in connection with the preparation, execution and administration of this
Amended Agreement 



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<PAGE>   98

and the other Loan Documents, the syndication or closing of the Revolving Credit
Facility, the administration of the Revolving Credit Facility or any amendment,
modification or waiver of the provisions hereof or thereof and the Borrower
agrees to pay all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any Agent, NMSI,
the Issuing Bank or any Lender in connection with the enforcement or protection
of the rights of the Agents, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders under this Amended
Agreement and the other Loan Documents or in connection with the Loans made, the
Notes issued hereunder or the Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including the
reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of (i) Fennebresque, Clark, Swindell
& Hay, counsel for the Syndication Agent, and the allocated cost of in-house
counsel to the Administrative Agent, (ii) any third party consultants retained
with the Borrower's consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, to
assist the Agents in analyzing any environmental, insurance, solvency-related
and other due diligence issues and (iii) in connection with any such enforcement
or protection (including any workout or restructuring or any negotiations
relating thereto), any other counsel for any Agent, the Issuing Bank or any
Lender (including the allocated internal fees and expenses of any in-house staff
counsel).

         (b) The Borrower agrees to indemnify each of the Agents, NMSI, the
Issuing Bank, the Affiliates of any Agent, the Lenders, and their respective
directors, officers, employees, agents and Controlling persons (each, an
"INDEMNIFIED PARTY") from and against any and all losses, claims (whether valid
or not), damages and liabilities, joint or several, to which such Indemnified
Party may become subject, related to or arising out of (i) the Revolving Credit
Facility, (ii) the execution or delivery of the Original Credit Agreement, this
Amended Agreement or any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument
contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto or thereto
of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder and the other
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, (iii) the use of the Letters of
Credit or the proceeds of the Loans or (iv) any claim, litigation, investigation
or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether or not any Indemnified
Party is a party thereto. The Borrower further agrees to reimburse each
Indemnified Party for all expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and
expenses) as they are incurred in connection with the investigation of,
preparation for or defense of any pending or threatened claim or any action or
proceeding arising therefrom. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligation to
indemnify any Indemnified Party under this Section 9.05(b) shall not apply in
respect of any loss, claim, damage or liability to the extent that a court of
competent jurisdiction shall have determined by final and nonappealable judgment
that such loss, claim, damage or liability resulted from such Indemnified
Party's gross negligence or willful misconduct.

         (c) The Borrower agrees to indemnify each of the Agents, NMSI, the
Issuing Bank, the Lenders and the other Indemnified Parties from and against any
and all losses, claims (whether valid or not), damages and liabilities, joint or
several, to which such Indemnified Party may become subject, related to or
arising out of (i) any Federal, state, local or other statute, ordinance, order,
judgment, ruling or regulation relating to environmental pollution, regulation
or control affecting the Borrower, any Subsidiary or its properties or assets,
(ii) any Hazardous Materials managed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, (iii)
any event, condition or circumstance involving environmental protection,
pollution, regulation or control affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary or its
properties or 


                                       92
<PAGE>   99

assets or (iv) any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to
any of the foregoing, whether or not any Indemnified Party is a party thereto.
The Borrower further agrees to reimburse each Indemnified Party for all expenses
(including reasonable consultants' and attorneys' fees and expenses) as they are
incurred in connection with the investigation of, preparation for or defense of
any pending or threatened claim or any action or proceeding arising therefrom.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligation to indemnify any Indemnified Party
under this Section 9.05(c) shall not apply in respect of any loss, claim, damage
or liability to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction shall have
determined by final and nonappealable judgment that such loss, claim, damage or
liability resulted from such Indemnified Party's gross negligence or willful
misconduct.

         (d) In the event that the foregoing indemnity is unavailable or
insufficient to hold an Indemnified Party harmless, then the Borrower will
contribute to amounts paid or payable by such Indemnified Party in respect of
such Indemnified Party's losses, claims, damages or liabilities in such
proportions as appropriately reflect the relative benefits received by and fault
of the Borrower and such Indemnified Party in connection with the matters as to
which such losses, claims, damages or liabilities relate and other equitable
considerations.

         (e) If any action, proceeding or investigation is commenced, as to
which any Indemnified Party proposes to demand such indemnification, it shall
notify the Borrower with reasonable promptness; PROVIDED, THAT, any failure by
such Indemnified Party to notify the Borrower shall not relieve the Borrower
from its obligations hereunder except to the extent the Borrower is prejudiced
thereby. The Borrower shall be entitled to assume the defense of any such
action, proceeding or investigation, including the employment of counsel and the
payment of all fees and expenses. Each Indemnified Party shall have the right to
employ separate counsel in connection with any such action, proceeding or
investigation and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and
expenses of such counsel shall be paid by such Indemnified Party, unless (i) the
Borrower has failed to assume the defense and employ counsel as provided herein,
(ii) the Borrower has agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses of
separate counsel or (iii) an action, proceeding or investigation has been
commenced against such Indemnified Party and the Borrower and representation of
both the Borrower and such Indemnified Party by the same counsel would be
inappropriate because of actual or potential conflicts of interest between the
parties (in the case of any Agent or Lender, the existence of any such actual or
potential conflict of interest to be determined by such party, taking into
account, among other things, any relevant regulatory concerns). In the case of
any circumstance described in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of the immediately
preceding sentence, the Borrower shall be responsible for the reasonable fees
and expenses of such separate counsel; PROVIDED, THAT, the Borrower shall not in
any event be required to pay the fees and expenses of more than one separate
counsel (plus appropriate local counsel under the direction of such separate
counsel) for all Indemnified Parties, unless representation of all Indemnified
Parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential
conflicting interests between such Indemnified Parties, in which case, the
Borrower shall be required to pay the fees and expenses of such additional
counsel as are necessary to prevent such conflicting interests. The Borrower
shall be liable only for settlement of any claim against an Indemnified Party
made with the Borrower's written consent.



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<PAGE>   100

         (f) The provisions of this Section 9.05 shall remain operative and in
full force and effect regardless of the expiration of the term of this Amended
Agreement, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the
repayment of any of the Loans, the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or
provision of this Amended Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Agent or Lender. All amounts due under
this Section 9.05 shall be payable on written demand therefor.

         SECTION 9.06. RIGHT OF SETOFF. If an Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, each Lender 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
except deposits for the payment of payroll taxes) at any time held and other
indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender to or for the credit or the
account of the Borrower against any of and all the obligations of the Borrower
now or hereafter existing under this Amended Agreement and the other Loan
Documents held by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall
have made any demand under this Amended Agreement or such other Loan Document
and although such obligations may be unmatured. The rights of each Lender under
this Section 9.06 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other
rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.

         SECTION 9.07. APPLICABLE LAW. THIS AMENDED AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN
DOCUMENTS SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE
STATE OF OHIO, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.

         SECTION 9.08. WAIVERS; AMENDMENT. (a) No failure or delay of any 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 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 Bank and the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are
cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies which they would
otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Amended Agreement or any
other Loan Document or consent to any departure by the Borrower or any other
Secured Party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be
permitted by Section 9.08(b), 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 the Borrower in any case shall entitle the Borrower to any other or
further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

         (b) None of this Amended Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any
provision hereof or thereof may be waived, amended or modified (and no consent
to the departure by the Borrower or any other Secured Party therefrom may be
effective), except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered
into by the Borrower and the Required Lenders; PROVIDED, THAT, no such agreement
shall (i) decrease the principal amount of or extend the maturity of or date for
the payment of any interest on any Loan or any date for reimbursement of a
Letter of Credit Disbursement, or waive or excuse any such payment or any part
thereof, or decrease the rate of interest on any Loan or a Letter of Credit



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<PAGE>   101

Disbursement, without the prior written consent of each Lender affected thereby,
(ii) change or extend the Commitments or decrease the Fees of any Lender without
the prior written consent of such Lender, (iii) increase the aggregate
Commitments of the Lenders without the prior written consent of each Lender,
(iv) amend or modify the provisions of Section 2.17 or 9.04(j), the provisions
of this Section, the definition of the term "Required Lenders," release at one
time or serially in the aggregate all or substantially all the Guarantors or all
or substantially all the Collateral, without the prior written consent of each
Lender; (v) change the amount of the Revolving Credit Facility or any provision
relating to any prepayment of the Loans under the Revolving Credit Facility
without the consent of Lenders holding more than 50% of the outstanding Loans
(and outstanding Letter of Credit Exposure, if applicable) under the Revolving
Credit Facility, (vi) waive the conditions to funding any Loan or issuance of a
Letter of Credit without the consent of Lenders holding more than 50% of the
outstanding Loans, Letter of Credit Exposure and unused Commitments under the
Revolving Credit Facility, and (vii) waive, amend or modify in a manner that, by
its terms, adversely affects a Lender's participation in a Facility differently
from those of the Lenders participating in the other Facility, shall require the
consent of such adversely affected Lenders holding more than 50% of the
outstanding Loans, Letter of Credit Exposure (if applicable) and unused
Commitments under such Facility; PROVIDED, FURTHER, that no such agreement shall
amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of any Agent, the
Swingline Lender (in its capacity as such) or the Issuing Bank hereunder or
under any other Loan Document without the prior written consent of such Agent,
the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Bank, as applicable. Each Lender and each
holder of a Note shall be bound by any waiver, amendment or modification
authorized by this Section 9.08 regardless of whether its Note shall have been
marked to make reference thereto, and any consent by any Lender or holder of a
Note pursuant to this Section 9.08 shall bind any person subsequently acquiring
a Note from it, whether or not such Note shall have been so marked.

         SECTION 9.09. INTEREST RATE LIMITATION. Notwithstanding anything herein
or in the Notes to the contrary, if at any time the applicable interest rate,
together with all fees and charges which are treated as interest under
applicable law (collectively the "CHARGES"), as provided for herein or in any
other document executed in connection herewith, or otherwise contracted for,
charged, received, taken or reserved by any Lender, shall exceed the maximum
rate permitted by applicable law (the "MAXIMUM RATE") which may be contracted
for, charged, taken, received or reserved by such Lender in accordance with
applicable law, the rate of interest payable under the affected Note held by
such Lender, together with all Charges payable to such Lender, shall be limited
to the Maximum Rate.

         SECTION 9.10. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. (a) This Amended Agreement, the other
Loan Documents and the Fee Letter constitute the entire contract among the
parties relative to the subject matter hereof and thereof. Any previous
agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and
thereof is superseded by this Amended Agreement, the other Loan Documents and
the Fee Letter. Nothing in this Amended Agreement, the other Loan Documents or
the Fee Letter, expressed or implied, is intended to confer upon any party
(other than the parties hereto and the other Secured Parties) any rights,
remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Amended
Agreement, the other Loan Documents or the Fee Letter.



                                       95
<PAGE>   102

         (b) THIS WRITTEN AGREEMENT, THE NOTES, THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, THE
FEE LETTER AND THE DOCUMENTS EXECUTED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH REPRESENT THE FINAL
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR,
CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO
UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.

         SECTION 9.11. SEVERABILITY. In the event any one or more of the
provisions contained in this Amended Agreement or in any other Loan Document
should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and
therein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. 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 9.12. COUNTERPARTS. This Amended Agreement may be executed by
the parties hereto in several counterparts and each such counterpart shall be
deemed to be an original, admissible into evidence, but all such counterparts
shall together constitute but one and the same Agreement, and shall become
effective as provided in Section 9.03. Delivery of an executed counterpart of
this Amended Agreement by facsimile shall be equally as effective as delivery of
a manually executed counterpart of this Amended Agreement. Any party delivering
an executed counterpart of this Amended Agreement by facsimile shall also
deliver a manually executed counterpart of this Amended Agreement, but the
failure to deliver a manually executed counterpart shall not affect the
validity, enforceability, and binding effect of this Amended Agreement.

         SECTION 9.13. HEADINGS. Article and Section headings and the Table of
Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this
Amended Agreement and are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken into
consideration in interpreting, this Amended Agreement.

         SECTION 9.14. REMEDIES. In case any one or more of the covenants and/or
agreements set forth in this Amended Agreement shall have been breached by the
Borrower, then the Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, proceed
to protect and enforce the Lenders' rights either by suit in equity and/or by
action at law, including, but not limited to, an action for damages as a result
of any such breach and/or an action for specific performance of any such
covenant or agreement contained in this Amended Agreement. Without limitation of
the foregoing, the Borrower agrees that failure to comply with any of the
covenants contained herein will cause irreparable harm and that specific
performance shall be available in the event of any breach thereof. The Agent
acting pursuant to this Section 9.14, shall be indemnified against all
liability, loss or damage, together with all reasonable costs and expenses
related thereto (including reasonable legal and accounting fees and expenses) in
accordance with Section 9.05.

         SECTION 9.15. JURISDICTION; CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS. (a) The
Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its
property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any Ohio State court or Federal
court of the United States of 


                                       96
<PAGE>   103

America sitting in Dayton, Ohio, and any appellate court from any thereof, in
any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Amended Agreement or
the other Loan Documents, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and
hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any
such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such Ohio State court
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 Amended Agreement shall
affect any right that any Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender may otherwise
have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Amended Agreement or the
other Loan Documents against the Borrower or its properties in the courts of any
jurisdiction.

         (b) The Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the
fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may
now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding
arising out of or relating to this Amended Agreement or the other Loan Documents
in any Ohio State court or Federal court of the United States of America sitting
in Dayton, Ohio. 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 Amended Agreement irrevocably consents to
service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01. Nothing
in this Amended Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Amended
Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.



                                       97
<PAGE>   104

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower, the Agents, the Issuing Bank and the
Lenders have caused this Amended Agreement to be duly executed by their
respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

                         ROBBINS & MYERS, INC.,
                         as Borrower

                         by /s/ George M. Walker
                           -------------------------------------------------
                         Name:  George M. Walker
                         Title:  Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

                         BANK ONE, N.A., as Administrative
                         Agent, Issuing Bank and Lender

                         by /s/ Brian Bergmann
                           -------------------------------------------------
                         Name:  Brian Bergmann
                         Title:  Vice President

                         NATIONSBANK, N.A., as Documentation and

                         Syndication Agent and Lender

                         by /s/ Philip S. Durand
                           -------------------------------------------------
                         Name:  Philip S. Durand
                         Title:  Vice President

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

                         by /s/ Patrick M. Pastore
                           -------------------------------------------------
                         Name:  Patrick M. Pastore
                         Title:    Vice President

                         NATIONAL CITY BANK OF COLUMBUS,
                         as a Lender

                         by /s/ Susan M. Bottigi
                           -------------------------------------------------
                         Name:  Susan M. Bottigi
                         Title:  Vice President

<PAGE>   105

                         THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA,
                         as a Lender

                         by /s/ F.C.H. Ashby
                           -------------------------------------------------
                         Name:  F.C.H. Ashby
                         Title:  Senior Manager Loan Operations


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