IMAGYN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES INC
8-K, 1998-09-14
PLASTICS PRODUCTS, NEC
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<PAGE>   1
                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
                              EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                       DATE OF REPORT: SEPTEMBER 14, 1998

                        IMAGYN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

<TABLE>
<S>                                       <C>                               <C>       
             DELAWARE                             1-11150                            98-0122944
  (State or other jurisdiction of         (Commission file number)          (IRS employer identification
          incorporation)                                                              number)
</TABLE>


                            5 Civic Plaza, Suite 100
                             Newport Beach, CA 92660
               (Address of principal executive offices) (zip code)

                                 (949) 668-5858
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)



                                       1
<PAGE>   2

ITEM 5.                           OTHER EVENTS

         On August 24, 1998, the Company and its senior lenders amended and
restated the Company's senior credit facility. In connection with the amendment,
the Company entered into a $57.5 million amended credit agreement that is
comprised of a $43 million revolving facility and a $14.5 million term facility.
The amended facility made available to the Company $14.5 million of additional
term financing.

    The amended credit facility expires on December 30, 1998 and may be extended
for two additional one-year periods on each December 30th, provided that no
event of default occurred during the preceding year (the "Expiration Date"). In
no event will the term of the amended credit facility extend beyond December 30,
2000. The borrowings under the amended credit facility are secured by
substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries. The Company
is required to meet certain covenants under the amended credit agreement,
including financial covenants.

    The $43 million revolving portion of the amended credit facility bears
interest at prime plus 1.50% or LIBOR plus 3.25%. The Company pays a fee of 0.5%
on the unused portion of the revolving credit facility. The borrowing
availability under the revolving portion of the amended credit facility is
calculated using a borrowing base. The borrowing base is equal to 80% of
eligible accounts receivable plus $39 million (the "Additional Amount"). The
Additional Amount will be reduced in an amount equal to the net cash proceeds
received by the Company in connection with certain asset sales. The Company is
required to pay the revolving lender each month an amount equal to 1/2% of the
Additional Amount, for each month in which the borrowings under the revolving
portion of the credit facility exceed 80% of eligible accounts receivable. The
Company is not permitted to prepay the principal amount of any term loans until
the revolving loans have been repaid in full.

    The $14.5 million term portion of the amended credit facility was fully
funded in August 1998, and bears interest at a rate of 15% per annum. In
connection with funding the term portion of the amended credit facility, the
Company paid a 2% commitment fee and a 2% arrangement fee to the term lenders.
In addition, the Company pays a quarterly maintenance fee of $50,000 to the term
lenders. Under the term portion of the amended credit facility, interest is
payable monthly and the principal balance is payable on the Expiration Date.

    In connection with obtaining the term financing under the amended credit
agreement, the Company issued to affiliates of the term lenders 2,250,000 shares
of Common Stock of the Company (50% of the shares are held in escrow and will be
returned to the Company for cancellation upon certain contingencies being
satisfied). The Company has also agreed to file a registration statement to
register the resale of the shares, and to use its best efforts to have the
registration statement declared effective. In the event that the Company fails
to comply with certain registration obligations, the Company has agreed to pay
to the term lenders a one-time extension fee equal to 2% of the term loans, and
to pay an additional 2.5% interest on outstanding term loans retroactive to the
original funding date.

ITEM 7.                FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

         (c) The following exhibits are filed as part of this report:

Exhibit No.

10.1    Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated August 24, 1998, among the
Borrowers, the Company, as guarantor, and BT Commercial Corporation, as agent.



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<PAGE>   3

                                   SIGNATURES

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


                                             IMAGYN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.



                                             By:  /s/ MICHAEL A. MONTEVIDEO
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                  Michael A. Montevideo
                                                  Senior Vice President and
                                                  Chief Financial Officer
Date: September 14, 1998



                                       3
<PAGE>   4

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.

10.1    Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated August 24, 1998, among the
Borrowers, the Company, as guarantor, and BT Commercial Corporation, as agent.



                                       4

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1



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

                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                   $57,500,000

                                      AMONG

                  IMAGYN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES CALIFORNIA, INC.,
                              DACOMED CORPORATION,
                        ALLSTATE MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC.,
                          OSBON MEDICAL SYSTEMS, LTD.,
                              MICROSURGE, INC. AND
                              IMAGYN MEDICAL, INC.

                                  AS BORROWERS,

                       IMAGYN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.,

                                  AS GUARANTOR,

                       EACH OF THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
                          INITIALLY A SIGNATORY HERETO,
                          TOGETHER WITH THOSE ASSIGNEES
                        PURSUANT TO SECTION 11.8 HEREOF,

                                   AS LENDERS,

                                       AND

                           BT COMMERCIAL CORPORATION,

                                    AS AGENT


                           DATED AS OF AUGUST 24, 1998


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

<PAGE>   2

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ARTICLE                                                                                   PAGE
- -------                                                                                   ----
<S>     <C>                                                                               <C>
1       DEFINITIONS..........................................................................2
        1.1    General Definitions...........................................................2
        1.2    Accounting Terms and Determinations..........................................18
        1.3    Other Terms; Headings........................................................18

2       REVOLVING LOANS.....................................................................19
        2.1    Revolving Credit Commitments.................................................19
        2.2    Borrowing of Revolving Loans.................................................19
        2.3    Notice of Request for Lender Revolving Advances..............................20
        2.4    Periodic Settlement of Agent Revolving Advances; Interest and Revolving 
               Fees; Statements.............................................................21
        2.5    Sharing of Payments..........................................................22
        2.6    Defaulting Revolving Lenders.................................................22
        2.7    Reliance on Notices; Appointment of Borrower Representative..................23
        2.A.1  Term Loan....................................................................24

3       LETTERS OF CREDIT...................................................................24
        3.1    Issuance of Letters of Credit................................................24
        3.2    Terms of Letters of Credit...................................................25
        3.3    Notice of Issuance...........................................................25
        3.4    Revolving Lenders' Participation.............................................25
        3.5    Payments of Amounts Drawn Under Letters of Credit............................25
        3.6    Payment by Revolving Lenders.................................................26
        3.7    Obligations Absolute.........................................................26
        3.8    Agent's Execution of Applications and Other Issuing Bank Documentation:
               Reliance on Credit Agreement by Issuing Bank.................................26

4       COMPENSATION, REPAYMENT AND REDUCTION OF COMMITMENTS................................26
        4.1    Interest on Revolving Loans..................................................26
        4.1A   Interest on the Term Loan....................................................28
        4.2    Unused Line Fee..............................................................28
        4.3    Letter of Credit Fees........................................................28
        4.4    Interest and Letter of Credit Fees After Event of Default....................28
        4.5    Collateral Monitoring Fee....................................................29
        4.5A   Term Maintenance Payments....................................................29
        4.5B   Term Extension Payment.......................................................29
        4.6    Expenses.....................................................................29
</TABLE>



                                        i
<PAGE>   3

<TABLE>
<S>     <C>                                                                               <C>
        4.7    Mandatory Repayment of Revolving Loans; Reductions of Revolving
               Commitments..................................................................30
        4.7A   Payment of Term Loan.........................................................31
        4.8    Maintenance of Revolving Loan Account; Statements of Account.................31
        4.9    Intercompany Accounts; Allocation of Revolving Loans.........................32
        4.10   Payment Procedures...........................................................33
        4.11   Collection of Accounts.......................................................33
        4.12   Distribution and Application of Collections and Other Amounts................34
        4.13   Calculations.................................................................34
        4.14   Special Provisions Relating to LIBOR Rate Loans..............................34
        4.15   Indemnification in Certain Events............................................38

5       CONDITIONS PRECEDENT................................................................39
        5.1    Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness of Agreement...........................39
        5.2    Conditions Precedent to All Loans and Letters of Credit......................40

6       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES......................................................40
        6.1    Organization and Qualification...............................................40
        6.2    Authority....................................................................41
        6.3    Enforceability...............................................................41
        6.4    No Conflict..................................................................41
        6.5    Consents and Filings.........................................................41
        6.6    Government Regulation........................................................41
        6.7    Solvency.....................................................................42
        6.8    Rights in Collateral; Priority of Liens......................................42
        6.9    Financial Data...............................................................42
        6.10   Locations of Offices, Records and Inventory..................................42
        6.11   Subsidiaries; Ownership of Stock.............................................42
        6.12   No Judgments or Litigation...................................................43
        6.13   No Defaults..................................................................43
        6.14   Labor Matters................................................................43
        6.15   Compliance with Law..........................................................44
        6.16   ERISA........................................................................44
        6.17   Compliance with Environmental Laws...........................................44
        6.18   Intellectual Property........................................................45
        6.19   Licenses and Permits.........................................................45
        6.20   Taxes and Tax Returns........................................................45
        6.21   Material Contracts...........................................................46
        6.22   Accuracy and Completeness of Information.....................................46
        6.23   Year 2000....................................................................46
        6.24   No Change....................................................................46
</TABLE>



                                       ii
<PAGE>   4

<TABLE>
<S>     <C>                                                                               <C>
7       AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS...............................................................46
        7.1    Financial Reporting..........................................................47
        7.2    Collateral Reporting.........................................................49
        7.3    Notification Requirements....................................................49
        7.4    Corporate Existence..........................................................51
        7.5    Books and Records; Inspections...............................................51
        7.6    Insurance....................................................................51
        7.7    Taxes........................................................................52
        7.8    Compliance with Laws.........................................................52
        7.9    Use of Proceeds..............................................................52
        7.10   Fiscal Year..................................................................52
        7.11   Maintenance of Property......................................................52
        7.12   ERISA Documents..............................................................52
        7.13   Environmental and Other Matters..............................................53
        7.14   Year 2000 Compliance Reports.................................................54
        7.15   Further Assurances...........................................................54

8       NEGATIVE COVENANTS..................................................................54
        8.1    Minimum EBITDA...............................................................54
        8.2    Maximum Account Turnover.....................................................54
        8.3    INTENTIONALLY DELETED........................................................55
        8.4    Capital Expenditures.........................................................55
        8.5    Additional Indebtedness......................................................55
        8.6    Liens........................................................................56
        8.7    Contingent Obligations.......................................................57
        8.8    Sale of Assets...............................................................57
        8.9    Restricted Payments..........................................................57
        8.10   Investments..................................................................58
        8.11   Affiliate Transactions.......................................................58
        8.12   Additional Bank Accounts.....................................................58
        8.13   Additional Negative Pledges..................................................59
        8.14   Additional Subsidiaries......................................................59
        8.15   Employee Benefit Plans.......................................................59

9       EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES......................................................59
        9.1    Events of Default............................................................59
        9.2    Acceleration, Termination of Commitments and Cash Collateralization..........61
        9.2A   Acceleration of Obligations in Respect of Term Loan..........................61
        9.3    Rescission of Acceleration...................................................62
        9.4    Remedies.....................................................................62
        9.5    Right of Setoff..............................................................62
        9.6    License of Use of Software and Other Intellectual Property...................62
</TABLE>



                                       iii
<PAGE>   5

<TABLE>
<S>     <C>                                                                               <C>
         9.7   Application of Proceeds; Surplus; Deficiencies...............................63

10      THE AGENT...........................................................................63
        10.1   Appointment of Agent.........................................................63
        10.2   Nature of Duties of Agent....................................................63
        10.3   Lack of Reliance on Agent....................................................64
        10.4   Certain Rights of the Agent..................................................64
        10.5   Reliance by Agent............................................................64
        10.6   Indemnification of Agent.....................................................65
        10.7   The Agent in its Individual Capacity.........................................65
        10.8   Holders of Notes.............................................................65
        10.9   Successor Agent..............................................................65
        10.10  Collateral Matters...........................................................66
        10.11  Actions with Respect to Defaults.............................................67
        10.12  Delivery of Information......................................................67

11      MISCELLANEOUS.......................................................................68
        11.1   GOVERNING LAW................................................................68
        11.2   SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION...................................................68
        11.3   SERVICE OF PROCESS...........................................................68
        11.4   JURY TRIAL...................................................................68
        11.5   LIMITATION OF LIABILITY......................................................68
        11.6   Delays.......................................................................69
        11.7   Notices......................................................................69
        11.8   Assignments and Participations...............................................69
        11.9   Confidentiality..............................................................71
        11.10  Indemnification..............................................................71
        11.11  Amendments and Waivers.......................................................72
        11.12  Counterparts and Effectiveness...............................................73
        11.13  Severability.................................................................73
        11.14  Maximum Rate.................................................................73
        11.15  Entire Agreement; Successors and Assigns.....................................74
        11.16  Restatement of Existing Credit Agreement.....................................74

12      CROSS-GUARANTY......................................................................74
        12.1   Cross-Guaranty...............................................................74
        12.2   Waivers by Borrowers.........................................................75
        12.3   Benefit of Guaranty..........................................................75
        12.4   Subordination of Subrogation, Etc............................................75
        12.5   Election of Remedies.........................................................76
        12.6   Limitation...................................................................76
        12.7   Contribution with Respect to Guaranty Obligations............................77
        12.8   Liability Cumulative.........................................................78
</TABLE>



                                       iv

<PAGE>   6

ARTICLE                                                                    PAGE


ANNEXES

        Annex I                       List of Revolving Lenders; Revolving
                                      Commitment Amounts; and Applicable Lending
                                      Offices

        Annex II                      List of Term Lenders; and Term Commitment
                                      Amounts



                                       v
<PAGE>   7

SCHEDULES

<TABLE>
<S>                                         <C>
        Schedule A                          Closing Document List
        Schedule B                          Disclosure Schedules
        Schedule B, Part 6.1                States in which Qualified
        Schedule B, Part 6.9                Contingent Obligations and Other Liabilities
        Schedule B, Part 6.10               Principal Places of Business; Locations of
                                            Collateral
        Schedule B, Part 6.11               Subsidiaries
        Schedule B, Part 6.12               Pending Judgments, Litigation and other Claims
        Schedule B, Part 6.14               Labor Contracts
        Schedule B, Part 6.16               Plans
        Schedule B, Part 6.17               Environmental Matters
        Schedule B, Part 6.20               Tax Matters; Tax Sharing Agreements
        Schedule B, Part 6.21               Material Contracts
        Schedule B, Part 8.5                Existing Indebtedness
        Schedule B, Part 8.6                Existing Liens
        Schedule B, Part 8.10               Existing Investments
        Schedule B, Part 8.12               Disbursement Accounts

EXHIBITS

        Exhibit A                           Form of Borrowing Base Certificate
        Exhibit B                           Form of Collateral Access Agreement
        Exhibit C                           Form of Notice of Borrowing
        Exhibit D                           Form of Omnibus Amendment to Security
                                            Agreements
        Exhibit E                           Form of Revolving Note
        Exhibit F                           Form of Term Note
        Exhibit G                           Form of Compliance Certificate
        Exhibit H                           Form of Assignment and Assumption Agreement
</TABLE>



                                       vi
<PAGE>   8

                      AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT


        THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT ("Credit Agreement") is
entered into as of August 24, 1998, among IMAGYN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES
CALIFORNIA, INC., a California corporation ("Imagyn California"), DACOMED
CORPORATION, a Minnesota corporation ("Dacomed"), ALLSTATE MEDICAL PRODUCTS,
INC., a Minnesota corporation ("Allstate"), OSBON MEDICAL SYSTEMS, LTD., a
Georgia corporation ("Osbon"), MICROSURGE, INC., a Delaware corporation
("Microsurge"), IMAGYN MEDICAL, INC., a Delaware corporation ("Imagyn Delaware")
(Imagyn California, Dacomed, Allstate, Osbon, Microsurge and Imagyn Delaware are
sometimes collectively hereinafter referred to as the "Borrowers" and
individually as a "Borrower"), IMAGYN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC., a Delaware
corporation ("Guarantor"); each financial institution identified on Annex I
(together with its successors and assigns, hereinafter referred to individually
as a "Revolving Lender" and collectively as the "Revolving Lenders") and each of
the financial institutions identified on Annex II (together with its successors
and assigns, hereinafter referred to individually as a "Term Lender" and
collectively as the "Term Lenders"); and BT COMMERCIAL CORPORATION, a Delaware
corporation (in its individual capacity, "BTCC"), acting in its capacity as
agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors in such
capacity, the "Agent").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

        WHEREAS, the Borrowers, the Guarantor, the Revolving Lender and the
Agent are parties to a Credit Agreement dated as of December 30, 1997, as
amended by certain letter agreements (collectively, the "Existing Credit
Agreement"), pursuant to which the Revolving Lender made available to the
Borrowers a credit facility in the aggregate amount of $43,600,000;

        WHEREAS, the Borrowers have requested, and the Term Lenders have agreed,
subject to the terms and conditions hereof, to provide a Term Loan facility in
the amount of $14,500,000;

        WHEREAS, this Agreement shall become effective upon the date (the
"Closing Date") on which it has been executed by the Borrowers, the Guarantor,
the Lenders and the Agent and the conditions precedent set forth in Section 5.1
have been satisfied or waived;

        NOW, THEREFORE, it is agreed as follows:


<PAGE>   9

                                    ARTICLE 1

                                  DEFINITIONS

        1.1    GENERAL DEFINITIONS.

        ACCOUNT has the meaning set forth in the Security Agreement.

        AFFILIATE of a Person means another Person who directly or indirectly
controls, is controlled by, is under common control with or is a director or
officer of such Person.

        AGENT REVOLVING ADVANCES has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

        ASSET DISPOSITION has the meaning set forth in Section 8.8.

        APPLICABLE LENDING OFFICE means, with respect to each Revolving Lender,
such Revolving Lender's LIBOR Lending Office in the case of a LIBOR Rate Loan,
and such Revolving Lender's Domestic Lending Office in the case of a Prime Rate
Loan.

        ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT has the meaning set forth in Section
11.8.

        AUDITORS means a nationally recognized firm of independent public
accountants selected by the Guarantor and satisfactory to the Agent in its sole
discretion; provided, that, for purposes of this Credit Agreement, the firm of
Deloitte & Touche shall be deemed to be satisfactory to the Agent.

        BANKRUPTCY CODE means Title 11 of the U.S. Code (11 U.S.C. " 101 et
seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

        BENEFIT PLAN means a "defined benefit plan" (as defined in Section 3(35)
of ERISA) for which the Borrowers, any of their respective Subsidiaries or any
ERISA Affiliate has been an "employer" (as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA)
within the past six years.

        BORROWER REPRESENTATIVE means the Guarantor in its capacity as Borrower
Representative pursuant to the provision of Section 2.7.

        BORROWING means a borrowing of Revolving Loans of the same Type by the
Borrowers on a pro rata basis from each of the Revolving Lenders on a given date
(whether pursuant to Section 2.2 or resulting from continuations or conversions
of Revolving Loans on a given date pursuant to Sections 4.14(a) and (b),
respectively) having, in the case of LIBOR Loans, the same Interest Period.



                                       2
<PAGE>   10

        BORROWING BASE means, at any time, the sum at such time of:

               (a) eighty percent (80%) of Eligible Accounts Receivable, plus

               (b) $39,000,000, which amount shall automatically and permanently
        be reduced in an amount equal to the positive difference between (i) net
        cash proceeds received by the Guarantor, the Borrowers, or any of their
        respective Subsidiaries, from any Asset Dispositions described in
        Section 8.8(iv) during the term hereof, at the time received, and (ii)
        the amount thereof used to repay certain of the Revolving Fees in
        accordance with Section 4.7(b) hereof.

        In addition, the Agent, in the exercise of its Permitted Discretion, may
(i) establish and increase or decrease reserves against Eligible Accounts
Receivable, (ii) reduce the advance rates provided for in this definition, or
restore such advance rates to any level equal to or below the advance rates in
effect as of the date of this Credit Agreement, and (iii) impose additional
restrictions (or eliminate the same) to the standards of eligibility set forth
in the definition of "Eligible Accounts Receivable."

        BORROWING BASE CERTIFICATE means the certificate of the Borrowers
concerning the Borrowing Base to be provided under Section 7.2, substantially in
the form of Exhibit A hereto.

        BT ACCOUNT has the meaning set forth in Section 4.11.

        BUSINESS DAY means any day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on
which commercial banks in Chicago, Illinois are required or permitted by law to
be closed and, when used in connection with LIBOR Rate Loans, this definition
will also exclude any day on which commercial banks are not open for dealing in
United States dollar deposits in the London (U.K.) interbank market.

        CAPITAL EXPENDITURES means, for any Person for any period, the sum of
all expenditures capitalized by such Person for financial statement purposes in
accordance with GAAP during such period (whether payable in cash or other
property or accrued as a liability), including the capitalized portion of
capital leases and that portion of Investments made by such Person allocable to
property, plant or equipment. Capital Expenditures shall exclude proceeds of a
casualty loss applied to the repair or replacement of the property affected by
the casualty loss. "Casualty loss," as used herein, means, for any Person, (i)
the loss, damage, or destruction of any asset or property owned or used by such
Person, (ii) the condemnation, confiscation, or other taking, in whole or in
part, of any such asset or property, or (iii) the



                                       3
<PAGE>   11

diminishment of the use of any such asset or property so as to render
impracticable or unreasonable the use thereof for its intended purpose.

        CASH EQUIVALENTS means either of the following, so long as the same are
maintained in accounts in which the Agent has a perfected security interest: (i)
securities issued, guarantied or insured by the United States, or any of its
agencies and having maturities of not more than one year; and (ii) certificates
of deposit having maturities of not more than one year issued by a United States
national or state chartered commercial bank of recognized standing whose
combined capital and unimpaired surplus is in excess of $200,000,000 and whose
short-term commercial paper rating, or that of its parent holding company, is at
least "A-1" or the equivalent by S&P and at least "Prime-1" or the equivalent by
Moody's.

        CHANGE OF CONTROL means the occurrence of any of the following: (i) Mr.
Charles Laverty, the Chairman of the Guarantor, (x) ceases to remain in the
employ of the Guarantor in his current capacity or in some other executive
capacity or (y) ceases to "beneficially own" (such term having the meaning
ascribed to it pursuant to Section 13(3) of the United States Securities
Exchange Act of 1934) at least his current stock ownership (including securities
which may be exchanged for, converted into or exercised for shares of stock) in
the Guarantor, provided that he may sell, during each of the Guarantor's fiscal
quarters, up to 25,000 shares of such stock ownership; (ii) individuals who
constituted the Board of Directors of Guarantor or any Borrower on the Closing
Date (together with any new directors whose proposal for election by the
shareholders of Guarantor or any Borrower was approved by a vote of 51% of the
directors of Guarantor or such Borrower then still in office who either were
directors on the Closing Date or whose election or nomination for election was
previously so approved) shall cease for any reason to constitute a majority of
the members of the Board of Directors of Guarantor or such Borrower still in
office; (iii) Guarantor or any Borrower conveys, transfers or leases all or
substantially all of its assets to any Person, other than to another Borrower or
the Guarantor; or (iv) the approval by stockholders of Guarantor or any Borrower
of any plan or proposal for the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of
Guarantor or any such Borrower, except for a liquidation, dissolution or winding
up involving the transfer of all assets and operations from one Borrower to
another.

        CLOSING DATE has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

        CLOSING DOCUMENT LIST has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.

        CODE has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3.

        COLLATERAL means the Accounts, Inventory and other real and personal
property identified in the Collateral Documents as security for the Obligations.



                                       4
<PAGE>   12

        COLLATERAL ACCESS AGREEMENT means an agreement substantially in the form
of Exhibit B hereto pursuant to which a mortgagee or lessor of real property on
which Collateral is stored or otherwise located, or a warehouseman, processor or
other bailee of Inventory, acknowledges the Liens of the Agent and, in the case
of any such agreement with a mortgagee or lessor, permits the Agent access to
and use of such real property for a reasonable amount of time following the
occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default to assemble,
complete and sell any Collateral stored or otherwise located thereon.

        COLLATERAL DOCUMENTS means, collectively, the Security Agreements (as
reaffirmed and modified by the Omnibus Amendment), the Mortgages and all other
contracts, instruments and other documents pursuant to which Liens are now or
hereafter granted to the Agent to secure any or all of the Obligations.

        COLLATERAL MONITORING FEE has the meaning set forth in Section 4.5.

        COLLECTIONS means all cash, funds, checks, notes, instruments and any
other form of remittance tendered by account debtors in payment of Accounts.

        COMMITMENTS means, collectively, the Revolving Commitments and the Term
Commitments.

        CONSOLIDATED ENTITY means the Guarantor and those of its Subsidiaries
(including the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries) consolidated with it
for purposes of financial reporting.

        CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME means the consolidated net income of the
Consolidated Entity, but excluding, in any event, any licensing or royalty fee
income arising out of a license of intellectual property where title thereto is
transferred to the licensee at the end of the license term substantially in
consideration of the aggregate license or royalty fees paid over the term
thereof.

        CONTINGENT OBLIGATION means, with respect to any Person, any direct,
indirect, contingent or non-contingent guaranty or obligation of such Person for
the Indebtedness of another Person, except for endorsements in the ordinary
course of business.

        CREDIT AGREEMENT has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

        CREDIT DOCUMENTS means, collectively, this Credit Agreement, the Notes,
the Letters of Credit, the Guaranty, each of the Collateral Documents and all
other documents, agreements and instruments now, heretofore or hereafter
executed in connection herewith or therewith, in each case as modified, amended,
extended, restated or supplemented from time to time.



                                       5
<PAGE>   13

        CREDIT PARTIES means, collectively, the Guarantor, the Borrowers and
each other party to any of the Credit Documents (other than the Lenders, the
Agent or the Issuing Bank).

        DEFAULT means an event, condition or default which with the giving of
notice, the passage of time or both would be an Event of Default.

        DEFAULTING REVOLVING LENDER has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6.

        DISBURSEMENT ACCOUNT means the operating account of the Borrower
Representative maintained with the Disbursement Account Bank.

        DISBURSEMENT ACCOUNT BANK means Bankers Trust Company or any other
financial institution selected from time to time by the Agent and reasonably
acceptable to the Borrower Representative.

        DOMESTIC LENDING OFFICE means, with respect to any Revolving Lender, the
office of such Revolving Lender specified as its "Domestic Lending Office" on
Annex I, as such annex may be amended from time to time, which office shall in
any event be located in the United States.

        EBITDA means, for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of the
Consolidated Entity (excluding extraordinary items, including one-time
restructuring charges) for such period, plus (a) all Interest Expense, income
tax expense, depreciation and amortization (including amortization of any
goodwill or other intangibles) for such period; minus (b) gains and losses
attributable to any fixed asset sales; plus or minus (c) any other non-cash
charges or gains which have been subtracted or added in calculating Consolidated
Net Income.

        ELIGIBLE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE means Accounts of a Borrower deemed by the
Agent in the exercise of its Permitted Discretion to be eligible for inclusion
in the calculation of the Borrowing Base. In determining the amount to be so
included, the face amount of such Accounts shall be reduced by the amount of all
returns, discounts, deductions, claims, credits, charges, or other allowances.
Unless otherwise approved in writing by the Agent, no Account shall be deemed to
be an Eligible Account Receivable if:

                (a) it arises out of a sale made by a Borrower to an Affiliate;
        or

                (b) its payment terms are longer than sixty (60) days from date
        of invoice; or

                (c) except to the extent provided in the following subsection
        (d), it is unpaid more than ninety (90) days after the original date of
        invoice; or



                                       6
<PAGE>   14

                (d) to the extent such Account is due and owing from certain
        account debtors of Borrowers' surgical and gynecology divisions, as
        determined by Agent in its sole discretion, it is unpaid more than one
        hundred fifty (150) days after the original date of invoice; or

                (e) it is from the same account debtor or its Affiliate and
        fifty percent (50%) or more of all Accounts from that account debtor
        (and its Affiliates) are ineligible under (c) above; or

                (f) when aggregated with all other Accounts of an account debtor
        whose outstanding Accounts equal or exceed $1,000,000 at the time of
        determination, the Account exceeds twenty percent (20%) in face value of
        all Accounts of such Borrower then outstanding, to the extent of such
        excess, unless supported by an irrevocable letter of credit satisfactory
        to the Agent (as to form, substance and issuer) and assigned to and
        directly drawable by the Agent; or

                (g) the account debtor for the Account is a creditor of such
        Borrower, has or has asserted a right of setoff against such Borrower,
        has disputed its liability or made any claim with respect to the Account
        or any other Account which has not been resolved, but in each of the
        foregoing cases, solely to the extent of the amount of such actual or
        asserted right of setoff, or the amount of such dispute or claim, as the
        case may be; or

                (h) the account debtor is (or its assets are) the subject of an
        Insolvency Event; or

                (i) the Account is not payable in United States dollars or the
        account debtor for the Account is located outside the continental United
        States, unless the Account is supported by an irrevocable letter of
        credit or other credit support satisfactory to the Agent (as to form,
        substance and issuer) and, if requested by Agent, assigned to and
        directly drawable by the Agent; or

                (j) the sale to the account debtor is on a bill-and-hold,
        guarantied sale, sale- and-return, sale on approval or consignment basis
        or made pursuant to any other written agreement providing for repurchase
        or return; or

                (k) the Agent determines by its own credit analysis that
        collection of the Account is uncertain or the Account may not be paid;
        or

                (l) the account debtor is the United States of America or any
        department, agency or instrumentality thereof, unless such Borrower duly
        assigns its rights to



                                       7
<PAGE>   15

        payment of such Account to the Agent pursuant to the Assignment of
        Claims Act of 1940, as amended (31 U.S.C. " 3727 et seq.); or

                (m) the goods giving rise to such Account have not been shipped
        and delivered to and accepted by the account debtor, the services giving
        rise to such Account have not been performed and accepted or the Account
        otherwise does not represent a final sale; or

                (n) the Account does not comply with all Requirements of Law,
        including, without limitation, the Federal Consumer Protection Act, the
        Federal Truth-in-Lending Act and Regulation Z; or

                (o) the Account is subject to any adverse security deposit,
        progress payment or other similar advance made by or for the benefit of
        the applicable account debtor; or

                (p) the Account is not subject to a valid and perfected first
        priority Lien in favor of the Agent or does not otherwise conform to the
        representations and warranties contained in the Credit Documents.

        EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN has the meaning set forth in Section 3(3)g of
ERISA.

        ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended, 29 U.S.C. " 1000 et seq., amendments thereto, successor statutes, and
regulations or guidance promulgated thereunder.

        ERISA AFFILIATE means any entity required to be aggregated with the
Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries under Sections 414 (b), (c), (m) or (o) of
the Internal Revenue Code.

        EVENT OF DEFAULT has the meaning set forth in Article 9.

        EXISTING CREDIT AGREEMENT has the meaning set forth in the recitals
hereto.

        EXPENSES means all reasonable costs and expenses of the Agent and
Lenders incurred in connection with the Credit Documents and the transactions
contemplated therein, including, without limitation, (i) the costs of conducting
record searches, examining collateral, opening bank accounts and lockboxes,
depositing checks, and receiving and transferring funds (including charges for
checks for which there are insufficient funds), (ii) the reasonable fees and
expenses of legal counsel and paralegals (including the allocated cost of
internal counsel and paralegals), accountants, appraisers and other consultants,
experts or advisors retained by the Agent, (iii) reasonable fees and expenses of
legal counsel and paralegals incurred in connection with the matters relating to
assignments of or sales of participations in the Loans,



                                       8
<PAGE>   16

including, without limitation, the documentation of any such transaction, (iv)
the cost of title insurance premiums, real estate survey costs, and fees and
taxes in connection with the filing of financing statements, and (v) the costs
of preparing and recording Collateral Documents, releases of Collateral, and
waivers, amendments, and terminations of any of the Credit Documents, and (vi)
an amount equal to any premium paid by the Revolving Lenders to acquire all of
the outstanding Term Loan from the Term Lenders pursuant to the call option
granted to the Revolving Lenders by the Term Lenders pursuant to the
Intercreditor Agreement of even date herewith (the "Intercreditor Agreement") a
copy of which has been provided to the Borrower Representative. Expenses also
means all reasonable costs and expenses (including the reasonable fees and
expenses of legal counsel and other professionals) paid or incurred by the Agent
and any Lender (i) during the continuance of an Event of Default, (ii) in
enforcing or defending its rights under or in respect of this Credit Agreement,
the other Credit Documents or any other document or instrument now or hereafter
executed and delivered in connection herewith, (iii) in collecting the Loans,
(iv) in foreclosing or otherwise collecting upon the Collateral or any part
thereof and (v) in obtaining any legal, accounting or other advice in connection
with any of the foregoing.

        EXPIRATION DATE means December 30, 1998; provided, however, that so long
as no Event of Default has occurred prior to December 30, 1998, by agreement of
the parties hereto, the Expiration Date shall be extended to December 30, 1999;
and provided further, that so long as no Event of Default has occurred after
December 30, 1998, by agreement of the parties hereto, the Expiration Date shall
be extended to, but not beyond, December 30, 2000.

        FEDERAL FUNDS RATE means, for any period, a fluctuating interest rate
per annum for each day during such period equal to the weighted average of the
rates on overnight Federal Funds transactions with members of the Federal
Reserve System arranged by Federal Funds brokers, as published for such day (or,
if such day is not a Business Day, for the next preceding Business Day) by the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any
day that is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for such day on such
transactions received by the Agent from three Federal Funds brokers of
recognized standing selected by the Agent.

        FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD means the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System or any Governmental Authority succeeding to its functions.

        FINANCIAL STATEMENTS means the consolidated and consolidating balance
sheets, statements of operations, statements of cash flows and statements of
changes in shareholder's equity of the Consolidated Entity for the period
specified, prepared in accordance with GAAP and consistently with prior
practices.



                                       9
<PAGE>   17

        GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States
as in effect from time to time.

        GOVERNING DOCUMENTS means certificates or articles of incorporation,
by-laws and other similar organizational or governing documents.

        GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY means any nation or government, any state or
other political subdivision thereof and any entity exercising executive,
legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining
to government.

        GUARANTEES mean collectively the guaranty executed by Guarantor on
December 30, 1997, and the Continuing Limited Guaranty executed by Charles
Laverty dated July 10, 1998..

        HIGHEST LAWFUL RATE means, at any given time during which any
Obligations shall be outstanding hereunder, the maximum nonusurious interest
rate that at any time or from time to time may be contracted for, taken,
reserved, charged or received on such Obligations, under the laws of the State
of Illinois (or the law of any other jurisdiction whose laws may be mandatorily
applicable notwithstanding other provisions of this Credit Agreement and the
other Credit Documents), or under applicable federal laws which may presently or
hereafter be in effect and which allow a higher maximum nonusurious interest
rate than under Illinois (or such other jurisdiction's) law, in any case after
taking into account, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any and all
relevant payments or charges under this Credit Agreement and any other Credit
Documents executed in connection herewith, and any available exemptions,
exceptions and exclusions.

        INDEBTEDNESS of a Person means, without duplication, (a) indebtedness
for borrowed money or for the deferred purchase price of property or services
(other than trade liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business and
payable in accordance with customary practices), whether on open account or
evidenced by a note, bond, debenture or similar instrument, (b) obligations
under capital leases, (c) reimbursement obligations for letters of credit,
banker's acceptances or other credit accommodations, (d) liabilities, as
determined by the Agent, under any Interest Rate Agreement, (e) Contingent
Obligations and (f) Indebtedness secured by any Lien on any property of that
Person, even if that Person has not assumed such Indebtedness.

        INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT means all computer hardware, firmware
and software, as well as other information processing systems, or any equipment
containing embedded microchips, whether directly owned, licensed, leased,
operated or otherwise controlled by the Guarantor, any Borrower or any of their
respective Subsidiaries, including through third-party service providers, and
which are integral to the Guarantor's, any Borrower's or any of their respective
Subsidiaries' conduct of their business.



                                       10
<PAGE>   18

        INSOLVENCY EVENT means, with respect to any Person, the occurrence of
any of the following: (a) such Person shall be adjudicated insolvent or
bankrupt, or generally fail to pay, or admit in writing its inability to pay,
its debts as they become due, (b) the voluntary commencement of any proceeding
or the filing of any petition under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law,
(c) the seeking of dissolution or reorganization or the appointment of a
receiver, trustee, custodian or liquidator for it or a substantial portion of
its property, assets or business or to effect a plan or other arrangement with
its creditors, (d) the filing of any answer admitting the jurisdiction of the
court and the material allegations of an involuntary petition filed against it
in any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceeding, (e) such Person shall make
a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or shall consent to or
acquiesce in the appointment of, a receiver, trustee, custodian or liquidator
for a substantial portion of its property, assets or business. Insolvency Event
shall also mean, with respect to any Person, the occurrence of any of the
following: an involuntary proceeding or involuntary petition shall be commenced
or filed against such Person under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law
seeking the dissolution or reorganization of it or the appointment of a
receiver, trustee, custodian or liquidator for it or of a substantial part of
its property, assets or business, or any writ, judgment, warrant of attachment,
execution or similar process shall be issued or levied against a substantial
part of its property, assets or business, and such proceedings or petitions
shall not be dismissed, or such writ, judgment, warrant of attachment, execution
or similar process shall not be released, vacated or fully bonded, within thirty
(30) days after commencement, filing, or levy, as the case may be, or any order
for relief shall be entered in any such proceeding.

        INTEREST EXPENSE means the aggregate consolidated expense of the
Consolidated Entity for interest on Indebtedness, including, without limitation,
amortization of original issue discount, incurrence fees (to the extent included
in interest expense), the interest portion of any deferred payment obligation
and the interest component of any capital lease obligation.

        INTEREST PERIOD means, for any LIBOR Rate Loan, the period commencing on
the date of such Borrowing and ending on the last day of the period selected by
the Borrower Representative pursuant to the provisions below. The duration of
each such Interest Period shall be one, two, three or six months, in each case
as the Borrower Representative may, in an appropriate Notice of Borrowing,
Notice of Continuation or Notice of Conversion, select; provided, that the
Borrower Representative may not select any Interest Period that ends after the
Expiration Date. Whenever the last day of any Interest Period would otherwise
occur on a day other than a Business Day, the last day of such Interest Period
shall be extended to occur on the next succeeding Business Day; provided, that
if such extension would cause the last day of such Interest Period to occur in
the next following calendar month, the last day of such Interest Period shall
occur on the next preceding Business Day.



                                       11
<PAGE>   19

        INTEREST RATE AGREEMENT means any interest rate protection or hedge
agreement, including, without limitation, interest rate future, option, swap,
and cap agreements.

        INTERNAL REVENUE CODE means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
amendments thereto, successor statutes, and regulations or guidance promulgated
thereunder.

        INVENTORY has the meaning set forth in the Security Agreement.

        INVESTMENT means all expenditures made and all liabilities incurred
(contingently or otherwise) for or in connection with the acquisition of stock
or Indebtedness of, or for loans, advances, capital contributions or transfers
of property to, or acquisition of substantially all the assets of, a Person. In
determining the aggregate amount of Investments outstanding at any particular
time, (i) the amount of any Investment represented by a guaranty shall be taken
at not less than the principal amount of the obligations guaranteed and
outstanding; (ii) there shall be deducted in respect of each such Investment any
amount received as a return of capital (but only by repurchase, redemption,
retirement, repayment, liquidating dividend or liquidating distribution); (iii)
there shall not be deducted in respect of any Investment any amounts received as
earnings on such Investment, whether as dividends, interest or otherwise; and
(iv) there shall not be deducted from the aggregate amount of Investments any
decrease in the market value thereof.

        ISSUING BANK means Bankers Trust Company or any Revolving Lender or
other financial institution that is acceptable to the Agent and the Borrowers
which may at any time issue or be requested to issue a Letter of Credit for the
account of a Borrower.

        ISSUING BANK FEES has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(b).

        L/C FACING FEE has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(a).

        LENDER means any of the Revolving Lenders or the Term Lenders.

        LETTER OF CREDIT FEE has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(a).

        LETTER OF CREDIT OBLIGATIONS means the sum of the aggregate undrawn face
amount of all Letters of Credit outstanding, plus the aggregate amount of all
drawings under Letters of Credit for which a Borrower has not reimbursed the
Issuing Bank, plus the aggregate amount of all payments made by Revolving
Lenders to the Issuing Bank for their participations in Letters of Credit, for
which a Borrower has not reimbursed the Revolving Lenders.

        LETTER OF CREDIT REQUEST has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3.



                                       12
<PAGE>   20

        LETTERS OF CREDIT means all letters of credit issued for the account of
the Borrowers under Article 3 and all amendments, renewals, extensions or
replacements thereof.

        LIBOR LENDING OFFICE means, with respect to any Revolving Lender, the
office of such Revolving Lender specified as its "LIBOR Lending Office" opposite
its name on Annex I, as such annex may be amended from time to time (or, if no
such office is specified, its Domestic Lending Office).

        LIBOR RATE means, with respect to any Interest Period for each LIBOR
Rate Loan comprising part of the same Borrowing, an interest rate per annum
equal to the rate (rounded upward to the nearest whole multiple of one-sixteenth
(1/16) of one percent (1.00%) per annum, if such rate is not such a whole
multiple of one-sixteenth (1/16) of one percent (1.00%) of the offered
quotation, if any, to first class banks in the London (U.K.) interbank market by
Bankers Trust Company for United States dollar deposits of amounts in
immediately available funds comparable to the principal amount of the LIBOR Rate
Loan of BTCC for which the LIBOR Rate is being determined with maturities
comparable to the Interest Period for which such LIBOR Rate will apply as of
approximately 10:00 a.m. Chicago time two (2) Business Days prior to the
commencement of such Interest Period.

        LIBOR RATE LOAN means a Revolving Loan that bears interest as provided
in Section 4.l(b) hereof.

        LIEN means any lien, claim, charge, pledge, security interest,
assignment, hypothecation, deed of trust, mortgage, lease, conditional sale,
retention of title, or other preferential arrangement having substantially the
same economic effect as any of the foregoing, whether voluntary or imposed by
law.

        LOAN means any Revolving Loan or any Term Loan.

        LOCKBOXES has the meaning set forth in Section 4.11.

        LOCKBOX ACCOUNT has the meaning set forth in Section 4.11.

        LOCKBOX AGREEMENTS has the meaning set forth in Section 4.11.

        LOCKBOX BANKS has the meaning set forth in Section 4.11.

        MAJORITY LENDERS means, at any time, those Lenders holding in the
aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the total Commitments, or if the
Commitments are terminated, those Lenders owed more than fifty percent (50%) of
the Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations then outstanding.



                                       13
<PAGE>   21

        MAJORITY TERM LENDERS means those Term Lenders owed more than fifty
percent (50%) of the Term Loan then outstanding.

        MAJORITY REVOLVING LENDERS means those Revolving Lenders holding in the
aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the total Revolving Commitments, or
if the Revolving Commitments are terminated, those Revolving Lenders owed more
than fifty percent (50%) of the Revolving Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations
then outstanding.

        MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT means a material adverse effect on (i) the
business, prospects, operations, results of operations, assets, liabilities or
condition (financial or otherwise) of the Credit Parties taken as a whole, (ii)
the ability of any Credit Party to perform its obligations under the Credit
Documents to which it is a party, or the ability of the Agent or the Lenders to
enforce the Obligations or realize upon the Collateral, or (iii) the value of
the Collateral, or the amount which the Agent or the Lenders would be likely to
receive (after giving consideration to delays in payment and costs of
enforcement) in the liquidation of such Collateral.

        MATERIAL CONTRACT means any contract or other arrangement to which the
Borrowers or any of their respective Subsidiaries is a party (other than the
Credit Documents) for which breach, nonperformance, cancellation or failure to
renew could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

        MOODY'S means Moody's Investors Services, Inc., or any successor
thereto.

        MORTGAGES means each mortgage, deed of trust or similar security
agreement in form reasonably satisfactory to Agent, made or to be made by one or
more Borrowers having an interest in real property to be encumbered, in favor of
Agent to secure the Obligations.

        MULTIEMPLOYER PLAN means a "multiemployer plan" (as defined in Section
4001(a) (3) of ERISA) to which the Guarantor, any of its Subsidiaries or any
ERISA Affiliate has contributed within the past six years or with respect to
which the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries could reasonably be expected to
incur any liability.

        NOTE means any Revolving Note or Term Note.

        NOTICE OF BORROWING means an irrevocable and binding notice delivered by
the Borrower Representative to the Agent either by telephone or by facsimile
transmission (and if by telephone, confirmed in writing), of the Borrower
Representative's request for a Borrowing, which notice shall be substantially in
the form of Exhibit C hereto.

        NOTICE OF CONTINUATION has the meaning set forth in Section 4.14(a).



                                       14
<PAGE>   22

        NOTICE OF CONVERSION has the meaning set forth in Section 4.14(b).

        OBLIGATIONS means the unpaid principal and interest hereunder (including
interest accruing on or after the occurrence of an Insolvency Event) in respect
of Loans, reimbursement obligations under Letters of Credit, Revolving Fees,
Term Payments, Expenses and all other obligations and liabilities of the
Borrowers to the Agent, the Issuing Bank or to the Lenders under this Credit
Agreement, the Notes, or any other Credit Document.

        OMNIBUS AMENDMENT means the Omnibus Amendment to Security Agreements
substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto.

        PERMITTED DISCRETION means the Agent's judgment exercised in good faith
and not in an irrational manner based upon its consideration of any factor which
the Agent believes in good faith could materially adversely affect the value of
any Collateral, including any Inventory or Accounts or the amount which the
Agent and the Lenders would be likely to receive (after giving consideration to
delays in payment and costs of enforcement) in the liquidation of such
Collateral. In exercising such judgment, the Agent may consider such factors
which are already included in or tested by the definition of Eligible Accounts
Receivable, as well as any of the following: (i) the financial and business
climate of the Borrowers' industry and general macroeconomic conditions, (ii)
changes in collection history and dilution with respect to the Accounts, (iii)
changes in levels of backlog of firm purchase orders and demand for, and pricing
of, Inventory, (iv) changes in any concentration of risk with respect to
Accounts and Inventory, and (v) any other factors that change the credit risk of
lending to any of the Borrowers on the security of the Accounts and Inventory.

        PERMITTED LIENS means the Liens referred to in clauses (a) through (i)
of Section 8.6.

        PERSON means any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, joint
venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association, corporation, limited
liability company, institution, entity, party or government (including any
division, agency or department thereof), and its successors, heirs and assigns.

        PLAN means any Benefit Plan, Multiemployer Plan, or Retiree Health Plan,
or any Employee Benefit Plan, fund, program or arrangement, whether oral or
written, maintained or contributed to by the Guarantor or any of its
Subsidiaries, or with respect to which any of them could reasonably be expected
to incur liability.

        PRIME LENDING RATE means the rate which Bankers Trust Company announces
as its prime lending rate, from time to time. The Prime Lending Rate is a
reference rate and does not necessarily represent the lowest or best rate
actually charged to any customer. Bankers



                                       15
<PAGE>   23

Trust Company and each of the Lenders may make commercial loans or other loans
at rates of interest at, above or below the Prime Lending Rate.

        PRIME RATE LOAN means a Revolving Loan that bears interest as provided
in Section 4.1(a) hereof.

        PROPORTIONATE SHARE of a Revolving Lender means a fraction, expressed as
a percentage, obtained by dividing its Revolving Commitment by the Revolving
Line of Credit or, if the Revolving Commitments are terminated, by dividing its
then outstanding Revolving Loans and Letter of Credit participations by the then
outstanding aggregate Revolving Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations.

        PURCHASE MONEY LIENS has the meaning set forth in Section 8.5(f).

        REGISTER has the meaning set forth in Section 11.8(d).

        REGULATION D means Regulation D of the Federal Reserve Board, as in
effect from time to time.

        REGULATION T means Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board, as in
effect from time to time.

        REGULATION U means Regulation U of the Federal Reserve Board, as in
effect from time to time.

        REGULATION Z means Regulation Z of the Federal Reserve Board, as in
effect from time to time.

        REPORTABLE EVENT means any of the events described in Section 4043 of
ERISA and the regulations thereunder.

        REQUIREMENT OF LAW means, with respect to any Person, (a) the Governing
Documents of such Person, (b) any law, treaty, rule or regulation or
determination of an arbitrator, court or other Governmental Authority binding on
such Person, or (c) any franchise, license, permit, certificate, authorization,
qualification, easement, right of way, right or approval binding on a Person or
any of its property.

        RETIREE HEALTH PLAN means an "employee welfare benefit plan" within the
meaning of Section 3(1) of ERISA, and any other plan, program or arrangement,
whether oral or written, that provides benefits to persons after termination of
employment, other than as required by Section 601 of ERISA.



                                       16
<PAGE>   24

        REVOLVING COMMITMENT of a Revolving Lender means such Revolving Lender's
commitment, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, to make
Revolving Loans and to participate in Letters of Credit, up to the amount set
forth below its name on Annex I, as such amount may be reduced from time to time
in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Credit Agreement.

        REVOLVING FEES means, collectively, the Unused Line Fee, the Letter of
Credit Fees, the L/C Facing Fee, the Issuing Bank Fees, the Collateral
Monitoring Fee, and the fee provided for in that certain letter dated on or
about the date hereof among BTCC, the Borrowers and Guarantor (the "Fee
Letter").

        REVOLVING LENDER has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

        REVOLVING LENDER ADVANCES has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

        REVOLVING LINE OF CREDIT means the aggregate revolving line of credit
extended pursuant to this Credit Agreement by the Revolving Lenders to the
Borrowers for Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit, in an amount up to
$43,000,000, as such amount may be reduced from time to time pursuant to the
respective terms and provisions hereof.

        REVOLVING LOAN ACCOUNT has the meaning set forth in Section 4.8.

        REVOLVING LOANS has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.

        REVOLVING NOTE means a promissory note of the Borrowers payable to the
order of any Revolving Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto, as
amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, and
including all Notes issued in replacement of, or in substitution or exchange
for, any Revolving Note.

        REVOLVING SETTLEMENT DATE has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a).

        S&P means Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, a division of The
McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., or any successor thereto.

        SECURITY AGREEMENTS mean the Security Agreement, the Patent and License
Security Agreements, the Trademark and License Security Agreement, and the
Pledge Agreement, all dated December 30, 1997 and executed by the Guarantor in
favor of the Agent, and the Security Agreement, the Patent and License Security
Agreement, and the Trademark and License Security Agreement, all dated December
30, 1997 and executed by the Borrowers in favor of the Agent.



                                       17
<PAGE>   25

        SUBSIDIARY of a Person means a corporation or other entity in which that
Person directly or indirectly owns or controls the shares of stock or other
ownership interests having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the
board of directors or appoint other managers of such corporation or other
entity.

        TERM COMMITMENT of a Term Lender means such Term Lender's Commitment, on
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, to make that portion
of the Term Loan on the Closing Date in the original principal amount set forth
below its name on Annex II.

        TERM EXTENSION PAYMENT has the meaning set forth in Section 4.5B.

        TERM PAYMENTS means, collectively, the Term Extension Payment, the Term
Maintenance Fee and the other payments provided for in that certain letter
agreement dated the date hereof among the Term Lenders, the Borrowers and the
Guarantor (the "Term Payment Letter").

        TERM LENDERS has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

        TERM LOAN has the meaning set forth in Section 2A.1.

        TERM MAINTENANCE PAYMENTS has the meaning set forth in Section 4.5A.

        TERM NOTE means, collectively, each promissory note of the Borrowers
payable to the order of any Term Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit F,
as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, and
including all Notes issued in replacement of, or in substitution or exchange
for, any Term Note.

        TERMINATION EVENT means (i) a Reportable Event with respect to any
Benefit Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (ii) the withdrawal of the Guarantor, any of
its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate from a Benefit Plan during a plan year
in which it was a "substantial employer" (as defined in Section 4001(a) (2) of
ERISA); (iii) the providing of notice of intent to terminate a Benefit Plan in a
distress termination (as described in Section 4041(c) of ERISA); (iv) the
institution by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation of proceedings to
terminate a Benefit Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (v) any event or condition (a)
which could reasonably be expected to constitute grounds under Section 4042 of
ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any
Benefit Plan or Multiemployer Plan, or (b) that may result in termination of a
Multiemployer Plan pursuant to Section 4041A of ERISA; or (vi) the partial or
complete withdrawal, within the meaning of Sections 4203 and 4205 of ERISA, of
the Guarantor, the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate from
a Multiemployer Plan.



                                       18
<PAGE>   26

        TYPE means a LIBOR Rate Loan or a Prime Rate Loan.

        UNUSED LINE FEE has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.

        YEAR 2000 COMPLIANT means that all Information Systems and Equipment
accurately process date data (including, but not limited to, calculating,
comparing and sequencing), before, during and after the year 2000, as well as
same and multi-century dates, or between the years 1999 and 2000, taking into
account all leap years, including the fact that the year 2000 is a leap year,
and further, that when used in combination with, or interfacing with, other
Information Systems and Equipment, shall accurately accept, release and exchange
date data, and shall in all material respects continue to function in the same
manner as it performs today and shall not otherwise materially impair the
accuracy or functionality of Information Systems and Equipment

        1.2 ACCOUNTING TERMS AND DETERMINATIONS. Unless otherwise defined or
specified herein, all accounting terms used in this Credit Agreement shall be
construed in accordance with GAAP, applied on a basis consistent in all material
respects with the Financial Statements referred to in Section 6.9. All
accounting determinations for purposes of determining compliance with the
financial covenants contained in Article 8 shall be made in accordance with GAAP
as in effect on the Closing Date and applied on a basis consistent in all
material respects with the audited Financial Statements delivered to the Agent
on or before the Closing Date. The Financial Statements required to be delivered
hereunder from and after the Closing Date, and all financial records, shall be
maintained in accordance with GAAP. If GAAP shall change from the basis used in
preparing the audited Financial Statements delivered to the Agent on or before
the Closing Date, the certificates required to be delivered pursuant to Section
7.1 demonstrating compliance with the covenants contained herein shall include,
at the election of the Borrowers or upon the request of the Majority Lenders,
calculations setting forth the adjustments necessary to demonstrate how the
Borrowers are in compliance with the financial covenants based upon GAAP as in
effect on the Closing Date.

        1.3 OTHER TERMS; HEADINGS. Terms used herein and not otherwise defined
in Article 1 that are defined in the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the
State of Illinois (the "Code") shall have the meanings given in the Code. Each
of the words "hereof," "herein," and "hereunder" refer to this Credit Agreement
as a whole. An Event of Default shall "continue" or be "continuing" until such
Event of Default has been waived in accordance with Section 11.11 hereof.
References to Articles, Sections, Annexes, Schedules, and Exhibits are internal
references to this Credit Agreement, and to its attachments, unless otherwise
specified. The headings and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and
shall not affect the meaning or construction of any provision of this Credit
Agreement.



                                       19
<PAGE>   27

                                    ARTICLE 2

                                 REVOLVING LOANS

        2.1 REVOLVING CREDIT COMMITMENTS. Subject to the terms and conditions
set forth in this Credit Agreement, and in reliance on the representations and
warranties of the Borrowers set forth herein, on and after the Closing Date and
to and excluding the Expiration Date, each Revolving Lender severally agrees (i)
on the Closing Date, to convert the Revolving Loans outstanding and owed under
the Existing Credit Agreement into Revolving Loans under this Credit Agreement,
and (ii) to make loans and advances to the Borrowers (each a "Revolving Loan")
in an amount not to exceed at any time its Proportionate Share of the lesser at
such time of the Revolving Line of Credit and the Borrowing Base MINUS, in each
case, the then outstanding Letter of Credit Obligations.

        2.2 BORROWING OF REVOLVING LOANS. Revolving Loans may be made available
to the Borrowers directly by the Revolving Lenders ("Revolving Lender Advances")
or, in the circumstances described in Section 2.2(b), from the Agent acting on
behalf of the Revolving Lenders ("Agent Revolving Advances").

               (a) REVOLVING LENDER ADVANCES. Subject to the determination by
        the Agent and the Revolving Lenders that the conditions for borrowing
        contained in Section 5.2 are satisfied, upon receipt of a Notice of
        Borrowing from the Borrower Representative received by the Agent before
        noon Chicago time on a Business Day, Revolving Lender Advances of
        Revolving Loans may be made to the extent of each Revolving Lender's
        Proportionate Share of the requested Borrowing. Each Notice of Borrowing
        shall specify whether the requested Borrowing is of Prime Rate Loans or
        LIBOR Rate Loans.

               (b) AGENT REVOLVING ADVANCES. The Agent is authorized by the
        Revolving Lenders, but is not obligated, to make Agent Revolving
        Advances upon a receipt of any Notice of Borrowing received by the Agent
        before 2:00 P.M. Chicago time on a Business Day. Agent Revolving
        Advances shall be subject to periodic settlement with the Revolving
        Lenders under Section 2.4. Agent Revolving Advances may be made only in
        the following circumstances:

                        (i) NORMAL COURSE AGENT REVOLVING ADVANCES. For
                administrative convenience, the Agent may, but is not obligated,
                to make Agent Revolving Advances up to the amount available for
                borrowing under Section 2.1 in



                                       20
<PAGE>   28

                reliance upon the actual or deemed representations of the
                Borrowers under Section 5.2 that the conditions for borrowing
                are satisfied.

                        (ii) OTHER AGENT REVOLVING ADVANCES. When the conditions
                for borrowing under Section 5.2 cannot be fulfilled, and
                notwithstanding the Borrowing Base limitation of Section 2.1,
                the Agent may, but is not obligated, to continue to make Agent
                Revolving Advances for seven (7) Business Days or until sooner
                instructed by the Majority Revolving Lenders to cease, in an
                aggregate amount at any time not to exceed $1,500,000.

               (c) DISBURSEMENT OF REVOLVING LOANS. The proceeds of Revolving
        Loans shall be transmitted: (x) in the circumstances described in
        Section 3.5, by the Agent directly to the Issuing Bank, and (y) in all
        other circumstances, by the Agent or Revolving Lenders, as the case may
        be, to the Disbursement Account.

               (d) NOTICES OF BORROWING. Notices of Borrowing may be given under
        this Section by telephone or facsimile transmission, and, if by
        telephone, promptly confirmed in writing. The Borrower Representative
        shall specify in each Notice of Borrowing whether the conditions for the
        requested Borrowing are satisfied. The Borrower Representative may
        request one or more Borrowings of Revolving Loans constituting Prime
        Rate Loans on the same Business Day. Each Notice of Borrowing for LIBOR
        Rate Loans shall be given not later than noon Chicago time on the third
        Business Day prior to the proposed Borrowing. Each Notice of Borrowing
        shall, unless otherwise specifically provided herein, consist entirely
        of Revolving Loans of the same Type and, if such Borrowing is to consist
        of LIBOR Rate Loans, shall be in an aggregate amount of not less than
        $5,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. The
        right of the Borrowers to choose LIBOR Rate Loans is subject to the
        provisions of Section 4.14. Once given, a Notice of Borrowing is
        irrevocable by and binding on the Borrowers. The Borrower Representative
        shall provide to the Agent a list, with specimen signatures, of officers
        authorized to request Revolving Loans. The Agent is entitled to rely
        upon such list until it is replaced by the Borrower Representative.

        2.3 NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR LENDER REVOLVING ADVANCES. Subject to the last
sentence of this Section, the Agent shall give each Revolving Lender prompt
notice by telephone or facsimile transmission of a Notice of Borrowing that is
received pursuant to Section 2.2(a) and is to be satisfied by Revolving Lender
Advances. No later than 2:00 P.M. Chicago time on the date of receipt of such
notice, each Revolving Lender shall make available for the account of its
Applicable Lending Office to the Agent at the Agent's address for deposit into
the Disbursement Account, its Proportionate Share of such Borrowing in
immediately available funds. Unless the Agent receives contrary



                                       21
<PAGE>   29

written notice prior to any such Borrowing, it is entitled to assume that each
Revolving Lender will make available its Proportionate Share of the Borrowing
and in reliance upon that assumption, but without any obligation to do so, may
advance such Proportionate Share on behalf of the Revolving Lender, without the
necessity of giving daily notice to each Revolving Lender of the receipt of a
Notice of Borrowing.

        2.4 PERIODIC SETTLEMENT OF AGENT REVOLVING ADVANCES; INTEREST AND
REVOLVING FEES; STATEMENTS.

               (a) THE REVOLVING SETTLEMENT DATE; ALLOCATION OF INTEREST AND
        REVOLVING FEES. The amount of each Revolving Lender's Proportionate
        Share of Revolving Loans shall be computed weekly (or more frequently in
        the Agent's discretion) and shall be adjusted upward or downward based
        on all Revolving Loans (including Agent Revolving Advances) and
        repayments received by the Agent as of 5:00 P.M. Chicago time on the
        last Business Day of the period specified by the Agent (such date, the
        "Revolving Settlement Date").

               (b) SUMMARY STATEMENTS; SETTLEMENTS. The Agent shall deliver to
        the Borrower Representative and each of the Revolving Lenders promptly
        after the Revolving Settlement Date a summary statement of the account
        of outstanding Revolving Loans (including Agent Revolving Advances) for
        the period, the amount of repayments received for the period, and the
        amount allocated to each Revolving Lender of the interest and Unused
        Line Fee for the period. After application of payments under Section
        4.12, as reflected on the summary statement: (i) the Agent shall
        transfer to each Revolving Lender its allocated share of interest and
        Unused Line Fee, and its Proportionate Share of repayments; and (ii)
        each Revolving Lender shall transfer to the Agent, or the Agent shall
        transfer to each Revolving Lender, such amounts as are necessary to
        insure that, after giving effect to all such transfers, the amount of
        Revolving Loans made by each Revolving Lender shall be equal to such
        Revolving Lender's Proportionate Share of the aggregate amount of
        Revolving Loans outstanding as of such Revolving Settlement Date. If the
        summary statement requires transfers to be made to the Agent by the
        Revolving Lenders and is received by the Revolving Lenders prior to
        12:00 noon Chicago time on a Business Day, such transfers shall be made
        in immediately available funds no later than 3:00 P.M. Chicago time that
        day; and, if received after 12:00 noon Chicago time, then no later than
        3:00 P.M. Chicago time on the next Business Day. The obligation of each
        Revolving Lender to transfer such funds is irrevocable, unconditional
        and without recourse to or warranty by the Agent.



                                       22
<PAGE>   30

               (c) DISTRIBUTION OF INTEREST AND UNUSED LINE FEES. Interest on
        the Revolving Loans (including Agent Revolving Advances) and the Unused
        Line Fee shall be allocated by the Agent to each Revolving Lender (i) in
        the case of interest, in accordance with the Revolving Loans actually
        advanced by and repaid to such Revolving Lender and (ii) in the case of
        the Unused Line Fee, in accordance with the Proportionate Share of such
        Revolving Lender. Interest shall accrue from and including the date
        Revolving Loans are advanced and to but excluding the date such
        Revolving Loans are either repaid by the Borrowers or, if later,
        actually settled under this Section. Promptly after the end of each
        month, the Agent shall distribute to each Revolving Lender its portion,
        allocated as provided above, of the interest and Unused Line Fee which
        has accrued during such month.

        2.5 SHARING OF PAYMENTS. If any Revolving Lender shall obtain any
payment (whether made voluntarily or involuntarily, or through the exercise of
any right of set-off, or otherwise) on account of the Revolving Loans made by it
or its participation in the Letter of Credit Obligations in excess of its
Proportionate Share of payments on account of the Revolving Loans or Letter of
Credit Obligations obtained by all the Revolving Lenders, such Revolving Lender
shall forthwith purchase from the other Revolving Lenders such participations in
the Revolving Loans made by them or in their participation in Letters of Credit
as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Revolving Lender to share the
excess payment ratably with each of them; provided, that if all or any portion
of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from such purchasing Revolving
Lender, such purchase from each Revolving Lender shall be rescinded and each
such Revolving Lender shall repay to the purchasing Revolving Lender the
purchase price to the extent of such recovery, together with an amount equal to
such Revolving Lender's ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the
amount of such Revolving Lender's required repayment to (ii) the total amount so
recovered from the purchasing Revolving Lender) of any interest or other amount
paid or payable by the purchasing Revolving Lender in respect to the total
amount so recovered. The Borrowers agree that any Revolving Lender so purchasing
a participation from another Revolving Lender pursuant to this Section 2.5, to
the fullest extent permitted by law, may exercise all of its rights of payment
(including the right of set-off) with respect to such participation as fully as
if such Revolving Lender were the direct creditor of the Borrowers in the amount
of such participation.

        2.6 DEFAULTING REVOLVING LENDERS.



                                       23
<PAGE>   31

               (a) A Revolving Lender who fails to pay the Agent its
        Proportionate Share of any Revolving Loans (including Agent Revolving
        Advances) made available by the Agent on such Revolving Lender's behalf,
        or who fails to pay any other amounts owing by it to the Agent, is a
        "Defaulting Revolving Lender." The Agent is entitled to recover from
        such Defaulting Revolving Lender all such amounts owing by such
        Defaulting Revolving Lender on demand. If the Defaulting Revolving
        Lender does not pay such amounts on the Agent's demand, the Agent shall
        promptly notify the Borrower Representative and the Borrowers shall pay
        such amounts within five (5) Business Days of the Borrower
        Representative's receipt of such notice. In addition, the Defaulting
        Revolving Lender or the Borrowers shall pay to the Agent for its own
        account interest on such amount for each day from the date it was made
        available by the Agent to the Borrowers to the date it is recovered by
        the Agent at a rate per annum equal to (x) the overnight Federal Funds
        Rate, if paid by the Defaulting Revolving Lender, or (y) the then
        applicable rate of interest calculated under Section 4.1, if paid by the
        Borrowers; plus, in each case, the Expenses and losses, if any, incurred
        as a result of the Defaulting Revolving Lender's failure to perform its
        obligations. Nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve any Revolving
        Lender of its obligation to fulfill its commitments hereunder or to
        prejudice any rights which the Borrowers may have against any Revolving
        Lender as a result of any default by such Revolving Lender hereunder,
        including, without limitation, the right of the Borrowers to seek
        reimbursement from any Defaulting Revolving Lender for any amounts paid
        by the Borrowers under clause (y) above on account of such Defaulting
        Revolving Lender's default.

               (b) The failure of any Revolving Lender to fund its Proportionate
        Share of a Revolving Loan shall not relieve any other Revolving Lender
        of its obligation to fund its Proportionate Share of a Revolving Loan.
        Conversely, no Revolving Lender shall be responsible for the failure of
        another Revolving Lender to fund its Proportionate Share of a Revolving
        Loan.

               (c) The Agent shall not be obligated to transfer to a Defaulting
        Revolving Lender any payments made by the Borrowers to the Agent for the
        Defaulting Revolving Lender's benefit; nor shall a Defaulting Revolving
        Lender be entitled to the sharing of any payments hereunder. Amounts
        payable to a Defaulting Revolving Lender shall instead be paid to or
        retained by the Agent. The Agent may hold and, in its discretion,
        re-lend to the Borrowers the amount of all such payments received by it
        for the account of such Defaulting Revolving Lender. For purposes of
        voting or consenting to matters with respect to the Credit Documents and
        determining Proportionate Shares, such Defaulting Revolving Lender shall
        be deemed not to be a "Revolving Lender" and such Defaulting Revolving
        Lender's Commitment shall be deemed to be zero (-0-). This Section shall
        remain effective with respect to such Defaulting Revolving Lender until



                                       24
<PAGE>   32

        (x) the Obligations under this Credit Agreement shall have been declared
        or shall have become immediately due and payable or (y) the Majority
        Revolving Lenders, the Agent and the Borrowers shall have waived such
        Defaulting Revolving Lender's default in writing. The operation of this
        Section shall not be construed to increase or otherwise affect the
        Commitment of any Revolving Lender, or relieve or excuse the performance
        by the Borrowers of their duties and obligations hereunder.

        2.7 RELIANCE ON NOTICES; APPOINTMENT OF BORROWER REPRESENTATIVE. Agent
shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall be fully protected in relying upon,
any Notice of Borrowing or similar notice believed by Agent to be genuine. Agent
may assume that each Person executing and delivering such a notice was duly
authorized, unless the responsible individual acting thereon for Agent has
actual knowledge to the contrary. Each Borrower hereby designates the Guarantor
("Borrower Representative") as its representative and agent on its behalf for
the purpose of issuing notices of Borrowing, giving instructions with respect to
the disbursement of the proceeds of the Loans, selecting interest rate options,
requesting Letters of Credit, giving and receiving all other notices and
consents hereunder or under any of the other Credit Documents and taking all
other actions (including in respect of compliance with covenants) on behalf of
any Borrower or Borrowers under the Credit Documents. Borrower Representative
hereby accepts such appointment. Agent and each Lender may regard any notice or
other communication pursuant to any Credit Document from Borrower Representative
as a notice or communication from all Borrowers, and may give any notice or
communication required or permitted to be given to any Borrower or Borrowers
hereunder to Borrower Representative on behalf of such Borrower or Borrowers.
Each Borrower agrees that each notice, election, representation and warranty,
covenant, agreement and undertaking made on its behalf by Borrower
Representative shall be deemed for all purposes to have been made by such
Borrower and shall be binding upon and enforceable against such Borrower to the
same extent as if the same had been made directly by such Borrower.


                                   ARTICLE 2A.

                                    TERM LOAN

        2.A.1 TERM LOAN. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this
Credit Agreement, and in reliance on the representations and warranties of the
Borrowers set forth herein, the Term Lenders agree to make term loans to the
Borrowers on the Closing Date, on a joint and several basis, in an aggregate
amount equal to $14,500,000 (the "Term Loan"). The Term Loan will be evidenced
by one or more Term Notes, duly executed and delivered by each of the Borrowers,
substantially in the form of Exhibit F with appropriate insertions therein as to
date of issuance and principal amount payable to the



                                       25
<PAGE>   33

applicable Term Lender thereunder. Each Term Note will (a) be dated the Closing
Date, (b) provide for the payment of interest in accordance with Section 4.1A or
Section 4.4, as applicable and (c) mature on the Expiration Date. Each Borrower
hereby represents and warrants to each Term Lender that its execution and
delivery of each Term Note have been duly authorized by all necessary and
appropriate corporate action.


                                    ARTICLE 3

                                LETTERS OF CREDIT

        3.1 ISSUANCE OF LETTERS OF CREDIT. Subject to the terms and conditions
hereof and in reliance on the representations and warranties of the Borrowers
set forth herein, the Agent shall cause the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of
Credit hereunder at the request of the Borrower Representative and for its
account, as more specifically described below. The Agent shall not be obligated
to cause the Issuing Bank to issue any Letter of Credit if:

               (a issuance of the requested Letter of Credit (i) would cause the
        Letter of Credit Obligations then outstanding to exceed $5,000,000 or
        (ii) would cause the sum of the Revolving Loans PLUS the Letter of
        Credit Obligations then outstanding to exceed the lesser of (x) the
        Revolving Line of Credit then in effect and (y) the Borrowing Base then
        in effect; or

               (b issuance of the Letter of Credit is enjoined, restrained or
        prohibited by any Governmental Authority, Requirement of Law or any
        request or directive of any Governmental Authority (whether or not
        having the force of law) or would impose upon the Agent or the Issuing
        Bank any material restriction, reserve, capital requirement, loss, cost
        or expense (for which the Agent or the Issuing Bank is not otherwise
        compensated) not in effect or known as of the Closing Date.

        3.2 TERMS OF LETTERS OF CREDIT. The proposed amount, terms and
conditions, and form of each Letter of Credit (and of any drafts or acceptances
thereunder) shall be subject to approval by the Issuing Bank. The term of each
standby Letter of Credit shall not exceed 360 days, but may be subject to annual
renewal. The term of each documentary Letter of Credit shall not exceed one
hundred twenty (120) days. No Letter of Credit shall have an expiry date later
than five (5) Business Days prior to the Expiration Date.

        3.3 NOTICE OF ISSUANCE. A request for issuance of a Letter of Credit (a
"Letter of Credit Request") may be given in writing or electronically and, if



                                       26
<PAGE>   34

requested by the Agent, promptly confirmed in writing. A Letter of Credit
Request must be received by the Agent no later than 1:00 P.M. Chicago time at
least ten (10) Business Days (or such shorter period as may be agreed to by the
Issuing Bank) in advance of the proposed date of issuance.

        3.4 REVOLVING LENDERS' PARTICIPATION. Immediately upon issuance or
amendment of any Letter of Credit, each Revolving Lender shall be deemed to have
irrevocably and unconditionally purchased and received from the Issuing Bank,
without recourse or warranty, an undivided interest and participation in all
rights and obligations under such Letter of Credit (other than fees and other
amounts owing to the Issuing Bank) in accordance with such Revolving Lender's
Proportionate Share.

        3.5 PAYMENTS OF AMOUNTS DRAWN UNDER LETTERS OF CREDIT. The Agent shall
notify the Borrowers of the receipt by the Agent of notice from the Issuing Bank
of a draft or other presentation for payment or drawing under a Letter of Credit
not later than 11:00 A.M. Chicago time on the Business Day immediately prior to
the date on which the Issuing Bank intends to honor such drawing. Unless the
procedures set forth in Section 9.2(c) shall be applicable, the Borrowers shall
be deemed to have concurrently given a Notice of Borrowing to the Agent to make
a Revolving Loan in the amount of and at the time of such drawing, the proceeds
of which shall be applied directly by the Agent to reimburse the Issuing Bank
for the amount of such drawing.

        3.6 PAYMENT BY REVOLVING LENDERS. If a Revolving Loan is not made in an
amount sufficient to reimburse the Issuing Bank in full for the amount of any
draw under a Letter of Credit, the Agent shall promptly notify each Revolving
Lender of the unreimbursed amount of such drawing and of such Revolving Lender's
respective participation therein. Each Revolving Lender shall make available to
the Agent, for the account of the Issuing Bank, the amount of its participation
in immediately available funds not later than 1:00 P.M. Chicago time on the next
Business Day after such Revolving Lender receives notice from the Agent of the
amount of such Revolving Lender's participation in such unreimbursed amount. If
any Revolving Lender fails to make available to the Agent the amount of such
Revolving Lender's participation, the Issuing Bank shall be entitled to recover
such amount on demand from such Revolving Lender together with interest at the
Federal Funds Rate for the first three Business Days and thereafter at the Prime
Lending Rate. For each Letter of Credit, the Agent shall promptly distribute to
each Revolving Lender which has funded the amount of its participation its
Proportionate Share of all payments subsequently received by the Agent from the
Borrowers in reimbursement of honored drawings.

        3.7 OBLIGATIONS ABSOLUTE. The obligations of the Borrowers to reimburse
the Revolving Lenders under Section 3.6 shall be unconditional and



                                       27
<PAGE>   35

irrevocable and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this
Credit Agreement under all circumstances including, without limitation, upon the
occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default.

        3.8 AGENT'S EXECUTION OF APPLICATIONS AND OTHER ISSUING BANK
DOCUMENTATION: RELIANCE ON CREDIT AGREEMENT BY ISSUING BANK. The Agent shall be
authorized to execute, deliver and perform on behalf of the Revolving Lenders
such letter of credit applications, shipping indemnities, letter of credit
modifications and consents and other undertakings for the benefit of the Issuing
Bank as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate in connection with the
issuance or modification of Letters of Credit requested by the Borrowers
hereunder. The Revolving Lenders, the Agent and the Borrowers all expressly
agree that the terms of this Article 3 and various other provisions of this
Credit Agreement identifying the Issuing Bank are also intended to benefit the
Issuing Bank and the Issuing Bank shall be entitled to enforce the provisions
hereof which are for its benefit.


                                    ARTICLE 4

                             COMPENSATION, REPAYMENT
                          AND REDUCTION OF COMMITMENTS

        4.1 INTEREST ON REVOLVING LOANS.

               (a Interest on the unpaid principal amount of Revolving Loans
        which are Prime Rate Loans shall be payable monthly in arrears, on the
        first Business Day of each month, at an interest rate per annum equal to
        the Prime Lending Rate PLUS one and one-half percent (1-1/2%) calculated
        on the net balances owing to the Agent and the Revolving Lenders at the
        close of business each day during such month. The rate hereunder shall
        change each day the Prime Lending Rate changes.

               (b Interest on Revolving Loans which are LIBOR Rate Loans shall
        be payable on the last day of each Interest Period (provided, that in
        the case of any LIBOR Rate Loan having an Interest Period of six (6)
        months, such interest shall be payable on the ninetieth day occurring in
        such Interest Period and on the last day of such Interest Period) with
        respect to such LIBOR Rate Loans, at the date of conversion of such
        LIBOR Rate Loans (or a portion thereof) to a Prime Rate Loan and at
        maturity of such LIBOR Rate Loans at an interest rate per annum equal
        during the Interest Period for such LIBOR Rate Loans to the LIBOR Rate
        for the Interest Period in effect for such LIBOR Rate Loans PLUS three
        and one-quarter percent (3-1/4%). After maturity of



                                       28
<PAGE>   36

        such LIBOR Rate Loans (whether by acceleration or otherwise), interest
        shall be payable upon demand. The Agent upon determining the LIBOR Rate
        for any Interest Period shall promptly notify the Borrowers and the
        Revolving Lenders by telephone (confirmed promptly in writing) or in
        writing thereof. Each determination by the Agent of an interest rate
        hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent
        demonstrable error.

               (c Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 4.1(a) and (b), the
        Borrowers shall pay to each Revolving Lender, so long as and to the
        extent such Revolving Lender shall be required under regulations of the
        Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to maintain reserves
        with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including
        Eurocurrency liabilities, additional interest on the unpaid principal
        amount of each Revolving Loan comprised of LIBOR Rate Loans of such
        Revolving Lender, from the date of such LIBOR Rate Loan until such
        principal amount is paid in full, at an interest rate per annum equal at
        all times to the remainder obtained by subtracting (a) the LIBOR Rate
        for the applicable Interest Period for such LIBOR Rate Loan from (b) the
        rate obtained by dividing such LIBOR Rate by a percentage equal to 1
        MINUS the stated maximum rate (stated as a decimal) applicable two (2)
        Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period of all
        reserves, if any, required to be maintained against "Eurocurrency
        liabilities" as specified in Regulation D (or against any other category
        of liabilities which includes deposits by reference to which the
        interest rate on LIBOR Rate Loans is determined or any category of
        extensions of credit or other assets which includes loans by a
        non-United States office of any Revolving Lender to United States
        residents) having a term equal to the Interest Period applicable to such
        LIBOR Rate Loan. Such Revolving Lender shall as soon as practicable
        provide notice to the Agent and the Borrowers of any such additional
        interest arising in connection with such LIBOR Rate Loan, which notice
        shall be conclusive and binding, absent demonstrable error.

        4.1A INTEREST ON THE TERM LOAN. Interest on the Term Loan shall accrue
at a rate of 15% per annum and shall be payable monthly, in arrears, on the
first Business Day of each succeeding month; provided however, that interest on
the Term Loans shall accrue from the Closing Date at a rate of 17.5% per annum
in the event of a Registration Default. The Borrowers hereby authorize Agent to
pay such interest that is accrued and payable on each such date to the Term
Lenders in accordance with Section 4.10(b), from the proceeds of Collections
actually received by Agent, after the payment of any Obligations then due and
owing to the Revolving Lenders.

        4.2 UNUSED LINE FEE. The Borrowers shall pay to the Agent, for the
ratable benefit of the Revolving Lenders, a non-refundable fee (the "Unused Line
Fee") equal to one-half percent (2%) per annum of the unused portion of the Line
of Credit. The



                                       29
<PAGE>   37

Unused Line Fee shall accrue daily from the Closing Date until the Expiration
Date, and shall be due and payable monthly in arrears, on the first Business Day
of each month and on the Expiration Date.

        4.3 LETTER OF CREDIT FEES.

               (a The Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Revolving Lenders,
        shall be entitled to charge to the account of the Borrowers on the first
        Business Day of each month, a fee (the "Letter of Credit Fee"), in an
        amount equal to one and three-quarters percent (1-3/4%) per annum of the
        daily weighted average undrawn amount of Letters of Credit outstanding
        during the immediately preceding month. In addition, the Agent, for its
        own account, shall be entitled to charge to the account of the Borrowers
        on the date of issuance of any standby Letter of Credit, a facing fee
        equal to one-half percent (2%) on the initial face amount of each such
        standby Letter of Credit (the "L/C Facing Fee").

               (b The Agent shall also be entitled to charge to the account of
        the Borrowers, as and when incurred by the Agent or any Revolving
        Lender, the customary charges, fees, costs and expenses charged to the
        Agent or any Revolving Lender for the Borrowers' account by any Issuing
        Bank (the "Issuing Bank Fees") in connection with the issuance,
        transfer, drawing, amendment or negotiation of any Letters of Credit by
        the Issuing Bank. Each determination by the Agent of Letter of Credit
        Fees, L/C Facing Fees, Issuing Bank Fees and other fees, costs and
        expenses charged under this Section shall be conclusive and binding for
        all purposes, absent manifest error.

        4.4 INTEREST AND LETTER OF CREDIT FEES AFTER EVENT OF DEFAULT. From the
date of occurrence of an Event of Default until the earlier of the date upon
which (i) all Obligations shall have been paid and satisfied in full or (ii)
such Event of Default shall have been waived:

               (a interest on the Revolving Loans and Letter of Credit Fees on
        Letter of Credit Obligations shall each be payable on demand as a rate
        per annum equal to, with respect to the Revolving Loans, the rate in
        effect under Section 4.1, plus two percent (2%), and with respect to the
        Letter of Credit Obligations, the rate at which Letter of Credit Fees
        are charged pursuant to the first sentence of Section 4.3(a), plus two
        percent (2%); and

               (b interest on all Obligations outstanding in respect of the Term
        Loan, including, without limitation, principal of, and overdue interest
        on, the Term Loan, shall accrue and be payable on demand at a rate per
        annum equal to seventeen percent (17)%.



                                       30
<PAGE>   38

        4.5 COLLATERAL MONITORING FEE. The Borrowers shall pay to the Agent, for
its own account, a non-refundable annual collateral monitoring fee (the
"Collateral Monitoring Fee") in the amount of $40,000. The Collateral Monitoring
Fee shall be fully earned and payable on December 30 of each year during the
term hereof.

        4.5A TERM MAINTENANCE PAYMENTS. The Borrowers hereby agree to pay to the
Term Lenders and further authorize the Agent to pay to the Term Lenders, in
accordance with Section 4.10(b), a non-refundable quarterly maintenance payment
(the "Term Maintenance Payment") in the amount of $50,000, out of the proceeds
of Collections actually received by the Agent, after the payment of any
Obligations then due and owing to the Revolving Lenders. The Term Maintenance
Payment shall be fully earned and payable on the Closing Date and on the first
Business Day of each November, February, May and August thereafter until all of
the Obligations in respect of the Term Loan are repaid in full.

        4.5B TERM EXTENSION PAYMENT. The Borrowers hereby agree to pay to the
Term Lenders and further authorize the Agent to pay to Term Lenders, a
non-refundable extension payment (the "Term Extension Payment") in an amount
equal to two percent (2%) of the Term Loan, out of the proceeds of Collections
actually received by the Agent, after the payment of any Obligations then due
and owing to the Revolving Lenders. The Term Extension Payment shall be fully
earned and paid on the earlier of (i) the date which is one hundred and twenty
(120) days following the Closing Date in the event that the Guarantor has failed
to have declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a registration statement (the "Registration Statement") relating
to the shares (the "Shares") of Common Stock of Guarantor issued by the
Guarantor to the Term Lenders on the Closing Date (a "Registration Default") or
(ii) the date on which the Registration Statement is no longer effective, but
only if such date occurs within five (5) years of the date on which the
Registration Statement first became effective.

        4.6 EXPENSES. The Borrowers shall reimburse the Expenses of the Agent,
or any Lender, as the case may be, promptly upon demand.



                                       31
<PAGE>   39

        4.7 MANDATORY REPAYMENT OF REVOLVING LOANS; REDUCTIONS OF REVOLVING
COMMITMENTS.

               (a Except during the period described in Section 2.2(b)(ii), the
        aggregate outstanding principal amount of Revolving Loans plus Letter of
        Credit Obligations at any time in excess of the lesser at such time of
        (i) the Borrowing Base and (ii) the Revolving Line of Credit, shall be
        immediately due and payable without the necessity of any demand.

               (b Upon the occurrence of any Asset Disposition permitted
        pursuant to the terms of Section 8.8(iv), the net proceeds thereof shall
        be applied, first, to pay $1,154,194 of the Revolving Fee set forth in
        paragraph 1 of the Fee Letter, and then to reduce the Revolving Loans
        then outstanding to zero (0). To the extent any of the Revolving Loans
        then outstanding constitute LIBOR Rate Loans, Borrowers shall pay to
        Agent an amount equal thereto, to be held in a cash collateral account
        for the benefit of the Revolving Lenders and under the sole control and
        dominion of Agent, and from which Agent shall apply such funds to the
        LIBOR Rate Loans at the end of the applicable Interest Period. Any such
        repayment under this subsection (b) shall constitute a permanent
        reduction or termination of the Revolving Line of Credit.

               (c On the Expiration Date, the Commitment of each Revolving
        Lender shall automatically reduce to zero (-0-) and may not be
        reinstated.

               (d The Borrowers may reduce or terminate the Revolving Line of
        Credit at any time and from time to time in whole or in part; provided,
        that each such reduction must be in an amount not less than $5,000,000
        (and in increments of $1,000,000 in excess thereof). Once reduced, no
        portion of the Revolving Line of Credit may be reinstated. If the
        Borrowers seek to reduce the Revolving Line of Credit to an amount less
        than $10,000,000, then the Revolving Line of Credit shall be reduced to
        zero (-0-).

        4.7A PAYMENT OF TERM LOAN. Until payment in full of all Obligations in
respect of Revolving Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations, and termination of
the Revolving Commitments pursuant to the respective terms and provisions
hereof, the Borrowers may not prepay the Term Loan at any time in whole or in
part and each Term Lender agrees not to accept any such prepayment.

        4.8 MAINTENANCE OF REVOLVING LOAN ACCOUNT; STATEMENTS OF ACCOUNT. The
Agent shall maintain an account on its books in the name of the Borrowers (the
"Revolving Loan Account") in which the Borrowers will be charged with all loans
and advances made by the



                                       32
<PAGE>   40

Revolving Lenders to the Borrowers or for the account of the Borrowers,
including the Revolving Loans, and all Letter of Credit Obligations, the
Revolving Fees, the Expenses and any other Obligations, as and when such
payments become due. The Revolving Loan Account will be credited with all
payments received by the Agent from the Borrowers or for the account of the
Borrowers, including all amounts received in the BT Account from the Lockbox
Banks. After the end of each month, the Agent shall send the Borrower
Representative a monthly statement accounting for the charges, loans, advances
and other transactions occurring among and between the Agent, the Revolving
Lenders and the Borrowers during that month, provided, that the failure of the
Agent to send such statement to the Borrower Representative shall not relieve
the Borrowers of any Obligations. Absent manifest error, each monthly statement
shall be an account stated and shall be final, conclusive and binding on the
Borrowers.

        4.9 INTERCOMPANY ACCOUNTS; ALLOCATION OF REVOLVING LOANS.

               (a) The Borrowers maintain an integrated cash management system
        reflecting the Borrowers' interdependence on one another and the mutual
        benefits shared among them as a result of their respective operations.
        In order to efficiently fund and operate their respective businesses and
        minimize the number of borrowings which they will make under this Credit
        Agreement and thereby reduce the administrative costs and record keeping
        required in connection therewith, including the necessity to maintain
        separately identified and monitored borrowing facilities, the Borrowers
        have requested, and the Agent and the Lenders have agreed, that the
        Loans and the Letters of Credit be provided to and for the account of
        the Borrowers on a joint and several basis. Such Loans will be advanced
        to the Disbursement Account and each Letter of Credit will be issued
        pursuant to an application therefor executed by the Borrower
        Representative on behalf of the Borrowers. Each of the Borrowers hereby
        acknowledges that it will be receiving a direct benefit from each Loan
        made and each Letter of Credit issued pursuant to this Credit Agreement.

               (b) In order to track more precisely the recipients of proceeds
        of Revolving Loans and the Borrower receiving the primary benefit from
        the issuance of any Letter of Credit, to determine the amount of
        prepayments required pursuant to the terms hereof as a result of any
        Asset Disposition, and to aid the Borrowers, the Agent and the Revolving
        Lenders in administering the Revolving Loans and the Letters of Credit
        in a manner consistent with applicable fraudulent conveyance and
        fraudulent transfer law, the Guarantor and the Borrowers have agreed
        with the Agent and the Revolving Lenders (i) to establish and maintain
        intercompany accounts tracking the net amount of all loans, dividends
        and other disbursements made to or received from Guarantor or advances
        made among the Borrowers to the extent permitted by this Credit
        Agreement



                                       33
<PAGE>   41

        (individually an "Intercompany Account" and, collectively, the
        "Intercompany Accounts"), (ii) to track on a monthly basis the recipient
        of the proceeds of Revolving Loans, and (iii) that all Letters of Credit
        will be issued in the name of the Borrower which will receive the goods
        which are the subject of such Letter of Credit.

               (c) Upon the request of Agent, for any month during the term
        hereof, Borrowers and Guarantor shall deliver to the Agent a report
        setting forth (i) a comparison as of the end of such month of the
        Borrowing Base of each Borrower, (ii) the aggregate balance of the
        Intercompany Accounts of each Borrower and (iii) a reasonable allocation
        of the amount of the outstanding Revolving Loan proceeds received
        (including payments to its creditors) by each Borrower. Guarantor and
        Borrowers covenant and agree that in the event that, with respect to any
        Borrower, the Revolving Loan allocated to such Borrower plus the
        outstanding Letter of Credit Obligations with respect to Letters of
        Credit issued in the name of such Borrower (such amount being the
        "Aggregate Credit Advances") shall exceed such Borrower's Borrowing
        Base, the Aggregate Credit Advances to Borrower shall be reduced and
        such amounts in excess of its Borrowing Base shall be allocated to
        another Borrower in a manner consistent with the requirements of
        applicable fraudulent conveyance and fraudulent transfer law.

        4.10 PAYMENT PROCEDURES.

               (a Payments of Revolving Fees, principal of and interest on
        Revolving Loans, and Expenses shall be made not later than 2:00 P.M.
        Chicago time on the day when due, in immediately available dollars, to
        the offices of the Agent, at the address set forth in Section 11.7, or
        as the Agent may otherwise direct the Borrowers. The Borrowers hereby
        authorize the Agent to charge the Revolving Loan Account with the amount
        of all payments to be made hereunder and under the other Credit
        Documents on account of Obligations in respect of Revolving Loans and
        Letter of Credit Obligations, including all Revolving Fees and Expenses,
        as and when such payments become due. The obligation of the Borrowers to
        the Revolving Lenders with respect to such payments shall be discharged
        by making such payments to the Agent pursuant to this Section or by the
        charging of the Revolving Loan Account by the Agent.

               (b Payments of principal and interest in respect of the Term
        Loan, the Term Payments, and Expenses payable to any Term Lender shall
        be made not later than 2:00 p.m. Chicago time on the day when due, in
        immediately available dollars, to the offices of the Agent, and which
        shall, following receipt thereof, be wire-transferred to the following
        account of the Term Lenders or, with respect to any Term Lender, to such
        other account as such Term Lender may specify by written notice to the
        Borrower Representative:



                                       34
<PAGE>   42

        Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A.              Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A.
        ABA#   021 000 021                      ABA#021 000 021
        FBO: ING (U.S.) Capital Corporation     FBO: ING (U.S.) Capital 
                                                     Corporation
        A/C#: 9301035763                        A/C# 9301035763
        FCT: Kensington International Limited   FTC: Springfield Associates, LLC

        4.11 COLLECTION OF ACCOUNTS. The Borrowers shall at all times maintain
lockboxes ("Lockboxes") and shall instruct all account debtors on the Accounts
of the Borrowers to remit all Collections to the Lockboxes. The Borrowers, the
Agent and financial institutions selected by the Borrowers and acceptable to the
Agent (the "Lockbox Banks") have entered into agreements (the "Lockbox
Agreements") in the form required pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement,
which among other things provide for the opening of an account for the deposit
of Collections (a "Lockbox Account") at a Lockbox Bank. Borrowers hereby restate
and reaffirm all such Lockbox Agreements and agree that they continue in full
force and effect with respect to the Obligations of the Borrowers hereunder. All
Collections and other amounts received by the Borrowers from any account debtor,
in addition to all other cash received from any other source, shall upon receipt
be deposited into a Lockbox Account. Termination of such arrangements shall also
be subject to approval by the Agent. Upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in the Lockbox Agreements, all available amounts held in
each Lockbox Account shall be wired each Business Day into an account (the "BT
Account") maintained by the Agent at Bankers Trust Company. Amounts received in
the BT Account from the Lockbox Banks shall be credited to the Revolving Loan
Account and distributed and applied as set forth in Section 4.12.

        4.12 DISTRIBUTION AND APPLICATION OF COLLECTIONS AND OTHER AMOUNTS. All
Collections received by the Agent, and all other amounts received by the
Borrowers from any account debtor or with respect to any Asset Disposition
permitted by the terms hereof and delivered to the Agent, shall be credited to
the Revolving Loan Account, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, in which case such Collections and other amounts (including, without
limitation, any amounts received from the Guarantor or Charles Laverty pursuant
to the Guarantees, or any amounts received in connection with any disposition of
Collateral pursuant to any of the Collateral Documents) shall be distributed and
applied in accordance with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement.

        4.13 CALCULATIONS. All calculations of (i) interest hereunder and (ii)
Revolving Fees, including, without limitation, Unused Line Fees and Letter of
Credit Fees, shall be made by the Agent, on the basis of a year of 360 days, or,
if such computation would cause the interest and fees chargeable hereunder to
exceed the Highest Lawful Rate, 365/366 days, in each case for the actual number
of days elapsed (including the first day but



                                       35
<PAGE>   43

excluding the last day) occurring in the period for which such interest or
Revolving Fees are payable. Each determination by the Agent of an interest rate,
Revolving Fee or other payment hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all
purposes, absent manifest error.

        4.14 SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO LIBOR RATE LOANS.

               (a CONTINUATION. With respect to any Borrowing consisting of
        LIBOR Rate Loans, the Borrowers may, subject to the provisions of
        Section 4.14(c), elect to maintain such Borrowing or any portion thereof
        as consisting of LIBOR Rate Loans by selecting a new Interest Period for
        such Borrowing, which new Interest Period shall commence on the last day
        of the immediately preceding Interest Period. Each selection of a new
        Interest Period shall be made by notice given not later than noon
        Chicago time on the third Business Day prior to the date of any such
        continuation relating to LIBOR Rate Loans, by the Borrower
        Representative to the Agent. Such notice by the Borrower Representative
        of a continuation (a "Notice of Continuation") shall be by telephone or
        facsimile transmission, and if by telephone, promptly confirmed in
        writing, substantially in the form required pursuant to the Existing
        Credit Agreement, in each case specifying (i) the date of such
        continuation, (ii) the Type of Revolving Loans subject to such
        continuation, (iii) the aggregate amount of Revolving Loans subject to
        such continuation and (iv) the duration of the selected Interest Period.
        The Borrowers may elect to maintain more than one Borrowing consisting
        of LIBOR Rate Loans by combining such Borrowings into one Borrowing and
        selecting a new Interest Period pursuant to this Section 4.14(a). If the
        Borrowers shall fail to select a new Interest Period for any Borrowing
        consisting of LIBOR Rate Loans in accordance with this Section 4.14(a),
        such Revolving Loans will automatically, on the last day of the then
        existing Interest Period therefor, convert into Prime Rate Loans. The
        Agent shall give each Revolving Lender prompt notice by telephone or
        facsimile transmission of each Notice of Continuation.

               (b CONVERSION. The Borrowers may on any Business Day (so long as
        no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing), upon
        notice (each such notice, a "Notice of Conversion") given to the Agent
        by the Borrower Representative, and subject to the provisions of Section
        4.14(c), convert the entire amount of or a portion of all Revolving
        Loans of one Type comprising the same Borrowing into Revolving Loans of
        another Type; provided, that any conversion of any LIBOR Rate Loans into
        Revolving Loans of another Type shall be made on, and only on, the last
        day of an Interest Period for such LIBOR Rate Loans and, upon conversion
        of any Prime Rate Loans into Revolving Loans of another Type, the
        Borrowers shall pay accrued interest to the date of conversion on the
        principal amount converted. Each such Notice of Conversion shall be
        given not later than noon Chicago time on the



                                       36
<PAGE>   44

        Business Day prior to the date of any proposed conversion into Prime
        Rate Loans and on the third Business Day prior to the date of any
        proposed conversion into LIBOR Rate Loans. Subject to the restrictions
        specified above, each Notice of Conversion shall be by telephone or
        facsimile transmission, and if by telephone, promptly confirmed in
        writing, substantially in the form required pursuant to the Existing
        Credit Agreement, in each case specifying (i) the requested date of such
        conversion, (ii) the Type of Revolving Loans to be converted, (iii) the
        portion of such Type of Revolving Loan to be converted, (iv) the Type of
        Revolving Loans such Revolving Loans are to be converted into and (v) if
        such conversion is into LIBOR Rate Loans, the duration of the Interest
        Period of such Loan. Each conversion shall be in an aggregate amount for
        the Revolving Loans of not less than $5,000,000 or an integral multiple
        of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. The Borrowers may elect to convert the
        entire amount of or a portion of all Revolving Loans of one Type
        comprising more than one Borrowing into Revolving Loans of another Type
        by combining such Borrowings into one Borrowing; provided, that if the
        Borrowings so combined consist of LIBOR Rate Loans, such Loans shall
        have Interest Periods ending on the same date.

               (c CERTAIN LIMITATIONS ON LIBOR RATE LOANS.  The right of the
        Borrowers to maintain, select, continue or convert LIBOR Rate Loans
        shall be limited as follows:

                      (i If the Agent is advised by Bankers Trust Company that
               it is not offering United States dollar deposits (in the
               applicable amounts) in the London interbank market, or the Agent
               determines that adequate and fair means do not otherwise exist
               for ascertaining the LIBOR Rate or LIBOR Rate Loans comprising
               any requested Borrowing, continuation or conversion, the right of
               the Borrowers to select or maintain LIBOR Rate Loans for such
               Borrowing or any subsequent Borrowing shall be suspended until
               the Agent shall notify the Borrower Representative and the
               Revolving Lenders that the circumstances causing such suspension
               no longer exist, and each Revolving Loan shall be made as a Prime
               Rate Loan.

                      (ii If the Majority Revolving Lenders shall, at least one
               Business Day before the date of any requested Borrowing,
               continuation or conversion, notify the Agent that the LIBOR Rate
               for Revolving Loans comprising such Borrowing will not adequately
               reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or funding their
               respective Revolving Loans for such Borrowing, the right of the
               Borrowers to select LIBOR Rate Loans for such Borrowing shall be
               suspended until the Agent shall notify the Borrower
               Representative and the Revolving Lenders that the circumstances
               causing such suspension no longer exist, and



                                       37
<PAGE>   45

               each Revolving Loan comprising such Borrowing and each other
               Borrowing requested during such period of suspension shall be
               made as a Prime Rate Loan.

                      (iii If at any time any Revolving Lender determines (which
               determination shall, absent manifest error, be conclusive and
               binding on all parties) that the making, continuation or
               conversion of any Revolving Loan as a LIBOR Rate Loan by such
               Revolving Lender has become unlawful or impermissible by reason
               of compliance by that Revolving Lender with any law, governmental
               rule, regulation or order of any Governmental Authority (whether
               or not having the force of law), then, and in any such event,
               such Revolving Lender may give notice of that determination in
               writing to the Agent and the Borrower Representative, and the
               Agent shall promptly transmit the notice to each other Revolving
               Lender. Until such Revolving Lender gives notice otherwise, the
               right of the Borrowers to select LIBOR Rate Loans from that
               Revolving Lender shall be suspended and each Revolving Loan made
               by that Revolving Lender, notwithstanding the Type of Revolving
               Loan made by the other Revolving Lenders, shall be a Prime Rate
               Loan and each LIBOR Rate Loan outstanding from that Revolving
               Lender shall automatically, on the last day of the existing
               Interest Period therefor (or earlier, if so required under such
               law, rule, regulation or order), convert to a Prime Rate Loan.

                      (iv No Agent Revolving Advance shall be made as a LIBOR
               Rate Loan.

                      (v No Revolving Loans may be made, continued or converted
               as or to LIBOR Rate Loans at any time that a Default or Event of
               Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

                      (vi The Borrowers may not have more than six (6) LIBOR
               Rate Loans outstanding at any one time.



                                       38
<PAGE>   46

        (d     COMPENSATION.

                      (i Each Notice of Continuation and Notice of Conversion
               shall be irrevocable by and binding on the Borrowers. In the case
               of any Borrowing, continuation or conversion that the related
               Notice of Borrowing, Notice of Continuation or Notice of
               Conversion specifies is to be comprised of LIBOR Rate Loans, the
               Borrowers shall indemnify each Revolving Lender against any loss,
               cost or expense incurred by such Person as a result of any
               failure to fulfill, on or before the date for such Borrowing,
               continuation or conversion specified in such Notice of Borrowing,
               Notice of Continuation or Notice of Conversion, the applicable
               conditions set forth in Article 5, including, without limitation,
               any loss (excluding loss of anticipated profits), cost or expense
               incurred by reason of the liquidation or re-employment of
               deposits or other funds acquired by such Revolving Lender to fund
               the Revolving Loan to be made by such Revolving Lender as part of
               such Borrowing, continuation or conversion.

                      (ii If any payment of principal of, or conversion or
               continuation of, any LIBOR Rate Loan is made other than on the
               last day of the Interest Period for such Loan as a result of a
               payment, prepayment, conversion or continuation of such Loan or
               acceleration of the maturity of the Revolving Notes or for any
               other reason, the Borrowers shall, upon demand by any Revolving
               Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Agent), pay to the
               Agent for the account of such Revolving Lender any amounts
               required to compensate such Revolving Lender for any additional
               losses, costs or expenses which it may reasonably incur as a
               result of such payment, including, without limitation, any loss
               (excluding loss of anticipated profits), cost or expense incurred
               by reason of the liquidation or re-employment of deposits or
               other funds acquired by any Revolving Lender to fund or maintain
               such Loan.

                      (iii Calculation of all amounts payable to a Revolving
               Lender under this Section 4.14(d) shall be made as though such
               Revolving Lender elected to fund all LIBOR Rate Loans by
               purchasing United States dollar deposits in its LIBOR Lending
               Office's interbank eurodollar market.

        4.15 INDEMNIFICATION IN CERTAIN EVENTS.



                                       39
<PAGE>   47

               (a INCREASED COSTS. If after the Closing Date, either (i) any
        change in or in the interpretation of any law or regulation is
        introduced, including, without limitation, with respect to reserve
        requirements applicable to the Agent, to any of the Lenders, Bankers
        Trust Company or any other banking or financial institution from whom
        any of the Lenders borrows funds or obtains credit (a "Funding Bank"),
        or (ii) the Agent, a Funding Bank or any of the Lenders complies with
        any future guideline or request from any central bank or other
        Governmental Authority proposed or promulgated after the date of this
        Credit Agreement or (iii) the Agent, a Funding Bank or any of the
        Lenders determines that the adoption of any applicable law, rule or
        regulation regarding capital adequacy or any change therein, or any
        change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any
        Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with
        the interpretation or administration thereof announced after the date of
        this Credit Agreement has or would have the effect described below, or
        the Agent, a Funding Bank or any of the Lenders complies with any
        request or directive regarding capital adequacy (whether or not having
        the force of law) of any such authority, central bank or comparable
        agency announced after the date of this Credit Agreement and in the case
        of any event set forth in this clause (iii), such adoption, change or
        compliance has or would have the direct or indirect effect of reducing
        the rate of return on any of such Person's capital as a consequence of
        its obligations hereunder to a level below that which such Person could
        have achieved but for such adoption, change or compliance (taking into
        consideration such Person's policies with respect to capital adequacy)
        by an amount deemed by such Person to be material, and any of the
        foregoing events described in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) increases the
        cost to the Agent or any of the Lenders of (A) funding or maintaining
        its Commitments or (B) issuing, causing the issuance of, making or
        maintaining any Letter of Credit or of purchasing or maintaining any
        participation therein, or reduces the amount receivable in respect
        thereof by the Agent or any Lender, then the Borrowers shall upon demand
        by the Agent at any time within one hundred eighty (180) days after the
        date on which an officer of the Agent, such Funding Bank or such Lender,
        as the case may be, responsible for overseeing this Credit Agreement
        knows or has reason to know of its right to additional compensation
        under this Section 4.15(a), pay to the Agent, for the account of such
        Lender or, as applicable, the Agent or a Funding Bank, additional
        amounts sufficient to reimburse the Agent, such Funding Bank and such
        Lender against such increase in cost or reduction in amount receivable;
        provided, however, that if the Agent or any such Lender or Funding Bank,
        as the case may be, fails to deliver such demand within such 180 day
        period, such entity shall only be entitled to additional compensation
        for any such costs incurred from and after the date that is one hundred
        eighty (180) days prior to the date the Borrower Representative receives
        such demand; and provided further, however, that before making any such
        demand, the Agent and each Lender agree to use reasonable efforts
        (consistent with its internal policy and legal and regulatory
        restrictions) to designate a different Applicable Lending Office if the
        making of such a



                                       40
<PAGE>   48

        designation would avoid the need for, or reduce the amount of, such
        increased cost and would not, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender,
        be otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender. A certificate as to the
        amount of such increased cost, and setting forth in reasonable detail
        the calculation thereof, shall be submitted to the Borrower
        Representative by the Agent, or the applicable Lender or Funding Bank,
        and shall be conclusive absent demonstrable error.

               (b Each Lender will promptly notify the Borrower Representative
        and the Agent, and the Agent will promptly notify the Borrower
        Representative, of any event of which it has knowledge that would
        entitle such entity to additional compensation under this Section 4.15.
        Neither the Agent nor any Lender shall request any additional
        compensation under this Section 4.15 unless it is generally making
        similar requests of other borrowers similarly situated, and the Agent
        and each Lender agree to use a reasonable basis for calculating amounts
        allocable to its commitment to lend or its Revolving Loans and Letter of
        Credit Obligations hereunder.


                                    ARTICLE 5

                              CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

        5.1 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO EFFECTIVENESS OF AGREEMENT. The Amendments
to the Existing Credit Agreement embodied in this Agreement shall not be
effective (in which case the Existing Credit Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect) and each Term Lender shall have no obligation to fund its
allocable portion of the Term Loan unless the following conditions precedent
have been satisfied or waived:

               (a CLOSING DOCUMENT LIST. The Agent and the Lenders shall have
        received each of the agreements, opinions, reports, approvals, consents,
        certificates and other documents set forth on the closing document list
        attached hereto as Schedule A (the "Closing Document List") each duly
        executed and dated as of the Closing Date, where appropriate.

               (b MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE. (i) No event shall have occurred
        which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
        Effect; or (ii) there shall not have occurred a substantial impairment
        of the financial markets generally that is reasonably likely to
        materially and adversely affect the transactions contemplated hereby, in
        each case as determined by the Agent and each Lender in their sole
        discretion.



                                       41
<PAGE>   49

                (c REVOLVING AND TERM PAYMENTS AND EXPENSES. All Revolving
        Payments, Term Payments, and Expenses payable by the Guarantor or the
        Borrowers hereunder on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid
        in full.

                (d OTHER CONDITIONS. The conditions precedent set forth in the
        Term Payment Letter (and not set forth above) shall have been satisfied
        or waived by the Term Lenders.

        5.2 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO ALL LOANS AND LETTERS OF CREDIT. The
obligation of each Revolving Lender to fund its Proportionate Share of any
requested Revolving Loan or of the Issuing Bank to issue any requested Letter of
Credit and the obligation of each Term Lender to fund its allocable portion of
the Term Loan is in each case subject to the satisfaction of the conditions
precedent set forth below. Each Notice of Borrowing, each Letter of Credit
Request, and each issuance by the Borrower Representative of a check drawn
against, or request for transfer from, the Disbursement Account shall constitute
a representation and warranty by the Borrowers that such conditions are
satisfied.

                (a All representations and warranties contained in this Credit
        Agreement and the other Credit Documents are true and correct in all
        material respects on and as of the date of such Notice of Borrowing,
        Letter of Credit Request or issuance of a check drawn against or request
        for transfer from the Disbursement Account, as if then made, other than
        representations and warranties that relate solely to a date other than
        the date of such Notice of Borrowing, Letter of Credit Request or
        issuance of a check drawn against or request for transfer from the
        Disbursement Account;

                (b No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred or could
        reasonably be expected to result from the making of the requested Loan
        or the issuance of the requested Letter of Credit, which has not been
        waived; and

                (c Since June 30, 1998, no event has occurred which has had or
        could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.



                                       42
<PAGE>   50

                                    ARTICLE 6

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

        To induce the Agent and the Lenders to enter into this Credit Agreement
and to induce the Lenders to make the Loans and other financial accommodations
described herein, the Guarantor and the Borrowers hereby represent and warrant
to the Agent and the Lenders that the representations and warranties contained
in this Article 6 are true and correct. Such representations and warranties, and
all other representations and warranties made by the Guarantor and the Borrowers
in any other Credit Documents, shall survive the execution and delivery of this
Credit Agreement and such other Credit Documents.

        6.1 ORGANIZATION AND QUALIFICATION. The Guarantor, each Borrower and
each of their respective Subsidiaries (i) are corporations duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the respective states of
their incorporation, (ii) have the power and authority to own their respective
properties and assets and to transact their respective businesses in which they
presently are, or propose to be, engaged and (iii) are duly qualified and are
authorized to do business and are in good standing in each of the respective
jurisdictions where they presently are, or propose to be, engaged in business.
Schedule B, Part 6.1 lists all jurisdictions in which the Guarantor, each
Borrower and each of their respective Subsidiaries are qualified to do business
as foreign corporations.

        6.2 AUTHORITY. The Guarantor, each Borrower and each of their respective
Subsidiaries have the requisite corporate power and authority to execute,
deliver and perform the respective Credit Documents to which they are parties.
All corporate action necessary for the execution, delivery and performance of
any of the Credit Documents by the Guarantor, each Borrower and each of their
respective Subsidiaries has been taken.

        6.3 ENFORCEABILITY. This Credit Agreement and each of the other Credit
Documents are the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Guarantor, each
Borrower and each of their respective Subsidiaries which are parties thereto,
enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, except as such
enforceability may be limited by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws
affecting creditors' rights generally, and (ii) general principles of equity.

        6.4 NO CONFLICT. The execution, delivery and performance of each Credit
Document by the Guarantor, each Borrower and each of their respective
Subsidiaries which are parties thereto are not in contravention of (i) the
Governing Documents of such Persons, or (ii) any Requirement of Law, or (iii)
any indenture, contract, agreement or instrument or other commitment to which
any or all of such Persons are parties or by which



                                       43
<PAGE>   51

any of such Persons or any of its properties are bound, and will not, except as
contemplated herein, result in the imposition of any Liens upon any of the
properties of any of such Persons.

        6.5 CONSENTS AND FILINGS. No consent, authorization, permit or filing is
required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this
Credit Agreement or any Credit Document by the Guarantor, any of the Borrowers
or any of their respective Subsidiaries which are parties thereto, or in
connection with the continuing operations of such Persons, except (i) those that
have been obtained or made and (ii) filings necessary to create, perfect or
retain the perfection of Liens against the Collateral.

        6.6 GOVERNMENT REGULATION. Neither Guarantor, any Borrower nor any of
their respective Subsidiaries is subject to regulation under the Public Utility
Holding Company Act of 1935, the Federal Power Act, the Interstate Commerce Act,
the Investment Company Act of 1940, or any other similar Requirement of Law that
limits the respective abilities of such Persons to incur indebtedness or
consummate the transactions contemplated in this Credit Agreement and the other
Credit Documents.

        6.7 SOLVENCY. The fair saleable value of the assets of the Borrowers
exceeds all their probable liabilities, including those to be incurred pursuant
to this Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents. The Borrowers (i) do
not have unreasonably small capital in relation to the business in which they
are or propose to be engaged and (ii) have not incurred and do not believe that
they will incur, after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this
Credit Agreement, debts beyond their ability to pay as such debts become due.

        6.8 RIGHTS IN COLLATERAL; PRIORITY OF LIENS. All property constituting
Collateral is owned or leased by a Borrower, free and clear of any and all Liens
in favor of third parties, other than Permitted Liens. Upon the proper filing of
the UCC financing statements (and termination statements, if any) which were
filed in connection with the Existing Credit Agreement, and the filing of the
UCC financing statements, amendments, or terminations, if any, listed in the
Closing Document List, the security interests granted pursuant to the Credit
Documents constitute valid and enforceable first, prior (subject to Permitted
Liens) and perfected Liens on the Collateral, to the extent such Liens can be
perfected by the filing of such financing statements.

        6.9 FINANCIAL DATA. The Guarantor has provided to the Agent and each of
the Lenders complete and accurate copies of annual audited Financial Statements
for the Consolidated Entity for the fiscal years ended March 31, 1997 and 1998
and unaudited Financial Statements for the three-month fiscal period ended June
30, 1998. Such Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP
consistently applied throughout the periods involved and fairly present the
respective consolidated financial



                                       44
<PAGE>   52

positions, results of operations and cash flows of the Consolidated Entity for
each of the periods covered. The Consolidated Entity has no Contingent
Obligation, or liability for taxes or long-term leases, which is not reflected
in such Financial Statements or the footnotes thereto, or is not otherwise
disclosed on Schedule B, Part 6.9.

        6.10 LOCATIONS OF OFFICES, RECORDS AND INVENTORY. The address of the
principal place of business and chief executive office of the Guarantor and each
Borrower is set forth on Schedule B, Part 6.10, as the same may be amended after
the Closing Date in accordance with Section 11.11. The books and records of each
Borrower, and all its chattel paper, if any, and records of Accounts, are
maintained exclusively at one or more of such locations. There is no
jurisdiction in which any Borrower has any Collateral (except for vehicles and
Inventory in transit) other than those jurisdictions identified on Schedule B,
Part 6.10, as the same may be amended after the Closing Date in accordance with
Section 11.11. A complete list of the legal name and address of each warehouse
at which Inventory of any Borrower is stored is set forth on Schedule B, Part
6.10, as the same may be amended after the Closing Date in accordance with
Section 11.11. None of the receipts received and to be received by any Borrower
from any warehouseman state that the Inventory covered thereby is to be
delivered to bearer or to the order of a named Person or to a named Person and
such named Person's assigns, in each case other than such Borrower.

        6.11 SUBSIDIARIES; OWNERSHIP OF STOCK.

                (a) As of the Closing Date, (i) the only direct or indirect
        Subsidiaries of the Guarantor and the Borrowers are those listed on
        Schedule B, Part 6.11, (ii) the Guarantor and each Borrower is the
        record and beneficial owner of all of the respective shares of capital
        stock of each of its respective Subsidiaries listed on Schedule B, Part
        6.11, (iii) there are no proxies, irrevocable or otherwise, with respect
        to such shares, and no equity securities of any of such Subsidiaries are
        or may become required to be issued by reason of any options, warrants,
        scrip, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character
        whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights convertible into or
        exchangeable for, shares of any capital stock of any such Subsidiary,
        and (iv) there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or
        arrangements by which any such Subsidiary is or may become bound to
        issue additional shares of its capital stock or securities convertible
        into or exchangeable for such shares. All of such shares so owned by the
        Guarantor and the Borrowers are so owned free and clear of any Liens,
        except for the Liens granted to the Agent for the benefit of the
        Lenders.

                (b) None of the Subsidiaries of Imagyn California, Imagyn
        Delaware or Dacomed listed on such Schedule B have any substantial
        assets or business operations. At the request of Agent, each of Imagyn
        California, Imagyn Delaware and Dacomed will pledge to Agent, for the
        benefit of the Lenders, all of the issued and outstanding



                                       45
<PAGE>   53

        shares of capital Stock of each such Subsidiary (or, in the case of a
        Subsidiary not organized under the laws of a state or territory of the
        United States, sixty-five percent (65%) thereof), and cause each such
        Subsidiary to execute such security documents, pledge agreements,
        guarantees, and the like as Agent shall deem necessary in order to
        perfect a security interest in all of the real and personal property of
        each such Subsidiary.

        6.12 NO JUDGMENTS OR LITIGATION. Except as set forth on Schedule B, Part
6.12, no judgments, orders, writs or decrees are outstanding against the
Guarantor or any Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries, nor is there
now pending or, to the best of the Guarantor's and Borrowers' knowledge after
diligent inquiry, threatened, any litigation, contested claim, investigation,
arbitration, or governmental proceeding by or against the Guarantor, any
Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries.

        6.13 NO DEFAULTS. Neither the Guarantor, any Borrower nor any of their
respective Subsidiaries are in default under any term of any indenture,
contract, lease, agreement, instrument or commitment to which any of them is a
party or by which any of them is bound which default could reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Guarantor nor any
Borrower knows of any dispute regarding any such indenture, contract, lease,
agreement, instrument or other commitment, which, if adversely determined, could
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

        6.14 LABOR MATTERS. Schedule B, Part 6.14 accurately sets forth all
labor contracts to which the Borrowers or any of their respective Subsidiaries
are parties as of the Closing Date (including their dates of expiration). There
are no existing or, to the knowledge of the Borrowers, threatened strikes,
lockouts or other disputes relating to any collective bargaining or similar
agreement to which the Borrowers or any of their respective Subsidiaries are a
party.

        6.15 COMPLIANCE WITH LAW. Neither the Guarantor, any Borrower nor any of
their respective Subsidiaries has violated or failed to comply with any
Requirements of Law, including without limitation ERISA and environmental laws,
which violation or failure could reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect.

        6.16 ERISA. None of the Guarantor, any Borrower, any of their respective
Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate maintains or contributes to any Plan other
than those listed on Schedule B, Part 6.16. Each Plan has been and is maintained
and funded in accordance with its terms and in compliance with all applicable
provisions of ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code. The Guarantor, each Borrower,
each of their respective Subsidiaries and each ERISA Affiliate has fulfilled all
contribution obligations for each Plan (including obligations related to the
minimum funding standards of ERISA and the Internal Revenue



                                       46
<PAGE>   54

Code). No Termination Event has occurred nor has any other event occurred that
may result in a Termination Event. None of the Guarantor, any Borrower, any of
their respective Subsidiaries, or any ERISA Affiliate, or any fiduciary of any
Plan is subject to any direct or indirect liability with respect to any Plan
under any Requirement of Law or agreement. None of the Guarantor, any Borrower,
any of their respective Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate is required to
provide security to any Plan under Section 401(a)(29) of the Internal Revenue
Code, or sponsors or maintains any Retiree Health Plan.

        6.17 COMPLIANCE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS. Except as disclosed on Schedule
B, Part 6.17, (i) the operations of the Borrowers and each of their respective
Subsidiaries comply with all applicable federal, state and local environmental,
health and safety statutes, regulations, directions, ordinances, criteria and
guidelines; (ii) no Borrower has received notice that any of the operations of
such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is the subject of any judicial or
administrative proceeding alleging the violation of any federal, state or local
environmental, health or safety statute, regulation, direction, ordinance,
criteria or guideline; (iii) none of the operations of the Borrowers or any of
their respective Subsidiaries is the subject of any federal or state
investigation evaluating whether any of the Borrowers or any of their respective
Subsidiaries disposed of any hazardous or toxic waste, substance or constituent
or other substance at any site that may require remedial action, or any federal
or state investigation evaluating whether any remedial action is needed to
respond to a release of any hazardous or toxic waste, substance or constituent
or other substance into the environment; (iv) none of the Borrowers nor any of
their respective Subsidiaries has filed any notice under any federal or state
law indicating past or present treatment, storage or disposal of a hazardous
waste, substance or constituent or reporting a spill or release of a hazardous
or toxic waste, substance or constituent or other substance into the
environment; and (v) none of the Borrowers nor any of their respective
Subsidiaries has any contingent liability of which any of the Borrowers has
knowledge, or reasonably should have knowledge, in connection with any release
or potential release of any hazardous or toxic waste, substance or constituent
or other substance into the environment which could reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect, nor has any of the Borrowers or any of
their respective Subsidiaries received any notice, letter or other indication of
potential liability arising from the disposal of any hazardous or toxic waste,
substance or constituent or other substance into the environment.

        6.18 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. The Guarantor, the Borrowers and each of
their respective Subsidiaries possesses such assets, licenses, patents, patent
applications, copyrights, service marks, trademarks and trade names as are
necessary in the reasonable judgment of such party to continue to conduct their
respective present and proposed business activities.



                                       47
<PAGE>   55

        6.19 LICENSES AND PERMITS. The Borrowers and each of their respective
Subsidiaries have obtained and hold in full force and effect all franchises,
licenses, leases, permits, certificates, authorizations, qualifications,
easements, rights of way and other rights and approvals which are necessary in
the reasonable judgment of such party for the operation of its business as
presently conducted.

        6.20 TAXES AND TAX RETURNS.

               (a) Except as set forth on Schedule B, Part 6.20, the
        Consolidated Entity has timely filed all income tax returns it is
        required to file. The information filed is complete and accurate in all
        material respects. All deductions taken in such income tax returns are
        appropriate and in accordance with applicable laws and regulations,
        except deductions that may have been disallowed but are being challenged
        in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been made in
        accordance with GAAP.

               (b) All taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges
        for periods beginning prior to the date hereof have been timely paid and
        the Consolidated Entity has no liability for taxes in excess of the
        amounts so paid or reserves so established.

               (c) Except as set forth in Schedule B, Part 6.20, no deficiencies
        for taxes have been claimed, proposed or assessed by any taxing or other
        Governmental Authority against the Consolidated Entity and no tax liens
        have been filed. Except as set forth in Schedule B, Part 6.20, there are
        no pending or threatened audits, investigations or claims for or
        relating to any liability for taxes and there are no matters under
        discussion with any Governmental Authority which could reasonably be
        expected to result in a material additional liability for taxes. Either
        the federal income tax returns of the Consolidated Entity have been
        audited by the Internal Revenue Service and such audits have been
        closed, or the period during which any assessments may be made by the
        Internal Revenue Service has expired without waiver or extension for all
        years up to and including the fiscal year of the Consolidated Entity
        ended June 30, 1994. Except as set forth in Schedule B, Part 6.20, no
        extension of a statute of limitations relating to taxes, assessments,
        fees or other governmental charges is in effect with respect to the
        Consolidated Entity.

               (d) Except as set forth on Schedule B, Part 6.20, the
        Consolidated Entity has no obligation under any written tax sharing
        agreement or agreement regarding payments in lieu of taxes.

        6.21 MATERIAL CONTRACTS. Schedule B, Part 6.21, contains a true, correct
and complete list of all the Material Contracts currently in effect on the
Closing Date. Except as described on Schedule B, Part 6.21, none of the Material
Contracts



                                       48
<PAGE>   56

contains any burdensome restrictions on the Borrowers or any of their respective
Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, all of the Material
Contracts are in full force and effect and no defaults currently exist
thereunder.

        6.22 ACCURACY AND COMPLETENESS OF INFORMATION. All factual information
furnished by or on behalf of the Guarantor, the Borrowers or any of their
respective Subsidiaries in writing to the Agent, any Lender, or the Auditors for
purposes of or in connection with this Credit Agreement or any Credit Documents
or any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby is or will be true and
accurate in all material respects on the date as of which such information is
dated or certified and not incomplete by omitting to state any material fact
necessary to make such information not misleading at such time.

        6.23 YEAR 2000. All reprogramming, remediation, or any other corrective
action, including the internal testing of the Borrowers' and Guarantor's, or any
of their respective Subsidiaries' Information Systems and Equipment, are being
developed on a timely basis so as to avoid any Default or a Material Adverse
Effect arising from the so-called "Year 2000 Problem" (that is, the risk that
computer applications and embedded micro chips in non-computing devices used by
the Borrowers, the Guarantor or any of their respective Subsidiaries may be
unable to recognize and perform properly date-sensitive functions involving
certain dates prior to and any date after December 31, 1999).

        6.24 NO CHANGE. Since June 30, 1998 no event has occurred which has had
or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.


                                    ARTICLE 7

                              AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

        Until termination of this Credit Agreement and payment and satisfaction
of all Obligations due hereunder:

        7.1 FINANCIAL REPORTING. The Guarantor and Borrowers, as appropriate,
shall timely deliver to each Lender the following information:

               (a) AUDITOR'S ENGAGEMENT LETTER. As soon as available, but in any
        event not later than the earlier of (i) fifteen (15) days prior to the
        end of each fiscal year or (ii) prior to the date the Auditors commence
        work on the preparation of the annual audited Financial Statement, a
        copy of the engagement letter between the Guarantor and



                                       49
<PAGE>   57

        its Auditors. At the request of Agent, Guarantor shall notify such
        Auditors in writing (with a copy thereof to Agent) that such annual
        audited Financial Statement will be delivered by the Guarantor to the
        Agent and Lenders, and stating that it is a primary intent of Guarantor
        that Agent and Lenders be entitled to rely thereon with respect to the
        transactions which are the subject of this Agreement.

               (b) ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. As soon as available, but not
        later than two (2) days after the date Guarantor is obligated to provide
        any such information to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
        "Commission"): (i) the annual audited consolidated, and unaudited
        consolidating, Financial Statements of the Consolidated Entity; (ii) a
        comparison in reasonable detail to the prior year annual audited and
        unaudited Financial Statements; (iii) the Auditors' opinion, "Management
        Letter" (deliverable as soon as available) and statement indicating
        whether the Auditors have obtained knowledge of the existence of any
        Default or Event of Default during their audit; (iv) a narrative
        discussion of the consolidated financial condition and results of
        operations and the consolidated liquidity and capital resources of the
        Consolidated Entity for such fiscal year, prepared by the chief
        financial officer of the Borrower Representative; and (v) a compliance
        certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G hereto with an
        attached schedule of calculations demonstrating compliance with the
        financial covenants set forth in Article 8.

               (c) MONTHLY AND ANNUAL PROJECTIONS. Not later than forty-five
        (45) days after each fiscal year end, beginning with the fiscal year
        ended March 31, 1998, monthly projections of the financial condition and
        results of operations of the Consolidated Entity (with specific and
        separate detail on the surgical and urological divisions thereof) for
        the next succeeding year, quarterly projections for the second
        succeeding year, and annual projections for each succeeding fiscal year
        thereafter, through and including the fiscal year in which the
        Expiration Date will occur, in each case containing projected
        consolidating balance sheets, statements of operations, statements of
        cash flows and statements of changes in shareholders equity.

               (d) QUARTERLY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. As soon as available, but not
        later than two (2) days after the date Guarantor is obligated to provide
        any such information to the Commission with respect to each of the
        fiscal quarters of the Consolidated Entity: (i) Financial Statements of
        the Consolidated Entity (with specific and separate detail on the
        surgical and urological divisions thereof) as of the fiscal quarter then
        ended, and for the fiscal year to date; (ii) a comparison in reasonable
        detail to the Financial Statements for the corresponding periods of the
        prior fiscal year; (iii) the certification of the chief executive
        officer or chief financial officer of the Guarantor that such Financial
        Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP (subject to
        year-end audit adjustments); (iv) a narrative discussion of the
        consolidated financial condition and



                                       50
<PAGE>   58

        results of operations and the consolidated liquidity and capital
        resources of the Consolidated Entity (with specific and separate detail
        on the surgical and urological divisions thereof) for such fiscal
        quarter and fiscal year to date, prepared by the chief financial officer
        of the Borrower Representative; and (v) a compliance certificate
        substantially in the form of Exhibit G hereto with an attached schedule
        of calculations demonstrating compliance with the financial covenants
        set forth in Article 8.

               (e) MONTHLY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. As soon as available, but not
        later than thirty (30) days after the end of each of the first two (2)
        months of each fiscal quarter, and together with the deliveries required
        in subsections (b) and (d) above with respect to the third month of each
        fiscal quarter: (i) a balance sheet for the Consolidated Entity (with
        specific and separate detail on the surgical and urological divisions
        thereof) as at the end of such month and statements of operations and
        cash flows for such month and for the fiscal year to date; (ii) a
        comparison to the balance sheet, statement of operations and statement
        of cash flows for the same periods in the prior year; (iii) a
        certification by the chief executive officer or chief financial officer
        the Borrower Representative that such balance sheet, statement of
        operations and statement of cash flows have been prepared in accordance
        with GAAP (subject to year-end audit adjustments); and (iv) a compliance
        certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G with an attached
        schedule of calculations demonstrating compliance with the financial
        covenants set forth in Article 8.

               (f) MONTHLY COMPARISON TO PRIOR PROJECTIONS. As soon as
        available, but not later than thirty (30) days after the end of each of
        the first two (2) months of each fiscal quarter, and together with the
        deliveries required in subsections (b) and (d) above with respect to the
        third month of each fiscal quarter, commencing with the month beginning
        September 1, 1998, a comparison of actual results of operations, cash
        flow and capital expenditures for the Consolidated Entity (with specific
        and separate detail on the surgical and urological divisions thereof)
        and each of the Borrowers for such month and for the period from the
        beginning of the current fiscal year through the end of such month with
        amounts previously projected for those periods (see Section 7.1(c)) and
        with actual results for corresponding periods in the previous fiscal
        year.

               (g) SEC FILINGS. Promptly after the filing thereof with the
        Commission, (i) a copy of each report, notice or other filing, if any,
        by Guarantor or any Borrower, and (ii) a copy of each written
        communication received by Guarantor or any Borrower from, or delivered
        by Guarantor or any Borrower to, the Commission, in each case promptly
        after each such receipt or delivery.

        7.2 COLLATERAL REPORTING. Each of the Borrowers shall timely deliver to
the Agent the following certificates and reports:



                                       51
<PAGE>   59

                (a) WEEKLY AND MONTHLY BORROWING BASE CERTIFICATES. Weekly,
        before 12:00 noon on the second Business Day of each week (except the
        last week of each month), monthly, within two (2) Business Days after
        the last Business Day of each month, and at any other time requested by
        the Agent, a Borrowing Base Certificate, which shall be: (i)
        substantially in the form of Exhibit A, detailing the Eligible Accounts
        Receivable as of each Friday of the immediately preceding week (if a
        weekly Borrowing Base Certificate), or as of the last Business Day of
        the immediately preceding month (if a monthly Borrowing Base
        Certificate), or as of such other date as the Agent may request; and
        (ii) prepared by or under the supervision of the chief executive officer
        or chief financial officer of each of the Borrowers and certified by
        such officer subject only to adjustment upon completion of the normal
        annual audit of physical inventory. Each Borrowing Base Certificate
        shall have attached to it such additional schedules and other
        information as the Agent may reasonably request, including, without
        limitation, an aging of Accounts.

                (b) APPRAISALS. When requested by the Agent, which prior to the
        occurrence of an Event of Default shall be no more frequently than once
        every calendar year, an appraisal of Borrowers' Inventory by a
        third-party appraisal firm acceptable to Agent, in such form and detail
        as Agent shall request.

                (c) FURTHER ASSURANCES. When requested by the Agent, any further
        information regarding the Collateral, business affairs and financial
        condition of the Borrowers or any of their respective Subsidiaries.

        7.3 NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS. The Guarantor and each of the Borrowers
shall timely give to the Agent and each of the Lenders the following notices:

                (a) NOTICE OF DEFAULTS. Promptly, and in any event within two
        (2) Business Days after becoming aware of the occurrence of a Default or
        Event of Default, a certificate of the chief executive officer or chief
        financial officer of the Guarantor specifying the nature thereof and the
        proposed response thereto, each in reasonable detail.

                (b) PROCEEDINGS OR ADVERSE CHANGES. Promptly, and in any event
        within five (5) Business Days after the Guarantor or any Borrower
        becomes aware of (i) any proceeding being instituted or threatened to be
        instituted by or against the Guarantor or any such Borrower or any of
        their respective Subsidiaries in any federal, state, local or foreign
        court or before any commission or other regulatory body (federal, state,
        local or foreign), and which could reasonably be expected to result in a
        Material Adverse



                                       52
<PAGE>   60

        Effect, (ii) any order, judgment or decree in excess of $500,000 being
        entered against the Guarantor or any Borrower or any of their respective
        Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets or (iii)
        any actual or prospective change, development or event which has had or
        could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, a
        written statement describing such proceeding, order, judgment, decree,
        change, development or event and any action being taken with respect
        thereto.

               (c) ERISA NOTICES. (i) Promptly, and in any event within ten (10)
        Business Days after the Guarantor, any Borrower, any of their respective
        Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate knows or has reason to know that a
        Termination Event has occurred, a written statement of the chief
        financial officer of the affected Person describing such Termination
        Event and any action that is being taken with respect thereto by such
        Person, and any action taken or threatened by the Internal Revenue
        Service, Department of Labor or Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
        The Guarantor, each Borrower, each of their respective Subsidiaries and
        each ERISA Affiliate shall be deemed to know all facts known by the
        administrator of any Benefit Plan of which it is the plan sponsor; (ii)
        promptly, and in any event within three (3) Business Days after the
        filing thereof with the Internal Revenue Service, a copy of each funding
        waiver request filed with respect to any Benefit Plan and all
        communications received by the Guarantor, any Borrower, any of their
        respective Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate with respect to such
        request; and (iii) promptly, and in any event within three (3) Business
        Days after receipt by the Guarantor, any Borrower, any of their
        respective Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate, of written notice of the
        PBGC's intention to terminate a Benefit Plan or to have a trustee
        appointed to administer a Benefit Plan, copies of each such notice.

               (d) ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH AND SAFETY NOTICES. Promptly, and in
        any event within ten (10) Business Days after receipt by the Guarantor,
        any Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries of any notice,
        complaint or order alleging any actual or prospective violation of any
        environmental, health or safety Requirement of Law or alleging
        responsibility for costs of a cleanup, together with a copy of such
        notice, complaint, or order which could reasonably be expected to result
        in a Material Adverse Effect, and a written statement describing any
        action being taken with respect thereto.

               (e) MATERIAL CONTRACTS. Promptly, and in any event within ten
        (10) Business Days after any Material Contract of the Guarantor, any
        Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries is terminated or
        amended or any new Material Contract is entered into, a written
        statement describing such event, with copies of amendments or new
        contracts, and an explanation of any actions being taken with respect
        thereto.



                                       53
<PAGE>   61

               (f) COLLATERAL MATTERS. At least thirty (30) Business Days' prior
        written notice to the Agent of any change in the location of any
        Collateral (other than in-transit Inventory) or in the location of the
        chief executive office or place of business of the Guarantor, any
        Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries from the locations
        specified in Schedule B, Part 6.10. At least twenty (20) Business Days
        prior to any such change, the affected Credit Party shall cause to be
        executed and delivered to the Agent any financing statements, Collateral
        Access Agreements or other documents required by the Agent, all in form
        and substance satisfactory to the Agent.

        7.4 CORPORATE EXISTENCE. Each Credit Party shall, and shall cause each
of its Subsidiaries to, (i) maintain its corporate existence (except that any of
the Borrowers' Subsidiaries may merge with each other and with any Borrower),
provided, that the Agent receives five (5) Business Days' prior written notice
thereof, (ii) maintain in full force and effect all licenses, bonds, franchises,
leases, trademarks and qualifications to do business, and all patents, contracts
and other rights necessary in the reasonable judgment of such party for the
profitable conduct of their businesses, (iii) continue in, and limit their
operations to, the same general lines of business as presently conducted by them
and (iv) in the case of the Guarantor and the Borrowers, maintain all material
terms and provisions of their respective corporate charter and bylaws in the
form in effect on the Closing Date.

        7.5 BOOKS AND RECORDS; INSPECTIONS. The Guarantor and each Borrower
agree to maintain, and to cause each of their respective Subsidiaries to
maintain, books and records pertaining to the Collateral in such detail, form
and scope as is consistent with good business practice. The Guarantor and each
Borrower agree that the Agent or its agents may enter upon their respective
premises (or any of their Subsidiaries' premises) any time and from time to
time, during normal business hours and upon reasonable notice under the
circumstances, and at any time at all upon the occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default, for the purposes of (i) inspecting and
verifying the Collateral, (ii) inspecting and/or copying (at the expense of the
Borrowers) any and all records pertaining thereto, and (iii) discussing the
affairs, finances and business of the Borrowers with any officers, employees and
directors of the Borrowers or with the Auditors.

        7.6 INSURANCE. The Guarantor and each Borrower agree to maintain, and to
cause each of their respective Subsidiaries to maintain, public liability
insurance, third party property damage insurance and replacement value insurance
on the Collateral under such policies of insurance, with such insurance
companies, in such amounts and covering such risks as are at all times
satisfactory to the Agent in its commercially reasonable judgment. All policies
covering the Collateral are to name the Agent as an additional insured and/or
the loss payee in case of loss, and are to contain such other provisions as the
Agent may reasonably require to fully protect the Agent's interest in the
Collateral and to any payments to be made under such policies.



                                       54
<PAGE>   62

        7.7 TAXES. The Guarantor and each Borrower agree to pay when due, and to
cause each of their respective Subsidiaries to pay when due, all taxes lawfully
levied or assessed against them, any of their respective Subsidiaries or any of
the Collateral before any penalty or interest accrues thereon; provided, that,
unless such taxes have become a federal tax or ERISA Lien on any of the assets
of the Guarantor, any Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries, no such
tax need be paid if the same is being contested, in good faith, by appropriate
proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted and if an adequate
reserve or other appropriate provision shall have been made therefor as required
in order to be in conformity with GAAP.

        7.8 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. The Guarantor and each Borrower agree to
comply, and to cause each of their respective Subsidiaries to comply in all
material respects, with all Requirements of Law applicable to the Collateral or
any part thereof, or to the operation of their businesses or their assets
generally, unless contested in a reasonable manner and in good faith.

        7.9 USE OF PROCEEDS. Proceeds of the Loans shall be used by the
Borrowers to pay the costs and expenses of the transactions contemplated by this
Credit Agreement which are due and payable on the Closing Date, including
without limitation any Revolving Fees, Term Payments and Expenses due on the
Closing Date pursuant to Article 4 hereof and for working capital requirements
and other general corporate purposes; provided however, that in no event shall
the Borrowers use the proceeds from the Term Loan for Capital Expenditures in
excess of $2,000,000 without the prior written consent of the Majority Term
Lenders; and the proceeds of any subsequent Loans made hereunder shall be used
by the Borrowers solely for ongoing working capital requirements and other
general corporate purposes. The Borrowers shall not use any portion of the
proceeds of any Loan for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any "margin
stock" (as defined in Regulation U) or engage in any transaction which violates
the provisions of Regulation T, U or X or of the terms and conditions of this
Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document.

        7.10 FISCAL YEAR. The Consolidated Entity agrees to maintain its fiscal
year as a year ending March 31.

        7.11 MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTY. Each Borrower agrees to keep, and to cause
each of its Subsidiaries to keep, all property useful and necessary to their
respective businesses in good working order and condition (ordinary wear and
tear excepted) in accordance with their past operating practices and not to
commit or suffer any waste with respect to any of their properties.



                                       55
<PAGE>   63

        7.12 ERISA DOCUMENTS. The Guarantor and each Borrower will cause to be
delivered to the Agent, upon the Agent's request, each of the following: (i) a
copy of each Plan (or, where any such plan is not in writing, complete
description thereof) (and if applicable, related trust agreements or other
funding instruments) and all amendments thereto, all written interpretations
thereof and written descriptions thereof that have been distributed to employees
or former employees of the Guarantor, any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;
(ii) the most recent determination letter issued by the Internal Revenue Service
with respect to each Plan that is intended to be tax-qualified under Section
401(a) of the Code; (iii) for the three (3) most recent plan years, Annual
Reports on Form 5500 Series required to be filed with any governmental agency
for each Plan; (iv) all actuarial reports prepared for the last three (3) plan
years for each Benefit Plan; (v) a listing of all Multiemployer Plans, with the
aggregate amount of the most recent annual contributions required to be made by
the Guarantor, any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate to each such plan and copies
of the collective bargaining agreements requiring such contributions; (vi) any
information that has been provided to the Guarantor, any Borrower or any ERISA
Affiliate regarding withdrawal liability under any Multiemployer Plan; and (vii)
the aggregate amount of the most recent annual payments made to former employees
of the Guarantor, any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate under any Retiree Health
Plan.

        7.13 ENVIRONMENTAL AND OTHER MATTERS.

               (a) Each Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries will conduct their
        businesses so as to comply in all material respects with all
        environmental, land use, occupational, safety or health laws,
        regulations, directions, ordinances, criteria and guidelines in all
        jurisdictions in which any of them is or may at any time be doing
        business, except to the extent that such Borrower or such Subsidiary is
        contesting, in good faith by appropriate legal proceedings, any such
        law, regulation, direction, ordinance, criteria, guideline, or
        interpretation thereof or application thereof; provided, that the
        Borrowers and each of their Subsidiaries shall comply with the order of
        any court or other Governmental Authority relating to such laws unless
        such Borrower or such Subsidiary shall currently be prosecuting an
        appeal or proceedings for review and shall have secured a stay of
        enforcement or execution or other arrangement postponing enforcement or
        execution pending such appeal or proceedings for review.

               (b) If the Agent reasonably believes, or the Majority Lenders
        reasonably believe, that the facts or circumstances evidence or suggest
        that any of the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries is in material
        non-compliance with any environmental law and that such non-compliance
        could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, then at
        the written request of the Agent or the Majority Lenders, which request
        shall specify in reasonable detail the basis therefor, at any time and
        from time to time,



                                       56
<PAGE>   64

        such Borrower will provide at its sole cost and expense an environmental
        site assessment report concerning the site owned, operated or leased by
        such Borrower or such Subsidiary in respect of which such material
        non-compliance is believed to have occurred and be continuing, such
        report to be prepared by an environmental consulting firm approved by
        the Agent and the Majority Lenders, indicating the presence, release or
        absence of hazardous materials on or from such site and the potential
        cost of any removal, remedial or corrective action in connection with
        any such hazardous materials on such site.

        7.14 YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE REPORTS. The Guarantor and each Borrower shall
provide the Agent and any Lender with such information about its respective Year
2000 computer readiness (including, without limitation, information as to
contingency plans, budgets and testing results) as the Agent shall reasonably
request.

        7.15 FURTHER ASSURANCES. The Guarantor and each Borrower shall take, and
shall cause each of their respective Subsidiaries to take, all such further
actions and execute all such further documents and instruments as the Agent may
at any time reasonably determine in the exercise of its sole discretion to be
necessary or desirable to further carry out and consummate the transactions
contemplated by the Credit Documents, to cause the execution, delivery and
performance of the Credit Documents to be duly authorized and to perfect or
protect the Liens (and the priority status thereof) of the Agent on the
Collateral.


                                    ARTICLE 8

                               NEGATIVE COVENANTS

        Until termination of this Credit Agreement and payment and satisfaction
of all Obligations due hereunder, the Guarantor, where required, and the
Borrowers, where required, shall comply with, and, where required, shall cause
each of their respective Subsidiaries to comply with, the following covenants:

        8.1 MINIMUM EBITDA. The Consolidated Entity shall maintain a minimum
EBITDA for each of the periods commencing July 1, 1998 and ending on the dates
set forth below of not less than the amount set forth for such period, and
thereafter, in the event the Expiration Date is extended beyond December 30,
1998 and December 30, 1999, as applicable, the Consolidated Entity shall
maintain such minimum EBITDA for such periods as may be agreed to by the
Borrowers, Agent and Lenders in connection with any such extension:



                                       57
<PAGE>   65

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
               Period Ending                              Minimum EBITDA
               -------------                              --------------
<S>                                                       <C>
               August 31, 1998                            ($9,000,000)
               September 30, 1998                         ($9,000,000)
               October 31, 1998                           ($9,000,000)
               November 30, 1998                          ($9,000,000)
</TABLE>

        8.2 MAXIMUM ACCOUNT TURNOVER. The number determined by multiplying (i)
360 times (ii)(a) Borrowers' outstanding Accounts as at each of the measurement
dates set forth below, divided by (b) Borrowers' net sales for the twelve month
period ending on such measurement date, shall not exceed the corresponding
number:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
               Measurement Date                           Maximum
               ----------------                           -------
<S>                                                       <C>
               September 30, 1998                           200
               December 31, 1998                            200
</TABLE>

        8.3 INTENTIONALLY DELETED.

        8.4 CAPITAL EXPENDITURES. The Consolidated Entity shall not make
payments for Capital Expenditures in excess of $12,500,000 (inclusive of certain
equipment previously acquired with purchase money financing in the approximate
amount of $3,000,000) during fiscal year 1998 and $12,000,000 during fiscal year
1999. The Consolidated Entity shall not make any Capital Expenditures that are
not directly related to the businesses conducted on the Closing Date by
Borrowers. In the event the Expiration Date is extended beyond December 30, 1998
and December 30, 1999, as applicable, the Consolidated Entity shall not make
Capital Expenditures during such additional periods in excess of such amounts as
may be agreed to by the Borrowers, Agent and Lenders in connection with any such
extension.

        8.5 ADDITIONAL INDEBTEDNESS. Neither the Guarantor, any Borrower nor any
of their respective Subsidiaries shall directly or indirectly incur, create,
assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness other than:

               (a) Indebtedness under the Credit Documents;

               (b) Indebtedness in the ordinary course of business under
        Interest Rate Agreements in form and substance satisfactory to the
        Agent;



                                       58
<PAGE>   66

                (c) Indebtedness of any Subsidiary of a Borrower to a Borrower
        or any other Subsidiary of a Borrower;

                (d) Indebtedness of any Borrower to the Guarantor or any other
        Borrower;

                (e) Indebtedness described on Schedule B, Part 8.5, and any
        refinancing of such Indebtedness, so long as the aggregate principal
        amount of the Indebtedness so refinanced shall not be increased and the
        refinancing shall be on terms and conditions no more restrictive than
        the terms and conditions of the Indebtedness to be refinanced; and

                (f) Indebtedness secured by purchase money Liens on equipment
        acquired after the date of this Credit Agreement not to exceed
        $1,500,000 in the aggregate outstanding at any one time ("Purchase Money
        Liens") so long as (i) such Indebtedness shall be from parties and on
        terms and conditions satisfactory to the Agent, (ii) each Purchase Money
        Lien shall attach only to the property to be acquired, (iii) a
        description shall have been furnished to the Agent for any item of
        equipment for which the purchase price is greater than $400,000, and
        (iv) the debt incurred shall not exceed one hundred percent (100%) of
        the purchase price of the item or items of equipment purchased.

        8.6 LIENS. Neither the Guarantor, any Borrower nor any of their
respective Subsidiaries shall directly or indirectly create, incur, assume, or
suffer to exist any Lien on any of its property now owned or hereafter acquired
except:

                (a) Liens granted to the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders
        under the Credit Documents;

                (b) Liens listed on Schedule B, Part 8.6;

                (c) Purchase Money Liens;

                (d) Liens of warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen, workers,
        repairmen, common carriers, or landlords, liens for taxes not yet
        delinquent, assessments or other governmental charges, and other similar
        Liens arising by operation of law for amounts that are not yet due and
        payable or that are being diligently contested in good faith by the
        Borrowers, so long as the Agent has been notified thereof and adequate
        reserves are maintained by the Borrowers for their payment;



                                       59
<PAGE>   67

                (e) Attachment or judgment Liens not to exceed an aggregate of
        $500,000, excluding amounts (i) bonded to the reasonable satisfaction of
        the Agent or (ii) covered by insurance to the reasonable satisfaction of
        the Agent;

                (f) Deposits or pledges to secure obligations under workmen's
        compensation, social security or similar laws, under unemployment
        insurance, or to secure public or statutory obligations not to exceed an
        aggregate of $1,000,000;

                (g) Deposits or pledges to secure bids, tenders, contracts
        (other than contracts for the payment of money), leases, statutory
        obligations, surety and appeal bonds and other obligations of like
        nature arising in the ordinary course of business not to exceed an
        aggregate of $1,000,000;

                (h) Easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar
        encumbrances on title to, or restrictions on the use of, real property,
        which, in the aggregate, in the opinion of the Agent, are not
        substantial in amount and which do not materially detract from the value
        of the property subject thereto or materially interfere with the
        ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrowers or any of their
        respective Subsidiaries; and

                (i) Extensions and renewals of any of the foregoing so long as
        the aggregate amount of extended or renewed Liens is not increased and
        such extensions and renewals are on terms and conditions no more
        restrictive than the terms and conditions of the Liens extended or
        renewed.

        8.7 CONTINGENT OBLIGATIONS. Neither the Guarantor, any Borrower nor any
of their respective Subsidiaries shall directly or indirectly incur, assume, or
suffer to exist any Contingent Obligation, excluding indemnities given in
connection with the sale of Inventory or other Asset Dispositions permitted
hereunder and Contingent Obligations for Indebtedness permitted to be incurred
under Section 8.5, and Investments permitted under Section 8.10.

        8.8 SALE OF ASSETS. Neither the Guarantor, any Borrower nor any of their
respective Subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, sell, lease, assign,
transfer, license or otherwise dispose of any assets (an "Asset Disposition")
other than (i) Inventory in the ordinary course of business; (ii) individual
items of Collateral with a fair value of less than $400,000 in the aggregate
during any fiscal year; (iii) obsolete or worn out property disposed of in the
ordinary course of business; and (iv) Asset Dispositions not otherwise permitted
under this Section 8.8, provided, that (a) such Asset Dispositions are for fair
value, (b) the aggregate consideration is paid in full in cash at the time of
disposition and is thereupon delivered to the Agent, in which case such
consideration will be applied to repay the Revolving



                                       60
<PAGE>   68

Loans as provided in section 4.7(b) hereof, and (c) the aggregate amount of all
Asset Dispositions does not exceed $1,000,000 in the aggregate for any fiscal
year.

        8.9 RESTRICTED PAYMENTS. No Borrower shall, nor shall any Borrower
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, (a) declare or pay
any dividend (other than dividends payable solely in capital stock of such
Person) on, or make any payment on account of, or set apart assets for a sinking
or other analogous fund for, the purchase, redemption, defeasance, retirement or
other acquisition of, any shares of any class of capital stock of such Person or
any warrants, options or rights to purchase any such capital stock, whether now
or hereafter outstanding, or make any other distribution in respect thereof,
either directly or indirectly, whether in cash or property or in obligations of
such Person or any of its Subsidiaries; (b) make any optional payment or
prepayment on or redemption (including, without limitation, by making payments
to a sinking or analogous fund) or repurchase of any Indebtedness (other than
Indebtedness pursuant to this Credit Agreement); provided, that, notwithstanding
the foregoing, any Subsidiary of the Borrower may (i) make payments on account
of Indebtedness owing to such Borrower or any Subsidiary of such Borrower, (ii)
declare and pay dividends to any Borrower or any other Subsidiary of a Borrower,
and (iii) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred or is
occasioned thereby, declare and pay dividends to the Guarantor in an amount not
to exceed $20,000,000 in any fiscal year, which dividends may only be used by
Guarantor (A) to make interest payments with respect to Guarantor's 8.75%
Convertible Subordinated Debentures in the amount of $50,000,000 due May 30,
2006 (including the interest payment due thereon on September 30, 1998 in the
approximate amount of $1,000,000, which the Guarantor may make so long as Asset
Dispositions pursuant to Section 8.8 hereof have been consummated for not less
than $25,000,000 cash consideration) and Guarantor's 12.5% Senior Subordinated
Notes in the amount of $110,000,000 due 2004, (B) to pay federal, state and
local taxes, and (C) for general corporate overhead.

        8.10 INVESTMENTS. Neither the Guarantor, any Borrower, nor any of their
respective Subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, make any Investment in
any Person, whether in cash, securities, or other property of any kind
including, without limitation, any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Guarantor or
any Borrower, other than:

               (a) Advances or loans made in the ordinary course of business not
        to exceed $100,000 in the aggregate outstanding at any one time;

               (b) Loans, investments and advances made by any Credit Party in
        existence as of the date hereof and described on Schedule B, Part 8.10;

               (c) Cash Equivalents;



                                       61
<PAGE>   69

                (d) Deposits with financial institutions, disclosed in Schedule
        B, Part 8.10, and which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance
        Corporation ("FDIC") or a similar federal insurance program; provided,
        that the Borrowers may, in the ordinary course of its business, maintain
        in their disbursement accounts from time to time amounts in excess of
        then applicable FDIC or other program insurance limits;

                (e) Inter-company advances in the ordinary course of business
        among the Credit Parties; and

                (f) Such other Investments as the Agent may approve in writing
        in the exercise of its sole discretion.

        8.11 AFFILIATE TRANSACTIONS. Neither the Guarantor, any Borrower, nor
any of their respective Subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, enter into
any transaction with (including, without limitation, the purchase, sale or
exchange of property or the rendering of any service to) any Subsidiary or
Affiliate of such Persons, except in the ordinary course of and pursuant to the
reasonable requirements of the Guarantor's, such Borrower's or such Subsidiary's
business, as the case may be, and upon fair and reasonable terms no less
favorable thereto than could be obtained in a comparable arm's-length
transaction with an unaffiliated Person, except for transactions otherwise
permitted under Sections 8.9 and 8.10.

        8.12 ADDITIONAL BANK ACCOUNTS. Neither the Guarantor, any Borrower, nor
any of their respective Subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, open,
maintain or otherwise have any checking, savings or other accounts at any bank
or other financial institution, or any other account where money is or may be
deposited or maintained with any Person, other than the Disbursement Account and
the accounts set forth on Schedule B, Part 8.12.

        8.13 ADDITIONAL NEGATIVE PLEDGES. Neither the Guarantor, any Borrower,
nor any of their respective Subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, create
or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective, directly or
indirectly, (i) any prohibition or restriction (including any agreement to
provide equal and ratable security to any other Person in the event a Lien is
granted to or for the benefit of the Agent and the Lenders) on the creation or
existence of any Lien upon the assets of such Person, other than Permitted
Liens; or (ii) any contractual obligation which may restrict or inhibit the
Agent's rights or ability to sell or otherwise dispose of the Collateral or any
part thereof after the occurrence of an Event of Default.



                                       62
<PAGE>   70

        8.14 ADDITIONAL SUBSIDIARIES. Neither the Guarantor, any Borrower, nor
any of their respective Subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, form or
acquire any new Subsidiaries.

        8.15 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS. Neither the Guarantor, any Borrower, nor
any of their respective Subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, without
Agent's advance written consent, adopt any new Employee Benefit Plan or amend an
existing Employee Benefit Plan in any manner which will, or could reasonably be
expected to, result in a Material Adverse Effect.


                                    ARTICLE 9

                         EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

        9.1 EVENTS OF DEFAULT. The occurrence of any of the following events
shall constitute an event of default (each an "Event of Default") hereunder:

               (a) FAILURE TO PAY. The Borrowers shall fail to pay (i) any
        Obligation consisting of a payment of principal when the same shall
        become payable, or (ii) any other Obligation when due, and such failure
        shall continue unremedied for three (3) or more Business Days.

               (b) BREACH OF CERTAIN COVENANTS. The Guarantor or any of the
        Borrowers shall fail to comply with Sections 7.1, 7.2(a), 7.3 or 7.6, or
        with any covenant contained in Article 8.

               (c) BREACH OF REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY. Any representation or
        warranty made or deemed to be made by the Guarantor, the Borrowers or
        any other Credit Party in this Credit Agreement or in any other Credit
        Document (and in any statement or certificate given under this Credit
        Agreement or any other Credit Document) shall be false or misleading in
        any material respect when made or deemed to be made.

               (d) BREACH OF OTHER COVENANTS. Any Credit Party shall fail to
        comply with any covenant contained in this Credit Agreement or any other
        Credit Document, other than as set forth in Section 9.1(b), and such
        failure shall continue for fifteen (15) days after the earlier to occur
        of (i) the date such Credit Party knew or should have known of such
        failure, or (ii) notice thereof from Agent or any Lender.



                                       63
<PAGE>   71

                (e) DISSOLUTION. The Guarantor or any Borrower shall dissolve,
        wind up or otherwise cease its business.

                (f) INSOLVENCY EVENT. Any Credit Party shall become the subject
        of an Insolvency Event.

                (g) CHANGE OF CONTROL. A Change of Control shall occur.

                (h) CROSS DEFAULT. A default or event of default shall occur
        (and continue beyond any applicable grace period) under any note,
        agreement or instrument evidencing any other Indebtedness of the
        Guarantor, any Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries, which
        default or event of default permits the acceleration of its maturity,
        provided, that the aggregate principal amount of all such Indebtedness
        for which the default or event of default has occurred exceeds
        $2,500,000.

                (i) FAILURE OF ENFORCEABILITY OF CREDIT DOCUMENTS; SECURITY. Any
        covenant, agreement or obligation of any Credit Party contained in or
        evidenced by any of the Credit Documents shall cease to be enforceable,
        or shall be determined to be unenforceable, in accordance with its
        terms; any Credit Party shall deny or disaffirm its obligations under
        any of the Credit Documents or any Liens granted in connection
        therewith; or any Liens granted in any of the Collateral shall be
        determined to be void, voidable, invalid or unperfected, are
        subordinated or not given the priority contemplated by this Credit
        Agreement.

                (j) ERISA. (i) any Termination Event shall occur with respect to
        any Benefit Plan of the Guarantor, any Borrower, any Subsidiary or any
        ERISA Affiliate, (ii) any Accumulated Funding Deficiency (as defined in
        Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived, shall exist with respect
        to any such Benefit Plan, (iii) any Person shall engage in any
        Prohibited Transaction involving any such Benefit Plan, (iv) the
        Guarantor, any Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate shall be
        in "default" (as defined in ERISA Section 4219(c)(5)) with respect to
        payments owing to any such Benefit Plan that is a Multiemployer Plan as
        a result of such Person's complete or partial withdrawal (as described
        in ERISA Section 4203 or 4205) therefrom, (v) the Guarantor, any
        Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate shall fail to pay when
        due an amount that is payable by it to the PBGC or to any such Benefit
        Plan under Title IV of ERISA, or (vi) a proceeding shall be instituted
        by a fiduciary of any such Benefit Plan against the Guarantor, any
        Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA affiliate to enforce ERISA Section
        515 and such proceeding shall not have been dismissed within 30 days
        thereafter, except that no event or condition referred to in clauses (i)
        through (vi) shall constitute an Event of Default if it, together with
        all other such events or conditions at the time existing, has not
        subjected, and in



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        the reasonable determination of the Agent will not subject, the
        Guarantor, any Borrower or any Subsidiary to any liability that, alone
        or in the aggregate with all such liabilities for all such Persons,
        exceeds $2,500,000.

        9.2 ACCELERATION, TERMINATION OF COMMITMENTS AND CASH COLLATERALIZATION.
Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, without
prejudice to the rights of the Agent or any Lender to enforce its claims against
any Credit Party:

                (a) ACCELERATION. Upon the written request of the Majority
        Lenders, which request with respect to any Event of Default under
        Section 9.1(a) by reason of the Borrowers' failure to make any payment
        of any of the Obligations in respect of the Term Loan must include the
        Majority Term Lenders, and by delivery of written notice to the Borrower
        Representative from the Agent, all Obligations shall be immediately due
        and payable (except with respect to any Event of Default set forth in
        Section 9.1(f), in which case all Obligations shall automatically become
        immediately due and payable without the necessity of any request of the
        Majority Lenders or notice or other demand to the Borrowers) without
        presentment, demand, protest or any other action or obligation of the
        Agent or any Lender.

                (b) TERMINATION OF REVOLVING COMMITMENTS. Upon the written
        request of the Majority Revolving Lenders, and by delivery of written
        notice to the Borrower Representative from the Agent, the Revolving
        Commitments shall be immediately terminated and, at all times
        thereafter, all Revolving Loans made by any Revolving Lender pursuant to
        this Credit Agreement shall be at such Revolving Lender's sole
        discretion, unless such Event of Default is waived in accordance with
        Section 11.11, in which case the Revolving Commitments shall be
        automatically reinstated.

                (c) CASH COLLATERALIZATION. On demand of the Agent or the
        Majority Revolving Lenders, the Borrowers shall immediately deposit with
        the Agent for each Letter of Credit then outstanding, cash or Cash
        Equivalents in an amount equal to 110% of the greatest amount drawable
        thereunder. Such deposit shall be held by the Agent and used to
        reimburse the Issuing Bank for the amount of each drawing made under
        such Letters of Credit, as and when each such drawing is made.

        9.2A ACCELERATION OF OBLIGATIONS IN RESPECT OF TERM LOAN. Upon the
occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default under Section
9.1(a), by reason of the Borrowers' failure to make any payment of any of the
Obligations in respect of the Term Loan when the same shall become payable,
then, without prejudice to the rights of the Agent or any Term Lender to enforce
its claims against the Borrowers, upon the written request of the Majority Term
Lenders and by delivery of written notice to the Borrower Representative from
the Agent, all Obligations in



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respect of the Term Loan shall be immediately due and payable without
presentment, demand, protest or any other action or obligation of the Agent or
any Term Lender.

        9.3 RESCISSION OF ACCELERATION. After acceleration of the maturity of
the Obligations, if the Borrowers pay all accrued interest and all principal due
(other than by reason of the acceleration) and all Defaults and Events of
Default are waived in accordance with Section 11.11, the Majority Lenders (or,
in the case of acceleration of the Obligations in respect of the Term Loan
pursuant to Section 9.2A, the Majority Term Lenders) may elect in their sole
discretion to rescind the acceleration and return to the Borrowers any cash
collateral deposited with the Agent pursuant to Section 9.2(c). (This Section is
intended only to bind all of the Lenders to a decision of the Majority Revolving
Lenders and not to confer any right on the Borrowers, even if the described
conditions for the Majority Revolving Lenders' election may be met.)

        9.4 REMEDIES. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event
of Default, upon the written request and at the direction of the Majority
Lenders (or, after twenty-five (25) days shall have elapsed following the
acceleration of the Obligations in respect of the Term Loan pursuant to Section
9.2A, the Majority Term Lenders), the Agent may exercise any rights and remedies
available to it under applicable law (including under the Code) and under the
Collateral Documents. The foregoing rights and remedies are not intended to be
exhaustive and the full or partial exercise of any right or remedy shall not
preclude the full or partial exercise of any other right or remedy available
under this Credit Agreement, any other Credit Document, at equity or at law.

        9.5 RIGHT OF SETOFF. In addition to and not in limitation of all rights
of offset that any Lender may have under applicable law, upon the occurrence and
during the continuance of any Event of Default, and whether or not any Lender
has made any demand or the Obligations of any Credit Party have matured, each
Lender shall have the right to appropriate and apply to the payment of the
Obligations of such Credit Party all deposits and other obligations then or
thereafter owing by such Lender to such Credit Party. Each Lender exercising
such rights shall notify the Agent thereof and any amount received as a result
of the exercise of such rights shall be shared by the Lenders in accordance with
Section 2.5.

        9.6 LICENSE OF USE OF SOFTWARE AND OTHER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. Unless
expressly prohibited by the licenser thereof, if any, the Agent is hereby
granted a license to use all computer software programs, data bases, processes
and materials used by the Guarantor and the Borrowers in connection with their
businesses or in connection with the Collateral. The Agent agrees not to use any
such license except upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event
of Default without giving the Borrower Representative prior notice.



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        9.7 APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS; SURPLUS; DEFICIENCIES. The net cash
proceeds resulting from the Agent's exercise of any of the foregoing rights
against any Collateral (after deducting all of the Agent's Expenses related
thereto) shall be applied by the Agent to the payment of the Obligations,
whether due or to become due, in the order set forth in Section 4.12. The
Guarantor and the Borrowers shall remain liable to the Agent and the Lenders for
any deficiencies, and the Agent and the Lenders in turn agree to remit to the
Borrowers or their successors or assigns any surplus resulting therefrom.


                                   ARTICLE 10

                                    THE AGENT

        10.1 APPOINTMENT OF AGENT.

               (a) Each Lender hereby designates BTCC as Agent to act as herein
        specified. Each Lender hereby irrevocably authorizes, and each holder of
        any Note, by the acceptance of such Note, shall be deemed irrevocably to
        authorize, the Agent to take such action on its behalf under the
        provisions of this Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents and
        any other instruments and agreements referred to herein and therein and
        to exercise such powers and to perform such duties hereunder and
        thereunder as are specifically delegated to or required of the Agent by
        the terms hereof and thereof and such other powers as are reasonably
        incidental thereto. The Agent may perform any of its duties hereunder by
        or through its agents or employees.

               (b) Other than the Borrowers' rights under Section 10.9, the
        provisions of this Article 10 are for the benefit of the Agent and the
        Lenders only and none of the Credit Parties or any other Persons shall
        have any rights as a third party beneficiary of any of the provisions
        hereof. In performing its functions and duties under this Credit
        Agreement and the other Credit Documents, the Agent shall act only for
        the Lenders and does not assume and shall not be deemed to have assumed
        any obligation toward or relationship of agency or trust with or for any
        Credit Party.

        10.2 NATURE OF DUTIES OF AGENT. The Agent has no duties or
responsibilities except those expressly set forth in the Credit Documents.
Neither the Agent nor any of its officers, directors, employees or agents shall
be liable for any action taken or omitted hereunder or in connection herewith,
unless caused by its or their gross negligence or willful misconduct. The duties
of the Agent shall be mechanical and administrative in nature; the Agent shall
not have by reason of this Credit Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents
a fiduciary relationship in respect of any Lender or any participant of any
Lender;



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and nothing in this Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document, expressed or
implied, is intended to or shall be so construed as to impose upon the Agent any
obligations in respect of this Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document,
except as expressly set forth herein or therein.

        10.3 LACK OF RELIANCE ON AGENT.

               (a) Independently and without reliance upon the Agent, each
        Lender, to the extent it deems appropriate, has made and shall continue
        to make (i) its own independent investigation of the financial or other
        condition and affairs of each Credit Party in connection with the taking
        or not taking of any action in connection herewith and (ii) its own
        appraisal of the creditworthiness of each Credit Party, and, except as
        expressly provided in this Credit Agreement, the Agent shall have no
        duty or responsibility, either initially or on a continuing basis, to
        provide any Lender with any credit or other information with respect
        thereto, whether coming into its possession before the making of the
        Loans or at any time or times thereafter.

               (b) The Agent shall not be responsible to any Lender for any
        recitals, statements, information, representations or warranties herein
        or in any document, certificate or other writing delivered in connection
        herewith or for the execution, effectiveness, genuineness, validity,
        enforceability, collectibility, priority or sufficiency of this Credit
        Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents or the financial or other
        condition of any Credit Party. The Agent shall not be required to make
        any inquiry concerning either the performance or observance of any other
        terms, provisions or conditions of this Credit Agreement or any of the
        other Credit Documents, or the financial condition of any Credit Party,
        or the existence or possible existence of any Default or Event of
        Default, unless specifically requested to do so in writing by any
        Lender.

        10.4 CERTAIN RIGHTS OF THE AGENT. The Agent shall have the right to
request instructions from the Majority Lenders by notice to each of the Lenders.
If the Agent shall request instructions from the Majority Lenders with respect
to any act or action (including the failure to act) in connection with this
Credit Agreement, the Agent shall be entitled to refrain from such act or taking
such action unless and until the Agent shall have received instructions from the
Majority Lenders, and the Agent shall not incur liability to any Person by
reason of so refraining. Without limiting the foregoing, no Lender shall have
any right of action whatsoever against the Agent as a result of the Agent acting
or refraining from acting hereunder in accordance with the instructions of the
requisite Lenders required to give such instructions hereunder. The Agent may
give any notice required under Article 9 hereof without the consent of any of
the Lenders unless otherwise directed by the Majority



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Lenders in writing and will, at the direction of the Majority Lenders, give any
such notice required under Article 9.

        10.5 RELIANCE BY AGENT. The Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall
be fully protected in relying, upon any note, writing, resolution, notice,
statement, certificate, telex, teletype or telecopier message, cablegram,
radiogram, order or other documentary, teletransmission or telephone message
believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made
by the proper person. The Agent may consult with legal counsel (including
counsel for the Guarantor and the Borrowers with respect to matters concerning
any such Person), independent public accountants and other experts selected by
it and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in
good faith in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or
experts.

        10.6 INDEMNIFICATION OF AGENT. To the extent the Agent is not reimbursed
and indemnified by the Borrowers, each Lender will reimburse and indemnify the
Agent, in proportion to its respective Commitment, for and against all
liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits,
costs, expenses (including counsel fees and disbursements) or disbursements of
any kind or nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted
against the Agent in performing its duties hereunder, in any way relating to or
arising out of this Credit Agreement; provided, that no Lender shall be liable
for any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties,
actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting from the
Agent's gross negligence or willful misconduct.

        10.7 THE AGENT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY. With respect to its
obligation to lend under this Credit Agreement, the Revolving Loans made by it
and the Revolving Notes issued to it and its participation in Letters of Credit
issued hereunder, the Agent shall have the same rights and powers hereunder as
any other Revolving Lender or holder of a Revolving Note or participation
interests and may exercise the same as though it was not performing the duties
specified herein; and the terms "Lenders," "Revolving Lenders," "Majority
Revolving Lenders," "Majority Lenders," "holders of Revolving Notes," or any
similar terms shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include the
Agent in its individual capacity. The Agent may accept deposits from, lend money
to, acquire equity interests in, and generally engage in any kind of banking,
trust, financial advisory or other business with the Guarantor, the Borrowers or
any Affiliate thereof as if it were not performing the duties specified herein,
and may accept fees and other consideration from the Guarantor and the Borrowers
for services in connection with this Credit Agreement and otherwise without
having to account for the same to the Lenders.

        10.8 HOLDERS OF NOTES. The Agent may deem and treat the payee of any
Note as the owner thereof for all purposes hereof unless and until a written
notice



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of the assignment or transfer thereof shall have been filed with the Agent. Any
request, authority or consent of any Person who, at the time of making such
request or giving such authority or consent, is the holder of any Note, shall be
conclusive and binding on any subsequent holder, transferee or assignee of such
Note or of any Note or Notes issued in exchange therefor.

        10.9 SUCCESSOR AGENT.

               (a) The Agent may, upon five (5) Business Days' notice to the
        Lenders and the Borrower Representative, resign at any time (effective
        upon the appointment of a successor Agent pursuant to the provisions of
        this Section 10.9) by giving written notice thereof to the Lenders and
        the Borrower Representative. Upon any such resignation, the Majority
        Lenders shall have the right, upon five (5) days' notice and approval by
        the Borrower Representative (which approval shall not be unreasonably
        withheld or delayed), to appoint a successor Agent. If no successor
        Agent shall have been so appointed by the Majority Lenders and accepted
        such appointment within thirty (30) days after the retiring Agent's
        giving of notice of resignation, then, upon five (5) days' notice and
        approval by the Borrower Representative (which approval shall not be
        unreasonably withheld or delayed), the retiring Agent may, on behalf of
        the Lenders, appoint a successor Agent, which shall be a bank or a trust
        company or other financial institution which maintains an office in the
        United States, or a commercial bank organized under the laws of the
        United States of America or of any State thereof, or any Affiliate of
        such bank or trust company or other financial institution which is
        engaged in the banking business, having a combined capital and surplus
        of at least $500,000,000.

               (b) Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Agent hereunder by
        a successor Agent, such successor Agent shall thereupon succeed to and
        become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the
        retiring Agent, and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its
        duties and obligations under this Credit Agreement and the other Credit
        Documents. After any retiring Agent's resignation hereunder as Agent,
        the provisions of this Article 10 shall inure to its benefit as to any
        actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Agent under or
        in connection with this Credit Agreement.



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        10.10 COLLATERAL MATTERS.

               (a) Each Lender authorizes and directs the Agent to enter into
        the Collateral Documents for the benefit of the Lenders. Each Lender
        hereby agrees, and each holder of any Revolving Note by the acceptance
        thereof will be deemed to agree, that, except as otherwise set forth
        herein, any action taken by the Majority Lenders in accordance with the
        provisions of this Credit Agreement or any of the Credit Documents, and
        the exercise by the Majority Lenders of the powers set forth herein or
        therein, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental
        thereto, shall be authorized and binding upon all of the Lenders. The
        Agent is hereby authorized on behalf of all of the Lenders, without the
        necessity of any notice to or further consent from any Lender, from time
        to time prior to an Event of Default, to take any action with respect to
        any Collateral or Collateral Documents which may be necessary to perfect
        and maintain the perfection of the Liens upon the Collateral granted
        pursuant to the Collateral Documents.

               (b) The Lenders hereby authorize the Agent, at its option and in
        its discretion, to release any Lien granted to or held by the Agent upon
        any Collateral (i) upon termination of the Commitments and payment and
        satisfaction of all of the Obligations at any time arising under or in
        respect of this Credit Agreement or the Credit Documents or the
        transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or (ii) if approved,
        authorized or ratified in writing by the Majority Lenders, unless such
        release is required to be approved by all of the Lenders pursuant to
        Section 11.11. Upon request by the Agent at any time, the Lenders will
        confirm in writing the Agent's authority to release particular types or
        items of Collateral pursuant to this Section 10.10.

               (c) The Agent shall have no obligation whatsoever to the Lenders
        or to any other Person to assure that the Collateral exists or is owned
        by the Borrowers or is cared for, protected or insured or that the Liens
        granted to the Agent in or pursuant to any of the Collateral Documents
        have been properly or sufficiently or lawfully created, perfected,
        protected or enforced or are entitled to any particular priority, or to
        exercise or to continue exercising at all or in any manner or under any
        duty of care, disclosure or fidelity any of the rights, authorities and
        powers granted or available to the Agent in this Section 10.10 or in any
        of the Collateral Documents, it being understood and agreed that in
        respect of the Collateral, or any act, omission or event related
        thereto, the Agent may act in any manner it may deem appropriate, in its
        sole discretion, given the Agent's own interest in the Collateral as one
        of the Lenders and that the Agent shall have no duty or liability
        whatsoever to the Lenders, except for its gross negligence or willful
        misconduct. The Agent agrees to conduct or cause to be conducted at
        least one



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        audit of the Collateral during each year that this Credit Agreement
        shall remain in effect.

        10.11 ACTIONS WITH RESPECT TO DEFAULTS. In addition to the Agent's right
to take actions on its own accord as permitted under this Credit Agreement, the
Agent shall take such action with respect to a Default or Event of Default as
shall be directed by the Majority Lenders (or by the Majority Term Lenders
pursuant to Section 9.2A hereof); provided, that until the Agent shall have
received such directions, the Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take
such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Default or
Event of Default as it shall deem advisable and in the best interests of the
Lenders.

        10.12 DELIVERY OF INFORMATION. The Agent shall not be required to
deliver to any Lender originals or copies of any documents, instruments,
notices, communications or other information received by the Agent from the
Guarantor, any Borrower, any Subsidiary thereof, the Majority Lenders, any
Lender or any other Person under or in connection with this Credit Agreement or
any other Credit Document except (i) as specifically provided in this Credit
Agreement or any other Credit Document and (ii) as specifically requested from
time to time in writing by any Lender with respect to a specific document,
instrument, notice or other written communication received by and in the
possession of the Agent at the time of receipt of such request and then only in
accordance with such specific request.


                                   ARTICLE 11

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

        11.1 GOVERNING LAW. THE VALIDITY, INTERPRETATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF THIS
CREDIT AGREEMENT AND THE REVOLVING NOTES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS AND DECISIONS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,
WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES.

        11.2 SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. ALL DISPUTES AMONG THE GUARANTOR, THE
BORROWERS AND THE LENDERS (OR THE AGENT ACTING ON THEIR BEHALF), WHETHER
SOUNDING IN CONTRACT, TORT, EQUITY OR OTHERWISE, SHALL BE RESOLVED ONLY BY STATE
AND FEDERAL COURTS LOCATED IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AND THE COURTS TO WHICH AN
APPEAL THEREFROM MAY BE TAKEN; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE AGENT, ON BEHALF OF
THE LENDERS, SHALL HAVE THE



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RIGHT, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, TO PROCEED AGAINST THE
GUARANTOR, THE BORROWERS OR THEIR RESPECTIVE PROPERTIES IN ANY LOCATION
REASONABLY SELECTED BY THE AGENT IN GOOD FAITH TO ENABLE THE AGENT TO REALIZE ON
SUCH PROPERTY, OR TO ENFORCE A JUDGMENT OR OTHER COURT ORDER IN FAVOR OF THE
AGENT. THE GUARANTOR AND EACH BORROWER AGREE THAT THEY WILL NOT ASSERT ANY
PERMISSIVE COUNTERCLAIMS, SETOFFS OR CROSS-CLAIMS IN ANY PROCEEDING BROUGHT BY
THE AGENT. THE GUARANTOR AND EACH BORROWER WAIVE ANY OBJECTION THAT THEY MAY
HAVE TO THE LOCATION OF THE COURT IN WHICH THE AGENT HAS COMMENCED A PROCEEDING,
INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OR BASED ON
FORUM NON CONVENIENS.

        11.3 SERVICE OF PROCESS. THE GUARANTOR AND EACH BORROWER HEREBY
IRREVOCABLY AGREE THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH
RESPECT TO THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT MAY BE EFFECTED BY
MAILING A COPY THEREOF BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, POSTAGE PREPAID, TO THE
BORROWER REPRESENTATIVE AT ITS ADDRESS SET FORTH IN SECTION 11.7.

        11.4 JURY TRIAL. THE GUARANTOR, EACH BORROWER, THE AGENT AND THE LENDERS
EACH HEREBY WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY. INSTEAD, ANY DISPUTES WILL BE
RESOLVED IN A BENCH TRIAL.

        11.5 LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. NEITHER THE AGENT NOR ANY LENDER SHALL
HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO THE GUARANTOR OR ANY BORROWER (WHETHER SOUNDING IN TORT,
CONTRACT, OR OTHERWISE) FOR LOSSES SUFFERED THEREBY IN CONNECTION WITH, ARISING
OUT OF, OR IN ANY WAY RELATED TO THE TRANSACTIONS OR RELATIONSHIPS CONTEMPLATED
BY THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT, OR ANY ACT, OMISSION OR EVENT OCCURRING IN CONNECTION
THEREWITH, UNLESS IT IS DETERMINED BY A FINAL AND NONAPPEALABLE JUDGMENT OR
COURT ORDER BINDING ON THE AGENT OR ANY SUCH LENDER THAT THE LOSSES WERE THE
RESULT OF ACTS OR OMISSIONS CONSTITUTING GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT.

        11.6 DELAYS. No delay or omission of the Agent or the Lenders to
exercise any right or remedy hereunder shall impair any such right or operate as
a waiver thereof.



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        11.7 NOTICES. Except as otherwise provided herein, all notices and
correspondences hereunder shall be in writing and sent by certified or
registered mail, return receipt requested, or by overnight delivery service,
with all charges prepaid, if to the Agent or any of the Lenders, then to BT
Commercial Corporation, 233 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606,
Attention: Credit Department, if to the Borrowers, then to Guarantor at 5 Civic
Plaza, Suite 100, Newport Beach, California 92660, Attention: Kevin M. Higgins,
or by facsimile transmission, promptly confirmed in writing sent by first class
mail, if to the Agent, or any of the Lenders, at (312) 993-8096 and if to the
Borrowers at (949) 668-5824. All such notices and correspondence shall be deemed
given (i) if sent by certified or registered mail, three Business Days after
being postmarked, (ii) if sent by overnight delivery service, when received at
the above stated addresses or when delivery is refused and (iii) if sent by
telex or facsimile transmission, when receipt of such transmission is
acknowledged.

        11.8 ASSIGNMENTS AND PARTICIPATIONS.

               (a) BORROWER ASSIGNMENT. The Borrowers shall have no right to
        assign this Credit Agreement, or any rights or obligations hereunder,
        without the prior written consent of the Agent and the Lenders.

               (b) REVOLVING LENDER ASSIGNMENTS. Each Revolving Lender may
        assign to one or more banks or other financial institutions all or a
        portion of its rights and obligations under this Credit Agreement, the
        Revolving Notes and the other Credit Documents, with the consent of the
        Agent; and upon execution and delivery to the Agent, for its acceptance
        and recording in the Register, of an agreement in substantially the form
        of Exhibit H hereto (an "Assignment and Assumption Agreement"), together
        with surrender of any Revolving Note or Revolving Notes subject to such
        assignment, the written agreement of such financial institution to be
        bound by the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, and a processing and
        recordation fee of $2,500. No such assignment shall be for less than
        $10,000,000 of the Commitments unless it is to another Lender or is an
        assignment of all of such Lender's rights and obligations under this
        Credit Agreement. (This Section does not apply to branches and
        Affiliates of a Revolving Lender, it being understood that a Revolving
        Lender may make, carry or transfer Revolving Loans at or for the account
        of any of its branch offices or Affiliates without consent of the
        Borrowers, the Agent or any other Revolving Lender).

               (c) TERM LENDER ASSIGNMENT. Each Term Lender shall have the right
        to assign its rights and obligations under this Credit Agreement, the
        Term Notes and the other Credit Documents, in whole or in part, with the
        prior written consent of the Agent which consent shall not be
        unreasonably withheld; provided, that after the occurrence of an
        Insolvency Event with respect to any Borrower, no such consent shall



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        be required for any such assignment. In no event, however, will any such
        assignment be effective unless the Agent shall have received the written
        agreement of such assignee of a Term Lender to be bound by the terms of
        the Intercreditor Agreement.

               (d) AGENT'S REGISTER. The Agent shall maintain a register of the
        names and addresses of the Lenders, their Commitments, and the principal
        amount of their Loans (the "Register") at the address specified for the
        Agent in Section 11.7. The Agent shall also maintain a copy of each
        Assignment and Assumption Agreement delivered to and accepted by it and
        modify the Register to give effect to each Assignment and Assumption
        Agreement. Upon its receipt of each Assignment and Assumption Agreement
        and surrender of the affected Revolving Note or Revolving Notes, the
        Agent will give prompt notice thereof to the Borrower Representative and
        deliver to the Borrower Representative a copy of the Assignment and
        Assumption Agreement and the surrendered Revolving Note or Revolving
        Notes. Within five Business Days after its receipt of such notice, the
        Borrowers shall execute and deliver to the Agent a substitute Revolving
        Note or Revolving Notes to the order of the assignee in the amount of
        the Commitment or Commitments assumed by it and to the assignor in the
        amount of the Commitment or Commitments retained by it, if any. Such
        substitute Revolving Note or Revolving Notes shall re-evidence the
        Indebtedness outstanding under the surrendered Revolving Note or
        Revolving Notes and shall be dated as of the Closing Date. The Agent
        shall be entitled to rely upon the Register exclusively for purposes of
        identifying the Lenders hereunder. The Register shall be available for
        inspection by the Borrower Representative and the Lenders (or any of
        them) at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable
        notice to the Agent.

               (e) LENDER PARTICIPATIONS. Each Lender may sell participations
        (without the consent of the Agent, the Borrowers or any other Lender) to
        one or more parties in or to all or a portion of its rights and
        obligations under this Credit Agreement, the Revolving Notes and the
        other Credit Documents. Notwithstanding a Lender's sale of a
        participation interest, its obligations hereunder shall remain
        unchanged. The Borrowers, the Agent, and the other Lenders shall
        continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender. No participant
        shall have rights to approve any amendment or waiver of this Credit
        Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents except to the extent such
        amendment or waiver would (i) increase the participant's obligation in
        respect of the Commitment of the Lender from whom the participant
        purchased its participation interest; (ii) reduce the principal of, or
        stated rate or amount of interest on, the Revolving Loans subject to
        such participation; (iii) postpone any maturity date fixed for final
        payment of principal of the Revolving Loans subject to the participation
        interest; and (iv) release any guarantor of the Obligations or all or a
        substantial portion of the Collateral, other than when otherwise
        permitted hereunder. Any participant must agree in writing to be bound
        by the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement.



                                       75
<PAGE>   83

        11.9 CONFIDENTIALITY. Each Lender agrees that it will use its reasonable
best efforts not to disclose without the prior consent of the Guarantor any
information with respect to the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries which is
furnished pursuant to this Credit Agreement and which is designated by the
Guarantor to the Lenders in writing as confidential, provided, that each Lender
may disclose any such information (a) to its employees, auditors, or counsel, or
to another Lender if the disclosing Lender or such disclosing Lender's holding
or parent company in its sole discretion determines that any such party should
have access to such information, (b) as has become generally available to the
public, (c) as may be required or appropriate in any report, statement or
testimony submitted to any Governmental Authority having or claiming to have
jurisdiction over such Lender, (d) as may be required or appropriate in response
to any summons or subpoena or in connection with any litigation, (e) in order to
comply with any Requirement of Law, and (f) to any such prospective or actual
transferee or participant in connection with any contemplated transfer or
participation of any of the Revolving Notes or Commitments or any interest
therein by such Lender.

        11.10 INDEMNIFICATION. Each Borrower hereby indemnifies and agrees to
defend and hold harmless the Agent and each of the Lenders and their respective
directors, officers, agents, employees and counsel from and against any and all
losses, claims, damages, liabilities, deficiencies, judgments or expenses
incurred by any of them (except to the extent that it is finally judicially
determined to have resulted from their own gross negligence or willful
misconduct) arising out of or by reason of (a) any litigations, investigations,
claims or proceedings which arise out of or are in any way related to (i) this
Credit Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) the issuance of
the Letters of Credit, (iii) the failure of the Issuing Bank to honor a drawing
under any Letter of Credit, as a result of any act or omission, whether rightful
or wrongful, of any present or future de jure or de facto government or
Governmental Authority, (iv) any actual or proposed use by any Borrower of the
proceeds of the Loans or (v) the Agent's or the Lenders' entering into this
Credit Agreement, the other Credit Documents or any other agreements and
documents relating hereto, including, without limitation, amounts paid in
settlement, court costs and the fees and disbursements of counsel incurred in
connection with any such litigation, investigation, claim or proceeding or any
advice rendered in connection with any of the foregoing and (b) any remedial or
other action taken by any Borrower or any of the Lenders in connection with
compliance by any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their
respective properties, with any federal, state or local environmental laws,
acts, rules, regulations, orders, directions, ordinances, criteria or
guidelines.

        11.11 AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. No amendment or waiver of any provision of
this Credit Agreement, any part of Schedule B, or



                                       76
<PAGE>   84

any other Credit Document shall be effective unless in writing and signed by the
Majority Lenders (or by the Agent on their behalf), except that:

               (a) the consent of all the Revolving Lenders is required to (i)
        increase the Revolving Commitments, (ii) reduce the principal of, or
        interest on, the Revolving Notes, any Letter of Credit reimbursement
        obligations or any Revolving Fees hereunder (other than Revolving Fees
        that are exclusively for the account of the Agent), (iii) postpone any
        date fixed for any payment in respect of principal of, or interest on,
        the Revolving Notes, any Letter of Credit reimbursement obligations or
        any Revolving Fees hereunder, (iv) change the percentage of the
        Revolving Commitments, or any minimum requirement necessary for the
        Revolving Lenders or the Majority Revolving Lenders to take any action
        hereunder, or (v) amend or waive this Section 11.11(a), or change the
        definition of Majority Revolving Lenders;

               (b) the consent of all the Term Lenders is required to:

                        (i)     increase the Term Commitments;

                        (ii)    reduce the Term Payments or the principal of, or
                                interest on, the Term Notes;

                        (iii)   postpone any date fixed for any payment in
                                respect of the Term Payments or principal of, or
                                interest on, the Term Notes;

                        (iv)    change the percentage of the Term Commitments,
                                or any minimum requirement necessary for the
                                Term Lenders to take any action hereunder;

                        (v)     amend or waive the provisions of Sections
                                4.7(b), 9.2A, or 9.4 hereof; or

                        (vi)    amend or waive this Section 11.11(b);

               (c) the consent of all Lenders is required to:

                        (i)     amend or waive this Section 11.11(c) or change
                                the definition of Majority Lenders; or

                        (ii)    except as otherwise expressly provided in this
                                Credit Agreement, and other than in connection
                                with the financing, refinancing, sale or other
                                disposition of any asset of the Borrowers
                                permitted under



                                       77
<PAGE>   85

                                this Credit Agreement, release any Liens in
                                favor of the Lenders on any of the Collateral;
                                and

               (d) the consent of the Agent shall be required for any amendment,
        waiver or consent affecting the rights or duties of the Agent under any
        Credit Document, in addition to the consent of the Lenders otherwise
        required by this Section.

        The consent of the Borrowers shall not be required for any amendment,
modification or waiver of the provisions of Article 10 (other than Section
10.9). The Borrowers and the Majority Revolving Lenders each hereby authorize
the Agent to modify this Credit Agreement by unilaterally amending or
supplementing Annex I to reflect assignments of the Revolving Commitments, and
the Borrowers and the Majority Term Lenders each hereby authorize the Agent to
modify this Credit Agreement by unilaterally amending or supplementing Annex II
to reflect assignments of the Term Loan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Borrowers may amend Schedule B, Parts 6.1, 6.10, and 6.14, without the consent
of the Majority Lenders.

        11.12 COUNTERPARTS AND EFFECTIVENESS. This Credit Agreement and any
waiver or amendment hereto may be executed in any number of counterparts and by
the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so
executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which shall together
constitute one and the same instrument. This Credit Agreement shall become
effective on the date on which all of the parties hereto shall have signed a
copy hereof (whether the same or different copies) and shall have delivered the
same to the Agent pursuant to Section 11.7 or, in the case of the Lenders, shall
have given to the Agent written, telecopied or telex notice (actually received)
at such office that the same has been signed and mailed to it.

        11.13 SEVERABILITY. In case any provision in or obligation under this
Credit Agreement or the Notes or the other Credit Documents shall be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity, legality and
enforceability of the remaining provisions or obligations, or of such provision
or obligation in any other jurisdiction, shall not in any way be affected or
impaired thereby.

        11.14 MAXIMUM RATE. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
elsewhere in this Credit Agreement or in any other Credit Document, the
Borrowers, the Agent and the Lenders hereby agree that all agreements among them
under this Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents, whether now existing
or hereafter arising and whether written or oral, are expressly limited so that
in no contingency or event whatsoever shall the amount paid, or agreed to be
paid, to the Agent or any Lender for the use, forbearance, or detention of the
money loaned to the Borrowers and evidenced hereby or thereby or for the
performance or payment of any covenant or obligation contained herein or
therein, exceed the Highest Lawful Rate. If due to any circumstance whatsoever,
fulfillment of



                                       78
<PAGE>   86

any provisions of this Credit Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents at
the time performance of such provision shall be due shall exceed the Highest
Lawful Rate, then, automatically, the obligation to be fulfilled shall be
modified or reduced to the extent necessary to limit such interest to the
Highest Lawful Rate, and if from any such circumstance any Lender should ever
receive anything of value deemed interest by applicable law which would exceed
the Highest Lawful Rate, such excessive interest shall be applied to the
reduction of the principal amount then outstanding hereunder or on account of
any other then outstanding Obligations and not to the payment of interest, or if
such excessive interest exceeds the principal unpaid balance then outstanding
hereunder and such other then outstanding Obligations, such excess shall be
refunded to the Borrowers. All sums paid or agreed to be paid to the Agent or
any Lender for the use, forbearance, or detention of the Obligations and other
Indebtedness of the Borrowers to the Agent or any Lender, to the extent
permitted by applicable law, shall be amortized, prorated, allocated and spread
throughout the full term of such Indebtedness, until payment in full thereof, so
that the actual rate of interest on account of all such Indebtedness does not
exceed the Highest Lawful Rate throughout the entire term of such Indebtedness.
The terms and provisions of this Section shall control over every other
provision of this Credit Agreement, the other Credit Documents, and all
agreements among the Guarantor, the Borrowers, the Agent and the Lenders.

        11.15 ENTIRE AGREEMENT; SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Credit Agreement
and the other Credit Documents constitute the entire agreement among the
Guarantor, the Borrowers, the Agent and the Lenders, supersede any prior
agreements among them, and shall bind and benefit each of such Persons and their
respective successors and permitted assigns.

        11.16 RESTATEMENT OF EXISTING CREDIT AGREEMENT. This Credit Agreement
amends and restates the existing Credit Agreement and shall not be deemed a
novation thereof. Any Obligations outstanding thereunder, including, without
limitation, Letter of Credit Obligations, shall continue and be deemed to be
outstanding under this Credit Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE 12

                                 CROSS-GUARANTY

        12.1 CROSS-GUARANTY. Each Borrower hereby agrees that such Borrower is
jointly and severally liable for, and hereby absolutely and unconditionally
guarantees to Agent and Lenders and their respective successors and assigns, the
full and prompt payment (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or
otherwise) and performance of, all Obligations owed or hereafter owing to Agent
and Lenders by each other Borrower. Each



                                       79
<PAGE>   87

Borrower agrees that its guaranty obligation hereunder is a continuing guaranty
of payment and performance and not of collection, and that its obligations under
this Section 12 shall be absolute and unconditional, irrespective of, and
unaffected by,

               (a) the genuineness, validity, regularity, enforceability or any
        future amendment of, or change in, this Agreement, any other Credit
        Document or any other agreement, document or instrument to which any
        Borrower is or may become a party;

               (b) the absence of any action to enforce this Agreement
        (including this Section 12) or any other Credit Document or the waiver
        or consent by Agent and Lenders with respect to any of the provisions
        thereof;

               (c) the existence, value or condition of, or failure to perfect
        its Lien against, any security for the Obligations or any action, or the
        absence of any action, by Agent and Lenders in respect thereof
        (including the release of any such security);

               (d) the insolvency of any Credit Party; or

               (e) any other action or circumstances which might otherwise
        constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or
        guarantor,

it being agreed by each Borrower that its obligations under this Section 12
shall not be discharged until the payment and performance, in full, of the
Obligations has occurred. Each Borrower shall be regarded, and shall be in the
same position, as principal debtor with respect to the Obligations guaranteed
hereunder.

        12.2 WAIVERS BY BORROWERS. Each Borrower expressly waives all rights it
may have now or in the future under any statute, or at common law, or at law or
in equity, or otherwise, to compel Agent or Lenders to marshall assets or to
proceed in respect of the Obligations guaranteed hereunder against any other
Credit Party, any other party or against any security for the payment and
performance of the Obligations before proceeding against, or as a condition to
proceeding against, such Borrower. It is agreed among each Borrower, Agent and
Lenders that the foregoing waivers are of the essence of the transaction
contemplated by this Agreement and the other Credit Documents and that, but for
the provisions of this Section 12 and such waivers, Agent and Lenders would
decline to enter into this Agreement.

        12.3 BENEFIT OF GUARANTY. Each Borrower agrees that the provisions of
this Section 12 are for the benefit of Agent and Lenders and their respective
successors, transferees, endorsees and assigns, and nothing herein contained
shall impair, as between any other Borrower and Agent or Lenders, the
obligations of such other Borrower under the Credit Documents.



                                       80
<PAGE>   88

        12.4 SUBORDINATION OF SUBROGATION, ETC. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in this Agreement or in any other Credit Document, and except as set
forth in Section 12.7, each Borrower hereby expressly and irrevocably
subordinates to payment of the Obligations any and all rights at law or in
equity to subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution, indemnification
or set-off and any and all defenses available to a surety, guarantor or
accommodation co-obligor until the Obligations are indefeasibly paid in full in
cash. Each Borrower acknowledges and agrees that this subordination is intended
to benefit Agent and Lenders and shall not limit or otherwise affect such
Borrower's liability hereunder or the enforceability of this Section 12, and
that Agent, Lenders and their respective successors and assigns are intended
third party beneficiaries of the waivers and agreements set forth in this
Section 12.4.

        12.5 ELECTION OF REMEDIES. If Agent or any Lender may, under applicable
law, proceed to realize its benefits under any of the Credit Documents giving
Agent or such Lender a Lien upon any Collateral, whether owned by any Borrower
or by any other Person, either by judicial foreclosure or by non-judicial sale
or enforcement, Agent or any Lender may, at its sole option, determine which of
its remedies or rights it may pursue without affecting any of its rights and
remedies under this Section 12. If, in the exercise of any of its rights and
remedies, Agent or any Lender shall forfeit any of its rights or remedies,
including its right to enter a deficiency judgment against any Borrower or any
other Person, whether because of any applicable laws pertaining to "election of
remedies" or the like, each Borrower hereby consents to such action by Agent or
such Lender and waives any claim based upon such action, even if such action by
Agent or such Lender shall result in a full or partial loss of any rights of
subrogation which each Borrower might otherwise have had but for such action by
Agent or such Lender. Any election of remedies which results in the denial or
impairment of the right of Agent or any Lender to seek a deficiency judgment
against any Borrower shall not impair any other Borrower's obligation to pay the
full amount of the Obligations. In the event Agent or any Lender shall bid at
any foreclosure or trustee's sale or at any private sale permitted by law or the
Credit Documents, Agent or such Lender may bid all or less than the amount of
the Obligations and the amount of such bid need not be paid by Agent or such
Lender but shall be credited against the Obligations. The amount of the
successful bid at any such sale, whether Agent, Lender or any other party is the
successful bidder, shall be conclusively deemed to be the fair market value of
the Collateral and the difference between such bid amount and the remaining
balance of the Obligations shall be conclusively deemed to be the amount of the
Obligations guaranteed under this Section 12, notwithstanding that any present
or future law or court decision or ruling may have the effect of reducing the
amount of any deficiency claim to which Agent or any Lender might otherwise be
entitled but for such bidding at any such sale.



                                       81
<PAGE>   89

        12.6 LIMITATION. Notwithstanding any provision herein contained to the
contrary, each Borrower's liability under this Section 12 (which liability is in
any event in addition to amounts for which such Borrower is primarily liable
under Section 2) shall be limited to an amount not to exceed as of any date of
determination the greater of:

               (a) the net amount of all Loans advanced to any other Borrower
        under this Agreement and then re-loaned or otherwise transferred to, or
        for the benefit of, such Borrower; and

               (b) the amount which could be claimed by Agent and Lenders from
        such Borrower under this Section 12 without rendering such claim
        voidable or avoidable under Section 548 of Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy
        Code or under any applicable state Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act,
        Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act or similar statute or common law after
        taking into account, among other things, such Borrower's right of
        contribution and indemnification from each other Borrower under Section
        12.7.

        12.7 CONTRIBUTION WITH RESPECT TO GUARANTY OBLIGATIONS.

        (a) To the extent that any Borrower shall make a payment under this
Section 12 of all or any of the Obligations (other than Loans made to that
Borrower for which it is primarily liable) (a "Guarantor Payment") which, taking
into account all other Guarantor Payments then previously or concurrently made
by any other Borrower, exceeds the amount which such Borrower would otherwise
have paid if each Borrower had paid the aggregate Obligations satisfied by such
Guarantor Payment in the same proportion that such Borrower's "Allocable Amount"
(as defined below) (as determined immediately prior to such Guarantor Payment)
bore to the aggregate Allocable Amounts of each of the Borrowers as determined
immediately prior to the making of such Guarantor Payment, then, following
indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Obligations and termination of the
Commitments, such Borrower shall be entitled to receive contribution and
indemnification payments from, and be reimbursed by, each other Borrower for the
amount of such excess, pro rata based upon their respective Allocable Amounts in
effect immediately prior to such Guarantor Payment.

        (b) As of any date of determination, the "Allocable Amount" of any
Borrower shall be equal to the maximum amount of the claim which could then be
recovered from such Borrower under this Section 12 without rendering such claim
voidable or avoidable under Section 548 of Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code or
under any applicable state Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act, Uniform Fraudulent
Conveyance Act or similar statute or common law.



                                       82
<PAGE>   90

        (c) This Section 12.7 is intended only to define the relative rights of
Borrowers and nothing set forth in this Section 12.7 is intended to or shall
impair the obligations of Borrowers, jointly and severally, to pay any amounts
as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with the terms
of this Agreement, including Section 12.1. Nothing contained in this Section
12.7 shall limit the liability of any Borrower to pay the Loans made directly or
indirectly to that Borrower and accrued interest, Revolving Fees and expenses
with respect thereto for which such Borrower shall be primarily liable.

        (d) The parties hereto acknowledge that the rights of contribution and
indemnification hereunder shall constitute assets of the Borrowers to which such
contribution and indemnification are owing.

        (e) The rights of the indemnifying Borrowers against other Credit
Parties under this Section 12.7 shall be exercisable upon the full and
indefeasible payment of the Obligations and the termination of the Commitments.

        12.8 LIABILITY CUMULATIVE. The liability of Borrowers under this Section
12 is in addition to and shall be cumulative with all liabilities of each
Borrower to Agent and Lenders under this Agreement and the other Credit
Documents to which such Borrower is a party or in respect of any Obligations or
obligation of the other Borrower, without any limitation as to amount, unless
the instrument or agreement evidencing or creating such other liability
specifically provides to the contrary.



                                       83
<PAGE>   91

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Credit Agreement
to be executed and delivered in Chicago, Illinois by their proper and duly
authorized officers as of the date first set forth above.


                                        BORROWERS:

                                        IMAGYN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES
                                        CALIFORNIA, INC.


                                        By:  ___________________________________
                                             Name: _____________________________
                                             Title:_____________________________


                                        DACOMED CORPORATION


                                        By:  ___________________________________
                                             Name: _____________________________
                                             Title:_____________________________


                                        ALLSTATE MEDICAL PRODUCTS,
                                        INC.


                                        By:  ___________________________________
                                             Name: _____________________________
                                             Title:_____________________________


                                        OSBON MEDICAL SYSTEMS, LTD.


                                        By:  ___________________________________
                                             Name: _____________________________
                                             Title:_____________________________



                                       84
<PAGE>   92

                                        MICROSURGE, INC.


                                        By:  ___________________________________
                                             Name: _____________________________
                                             Title:_____________________________


                                        IMAGYN MEDICAL, INC.


                                        By:  ___________________________________
                                             Name: _____________________________
                                             Title:_____________________________



                                       85
<PAGE>   93

                                        GUARANTOR:

                                        By its signature hereon, the undersigned
                                        also hereby restates and reaffirms its
                                        Guaranty dated as of December 30, 1997
                                        made in favor of Agent for the benefit
                                        of the Lenders, which the undersigned
                                        delivered in connection with the
                                        Existing Credit Agreement, agrees that
                                        such Guaranty continues in full force
                                        and effect as the valid and binding
                                        obligation of the undersigned with
                                        respect to the Obligations of the
                                        Borrowers under the foregoing Amended
                                        and Restated Credit Agreement, and
                                        further represents and warrants that the
                                        undersigned has no claims or defenses to
                                        the enforcement of the rights and
                                        remedies of the Agent and Lenders
                                        thereunder.

                                        IMAGYN MEDICAL
                                        TECHNOLOGIES, INC.


                                        By:  ___________________________________
                                             Name: _____________________________
                                             Title:_____________________________


                                        AGENT:


                                        BT COMMERCIAL CORPORATION,
                                        as Agent


                                        By:  ___________________________________
                                             Name: _____________________________
                                             Title:_____________________________



                                       86
<PAGE>   94

                                        REVOLVING LENDERS:


                                        BT COMMERCIAL CORPORATION


                                        By:  ___________________________________
                                             Name: _____________________________
                                             Title:_____________________________


                                        TERM LENDERS:


                                        KENSINGTON INTERNATIONAL
                                        LIMITED

                                        By:    Martley International, Inc.,
                                               Attorney-in-Fact


                                        By:  ___________________________________
                                             Name: _____________________________
                                             Title:_____________________________


                                        SPRINGFIELD ASSOCIATES, L.L.C.
                                        By:    Elliott Associates, L.P.
                                               Managing Member


                                        By:  ___________________________________
                                             Name: _____________________________
                                             Title:  General Partner



                                       87
<PAGE>   95

                                     ANNEX I
                                       TO
                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT
                           DATED AS OF AUGUST 24, 1998

                           LIST OF REVOLVING LENDERS;
                          REVOLVING COMMITMENT AMOUNTS;
                         AND APPLICABLE LENDING OFFICES


<TABLE>
<S>                                                <C>
1.      BT COMMERCIAL CORPORATION
        233 South Wacker Drive
        Chicago, Illinois 60606

        COMMITMENT AMOUNT:                         $43,000,000

        DOMESTIC LENDING OFFICE:                   233 South Wacker Drive
                                                   Chicago, Illinois  60606

        LIBOR LENDING OFFICE:                      233 South Wacker Drive
                                                   Chicago, Illinois 60606
</TABLE>



                                      I-1
<PAGE>   96

                                    ANNEX II


                                       TO

                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                           DATED AS OF AUGUST 24, 1998

                LIST OF TERM LENDERS; AND TERM COMMITMENT AMOUNTS

<TABLE>
<S>                                                              <C>       
KENSINGTON INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
712 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10019
Term Commitment Amount                                           $7,250,000


SPRINGFIELD ASSOCIATES, L.L.C.
712 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10019

Term Commitment Amount                                           $7,250,000




                                    Total:                       $14,500.00
</TABLE>



                                      II-1


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