FINISHMASTER INC
8-K, 1997-12-03
MISCELLANEOUS NONDURABLE GOODS
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

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

                                    FORM 8-K

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

                                 CURRENT REPORT

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

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 19, 1997

                               FINISHMASTER, INC.

             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                     INDIANA

                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

         0-23222                                     35-2252096
(Commission File Number)                   (IRS Employer Identification No.)

                 4259 40th Street, SE, Kentwood, Michigan 49512
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (616) 949-7604


Item 2.       Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

         Pursuant to the terms and subject to the  conditions  of the  Agreement
and Plan of Merger,  dated  October 14, 1997 (the  "Merger  Agreement"),  by and
among  FinishMaster,   Inc.,  an  Indiana  corporation  ("FinishMaster"),   FMST
Acquisition  Corporation,  a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of
FinishMaster   ("FMST"),   and  Thompson  PBE,  Inc.,  a  Delaware   corporation
(AThompson@), (i) FMST acquired 8,460,161 shares, or approximately 97.9%, of the
outstanding  shares of Common  Stock,  par value $.001 per share,  of  Thompson,
including the stock purchase rights associated  therewith issued pursuant to the
Rights  Agreement,  dated as of May 6, 1997,  pursuant to a cash tender offer of
$8.00 per share for all the  outstanding  stock of Thompson (the  "Offer");  and
(ii) subsequent to the acceptance of the Shares tendered in the Offer,  FMST was
merged with and into  Thompson  (the  "Merger"),  with  Thompson  surviving  the
Merger. As a result of the Merger, the separate corporate  existence of FMST has
terminated, Thompson is now a wholly owned subsidiary of FinishMaster and all of
the remaining  outstanding Shares (other than any Shares held by FinishMaster or
any wholly owned subsidiary of FinishMaster or in the treasury of Thompson or by
any wholly owned  subsidiary of Thompson)  have been converted into the right to
receive $8.00 net per share in cash.  The per Share purchase price of $8.00 paid
in the Offer and Merger was determined as a result of arms' length  negotiations
between FinishMaster and Thompson.

         The Offer  expired on November  18,  1997;  the Shares  tendered in the
Offer were  accepted  for  purchase on  November  19,  1997;  and the Merger was
effectuated on November 21, 1997.

         To finance the Offer and Merger,  FinishMaster obtained commitments for
$100 million of senior secured credit facilities (the "Credit  Facilities") from
NBD Bank, N.A. ("NBD"). The Credit Facilities, which were arranged through First
Chicago  Capital  Markets Inc.,  an affiliate of NBD, and  syndicated to several
financial  institutions,  consist of (i) a $40 million,  six-year  term loan and
(ii) a $60 million  revolving  credit facility.  FinishMaster  also acquired $30
million from LDI, Ltd., the indirect owner of 67.4% of the outstanding shares of
FinishMaster,  in exchange for a subordinated  note (the  "Subordinated  Note").
FinishMaster  used a portion of the proceeds from the Credit  Facilities and the
Subordinated Note (the "Proceeds") to pay off existing debt, to fund the initial
purchase  of  Shares  in the Offer and to pay  related  expenses  of the  Offer.
FinishMaster  expects to use additional  amounts of the Proceeds during the next
90 days to pay $8 per Share to the holders of the remaining  outstanding  Shares
pursuant to the terms of the Merger and to pay other related expenses.

         Thompson is engaged in the  business  of  aftermarket  distribution  of
automotive  paint  and  related  supplies  to the  automotive  collision  repair
industry. FinishMaster intends to continue the business conducted by Thompson.

Item 7.       Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(a)      Financial Statements of Business Acquired:

         The financial statements of Thompson required by this Item 7(a) of Form
8-K are not available at this time. Therefore, in accordance with Item 7 of Form
8-K, such  financial  statements  will be filed by amendment to this Form 8-K as
soon as  practicable,  but no later than 60 days from the date of filing of this
Form 8-K.

(b)      Pro Forma Financial Information:

         The pro forma financial  information of Thompson  required by this Item
7(b) of Form 8-K is not available at this time.  Therefore,  in accordance  with
Item 7 of Form  8-K,  such  pro  forma  financial  information  will be filed by
amendment  to this Form 8-K as soon as  practicable,  but no later  than 60 days
from the date of filing of this Form 8-K.

(c)      Exhibits:

         The following exhibits are filed as a part of this report:

         2        The  Agreement  and Plan of Merger,  dated as of  October  14,
                  1997,  by  and  among  FinishMaster,  Inc.,  FMST  Acquisition
                  Corporation   and  Thompson  PBE,  Inc.  is   incorporated  by
                  reference  to Exhibit  (c)(2) of Schedule  14D-1 filed by FMST
                  Acquisition Corporation on October 21, 1997.

         99(a)    Credit  Agreement,  dated  as  of  November  19,  1997,  among
                  FinishMaster, Inc., the Institutions from Time to Time Parties
                  Thereto as Lenders and NBD Bank, N.A., as Agent.

         99(b)    Subordinated Note Agreement, dated as of November 19, 1997, by
                  and between FinishMaster, Inc. and LDI, Ltd.


                                   SIGNATURES

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


                                            By: /s/ Andre B. Lacy
                                               ---------------------------------
                                               Andre B. Lacy, Chairman of 
                                                  the Board and Chief Executive 
                                                  Officer



Dated: December ____, 1997








                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                          Dated as of November 19, 1997


                                      among


                               FINISHMASTER, INC.,

                       THE INSTITUTIONS FROM TIME TO TIME
                            PARTIES HERETO AS LENDERS

                                       and

                                 NBD BANK, N.A.
                                    as Agent


<PAGE>


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section                                                                     Page

         ARTICLE I:  DEFINITIONS
1.1  Certain Defined Terms                                                     1
1.2  References                                                               26

         ARTICLE II:  THE TERM LOAN AND REVOLVING LOAN FACILITIES


2.1.  Term Loans                                                              26
2.2   Revolving Loans                                                         27
2.3   Swing Line Loans                                                        28
2.4   Rate Options for all  Advances                                          29
2.5   Optional  Payments; Mandatory  Prepayments                              30
2.6   Reduction of  Commitments                                               32
2.7   Method  of  Borrowing                                                   32
2.8   Method of Selecting Types and Interest Periods for Advances             32
2.9   Minimum  Amount of Each Advance                                         33
2.10  Method of Selecting Types and Interest Periods
         for Conversion  and  Continuation  of Advances                       33
2.11  Default Rate                                                            34
2.12  Method of Payment                                                       34
2.13  Notes                                                                   34
2.14  Telephonic Notices                                                      34
2.15  Promise to Pay; Interest and Commitment  Fees;
         Interest Payment Dates;  Interest and Fee Basis;  
         Taxes; Loan and Control Accounts                                     35
2.16  Notification of Advances, Interest
         Rates, Prepayments and Aggregate Revolving Loan  
         Commitment Reductions                                                40
2.17  Lending  Installations                                                  41
2.18  Non-Receipt of Funds by the Agent                                       41
2.19  Termination  Date                                                       41
2.20  Replacement of Certain Lenders                                          41

      ARTICLE III: THE LETTER OF CREDIT FACILITY
3.1   Obligation to Issue                                                     42
3.2   Transitional Provision                                                  42
3.3   Types and Amounts                                                       43
3.4   Conditions.                                                             43
3.5   Procedure  for Issuance of Letters of Credit                            43
3.6   Letter of Credit  Participation                                         44
3.7   Reimbursement  Obligation                                               44
3.8   Letter  of  Credit   Fees                                               45
3.9   Issuing Bank Reporting Requirements.                                    45
3.10  Indemnification;  Exoneration                                           45
3.11  Cash Collateral                                                         46

      ARTICLE IV:  CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES
4.1   Yield Protection                                                        47
4.2   Changes in Capital Adequacy Regulations                                 48
4.3   Availability of Types  of  Advances                                     48
4.4   Funding  Indemnification                                                49
4.5   Lender Statements; Survival of Indemnity                                49

                                                   -2-

<PAGE>




      ARTICLE V:  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
5.1   Initial Advances and Letters of Credit                                  50
5.2   Each Advance and Letter of Credit                                       51

      ARTICLE VI:  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
6.1   Organization; Corporate Powers                                          52
6.2   Authority                                                               52
6.3   No Conflict; Governmental Consents                                      53
6.4   Financial Statements                                                    53
6.5   No Material Adverse Change                                              54
6.6   Taxes                                                                   54
6.7   Litigation; Loss Contingencies and Violations                           54
6.8   Subsidiaries                                                            55
6.9   ERISA55 
6.10  Accuracy of  Information                                                56
6.11  Securities Activities                                                   56
6.12  Material  Agreements                                                    56
6.13  Compliance with Laws                                                    57
6.14  Assets and Properties                                                   57
6.15  Statutory Indebtedness Restrictions                                     57
6.16  Insurance                                                               57
6.17  Labor Matters                                                           57
6.18  Environmental Matters                                                   57
6.19  Tender Offer; Merger                                                    58
6.20  Solvency                                                                59

      ARTICLE VII :  COVENANTS
7.1   Reporting                                                               59
7.2   Affirmative Covenants                                                   64
7.3   Negative Covenants                                                      66
7.4   Financial Covenants                                                     73

      ARTICLE VIII:  DEFAULTS
8.1   Defaults78

      ARTICLE IX:  ACCELERATION, DEFAULTING LENDERS; WAIVERS,
      AMENDMENTS AND REMEDIES
9.1  Termination of Commitments; Acceleration                                 80
9.2  Defaulting Lender                                                        81
9.3  Amendments                                                               82
9.4  Preservation of Rights                                                   83


                                                   -3-

<PAGE>



      ARTICLE X:  GENERAL PROVISIONS
10.1  Survival of Representations                                             83
10.2  Governmental Regulation                                                 83
10.3  Performance of Obligations                                              83
10.4  Headings                                                                84
10.5  Entire Agreement                                                        84
10.6  Several  Obligations;  Benefits of this  Agreement                      84
10.7  Expenses;  Indemnification                                              84
10.8  Numbers of Documents                                                    86
10.9  Accounting                                                              86
10.10 Severability of Provisions                                              87
10.11 Nonliability  of Lenders                                                87
10.12 GOVERNING LAW                                                           87
10.13 CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; SERVICE OF PROCESS; JURY TRIAL                 87

      ARTICLE XI:  THE AGENT
11.1  Appointment; Nature of Relationship                                     89
11.2  Powers                                                                  89
11.3  General Immunity                                                        89
11.4  No Responsibility for Loans, Creditworthiness, Recitals, Etc.           89
11.5  Action on Instructions of Lenders                                       90
11.6  Employment of Agents and Counsel                                        90
11.7  Reliance on Documents; Counsel                                          90
11.8  The Agent's Reimbursement and Indemnification                           90
11.9  Rights as a Lender                                                      91
11.10 Lender Credit Decision                                                  91
11.11 Successor Agent                                                         91
11.12 Collateral Documents                                                    92

      ARTICLE XII:  SETOFF; RATABLE PAYMENTS
12.1  Setoff                                                                  93
12.2  Ratable Payments                                                        93
12.3  Application of Payments                                                 93
12.4  Relations Among Lenders                                                 94

      ARTICLE XIII:  BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS;
      PARTICIPATIONS
13.1  Successors and Assigns                                                  95
13.2  Participations                                                          95
13.3  Assignments                                                             96
13.4  Confidentiality                                                         97
13.5  Dissemination of Information                                            98

                                                   -4-

<PAGE>

      ARTICLE XIV:  NOTICES
14.1  Giving Notice                                                           98
14.2  Change of Address                                                       98

      ARTICLE XV:  COUNTERPARTS

      EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES


                                    Exhibits


EXHIBIT A           --       Commitments
                            (Definitions)

EXHIBIT B-1         --       Form of Revolving Note
                             (Definitions)

EXHIBIT B-2         --       Form of Swing Line Note
                             (Definitions)

EXHIBIT B-3         --       Form of Term Note
                             (Definitions)

EXHIBIT C           --       Form of Borrowing Notice (Section 2.8)

EXHIBIT C-1         --       Form of Borrowing Base Certificate
                             (Sections 5.1 and 7.1(A)(iv))

EXHIBIT D           --       Form of Request for Letter of Credit 
                             (Section 3.4)

EXHIBIT E           --       Form of Assignment and Acceptance Agreement
                             (Sections 2.20 and 13.3)

EXHIBIT F           --       Form of Borrower's Counsel's Opinion
                             (Section 5.1)

EXHIBIT G           --       List of Closing Documents
                             (Section 5.1)

EXHIBIT H           --       Form of Officer's Certificate
                             (Sections 5.2 and 7.1(A)(iii))

                                                   -5-

<PAGE>




EXHIBIT I           --      Form of Compliance Certificate
                            (Sections 5.2 and 7.1(A)(iii))



                    Schedules


Schedule 1.1.1      --       Permitted Existing Indebtedness (Definitions)

Schedule 1.1.2      --       Permitted Existing Investments (Definitions)

Schedule 1.1.3      --       Permitted Existing Liens (Definitions)

Schedule 3.2        --       Transitional Letters of Credit (Section 3.2)

Schedule 6.3        --       Conflicts; Governmental Consents (Section 6.3)

Schedule 6.4        --       Pro Forma Financial Statements (Section 6.4(A))

Schedule 6.6        --       Taxes (Section 6.6(A))

Schedule 6.7        --       Litigation; Loss Contingencies (Section 6.7)

Schedule 6.8        --       Subsidiaries (Section 6.8)

Schedule 6.9        --       ERISA (Section 6.9)

Schedule 6.18       --       Environmental Matters (Section 6.18)

Schedule 6.19       --       Tender Offer; Merger (Section 6.19)

Schedule 7.3(F)     --       Restricted Payments


<PAGE>

                                CREDIT AGREEMENT


      This Credit  Agreement dated as of November 19, 1997 is entered into among
FinishMaster,  Inc., an Indiana corporation,  the institutions from time to time
parties  hereto  as  Lenders,  whether  by  execution  of this  Agreement  or an
Assignment  Agreement  pursuant  to Section  13.3,  and NBD Bank,  N.A.,  in its
capacity as contractual  representative  for itself and the other  Lenders.  The
parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I:  DEFINITIONS

      1.1 Certain  Defined Terms.  In addition to the terms defined  above,  the
following  terms  used in this  Agreement  shall  have the  following  meanings,
applicable both to the singular and the plural forms of the terms defined.

      As used in this Agreement:

      "Acquisition"   means  any   transaction,   or  any   series  of   related
transactions,  consummated on or after the date of this Agreement,  by which the
Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  (i) acquires any going  business or all or
substantially  all of the assets of any firm,  corporation or division  thereof,
whether  through  purchase of assets,  merger or otherwise  or (ii)  directly or
indirectly  acquires (in one transaction or as the most recent  transaction in a
series  of  transactions)  at least a  majority  (in  number  of  votes)  of the
securities of a corporation which have ordinary voting power for the election of
directors  (other  than  securities  having  such  power  only by  reason of the
happening of a contingency) or a majority (by percentage of voting power) of the
outstanding equity interests of another Person.

      "Acquisition  Corp."  means  FMST  Acquisition  Corporation,   a  Delaware
corporation and a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower.

      "Advance" means a borrowing  hereunder  consisting of the aggregate amount
of the several  Loans made by the Lenders to the  Borrower of the same Type and,
in the case of Eurodollar Rate Advances, for the same Interest Period.

      "Affected Lender" is defined in Section 2.20 hereof.

      "Affiliate"  of any Person means any other Person  directly or  indirectly
controlling,  controlled by or under common  control with such Person.  A Person
shall be deemed to  control  another  Person  if the  controlling  Person is the
"beneficial  owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities  Exchange Act
of 1934)  of  greater  than ten  percent  (10%) or more of any  class of  voting
securities (or other voting  interests) of the  controlled  Person or possesses,
directly  or  indirectly,  the power to direct  or cause  the  direction  of the
management or policies of the controlled  Person,  whether through  ownership of
Capital Stock, by contract or otherwise.
      "Agent" means NBD Bank, N.A. in its capacity as contractual representative
for itself and the Lenders pursuant to Article XI hereof and any successor Agent
appointed pursuant to Article XI hereof.

      "Aggregate Revolving Loan Commitment" means the aggregate of the Revolving
Loan  Commitments  of all the Lenders,  as reduced from time to time pursuant to
the terms

                                                   -7-

<PAGE>



hereof.  The initial  Aggregate  Revolving Loan  Commitment is Sixty Million and
00/100 Dollars ($60,000,000.00).

      "Aggregate  Term Loan  Commitment"  means the  aggregate  of the Term Loan
Commitments  of all the Lenders.  The  Aggregate  Term Loan  Commitment is Forty
Million and 00/100 Dollars ($40,000,000.00).

      "Agreement" means this Credit Agreement, as it may be amended, restated or
otherwise modified and in effect from time to time.

      "Agreement  Accounting  Principles"  means generally  accepted  accounting
principles  as in effect as of the date of this  Agreement,  applied in a manner
consistent with that used in preparing the financial  statements  referred to in
Section 6.4(B)(1) hereof.

      "Alternate Base Rate" means,  for any day, a fluctuating  rate of interest
per annum  equal to the  higher of (i) the Prime  Rate for such day and (ii) the
sum of (a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day and (b) one-half of one
percent (0.5%) per annum.

      "Applicable   Commitment  Fee  Percentage"   means,  as  at  any  date  of
determination,  the rate per annum then applicable in the  determination  of the
amount payable under Section 2.15(C)(i) hereof determined in accordance with the
provisions of Section 2.15(D)(ii) hereof.

      "Applicable Eurodollar Margin" means, as at any date of determination, the
rate per annum then applicable to Eurodollar Rate Loans determined in accordance
with the provisions of Section 2.15(D)(ii) hereof.

      "Applicable  Floating Rate Margin" means, as at any date of determination,
the rate per annum  then  applicable  to  Floating  Rate  Loans,  determined  in
accordance with the provisions of Section 2.15(D)(ii) hereof.

      "Applicable L/C Fee Percentage" means, as at any date of determination,  a
rate per annum equal to the Applicable Eurodollar Margin in effect on such date.

      "Arranger" means  First Chicago Capital Markets,  Inc., in its capacity as
the arranger for the loan transaction evidenced by this Agreement.

      "Assignment  Agreement" shall mean an assignment and acceptance  agreement
entered into in connection with an assignment pursuant to Section 13.3 hereof in
substantially the form of Exhibit E.

      "Asset  Sale"  means,  with  respect  to  any  Person,  the  sale,  lease,
conveyance,  disposition  or other  transfer by such Person of any of its assets
(including by way of a

                                                   -8-

<PAGE>



sale-leaseback  transaction  and including the sale or other  transfer of any of
the Equity Interests of any Subsidiary of such Person).

      "Authorized Officer" means any of the Chairman, President, Chief Financial
Officer, Treasurer or Assistant Secretary of the Borrower, acting singly.

      "Benefit Plan" means a defined benefit plan as defined in Section 3(35) of
ERISA (other than a Multiemployer  Plan) in respect of which the Borrower or any
other member of the Controlled Group is, or within the immediately preceding six
(6) years was, an "employer" as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

      "Borrower" means FinishMaster, Inc., an Indiana corporation, together with
its successors and assigns,  including a  debtor-in-possession  on behalf of the
Borrower.

      "Borrowing Base" means, as of any date of calculation,  an amount,  as set
forth on the most current  Borrowing  Base  Certificate  delivered to the Agent,
equal to: (i) eighty percent (80%) of the Gross Amount of Eligible  Receivables;
plus (ii)  sixty-five  percent  (65%) of the Gross Amount of Eligible  Inventory
minus a reserve  equal to three  months'  rent  with  respect  to any  Inventory
located on premises leased by the Borrower from a landlord that has not executed
a landlord lien waiver  acceptable to the Agent to the extent such  Inventory is
located in a state which the Agent has  determined  has a  statutory  landlord's
lien;  plus (iii) at all times  between  the  Closing  Date and April 30,  1998,
$10,000,000;  plus (iv) at all times between December 1, 1998 and April 30, 1999
and between  December 1, 1999 and April 30,  2000,  $7,500,000;  plus (v) at all
times  between  December 1, 2000 (and each year  thereafter)  and April 30, 2001
(and each year  thereafter),  $5,000,000;  plus (vi) the Guarantied  Overadvance
Amount.

      "Borrowing Base  Certificate"  means a certificate,  in substantially  the
form of Exhibit C-1 attached  hereto and made a part hereof,  setting  forth the
Borrowing Base and the component calculations thereof.

      "Borrowing  Date"  means a date on which an  Advance or Swing Line Loan is
made hereunder.

      "Borrowing Notice" is defined in Section 2.8 hereof.

      "Business  Activity  Report"  means  (A) a Notice of  Business  Activities
Report  from the State of  Minnesota,  Department  of Revenue or (B) any similar
report  required by any other State  relating to the ability of the  Borrower to
enforce its accounts  receivable  claims against  account debtors located in any
such state.

      "Business  Day" means (i) with respect to any  borrowing,  payment or rate
selection of Loans bearing  interest at the Eurodollar Rate, a day (other than a
Saturday or Sunday)

                                                   -9-

<PAGE>



on which banks are open for  business  in  Indianapolis,  Indiana  and  Chicago,
Illinois and on which dealings in Dollars are carried on in the London interbank
market and (ii) for all other  purposes a day (other  than a Saturday or Sunday)
on which banks are open for  business  in  Indianapolis,  Indiana  and  Chicago,
Illinois.

      "Capital  Expenditures"  means,  for  any  period,  the  aggregate  of all
expenditures  (whether  paid in cash or accrued  as  liabilities  and  including
Capitalized  Leases and Permitted  Purchase Money  Indebtedness) by the Borrower
and its  Subsidiaries  during that period that,  in  conformity  with  Agreement
Accounting  Principles,  are  required  to be included  in or  reflected  by the
property,  plant,  equipment or similar  fixed asset  accounts  reflected in the
consolidated  balance sheet of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries,  exclusive of
Permitted Acquisitions.

      "Capital Stock" means (i) in the case of a corporation,  corporate  stock,
(ii) in the case of an  association  or  business  entity,  any and all  shares,
interests,  participations,  rights or other equivalents (however designated) of
corporate  stock,  (iii) in the  case of a  partnership,  partnership  interests
(whether general or limited) and (iv) any other interest or  participation  that
confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the  profits  and losses of,
or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.

      "Capitalized Lease" of a Person means any lease of property by such Person
as lessee which would be capitalized on a balance sheet of such Person  prepared
in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles.

      "Capitalized  Lease  Obligations"  of a Person  means  the  amount  of the
obligations of such Person under  Capitalized  Leases which would be capitalized
on a  balance  sheet  of such  Person  prepared  in  accordance  with  Agreement
Accounting Principles.

      "Cash  Equivalents"  means (i)  marketable  direct  obligations  issued or
unconditionally  guaranteed  by the United States  government  and backed by the
full  faith and  credit of the  United  States  government;  (ii)  domestic  and
Eurodollar  certificates of deposit and time deposits,  bankers' acceptances and
floating rate  certificates  of deposit issued by any commercial  bank organized
under  the laws of the  United  States,  any  state  thereof,  the  District  of
Columbia, any foreign bank, or its branches or agencies (fully protected against
currency fluctuations for any such deposits with a term of more than ninety (90)
days);  (iii) shares of money  market,  mutual or similar funds having assets in
excess of  $100,000,000  and the  investments of which are limited to investment
grade  securities  (i.e.,  securities  rated at least Baa by  Moody's  Investors
Service,  Inc.  or at least  BBB by  Standard  & Poor's  Corporation);  and (iv)
commercial  paper of United States and foreign banks and bank holding  companies
and their  subsidiaries  and  United  States  and  foreign  finance,  commercial
industrial or utility companies which, at the time of acquisition, are rated A-1
(or  better) by  Standard  & Poor's  Corporation  or P-1 (or  better) by Moody's
Investors

                                                   -10-

<PAGE>



Services,  Inc.; provided that the maturities of such Cash Equivalents shall not
exceed 365 days.

      "Change" is defined in Section 4.2 hereof.

      "Change of Control" means an event or series of events by which:

                  (a)  LDI,  Ltd.   ceases  to  own  and  control   directly  or
            indirectly,  51%  or  more  of  the  combined  voting  power  of the
            Borrower's  Capital Stock ordinarily  having the right to vote at an
            election of directors; or

                  (b)  during  any period of twelve  (12)  consecutive  calendar
            months,  individuals:  (i) who were directors of the Borrower on the
            first day of such period,  or (ii) whose  election or nomination for
            election to the board of directors  of the Borrower was  recommended
            or approved by at least a majority  of the  directors  then still in
            office who were  directors  of the Borrower on the first day of such
            period,  or  whose  election  or  nomination  for  election  was  so
            approved,  shall  cease to  constitute  a  majority  of the board of
            directors of the Borrower; or

                  (c) the  Borrower  consolidates  with or merges  into  another
            corporation or conveys, transfers or leases all or substantially all
            of its property to any Person, or any corporation  consolidates with
            or  merges  into  the  Borrower,  in  either  event  pursuant  to  a
            transaction in which the  outstanding  Capital Stock of the Borrower
            is reclassified or changed into or exchanged for cash, securities or
            other property.

      "Closing  Date"  means  the date on which the Term  Loans and the  initial
Revolving Loans are advanced hereunder.

      "Code" means the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as amended,  reformed or
otherwise modified from time to time.

      "Collateral"  means all  property  and  interests in property now owned or
hereafter acquired by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in or upon which a
security interest,  lien or mortgage is granted to the Agent, for the benefit of
the  Holders of Secured  Obligations,  or to the Agent,  for the  benefit of the
Lenders, whether under the Security Agreement, under any of the other Collateral
Documents or under any of the other Loan Documents.

      "Collateral  Documents"  means all  agreements,  instruments and documents
executed in connection with this Agreement,  including,  without limitation, the
Security Agreement and all other security  agreements,  loan agreements,  notes,
guarantees, pledges, powers of attorney, consents,  assignments,  contracts, fee
letters,  notices,  leases,  financing  statements  and all other written matter
whether heretofore, now, or hereafter executed by or on behalf

                                                   -11-

<PAGE>



of the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries and delivered to the Agent or any of
the Lenders,  together with all agreements and documents  referred to therein or
contemplated thereby.


      "Commission"  means the Securities and Exchange  Commission and any Person
succeeding to the functions thereof.

      "Commitment" means, for each Lender, collectively, such Lender's Revolving
Loan Commitment and Term Loan Commitment.

      "Consolidated  Assets"  means the total  assets  of the  Borrower  and its
Subsidiaries  on a consolidated  basis  determined in accordance  with Agreement
Accounting Principles.

      "Consolidated  Net Worth" means,  at a particular  date, all amounts which
would be included under shareholders' equity for any Person and its consolidated
Subsidiaries deter mined in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles.

      "Contaminant"  means any  waste,  pollutant,  hazardous  substance,  toxic
substance,  hazardous  waste,  special  waste,  petroleum  or  petroleum-derived
substance  or  waste,  asbestos,  polychlorinated  biphenyls  ("PCBs"),  or  any
constituent of any such  substance or waste,  and includes but is not limited to
these terms as defined in Environmental, Health or Safety Requirements of Law.

      "Contingent  Obligation",  as applied to any Person, means any Contractual
Obligation,  contingent  or  otherwise,  of  that  Person  with  respect  to any
Indebtedness of another or other obligation or liability of another,  including,
without  limitation,  any such Indebtedness,  obligation or liability of another
directly or indirectly  guaranteed,  endorsed  (otherwise than for collection or
deposit in the ordinary course of business),  co-made or discounted or sold with
recourse  by that  Person,  or in  respect  of which  that  Person is  otherwise
directly or indirectly liable,  including Contractual Obligations (contingent or
otherwise) arising through any agreement to purchase,  repurchase,  or otherwise
acquire such Indebtedness,  obligation or liability or any security therefor, or
to provide  funds for the payment or discharge  thereof  (whether in the form of
loans,  advances,  stock purchases,  capital contributions or otherwise),  or to
maintain solvency,  assets, level of income, or other financial condition, or to
make payment other than for value received.

      "Contractual Obligation", as applied to any Person, means any provision of
any equity or debt securities issued by that Person or any indenture,  mortgage,
deed  of  trust,  security  agreement,  pledge  agreement,  guaranty,  contract,
undertaking,  agreement  or  instrument,  in any case in writing,  to which that
Person is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound,  or to which
it or any of its properties is subject.


                                                   -12-

<PAGE>



      "Controlled Group" means the group consisting of (i) any corporation which
is a member of the same controlled group of corporations  (within the meaning of
Section  414(b) of the Code) as the Borrower;  (ii) a partnership or other trade
or business (whether or not incorporated)  which is under common control (within
the meaning of Section 414(c) of the Code) with the Borrower; and (iii) a member
of the same  affiliated  service group (within the meaning of Section  414(m) of
the Code) as the Borrower,  any corporation described in clause (i) above or any
partnership or trade or business described in clause (ii) above.

      "Controlled  Subsidiary"  of any Person means a Subsidiary  of such Person
(i) 90% or more of the total Equity  Interests or other  ownership  interests of
which (other than  directors'  qualifying  shares) shall at the time be owned by
such Person or by one or more wholly-owned  Subsidiaries of such Person and (ii)
of which such Person possesses,  directly or indirectly,  the power to direct or
cause the direction of the management or policies, whether through the ownership
of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise.

      "Conversion/Continuation Notice" is defined in Section 2.10(D) hereof.

      "Cure Loan" is defined in Section 9.2(iii) hereof.

      "Customary Permitted Liens" means:

                  (i) Liens (other than  Environmental  Liens and Liens in favor
         of the  IRS  or the  PBGC)  with  respect  to  the  payment  of  taxes,
         assessments or governmental  charges in all cases which are not yet due
         or (if foreclosure,  distraint, sale or other similar proceedings shall
         not have been  commenced)  which are being  contested  in good faith by
         appropriate  proceedings  properly instituted and diligently  conducted
         and  with  respect  to which  adequate  reserves  or other  appropriate
         provisions are being maintained in accordance with Agreement Accounting
         Principles;

                  (ii)  statutory  Liens of  landlords  and Liens of  suppliers,
         mechanics,  carriers,  materialmen,  warehousemen  or workmen and other
         similar Liens imposed by law created in the ordinary course of business
         for amounts not yet due or which are being  contested  in good faith by
         appropriate  proceedings  properly instituted and diligently  conducted
         and  with  respect  to which  adequate  reserves  or other  appropriate
         provisions are being maintained in accordance with Agreement Accounting
         Principles;

                  (iii) Liens (other than Environmental Liens and Liens in favor
         of the IRS or the  PBGC)  incurred  or  deposits  made in the  ordinary
         course  of  business  in   connection   with   worker's   compensation,
         unemployment insurance or other types of social security benefits or to
         secure the performance of bids, tenders,  sales,  contracts (other than
         for the repayment of borrowed money), surety, appeal and

                                                   -13-

<PAGE>



         performance  bonds;  provided  that  (A) all  such  Liens do not in the
         aggregate  materially  detract from the value of the Borrower's or such
         Subsidiary's  assets or property taken as a whole or materially  impair
         the use thereof in the  operation of the  businesses  taken as a whole,
         and (B) all Liens  securing  bonds to stay  judgments or in  connection
         with  appeals do not secure at any time an aggregate  amount  exceeding
         $1,000,000;
                  (iv)  Liens  arising  with  respect  to  zoning  restrictions,
         easements, licenses, reservations,  covenants,  rights-of-way,  utility
         easements,   building   restrictions   and  other  similar  charges  or
         encumbrances  on the  use of real  property  which  do not in any  case
         materially  detract from the value of the property  subject  thereto or
         interfere with the ordinary  conduct of the business of the Borrower or
         any of its Subsidiaries;

                  (v) Liens of attachment or judgment with respect to judgments,
         writs or  warrants  of  attachment,  or  similar  process  against  the
         Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  which do not constitute a Default
         under Section 8.1(H) hereof; and

                  (vi)  any  interest  or title of the  lessor  in the  property
         subject to any  operating  lease entered into by the Borrower or any of
         its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.

      "Default" means an event described in Article VIII hereof.

      "DOL"  means  the  United  States  Department  of  Labor  and  any  Person
succeeding to the functions thereof.

      "Dollar"  and "$" means  dollars  in the  lawful  currency  of the  United
States.

      "EBITDA" means, for any period,  on a consolidated  basis for the Borrower
and  its  Subsidiaries,  the  sum  of  the  amounts  for  such  period,  without
duplication,  of (i) Net Income, plus (ii) Interest Expense,  plus (iii) charges
against  income  for  foreign,  federal,  state  and local  taxes to the  extent
deducted in computing Net Income,  plus (iv) depreciation  expense to the extent
deducted in computing  Net Income,  plus (v)  amortization  expense,  including,
without  limitation,  amortization  of  goodwill  and other  intangible  assets,
Transaction  Costs,  and other fees,  costs and expenses in connection  with the
Tender Offer and the Merger to the extent deducted in computing Net Income, plus
(vi) other non-cash charges classified as long-term deferrals in accordance with
Agreement Accounting  Principles to the extent deducted in computing Net Income,
plus (vii)  other  extraordinary  non-cash  charges to the  extent  deducted  in
computing Net Income.

      "Eligible Inventory" means Inventory of the Borrower which is held, by the
Borrower or any party contractually  obligated to store or handle the inventory,
for sale or lease in the  ordinary  course of  business or  furnished  under any
contract of service by the

                                                   -14-

<PAGE>



Borrower  which  continues to meet  standards of  eligibility  from time to time
established in accordance with this Agreement.  Standards of eligibility will be
established  by the Agent in its reasonable  credit  judgment and may be revised
from time to time by the Agent in its reasonable  credit  judgment (which credit
judgment  shall be exercised in a manner that is not arbitrary or capricious and
shall be  exercised  in a manner not  inconsistent  with the manner in which the
initial ineligibility standards were determined).  In general,  without limiting
the foregoing,  the following inventory is not Eligible Inventory: (i) Inventory
which is  obsolete,  not in good  condition,  not  either  currently  usable  or
currently saleable in the ordinary course of the Borrower's business or does not
meet  all  material  standards  imposed  by any  governmental  authority  having
regulatory  authority  over such item of  Inventory,  its use or its sale;  (ii)
Inventory  consisting of packaging material,  supplies,  raw material or work in
process; (iii) Inventory which (a) is consigned to a third party for sale or (b)
is on  consignment  from a third party to the Borrower for sale;  (iv) Inventory
which  consists  of  goods  in  transit  which  has  been  sold to a  dealer  or
distributor  of the  Borrower  and is in the process of being  delivered to that
dealer or distributor;  (v) Inventory which is subject to a Lien in favor of any
Person other than the Agent other than  Customary  Permitted  Liens or Permitted
Existing  Liens;  (vi) Inventory with respect to which the Agent does not have a
first and valid fully-perfected  security interest; (vii) Inventory which is not
located either (a) on the Borrower's  owned premises in the United States listed
on  Schedule  2 to the  Security  Agreement  or (b) in  other  owned  or  leased
premises,  warehouses  or with bailees in the United States listed on Schedule 2
to the  Security  Agreement  permitted  to be  established  under  the  Security
Agreement;  (viii)  Inventory  which  is  evidenced  by a  Receivable;  and (ix)
Inventory  which  is  not  in  full  conformity  with  the  representations  and
warranties  made by the  Borrower  to the Agent  with  respect  thereto  whether
contained in this Agreement or the Security Agreement.

      "Eligible  Receivables" means accounts  receivable created by the Borrower
in the  ordinary  course  of its  business  arising  out of the sale of goods or
rendition of services by the Borrower,  which  receivables  are and at all times
shall continue to meet standards of eligibility from time to time established in
accordance with this Agreement.  Standards of eligibility will be established by
the Agent in its reasonable credit judgment and may be revised from time to time
by the Agent in its reasonable  credit  judgment (which credit judgment shall be
exercised in a manner that is not arbitrary or capricious and shall be exercised
in a manner not inconsistent with the manner in which the initial  ineligibility
standards were  determined).  In general,  without  limiting the foregoing,  the
following receivables are not Eligible Receivables:

      (i) receivables which remain unpaid ninety (90) days after the date of the
original applicable invoice or sixty (60) days after the due date,  whichever is
earlier, except those receivables subject to dated terms extended by Borrower in
an aggregate  amount not to exceed  $5,000,000  as of the date of  determination
will be treated as eligible (subject to the other  eligibility  criteria) to the
extent such receivables are not unpaid more than ninety (90)

                                                   -15-

<PAGE>



days  after  the due date and the due date is not more than one  hundred  eighty
(180) days after the date of the original applicable invoice.

      (ii)  receivables  with respect to which the account debtor is a director,
officer, employee, Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Borrower;

      (iii)  receivables with respect to which the account debtor is any federal
governmental  authority,  the United  States of America,  or, in each case,  any
department,  agency or instrumentality  thereof, unless with respect to any such
receivable,  the  Borrower  has  complied to the Agent's  satisfaction  with the
provisions of the Federal Assignment of Claims Act or other applicable statutes,
including, without limitation,  executing and delivering to Agent all statements
of assignment and/or notification which are in form and substance  acceptable to
Agent and which are deemed  necessary by Agent to effectuate  the  assignment to
the Agent of such receivables.

      (iv)  receivables not denominated in U.S. Dollars or Canadian Dollars;

      (v)  receivables  with  respect to which the  account  debtor is (a) not a
resident  of the United  States  unless the  account  debtor  has  supplied  the
Borrower with an irrevocable letter of credit issued by a financial  institution
satisfactory  to the  Agent  sufficient  to cover  such  receivable  in form and
substance satisfactory to the Agent;

      (vi) receivables with respect to which the account debtor has (a) asserted
a  counterclaim,  (b) a right of  setoff,  or (c) a  receivable  owing  from the
Borrower  but  only  to the  extent  of such  counterclaim,  setoff,  rebate  or
receivable;

      (vii)  receivables  with  respect to which the Agent does not have a first
and valid fully perfected and enforceable security interest for which notice has
been  provided to the Borrower  subject only to  Customary  Permitted  Liens and
Permitted Existing Liens;

      (viii) receivables with respect to which the account debtor is the subject
of bankruptcy or a similar  insolvency  proceeding or has made an assignment for
the  benefit of  creditors  or whose  assets  have been  conveyed to a receiver,
trustee or assignee for the benefit of creditors;

      (xi) receivables with respect to which the account debtor's  obligation to
pay the  receivable  is  conditional  upon the account  debtor's  approval or is
otherwise subject to any contractual  repurchase  obligation or return right, as
with sales made on a bill-and-hold,  guaranteed sale,  sale-and-return,  sale on
approval  (except with respect to receivables  in connection  with which Account
Debtors  are  entitled to return  Inventory  on the basis of the quality of such
Inventory) or consignment basis;


                                                   -16-

<PAGE>



      (x)  receivables  with  respect to which the account  debtor is located in
Minnesota (or any other jurisdiction which adopts a statute or other requirement
with  respect  to which any  Person  that  obtains  business  from  within  such
jurisdiction or is otherwise  subject to such  jurisdiction's  tax law requiring
such  Person to file a  Business  Activity  Report  or make any  other  required
filings in a timely manner in order to enforce its claims in such jurisdiction's
courts or arising  under such  jurisdiction's  laws);  provided,  however,  such
receivables  shall  nonetheless be eligible if the Borrower has filed a Business
Activity Report (or other applicable report or filing) with the applicable state
office by the time required or is qualified to do business in such  jurisdiction
and, at the time the  receivable  was created,  was  qualified to do business in
such  jurisdiction  or had on file with the  applicable  state  office a current
Business Activity Report (or other applicable report or filing);

      (xi)  receivables  with respect to which the account  debtor's  obligation
does not constitute its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against
it in accordance with its terms;
      (xii)  receivables  with respect to which the Borrower has not yet shipped
the applicable goods,  performed the applicable service or issued the applicable
invoice;

      (xiii) any receivable which is not in conformity with the  representations
and warranties  made by the Borrower to the Agent with respect  thereto  whether
contained in this Agreement or the relevant Security Agreement;

      (xiv) receivables in connection with which the Borrower or any other party
to such  Receivable is in default in the performance or observance of any of the
terms thereof in any material respect; and

      (xv)  receivables  for which the prospect of payment or performance by the
Account Debtor is or will be impaired as determined by the Agent in the exercise
of its reasonable  credit judgment (which credit judgment shall not be exercised
in a manner that is arbitrary or  capricious  and shall be exercised in a manner
not inconsistent  with the manner in which the initial  ineligibility  standards
were determined).

      "Environmental,   Health  or  Safety   Requirements   of  Law"  means  all
Requirements of Law derived from or relating to federal, state and local laws or
regulations   relating  to  or   addressing   pollution  or  protection  of  the
environment,  or  protection  of worker  health or  safety,  including,  but not
limited to, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability
Act, 42 U.S.C. ss. 9601 et seq., the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970,
29 U.S.C.  ss. 651 et seq.,  and the Resource  Conservation  and Recovery Act of
1976, 42 U.S.C. ss. 6901 et seq., in each case including any amendments thereto,
any successor statutes, and any regulations or guidance promulgated  thereunder,
and any state or local equivalent thereof.


                                                   -17-

<PAGE>



      "Environmental  Lien" means a lien in favor of any Governmental  Authority
for (a) any liability under Environmental, Health or Safety Requirements of Law,
or (b) damages arising from, or costs incurred by such Governmental Authority in
response  to,  a  Release  or  threatened  Release  of a  Contaminant  into  the
environment.

      "Environmental  Property Transfer Act" means any applicable requirement of
law that  conditions,  restricts,  prohibits  or requires  any  notification  or
disclosure  triggered  by the closure of any property or the  transfer,  sale or
lease  of any  property  or deed or title  for any  property  for  environmental
reasons,  including, but not limited to, any so-called "Industrial Site Recovery
Act" or "Responsible Property Transfer Act."

      "Equity Interests" means Capital Stock and all warrants,  options or other
rights to  acquire  Capital  Stock  (but  excluding  any debt  security  that is
convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).

      "ERISA"  means the Employee  Retirement  Income  Security Act of 1974,  as
amended from time to time including (unless the context otherwise  requires) any
rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.
      "Eurodollar  Base Rate" means,  with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan for
any specified  Interest Period,  either (i) the rate of interest per annum equal
to the rate for deposits in U.S.  Dollars in the  approximate  amount of the pro
rata  share of NBD Bank,  N.A.  of such  Eurodollar  Rate  Loan with a  maturity
approximately equal to such Interest Period which appears on Telerate Page 3750,
or, if there is more than one such rate,  the  average of such rates  rounded to
the nearest 1/100 of 1%, as of 11:00 a.m.  (London time) two Business Days prior
to the first  day of such  Interest  Period or (ii) if no such rate of  interest
appears on Telerate Page 3750 for any  specified  Interest  Period,  the rate at
which  deposits in U.S.  Dollars are  offered by NBD Bank,  N.A. to  first-class
banks in the London interbank  market at approximately  11:00 a.m. (London time)
two  Business  Days  prior to the  first  day of such  Interest  Period,  in the
approximate  amount of the pro rata share of NBD Bank,  N.A. of such  Eurodollar
Rate Loan and having a maturity approximately equal to such Interest Period. The
term  "Telerate  Page 3750" means the display  designated  as "Page 3750" on the
Associated  Press-Dow Jones Telerate  Service (or such other page as may replace
Page 3750 on the  Associated  Press-Dow  Jones  Telerate  Service  or such other
service  as  may  be  nominated  by  the  British  Bankers'  Association  as the
information  vendor for the purpose of displaying  British Bankers'  Association
interest rate  settlement  rates for U.S.  Dollars).  Any  Eurodollar  Base Rate
determined  on the  basis  of the  rate  displayed  on  Telerate  Page  3750  in
accordance with the foregoing  provisions of this subparagraph  shall be subject
to  corrections,  if any,  made in such  rate and  displayed  by the  Associated
Press-Dow  Jones Telerate  Service within one hour of the time when such rate is
first displayed by such service.



                                                   -18-

<PAGE>



      "Eurodollar  Rate" means,  with respect to a Eurodollar  Rate Loan for the
relevant  Interest Period,  the Eurodollar Base Rate applicable to such Interest
Period plus the then Applicable  Eurodollar Margin. The Eurodollar Rate shall be
rounded  to the next  higher  multiple  of 1/100 of 1% if the rate is not such a
multiple.

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

      "Eurodollar  Rate Loan"  means a Loan,  or portion  thereof,  which  bears
interest at the Eurodollar Rate.

      "Excess  Cash Flow"  means,  for any fiscal  year,  an amount equal to the
Borrower's and its Subsidiaries'  consolidated (i) EBITDA for such period, minus
(ii) income taxes paid in cash for such period, minus (iii) Capital Expenditures
paid in cash during such period,  minus (iv)  Interest  Expense for such period,
minus (v) scheduled  amortization of the principal portion of the Term Loans and
scheduled amortization of the principal portion of all other Indebtedness of the
Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  during such period,  minus (vi) cash payments in
respect of extraordinary  and nonrecurring  items,  minus (vii) the increase (or
plus the  decrease) in Working  Capital  during such  period,  minus (viii) cash
payments made in such fiscal year in connection with Permitted Acquisitions,  in
each case as calculated in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles.  All
such amounts  shall be  calculated  assuming that the Borrower has conducted its
business in the ordinary course and in accordance with past practices.

      "Federal Funds  Effective  Rate" means,  for any day, an interest rate per
annum equal to the  weighted  average of the rates on  overnight  Federal  funds
transactions  with  members of the Federal  Reserve  System  arranged by Federal
funds  brokers on such day, as published  for such day (or, if such day is not a
Business Day, for the immediately preceding Business Day) by the Federal Reserve
Bank of New York,  or, if such rate is not so  published  for any day which is a
Business Day, the average of the quotations at approximately 10:00 a.m. (Chicago
time) on such day on such transactions  received by the Agent from three Federal
funds  brokers  of  recognized  standing  selected  by the  Agent  in  its  sole
discretion.

      "Financing"  means,  with  respect to any Person,  the issuance or sale by
such  Person  of any  Equity  Interests  of  such  Person  or  any  Indebtedness
consisting of debt securities of such Person.

      "Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" is defined in Section 7.4(A) hereof.

      "Floating Rate" means, for any day for any Loan, a rate per annum equal to
the Alternate  Base Rate for such day,  changing and as the Alternate  Base Rate
changes, plus the then Applicable Floating Rate Margin.

                                                   -19-

<PAGE>



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

      "Floating  Rate  Loan"  means a Loan,  or  portion  thereof,  which  bears
interest at the Floating Rate.

      "Governmental Acts" is defined in Section 3.10(A) hereof.

      "Governmental  Authority"  means any nation or  government,  any  federal,
state,  local or other political  subdivision  thereof and any entity exercising
executive,  legislative,  judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or
pertaining to government.

      "Gross Amount of Eligible  Inventory"  means Eligible  Inventory valued at
cost  determined on a  first-in-first-out  basis  (determined in accordance with
GAAP, consistently applied) minus such reserves as the Agent elects to establish
in accordance  with its reasonable  credit judgment (which credit judgment shall
be  exercised  in a manner  that is not  arbitrary  or  capricious  and shall be
exercised  in a manner not  inconsistent  with the  manner in which the  initial
ineligibility standards were determined).

      "Gross Amount of Eligible  Receivables"  means the outstanding face amount
of  Eligible  Receivables,  determined  in  accordance  with GAAP,  consistently
applied,  less (i) all  finance  charges,  late  fees and  other  fees  that are
unearned,  (ii) the value of any accrual which has been recorded by the Borrower
with respect to downward price  adjustments and (iii) and such other reserves as
the Agent elects to establish in accordance with its reasonable  credit judgment
(which credit  judgment  shall be exercised in a manner that is not arbitrary or
capricious and shall be exercised in a manner not  inconsistent  with the manner
in which the initial ineligibility standards were determined).

      "Gross  Negligence" means  recklessness,  or actions taken or omitted with
conscious  indifference  to or the  complete  disregard of  consequences.  Gross
Negligence  does not mean the  absence  of  ordinary  care or  diligence,  or an
inadvertent act or inadvertent failure to act. If the term "gross negligence" is
used with  respect  to the Agent or any Lender or any  indemnitee  in any of the
other Loan Documents, it shall have the meaning set forth herein.

      "Guarantied  Overadvance  Amount"  means an  amount  equal  to the  amount
requested  by the  Borrower  up to  $5,000,000  provided  50% of such  amount is
guarantied by LDI, Ltd. pursuant to a Guaranty  acceptable in form and substance
to the Agent.  The Guarantied  Overadvance  Amount can be terminated at any time
upon Borrower's  request and will terminate  automatically on December 31, 1999,
provided the  Revolving  Credit  Obligations  are not,  after such  termination,
greater than the Borrowing Base.


                                                   -20-

<PAGE>



      "Hedging  Obligations"  of a Person means any and all  obligations of such
Person,  whether  absolute or contingent and howsoever and  whensoever  created,
arising,   evidenced  or  acquired  (including  all  renewals,   extensions  and
modifications  thereof  and  substitutions  therefor),  under  (i)  any  and all
agreements,  devices  or  arrangements  designed  to protect at least one of the
parties  thereto from the  fluctuations  of interest  rates,  commodity  prices,
exchange rates or forward rates  applicable to such party's assets,  liabilities
or exchange transactions,  including, but not limited to,  dollar-denominated or
cross-currency  interest rate exchange  agreements,  forward  currency  exchange
agreements,  interest  rate cap or collar  protection  agreements,  forward rate
currency or  interest  rate  options,  puts and  warrants,  and (ii) any and all
cancellations,  buy backs, reversals,  terminations or assignments of any of the
foregoing.

      "High Yield Note Agreement" means the Indenture between the Borrower and a
trustee acting on behalf of the note  purchasers  pursuant to which the Borrower
may plan to issue notes in the original principal amount of up to $100,000,000.

      "Holders  of Secured  Obligations"  shall mean the  holders of the Secured
Obligations  from time to time and shall  include their  respective  successors,
transferees and assigns.

      "Indebtedness" of any Person means, without duplication, such Person's (a)
obligations  for  borrowed  money,  (b)  obligations  representing  the deferred
purchase price of property or services  (other than accounts  payable arising in
the ordinary course of such Person's  business payable on terms customary in the
trade), (c) obligations, whether or not assumed, secured by Liens or payable out
of the proceeds or production  from property or assets now or hereafter owned or
acquired  by  such  Person,  (d)  obligations  which  are  evidenced  by  notes,
acceptances  or  other  instruments,  (e)  Capitalized  Lease  Obligations,  (f)
Contingent  Obligations,  (g) obligations  with respect to letters of credit and
(h) Hedging  Obligations.  The amount of  Indebtedness of any Person at any date
shall be without  duplication  (i) the  outstanding  balance at such date of all
unconditional  obligations as described  above and the maximum  liability of any
such Contingent Obligations at such date and (ii) in the case of Indebtedness of
others  secured by a Lien to which the  property or assets owned or held by such
Person is subject, the lesser of the fair market value at such date of any asset
subject  to a Lien  securing  the  Indebtedness  of others and the amount of the
Indebtedness secured.

      "Indemnified Matters"  is defined in Section 10.7(B) hereof.

      "Indemnitees" is defined in Section 10.7(B) hereof.

      "Interest  Expense" means,  for any period,  the total interest expense of
the  Borrower  and  its  consolidated  Subsidiaries,  whether  paid  or  accrued
(including the interest component of Capitalized  Leases,  commitment and letter
of credit fees), but excluding

                                                   -21-

<PAGE>



interest expense not payable in cash (including  amortization of discount),  all
as determined in conformity with Agreement Accounting Principles.

      "Interest  Period" means, with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, a period
of one (1),  two (2),  three (3)  months  or,  six (6)  months  commencing  on a
Business  Day  selected by the Borrower  pursuant to this  Agreement;  provided,
however,  notwithstanding  anything in this  Agreement  to the  contrary for the
period  from the  Closing  Date to the  earlier  of (y) the date that is 90 days
after the Closing Date and (z) the date upon which the Agent  confirms  that the
loan syndication process has been complete (the ASyndication Period@), AInterest
Period@  means,  with respect to a  Eurodollar  Rate Loan, a period of seven (7)
days. Other than during the Syndication  Period,  such Interest Period shall end
on (but exclude) the day which  corresponds  numerically  to such date one, two,
three or six  months  thereafter;  provided,  however,  that if there is no such
numerically  corresponding day in such next,  second,  third or sixth succeeding
month,  such  Interest  Period shall end on the last  Business Day of such next,
second,  third or sixth  succeeding  month,  as the case may be. If an  Interest
Period would  otherwise  end on a day which is not a Business Day, such Interest
Period shall end on the next succeeding Business Day, provided, however, that if
said next succeeding  Business Day falls in a new calendar month,  such Interest
Period shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day.

      "Interest Rate Agreements" is defined in Section 7.3(P) hereof.

      "Inventory" shall mean any and all goods,  including,  without limitation,
goods in transit,  wheresoever located,  whether now owned or hereafter acquired
by the Borrower,  which are held for sale or lease, furnished under any contract
of  service or held as raw  materials,  work in  process  or  supplies,  and all
materials  used or consumed in the business of Borrower,  and shall  include all
right,  title and  interest of the  Borrower in any  property  the sale or other
disposition of which has given rise to  receivables  and which has been returned
to or repossessed or stopped in transit by the Borrower.
      "Investment"  means, with respect to any Person, (i) any purchase or other
acquisition  by that  Person  of any  Indebtedness,  Equity  Interests  or other
securities, or of a beneficial interest in any Indebtedness, Equity Interests or
other securities,  issued by any other Person,  (ii) any purchase by that Person
of all or  substantially  all of the assets of a business  conducted  by another
Person,  and  (iii)  any loan,  advance  (other  than  deposits  with  financial
institutions  available for  withdrawal on demand,  prepaid  expenses,  accounts
receivable,  advances to  employees  and  similar  items made or incurred in the
ordinary course of business) or capital contribution by that Person to any other
Person,  including  all  Indebtedness  to  such  Person  arising  from a sale of
property by such Person other than in the ordinary course of its business.

      "IRS" means the Internal Revenue Service and any Person  succeeding to the
functions thereof.


                                                   -22-

<PAGE>



      "Issuing  Banks"  means  NBD  Bank,  N.A.  and any  Lender  which,  at the
Borrower's request, agrees, in each such Lender's sole discretion,  to become an
Issuing Bank for the purpose of issuing Letters of Credit,  and their respective
successors and assigns,  in each case in such Lender's  separate  capacity as an
issuer of Letters of Credit  pursuant to Section  3.1.  The  designation  of any
Lender as an Issuing  Bank after the date  hereof  shall be subject to the prior
written consent of the Agent.

      "L/C Draft" means a draft drawn on an Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of
Credit.

      "L/C Interest" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.6
hereof.

      "L/C Obligations" means, without  duplication,  an amount equal to the sum
of (i) the aggregate of the amount then  available for drawing under each of the
Letters  of  Credit,  (ii)  the  face  amount  of  all  outstanding  L/C  Drafts
corresponding  to the Letters of Credit,  which L/C Drafts have been accepted by
the  applicable  Issuing  Bank,  (iii) the aggregate  outstanding  amount of all
Reimbursement Obligations at such time and (iv) the aggregate face amount of all
Letters of Credit  requested  by the  Borrower  but not yet issued  (unless  the
request for an unissued Letter of Credit has been denied).

      "Lenders" means the lending  institutions listed on the signature pages of
this Agreement and their respective successors and assigns.

      "Lending  Installation"  means, with respect to a Lender or the Agent, any
office, branch, subsidiary or affiliate of such Lender or the Agent.

      "Letter  of  Credit"  means the  letters of credit to be (a) issued by the
Issuing Banks pursuant to Section 3.1 hereof or (b) deemed issued by the Issuing
Banks pursuant to Section 3.2 hereof.

      "Leverage Ratio" is defined in Section 7.4(B) hereof.

      "Lien"   means  any  lien   (statutory   or  other),   mortgage,   pledge,
hypothecation,  assignment,  deposit  arrangement,  encumbrance  or  preference,
priority or security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature
whatsoever  (including,  without limitation,  the interest of a vendor or lessor
under  any  conditional  sale,   Capitalized  Lease  or  other  title  retention
agreement).

      "Loan(s)"  means,  with respect to a Lender,  such Lender's portion of any
Advance made pursuant to Section 2.1 or Section 2.2 hereof,  as applicable,  and
in the case of the Swing Line Bank, any Swing Line Loan made pursuant to Section
2.3 hereof,  and  collectively  all Term Loans,  Revolving  Loans and Swing Line
Loans,  whether made or  continued  as or  converted  to Floating  Rate Loans or
Eurodollar Rate Loans.


                                                   -23-

<PAGE>



      "Loan Account" is defined in Section 2.15(F) hereof.

      "Loan Documents" means this Agreement,  the Notes and all other documents,
instruments  and  agreements  executed in connection  therewith or  contemplated
thereby,  as the same may be amended,  restated  or  otherwise  modified  and in
effect from time to time.

      "Margin Stock" shall have the meaning  ascribed to such term in Regulation
U.

      "Material  Adverse  Effect" means a material  adverse  effect upon (a) the
business,   condition   (financial  or  otherwise),   operations,   performance,
properties or prospects of the Borrower,  or the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole,  (b) the ability of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to
perform their  respective  obligations  under the Loan Documents in any material
respect,  or (c) the  ability  of the  Lenders  or the Agent to  enforce  in any
material respect the Obligations.

      "Multiemployer  Plan" means a  "Multiemployer  Plan" as defined in Section
4001(a)(3) of ERISA which is, or within the immediately  preceding six (6) years
was,  contributed  to by either the  Borrower  or any  member of the  Controlled
Group.

      "Merger" means the merger of Acquisition  Corp. and Target pursuant to the
Merger Agreement.

      "Merger  Agreement" means that certain  Agreement and Plan of Merger dated
as of October 14, 1997 among Borrower, Acquisition Corp. and Target.

      "Net Cash Proceeds" means, with respect to any Asset Sale or any Financing
by any Person,  (a) cash  (freely  convertible  into  Dollars)  received by such
Person or any  Subsidiary  of such Person from such Asset Sale  (including  cash
received as  consideration  for the  assumption  or  incurrence  of  liabilities
incurred  in  connection  with or in  anticipation  of such Asset  Sale) or such
Financing,  after (i)  provision  for all income or other  taxes  measured by or
resulting from such Asset Sale,  (ii) payment of all brokerage  commissions  and
other fees and expenses related to such Asset Sale or such Financing,  and (iii)
all amounts used to repay  Indebtedness  secured by a Lien on any asset disposed
of in such Asset Sale or which is or may be required  (by the  express  terms of
the instrument governing such Indebtedness) to be repaid in connection with such
Asset Sale (including  payments made to obtain or avoid the need for the consent
of any holder of such  Indebtedness);  and (b) cash  payments  in respect of any
other  consideration  received by such Person or any  Subsidiary  of such Person
from such Asset Sale upon  receipt of such cash  payments by such Person or such
Subsidiary.

      "Net Income" means, for any period, the net earnings (or loss) after taxes
of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  on a  consolidated  basis for such period
taken as a single  accounting  period  determined in conformity  with  Agreement
Accounting Principles.

                                                   -24-

<PAGE>



      "Non Pro Rata Loan" is defined in Section 9.2 hereof.

      "Notes" means the Revolving Notes,  Swing Line Notes and Term Notes.

      "Notice of Assignment" is defined in Section 13.3(B) hereof.

      "Obligations" means all Loans, advances, debts, liabilities,  obligations,
covenants and duties owing by the Borrower to the Agent,  any Lender,  the Swing
Line Bank,  the  Arranger,  any  Affiliate  of the Agent or any  Lender,  or any
Indemnitee,  of any kind or  nature,  present  or  future,  arising  under  this
Agreement, the Notes or any other Loan Document, whether or not evidenced by any
note,  guaranty  or other  instrument,  whether or not for the payment of money,
whether  arising  by  reason  of  an  extension  of  credit,   loan,   guaranty,
indemnification,  or in any other manner,  whether direct or indirect (including
those acquired by assignment), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now
existing or hereafter arising and however acquired.  The term includes,  without
limitation,   all  interest,   charges,  expenses,  fees,  attorneys'  fees  and
disbursements,  paralegals' fees (in each case whether or not allowed),  and any
other sum  chargeable  to the  Borrower  under this  Agreement or any other Loan
Document.

      "Other Taxes" is defined in Section 2.15(E)(ii) hereof.

      "Participants" is defined in Section 13.2(A) hereof.

      "Payment Date" means the last Business Day of each calendar quarter.

      "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit  Guaranty  Corporation,  or any successor
thereto.

      "Permitted Acquisition" is defined in Section 7.3(G) hereof.

      "Permitted  Existing  Indebtedness" means the Indebtedness of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries identified as such on Schedule 1.1.1 to this Agreement.

      "Permitted Existing Investments" means the Investments of the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries identified as such on Schedule 1.1.2 to this Agreement.

      "Permitted  Existing  Liens" means the Liens on assets of the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries identified as such on Schedule 1.1.3 to this Agreement.

      "Permitted Purchase Money Indebtedness" is defined in Section 7.3(A)(viii)
hereof.

      "Permitted  Refinancing  Indebtedness"  means  any  replacement,  renewal,
refinancing  or extension of any  Indebtedness  permitted by this Agreement that
(i) does not exceed the aggregate  principal  amount (plus accrued  interest and
any applicable premium and

                                                   -25-

<PAGE>



associated  fees and  expenses) of the  Indebtedness  being  replaced,  renewed,
refinanced or extended,  (ii) does not have a Weighted  Average Life to Maturity
at the time of such replacement,  renewal, refinancing or extension that is less
than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the  Indebtedness  being replaced,
renewed,  refinanced  or  extended,  (iii)  does  not  rank at the  time of such
replacement,  renewal, refinancing or extension senior to the Indebtedness being
replaced,  renewed,  refinanced  or  extended,  and (iv) does not contain  terms
(including,  without  limitation,  terms  relating  to  security,  amortization,
interest  rate,  premiums,  fees,  covenants,  event of  default  and  remedies)
materially  less  favorable  to  the  Borrower  or to  the  Lenders  than  those
applicable to the Indebtedness being replaced, renewed, refinanced or extended.

      "Person" means any individual, corporation, firm, enterprise, partnership,
trust,  incorporated or unincorporated  association,  joint venture, joint stock
company,  limited  liability  company  or  other  entity  of  any  kind,  or any
government or political subdivision or any agency, department or instrumentality
thereof.

      "Plan" means an employee  benefit plan defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA in
respect  of which the  Borrower  or any  member of the  Controlled  Group is, or
within the immediately  preceding six (6) years was, an "employer" as defined in
Section 3(5) of ERISA.

      "Prime Rate" means the prime rate of interest  announced by NBD Bank, N.A.
from time to time, changing when and as said prime rate changes.  The prime rate
announced  by NBD Bank,  N.A. is merely an index rate and use of the term "prime
rate"  shall not imply that it is the lowest rate  charged by NBD Bank,  N.A. to
any of its customers.

      "Pro Rata Share" means, with respect to any Lender,  (i) at any time prior
to the Closing  Date,  the  percentage  obtained by dividing  (A) such  Lender's
Commitments  at such  time (in  each  case,  as  adjusted  from  time to time in
accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this  Agreement)  by (B)  the  sum of the
Aggregate Term Loan  Commitment and the Aggregate  Revolving Loan  Commitment at
such time and (ii) at any time after the Closing Date, the  percentage  obtained
by dividing (A) the sum of such Lender's Term Loan and Revolving Loan Commitment
at such time (in each case, as adjusted from time to time in accordance with the
provisions of this  Agreement) by (B) the sum of the aggregate  amount of all of
the Term  Loans  and the  Aggregate  Revolving  Loan  Commitment  at such  time;
provided,  however,  if all of the  Commitments  are terminated  pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement,  then "Pro Rata Share" means the percentage obtained by
dividing (x) the sum of such Lender's Term Loan and Revolving  Loans and, in the
case of the Swing Line Bank,  Swing Lines Loans, by (y) the aggregate  amount of
all Term Loans, Revolving Loans and Swing Line Loans.

      "Purchasers" is defined in Section 13.3(A) hereof.


                                                   -26-

<PAGE>



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

      "Register" is defined in Section 13.3(C) hereof.

      "Regulation G" means Regulation G of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve  System  as from  time to time in  effect  and any  successor  or  other
regulation or official interpretation of said Board of Governors relating to the
extension of credit by nonbank,  nonbroker lenders for the purpose of purchasing
or carrying margin stock (as defined therein).

      "Regulation T" means Regulation T of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve  System  as from  time to time in  effect  and any  successor  or  other
regulation or official interpretation of said Board of Governors relating to the
extension of credit by and to brokers and dealers of securities  for the purpose
of purchasing or carrying margin stock (as defined therein).

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

      "Regulation X" means Regulation X of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve  System  as from  time to time in  effect  and any  successor  or  other
regulation or official interpretation of said Board of Governors relating to the
extension of credit by foreign lenders for the purpose of purchasing or carrying
margin stock (as defined therein).

      "Reimbursement Obligation" is defined in Section 3.7 hereof.

      "Release" means any release, spill, emission, leaking, pumping, injection,
deposit, disposal,  discharge,  dispersal, leaching or migration into the indoor
or outdoor environment, including the movement of Contaminants through or in the
air, soil, surface water or groundwater.

      "Rentals" of a Person means the aggregate  fixed  amounts  payable by such
Person  under any lease of real or  personal  property  but does not include any
amounts payable under Capitalized Leases of such Person.

      "Replacement Lender" is defined in Section 2.20 hereof.

      "Reportable  Event" means a reportable event as defined in Section 4043 of
ERISA and the  regulations  issued under such  section,  with respect to a Plan,
excluding,  however,  such events as to which the PBGC by regulation  waived the
requirement of Section

                                                   -27-

<PAGE>



4043(a) of ERISA  that it be  notified  within 30 days after such event  occurs,
provided,  however,  that a failure to meet the  minimum  funding  standards  of
Section 412 of the Code and of Section 302 of ERISA shall be a Reportable  Event
regardless  of the  issuance  of any such  waiver of the notice  requirement  in
accordance with either Section 4043(a) of ERISA or Section 412(d) of the Code.

      "Required  Lenders" means Lenders whose Pro Rata Shares, in the aggregate,
are greater than fifty percent  (50%);  provided,  however,  that, if any of the
Lenders  shall  have  failed to fund its Pro Rata  Share of any  Revolving  Loan
requested  by the  Borrower,  or any Swing Line Loan as  requested by the Agent,
which such Lenders are  obligated to fund under the terms of this  Agreement and
any such failure has not been cured, then for so long as such failure continues,
"Required  Lenders"  means Lenders  (excluding all Lenders whose failure to fund
their respective Pro Rata Shares of such Revolving Loans or Swing Line Loans has
not been so cured) whose Pro Rata Shares  represent  greater than fifty  percent
(50%) of the  aggregate  Pro Rata  Shares  of such  Lenders;  provided  further,
however,  that, if the Commitments have been terminated pursuant to the terms of
this  Agreement,  "Required  Lenders"  means  Lenders  (without  regard  to such
Lenders' performance of their respective  obligations hereunder) whose aggregate
ratable shares (stated as a percentage) of the aggregate  outstanding  principal
balance of all Loans and L/C Obligations are greater than fifty percent (50%).

      "Requirements of Law" means, as to any Person,  the charter and by-laws or
other organizational or governing documents of such Person, and any law, rule or
regulation,  or determination of an arbitrator or a court or other  Governmental
Authority,  in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its
property  or to which such Person or any of its  property is subject  including,
without  limitation,  the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, Regulations G, T, U and X, ERISA, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Worker
Adjustment and Retraining  Notification Act,  Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990,  and  any   certificate   of  occupancy,   zoning   ordinance,   building,
environmental  or land  use  requirement  or  permit  or  environmental,  labor,
employment,  occupational  safety or health law, rule or  regulation,  including
Environmental, Health or Safety Requirements of Law.

      "Reserves"  shall mean the maximum reserve  requirement,  as prescribed by
the Board of Governors of the Federal  Reserve  System (or any  successor)  with
respect to  "Eurocurrency  liabilities"  or in respect of any other  category of
liabilities  which includes  deposits by reference to which the interest rate on
Eurodollar Rate Loans is determined or category of extensions of credit or other
assets  which  includes  loans by a  non-United  States  office of any Lender to
United States residents.

      "Restricted Payment" means (i) any dividend or other distribution,  direct
or indirect, on account of any Equity Interests of the Borrower now or hereafter
outstanding,  except a dividend  payable solely in the Borrower's  Capital Stock
(other than Disqualified Stock)

                                                   -28-

<PAGE>



or in options, warrants or other rights to purchase such Capital Stock, (ii) any
redemption,  retirement,  purchase  or other  acquisition  for value,  direct or
indirect, of any Equity Interests of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries now
or  hereafter   outstanding,   (iii)  any  redemption,   purchase,   retirement,
defeasance,  prepayment or other acquisition for value,  direct or indirect,  of
any Indebtedness other than the Obligations, (iv) any payment of a claim for the
rescission of the purchase or sale of, or for material  damages arising from the
purchase or sale of, any Indebtedness (other than the Obligations) or any Equity
Interests of the Borrower or any of the Borrower's  Subsidiaries,  or of a claim
for reimbursement,  indemnification or contribution arising out of or related to
any such claim for damages or rescission  and (v) any payment of any  management
fee or similar consulting fee to any Affiliate of the Borrower.

      "Revolving Credit  Availability" means, at any particular time, the amount
by which the lesser of (i) Aggregate  Revolving Loan  Commitment at such time or
(ii) the Borrowing Base at such time exceeds the Revolving Credit Obligations at
such time.

      "Revolving Credit  Obligations"  means, at any particular time, the sum of
(i) the outstanding  principal  amount of the Revolving Loans at such time, plus
(ii) the outstanding principal amount of the Swing Line Loans at such time, plus
(iii) the L/C Obligations at such time.

      "Revolving Loan" is defined in Section 2.2 hereof.

      "Revolving Loan Commitment" means, for each Lender, the obligation of such
Lender to make  Revolving  Loans and to  purchase  participations  in Letters of
Credit  not  exceeding  the  amount  set forth on  Exhibit  A to this  Agreement
opposite its name thereon under the heading  "Revolving Loan  Commitment" or the
signature page of the assignment and acceptance by which it became a Lender,  as
such  amount may be  modified  from time to time  pursuant  to the terms of this
Agreement or to give effect to any applicable assignment and acceptance.

      "Revolving Loan Termination Date" means November 19, 2003.

      "Revolving  Note" means a promissory  note, in  substantially  the form of
Exhibit B-1 hereto,  duly executed by the Borrower and payable to the order of a
Lender in the amount of its Revolving Loan Commitment,  including any amendment,
restatement, modification, renewal or replacement of such Revolving Note.

      "Risk-Based Capital Guidelines" is defined in Section 4.2 hereof.

      "Secured  Obligations" means,  collectively,  (i) the Obligations and (ii)
all Hedging  Obligations  owing under Interest Rate  Agreements to any Lender or
any affiliate of any Lender.

                                                   -29-

<PAGE>



      "Security  Agreement" means that certain  Security  Agreement of even date
herewith  executed by the  Borrower in favor of the Agent for the benefit of the
Holders of Secured Obligations,  as amended, restated or otherwise modified from
time to time.

      "Single  Employer  Plan" means a Plan  maintained  by the  Borrower or any
member of the  Controlled  Group for  employees of the Borrower or any member of
the Controlled Group.

      "Solvent"  shall mean,  when used with respect to any Person,  that at the
time of determination:

                  (i) the fair value of its assets (both at fair  valuation  and
            at  present  fair  saleable  value)  is equal to or in excess of the
            total  amount of its  liabilities,  including,  without  limitation,
            contingent liabilities; and

                  (ii) it is then able and  expects  to be able to pay its debts
            as they mature; and

                  (iii) it has capital  sufficient  to carry on its  business as
            conducted and as proposed to be conducted.

With respect to  contingent  liabilities  (such as  litigation,  guarantees  and
pension  plan  liabilities),  such  liabilities  shall be computed at the amount
which,  in  light of all the  facts  and  circumstances  existing  at the  time,
represent  the amount which can be reasonably be expected to become an actual or
matured liability.

      "Subordination  Agreement" means that certain  Agreement between LDI, Ltd.
and the Agent on behalf of the Lenders with respect to the Subordinated Notes.

      "Subordinated  Notes"  means (i)  those  notes in the  original  principal
amount of  $30,000,000  dated as of November  19, 1997 issued to LDI,  Ltd.  and
subject to the terms of the Subordination  Agreement or (ii) those certain notes
which may be issued pursuant to the High Yield Note Agreement.

      "Subsidiary"  of a Person means (i) any  corporation  more than 50% of the
outstanding  securities  having ordinary voting power of which shall at the time
be owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more
of its  Subsidiaries or by such Person and one or more of its  Subsidiaries,  or
(ii)  any   partnership,   association,   joint  venture  or  similar   business
organization  more than 50% of the ownership  interests  having  ordinary voting
power of which  shall at the time be so owned or  controlled.  Unless  otherwise
expressly  provided,  all  references  herein  to a  "Subsidiary"  shall  mean a
Subsidiary of the Borrower.


                                                   -30-

<PAGE>



      "Swing Line Bank" means NBD Bank, N.A. or any other Lender as a successor
Swing Line Bank.

      "Swing Line  Commitment"  means the  obligation  of the Swing Line Bank to
make Swing Line Loans up to a maximum of $5,000,000 at any one time outstanding.

      "Swing Line Loan" means a Loan made available to the Borrower by the Swing
Line Bank pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof.

      "Swing Line Note" means a promissory  note, in  substantially  the form of
Exhibit B-2 hereto,  duly  executed by the  Borrower and payable to the order of
the Swing Line Bank in the amount of its Swing Line  Commitment,  including  any
amendment, restatement,  modification, renewal or replacement of such Swing Line
Note.

      "Target" means Thompson PBE, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

      "Taxes" is defined in Section 2.15(E)(i) hereof.

      "Tender Offer" means the tender offer announced  October 15, 1997 pursuant
to which Acquisition Corp. has offered to purchase the stock of Target.

      "Termination Date" means the earlier of (a) the Revolving Loan Termination
Date, and (b) the date of termination of the Aggregate Revolving Loan Commitment
pursuant  to  Section  2.6 hereof or the  Commitments  pursuant  to Section  9.1
hereof.

      "Termination  Event"  means (i) a  Reportable  Event  with  respect to any
Benefit  Plan;  (ii)  the  withdrawal  of  the  Borrower  or any  member  of the
Controlled Group from a Benefit Plan during a plan year in which the Borrower or
such Controlled Group member was a "substantial  employer" as defined in Section
4001(a)(2)  of  ERISA  or the  cessation  of  operations  which  results  in the
termination of employment of twenty  percent (20%) of Benefit Plan  participants
who are employees of the Borrower or any member of the Controlled  Group;  (iii)
the  imposition of an obligation on the Borrower or any member of the Controlled
Group under Section 4041 of ERISA to provide  affected parties written notice of
intent to  terminate  a Benefit  Plan in a  distress  termination  described  in
Section  4041(c) of ERISA;  (iv) the  institution  by the PBGC of proceedings to
terminate a Benefit  Plan;  (v) any event or  condition  which might  constitute
grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the  termination  of, or the appointment
of a trustee to  administer,  any Benefit  Plan; or (vi) the partial or complete
withdrawal  of  the  Borrower  or any  member  of the  Controlled  Group  from a
Multiemployer Plan.

      "Term Loan" is defined in Section 2.1(A) hereof.


                                                   -31-

<PAGE>



      "Term Loan  Commitment"  means,  for each Lender,  the  obligation of such
Lender  to make its Term Loan  pursuant  to the  terms  and  conditions  of this
Agreement,  and which shall not exceed the principal amount set forth on Exhibit
A to this  Agreement  opposite  its name  thereon  under the heading  "Term Loan
Commitment",  as such amount may be modified  from time to time  pursuant to the
terms hereof.

      "Term Loan Termination Date" means November 19, 2003.

      "Term Note" means a promissory note, in substantially  the form of Exhibit
B-3 hereto,  duly  executed by the Borrower and payable to the order of a Lender
in the amount of its Term Loan Commitment, including any amendment, restatement,
modification, renewal or replacement of such Term Note.

      "Transaction  Costs"  means the fees,  costs and  expenses  payable by the
Borrower in  connection  with the  execution,  delivery and  performance  of the
Transaction Documents.

      "Transaction  Documents"  means  the  Loan  Documents  and  the  documents
executed and delivered by the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries in connection
with the Tender Offer and the Merger Agreement.

      "Transferee" is defined in Section 13.5 hereof.

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

      "Unfunded Liabilities" means (i) in the case of Single Employer Plans, the
amount (if any) by which the present value of all vested nonforfeitable benefits
under all Single  Employer  Plans exceeds the fair market value of all such Plan
assets  allocable to such  benefits,  all  determined as of the then most recent
valuation date for such Plans, and (ii) in the case of Multiemployer  Plans, the
withdrawal  liability  that would be  incurred  by the  Controlled  Group if all
members of the  Controlled  Group  completely  withdrew  from all  Multiemployer
Plans.

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

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

                                                   -32-

<PAGE>



      "Working Capital" means, as at any date of  determination,  the excess, if
any, of (i) the Borrower's  consolidated  current  assets,  except cash and Cash
Equivalents,  over (ii) the Borrower's consolidated current liabilities,  except
current maturities of long-term debt and Revolving Credit Obligations as of such
date and all accrued interest as of such date.

      The foregoing definitions shall be equally applicable to both the singular
and  plural  forms of the  defined  terms.  Any  accounting  terms  used in this
Agreement  which are not  specifically  defined  herein  shall have the meanings
customarily  given  them  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted   accounting
principles in existence as of the date hereof.

      1.2  References.  The existence  throughout the Agreement of references to
the Borrower's  Subsidiaries is for a matter of convenience only. Any references
to  Subsidiaries  of the  Borrower  set  forth  herein  shall  not in any way be
construed  as  consent  by  the  Agent  or  any  Lender  to  the  establishment,
maintenance  or  acquisition  of any  Subsidiary,  except  as may  otherwise  be
permitted hereunder.


ARTICLE II:  THE TERM LOAN AND REVOLVING LOAN FACILITIES

      2.1.  Term  Loans.  (A)  Amount of Term  Loans.  Subject  to the terms and
conditions  set  forth  in this  Agreement,  each  Lender  on the  Closing  Date
severally  and not jointly  agrees to make on the Closing  Date, a term loan, in
Dollars, to the Borrower in an aggregate amount equal to such Lender's Term Loan
Commitment  (each  individually,  a "Term  Loan"  and,  collectively,  the "Term
Loans").  All  Term  Loans  shall be made by the  Lenders  on the  Closing  Date
simultaneously and proportionately to their respective Pro Rata Shares, it being
understood  that no Lender  shall be  responsible  for any  failure by any other
Lender to perform its  obligation to make any Term Loan  hereunder nor shall the
Term Loan  Commitment of any Lender be increased or decreased as a result of any
such failure.

      (B) Borrowing Notice.  The Borrower shall deliver to the Agent a Borrowing
Notice,  signed by it, on the Closing Date. Such Borrowing  Notice shall specify
(i) the  aggregate  amount  of the  Term  Loans  and (ii)  instructions  for the
disbursement  of the  proceeds  of the Term  Loans.  The Term  Loans made on the
Closing  Date shall  initially  be  Floating  Rate Loans and  thereafter  may be
continued as Floating Rate Loans or converted into  Eurodollar Rate Loans in the
manner  provided  in  Section  2.10 and  subject  to the  other  conditions  and
limitations  therein set forth and set forth in this  Article II. Any  Borrowing
Notice given pursuant to this Section 2.1(B) shall be irrevocable.

      (C) Making of Term Loans.  Promptly after receipt of the Borrowing  Notice
under Section  2.1(B) in respect of the Term Loans,  the Agent shall notify each
Lender by telex or  telecopy,  or other  similar  form of  transmission,  of the
proposed Advance. Each Lender

                                                   -33-

<PAGE>



shall  deposit an amount  equal to its Pro Rata Share of the Term Loans with the
Agent at its office in Indianapolis, Indiana, in immediately available funds, on
the  Closing  Date,  as  specified  in  the  Borrowing  Notice.  Subject  to the
fulfillment of the  conditions  precedent set forth in Sections 5.1 and 5.2, the
Agent shall make the  proceeds of such  amounts  received by it available to the
Borrower at the Agent's office in  Indianapolis,  Indiana on such date and shall
disburse  such  proceeds  in  accordance   with  the   Borrower's   disbursement
instructions  set forth in such Borrowing  Notice.  The failure of any Lender to
deposit the amount described above with the Agent on such date shall not relieve
any other  Lender  of its  obligations  hereunder  to make its Term Loan on such
date.

      (D)  Repayment  of the Term  Loans.  (i) The Term Loans shall be repaid in
twenty (20) consecutive quarterly installments, payable on the last Business Day
of each  fiscal  quarter  of the  Borrower,  commencing  on March  31,  1999 and
continuing  thereafter until the Term Loan Termination  Date, and the Term Loans
shall be  permanently  reduced  by the  amount of each  installment  on the date
payment thereof is made hereunder.  The  installments  shall be in the aggregate
amounts set forth below:

         Installment Date                     Installment Amount

         March 31, 1999                              $1,000,000
         June 30, 1999                               $1,000,000
         September 30, 1999                          $1,000,000
         December 31, 1999                           $1,000,000

         March 31, 2000                              $1,500,000
         June 30, 2000                               $1,500,000
         September 30, 2000                          $1,500,000
         December 31, 2000                           $1,500,000

         March 31, 2001                              $2,250,000
         June 30, 2001                               $2,250,000
         September 30, 2001                          $2,250,000
         December 31, 2001                           $2,250,000

         March 31, 2002                              $2,500,000
         June 30, 2002                               $2,500,000
         September 30, 2002                          $2,500,000
         December 31, 2002                           $2,500,000

         March 31, 2003                              $2,750,000
         June 30, 2003                               $2,750,000
         September 30, 2003                          $2,750,000
         November 19, 2003                           $2,750,000

                                                   -34-

<PAGE>



Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  the final installment shall be in the amount of
the then outstanding principal balance of the Term Loans. In addition,  the then
outstanding  principal  balance  of the  Term  Loans,  if any,  shall be due and
payable  on the  Termination  Date.  No  installment  of any Term Loan  shall be
reborrowed once repaid.

      (ii) In addition to the scheduled payments on the Term Loans, the Borrower
(a) may make the voluntary  prepayments  described in Section  2.5(A) for credit
against the scheduled  payments on the Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.5(A) and
(b) shall make the mandatory prepayments prescribed in Section 2.5(B) for credit
against the scheduled payments on the Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.5(B).

      2.2 Revolving Loans. Upon the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set
forth in Sections 5.1 and 5.2, from and including the date of this Agreement and
prior to the Termination  Date, each Lender severally and not jointly agrees, on
the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, to make revolving loans to
the  Borrower  from time to time,  in  Dollars,  in an amount not to exceed such
Lender's  Pro Rata Share of  Revolving  Credit  Availability  at such time (each
individually,  a "Revolving  Loan" and,  collectively,  the "Revolving  Loans");
provided,  however, at no time shall the Revolving Credit Obligations exceed the
Aggregate  Revolving Loan Commitment or the Borrowing Base. Subject to the terms
of this Agreement,  the Borrower may borrow,  repay and reborrow Revolving Loans
at any time  prior to the  Termination  Date.  The  Revolving  Loans made on the
Closing  Date shall  initially  be  Floating  Rate Loans and  thereafter  may be
continued as Floating Rate Loans or converted into  Eurodollar Rate Loans in the
manner  provided  in  Section  2.10 and  subject  to the  other  conditions  and
limitations  therein  set  forth  and set  forth  in  this  Article  II.  On the
Termination  Date,  the Borrower shall repay in full the  outstanding  principal
balance of the  Revolving  Loans.  Each  Advance  under this  Section  2.2 shall
consist of Revolving  Loans made by each Lender  ratably in  proportion  to such
Lender's respective Pro Rata Share.

      2.3  Swing  Line  Loans.  (A)  Amount  of  Swing  Line  Loans.   Upon  the
satisfaction of the conditions  precedent set forth in Section 5.1 and 5.2, from
and including the date of this Agreement and prior to the Termination  Date, the
Swing Line Bank agrees, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement,
to make swing line loans to the Borrower  from time to time,  in Dollars,  in an
amount not to exceed the Swing Line  Commitment  (each,  individually,  a "Swing
Line Loan" and collectively,  the "Swing Line Loans"); provided,  however, at no
time shall the Revolving Credit Obligations exceed the Aggregate  Revolving Loan
Commitment or the Borrowing Base; and provided,  further,  that at no time shall
the sum of (a) the  outstanding  amount of the Swing  Line  Loans,  plus (b) the
outstanding  amount of Revolving  Loans made by the Swing Line Bank  pursuant to
Section 2.2,  exceed the Swing Line Bank's  Revolving  Loan  Commitment  at such
time. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Borrower may borrow, repay and
reborrow Swing Line Loans at any time prior to the Termination Date.


                                                   -35-

<PAGE>



      (B)  Borrowing  Notice.  The Borrower  shall  deliver to the Agent and the
Swing  Line Bank a  Borrowing  Notice,  signed by it,  not later  than 1:00 p.m.
(Indianapolis  time) on the Borrowing  Date of each Swing Line Loan,  specifying
(i) the applicable  Borrowing Date (which shall be a Business Day), and (ii) the
aggregate  amount of the requested  Swing Line Loan which shall be an amount not
less than  $100,000.  The Swing Line Loans shall at all times be  Floating  Rate
Loans.

      (C) Making of Swing Line Loans.  Promptly  after  receipt of the Borrowing
Notice  under  Section  2.3(B) in respect of Swing Line  Loans,  the Agent shall
notify  each  Swing Line Bank by telex or  telecopy,  or other  similar  form of
transmission,  of the  requested  Swing  Line  Loan.  Not  later  than 3:00 p.m.
(Indianapolis time) on the applicable  Borrowing Date, the Swing Line Bank shall
make  available  its  Swing  Line  Loan,  in  funds  immediately   available  in
Indianapolis to the Agent at its address specified  pursuant to Article XIV. The
Agent  will  promptly  make the  funds so  received  from the  Swing  Line  Bank
available to the Borrower at the Agent's aforesaid address.

      (D) Repayment of Swing Line Loans. The Swing Line Loans shall be evidenced
by the Swing  Line  Note,  and each Swing Line Loan shall be paid in full by the
Borrower on or before the fifth  Business Day after the Borrowing  Date for such
Swing Line Loan. The Borrower may at any time pay,  without  penalty or premium,
all  outstanding  Swing Line Loans or, in a minimum  amount  and  increments  of
$100,000,  any portion of the outstanding  Swing Line Loans,  upon notice to the
Agent and the Swing Line Bank. In addition, the Agent (i) may at any time in its
sole discretion  with respect to any outstanding  Swing Line Loan, or (ii) shall
on the fifth  Business  Day after the  Borrowing  Date of any Swing  Line  Loan,
require each Lender  (including the Swing Line Bank) to make a Revolving Loan in
the amount of such  Lender's  Pro Rata  Share of such  Swing Line Loan,  for the
purpose of repaying such Swing Line Loan. Not later than 2:00 p.m. (Indianapolis
time) on the date of any notice received  pursuant to this Section 2.3(D),  each
Lender shall make available its required  Revolving Loan or Revolving  Loans, in
funds  immediately  available  in  Indianapolis  to the  Agent  at  its  address
specified pursuant to Article XIV. Revolving Loans made pursuant to this Section
2.3(D) shall initially be Floating Rate Loans and thereafter may be continued as
Floating  Rate  Loans or  converted  into  Eurodollar  Rate  Loans in the manner
provided in Section  2.10 and subject to the other  conditions  and  limitations
therein set forth and set forth in this  Article II.  Unless a Lender shall have
notified the Swing Line Bank,  prior to its making any Swing Line Loan, that any
applicable  condition  precedent  set forth in Sections 5.1 and 5.2 had not then
been  satisfied,  such Lender's  obligation to make Revolving  Loans pursuant to
this  Section  2.3(D)  to  repay  Swing  Line  Loans  shall  be   unconditional,
continuing,   irrevocable  and  absolute  and  shall  not  be  affected  by  any
circumstances,  including,  without limitation,  (a) any set-off,  counterclaim,
recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the Agent,
the Swing Line Bank or any other Person,  (b) the occurrence of continuance of a
Default or Unmatured Default, (c) any adverse change in the condition (financial
or  otherwise)  of the Borrower,  or (d) any other  circumstances,  happening or
event

                                                   -36-

<PAGE>



whatsoever.  In the event that any Lender  fails to make payment to the Agent of
any  amount  due under this  Section  2.3(D),  the Agent  shall be  entitled  to
receive,  retain and apply  against such  obligation  the principal and interest
otherwise payable to such Lender hereunder until the Agent receives such payment
from such Lender or such obligation is otherwise fully satisfied. In addition to
the  foregoing,  if for any reason any Lender fails to make payment to the Agent
of any amount due under this Section 2.3(D), such Lender shall be deemed, at the
option of the Agent, to have unconditionally and irrevocably  purchased from the
Swing Line Bank,  without  recourse  or  warranty,  an  undivided  interest  and
participation  in the applicable Swing Line Loan in the amount of such Revolving
Loan,  and such  interest and  participation  may be recovered  from such Lender
together with interest  thereon at the Federal Funds Effective Rate for each day
during the period  commencing  on the date of demand and ending on the date such
amount is received.  On the  Termination  Date, the Borrower shall repay in full
the outstanding principal balance of the Swing Line Loans.

      2.4 Rate Options for all Advances.  The Swing Line Loans shall be Floating
Rate Advances at all times.  The Revolving  Loans and Term Loans may be Floating
Rate Advances or Eurodollar Rate Advances, or a combination thereof, selected by
the Borrower in  accordance  with  Section  2.10.  The  Borrower may select,  in
accordance  with Section 2.10, Rate Options and Interest  Periods  applicable to
portions of the Revolving Loans and the Term Loans; provided that there shall be
no more than eight (8)  Interest  Periods in effect  with  respect to all of the
Loans at any time. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Borrower
may not select the Eurodollar  Rate with Interest  Periods longer than seven (7)
days for any Loans during the Syndication  Period. The Swing Line Loans shall at
all times be Floating Rate Loans.

      2.5  Optional Payments; Mandatory Prepayments.

      (A) Optional Payments. The Borrower may from time to time repay or prepay,
without  penalty  or  premium  all or any  part  of  outstanding  Floating  Rate
Advances;  provided,  that the Borrower may not so prepay Floating Rate Advances
consisting  of Term Loans  unless it shall have  provided at least one  Business
Day's written notice to the Agent of such  prepayment.  Eurodollar Rate Advances
may be  voluntarily  repaid or prepaid  prior to the last day of the  applicable
Interest Period, subject to the indemnification  provisions contained in Section
4.4,  provided,  that the Borrower may not so prepay  Eurodollar  Rate  Advances
unless it shall have provided at least three  Business  Days' written  notice to
the Agent of such prepayment. Unless the aggregate outstanding principal balance
of the Term Loans is to be prepaid in full,  voluntary  prepayments  of the Term
Loans  shall be in an  aggregate  minimum  amount  of  $1,000,000  and  integral
multiples of $1,000,000  in excess of that amount,  and shall be applied to each
of the then remaining installments payable thereunder,  on a ratable basis based
upon the respective amounts of such installments.


                                                   -37-

<PAGE>



      (B)  Mandatory Prepayments.

         (i)  Mandatory Prepayments of Term Loans.

                  (a) Upon the  consummation  of any Asset Sale or any Financing
         by the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  of the  Borrower,  other than those
         Asset  Sales  permitted  pursuant  to Section  7.3(B)(i)  except to the
         extent that the Net Cash  Proceeds of such Asset  Sale,  when  combined
         with  the  Net  Cash  Proceeds  of all  such  Asset  Sales  during  the
         immediately  preceding  twelve-month  period, do not exceed $1,000,000,
         and  except  as  provided  in  the  second  sentence  of  this  Section
         2.5(B)(i)(a),  within three (3) Business  Days after the  Borrower's or
         any of its  Subsidiaries' (i) receipt of any Net Cash Proceeds from any
         such  Asset  Sale  or  Financing,  or (ii)  conversion  to cash or Cash
         Equivalents  of non-cash  proceeds  (whether  principal or interest and
         including securities, release of escrow arrangements or lease payments)
         received  from any Asset  Sale,  the  Borrower  shall make a  mandatory
         prepayment of the Obligations in an amount equal to one hundred percent
         (100%)  of such Net  Cash  Proceeds  or such  proceeds  converted  from
         non-cash to cash or Cash Equivalents.  Net Cash Proceeds of Asset Sales
         of capital  assets with respect to which the Borrower  shall have given
         the Agent  written  notice of its  intention  to replace  such  capital
         assets  within  nine  months  following  such  Asset  Sale shall not be
         subject  to the  provisions  of the  first  sentence  of  this  Section
         2.5(B)(i)(a) unless and to the extent that such applicable period shall
         have expired without such replacement having been made.

                  (b)  Simultaneously  with the  delivery of the annual  audited
         financial  statements  required  to be  delivered  pursuant  to Section
         7.1(A)(iii)  for each fiscal year beginning with the fiscal year ending
         December 31, 1998,  the Borrower shall  calculate  Excess Cash Flow for
         such  fiscal year and shall make a  mandatory  prepayment,  payable not
         later than the earlier of ten (10) days after such financial statements
         and  calculation  are delivered or one hundred (100) days after the end
         of such fiscal year, in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100.0%)
         of such Excess Cash Flow in excess of $1,000,000  or, if the Borrower's
         Leverage Ratio as of the end of its most recently completed fiscal year
         is less than 3.5 to 1.0,  seventy-five  percent  (75.0%) of such Excess
         Cash Flow in excess of $1,000,000 or, if the Borrower's  Leverage Ratio
         as of the end of its most recently  completed  fiscal year is less than
         2.5 to 1.0, fifty percent (50.0%) of such Excess Cash Flow in excess of
         $1,000,000.

                  (c) Nothing in this  Section  2.5(B)(i)  shall be construed to
         constitute  the  Lenders'  consent to any  transaction  referred  to in
         clause (a) above which is not expressly  permitted by the terms of this
         Agreement.


                                                   -38-

<PAGE>



                  (d) Each mandatory  prepayment required by clauses (a) and (b)
         of this  Section  2.5(B)  shall be referred to herein as a  "Designated
         Prepayment."  Designated  Prepayments shall be allocated and applied to
         the Obligations as follows:

                           (I) the amount of each Designated  Prepayment  (other
                  than a Designated  Prepayment  attributable to the issuance of
                  Subordinated  Notes pursuant to the High Yield Note Agreement)
                  shall be  applied to each of the then  remaining  installments
                  payable under the Term Loans in the inverse order of maturity;

                           (II)  the  amount  of  each   Designated   Prepayment
                  attributable to the issuance of Subordinated Notes pursuant to
                  the High Yield  Note  Agreement  shall be applied as  follows:
                  first, to repay in full the Subordinated  Notes issued to LDI,
                  Ltd. as of the Closing Date; second, at the Borrower's option,
                  up to  $5,000,000  may be applied  to reduce  the  outstanding
                  balance of the Revolving Credit Obligations  (without reducing
                  the Aggregate  Revolving Loan Commitment);  and third, to each
                  of the then  remaining  installments  payable  under  the Term
                  Loans in the inverse order of maturity; and

                           (III)  following  the  payment  in full  of the  Term
                  Loans,  the  amount  of each  Designated  Prepayment  shall be
                  applied to repay Revolving  Loans (but shall reduce  Revolving
                  Loan Commitments  only at the option of the Required  Lenders)
                  and following the payment in full of the Revolving  Loans, the
                  amount of each Designated Prepayment shall be applied first to
                  interest on the Reimbursement  Obligations,  then to principal
                  on the Reimbursement  Obligations,  then to fees on account of
                  Letters of Credit and then, to the extent any L/C  Obligations
                  are contingent, deposited with the Agent as cash collateral in
                  respect of such L/C Obligations.

                  (e) On the date any  Designated  Prepayment is received by the
         Agent,  such  prepayment  shall be applied first to Floating Rate Loans
         and to any  Eurodollar  Rate  Loans  maturing  on such date and then to
         subsequently maturing Eurodollar Rate Loans in order of maturity.

      (ii) Mandatory  Prepayments of Revolving  Loans. In addition to repayments
under Section 2.5(B)(i)(d)(II),  if at any time and for any reason the Revolving
Credit  Obligations  are greater than the lesser of (i) the Aggregate  Revolving
Loan Commitment or (ii) the Borrowing Base, the Borrower shall  immediately make
a mandatory  prepayment of the Obligations in an amount equal to such excess. In
addition,  if Revolving Credit  Availability is at any time less than the amount
of contingent L/C Obligations outstanding

                                                   -39-

<PAGE>



at any time,  the Borrower  shall deposit cash  collateral  with the Agent in an
amount equal to the amount by which such L/C  Obligations  exceed such Revolving
Credit Availability.

      (iii) Subject to the preceding  provisions of this Section 2.5(B),  all of
the mandatory  prepayments made under this Section 2.5(B) shall be applied first
to Floating Rate Loans and to any  Eurodollar  Rate Loans  maturing on such date
and then to subsequently maturing Eurodollar Rate Loans in order of maturity.

      2.6  Reduction of  Commitments.  The Borrower may  permanently  reduce the
Aggregate  Revolving  Loan  Commitment  in whole,  or in part ratably  among the
Lenders,  in an aggregate minimum amount of $1,000,000 with respect to each such
Commitment  and  integral  multiples  of  $100,000 in excess of that amount with
respect to each such Commitment (unless the Aggregate  Revolving Loan Commitment
is reduced in whole),  upon at least one Business  Day's  written  notice to the
Agent,  which notice shall specify the amount of any such  reduction;  provided,
however,  that the amount of the Aggregate  Revolving Loan Commitment may not be
reduced below the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Revolving Credit
Obligations.  All accrued commitment fees shall be payable on the effective date
of any termination of the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans hereunder.

      2.7 Method of Borrowing.  Not later than 2:00 p.m.  (Indianapolis time) on
each Borrowing Date, each Lender shall make available its Revolving Loan or Term
Loan, in funds immediately available in Indianapolis to the Agent at its address
specified  pursuant to Article  XIV. The Agent will  promptly  make the funds so
received  from the Lenders  available to the  Borrower at the Agent's  aforesaid
address.

      2.8 Method of  Selecting  Types and  Interest  Periods for  Advances.  The
Borrower  shall select the Type of Advance  and, in the case of each  Eurodollar
Rate Advance,  the Interest Period applicable to each Advance from time to time.
The Borrower shall give the Agent  irrevocable  notice in substantially the form
of  Exhibit  C  hereto  (a  "Borrowing   Notice")  not  later  than  10:00  a.m.
(Indianapolis  time) (a) on the Borrowing Date of each Floating Rate Advance and
(b) three  Business  Days before the  Borrowing  Date for each  Eurodollar  Rate
Advance,  specifying:  (i) the Borrowing Date (which shall be a Business Day) of
such  Advance;  (ii) the  aggregate  amount of such  Advance;  (iii) the Type of
Advance  selected;  and (iv) in the case of each  Eurodollar  Rate Advance,  the
Interest Period applicable  thereto.  The Borrower shall select Interest Periods
so that, to the best of the  Borrower's  knowledge,  it will not be necessary to
prepay all or any portion of any  Eurodollar  Rate Advance prior to the last day
of the  applicable  Interest  Period in order to make  mandatory  prepayments as
required  pursuant  to the terms  hereof.  Each  Floating  Rate  Advance and all
Obligations  other than Loans shall bear interest from and including the date of
the making of such Advance to (but not including) the date of repayment  thereof
at the Floating Rate,  changing when and as such Floating Rate changes.  Changes
in the rate of interest on that portion of any Advance  maintained as a Floating
Rate Loan

                                                   -40-

<PAGE>



will take effect  simultaneously  with each change in the  Alternate  Base Rate.
Each  Eurodollar  Rate Advance  shall bear interest from and including the first
day of the Interest  Period  applicable  thereto to (but not including) the last
day of such  Interest  Period at the interest  rate  determined as applicable to
such Eurodollar Rate Advance.

      2.9 Minimum Amount of Each Advance. Each Advance (other than an Advance to
repay Swing Line Loans or a  Reimbursement  Obligation)  shall be in the minimum
amount of  $1,000,000  (and in  multiples  of  $100,000  if in excess  thereof),
provided,  however,  that any Floating  Rate Advance may be in the amount of the
unused Aggregate Revolving Loan Commitment.

      2.10  Method of Selecting Types and Interest Periods for Conversion and
Continuation of Advances.

      (A) Right to Convert. The Borrower may elect from time to time, subject to
the  provisions of Section 2.4 and this Section 2.10, to convert all or any part
of a Loan of any Type into any other Type or Types of Loans;  provided  that any
conversion  of any  Eurodollar  Rate Advance  shall be made on, and only on, the
last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

      (B)  Automatic  Conversion  and  Continuation.  Floating  Rate Loans shall
continue as Floating  Rate Loans unless and until such  Floating  Rate Loans are
converted into  Eurodollar  Rate Loans.  Eurodollar Rate Loans shall continue as
Eurodollar  Rate  Loans  until the end of the then  applicable  Interest  Period
therefor,  at which  time such  Eurodollar  Rate  Loans  shall be  automatically
converted  into  Floating  Rate Loans unless the  Borrower  shall have given the
Agent notice in accordance with Section 2.10(D)  requesting  that, at the end of
such Interest  Period,  such Eurodollar Rate Loans continue as a Eurodollar Rate
Loan.

      (C) No Conversion Post-Default or Post-Unmatured Default.  Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary  contained in Section  2.10(A) or Section  2.10(B),  no
Loan may be converted  into or continued as a Eurodollar  Rate Loan (except with
the consent of the Required  Lenders) when any Default or Unmatured  Default has
occurred and is continuing.

      (D)  Conversion/Continuation  Notice.  The  Borrower  shall give the Agent
irrevocable notice (a "Conversion/Continuation  Notice") of each conversion of a
Floating Rate Loan into a Eurodollar  Rate Loan or  continuation of a Eurodollar
Rate Loan not later than 10:00 a.m.  (Indianapolis  time)  three  Business  Days
prior to the date of the requested conversion or continuation,  specifying:  (1)
the  requested  date  (which  shall be a  Business  Day) of such  conversion  or
continuation;  (2) the amount and Type of the Loan to be converted or continued;
and (3) the  amount of  Eurodollar  Rate  Loan(s)  into which such Loan is to be
converted  or  continued  and the  duration of the  Interest  Period  applicable
thereto.

                                                   -41-

<PAGE>



      2.11 Default Rate.  After the occurrence  and during the  continuance of a
Default, at the option of the Agent or at the direction of the Required Lenders,
the interest  rate(s)  applicable to the  Obligations and the fees payable under
Section 3.8 with  respect to Letters of Credit shall be increased by two percent
(2.0%) per annum above the Floating Rate or Eurodollar Rate, as applicable.

      2.12 Method of Payment.  All  payments of  principal,  interest,  and fees
hereunder  shall  be  made,  without  setoff,  deduction  or  counterclaim,   in
immediately  available  funds to the  Agent  at the  Agent's  address  specified
pursuant  to Article  XIV,  or at any other  Lending  Installation  of the Agent
specified in writing by the Agent to the  Borrower,  by 2:00 p.m.  (Indianapolis
time) on the date when due and shall be made ratably  among the Lenders  (unless
such amount is not to be shared  ratably in accordance  with the terms  hereof).
Each  payment  delivered  to the Agent for the  account of any  Lender  shall be
delivered  promptly  by the Agent to such Lender in the same type of funds which
the Agent  received at its address  specified  pursuant to Article XIV or at any
Lending  Installation  specified  in a notice  received  by the Agent  from such
Lender. The Borrower  authorizes the Agent to charge the account of the Borrower
maintained with NBD Bank, N.A. for each payment of principal,  interest and fees
as it becomes due hereunder. NBD Bank, N.A. will notify the Borrower of any such
charges.

      2.13 Notes.  Each Lender is authorized  to record the principal  amount of
each of its Loans and each  repayment  with respect to its Loans on the schedule
attached to its  respective  Notes;  provided,  however,  that the failure to so
record shall not affect the Borrower's obligations under any such Note.

      2.14 Telephonic Notices. The Borrower authorizes the Lenders and the Agent
to extend Advances, effect selections of Types of Advances and to transfer funds
based on  telephonic  notices  made by any  person or  persons  the Agent or any
Lender in good  faith  believes  to be acting  on  behalf of the  Borrower.  The
Borrower agrees to deliver promptly to the Agent a written confirmation,  signed
by an Authorized  Officer, if such confirmation is requested by the Agent or any
Lender, of each telephonic  notice. If the written  confirmation  differs in any
material  respect from the action  taken by the Agent and the  Lenders,  (i) the
telephonic  notice shall govern absent  manifest error and (ii) the Agent or the
Lender, as applicable, shall promptly notify the Authorized Officer who provided
such confirmation of such difference.

      2.15 Promise to Pay; Interest and Commitment Fees; Interest Payment Dates;
Interest and Fee Basis; Taxes; Loan and Control Accounts.

      (A) Promise to Pay. The Borrower  unconditionally promises to pay when due
the principal amount of each Loan and all other Obligations  incurred by it, and
to pay all unpaid interest accrued thereon, in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement and the Notes.

                                                   -42-

<PAGE>



      (B) Interest  Payment Dates.  Interest  accrued on each Floating Rate Loan
shall be payable on each Payment  Date,  commencing  with the first such date to
occur  after the date  hereof,  and at  maturity  (whether  by  acceleration  or
otherwise).  Interest  accrued on each  Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be payable on
the last  day of its  applicable  Interest  Period,  on any  date on  which  the
Eurodollar Rate Loan is prepaid,  whether by  acceleration or otherwise,  and at
maturity.  Interest  accrued on each  Eurodollar  Rate Loan  having an  Interest
Period  longer than three  months  shall also be payable on the last day of each
three-month  interval  during  such  Interest  Period.  Interest  accrued on the
principal  balance of all other  Obligations  shall be payable in arrears (i) on
the last day of each calendar month,  commencing on the first such day following
the incurrence of such  Obligation,  (ii) upon  repayment  thereof in full or in
part,  and  (iii) if not  theretofore  paid in  full,  at the  time  such  other
Obligation becomes due and payable (whether by acceleration or otherwise).

      (C)  Commitment  Fees.  (i) The Borrower  shall pay to the Agent,  for the
account of the Lenders as provided hereinbelow,  from and after the Closing Date
until  the  date on which  the  Aggregate  Revolving  Loan  Commitment  shall be
terminated  in  whole,  a  commitment  fee  accruing  at the  rate  of the  then
Applicable  Commitment Fee Percentage,  on the amount by which (A) the Aggregate
Revolving Loan Commitment exceeds (B) the Revolving Credit Obligations from time
to time. All such commitment fees payable under this clause (C) shall be payable
quarterly  in arrears  on the last day of each  fiscal  quarter of the  Borrower
occurring  after the Closing Date (with the first such payment being  calculated
for the period from the Closing Date and ending on December 31,  1997),  and, in
addition,  on the date on which the Aggregate Revolving Loan Commitment shall be
terminated  in whole.  The  Agent  shall  pay to each  Lender a portion  of such
commitment  fee  based on the  amount  by which  such  Lender's  Revolving  Loan
Commitment exceeds the Revolving Credit Obligations  (excluding,  in the case of
all Lenders other than the Swing Line Bank, the outstanding Swing Line Loans).

      (ii) The  Borrower  agrees to pay to the Agent for the sole account of the
Agent  and the  Arranger  (unless  otherwise  agreed  between  the Agent and the
Arranger  and any Lender) the fees set forth in the letter  agreement  among the
Agent, the Arranger and the Borrower dated October 8, 1997, payable at the times
and in the amounts set forth therein.

      (D) Interest and Fee Basis;  Applicable  Floating Rate Margin,  Applicable
Eurodollar Margin and Applicable Commitment Fee Percentage.

      (i) Interest and fees shall be  calculated  for actual days elapsed on the
basis of a 360-day year.  Interest shall be payable for the day an Obligation is
incurred  but not for the day of any  payment on the  amount  paid if payment is
received prior to 2:00 p.m.  (Indianapolis time) at the place of payment. If any
payment  of  principal  of or  interest  on a Loan or any  payment  of any other
Obligations  shall become due on a day which is not a Business Day, such payment
shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and, in

                                                   -43-

<PAGE>



the case of a principal  payment,  such  extension  of time shall be included in
computing interest in connection with such payment.

      (ii) The  Applicable  Floating  Rate  Margin,  Applicable  Eurodollar  and
Applicable  Commitment Fee Percentage  shall be determined  from time to time by
reference  to the  table set forth  below,  on the basis of the then  applicable
Leverage Ratio as described in this Section 2.15(D)(ii):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
      Applicable                 Applicable                 Applicable
      Eurodollar                 Floating Rate              Commitment
      Leverage Ratio                Margin                     Margin               Fee Percentage
<S>                                 <C>                       <C>                       <C>  
      Greater than or
      equal to 4.5 to 1.0             2.25%                     1.00%                     0.50%

      Greater than or
      equal to 4.0 to 1.0
      and less than
      4.5 to 1.0                      2.00%                     0.75%                     0.375%

      Greater than or
      equal to 3.5 to 1.0
      and less than
      4.0 to 1.0                      1.75%                     0.50%                     0.375%

      Greater than or
      equal to 3.0 to 1.0
      and less than
      3.5 to 1.0                      1.50%                     0.25%                     0.25%

      Greater than or
      equal to 2.5 to 1.0
      and less than
      3.0 to 1.0                      1.25%                     0.00%                     0.25%

      Greater than or
      equal to 2.0 to 1.0
      and less than
      2.5 to 1.0                      1.00%                     0.00%                     0.25%

      Less than 2.0 to 1.0            0.75%                     0.00%                     0.20%

</TABLE>

                                                   -44-

<PAGE>



For purposes of this Section 2.15(D)(ii), the Leverage Ratio shall be determined
as of the last day of each fiscal  quarter based upon (a) for  Indebtedness  for
borrowed money,  Indebtedness for borrowed money as of the last day of each such
fiscal  quarter;  and (b) for  EBITDA,  the actual  amount for the  four-quarter
period ending on such day, calculated,  with respect to Permitted  Acquisitions,
on a pro forma basis using the best available financial  information  concerning
the seller, broken down by fiscal quarter in the Borrower's reasonable judgment.
Upon  receipt  of  the  financial  statements  delivered  pursuant  to  Sections
7.1(A)(i)  and  (ii),  as  applicable,  the  Applicable  Floating  Rate  Margin,
Applicable  Eurodollar Margin and Applicable  Commitment Fee Percentage shall be
adjusted,  such  adjustment  being  effective  on the first  Business Day of the
fiscal quarter  following the Agent's  receipt of such financial  statements and
the  compliance  certificate  required to be delivered in  connection  therewith
pursuant to Section 7.1(A)(iii);  provided,  that if the Borrower shall not have
timely delivered its financial  statements in accordance with Section  7.1(A)(i)
or (ii), as  applicable,  then  commencing on the date upon which such financial
statements  should  have been  delivered  and  continuing  until such  financial
statements  are  actually  delivered,  it  shall  be  assumed  for  purposes  of
determining the Applicable  Floating Rate Margin,  Applicable  Eurodollar Margin
and Applicable  Commitment  Fee  Percentage  that the Leverage Ratio was greater
than or equal to 4.5 to 1.0.  Notwithstanding  anything  herein to the contrary,
from the Closing Date to but not including the first  Business Day of the fiscal
quarter following receipt of the Borrower's  financial  statements in accordance
with Section  7.1(A)(i)  for the first fiscal  quarter  ending not less than six
months  after the  Merger,  the  Applicable  Eurodollar  Margin  and  Applicable
Commitment Fee Percentage  shall be determined based upon an assumption that the
Leverage Ratio is greater than or equal to 4.5 to 1.0.

      (E)  Taxes.

                  (i) Any and all  payments by the Borrower  hereunder  shall be
         made free and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or
         future taxes, levies, imposts,  deductions,  charges or withholdings or
         any liabilities with respect thereto  including those arising after the
         date  hereof as a result of the  adoption  of or any change in any law,
         treaty, rule, regulation,  guideline or determination of a Governmental
         Authority or any change in the interpretation or application thereof by
         a Governmental Authority but excluding,  in the case of each Lender and
         the Agent,  such taxes  (including  income taxes,  franchise  taxes and
         branch  profit taxes) as are imposed on or measured by such Lender's or
         Agent's,  as the case may be, income by the United States of America or
         any Governmental  Authority of the jurisdiction under the laws of which
         such Lender or Agent,  as the case may be, is  organized or maintains a
         Lending  Installation (all such non-excluded  taxes,  levies,  imposts,
         deductions, charges, withholdings, and liabilities which the Agent or a
         Lender  determines to be applicable to this  Agreement,  the other Loan
         Documents,  the Term Loan Commitments,  the Revolving Loan Commitments,
         the Loans or the  Letters of Credit  being  hereinafter  referred to as
         "Taxes"). If the Borrower shall

                                                   -45-

<PAGE>



         be  required  by law to deduct  any Taxes from or in respect of any sum
         payable  hereunder  or under the other Loan  Documents to any Lender or
         the Agent,  (i) the sum payable  shall be increased as may be necessary
         so that after  making all  required  deductions  (including  deductions
         applicable to additional sums payable under this Section  2.15(E)) such
         Lender or the Agent (as the case may be)  receives  an amount  equal to
         the sum it would have received had no such  deductions  been made, (ii)
         the Borrower shall make such  deductions,  and (iii) the Borrower shall
         pay the full amount  deducted to the  relevant  taxation  authority  or
         other authority in accordance with applicable law. If a withholding tax
         of the United  States of America  or any other  Governmental  Authority
         shall be or become applicable (y) after the date of this Agreement,  to
         such payments by the Borrower made to the Lending  Installation  or any
         other  office that a Lender may claim as its Lending  Installation,  or
         (z) after such Lender's  selection and designation of any other Lending
         Installation, to such payments made to such other Lending Installation,
         such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to make, fund and maintain its
         Loans through  another  Lending  Installation of such Lender in another
         jurisdiction so as to reduce the Borrower's liability hereunder, if the
         making, funding or maintenance of such Loans through such other Lending
         Installation  of such Lender does not, in the  judgment of such Lender,
         otherwise  adversely  affect  such  Loans,  or  obligations  under  the
         Revolving Loan Commitments or such Lender.

                  (ii) In addition,  the  Borrower  agrees to pay any present or
         future  stamp or  documentary  taxes or any other  excise  or  property
         taxes,  charges,  or similar  levies  which arise from any payment made
         hereunder,  from the issuance of Letters of Credit  hereunder,  or from
         the execution,  delivery or registration  of, or otherwise with respect
         to,  this  Agreement,  the other Loan  Documents,  the  Revolving  Loan
         Commitments,  the Term Loan  Commitments,  the Loans or the  Letters of
         Credit (hereinafter referred to as "Other Taxes").

                  (iii) The Borrower  indemnifies  each Lender and the Agent for
         the  full  amount  of  Taxes  and  Other  Taxes   (including,   without
         limitation,  any  Taxes  or Other  Taxes  imposed  by any  Governmental
         Authority on amounts  payable under this Section  2.15(E)) paid by such
         Lender or the Agent (as the case may be) and any  liability  (including
         penalties,  interest,  and expenses)  arising therefrom or with respect
         thereto,  whether or not such Taxes or Other  Taxes were  correctly  or
         legally asserted. This indemnification shall be made within thirty (30)
         days after the date such Lender or the Agent (as the case may be) makes
         written demand  therefor.  A certificate  as to any  additional  amount
         payable to any Lender or the Agent under this Section 2.15(E) submitted
         to the  Borrower and the Agent (if a Lender is so  submitting)  by such
         Lender or the Agent shall show in reasonable  detail the amount payable
         and the  calculations  used to determine such amount and shall,  absent
         manifest  error,  be final,  conclusive  and  binding  upon all parties
         hereto. With respect to such deduction or withholding for or on account
         of any Taxes and to

                                                   -46-

<PAGE>



         confirm  that  all  such  Taxes  have  been  paid  to  the  appropriate
         Governmental Authorities, the Borrower shall promptly (and in any event
         not later than thirty (30) days after  receipt)  furnish to each Lender
         and the Agent such certificates, receipts and other documents as may be
         required (in the judgment of such Lender or the Agent) to establish any
         tax credit to which such Lender or the Agent may be entitled.

                  (iv) Within  thirty (30) days after the date of any payment of
         Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrower, the Borrower shall furnish to the
         Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt  evidencing payment
         thereof.

                  (v) Without  prejudice to the survival of any other  agreement
         of the  Borrower  hereunder,  the  agreements  and  obligations  of the
         Borrower contained in this Section 2.15(E) shall survive the payment in
         full of  principal  and  interest  hereunder,  the  termination  of the
         Letters of Credit and the termination of this Agreement.

                  (vi) Without  limiting the  obligations  of the Borrower under
         this  Section  2.15(E),  each Lender  that is not created or  organized
         under  the  laws  of  the  United  States  of  America  or a  political
         subdivision  thereof  shall deliver to the Borrower and the Agent on or
         before the Closing  Date,  or, if later,  the date on which such Lender
         becomes  a  Lender  pursuant  to  Section  13.3,  a true  and  accurate
         certificate  executed in duplicate by a duly authorized officer of such
         Lender,  in a form  satisfactory  to the Borrower and the Agent, to the
         effect  that  such  Lender  is  capable  under  the  provisions  of  an
         applicable  tax treaty  concluded  by the United  States of America (in
         which case the certificate  shall be accompanied by two executed copies
         of Form  1001 of the IRS) or under  Section  1442 of the Code (in which
         case the certificate shall be accompanied by two copies of Form 4224 of
         the IRS) of receiving  payments of interest hereunder without deduction
         or  withholding  of United States  federal income tax. Each such Lender
         further  agrees to deliver to the  Borrower  and the Agent from time to
         time a true and  accurate  certificate  executed in duplicate by a duly
         authorized officer of such Lender  substantially in a form satisfactory
         to the Borrower and the Agent,  before or promptly upon the  occurrence
         of any  event  requiring  a  change  in  the  most  recent  certificate
         previously  delivered by it to the  Borrower and the Agent  pursuant to
         this  Section  2.15(E)(vi).  Further,  each  Lender  which  delivers  a
         certificate accompanied by Form 1001 of the IRS covenants and agrees to
         deliver to the Borrower and the Agent within fifteen (15) days prior to
         January  1,  1998,  and  every  third  (3rd)  anniversary  of such date
         thereafter  on which this  Agreement  is still in effect,  another such
         certificate  and two accurate and complete  original  signed  copies of
         Form 1001 (or any successor  form or forms  required  under the Code or
         the applicable  regulations  promulgated  thereunder),  and each Lender
         that  delivers  a  certificate  accompanied  by  Form  4224  of the IRS
         covenants and agrees to deliver to the Borrower and the

                                                   -47-

<PAGE>



         Agent  within  fifteen  (15)  days  prior  to  the  beginning  of  each
         subsequent  taxable year of such Lender during which this  Agreement is
         still in effect, another such certificate and two accurate and complete
         original signed copies of IRS Form 4224 (or any successor form or forms
         required  under  the  Code or the  applicable  regulations  promulgated
         thereunder).  Each  such  certificate  shall  certify  as to one of the
         following:

                           (a) that such Lender is capable of receiving payments
                  of interest  hereunder  without  deduction or  withholding  of
                  United States of America federal income tax;

                           (b) that such  Lender  is not  capable  of  receiving
                  payments   of  interest   hereunder   without   deduction   or
                  withholding of United States of America  federal income tax as
                  specified therein but is capable of recovering the full amount
                  of any such deduction or withholding  from a source other than
                  the  Borrower  and will not  seek any such  recovery  from the
                  Borrower; or

                           (c)  that,  as a  result  of the  adoption  of or any
                  change in any law,  treaty,  rule,  regulation,  guideline  or
                  determination of a Governmental Authority or any change in the
                  interpretation  or  application   thereof  by  a  Governmental
                  Authority  after the date such Lender  became a party  hereto,
                  such Lender is not capable of  receiving  payments of interest
                  hereunder without deduction or withholding of United States of
                  America federal income tax as specified therein and that it is
                  not capable of  recovering  the full amount of the same from a
                  source other than the Borrower.

         Each Lender shall  promptly  furnish to the Borrower and the Agent such
         additional  documents as may be reasonably  required by the Borrower or
         the Agent to establish any exemption  from or reduction of any Taxes or
         Other  Taxes  required  to be  deducted  or  withheld  and which may be
         obtained without undue expense to such Lender.

      (F) Loan Account.  Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual
practice an account or accounts (a "Loan Account") evidencing the Obligations of
the  Borrower to such Lender  owing to such Lender from time to time,  including
the amount of principal  and interest  payable and paid to such Lender from time
to time hereunder and under the Notes.

      (G)  Entries  Binding.  The  entries  made in the  Register  and each Loan
Account shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error,
unless the Borrower  objects to  information  contained in the Register and each
Loan  Account  within  thirty  (30)  days  of the  Borrower's  receipt  of  such
information.

                                                   -48-

<PAGE>



      2.16 Notification of Advances,  Interest Rates,  Prepayments and Aggregate
Revolving Loan Commitment Reductions.  Promptly after receipt thereof, the Agent
will  notify  each  Lender of the  contents  of each  Aggregate  Revolving  Loan
Commitment reduction notice, Borrowing Notice,  Continuation/Conversion  Notice,
and repayment notice received by it hereunder. The Agent will notify each Lender
of the interest  rate  applicable  to each  Eurodollar  Rate Loan  promptly upon
determination  of such  interest rate and will give each Lender prompt notice of
each change in the Alternate Base Rate.

      2.17 Lending Installations.  Each Lender may book its Loans at any Lending
Installation  selected by such  Lender and may change its  Lending  Installation
from time to time. All terms of this  Agreement  shall apply to any such Lending
Installation  and the Notes  shall be deemed held by each Lender for the benefit
of such Lending Installation. Each Lender may, by written or facsimile notice to
the Agent and the Borrower, designate a Lending Installation through which Loans
will be made by it and for whose account Loan payments are to be made.

      2.18  Non-Receipt of Funds by the Agent.  Unless the Borrower or a Lender,
as the  case  may be,  notifies  the  Agent  prior  to the  date on  which it is
scheduled  to make  payment  to the  Agent of (i) in the case of a  Lender,  the
proceeds of a Loan or (ii) in the case of the Borrower,  a payment of principal,
interest or fees to the Agent for the account of the  Lenders,  that it does not
intend to make such  payment,  the Agent may assume  that such  payment has been
made.  The Agent may,  but shall not be  obligated  to,  make the amount of such
payment available to the intended recipient in reliance upon such assumption. If
such  Lender  or the  Borrower,  as the case may be,  has not in fact  made such
payment to the Agent,  the  recipient  of such payment  shall,  on demand by the
Agent,  repay to the Agent the amount so made  available  together with interest
thereon in respect  of each day  during the period  commencing  on the date such
amount was so made available by the Agent until the date the Agent recovers such
amount at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of payment by a Lender,  the
Federal Funds  Effective Rate for such day or (ii) in the case of payment by the
Borrower, the interest rate applicable to the relevant Loan.

      2.19  Termination  Date.  This  Agreement  shall be  effective  until  the
Termination  Date.  Notwithstanding  the  termination  of this  Agreement on the
Termination Date, until all of the Obligations (other than contingent  indemnity
obligations)  shall have been fully and  indefeasibly  paid and  satisfied,  all
financing  arrangements  among the  Borrower  and the  Lenders  shall  have been
terminated  (other than under Interest Rate Agreements or other  agreements with
respect  to Hedging  Obligations)  and all of the  Letters of Credit  shall have
expired, been canceled or terminated,  all of the rights and remedies under this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall survive.

      2.20  Replacement  of Certain  Lenders.  In the event a Lender  ("Affected
Lender")  shall  have:  (i)  failed  to fund its Pro Rata  Share of any  Advance
requested by the Borrower,  or to fund a Revolving  Loan in order to repay Swing
Line Loans pursuant to

                                                   -49-

<PAGE>



Section  2.3(D),  which such Lender is obligated to fund under the terms of this
Agreement and which failure has not been cured, (ii) requested compensation from
the Borrower under Sections 2.15(E), 4.1 or 4.2 to recover Taxes, Other Taxes or
other  additional  costs  incurred by such Lender  which are not being  incurred
generally by the other Lenders, (iii) delivered a notice pursuant to Section 4.3
claiming  that such  Lender is unable  to extend  Eurodollar  Rate  Loans to the
Borrower for reasons not  generally  applicable to the other Lenders or (iv) has
invoked Section 10.2, then, in any such case, the Borrower or the Agent may make
written demand on such Affected  Lender (with a copy to the Agent in the case of
a demand by the  Borrower  and a copy to the Borrower in the case of a demand by
the Agent) for the Affected Lender to assign, and such Affected Lender shall use
its best  efforts to assign  pursuant  to one or more duly  executed  Assignment
Agreements five (5) Business Days after the date of such demand,  to one or more
financial  institutions that comply with the provisions of Section 13.3(A) which
the  Borrower  or the Agent,  as the case may be,  shall have  engaged  for such
purpose  ("Replacement  Lender"),  all of  such  Affected  Lender's  rights  and
obligations  under  this  Agreement  and the other  Loan  Documents  (including,
without limitation, its Revolving Loan Commitment, all Loans owing to it, all of
its participation interests in existing Letters of Credit, and its obligation to
participate  in  additional  Letters of Credit  hereunder)  in  accordance  with
Section 13.3. The Agent agrees,  upon the occurrence of such events with respect
to an Affected Lender and upon the written  request of the Borrower,  to use its
reasonable  efforts  to  obtain  the  commitments  from  one or  more  financial
institutions to act as a Replacement  Lender. The Agent is authorized to execute
one or more of such assignment  agreements as attorney-in-fact  for any Affected
Lender  failing to execute and deliver  the same within five (5)  Business  Days
after the date of such  demand.  Further,  with respect to such  assignment  the
Affected Lender shall have concurrently  received,  in cash, all amounts due and
owing to the  Affected  Lender  hereunder  or under  any  other  Loan  Document,
including, without limitation, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the
Loans owed to such Lender,  together with accrued  interest  thereon through the
date of such assignment,  amounts payable under Sections  2.15(E),  4.1, and 4.2
with respect to such  Affected  Lender and  compensation  payable  under Section
2.15(C) in the event of any replacement of any Affected Lender under clause (ii)
or clause (iii) of this Section 2.20;  provided that upon such Affected Lender's
replacement,  such  Affected  Lender  shall cease to be a party hereto but shall
continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15(E),  4.1, 4.2, 4.4, and
10.7, as well as to any fees accrued for its account hereunder and not yet paid,
and shall continue to be obligated  under Section 11.8.  Upon the replacement of
any Affected Lender pursuant to this Section 2.20, the provisions of Section 9.2
shall  continue to apply with respect to Borrowings  which are then  outstanding
with respect to which the Affected  Lender failed to fund its Pro Rata Share and
which failure has not been cured.


ARTICLE III: THE LETTER OF CREDIT FACILITY


                                                   -50-

<PAGE>



      3.1  Obligation  to Issue.  Subject  to the terms and  conditions  of this
Agreement and in reliance upon the representations,  warranties and covenants of
the Borrower herein set forth,  each Issuing Bank hereby agrees to issue for the
account of the  Borrower  through  such  Issuing  Bank's  branches as it and the
Borrower may jointly agree, one or more Letters of Credit denominated in Dollars
in  accordance  with this  Article  III,  from time to time  during the  period,
commencing  on the date  hereof  and  ending  on the  Business  Day prior to the
Termination Date.

      3.2  Transitional  Provision.  Schedule 3.2 contains a schedule of certain
letters of credit  issued for the account of the  Borrower  prior to the Closing
Date.  Subject to the  satisfaction of the conditions  contained in Sections 5.1
and 5.2,  from and after the Closing Date such letters of credit shall be deemed
to be Letters of Credit issued pursuant to this Article III.

      3.3 Types and Amounts. No Issuing Bank shall have any obligation to and no
Issuing Bank shall:

                  (i)  issue any  Letter  of Credit if on the date of  issuance,
         before  or after  giving  effect  to the  Letter  of  Credit  requested
         hereunder,  (a) the  Revolving  Credit  Obligations  at such time would
         exceed the Aggregate Revolving Loan Commitment or the Borrowing Base at
         such  time,  or  (b)  the  aggregate  outstanding  amount  of  the  L/C
         Obligations would exceed $10,000,000; or

                  (ii) issue any Letter of Credit which has an  expiration  date
         later than the date which is the earlier of one (1) year after the date
         of issuance thereof or five (5) Business Days immediately preceding the
         Termination Date.

      3.4  Conditions.  In addition to being subject to the  satisfaction of the
conditions  contained in Sections 5.1 and 5.2, the obligation of an Issuing Bank
to issue any  Letter of Credit is  subject  to the  satisfaction  in full of the
following conditions:

                  (i)  the  Borrower  shall  have  delivered  to the  applicable
         Issuing  Bank at such times and in such manner as such Issuing Bank may
         reasonably  prescribe,  a request for issuance of such Letter of Credit
         in  substantially   the  form  of  Exhibit  D  hereto,   duly  executed
         applications  for such  Letter of  Credit,  and such  other  documents,
         instructions  and  agreements as may be required  pursuant to the terms
         thereof,  and  the  proposed  Letter  of  Credit  shall  be  reasonably
         satisfactory to such Issuing Bank as to form and content; and

                  (ii) as of the date of issuance  no order,  judgment or decree
         of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority shall purport by its
         terms to enjoin or restrain  the  applicable  Issuing Bank from issuing
         such Letter of Credit and no law, rule or regulation applicable to such
         Issuing  Bank and no request or  directive  (whether  or not having the
         force of law) from a Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such
         Issuing Bank shall prohibit or

                                                   -51-

<PAGE>



         request  that such Issuing Bank refrain from the issuance of Letters of
         Credit generally or the issuance of that Letter of Credit.

      3.5 Procedure for Issuance of Letters of Credit.  (a) Subject to the terms
and conditions of this Article III and provided that the  applicable  conditions
set forth in Sections  5.1 and 5.2 hereof have been  satisfied,  the  applicable
Issuing Bank shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit on behalf of
the Borrower in accordance with such Issuing Bank's usual and customary business
practices  and,  in this  connection,  such  Issuing  Bank may  assume  that the
applicable conditions set forth in Section 5.2 hereof have been satisfied unless
it shall have received  notice to the contrary from the Agent or a Lender or has
knowledge that the applicable conditions have not been met.

      (b) The  applicable  Issuing  Bank shall  give the Agent  written or telex
notice, or telephonic notice confirmed  promptly  thereafter in writing,  of the
issuance of a Letter of Credit,  provided,  however, that the failure to provide
such notice shall not result in any liability on the part of such Issuing Bank.

      (c) No Issuing Bank shall extend or amend any Letter of Credit  unless the
requirements  of this  Section  3.5 are met as though a new Letter of Credit was
being requested and issued.

      3.6 Letter of Credit Participation.  Immediately upon the issuance of each
Letter of Credit hereunder,  each Lender shall be deemed to have  automatically,
irrevocably  and  unconditionally  purchased  and received  from the  applicable
Issuing Bank an undivided  interest and  participation  in and to such Letter of
Credit, the obligations of the Borrower in respect thereof, and the liability of
such Issuing Bank thereunder (collectively, an "L/C Interest" in an amount equal
to the amount  available for drawing  under such Letter of Credit  multiplied by
such Lender's Pro Rata Share. Each Issuing Bank will notify each Lender promptly
upon presentation to it of an L/C Draft or upon any other draw under a Letter of
Credit.  On or before the Business Day on which an Issuing Bank makes payment of
each such L/C Draft or, in the case of any other draw on a Letter of Credit,  on
demand by the  Agent,  each  Lender  shall make  payment  to the Agent,  for the
account of the  applicable  Issuing Bank, in immediately  available  funds in an
amount  equal to such  Lender's  Pro Rata Share of the amount of such payment or
draw.  The  obligation  of each Lender to reimburse the Issuing Banks under this
Section 3.6 shall be unconditional, continuing, irrevocable and absolute. In the
event that any Lender fails to make payment to the Agent of any amount due under
this  Section  3.6,  the Agent shall be  entitled  to receive,  retain and apply
against such  obligation  the principal and interest  otherwise  payable to such
Lender  hereunder until the Agent receives such payment from such Lender or such
obligation  is  otherwise  fully  satisfied;  provided,  however,  that  nothing
contained  in this  sentence  shall  relieve  such Lender of its  obligation  to
reimburse the  applicable  Issuing Bank for such amount in accordance  with this
Section 3.6.


                                                   -52-

<PAGE>



      3.7  Reimbursement   Obligation.   The  Borrower  agrees  unconditionally,
irrevocably and absolutely to pay  immediately to the Agent,  for the account of
the Lenders,  the amount of each advance which may be drawn under or pursuant to
a Letter of  Credit or an L/C Draft  related  thereto  (such  obligation  of the
Borrower to reimburse  the Agent for an advance made under a Letter of Credit or
L/C Draft being  hereinafter  referred to as a  "Reimbursement  Obligation" with
respect to such  Letter of Credit or L/C  Draft).  If the  Borrower  at any time
fails to repay a  Reimbursement  Obligation  pursuant to this  Section  3.7, the
Borrower  shall be deemed to have  elected  to borrow  Revolving  Loans from the
Lenders,  as of the  date  of  the  advance  giving  rise  to the  Reimbursement
Obligation,   equal  in  amount  to  the  amount  of  the  unpaid  Reimbursement
Obligation.  Such  Revolving  Loans  shall be made as of the date of the payment
giving rise to such Reimbursement Obligation,  automatically, without notice and
without any requirement to satisfy the conditions precedent otherwise applicable
to an Advance of  Revolving  Loans.  Such  Revolving  Loans shall  constitute  a
Floating Rate Advance, the proceeds of which Advance shall be used to repay such
Reimbursement  Obligation.  If, for any reason,  the  Borrower  fails to repay a
Reimbursement  Obligation on the day such  Reimbursement  Obligation arises and,
for any reason,  the Lenders  are unable to make or have no  obligation  to make
Revolving Loans, then such Reimbursement Obligation shall bear interest from and
after  such day,  until  paid in full,  at the  interest  rate  applicable  to a
Floating Rate Advance.

      3.8 Letter of Credit Fees. The Borrower  agrees to pay (i)  quarterly,  in
arrears,  to the Agent for the  ratable  benefit of the  Lenders,  except as set
forth in Section  9.2,  a letter of credit fee at a rate per annum  equal to the
Applicable  L/C Fee  Percentage  on the average  daily  outstanding  face amount
available for drawing under all Letters of Credit,  (ii) quarterly,  in arrears,
to the Agent  for the sole  account  of each  Issuing  Bank,  a letter of credit
fronting  fee of  one-quarter  of one  percent  (0.25%) per annum on the average
daily  outstanding face amount available for drawing under all Letters of Credit
issued by such  Issuing  Bank,  and (iii) to the Agent for the  benefit  of each
Issuing  Bank,  all  customary  fees and  other  issuance,  amendment,  document
examination,  negotiation  and  presentment  expenses  and  related  charges  in
connection with the issuance,  amendment,  presentation  of L/C Drafts,  and the
like  customarily  charged by such  Issuing  Banks with  respect to standby  and
commercial  Letters  of  Credit,   including,   without   limitation,   standard
commissions with respect to commercial Letters of Credit, payable at the time of
invoice of such amounts.

      3.9  Issuing  Bank  Reporting  Requirements.  In  addition  to the notices
required by Section  3.5(C),  each Issuing  Bank shall,  no later than the tenth
Business Day  following the last day of each month,  provide to the Agent,  upon
the Agent's request, schedules, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
the Agent, showing the date of issue, account party, amount, expiration date and
the reference  number of each Letter of Credit issued by it  outstanding  at any
time during such month and the aggregate  amount payable by the Borrower  during
such month. In addition,  upon the request of the Agent, each Issuing Bank shall
furnish to the Agent copies of any Letter of Credit and any application for or

                                                   -53-

<PAGE>



reimbursement  agreement with respect to a Letter of Credit to which the Issuing
Bank is party and such other documentation as may reasonably be requested by the
Agent.  Upon the  request of any Lender,  the Agent will  provide to such Lender
information concerning such Letters of Credit.

      3.10 Indemnification;  Exoneration.  (A) In addition to amounts payable as
elsewhere  provided in this Article III, the Borrower  hereby agrees to protect,
indemnify,  pay and save  harmless the Agent,  each Issuing Bank and each Lender
from and against any and all liabilities and costs which the Agent, such Issuing
Bank or such  Lender  may incur or be  subject  to as a  consequence,  direct or
indirect, of (i) the issuance of any Letter of Credit other than, in the case of
the  applicable  Issuing  Bank,  as a result of its Gross  Negligence or willful
misconduct,  as  determined  by the  final  judgment  of a  court  of  competent
jurisdiction,  or (ii) the  failure of the  applicable  Issuing  Bank to honor a
drawing  under a 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 Governmental
Authority (all such acts or omissions herein called "Governmental Acts").

      (B) As among the Borrower,  the Lenders,  the Agent and the Issuing Banks,
the Borrower  assumes all risks of the acts and  omissions of, or misuse of such
Letter of Credit by, the  beneficiary  of any Letters of Credit.  In furtherance
and not in limitation of the foregoing,  subject to the provisions of the Letter
of Credit applications and Letter of Credit reimbursement agreements executed by
the Borrower at the time of request for any Letter of Credit, neither the Agent,
any Issuing  Bank nor any Lender shall be  responsible  (in the absence of Gross
Negligence or willful misconduct in connection  therewith,  as determined by the
final  judgment  of a court  of  competent  jurisdiction):  (i)  for  the  form,
validity,  sufficiency,  accuracy,  genuineness  or legal effect of any document
submitted by any party in connection  with the  application  for and issuance of
the  Letters  of  Credit,  even if it should  in fact  prove to be in any or all
respects invalid, insufficient,  inaccurate,  fraudulent or forged; (ii) for the
validity  or  sufficiency  of  any  instrument   transferring  or  assigning  or
purporting  to  transfer  or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits
thereunder  or  proceeds  thereof,  in whole or in part,  which  may prove to be
invalid or ineffective for any reason; (iii) for failure of the beneficiary of a
Letter of Credit to comply duly with  conditions  required in order to draw upon
such Letter of Credit;  (iv) for errors,  omissions,  interruptions or delays in
transmission or delivery of any messages, by mail, cable,  telegraph,  telex, or
other  similar  form  of  teletransmission  or  otherwise;  (v)  for  errors  in
interpretation  of  technical  trade  terms;  (vi)  for any loss or delay in the
transmission  or otherwise  of any document  required in order to make a drawing
under  any  Letter  of  Credit  or  of  the  proceeds  thereof;  (vii)  for  the
misapplication  by the  beneficiary of a Letter of Credit of the proceeds of any
drawing  under such Letter of Credit;  and (viii) for any  consequences  arising
from causes beyond the control of the Agent,  the Issuing Banks and the Lenders,
including,  without  limitation,  any Governmental Acts. None of the above shall
affect,  impair,  or prevent the vesting of any Issuing  Bank's rights or powers
under this Section 3.10.

                                                   -54-

<PAGE>



      (C) In  furtherance  and  extension  and not in limitation of the specific
provisions  hereinabove  set forth,  any action  taken or omitted by any Issuing
Bank  under  or in  connection  with  the  Letters  of  Credit  or  any  related
certificates   shall  not,  in  the  absence  of  Gross  Negligence  or  willful
misconduct,  as  determined  by the  final  judgment  of a  court  of  competent
jurisdiction, put the applicable Issuing Bank, the Agent or any Lender under any
resulting  liability  to the  Borrower  or relieve  the  Borrower  of any of its
obligations hereunder to any such Person.

      (D)  Without  prejudice  to the  survival  of any other  agreement  of the
Borrower hereunder,  the agreements and obligations of the Borrower contained in
this  Section 3.10 shall  survive the payment in full of principal  and interest
hereunder,  the termination of the Letters of Credit and the termination of this
Agreement.

      3.11 Cash Collateral.  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary herein or
in any application  for a Letter of Credit,  after the occurrence and during the
continuance of Default, the Borrower shall, upon the Agent's demand,  deliver to
the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders and the Issuing  Banks,  cash, or other
collateral of a type  satisfactory to the Required  Lenders,  having a value, as
determined by such Lenders,  equal to the aggregate outstanding L/C Obligations.
In addition,  if the Revolving Credit  Availability is at any time less than the
amount of contingent L/C Obligations outstanding at any time, the Borrower shall
deposit cash collateral with the Agent in an amount equal to the amount by which
such  L/C  Obligations  exceed  such  Revolving  Credit  Availability.  Any such
collateral  shall  be held by the  Agent  in a  separate  account  appropriately
designated as a cash  collateral  account in relation to this  Agreement and the
Letters of Credit and  retained  by the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders and
the Issuing  Banks as  collateral  security for the  Borrower's  obligations  in
respect of this Agreement and each of the Letters of Credit and L/C Drafts. Such
amounts shall be applied to reimburse the Issuing Banks for drawings or payments
under  or  pursuant  to  Letters  of  Credit  or  L/C  Drafts,  or  if  no  such
reimbursement  is required,  to payment of such of the other  Obligations as the
Agent shall determine.  If no Default shall be continuing,  amounts remaining in
any cash collateral account established  pursuant to this Section 3.11 which are
not to be applied to reimburse an Issuing Bank for amounts  actually  paid or to
be paid by such  Issuing  Bank in  respect  of a Letter of Credit or L/C  Draft,
shall be returned  to the  Borrower  (after  deduction  of the Agent's  expenses
incurred in connection with such cash collateral account).


ARTICLE IV:  CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES

      4.1 Yield Protection. If any law or any governmental or quasi-governmental
rule,  regulation,  policy,  guideline or  directive  (whether or not having the
force of law)  adopted  after  the date of this  Agreement  and  having  general
applicability to all banks within the jurisdiction in which such Lender operates
(excluding,  for the avoidance of doubt, the effect of and phasing in of capital
requirements or other regulations or guidelines passed prior to the date of this
Agreement), or any interpretation or application thereof by any

                                                   -55-

<PAGE>



Governmental  Authority charged with the interpretation or application  thereof,
or the compliance of any Lender therewith,

                  (i) subjects any Lender or any applicable Lending Installation
         to any tax,  duty,  charge or  withholding on or from payments due from
         the Borrower  (excluding  federal taxation of the overall net income of
         any Lender or applicable Lending Installation), or changes the basis of
         taxation  of  payments  to any Lender in respect of its Loans,  its L/C
         Interests, the Letters of Credit or other amounts due it hereunder, or

                  (ii)  imposes or increases  or deems  applicable  any reserve,
         assessment,  insurance charge,  special deposit or similar  requirement
         against  assets  of,  deposits  with or for the  account  of, or credit
         extended by, any Lender or any applicable Lending  Installation  (other
         than reserves and  assessments  taken into account in  determining  the
         interest rate  applicable to Eurodollar Rate Loans) with respect to its
         Loans, L/C Interests or the Letters of Credit, or

                  (iii)  imposes any other  condition  the result of which is to
         increase the cost to any Lender or any applicable Lending  Installation
         of making,  funding or maintaining the Loans,  the L/C Interests or the
         Letters of Credit or reduces  any amount  received by any Lender or any
         applicable Lending  Installation in connection with Loans or Letters of
         Credit, or requires any Lender or any applicable  Lending  Installation
         to make any payment  calculated  by reference to the amount of Loans or
         L/C  Interests  held or interest  received by it or by reference to the
         Letters of Credit, by an amount deemed material by such Lender;

and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to that Lender of
making, renewing or maintaining its Loans, L/C Interests or Letters of Credit or
to reduce any amount received under this Agreement,  then,  within 15 days after
receipt by the  Borrower of written  demand by such  Lender  pursuant to Section
4.5, the Borrower shall pay such Lender that portion of such  increased  expense
incurred or  reduction in an amount  received  which such Lender  determines  is
attributable  to making,  funding  and  maintaining  its Loans,  L/C  Interests,
Letters of Credit and its Revolving Loan Commitment.

      4.2 Changes in Capital Adequacy  Regulations.  If a Lender  determines (i)
the amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by such Lender,  any
Lending  Installation of such Lender or any corporation  controlling such Lender
is  increased  as a result  of a  "Change"  (as  defined  below),  and (ii) such
increase  in capital  will  result in an  increase in the cost to such Lender of
maintaining its Loans, L/C Interests, the Letters of Credit or its obligation to
make Loans  hereunder,  then,  within 15 days after  receipt by the  Borrower of
written  demand by such Lender  pursuant to Section 4.5, the Borrower  shall pay
such Lender the amount  necessary to compensate for any shortfall in the rate of
return on the portion of such increased  capital which such Lender determines is
attributable to this

                                                   -56-

<PAGE>



Agreement, its Loans, its L/C Interests, the Letters of Credit or its obligation
to make Loans hereunder (after taking into account such Lender's  policies as to
capital  adequacy).  "Change"  means  (i)  any  change  after  the  date of this
Agreement in the "Risk-Based  Capital  Guidelines" (as defined below) excluding,
for the  avoidance  of doubt,  the effect of any  phasing in of such  Risk-Based
Capital  Guidelines or any other capital  requirements  passed prior to the date
hereof,  or (ii) any  adoption  of or change in any other law,  governmental  or
quasi-governmental  rule,  regulation,  policy,  guideline,  interpretation,  or
directive  (whether  or not  having  the  force of law)  after  the date of this
Agreement  and  having  general   applicability   to  all  banks  and  financial
institutions within the jurisdiction in which such Lender operates which affects
the amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by any Lender or any
Lending  Installation  or any corporation  controlling  any Lender.  "Risk-Based
Capital Guidelines" means (i) the risk-based capital guidelines in effect in the
United States on the date of this Agreement,  including  transition  rules,  and
(ii) the corresponding capital regulations promulgated by regulatory authorities
outside  the  United  States  implementing  the July  1988  report  of the Basle
Committee   on   Banking   Regulation   and   Supervisory   Practices   Entitled
"International  Convergence  of Capital  Measurements  and  Capital  Standards,"
including transition rules, and any amendments to such regulations adopted prior
to the date of this Agreement.

      4.3 Availability of Types of Advances.  If (i) any Lender  determines that
maintenance  of its  Eurodollar  Rate Loans at a suitable  Lending  Installation
would violate any applicable law, rule, regulation or directive,  whether or not
having  the  force  of law,  or (ii) the  Required  Lenders  determine  that (x)
deposits  of a type and  maturity  appropriate  to match  fund  Eurodollar  Rate
Advances  are not  available or (y) the interest  rate  applicable  to a Type of
Advance does not accurately  reflect the cost of making or  maintaining  such an
Advance,  then the Agent shall suspend the  availability of the affected Type of
Advance and, in the case of any  occurrence  set forth in clause (i) require any
Advances of the affected Type to be repaid.

      4.4 Funding  Indemnification.  If any payment of a Eurodollar Rate Advance
occurs on a date which is not the last day of the  applicable  Interest  Period,
whether because of acceleration,  prepayment, or otherwise, or a Eurodollar Rate
Advance is not made on the date  specified  by the Borrower for any reason other
than default by the Lenders,  the Borrower  indemnifies each Lender for any loss
or cost incurred by it resulting therefrom,  including,  without limitation, any
loss or cost in liquidating or employing  deposits  acquired to fund or maintain
the Eurodollar Rate Advance.  In connection with any assignment by any Lender of
any  portion of the Loans made  pursuant  to  Section  13.3 and made  during the
Syndication  Period, and if,  notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.4, the
Borrower has requested and the Agent has consented to the use of the  Eurodollar
Rate,  the Borrower  shall be deemed to have repaid all  outstanding  Eurodollar
Rate Advances as of the effective date of such  assignment  and reborrowed  such
amount as a Floating  Rate Advance  and/or  Eurodollar  Rate Advance  (chosen in
accordance  with  the  provisions  of  Section  2.4)  and  the   indemnification
provisions under this Section 4.4 shall apply.

                                                   -57-

<PAGE>



      4.5 Lender Statements; Survival of Indemnity. If reasonably possible, each
Lender shall  designate an alternate  Lending  Installation  with respect to its
Eurodollar  Rate Loans to reduce any  liability  of the  Borrower to such Lender
under Sections 4.1 and 4.2 or to avoid the  unavailability  of a Type of Advance
under Section 4.3, so long as such  designation is not  disadvantageous  to such
Lender.  Each Lender  requiring  compensation  pursuant to Section 2.15(E) or to
this Article IV shall use its reasonable  efforts to notify the Borrower and the
Agent in writing of any Change, law, policy, rule, guideline or directive giving
rise to such demand for  compensation  not later than thirty (30) days following
the date upon which the  responsible  account  officer of such  Lender  knows or
should have known of such Change, law, policy, rule, guideline or directive. Any
demand for  compensation  pursuant  to this  Article IV shall be in writing  and
shall state the amount due, if any,  under Section 4.1, 4.2 or 4.4 and shall set
forth in reasonable  detail the calculations  upon which such Lender  determined
such amount.  Such written demand shall be rebuttably  presumed  correct for all
purposes.  Determination  of amounts  payable  under such Sections in connection
with a Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be calculated as though each Lender funded its
Eurodollar  Rate Loan through the purchase of a deposit of the type and maturity
corresponding  to the deposit used as a reference in determining  the Eurodollar
Rate  applicable  to such  Loan,  whether  in fact that is the case or not.  The
obligations  of the  Borrower  under  Sections  4.1,  4.2 and 4.4 shall  survive
payment of the Obligations and termination of this Agreement.


ARTICLE V:  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

      5.1  Initial  Advances  and Letters of Credit.  The  Lenders  shall not be
required  to make the initial  Loans or issue any  Letters of Credit  unless the
Borrower  has  furnished  to the Agent each of the  following,  with  sufficient
copies for the Lenders, all in form and substance  satisfactory to the Agent and
the Lenders:

                  (1) Copies of the Articles of  Incorporation  of the Borrower,
         together with all amendments  and a certificate of good standing,  both
         certified by the appropriate  governmental  officer in its jurisdiction
         of incorporation;

                  (2) Copies,  certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary
         of  the  Borrower,  of its  By-Laws  and of  its  Board  of  Directors'
         resolutions  (and  resolutions  of  other  bodies,  if any  are  deemed
         necessary by counsel for any Lender)  authorizing  the execution of the
         Loan Documents;

                  (3) An  incumbency  certificate,  executed by the Secretary or
         Assistant  Secretary of the Borrower,  which shall identify by name and
         title and bear the signature of the officers of the Borrower authorized
         to sign the Loan Documents and to make borrowings hereunder, upon which
         certificate the Lenders shall be entitled to rely until informed of any
         change in writing by the Borrower;

                                                   -58-

<PAGE>




                  (4) A certificate,  in form and substance  satisfactory to the
         Agent,  signed by the chief financial officer of the Borrower,  stating
         that on Closing Date no Default or  Unmatured  Default has occurred and
         is continuing;

                  (5) A written opinion of the Borrower's counsel,  addressed to
         the Agent and the Lenders,  addressing the issues identified in Exhibit
         F hereto containing  assumptions and  qualifications  acceptable to the
         Agent and the Lenders;

                  (6)  Notes  payable  to the  order  of each of the  applicable
         Lenders;

                  (7) Evidence satisfactory to the Agent that (i) all conditions
         precedent to the  consummation  of the Tender Offer have been satisfied
         or waived  with the  approval  of the Agent  (such  approval  not to be
         unreasonably withheld), (ii) Acquisition Corp., the Borrower and Target
         have  entered  into  the  Merger   Agreement  in  form  and   substance
         satisfactory to the Agent, (iii) the Merger Agreement has been approved
         by  all  necessary  corporate  action  of  Acquisition   Corp.'s,   the
         Borrower's and Target's respective Board of Directors, and has not been
         amended,  waived  or  modified  in any  material  respect  without  the
         approval of the Agent (such approval not to be  unreasonably  withheld)
         and (iv) there has not occurred any  material  breach or default  under
         the Merger Agreement;

                  (8)  Evidence  satisfactory  to the Agent that there exists no
         injunction or temporary restraining order which, in the judgment of the
         Agent,  would prohibit the making of the Loans or the  consummation  of
         the Tender Offer or Merger or any litigation seeking such an injunction
         or restraining order;

                  (9) Written money transfer  instructions  reasonably requested
         by the  Agent,  addressed  to the  Agent and  signed  by an  Authorized
         Officer; and

                  (10) Evidence  satisfactory to the Agent that the Borrower has
         received  at  least  $30,000,000  in  proceeds  from  the  issuance  of
         Subordinated Notes to LDI, Ltd;

                  (11) Copy of the  fairness  opinion from  Target's  investment
         banker relating to the terms of the Tender Offer and Merger.

                  (12) Such  other  documents  as the Agent or any Lender or its
         counsel may have reasonably  requested,  including,  without limitation
         all  of the  documents  reflected  on the  List  of  Closing  Documents
         attached as Exhibit G to this Agreement.


                                                   -59-

<PAGE>



      5.2 Each Advance and Letter of Credit.  The Lenders  shall not be required
to make any  Advance  or issue any Letter of  Credit,  unless on the  applicable
Borrowing  Date,  or in the case of a Letter  of  Credit,  the date on which the
Letter of Credit is to be issued:

                  (i)  There exists no Default or Unmatured Default; and

                  (ii) The representations  and warranties  contained in Article
         VI are true and correct as of such Borrowing Date except for changes in
         the Schedules to this Agreement  reflecting  transactions  permitted by
         this Agreement.

      Each Borrowing  Notice with respect to each such Advance and the letter of
credit  application  with  respect  to a Letter of  Credit  shall  constitute  a
representation  and warranty by the Borrower  that the  conditions  contained in
Sections  5.2(i) and (ii) have been  satisfied.  Any  Lender may  require a duly
completed  officer's  certificate in substantially  the form of Exhibit H hereto
and/or a duly  completed  compliance  certificate in  substantially  the form of
Exhibit I hereto as a condition to making an Advance.


ARTICLE VI:  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

       In order to induce the Agent and the Lenders to enter into this Agreement
and to make the Loans and the other financial accommodations to the Borrower and
to issue the Letters of Credit  described  herein,  the Borrower  represents and
warrants  as follows to each Lender and the Agent as of the  Closing  Date,  and
thereafter on each date as required by Section 5.2:

      6.1  Organization;   Corporate  Powers.  The  Borrower  and  each  of  its
Subsidiaries  (i) is a  corporation  duly  organized,  validly  existing  and in
existence under the laws of the jurisdiction of its  organization,  (ii) is duly
qualified to do business as a foreign  corporation and is in good standing under
the laws of each  jurisdiction  in which  failure to be so qualified and in good
standing could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and
(iii) has all  requisite  corporate  power and  authority  to own,  operate  and
encumber its property and to conduct its business as presently  conducted and as
proposed to be conducted.

      6.2  Authority.

      (A) The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries has the requisite  corporate
power  and  authority  (i) to  execute,  deliver  and  perform  each of the Loan
Documents,  (ii) to execute,  deliver and perform each of the other  Transaction
Documents which are to be executed by it in connection with the Tender Offer and
the Merger or which have been executed by it as required by this Agreement on or
prior to Closing Date and (iii) to file the Transaction  Documents which must be
filed by it in connection with the Tender Offer and the Merger

                                                   -60-

<PAGE>



or which have been filed by it as required by this  Agreement or otherwise on or
prior to the Closing Date with any Governmental Authority.

      (B) The execution,  delivery and performance of each of the Loan Documents
and the execution, delivery, performance and filing, as the case may be, of each
of the  other  Transaction  Documents  which  must be  executed  or filed by the
Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries in connection with the Tender Offer and the
Merger or which have been  executed or filed as required  by this  Agreement  or
otherwise  on or prior to the Closing  Date and to which the  Borrower or any of
its Subsidiaries is party, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
thereby,  have been duly approved by the respective  boards of directors and, if
necessary,  the  shareholders  of the  Borrower and its  Subsidiaries,  and such
approvals have not been rescinded.  No other corporate  action or proceedings on
the part of the Borrower or its  Subsidiaries  are necessary to consummate  such
transactions.

      (C) Each of the Transaction  Documents to which the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party has been duly executed,  delivered or filed, as the case
may  be,  by it  and  constitutes  its  legal,  valid  and  binding  obligation,
enforceable  against it in accordance  with its terms (except as  enforceability
may be  limited  by  bankruptcy,  insolvency,  or  similar  laws  affecting  the
enforcement of creditors' rights generally),  is in full force and effect and no
material term or condition thereof has been amended, modified or waived from the
terms and conditions  contained in the  Transaction  Documents  delivered to the
Agent pursuant to Section 5.1 without the prior written  consent of the Required
Lenders,  and the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  have,  and, to the best of the
Borrower's  and its  Subsidiaries'  knowledge,  all other parties  thereto have,
performed and complied with all the terms, provisions, agreements and conditions
set forth  therein and required to be performed or complied with by such parties
on or before the Closing Date,  and no unmatured  default,  default or breach of
any covenant by any such party exists thereunder.

      6.3 No  Conflict;  Governmental  Consents.  The  execution,  delivery  and
performance of each of the Loan Documents and the other Transaction Documents to
which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a party do not and will not (i)
conflict with the  certificate  or articles of  incorporation  or by-laws of the
Borrower or any such Subsidiary,  (ii) constitute a tortious  interference  with
any Contractual Obligation of any Person or conflict with, result in a breach of
or constitute  (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) a default under
any  Requirement  of  Law  (including,  without  limitation,  any  Environmental
Property  Transfer  Act) or  Contractual  Obligation of the Borrower or any such
Subsidiary,  or require termination of any Contractual  Obligation,  except such
interference,  breach,  default  or  termination  which  individually  or in the
aggregate  could not reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect,
(iii) result in or require the  creation or  imposition  of any Lien  whatsoever
upon any of the property or assets of the Borrower or any such Subsidiary, other
than Liens permitted by the Loan Documents,  or (iv) require any approval of the
Borrower's  or any  such  Subsidiary's  shareholders  except  such as have  been
obtained. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.3 to this Agreement, the

                                                   -61-

<PAGE>



execution,  delivery and  performance  of each of the  Transaction  Documents to
which the  Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries  is a party do not and will not
require any  registration  with,  consent or approval of, or notice to, or other
action  to,  with  or  by  any  Governmental  Authority,   including  under  any
Environmental  Property Transfer Act, except filings,  consents or notices which
have been made,  obtained or given,  or which,  if not made,  obtained or given,
individually  or in the  aggregate  could not  reasonably  be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.

      6.4  Financial Statements.

      (A) The pro forma balance sheets, income statements and statements of cash
flow of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries,  copies of which are attached hereto
as Schedule 6.4 to this  Agreement,  present on a pro forma basis the  financial
condition of the Borrower and such  Subsidiaries  as of such date,  reflect on a
pro forma basis those  liabilities  reflected in the notes thereto and resulting
from consummation of the Merger and the other transactions  contemplated by this
Agreement,  and the payment or accrual of all  Transaction  Costs payable on the
Closing Date with respect to any of the foregoing and  demonstrate  that,  after
giving effect to the Merger,  the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries can repay their
debts and satisfy their other  obligations  as and when due, and can comply with
the requirements of this Agreement. The projections and assumptions expressed in
the pro forma financials referenced in this Section 6.4(A) were prepared in good
faith and represent  management's opinion based on the information  available to
the Borrower at the time so furnished and, since the preparation  thereof and up
to the  Closing  Date,  there has  occurred no  material  adverse  change in the
business,  financial  condition,  operations,  or,  prospects  of the  Borrower,
Target, or the Borrower and Target taken as a whole.

      (B) Complete and accurate copies of the following financial statements and
the following  related  information  have been  delivered to the Agent:  (1) the
balance sheet of the Borrower as at December 31, 1996; and the related  combined
statements  of  income,  changes in  stockholders'  equity and cash flows of the
Borrower for the fiscal year then ended,  and the audit report related  thereto;
(2) the  unaudited  balance  sheet of the Borrower  for the fiscal  period ended
September  30,  1997,  and the  related  statements  of  operations,  changes in
stockholder's  equity and cash flows of the Borrower for the fiscal quarter then
ended; (3) the balance sheet of Target as at September 30, 1996, and the related
statements of operations,  changes in stockholder's investment and cash flows of
Target for the fiscal year then ended, and the audit report related thereto; and
(4) the unaudited balance sheet of the Target for the fiscal period ended August
31, 1997 and the related  statements  of  operations,  changes in  stockholder's
equity and cash flows of the Target for the fiscal period then ended.

      6.5 No Material Adverse Change.  (A) Since June 30, 1997 up to the Closing
Date, there has occurred no material  adverse change in the business,  financial
condition, operations

                                                   -62-

<PAGE>



or prospects of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries  taken as a whole or any other
event  which has had or could  reasonably  be  expected  to result in a Material
Adverse Effect.

      (B) Since June 30,  1997 up to the  Closing  Date,  there has  occurred no
change in the business,  financial condition,  operations or prospects of Target
which has had or could  reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect
on Target.

      (C) Since the Closing  Date,  there has occurred no event which has had or
could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

      6.6  Taxes.

      (A) Tax  Examinations.  All deficiencies  which have been asserted against
the Borrower or any of the Borrower's  Subsidiaries  as a result of any federal,
state,  local or foreign tax  examination  for each  taxable  year in respect of
which an examination  has been conducted have been fully paid or finally settled
or are being  contested  in good faith,  and as of the Closing Date no issue has
been  raised  by  any  taxing  authority  in  any  such  examination  which,  by
application  of similar  principles,  reasonably  can be  expected  to result in
assertion by such taxing  authority of a material  deficiency for any other year
not so examined which has not been reserved for in the  Borrower's  consolidated
financial  statements to the extent,  if any,  required by Agreement  Accounting
Principles. Except as permitted pursuant to Section 7.2(D), neither the Borrower
nor any of the Borrower's  Subsidiaries  anticipates  any material tax liability
with respect to the years which have not been closed pursuant to applicable law.

      (B) Payment of Taxes. Except as described on Schedule 6.6, all tax returns
and reports of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries  required to be filed have been
timely filed, and all taxes,  assessments,  fees and other governmental  charges
thereupon and upon their  respective  property,  assets,  income and  franchises
which are shown in such  returns or reports to be due and payable have been paid
except  those  items  which  are  being  contested  in good  faith and have been
reserved for in accordance with Agreement  Accounting  Principles.  The Borrower
has no knowledge of any proposed tax  assessment  against the Borrower or any of
its  Subsidiaries  that  will have or could  reasonably  be  expected  to have a
Material Adverse Effect.

      6.7 Litigation; Loss Contingencies and Violations.  Except as set forth in
Schedule 6.7 to this  Agreement,  which lists all pending  litigation  involving
individual  claims against the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries or Target of
more than $500,000, there is no action, suit, proceeding, arbitration or (to the
Borrower's knowledge)  investigation before or by any Governmental  Authority or
private arbitrator pending or, to the Borrower's  knowledge,  threatened against
the  Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  or any  property of any of them which
will have or could  reasonably  be expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect.
There is no material loss contingency within the meaning of

                                                   -63-

<PAGE>



Agreement Accounting Principles which has not been reflected in the consolidated
financial  statements of the Borrower prepared and delivered pursuant to Section
7.1(A) for the fiscal period during which such  material  loss  contingency  was
incurred.  Neither the Borrower nor any of its  Subsidiaries is (A) in violation
of any  applicable  Requirements  of Law  which  violation  will  have or  could
reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse Effect,  or (B) subject to or
in default with respect to any final  judgment,  writ,  injunction,  restraining
order  or  order of any  nature,  decree,  rule or  regulation  of any  court or
Governmental Authority which will have or could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.

      6.8   Subsidiaries.   Schedule  6.8  to  this  Agreement  (i)  contains  a
description of the corporate structure of the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and any
other  Person in which the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  holds an Equity
Interest (both  narratively  and in chart form);  and (ii) accurately sets forth
(A)  the  correct  legal  name,  the  jurisdiction  of  incorporation   and  the
jurisdictions  in  which  each of the  Borrower  and  the  direct  and  indirect
Subsidiaries  of the  Borrower is  qualified  to transact  business as a foreign
corporation, (B) the authorized,  issued and outstanding shares of each class of
Capital  Stock of the  Borrower and each of its  Subsidiaries  and the owners of
such shares (both as of the Closing Date and on a fully-diluted  basis), and (C)
a summary of the direct and indirect partnership, joint venture, or other Equity
Interests,  if any, of the Borrower and each  Subsidiary  of the Borrower in any
Person that is not a  corporation.  Except as described on Schedule 6.8, none of
the  issued  and  outstanding  Capital  Stock  of  the  Borrower  or  any of its
Subsidiaries is subject to any vesting, redemption, or repurchase agreement, and
there are no warrants or options outstanding with respect to such Capital Stock.
The  outstanding  Capital  Stock  of the  Borrower  and  each of the  Borrower's
Subsidiaries is duly authorized,  validly issued,  fully paid and  nonassessable
and is not Margin Stock.

      6.9 ERISA.  Except as  disclosed  on  Schedule  6.9,  no Benefit  Plan has
incurred any accumulated funding deficiency (as defined in Sections 302(a)(2) of
ERISA and 412(a) of the Code)  whether or not waived.  Neither the  Borrower nor
any member of the Controlled  Group has incurred any liability to the PBGC which
remains outstanding other than the payment of premiums, and there are no premium
payments  which have become due which are unpaid.  Schedule B to the most recent
annual report filed with the IRS with respect to each Benefit Plan and furnished
to the lenders is complete and accurate. Since the date of each such Schedule B,
there has been no material  adverse  change in the funding  status or  financial
condition of the Benefit Plan  relating to such Schedule B. Neither the Borrower
nor any  member  of the  Controlled  Group  has (i)  failed  to make a  required
contribution  or payment  to a  Multiemployer  Plan or (ii) made a  complete  or
partial  withdrawal  under  Sections 4203 or 4205 of ERISA from a  Multiemployer
Plan.  Neither the Borrower nor any member of the Controlled Group has failed to
make a required  installment or any other required  payment under Section 412 of
the  Code on or  before  the due date for  such  installment  or other  payment.
Neither the Borrower nor any member of

                                                   -64-

<PAGE>



the  Controlled  Group is required to provide  security to a Benefit  Plan under
Section  401(a)(29)  of the  Code due to a Plan  amendment  that  results  in an
increase in current liability for the plan year. Neither the Borrower nor any of
its  Subsidiaries  maintains or contributes to any employee welfare benefit plan
within the meaning of Section 3(1) of ERISA which provides benefits to employees
after  termination of employment other than as required by Section 601 of ERISA.
To  Borrower's  knowledge,  each Plan which is  intended to be  qualified  under
Section  401(a) of the Code as  currently  in effect is so  qualified,  and each
trust  related to any such Plan is exempt from federal  income tax under Section
501(a) of the Code as currently in effect. The Borrower and all Subsidiaries are
in compliance in all material  respects with the  responsibilities,  obligations
and duties  imposed on them by ERISA and the Code with respect to all Plans.  To
Borrower's  knowledge,  neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any
fiduciary  of  any  Plan  has  engaged  in a  nonexempt  prohibited  transaction
described in Sections 406 of ERISA or 4975 of the Code which could reasonably be
expected  to subject the  Borrower  to  liability  in excess of  $1,000,000.  To
Borrower's  knowledge,  neither the  Borrower  nor any member of the  Controlled
Group has taken or failed to take any action which would constitute or result in
a Termination  Event,  which action or inaction could  reasonably be expected to
subject the Borrower to liability in excess of $1,000,000.  Neither the Borrower
nor any Subsidiary is subject to any liability under Sections 4063,  4064, 4069,
4204 or 4212(c) of ERISA and no other member of the Controlled  Group is subject
to any liability under Sections 4063, 4064, 4069, 4204 or 4212(c) of ERISA which
could  reasonably  be expected to subject the Borrower to liability in excess of
$1,000,000.  Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries  has, by reason of
the transactions  contemplated hereby, any obligation to make any payment to any
employee pursuant to any Plan or existing contract or arrangement.

      6.10  Accuracy  of  Information.  The  information,  exhibits  and reports
furnished  by or on behalf of the Borrower  and any of its  Subsidiaries  to the
Agent or to any Lender in  connection  with the  negotiation  of, or  compliance
with, the Loan Documents, the representations and warranties of the Borrower and
its  Subsidiaries  contained in the Loan  Documents,  and all  certificates  and
documents  delivered to the Agent and the Lenders pursuant to the terms thereof,
taken as a whole,  do not contain as of the date furnished any untrue  statement
of a material fact or omit to state a material  fact  necessary in order to make
the statements  contained herein or therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading.

      6.11  Securities   Activities.   Neither  the  Borrower  nor  any  of  its
Subsidiaries  is engaged in the business of extending  credit for the purpose of
purchasing or carrying Margin Stock.

      6.12 Material Agreements. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries
has  received  notice  or  has  knowledge  that  (i)  it is in  default  in  the
performance,  observance or fulfillment of any of the obligations,  covenants or
conditions contained in any

                                                   -65-

<PAGE>



Contractual  Obligation  applicable to it, or (ii) any  condition  exists which,
with the  giving  of notice or the  lapse of time or both,  would  constitute  a
default with respect to any such Contractual  Obligation,  in each case,  except
where such default or defaults,  if any,  individually  or in the aggregate will
not have or could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

      6.13  Compliance  with Laws.  The  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  are in
compliance with all  Requirements of Law applicable to them and their respective
businesses,  in each case where the failure to so comply  individually or in the
aggregate could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

      6.14 Assets and Properties.  The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries has
good and marketable title to all of its material assets and properties (tangible
and intangible,  real or personal) owned by it or a valid leasehold  interest in
all of its  material  leased  assets  (except  insofar as  marketability  may be
limited by any laws or regulations of any Governmental  Authority affecting such
assets),  and all such  assets  and  property  are free and clear of all  Liens,
except Liens permitted under Section 7.3(C). Substantially all of the assets and
properties  owned  by,  leased  to or  used by the  Borrower  and/or  each  such
Subsidiary  of the  Borrower  are in adequate  operating  condition  and repair,
ordinary  wear  and  tear  excepted.   Neither  this  Agreement  nor  any  other
Transaction Document, nor any transaction contemplated under any such agreement,
will affect any right,  title or interest of the Borrower or such  Subsidiary in
and to any of such  assets in a manner  that would have or could  reasonably  be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

      6.15 Statutory Indebtedness Restrictions.  Neither the Borrower nor any of
its  Subsidiaries  is subject to  regulation  under the Public  Utility  Holding
Company Act of 1935, the Federal Power Act, the Interstate  Commerce Act, or the
Investment  Company  Act of 1940,  or any  other  federal  or state  statute  or
regulation  which  limits its  ability to incur  indebtedness  or its ability to
consummate  the   transactions   contemplated   hereby  or  in  connection  with
Acquisition and the Related Transactions.

      6.16 Insurance.  The Borrower  maintains  insurance  policies and programs
reasonably consistent with prudent industry practice.

      6.17  Labor Matters.

      As of the  Closing  Date,  no attempt to  organize  the  employees  of the
Borrower, and no labor disputes, strikes or walkouts affecting the operations of
the  Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries,  is pending,  or, to the  Borrower's
knowledge, threatened, planned or contemplated.

      6.18  Environmental  Matters.  (A) Except as disclosed on Schedule 6.18 to
this Agreement

                                                   -66-

<PAGE>



                  (i) the operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries comply
         in  all  material  respects  with   Environmental,   Health  or  Safety
         Requirements of Law;

                  (ii) the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  have  all  permits,
         licenses or other authorizations  required under Environmental,  Health
         or Safety  Requirements of Law and are in material compliance with such
         permits;

                  (iii) neither the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries nor any of
         their respective  present  property or operations,  or, to the best of,
         the  Borrower's  or any of its  Subsidiaries'  knowledge,  any of their
         respective  past property or operations,  are subject to or the subject
         of, any investigation known to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries,
         any judicial or administrative  proceeding,  order,  judgment,  decree,
         settlement or other agreement respecting: (A) any material violation of
         Environmental,  Health or Safety  Requirements of Law; (B) any remedial
         action;  or (C) any  material  claims or  liabilities  arising from the
         Release or threatened Release of a Contaminant into the environment;

                  (iv) there is not now,  nor to the best of the  Borrower's  or
         any of its  Subsidiaries'  knowledge  has there  ever been on or in the
         property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries any landfill, waste
         pile,  underground storage tanks,  aboveground  storage tanks,  surface
         impoundment  or  hazardous  waste  storage  facility  of any kind,  any
         polychlorinated  biphenyls  (PCBs)  used in  hydraulic  oils,  electric
         transformers or other equipment,  or any asbestos  containing  material
         which in any such  case  could  reasonably  be  expected  to  result in
         material liability for the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; and

                  (v) neither the Borrower nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has any
         material  Contingent  Obligation  in  connection  with any  Release  or
         threatened Release of a Contaminant into the environment.

      (B) For purposes of this Section 6.18 "material"  means any  noncompliance
or basis for liability which could  reasonably be likely to subject the Borrower
to liability in excess of $1,000,000.

      6.19 Tender Offer; Merger. As of the Closing Date and immediately prior to
the making of the initial Loans:

                  (i) the  Merger  Agreement  is in full  force and  effect,  no
         material breach,  default or waiver of any term or provision thereof by
         the  Borrower  or any of  its  Subsidiaries  or,  to  the  best  of the
         Borrower's  knowledge,  the other parties thereto, has occurred (except
         for such  breaches,  defaults  and  waivers,  if any,  consented  to in
         writing by the  Agent)  and no action  has been taken by any  competent
         authority  which  restrains,  prevents or imposes any material  adverse
         condition upon, or seeks

                                                   -67-

<PAGE>



         to restrain, prevent or impose any material adverse condition upon, the
         Tender Offer or the Merger;

                  (ii)  the  representations  and  warranties  of  the  Borrower
         contained in the Merger Agreement,  if any, are true and correct in all
         material respects;

                  (iii) except as set forth in Schedule 6.19 to this  Agreement,
         all conditions  precedent to, and all consents necessary to permit, the
         funding  of  the  Tender  Offer  and,   other  than   approval  of  the
         shareholders  of the  Borrower and Target,  consummation  of the Merger
         have been  satisfied  or waived with the written  approval of the Agent
         (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld).

      6.20  Solvency.  After  giving  effect  to the (i) Loans to be made on the
Closing Date or such other date as Loans requested  hereunder are made, (ii) the
payment and accrual of all  transaction  costs with respect to the foregoing and
(iii) the funding of the Tender Offer, the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  taken
as a whole is Solvent.



ARTICLE VII :  COVENANTS

      The  Borrower  covenants  and agrees that so long as any  Commitments  are
outstanding  and  thereafter  until  payment  in full of all of the  Obligations
(other than contingent indemnity obligations), unless the Required Lenders shall
otherwise give prior written consent:

      7.1  Reporting.  The Borrower shall:

      (A)  Financial Reporting. Furnish to the Lenders:

                  (i)  Quarterly  Reports.  As soon as  practicable,  and in any
         event within  forty-five (45) days after the end of each fiscal quarter
         in each fiscal year, the consolidated and  consolidating  balance sheet
         of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  as at the end of such period and
         the related  consolidated  and  consolidating  statements of income and
         cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal quarter
         and for the period from the  beginning of the then current  fiscal year
         to the end of such fiscal  quarter,  certified  by the chief  financial
         officer of the Borrower on behalf of the Borrower as fairly  presenting
         the consolidated and consolidating  financial  position of the Borrower
         and its Subsidiaries as at the dates indicated and the results of their
         operations and cash flows for the periods  indicated in accordance with
         Agreement  Accounting  Principles  except  for  the  omission  of  full
         footnotes which may be required under GAAP,  subject to normal year end
         adjustments,  and a forecasted  consolidated and consolidating  balance
         sheet and a

                                                   -68-

<PAGE>



         consolidated statement of income and cash flows of the Borrower for and
         as of the end of the next succeeding fiscal quarter and a comparison of
         the statements of income and cash flows to the most recent budget.

                  (ii) Annual Reports. As soon as practicable,  and in any event
         within  ninety  (90) days after the end of each  fiscal  year,  (a) the
         consolidated  balance sheet of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries as at
         the end of such fiscal year and the related consolidated  statements of
         income,  stockholders'  equity and cash flows of the  Borrower  and its
         Subsidiaries  for  such  fiscal  year,  and  in  comparative  form  the
         corresponding   figures  for  the  previous   fiscal  year  along  with
         consolidating  schedules in form and substance  sufficient to calculate
         the  financial  covenants set forth in Section 7.4, (b) a schedule from
         the  Borrower  setting  forth for each item in clause (a)  hereof,  the
         corresponding  figures from the  consolidated  financial budget for the
         current fiscal year delivered pursuant to Section  7.1(A)(iv),  and (c)
         an audit report on the items listed in clause (a) hereof of independent
         certified public  accountants of recognized  national  standing,  which
         audit report shall be  unqualified  and shall state that such financial
         statements fairly present the consolidated and consolidating  financial
         position of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the dates indicated
         and the  results of their  operations  and cash  flows for the  periods
         indicated in conformity with Agreement  Accounting  Principles and that
         the   examination  by  such   accountants   in  connection   with  such
         consolidated and  consolidating  financial  statements has been made in
         accordance with generally accepted auditing  standards.  The deliveries
         made  pursuant  to this  clause  (ii) shall be  accompanied  by (x) any
         management letter prepared by the above-referenced accountants, and (y)
         a  certificate  of  such  accountants  that,  in the  course  of  their
         examination  necessary for their  certification of the foregoing,  they
         have obtained no knowledge of any Default or Unmatured Default,  or if,
         in the opinion of such  accountants,  any Default or Unmatured  Default
         shall exist, stating the nature and status thereof.

                  (iii)  Officer's  Certificate.  Together with each delivery of
         any  financial  statement (a) pursuant to clauses (i), and (ii) of this
         Section 7.1(A), an Officer's Certificate of the Borrower, substantially
         in the form of  Exhibit  H  attached  hereto  and  made a part  hereof,
         stating that no Default or Unmatured  Default exists, or if any Default
         or Unmatured Default exists,  stating the nature and status thereof and
         (b)  pursuant  to  clauses  (i)  and  (ii) of this  Section  7.1(A),  a
         compliance certificate, substantially in the form of Exhibit I attached
         hereto and made a part hereof, signed by the Borrower's Chief Financial
         Officer or Treasurer,  setting forth  calculations  for the period then
         ended for Section 2.5(B), if applicable,  which demonstrate compliance,
         when  applicable,  with  the  provisions  of  Section  7.4,  and  which
         calculate  the  Leverage  Ratio for  purposes of  determining  the then
         Applicable  Floating  Rate  Margin,  Applicable  Eurodollar  Margin and
         Applicable Commitment Fee Percentage.

                                                   -69-

<PAGE>




                  (iv) As soon as  practicable,  and in any event within  twenty
         (20) days after the close of each  calendar  month,  a  Borrowing  Base
         Certificate, together with such supporting documents as the Agent deems
         desirable,  all  certified  as being  true  and  correct  by the  Chief
         Financial Officer or Treasurer of the Borrower. The Borrower may update
         the Borrowing Base Certificate and supporting documents more frequently
         than monthly and the most recently delivered Borrowing Base Certificate
         shall be the  applicable  Borrowing  Base  Certificate  for purposes of
         determining the Borrowing Base at any time;

                  (v) Budgets; Business Plans; Financial Projections. As soon as
         practicable  and in any event not later than thirty (30) days after the
         beginning  of  each  fiscal  year,  a copy  of the  plan  and  forecast
         (including a projected balance sheet,  income statement and a statement
         of cash flow) of the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  for the five (5)
         fiscal years beginning with such fiscal year prepared in such detail as
         shall be reasonably  satisfactory to the Agent,  and any updated budget
         prepared by the Borrower.

      (B) Notice of Default.  Promptly upon any of the chief executive  officer,
chief operating officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the
Borrower  obtaining  knowledge (i) of any condition or event which constitutes a
Default or  Unmatured  Default,  or becoming  aware that any Lender or Agent has
given any written notice with respect to a claimed Default or Unmatured  Default
under this  Agreement,  or (ii) that any Person has given any written  notice to
the  Borrower or any  Subsidiary  of the Borrower or taken any other action with
respect to a claimed  default or event or condition  of the type  referred to in
Section  8.1(E),  deliver to the Agent and the Lenders an Officer's  Certificate
specifying  (a) the nature and period of existence of any such claimed  default,
Default,  Unmatured Default,  condition or event, (b) the notice given or action
taken by such Person in connection  therewith,  and (c) what action the Borrower
has taken, is taking and proposes to take with respect thereto.

      (C) Lawsuits.  (i) Promptly upon the Borrower  obtaining  knowledge of the
institution of, or written threat of, any action, suit, proceeding, governmental
investigation  or  arbitration  against or affecting  the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries  or any  property of the  Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  not
previously  disclosed pursuant to Section 6.7, which action,  suit,  proceeding,
governmental  investigation or arbitration  exposes,  or in the case of multiple
actions, suits, proceedings, governmental investigations or arbitrations arising
out of the same  general  allegations  or  circumstances  which  expose,  in the
Borrower's  reasonable  judgment,  the  Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  to
liability  in an amount  aggregating  $1,000,000  or more  (exclusive  of claims
covered by insurance policies of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries  unless
the  insurers of such claims have  disclaimed  coverage or reserved the right to
disclaim  coverage  on such  claims  and  exclusive  of  claims  covered  by the
indemnity of a  financially  responsible  indemnitor in favor of the Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries unless the indemnitor has disclaimed or

                                                   -70-

<PAGE>



reserved the right to disclaim coverage thereof), give written notice thereof to
the  Agent  and  the  Lenders  and  provide  such  other  information  as may be
reasonably  available  to enable  each  Lender and the Agent and its  counsel to
evaluate such  matters;  and (ii) in addition to the  requirements  set forth in
clause (i) of this  Section  7.1(C),  upon  request of the Agent or the Required
Lenders,  promptly  give  written  notice  of the  status of any  action,  suit,
proceeding,  governmental  investigation  or  arbitration  covered  by a  report
delivered pursuant to clause (i) above and provide such other information as may
be  reasonably  available  to it that  would  not  violate  any  attorney-client
privilege by  disclosure  to the Lenders to enable each Lender and the Agent and
its counsel to evaluate such matters.

      (D) ERISA  Notices.  Deliver or cause to be delivered to the Agent and the
Lenders,  at the Borrower's  expense,  the following  information and notices as
soon as reasonably possible, and in any event:

                  (i) (a)  within  ten (10)  Business  Days  after the  Borrower
         obtains  knowledge  that a Termination  Event has  occurred,  a written
         statement of the chief  financial  officer of the  Borrower  describing
         such Termination  Event and the action,  if any, which the Borrower has
         taken,  is taking or proposes to take with  respect  thereto,  and when
         known,  any action  taken or  threatened  by the IRS,  DOL or PBGC with
         respect  thereto and (b) within ten (10) Business Days after any member
         of the Controlled Group obtains  knowledge that a Termination Event has
         occurred which could  reasonably be expected to subject the Borrower to
         liability  in excess of  $1,000,000,  a written  statement of the chief
         financial officer of the Borrower describing such Termination Event and
         the action, if any, which the member of the Controlled Group has taken,
         is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto, and when known, any
         action  taken  or  threatened  by the  IRS,  DOL or PBGC  with  respect
         thereto;

                  (ii) within ten (10)  Business  Days after the Borrower or any
         of its  Subsidiaries  obtains  knowledge that a prohibited  transaction
         (defined  in Sections  406 of ERISA and  Section  4975 of the Code) has
         occurred,  a statement of the chief  financial  officer of the Borrower
         describing  such  transaction and the action which the Borrower or such
         Subsidiary  has  taken,  is taking  or  proposes  to take with  respect
         thereto;

                  (iii)  within  ten  (10)  Business  Days  after  the  material
         increase in the benefits of any existing Plan or the  establishment  of
         any new Benefit Plan or the commencement of, or obligation to commence,
         contributions  to any Benefit Plan or  Multiemployer  Plan to which the
         Borrower  or any  member of the  Controlled  Group  was not  previously
         contributing,    notification   of   such   increase,    establishment,
         commencement   or  obligation  to  commence  and  the  amount  of  such
         contributions;


                                                   -71-

<PAGE>



                  (iv) within ten (10)  Business  Days after the Borrower or any
         of its  Subsidiaries  receives notice of any unfavorable  determination
         letter from the IRS regarding the qualification of a Plan under Section
         401(a) of the Code, copies of each such letter;

                  (v) within ten (10) Business Days after the  establishment  of
         any foreign employee benefit plan or the commencement of, or obligation
         to  commence,  contributions  to any foreign  employee  benefit plan to
         which the Borrower or any Subsidiary  was not previously  contributing,
         notification  of such  establishment,  commencement  or  obligation  to
         commence and the amount of such contributions;

                  (vi) upon the request of the Agent,  within ten (10)  Business
         Days after the filing thereof with the DOL, IRS or PBGC, copies of each
         annual report (form 5500 series),  including Schedule B thereto,  filed
         with respect to each Benefit Plan;

                  (vii) upon the request of the Agent,  within ten (10) Business
         Days after  receipt  by the  Borrower  or any member of the  Controlled
         Group of each  actuarial  report for any Benefit Plan or  Multiemployer
         Plan and each annual report for any Multiemployer  Plan, copies of each
         such report;
                  (viii) within ten (10) Business Days after the filing  thereof
         with the IRS, a copy of each funding  waiver request filed with respect
         to any Benefit Plan and all communications  received by the Borrower or
         a member of the Controlled Group with respect to such request;

                  (ix)  within  ten (10)  Business  Days  after  receipt  by the
         Borrower or any member of the Controlled  Group 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;

                  (x)  within  ten  (10)  Business  Days  after  receipt  by the
         Borrower  or any  member  of the  Controlled  Group of a notice  from a
         Multiemployer  Plan regarding the  imposition of withdrawal  liability,
         copies of each such notice;

                  (xi) within ten (10)  Business  Days after the Borrower or any
         member of the Controlled Group fails to make a required  installment or
         any other  required  payment under Section 412 of the Code on or before
         the due date for such  installment or payment,  a notification  of such
         failure; and

                  (xii) within ten (10)  Business Days after the Borrower or any
         member of the  Controlled  Group knows or has reason to know that (a) a
         Multiemployer  Plan has been terminated,  (b) the administrator or plan
         sponsor of a  Multiemployer  Plan intends to terminate a  Multiemployer
         Plan, or (c) the PBGC has instituted or will

                                                   -72-

<PAGE>



            institute  proceedings  under  Section  4042 of ERISA to terminate a
            Multiemployer Plan.

      (E) Labor Matters.  Notify the Agent and the Lenders in writing,  promptly
upon the Borrower's learning thereof, of (i) any material labor dispute to which
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries may become a party,  including,  without
limitation,  any strikes,  lockouts or other disputes  relating to such Persons'
plants  and  other  facilities  and  (ii) any  material  Worker  Adjustment  and
Retraining  Notification  Act liability  incurred with respect to the closing of
any plant or other facility of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

      (F) Other  Indebtedness.  Deliver to the Agent (i) a copy of each  regular
report,   notice  or  communication   regarding  potential  or  actual  defaults
(including any accompanying  officer's certificate) delivered by or on behalf of
the Borrower to the holders of funded Indebtedness  pursuant to the terms of the
agreements  governing  such  Indebtedness,  such delivery to be made at the same
time and by the same means as such notice or other communication is delivered to
such holders, and (ii) a copy of each notice or other communication  received by
the Borrower  from the holders of funded  Indebtedness  pursuant to the terms of
such Indebtedness,  such delivery to be made promptly after such notice or other
communication is received by the Borrower.

      (G) Other  Reports.  Deliver or cause to be delivered to the Agent and the
Lenders copies of all financial statements, reports and notices, if any, sent or
made available generally by the Borrower to its securities holders or filed with
the Commission by the Borrower,  all press releases made available  generally by
the  Borrower or any of the  Borrower's  Subsidiaries  to the public  concerning
material developments in the business of the Borrower or any such Subsidiary and
all  notifications   received  from  the  Commission  by  the  Borrower  or  its
Subsidiaries  pursuant  to the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934 and the  rules
promulgated thereunder.

      (H) Environmental Notices. As soon as possible and in any event within ten
(10) days after  receipt by the  Borrower,  a copy of (i) any notice or claim to
the effect that the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  is or may be liable to
any Person as a result of the Release by the Borrower,  any of its Subsidiaries,
or any other Person of any Contaminant into the environment, and (ii) any notice
alleging any violation of any  Environmental,  Health or Safety  Requirements of
Law by the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  if, in either case, such notice
or claim  relates to an event which could  reasonably be expected to subject the
Borrower to liability in excess of $250,000.

      (I) Other Information. Promptly upon receiving a request therefor from the
Agent,  prepare and deliver to the Agent and the Lenders such other  information
with  respect  to the  Borrower,  any of its  Subsidiaries,  or the  Collateral,
including,   without  limitation,   schedules  identifying  and  describing  the
Collateral and any dispositions thereof or any

                                                   -73-

<PAGE>



Asset Sale or Financing (and the use of the Net Cash Proceeds thereof),  as from
time to time may be reasonably requested by the Agent.

      7.2  Affirmative Covenants.

      (A) Corporate Existence,  Etc. The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of
its Subsidiaries to, at all times maintain its corporate  existence and preserve
and keep, or cause to be preserved and kept, in full force and effect its rights
and franchises material to its businesses.

      (B) Corporate Powers;  Conduct of Business.  The Borrower shall, and shall
cause each of its  Subsidiaries  to, qualify and remain qualified to do business
in each  jurisdiction  in which the nature of its business  requires it to be so
qualified and where the failure to be so qualified will have or could reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Borrower will, and will cause
each Subsidiary to, carry on and conduct its business in substantially  the same
manner and in  substantially  the same fields of  enterprise  as it is presently
conducted.

      (C) Compliance  with Laws,  Etc. The Borrower  shall,  and shall cause its
Subsidiaries  to, (a) comply with all  Requirements  of Law and all  restrictive
covenants  affecting  such  Person  or  the  business,   properties,  assets  or
operations  of such Person,  and (b) obtain as needed all Permits  necessary for
its  operations  and maintain such Permits in good  standing,  unless failure to
comply or obtain  could not  reasonably  be expected to have a Material  Adverse
Effect.

      (D) Payment of Taxes and Claims;  Tax  Consolidation.  The Borrower  shall
pay, and cause each of its  Subsidiaries to pay, (i) all taxes,  assessments and
other governmental charges imposed upon it or on any of its properties or assets
or in respect of any of its franchises,  business, income or property before any
penalty or interest accrues  thereon,  and (ii) all claims  (including,  without
limitation,  claims for labor, services,  materials and supplies) for sums which
have  become due and  payable  and which by law have or may become a Lien (other
than a Lien  permitted  by Section  7.3(C)) upon any of the  Borrower's  or such
Subsidiary's  property  or  assets,  prior to the time when any  penalty or fine
shall be incurred with respect thereto;  provided,  however, that no such taxes,
assessments and  governmental  charges referred to in clause (i) above or claims
referred  to in clause (ii) above (and  interest,  penalties  or fines  relating
thereto)  need  be  paid  if  being  contested  in  good  faith  by  appropriate
proceedings  diligently  instituted  and  conducted and if such reserve or other
appropriate provision, if any, as shall be required in conformity with Agreement
Accounting Principles shall have been made therefor.

      (E)   Insurance.   The  Borrower   shall   maintain  for  itself  and  its
Subsidiaries,  or shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain in full force
and effect,  the  insurance  policies and programs  reasonably  consistent  with
prudent industry practice. The Borrowers shall

                                                   -74-

<PAGE>



deliver to the Agent insurance  certificates  and  endorsements  (y) to all "All
Risk" physical damage insurance policies on all of the Borrowers'  tangible real
and personal property and assets and business  interruption  insurance  policies
naming  the  Agent  loss  payee,  and (z) to all  general  liability  and  other
liability  policies  naming the Agent an  additional  insured.  In the event the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries at any time or times hereafter shall fail to
obtain or maintain any of the policies or  insurance  required  herein or to pay
any  premium  in whole or in part  relating  thereto,  then the  Agent,  without
waiving or releasing any obligations or resulting Default hereunder,  may at any
time or times  thereafter (but shall be under no obligation to do so) obtain and
maintain  such  policies of insurance  and pay such  premiums and take any other
action  with  respect  thereto  which the  Agent  deems  advisable.  All sums so
disbursed  by the Agent shall  constitute  part of the  Obligations,  payable as
provided in this Agreement.

      (F) Inspection of Property; Books and Records;  Discussions.  The Borrower
shall  permit  and cause each of the  Borrower's  Subsidiaries  to  permit,  any
authorized representative(s) designated by the Agent to visit and inspect any of
the properties of the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries,  to examine,  audit,
check and make copies of their  respective  financial  and  accounting  records,
books, journals, orders, receipts and any correspondence and other data relating
to  their  respective   businesses  or  the  transactions   contemplated  hereby
(including,  without  limitation,  in connection with environmental  compliance,
hazard or liability),  and to discuss their affairs,  finances and accounts with
their  officers  and,  with  the  consent  of the  Borrower  (which  will not be
unreasonably  withheld)  or  after  a  Default  after  notice  to the  Borrower,
independent certified public accountants, all upon reasonable notice and at such
reasonable  times during normal  business  hours,  as often as may be reasonably
requested.  The  Borrower  shall  keep  and  maintain,  and  cause  each  of the
Borrower's  Subsidiaries to keep and maintain, in all material respects,  proper
books of record  and  account  in which  entries in  conformity  with  Agreement
Accounting Principles shall be made of all dealings and transactions in relation
to their respective businesses and activities.  If a Default has occurred and is
continuing,  the Borrower,  upon the Agent's  request,  shall turn over any such
records to the Agent or its representatives.

      (G) ERISA  Compliance.  The  Borrower  shall,  and shall cause each of the
Borrower's Subsidiaries to, establish,  maintain and operate all Plans to comply
in all material  respects  with the  provisions  of ERISA,  the Code,  all other
applicable  laws, and the  regulations  and  interpretations  thereunder and the
respective requirements of the governing documents for such Plans.

      (H) Maintenance of Property. The Borrower shall cause all property used or
useful in the conduct of its  business or the business of any  Subsidiary  to be
maintained  and kept in good  condition,  repair and working  order and supplied
with all necessary  equipment and shall cause to be made all necessary  repairs,
renewals,  replacements,  betterments and  improvements  thereof,  all as in the
judgment of the Borrower may be necessary so that the

                                                   -75-

<PAGE>



business carried on in connection  therewith may be properly and  advantageously
conducted at all times;  provided,  however, that nothing in this Section 7.2(H)
shall prevent the Borrower from  discontinuing  the operation or  maintenance of
any of such property if such discontinuance is, in the judgment of the Borrower,
desirable in the conduct of its business or the business of any  Subsidiary  and
not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Agent or the Lenders.

      (I)  Environmental  Compliance.  The Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  shall
comply with all  Environmental,  Health or Safety  Requirements  of Law,  except
where  noncompliance  will not have or is not  reasonably  likely to subject the
Borrower to liability in excess of $1,000,000.

      (J) Use of Proceeds.  The Borrower shall use the proceeds of the Revolving
Loans and the Term Loans to (i) repay  existing  Indebtedness,  and (ii) provide
funds for the  additional  working  capital  needs and other  general  corporate
purposes  of the  Borrower.  The  Borrower  will  not,  nor will it  permit  any
Subsidiary  to, use any of the  proceeds  of the Loans to  purchase or carry any
Margin  Stock  except  in  connection  with  the  Tender  Offer  or to make  any
Acquisition, other than a Permitted Acquisition pursuant to Section 7.3(G).

      (K) Additional  Equity.  The Borrower shall receive on or before March 31,
1998  additional  equity in the form of  assets  or cash in an  amount  and form
acceptable to the Agent with a fair market value of at least $14,000,000 or such
lesser amount as may be acceptable  to the Agent and the  consideration  paid by
the Borrower shall consist exclusively of Equity Interests of the Borrower.

      7.3  Negative Covenants.

      (A) Indebtedness.  Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries  shall
directly or  indirectly  create,  incur,  assume or  otherwise  become or remain
directly or indirectly liable with respect to any Indebtedness, except:

                  (i)  the Obligations;

                  (ii) the  Subordinated  Notes  and any  Permitted  Refinancing
         Indebtedness,  provided,  however,  that with  respect to  Subordinated
         Notes  issued  pursuant  to the High Yield Note  Agreement,  the amount
         thereof  may  exceed the  principal  amount of the  Subordinated  Notes
         issued to LDI, Ltd. as of the Closing Date, but such Subordinated Notes
         must  have a  Weighted  Average  Life to  Maturity  that is equal to or
         greater than the Weighted  Average Life to Maturity of the Subordinated
         Notes  issued to LDI,  Ltd.  as of the  Closing  Date and must  contain
         terms,  including,  without  limitation,  terms with respect to amount,
         maturity,  amortization,  interest rate,  premiums,  fees,  redemption,
         covenants, subordination terms, events of default and remedies that are
         reasonably satisfactory to the Required Lenders;

                                                   -76-

<PAGE>




                  (iii)  Permitted Existing Indebtedness;

                  (iv)  Indebtedness  in  respect  of  obligations   secured  by
         Customary Permitted Liens;

                  (v) Indebtedness constituting Contingent Obligations permitted
         by Section 7.3(E);

                  (vi)  Indebtedness  arising from  intercompany  loans from any
         Subsidiary to the Borrower or any wholly-owned Subsidiary;

                  (vii)  Indebtedness  arising from intercompany  loans from the
         Borrower to Acquisition Corp. to fund the Tender Offer and the Merger;

                  (viii)  secured  or  unsecured   purchase  money  Indebtedness
         (including  Capitalized  Leases) incurred by the Borrower or any of its
         Subsidiaries after the Closing Date to finance the acquisition of fixed
         assets, if (1) at the time of such incurrence,  no Default or Unmatured
         Default  has  occurred  and is  continuing  or would  result  from such
         incurrence,  (2) such Indebtedness has a scheduled  maturity and is not
         due on demand,  (3) such  Indebtedness does not exceed the lower of the
         fair market  value or the cost of the  applicable  fixed  assets on the
         date acquired,  (4) such Indebtedness does not exceed $2,500,000 in the
         aggregate  outstanding  at any  time,  and (5) any Lien  securing  such
         Indebtedness is permitted under Section 7.3(C) (such Indebtedness being
         referred to herein as "Permitted Purchase Money Indebtedness");

                  (ix)   Indebtedness   with  respect  to  surety,   appeal  and
         performance  bonds obtained by the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries
         in the ordinary course of business;

                  (x)  Indebtedness  incurred  subsequent to the Closing Date by
         the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries to the seller in any Permitted
         Acquisition as part of the consideration  therefor,  provided that such
         Indebtedness does not exceed  $20,000,000 in the aggregate  outstanding
         at any time, is unsecured  and is otherwise on terms  acceptable to the
         Agent; and

                  (xi) Indebtedness in respect of Hedging Obligations  permitted
         under Section 7.3(P).

      (B) Sales of Assets.  Neither  the  Borrower  nor any of its  Subsidiaries
shall  sell,  assign,  transfer,  lease,  convey  or  otherwise  dispose  of any
property, whether now owned

                                                   -77-

<PAGE>



or hereafter  acquired,  or any income or profits  therefrom,  or enter into any
agreement to do so, except:

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

                  (ii) the  disposition  in the  ordinary  course of business of
         equipment  that  is  obsolete,  excess  or  no  longer  useful  in  the
         Borrower's business; and

                  (iii) sales, assignments,  transfers,  leases,  conveyances or
         other  dispositions  of  other  assets  (excluding  any  sales of motor
         vehicles) if such  transaction (a) is for  consideration  consisting at
         least  eighty  percent  (80%) of cash,  (b) is for not less  than  fair
         market value,  and (c) when  combined with all such other  transactions
         (each  such  transaction  being  valued at book  value)  (i) during the
         immediately preceding  twelve-month period,  represents the disposition
         of not greater than five percent (5.0%) of the Borrower's  Consolidated
         Assets at the end of the  fiscal  year  immediately  preceding  that in
         which such  transaction is proposed to be entered into, and (ii) during
         the  period  from  the  Closing  Date  to the  date  of  such  proposed
         transaction, represents the disposition of not greater than ten percent
         (10.0%) of the Borrower's  Consolidated Assets at the end of the fiscal
         year  immediately  preceding that in which such transaction is proposed
         to be entered into.

      (C) Liens. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall directly
or  indirectly  create,  incur,  assume  or  permit to exist any Lien on or with
respect to any of their respective property or assets except:

         (i)  Liens securing the Secured Obligations;

                  (ii)  Permitted Existing Liens;

                  (iii)  Customary Permitted Liens; and

                  (iv) purchase money Liens  (including the interest of a lessor
         under a Capitalized Lease and Liens to which any property is subject at
         the time of the  Borrower's  acquisition  thereof)  securing  Permitted
         Purchase Money  Indebtedness;  provided that such Liens shall not apply
         to any  property of the  Borrower or its  Subsidiaries  other than that
         purchased or subject to such Capitalized Lease.

In addition,  neither the Borrower  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  shall become a
party to any agreement,  note, indenture or other instrument,  or take any other
action,  which would prohibit the creation of a Lien on any of its properties or
other assets in favor of the Agent for the benefit of itself and the Lenders, as
collateral for the Obligations;  provided that any agreement, note, indenture or
other  instrument in  connection  with  Permitted  Purchase  Money  Indebtedness
(including Capitalized Leases) may prohibit the creation of a Lien in

                                                   -78-

<PAGE>



favor of the Agent for the  benefit  of itself  and the  Lenders on the items of
property   obtained  with  the  proceeds  of  such   Permitted   Purchase  Money
Indebtedness.

      (D) Investments.  Except to the extent permitted pursuant to paragraph (G)
below,  neither  the  Borrower  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  shall  directly or
indirectly make or own any Investment except:

                  (i)  Investments in Cash Equivalents;

                  (ii) Permitted  Existing  Investments in an amount not greater
         than the amount thereof on the Closing Date;

                  (iii)   Investments  in  trade   receivables  or  received  in
         connection  with the  bankruptcy  or  reorganization  of suppliers  and
         customers and in settlement  of  delinquent  obligations  of, and other
         disputes with,  customers and suppliers  arising in the ordinary course
         of business;

                  (iv) Investments  consisting of deposit accounts maintained by
         the Borrower;

                  (v) Investments  consisting of non-cash  consideration  from a
         sale, assignment,  transfer,  lease, conveyance or other disposition of
         property permitted by Section 7.3(B);

                  (vi)  Investments  consisting of  intercompany  loans from any
         Subsidiary to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary permitted by Section
         7.3(A)(vi);

                  (vii)  Investments  consisting of intercompany  loans from the
         Borrower  to  any   wholly-owned   Subsidiary   permitted   by  Section
         7.3(A)(vii);

                  (viii) Investments constituting Permitted Acquisitions;

                  (ix) Investments in addition to those referred to elsewhere in
         this  Section  7.3(D) in an  amount  not to  exceed  $2,000,000  in the
         aggregate at any time outstanding;

provided,  however,  that the Investments described in clause (viii) above shall
not be permitted if either a Default or an Unmatured Default shall have occurred
and be continuing on the date thereof or would result therefrom.

      (E)  Contingent   Obligations.   Neither  the  Borrower  nor  any  of  its
Subsidiaries  shall  directly or  indirectly  create or become or be liable with
respect to any Contingent Obligation, except: (i) recourse obligations resulting
from endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course
of business;  (ii)  obligations,  warranties,  and indemnities,  not relating to
Indebtedness of any Person, which have been or are

                                                   -79-

<PAGE>



undertaken or made in the ordinary course of business and not for the benefit of
or in favor of an Affiliate of the Borrower or such Subsidiary; (iii) additional
Contingent  Obligations  which do not exceed  $2,000,000 in the aggregate at any
time;  and (iv)  Contingent  Obligations  with  respect  to  surety,  appeal and
performance  bonds  obtained by the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  in the ordinary
course of business.

      (F) Restricted Payments.  Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries
shall declare or make any  Restricted  Payment  except for payments made to LDI,
Ltd. to  reimburse  LDI,  Ltd.  for various  services  and other  accommodations
provided to the Borrower by LDI, Ltd.

      (G) Conduct of Business; Subsidiaries;  Acquisitions. Neither the Borrower
nor  any of its  Subsidiaries  shall  engage  in any  business  other  than  the
businesses  engaged in by the  Borrower on the date  hereof and any  business or
activities which are substantially  similar,  related or incidental thereto. The
Borrower shall not create or acquire any Subsidiary  after the date hereof other
than to  consummate  Permitted  Acquisitions,  provided  that  each  Subsidiary,
including  Subsidiaries  acquired in  connection  with the Tender  Offer and the
Merger,   shall  execute  and  deliver   guaranties   and  security   agreements
satisfactory  to the Agent with respect to the  Obligations.  The Borrower shall
not make any Acquisitions, other than pursuant to the Tender Offer and Merger or
Acquisitions  meeting the following  requirements  or otherwise  approved by the
Required Lenders (each such Acquisition constituting a "Permitted Acquisition"):

                  (i) no Default or Unmatured Default shall have occurred and be
         continuing or would result from such  Acquisition  or the incurrence of
         any Indebtedness in connection therewith;

                  (ii) the  Acquisition  shall be  consummated  on a non-hostile
         basis pursuant to negotiated  acquisition documents satisfactory to the
         Agent with  representations,  indemnities and opinions  satisfactory to
         the Agent and results of due diligence  satisfactory  to the Agent and,
         in the case of an  Acquisition of Equity  Interests of an entity,  such
         Acquisition shall be of not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the
         Equity Interests of such entity;

                  (iii) the businesses  being  acquired  shall be  substantially
         similar to the  businesses or activities  engaged in by the Borrower on
         the Closing Date;

                  (iv)  prior  to each  such  Acquisition,  the  Borrower  shall
         deliver  to the Agent and the  Lenders  a  certificate  from one of the
         Authorized  Officers,  demonstrating  to the  satisfaction of the Agent
         that after giving effect to such  Acquisition and the incurrence of any
         Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.3(A) in connection therewith,  on a
         pro  forma  basis  using  the  best  available  financial   information
         concerning the seller,  broken down by fiscal quarter in the Borrower's
         reasonable

                                                   -80-

<PAGE>



         judgment, as if the Acquisition and such incurrence of Indebtedness had
         occurred on the first day of the twelve-month period ending on the last
         day of the  Borrower's  most recently  completed  fiscal  quarter,  the
         Borrower would have been in compliance with the financial  covenants in
         Section 7.4 and will be in compliance  with such covenants  through the
         first anniversary of such Acquisition;

                  (v)  the   aggregate   purchase   price   (including   assumed
         liabilities)  in connection with all such  transactions  from and after
         the Closing  Date  (excluding  the Tender Offer and the Merger and also
         excluding a potential  transaction  previously  disclosed  to the Agent
         provided the consideration paid by the Borrower consists exclusively of
         Equity  Interests of the Borrower)  shall not exceed  $20,000,000;  not
         more than $10,000,000 of such aggregate purchase price shall be payable
         at the close of such Acquisitions in cash, provided,  however, that the
         $20,000,000  and  $10,000,000  limitations  prescribed  in this Section
         7.3(G)(v)   shall  be  increased  to   $40,000,000   and   $20,000,000,
         respectively,  after the Borrower has delivered financial statements in
         accordance  with Section 7.1(A) which indicate a Leverage Ratio of less
         than 3.00 to 1.00 or, if the  Borrower  has issued  Subordinated  Notes
         pursuant to the High Yield Note Agreement,  a Leverage Ratio of 3.50 to
         1.00; and

                  (vi) any  Acquisition  involving a purchase price in excess of
         $5,000,000  shall be  subject  to the prior  approval  of the  Required
         Lenders which  approval  shall be granted or denied within fifteen (15)
         Business  Days  following  the  Borrower's  written  request  for  such
         approval  which  request will contain  sufficient  information  for the
         Lenders to assess the  Borrower's  ability to comply  with  clause (iv)
         above  (but if the Agent or the  Lenders  fail to respond  within  such
         period, approval shall be deemed to have been denied).

      (H) Transactions  with  Shareholders and Affiliates.  Neither the Borrower
nor any of its Subsidiaries shall directly or indirectly enter into or permit to
exist any transaction (including,  without limitation, the purchase, sale, lease
or exchange of any property or the  rendering of any service) with any holder or
holders of any of the Equity Interests of the Borrower, or with any Affiliate of
the Borrower  which is not its  Subsidiary,  on terms that are less favorable to
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, as applicable, than those that might be
obtained in an arm's  length  transaction  at the time from  Persons who are not
such a holder or Affiliate,  except for Restricted Payments permitted by Section
7.3(F).

      (I)  Restriction on Fundamental  Changes.  Neither the Borrower nor any of
its  Subsidiaries  shall enter into any merger or  consolidation,  or liquidate,
wind-up or  dissolve  (or suffer any  liquidation  or  dissolution),  or convey,
lease,  sell,  transfer or otherwise dispose of, in one transaction or series of
transactions,   all  or  substantially   all  of  the  Borrower's  or  any  such
Subsidiary's  business or property,  whether now or hereafter  acquired,  except
transactions  permitted under Sections 7.3(B) or 7.3(G) and the Tender Offer and
Merger.

                                                   -81-

<PAGE>




      (J) Sales and Leasebacks. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries
shall become liable,  directly, by assumption or by Contingent Obligation,  with
respect to any  lease,  whether  an  operating  lease,  a  synthetic  lease or a
Capitalized Lease, of any property (whether real or personal or mixed) (i) which
it or one of its  Subsidiaries  sold or transferred or is to sell or transfer to
any other Person, or (ii) which it or one of its Subsidiaries intends to use for
substantially the same purposes as any other property which has been or is to be
sold or  transferred  by it or one of its  Subsidiaries  to any other  Person in
connection  with such  lease,  unless in either  case the sale  involved  is not
prohibited  under Section 7.3(B) and the lease involved is not prohibited  under
Section 7.3(A) and excluding any sale and leaseback transactions involving motor
vehicles.

      (K) Margin Regulations.  Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries,
shall use all or any portion of the proceeds of any credit  extended  under this
Agreement in violation of Regulations G, T or X.

      (L)  ERISA.  The Borrower shall not

                   (i) engage,  or permit any of its Subsidiaries to engage,  in
         any prohibited  transaction  described in Sections 406 of ERISA or 4975
         of the Code for which a statutory or class  exemption is not  available
         or a private  exemption has not been  previously  obtained from the DOL
         which  could  reasonably  be  expected  to result in  liability  to the
         Borrower of $1,000,000 or more;

                  (ii) permit to exist any  accumulated  funding  deficiency (as
         defined in Sections 302 of ERISA and 412 of the Code) of  $1,000,000 or
         more, with respect to any Benefit Plan, whether or not waived;

                  (iii) fail, or permit any  Controlled  Group member to fail to
         pay  timely  required  contributions  or annual  installments  due with
         respect to any waived  funding  deficiency  to any  Benefit  Plan which
         failure  could  reasonably  be expected to result in  liability  to the
         Borrower of $1,000,000 or more;

                  (iv)  terminate,  or permit  any  Controlled  Group  member to
         terminate,  any Benefit  Plan which would  result in  liability  of the
         Borrower  or any  Controlled  Group  member  under Title IV of ERISA of
         $1,000,000 or more;

                  (v) fail to make any material  contribution  or payment to any
         Multiemployer  Plan which the Borrower or any  Controlled  Group member
         may  be  required  to  make  under  any  agreement   relating  to  such
         Multiemployer Plan, or any law pertaining thereto;


                                                   -82-

<PAGE>



                  (vi) fail, or permit any  Controlled  Group member to fail, to
         pay any required  installment  or any other material  payment  required
         under  Section  412 of the  Code on or  before  the due  date  for such
         installment or other payment; or

                  (vii) amend, or permit any Controlled Group member to amend, a
         Plan resulting in a material increase in current liability for the plan
         year such that the Borrower or any Controlled  Group member is required
         to provide security to such Plan under Section 401(a)(29) of the Code.

      (M) Corporate Documents.  Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries
shall amend, modify or otherwise change any of the terms or provisions in any of
their  respective  Articles or  Certificates of  Incorporation  or By-Laws as in
effect on the date hereof in any manner adverse to the interests of the Lenders,
without the prior written consent of the Required Lenders.

      (N)  Fiscal  Year.  Neither  the  Borrower  nor  any of  its  consolidated
Subsidiaries  shall change its fiscal year for accounting or tax purposes from a
period  consisting  of the  12-month  period  ending on the last day or the last
Friday before the last day of December of each year.

      (O) Subsidiary  Covenants.  The Borrower will not, and will not permit any
Subsidiary  to, create or otherwise  cause to become  effective  any  consensual
encumbrance  or  restriction of any kind on the ability of any Subsidiary to pay
dividends  or make any  other  distribution  on its  stock,  or make  any  other
Restricted  Payment,  pay  any  Indebtedness  or  other  Obligation  owed to the
Borrower or any other Subsidiary, make loans or advances or other Investments in
the Borrower or any other Subsidiary,  or sell, transfer or otherwise convey any
of its property to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary.

      (P) Hedging  Obligations.  The Borrower shall not and shall not permit any
of its  Subsidiaries  to enter  into any  interest  rate,  commodity  or foreign
currency exchange,  swap,  collar, cap or similar agreements  evidencing Hedging
Obligations,  other than interest rate, foreign currency or commodity  exchange,
swap, collar, cap or similar agreements entered into by the Borrower pursuant to
which the  Borrower has hedged its actual  interest  rate,  foreign  currency or
commodity  exposure.  Such  permitted  hedging  agreements  entered  into by the
Borrower  and any  Lender  or any  affiliate  of any  Lender  to hedge  floating
interest rate risk in an aggregate  notional amount not to exceed at any time an
amount  equal to the  outstanding  balance  of the Term  Loans at such  time are
sometimes referred to herein as "Interest Rate Agreements."

      7.4  Financial Covenants.  The Borrower shall comply with the following:

      (A) Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. The Borrower and its consolidated
Subsidiaries  shall maintain a ratio ("Fixed Charge Coverage  Ratio") of (i) the
sum of the

                                                   -83-

<PAGE>



amounts  of (a) EBITDA  minus (b)  Capital  Expenditures  to (ii) the sum of the
amounts of (a) Interest Expense plus (b) scheduled  amortization payments of the
principal portion of the Term Loans and scheduled  amortization  payments of the
principal  portion of all other  Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Borrower
made  during  such  period  plus (c) cash  taxes  paid by the  Borrower  and its
consolidated  Subsidiaries  during such period plus (d) Restricted Payments paid
during such period of at least:

                  (i)  1.05 to 1.00  for  each  fiscal  quarter  for the  period
         commencing  with the fiscal  quarter  ending March 31, 1998 through the
         fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2000; and

                  (ii) 1.10 to 1.00 for each fiscal quarter thereafter until the
Termination Date.

In each case, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be determined as of the last
day of each fiscal  quarter for the four fiscal  quarter  period  ending on such
day, calculated,  with respect to Permitted  Acquisitions,  on a pro forma basis
using the best available  financial  information  concerning the seller,  broken
down by fiscal quarter in the Borrower's reasonable judgment (provided, however,
(a) for the fiscal  quarter  ending  March 31, 1998,  the Fixed Charge  Coverage
Ratio shall be calculated using EBITDA, Capital Expenditures,  Rentals, Interest
Expense, taxes paid, Restricted Payments paid and scheduled amortization for the
one fiscal quarter ending March 31, 1998, (b) for the fiscal quarter ending June
30, 1998, the Fixed Charge  Coverage Ratio shall be calculated  using such items
for the two fiscal  quarter  period  ending June 30, 1998 and (c) for the fiscal
quarter  ending  September 30, 1998,  the Fixed Charge  Coverage  Ratio shall be
calculated using such items for the three fiscal quarter period ending September
30, 1998).

      (B) Maximum  Leverage Ratio.  The Borrower shall not permit the ratio (the
"Leverage  Ratio") of (i) the sum of (a) Indebtedness for borrowed money and (b)
Capitalized  Lease  Obligations  to (ii) EBITDA to be greater than the ratio set
forth below at the end of the fiscal  quarter ending on the  corresponding  date
set forth below:

         Quarter Ending                              Ratio

      March 31, 1998                                 5.00 to 1.00
      June 30, 1998                                  4.80 to 1.00
      September 30, 1998                             4.75 to 1.00
      December 31, 1998                              4.75 to 1.00

      March 31, 1999                                 4.75 to 1.00
      June 30, 1999                                  4.40 to 1.00
      September 30, 1999                             4.25 to 1.00
      December 31, 1999                              4.25 to 1.00


                                                   -84-

<PAGE>



      March 31, 2000                                 4.00 to 1.00
      June 30, 2000                                  4.00 to 1.00
      September 30, 2000                             3.75 to 1.00
      December 31, 2000                              3.75 to 1.00

      March 31, 2001                                 3.75 to 1.00
      June 30, 2001                                  3.50 to 1.00
      September 30, 2001                             3.50 to 1.00
      December 31, 2001                              3.50 to 1.00

      March 31, 2002                                 3.50 to 1.00
      June 30, 2002                                  3.25 to 1.00
      September 30, 2002                             3.25 to 1.00
      December 31, 2002                              3.25 to 1.00

      March 31, 2003                                 3.25 to 1.00
      June 30, 2003                                  3.00 to 1.00
      September 30, 2003                             3.00 to 1.00
         and each quarter
         thereafter

The Leverage Ratio shall be calculated,  in each case, determined as of the last
day of each fiscal  quarter based upon (a) for  Indebtedness  for borrowed money
and  Capitalized  Lease   Obligations,   Indebtedness  for  borrowed  money  and
Capitalized  Lease  Obligations as of the last day of each such fiscal  quarter;
and (b) for EBITDA, the actual amount for the four-quarter period ending on such
day, calculated,  with respect to Permitted  Acquisitions,  on a pro forma basis
using the best available  financial  information  concerning the seller,  broken
down by fiscal quarter in the Borrower's reasonable judgment (provided, however,
(a) for the fiscal  quarter  ending March 31, 1998,  the Leverage Ratio shall be
calculated  using EBITDA for the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 1998 multiplied
by four,  (b) for the fiscal  quarter  ending June 30, 1998,  the Leverage Ratio
shall be calculated  using EBITDA for the two fiscal  quarter period ending June
30, 1998 multiplied by two , and (c) for the fiscal quarter ending September 30,
1998, the Leverage  Ratio shall be calculated  using EBITDA for the three fiscal
quarter period ending September 30, 1998 multiplied by four-thirds).

      (C) Minimum  Consolidated  Net Worth.  The  Borrower  shall not permit its
Consolidated  Net Worth at any time to be less  than the sum of (a)  $27,500,000
plus (b) fifty percent (50%) of Net Income (if positive)  calculated  separately
for each fiscal  quarter  ending after  December 31, 1997,  plus (c) one hundred
percent  (100%) of the net cash  proceeds  resulting  from the  issuance  by the
Borrower of any Capital Stock, plus (d) the Consolidated Net Worth of any Person
whose Capital Stock is contributed to the capital of the Borrower.


                                                   -85-

<PAGE>



      (D) Interest  Expense  Coverage Ratio. The Borrower shall maintain a ratio
(the "Interest  Expense  Coverage Ratio") of (i) EBITDA to (ii) Interest Expense
during each four fiscal quarter period ending on the date described  below of at
least:

         Quarter Ending                     Ratio

      March 31, 1998                        2.00 to 1.0
      June 30, 1998                         2.00 to 1.0
      September 30, 1998                    2.00 to 1.0
      December 31, 1998                     2.00 to 1.0

      March 31, 1999                        2.25 to 1.0
      June 30, 1993                         2.25 to 1.0
      September 30, 1999                    2.25 to 1.0
      December 31, 1999                     2.25 to 1.0

      March 31, 2000                        2.50 to 1.0
      June 30, 2000                         2.50 to 1.0
      September 30, 2000                    2.50 to 1.0
      December 31, 2000                     2.50 to 1.0

      March 31, 2001                        2.50 to 1.0
      June 30, 2001                         2.50 to 1.0
      September 30, 2001                    2.50 to 1.0
      December 31, 2001                     2.50 to 1.0

      March 31, 2002                        2.75 to 1.0
      June 30, 2002                         2.75 to 1.0
      September 30, 2002                    2.75 to 1.0
      December 31, 2002                     2.75 to 1.0

      March 31, 2003                        3.00 to 1.0
      June 30, 2003                         3.00 to 1.0
      September 30, 2003
      and each quarter
         thereafter                         3.00 to 1.0

In each case, the Interest  Expense Coverage Ratio shall be determined as of the
last day of each fiscal  quarter  described  above for the four  fiscal  quarter
period ending on such day, calculated,  with respect to Permitted  Acquisitions,
on a pro forma basis using the best available financial  information  concerning
the seller,  broken down by fiscal quarter in the Borrower's reasonable judgment
(provided,  however,  (a) for the fiscal  quarter  ending  March 31,  1998,  the
Interest Expense Coverage Ratio shall be calculated using EBITDA

                                                   -86-

<PAGE>



and Interest  Expense for the one fiscal  quarter ending March 31, 1998, (b) for
the fiscal  quarter ending June 30, 1998,  the Interest  Expense  Coverage Ratio
shall be calculated  using such items for the two fiscal  quarter  period ending
June 30, 1998 and (c) for the fiscal  quarter  ending  September  30, 1998,  the
Interest  Expense  Coverage  Ratio shall be calculated  using such items for the
three fiscal quarter period ending September 30, 1998).
ARTICLE VIII:  DEFAULTS

      8.1 Defaults. Each of the following occurrences shall constitute a Default
under this Agreement:

      (A) Failure to Make Payments When Due. The Borrower  shall (i) fail to pay
when due any of the  Obligations  consisting  of  principal  with respect to the
Loans or (ii) shall fail to pay within three (3) Business  Days of the date when
due  any of the  other  Obligations  under  this  Agreement  or the  other  Loan
Documents.

      (B)  Breach  of  Certain  Covenants.  The  Borrower  shall  fail  duly and
punctually to perform or observe any agreement,  covenant or obligation  binding
on the Borrower under:

                  (i) Section  7.1(C)  through and including  7.1(I),  7.2(B) or
         7.2(F) and such failure shall continue unremedied for ten (10) Business
         Days;

                  (ii) Sections 7.1(A),  7.1(B),  7.2(A), 7.2(C), 7.2(D), 7.2(E)
         and 7.2(G) through and including 7.2(L) and such failure shall continue
         unremedied for five (5) Business Days; or

                  (iii) Section 7.3 or 7.4.

      (C) Breach of Representation or Warranty.  Any  representation or warranty
made or deemed made by the Borrower to the Agent or any Lender  herein or by the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in any of the other Transaction Documents or
in any statement or certificate at any time given by any such Person pursuant to
any of the Loan Documents  shall be false or misleading in any material  respect
on the date as of which made (or deemed made).

      (D) Other  Defaults.  The Borrower shall default in the  performance of or
compliance  with any term contained in this Agreement  (other than as covered by
paragraphs  (A), (B) or (C) of this Section  8.1), or the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries  shall default in the  performance  of or compliance  with any term
contained in any of the other  Transaction  Documents,  and such  default  shall
continue for thirty (30) days after the occurrence thereof.

      (E)  Default  as to  Other  Indebtedness.  The  Borrower  or  any  of  its
Subsidiaries  shall fail to make any  payment  when due  (whether  by  scheduled
maturity, required prepayment,

                                                   -87-

<PAGE>



acceleration,  demand  or  otherwise)  with  respect  to  any  Indebtedness  the
outstanding  principal  amount of which  Indebtedness is in excess of $2,500,000
("Cross Default Indebtedness"), or any breach, default or event of default shall
occur, or any other  condition  shall exist under any  instrument,  agreement or
indenture  pertaining  to any such  Cross  Default  Indebtedness,  if the effect
thereof is to cause an acceleration,  mandatory  redemption,  a requirement that
the Borrower offer to purchase such Cross Default Indebtedness or other required
repurchase of such Cross Default  Indebtedness,  or permit the holder(s) of such
Cross Default  Indebtedness to accelerate the maturity of any such Cross Default
Indebtedness  or require a redemption or other  repurchase of such Cross Default
Indebtedness; or any such Cross Default Indebtedness shall be otherwise declared
to be due and payable (by  acceleration or otherwise) or required to be prepaid,
redeemed or otherwise  repurchased  by the  Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries
(other than by a regularly  scheduled  required  prepayment) prior to the stated
maturity thereof.

      (F)  Involuntary Bankruptcy; Appointment of Receiver, Etc.

                  (i)  An  involuntary  case  shall  be  commenced  against  the
         Borrower or any of the Borrower's  Subsidiaries  and the petition shall
         not be dismissed,  stayed,  bonded or discharged within sixty (60) days
         after  commencement of the case; or a court having  jurisdiction in the
         premises  shall  enter a decree or order for  relief in  respect of the
         Borrower or any of the Borrower's  Subsidiaries in an involuntary case,
         under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or
         hereinafter  in effect;  or any other  similar  relief shall be granted
         under any applicable federal, state, local or foreign law.

                  (ii) A decree or order of a court having  jurisdiction  in the
         premises for the appointment of a receiver,  liquidator,  sequestrator,
         trustee,  custodian or other  officer  having  similar  powers over the
         Borrower  or  any of  the  Borrower's  Subsidiaries  or  over  all or a
         substantial  part  of  the  property  of  the  Borrower  or  any of the
         Borrower's  Subsidiaries  shall be  entered;  or an  interim  receiver,
         trustee or other  custodian  of the  Borrower or any of the  Borrower's
         Subsidiaries  or of all or a  substantial  part of the  property of the
         Borrower or any of the Borrower's  Subsidiaries shall be appointed or a
         warrant  of  attachment,  execution  or  similar  process  against  any
         substantial  part  of  the  property  of  the  Borrower  or  any of the
         Borrower's Subsidiaries shall be issued and any such event shall not be
         stayed,  dismissed,  bonded or discharged  within sixty (60) days after
         entry, appointment or issuance.

      (G) Voluntary  Bankruptcy;  Appointment of Receiver,  Etc. The Borrower or
any of the Borrower's Subsidiaries shall (i) commence a voluntary case under any
applicable  bankruptcy,  insolvency  or other  similar law now or  hereafter  in
effect, (ii) consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case,
or to the conversion of an involuntary  case to a voluntary case, under any such
law, (iii) consent to the appointment of or taking

                                                   -88-

<PAGE>



possession  by a receiver,  trustee or other  custodian for all or a substantial
part of its property,  (iv) make any  assignment for the benefit of creditors or
(v) take any corporate action to authorize any of the foregoing.

      (H) Judgments and Attachments.  Any money judgment(s)  (other than a money
judgment  covered  by  insurance  as to  which  the  insurance  company  has not
disclaimed  or  reserved  the right to  disclaim  coverage),  writ or warrant of
attachment,  or similar process against the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries
or any of  their  respective  assets  involving  in any  single  case  or in the
aggregate an amount in excess of  $2,500,000  is or are entered and shall remain
undischarged, unvacated, unbonded or unstayed for a period of sixty (60) days or
in any event later than fifteen (15) days prior to the date of any proposed sale
thereunder.
      (I)  Dissolution.  Any order,  judgment or decree shall be entered against
the Borrower  decreeing its  involuntary  dissolution or split up and such order
shall  remain  undischarged  and  unstayed  for a period in excess of sixty (60)
days;  or the  Borrower  shall  otherwise  dissolve or cease to exist  except as
specifically permitted by this Agreement.

      (J) Loan  Documents.  At any time, for any reason,  any Loan Document as a
whole that materially affects the ability of the Agent, or any of the Lenders to
enforce the Obligations ceases to be in full force and effect or the Borrower or
any  of the  Borrower's  Subsidiaries  party  thereto  seeks  to  repudiate  its
obligations thereunder.

      (K) Termination  Event.  Any  Termination  Event occurs which the Required
Lenders  believe is  reasonably  likely to subject the  Borrower to liability in
excess of $2,000,000.

      (L) Waiver of Minimum Funding Standard.  If the plan  administrator of any
Plan  applies  under  Section  412(d)  of the Code for a waiver  of the  minimum
funding  standards  of Section  412(a) of the Code and any Lender  believes  the
substantial business hardship upon which the application for the waiver is based
could  reasonably be expected to subject  either the Borrower or any  Controlled
Group member to liability in excess of $2,000,000.

      (M) Change of Control. A Change of Control shall occur.

      (N) Interest Rate Agreements. Nonpayment by the Borrower of any obligation
under any  Interest  Rate  Agreement  or the breach by the Borrower of any term,
provision or condition  contained in any such Interest Rate  Agreement in either
case which could  reasonably  be expected  to result in  liability  in excess of
$2,500,000.

      (O) Environmental  Matters.  The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall
be the subject of any proceeding or investigation  pertaining to (i) the Release
by the  Borrower  or  any  of its  Subsidiaries  of  any  Contaminant  into  the
environment,  (ii) the  liability  of the  Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries
arising  from the  Release  by any  other  Person  of any  Contaminant  into the
environment, or (iii) any violation of any Environmental, Health or

                                                   -89-

<PAGE>



Safety  Requirements  of Law which by the  Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries,
which,  in any case,  has or is  reasonably  likely to subject  the  Borrower to
liability in excess of $1,000,000.

      A Default  shall be deemed  "continuing"  until  cured or until  waived in
writing in accordance with Section 9.3.


ARTICLE IX:  ACCELERATION, DEFAULTING LENDERS; WAIVERS,
AMENDMENTS AND REMEDIES

      9.1 Termination of Commitments;  Acceleration. If any Default described in
Section 8.1(F) or 8.1(G) occurs with respect to the Borrower, the obligations of
the Lenders to make Loans  hereunder  and the  obligation  of the Agent to issue
Letters of Credit  hereunder shall  automatically  terminate and the Obligations
shall  immediately  become due and payable without any election or action on the
part of the Agent or any  Lender.  If any other  Default  occurs,  the  Required
Lenders may  terminate or suspend the  obligations  of the Lenders to make Loans
hereunder  and the  obligation  of the Issuing  Banks to issue Letters of Credit
hereunder,  or declare the Obligations to be due and payable, or both, whereupon
the Obligations shall become immediately due and payable,  without  presentment,
demand,  protest  or  notice of any kind,  all of which the  Borrower  expressly
waives.

      9.2 Defaulting  Lender. In the event that any Lender fails to fund its Pro
Rata Share of any Advance  requested or deemed requested by the Borrower,  which
such Lender is obligated to fund under the terms of this  Agreement  (the funded
portion of such Advance being hereinafter referred to as a "Non Pro Rata Loan"),
until the earlier of such Lender's cure of such failure and the  termination  of
the Revolving Loan Commitments, the proceeds of all amounts thereafter repaid to
the Agent by the Borrower and otherwise  required to be applied to such Lender's
share of all other Obligations  pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be
advanced to the Borrower by the Agent on behalf of such Lender to cure,  in full
or in part,  such failure by such Lender,  but shall  nevertheless  be deemed to
have been paid to such Lender in satisfaction of such other Obligations.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary:

                  (i) the  foregoing  provisions of this Section 9.2 shall apply
         only with respect to the proceeds of payments of Obligations  and shall
         not affect the conversion or  continuation of Loans pursuant to Section
         2.10;

                  (ii) any such Lender shall be deemed to have cured its failure
         to fund its Pro Rata  Share of any  Advance  at such  time as an amount
         equal  to such  Lender's  original  Pro  Rata  Share  of the  requested
         principal  portion  of such  Advance is fully  funded to the  Borrower,
         whether made by such Lender itself or by operation of the terms of this
         Section  9.2,  and  whether  or not the Non Pro Rata Loan with  respect
         thereto has been repaid, converted or continued;


                                                   -90-

<PAGE>


                  (iii) amounts  advanced to the Borrower to cure, in full or in
         part,  any such  Lender's  failure  to fund  its Pro Rata  Share of any
         Advance  ("Cure  Loans") shall bear interest at the rate  applicable to
         Floating  Rate  Loans in effect  from  time to time,  and for all other
         purposes of this  Agreement  shall be treated as if they were  Floating
         Rate Loans;

                  (iv) regardless of whether or not a Default has occurred or is
         continuing,  and notwithstanding the instructions of the Borrower as to
         its  desired  application,   all  repayments  of  principal  which,  in
         accordance with the other terms of this Agreement,  would be applied to
         the outstanding  Floating Rate Loans shall be applied first, ratably to
         all  Floating  Rate  Loans  constituting  Non Pro Rata  Loans,  second,
         ratably to Floating  Rate Loans other than those  constituting  Non Pro
         Rata Loans or Cure Loans and,  third,  ratably to  Floating  Rate Loans
         constituting Cure Loans;

                  (v) for so long as and until the earlier of any such  Lender's
         cure of the  failure to fund its Pro Rata Share of any  Advance and the
         termination  of the  Revolving  Loan  Commitments,  the term  "Required
         Lenders" for purposes of this Agreement  shall mean Lenders  (excluding
         all Lenders whose failure to fund their  respective  Pro Rata Shares of
         such Advance  have not been so cured)  whose Pro Rata Shares  represent
         greater than fifty  percent  (50%) of the  aggregate Pro Rata Shares of
         such Lenders; and

                  (vi) for so long as and until  any such  Lender's  failure  to
         fund its Pro Rata  Share of any  Advance  is cured in  accordance  with
         Section  9.2(ii),  (A)  such  Lender  shall  not  be  entitled  to  any
         commitment  fees with respect to its Revolving Loan  Commitment and (B)
         such Lender shall not be entitled to any letter of credit  fees,  which
         commitment  fees and letter of credit fees shall accrue in favor of the
         Lenders  which  have  funded  their  respective  Pro Rata Share of such
         requested  Advance,  shall be allocated among such  performing  Lenders
         ratably based upon their relative Revolving Loan Commitments, and shall
         be  calculated  based upon the  average  amount by which the  aggregate
         Revolving Loan  Commitments of such performing  Lenders exceeds the sum
         of (I) the  outstanding  principal  amount of the  Loans  owing to such
         performing Lenders, plus (II) the outstanding Reimbursement Obligations
         owing  to  such   performing   Lenders,   plus   (III)  the   aggregate
         participation  interests of such performing Lenders arising pursuant to
         Section 3.6 with respect to undrawn and outstanding Letters of Credit.

      9.3 Amendments. Subject to the provisions of this Article IX, the Required
Lenders (or the Agent with the consent in writing of the  Required  Lenders) and
the Borrower may enter into  agreements  supplemental  hereto for the purpose of
adding or  modifying  any  provisions  to the Loan  Documents or changing in any
manner  the rights of the  Lenders  or the  Borrower  hereunder  or waiving  any
Default hereunder; provided, however, that no such supplemental agreement shall,
without the consent of each Lender affected thereby:

                                                   -91-

<PAGE>



                  (i) Postpone or extend the Revolving Loan  Termination Date or
         Term Loan  Termination  Date or any other date fixed for any payment of
         principal of, or interest on, the Loans, the Reimbursement  Obligations
         or any  fees or other  amounts  payable  to such  Lender  (except  with
         respect  to  (a)  any  modifications  of  the  provisions  relating  to
         prepayments  of Loans  and  other  Obligations  and (b) a waiver of the
         application  of the default  rate of interest  pursuant to Section 2.11
         hereof).

                  (ii)  Reduce  the  principal   amount  of  any  Loans  or  L/C
         Obligations,  or  reduce  the rate or  extend  the time of  payment  of
         interest or fees thereon.

                  (iii) Reduce the  percentage  specified in the  definition  of
         Required Lenders or any other percentage of Lenders specified to be the
         applicable percentage in this Agreement to act on specified matters.

                  (iv) Increase the amount of the Revolving  Loan  Commitment of
         any Lender hereunder.

                  (v)  Permit  the  Borrower  to assign  its  rights  under this
         Agreement.

                  (vi)  Release all or substantially all of the Collateral.

                  (vii)  Amend this Section 9.3.

No amendment of any provision of this Agreement  relating to (a) the Agent shall
be effective  without the written consent of the Agent, and (b) Swing Line Loans
shall be effective without the written consent of the Swing Line Bank. The Agent
may waive payment of the fee required under Section  13.3(B)  without  obtaining
the consent of any of the Lenders.

      9.4  Preservation  of Rights.  No delay or  omission of the Lenders or the
Agent to exercise any right under the Loan Documents  shall impair such right or
be construed to be a waiver of any Default or an acquiescence  therein,  and the
making  of a Loan or the  issuance  of a Letter of  Credit  notwithstanding  the
existence  of a  Default  or  the  inability  of the  Borrower  to  satisfy  the
conditions precedent to such Loan or issuance of such Letter of Credit shall not
constitute  any waiver or  acquiescence.  Any single or partial  exercise of any
such right shall not preclude other or further  exercise thereof or the exercise
of any other right,  and no waiver,  amendment or other  variation of the terms,
conditions or provisions of the Loan Documents  whatsoever shall be valid unless
in writing signed by the Lenders required pursuant to Section 9.3, and then only
to the extent in such writing  specifically set forth. All remedies contained in
the Loan  Documents  or by law  afforded  shall be  cumulative  and all shall be
available to the Agent and the Lenders until the  Obligations  have been paid in
full.

                                                   -92-

<PAGE>




ARTICLE X:  GENERAL PROVISIONS

      10.1 Survival of  Representations.  All  representations and warranties of
the Borrower contained in this Agreement shall survive delivery of the Notes and
the making of the Loans herein contemplated.

      10.2 Governmental Regulation.  Anything contained in this Agreement to the
contrary  notwithstanding,  no Lender shall be obligated to extend credit to the
Borrower  in  violation  of  any  limitation  or  prohibition  provided  by  any
applicable statute or regulation.

      10.3  Performance of Obligations.  The Borrower agrees that the Agent may,
but shall have no obligation, after the occurrence and during the continuance of
a Default, to make any other payment or perform any act required of the Borrower
under any Loan Document.  The Agent shall use its reasonable efforts to give the
Borrower  notice of any action taken under this Section 10.3 prior to the taking
of such action or promptly  thereafter  provided the failure to give such notice
shall not affect the  Borrower's  obligations in respect  thereof.  The Borrower
agrees to pay the Agent, upon demand, the principal amount of all funds advanced
by the Agent under this Section 10.3, together with interest thereon at the rate
from  time to time  applicable  to  Floating  Rate  Loans  from the date of such
advance until the outstanding  principal balance thereof is paid in full. If the
Borrower fails to make payment in respect of any such advance under this Section
10.3 within one (1) Business Day after the date the  Borrower  receives  written
demand therefor from the Agent,  the Agent shall promptly notify each Lender and
each Lender  agrees that it shall  thereupon  make  available  to the Agent,  in
Dollars in immediately  available  funds,  the amount equal to such Lender's Pro
Rata Share of such advance. If such funds are not made available to the Agent by
such Lender within one (1) Business Day after the Agent's demand  therefor,  the
Agent will be entitled to recover any such amount from such Lender together with
interest  thereon at the Federal  Funds  Effective  Rate for each day during the
period  commencing on the date of such demand and ending on the date such amount
is  received.  The failure of any Lender to make  available to the Agent its Pro
Rata  Share of any such  unreimbursed  advance  under  this  Section  10.3 shall
neither  relieve any other Lender of its obligation  hereunder to make available
to the Agent such other Lender's Pro Rata Share of such advance on the date such
payment is to be made nor  increase the  obligation  of any other Lender to make
such  payment to the Agent.  All  outstanding  principal  of, and  interest  on,
advances made under this Section 10.3 shall constitute Obligations.

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


                                                   -93-

<PAGE>



      10.5 Entire Agreement.  The Loan Documents embody the entire agreement and
understanding  among the  Borrower,  the Agent and the Lenders and supersede all
prior  agreements  and  understandings  among  the  Borrower,  the Agent and the
Lenders relating to the subject matter thereof.

      10.6  Several  Obligations;  Benefits of this  Agreement.  The  respective
obligations  of the  Lenders  hereunder  are several and not joint and no Lender
shall be the partner or agent of any other Lender (except to the extent to which
the Agent is  authorized  to act as such).  The failure of any Lender to perform
any of its obligations  hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender from any of
its obligations hereunder. This Agreement shall not be construed so as to confer
any right or benefit  upon any Person  other than the parties to this  Agreement
and their respective successors and assigns.

      10.7  Expenses; Indemnification.

      (A) Expenses.  The Borrower shall reimburse the Agent and the Arranger for
any reasonable  costs,  charges for internal  legal  services and  out-of-pocket
expenses  (including  attorneys'  and  paralegals'  fees  and  time  charges  of
attorneys and  paralegals for the Agent,  which  attorneys and paralegals may be
employees  of the  Agent)  paid or  incurred  by the  Agent or the  Arranger  in
connection with the preparation,  negotiation, execution, delivery, syndication,
review, amendment,  modification,  and administration of the Loan Documents. The
Borrower also agrees to reimburse the Agent and the Arranger and the Lenders for
any costs, internal charges and out-of-pocket expenses (including attorneys' and
paralegals'  fees and time charges of attorneys and paralegals for the Agent and
the Arranger and the Lenders, which attorneys and paralegals may be employees of
the Agent or the Arranger or the  Lenders)  paid or incurred by the Agent or the
Arranger or any Lender in connection  with the collection of the Obligations and
enforcement of the Loan Documents.  In addition to expenses set forth above, the
Borrower  agrees to  reimburse  the Agent,  promptly  after the Agent's  request
therefor,  for each audit,  or other business  analysis  performed by or for the
benefit  of the  Lenders in  connection  with this  Agreement  or the other Loan
Documents  in an amount  equal to the Agent's  then  customary  charges for each
person  employed to perform such audit or analysis up to an amount not to exceed
$10,000 per audit, plus all costs and expenses  (including  without  limitation,
travel  expenses)  incurred  by the Agent in the  performance  of such  audit or
analysis,  provided,  however,  the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the
Agent for not more than two such audits  between the Closing  Date and the first
anniversary  thereof and one such audit in any twelve-month period thereafter if
any such  audit is  conducted  at a time when no  Default  has  occurred  and is
continuing,  it  being  understood  that the  Borrower  shall  be  obligated  to
reimburse the Agent for any such audits  conducted  after a Default has occurred
and is  continuing  and to do so  without  application  of the  $10,000  maximum
prescribed above.  Agent shall provide the Borrower with a detailed statement of
all reimbursements requested under this Section 10.7(A).


                                                   -94-

<PAGE>



      (B) Indemnity. The Borrower further agrees to defend, protect,  indemnify,
and hold  harmless  the Agent,  the Arranger and each and all of the Lenders and
each of  their  respective  Affiliates,  and each of such  Agent's,  Arranger's,
Lender's, or Affiliate's respective officers,  directors,  employees,  attorneys
and agents (including, without limitation, those retained in connection with the
satisfaction  or attempted  satisfaction  of any of the  conditions set forth in
Article  V)  (collectively,  the  "Indemnitees")  from and  against  any and all
liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits,
claims,  costs,  expenses of any kind or nature whatsoever  (including,  without
limitation,  the fees and  disbursements  of  counsel  for such  Indemnitees  in
connection  with  any  investigative,  administrative  or  judicial  proceeding,
whether or not such  Indemnitees  shall be designated a party thereto),  imposed
on, incurred by, or asserted  against such Indemnitees in any manner relating to
or arising out of:

                  (i) this Agreement,  the other Transaction  Documents,  or any
         act, event or transaction related or attendant thereto or to the making
         of the Loans,  including,  without limitation,  the Tender Offer or the
         Merger,  and the  issuance  of and  participation  in Letters of Credit
         hereunder,  the management of such Loans or Letters of Credit,  the use
         or  intended  use of the  proceeds  of the Loans or  Letters  of Credit
         hereunder,  or any of the other  transactions  contemplated by the Loan
         Documents; or

                  (ii) any liabilities, obligations,  responsibilities,  losses,
         damages,  personal injury, death,  punitive damages,  economic damages,
         consequential damages, treble damages,  intentional,  willful or wanton
         injury,  damage or  threat to the  environment,  natural  resources  or
         public  health or  welfare,  costs  and  expenses  (including,  without
         limitation,   attorney,   expert  and  consulting  fees  and  costs  of
         investigation,   feasibility  or  remedial  action   studies),   fines,
         penalties and monetary sanctions,  interest,  direct or indirect, known
         or unknown, absolute or contingent, past, present or future relating to
         violation of any  Environmental,  Health or Safety  Requirements of Law
         arising  from  or in  connection  with  the  past,  present  or  future
         operations of the Borrower, its Subsidiaries or any of their respective
         predecessors   in   interest,   or,   the  past,   present   or  future
         environmental, health or safety condition of any respective property of
         the Borrower or its Subsidiaries,  the presence of  asbestos-containing
         materials   at  any   respective   property  of  the  Borrower  or  its
         Subsidiaries  or the Release or threatened  Release of any  Contaminant
         into the environment (collectively, the "Indemnified Matters");

provided,  however,  the  Borrower  shall have no  obligation  to an  Indemnitee
hereunder  with respect to  Indemnified  Matters  caused  solely by or resulting
solely from the willful  misconduct or Gross  Negligence  of such  Indemnitee or
breach of contract by such  Indemnitee  with respect to the Loan  Documents,  in
each  case,  as  determined  by the final  non-appealed  judgment  of a court of
competent jurisdiction.  If the undertaking to indemnify,  pay and hold harmless
set forth in the preceding sentence may be unenforceable

                                                   -95-

<PAGE>



because  it is  violative  of any  law or  public  policy,  the  Borrower  shall
contribute  the maximum  portion  which it is permitted to pay and satisfy under
applicable  law, to the  payment and  satisfaction  of all  Indemnified  Matters
incurred by the Indemnitees.

      (C) Waiver of Certain Claims;  Settlement of Claims.  The Borrower further
agrees not to assert  claims  against  any of the  Indemnitees  on any theory of
liability for consequential, special, indirect, exemplary or punitive damages in
excess of $1,000,000 in the  aggregate  with respect to all such claims  against
any or all of such  Indemnities.  No  settlement  shall be  entered  into by the
Borrower  or any if its  Subsidiaries  with  respect to any  claim,  litigation,
arbitration or other  proceeding  relating to or arising out of the transactions
evidenced by this  Agreement or the other Loan  Documents or in connection  with
the  Tender  Offer or  Merger  (whether  or not the  Agent or any  Lender or any
Indemnitee is a party thereto) unless such  settlement  releases all Indemnitees
from any and all liability with respect thereto.

      (D) Survival of Agreements. The obligations and agreements of the Borrower
under this Section 10.7 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

      10.8 Numbers of Documents. All statements, notices, closing documents, and
requests hereunder shall be furnished to the Agent with sufficient  counterparts
so that the Agent may furnish one to each of the Lenders.

      10.9 Accounting. Except as provided to the contrary herein, all accounting
terms  used  herein  shall  be  interpreted  and all  accounting  determinations
hereunder shall be made in accordance with Agreement Accounting  Principles.  If
any changes in generally accepted  accounting  principles are hereafter required
or  permitted  and  are  adopted  by the  Borrower  with  the  agreement  of its
independent public accountants and such changes result in a change in the method
of  calculation  of any of the financial  covenants,  restrictions  or standards
herein  or in  the  related  definitions  or  terms  used  therein  ("Accounting
Changes"),  the parties hereto agree to enter into negotiations,  in good faith,
in order to amend such  provisions in a credit  neutral  manner so as to reflect
equitably such Accounting  Changes with the desired result that the criteria for
evaluating  the  Borrower's  financial  condition  shall be the same  after such
changes as if such  changes  had not been made;  provided,  however,  until such
provisions are amended in a manner reasonably  satisfactory to the Agent and the
Required   Lenders,   no  Accounting  Change  shall  be  given  effect  in  such
calculations  and all financial  statements and reports required to be delivered
hereunder shall be prepared in accordance with Agreement  Accounting  Principles
without taking into account such Accounting Changes. In the event such amendment
is entered into with respect to any Accounting  Changes,  all references to this
Agreement to  Agreement  Accounting  Principles  shall mean  generally  accepted
accounting principles as of the date of such amendment.



                                                   -96-

<PAGE>



      10.10 Severability of Provisions.  Any provision in any Loan Document that
is held to be inoperative,  unenforceable, or invalid in any jurisdiction shall,
as to that  jurisdiction,  be  inoperative,  unenforceable,  or invalid  without
affecting  the  remaining  provisions  in that  jurisdiction  or the  operation,
enforceability,  or validity of that provision in any other jurisdiction, and to
this end the provisions of all Loan Documents are declared to be severable.

      10.11 Nonliability of Lenders.  The relationship  between the Borrower and
the Lenders and the Agent shall be solely that of borrower  and lender.  Neither
the  Agent nor any  Lender  shall  have any  fiduciary  responsibilities  to the
Borrower.  Neither the Agent nor any Lender undertakes any responsibility to the
Borrower to review or inform the Borrower of any matter in  connection  with any
phase of the Borrower's business or operations.

      10.12 GOVERNING LAW. ANY DISPUTE BETWEEN THE BORROWER AND THE AGENT OR THE
ARRANGER OR ANY LENDER ARISING OUT OF, CONNECTED WITH, RELATED TO, OR INCIDENTAL
TO THE RELATIONSHIP  ESTABLISHED BETWEEN THEM IN CONNECTION WITH, THIS AGREEMENT
OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN  DOCUMENTS,  AND  WHETHER  ARISING IN  CONTRACT,  TORT,
EQUITY,  OR OTHERWISE,  SHALL BE RESOLVED IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS
(WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAWS PROVISIONS) OF THE STATE OF INDIANA.

      10.13  CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; SERVICE OF PROCESS; JURY TRIAL.

      (A)  JURISDICTION.  EXCEPT AS  PROVIDED  IN  SUBSECTION  (B),  EACH OF THE
PARTIES  HERETO  AGREES THAT ALL DISPUTES  AMONG THEM ARISING OUT OF,  CONNECTED
WITH,  RELATED TO, OR INCIDENTAL TO THE RELATIONSHIP  ESTABLISHED  AMONG THEM IN
CONNECTION  WITH,  THIS  AGREEMENT  OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN  DOCUMENTS  WHETHER
ARISING IN CONTRACT,  TORT, EQUITY, OR OTHERWISE, MAY BE RESOLVED EXCLUSIVELY BY
STATE OR FEDERAL COURTS LOCATED IN INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, BUT THE PARTIES HERETO
ACKNOWLEDGE  THAT ANY APPEALS  FROM THOSE COURTS MAY HAVE TO BE HEARD BY A COURT
LOCATED OUTSIDE OF INDIANAPOLIS,  INDIANA.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVES IN
ALL DISPUTES  BROUGHT  PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION (A) ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY
HAVE TO THE LOCATION OF THE COURT CONSIDERING THE DISPUTE.

      (B)  OTHER JURISDICTIONS.  THE BORROWER AGREES THAT THE AGENT,
OR ANY LENDER SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO PROCEED AGAINST THE
BORROWER OR ITS PROPERTY IN A COURT IN ANY LOCATION TO ENABLE

                                                   -97-

<PAGE>



SUCH PERSON TO (1) OBTAIN PERSONAL JURISDICTION OVER THE BORROWER OR (2) REALIZE
ON ANY  SECURITY  FOR THE  OBLIGATIONS  OR TO ENFORCE A JUDGMENT  OR OTHER COURT
ORDER  ENTERED IN FAVOR OF SUCH  PERSON.  THE  BORROWER  AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT
ASSERT ANY PERMISSIVE  COUNTERCLAIMS IN ANY PROCEEDING BROUGHT BY SUCH PERSON TO
REALIZE ON ANY  SECURITY FOR THE  OBLIGATIONS  OR TO ENFORCE A JUDGMENT OR OTHER
COURT ORDER IN FAVOR OF SUCH PERSON.  THE BORROWER  WAIVES ANY OBJECTION THAT IT
MAY HAVE TO THE  LOCATION  OF THE COURT IN WHICH  SUCH  PERSON HAS  COMMENCED  A
PROCEEDING DESCRIBED IN THIS SUBSECTION (B).

      (C) VENUE.  THE  BORROWER  IRREVOCABLY  WAIVES ANY  OBJECTION  (INCLUDING,
WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY OBJECTION OF THE LAYING OF VENUE OR BASED ON THE GROUNDS
OF FORUM NON  CONVENIENS)  WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE BRINGING OF
ANY SUCH  ACTION OR  PROCEEDING  WITH  RESPECT  TO THIS  AGREEMENT  OR ANY OTHER
INSTRUMENT,  DOCUMENT OR AGREEMENT EXECUTED OR DELIVERED IN CONNECTION  HEREWITH
IN ANY JURISDICTION SET FORTH ABOVE.

      (D) WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO  IRREVOCABLY  WAIVES
ANY RIGHT TO HAVE A JURY PARTICIPATE IN RESOLVING ANY DISPUTE,  WHETHER SOUNDING
IN CONTRACT,  TORT, OR OTHERWISE,  ARISING OUT OF, CONNECTED WITH, RELATED TO OR
INCIDENTAL TO THE  RELATIONSHIP  ESTABLISHED  AMONG THEM IN CONNECTION WITH THIS
AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER INSTRUMENT,  DOCUMENT OR AGREEMENT  EXECUTED OR DELIVERED
IN CONNECTION HEREWITH.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY
SUCH CLAIM,  DEMAND,  ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION  SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL
WITHOUT A JURY AND THAT ANY PARTY HERETO MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL  COUNTERPART  OR A
COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN  EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE
PARTIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.


ARTICLE XI:  THE AGENT

      11.1 Appointment;  Nature of Relationship.  NBD Bank, N.A. is appointed by
the Lenders as the Agent hereunder and under each other Loan Document,  and each
of the  Lenders  irrevocably  authorizes  the  Agent  to act as the  contractual
representative  of such  Lender with the rights and duties  expressly  set forth
herein  and in the  other  Loan  Documents.  The  Agent  agrees  to act as  such
contractual representative upon the express

                                                   -98-

<PAGE>



conditions contained in this Article XI.  Notwithstanding the use of the defined
term  "Agent," it is  expressly  understood  and agreed that the Agent shall not
have any fiduciary  responsibilities  to any Lender by reason of this  Agreement
and that the Agent is merely  acting as the  representative  of the Lenders with
only those duties as are  expressly  set forth in this  Agreement  and the other
Loan Documents. In its capacity as the Lenders' contractual representative,  the
Agent (i) does not assume any fiduciary duties to any of the Lenders,  (ii) is a
"representative"  of the  Lenders  within the  meaning  of Section  9-105 of the
Uniform  Commercial Code and (iii) is acting as an independent  contractor,  the
rights and  duties of which are  limited  to those  expressly  set forth in this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents.  Each of the Lenders agrees to assert no
claim  against the Agent on any agency  theory or any other  theory of liability
for breach of fiduciary duty, all of which claims each Lender waives.

      11.2 Powers.  The Agent shall have and may exercise  such powers under the
Loan Documents as are  specifically  delegated to the Agent by the terms of each
thereof,  together with such powers as are reasonably  incidental  thereto.  The
Agent shall have no implied  duties or fiduciary  duties to the Lenders,  or any
obligation to the Lenders to take any action hereunder or under any of the other
Loan  Documents  except any action  specifically  provided by the Loan Documents
required to be taken by the Agent.

      11.3  General  Immunity.  Neither  the  Agent  nor  any of its  directors,
officers,  agents or employees  shall be liable to the Borrower,  the Lenders or
any Lender for any action  taken or omitted to be taken by it or them  hereunder
or under any other Loan Document or in connection  herewith or therewith  except
to the extent such action or inaction is found in a final judgment by a court of
competent jurisdiction to have arisen solely from the Gross Negligence,  willful
misconduct or breach of contract of such Person.

      11.4 No Responsibility for Loans, Creditworthiness, Recitals, Etc. Neither
the Agent nor any of its  directors,  officers,  agents  or  employees  shall be
responsible  for or have any duty to ascertain,  inquire into, or verify (i) any
statement,  warranty or representation made in connection with any Loan Document
or any borrowing  hereunder;  (ii) the  performance  or observance of any of the
covenants  or  agreements  of any  obligor  under any Loan  Document;  (iii) the
satisfaction  of any condition  specified in Article V, except  receipt of items
required to be  delivered  solely to the Agent;  (iv) the  existence or possible
existence of any Default or (v) the validity,  effectiveness  or  genuineness of
any Transaction Document,  for the perfection or priority of the Liens on any of
the  Collateral,  or any other  instrument  or writing  furnished in  connection
therewith.  The Agent shall not be  responsible  to any Lender for any recitals,
statements,  representations  or  warranties  herein or in any of the other Loan
Documents, or for the execution, effectiveness, genuineness, validity, legality,
enforceability,  collectibility,  or sufficiency of this Agreement or any of the
other  Loan  Documents  or the  transactions  contemplated  thereby,  or for the
financial  condition  of any  guarantor  of any or all of the  Obligations,  the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

                                                   -99-

<PAGE>



      11.5 Action on  Instructions  of Lenders.  The Agent shall in all cases be
fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, hereunder and under any
other Loan  Document  in  accordance  with  written  instructions  signed by the
Required  Lenders,  and such instructions and any action taken or failure to act
pursuant  thereto  shall be binding on all of the  Lenders and on all holders of
Notes.  The Agent  shall be fully  justified  in failing or refusing to take any
action  hereunder  and under any other Loan  Document  unless it shall  first be
indemnified  to its  satisfaction  by the Lenders  pro rata  against any and all
liability,  cost and expense that it may incur by reason of taking or continuing
to take any such action.

      11.6  Employment  of Agents and Counsel.  The Agent may execute any of its
duties as the Agent  hereunder  and under any other Loan  Document by or through
employees,  agents,  and  attorney-in-fact  and shall not be  answerable  to the
Lenders,  except  as to money or  securities  received  by it or its  authorized
agents,  for the default or misconduct  of any such agents or  attorneys-in-fact
selected by it with  reasonable  care.  The Agent shall be entitled to advice of
counsel concerning the contractual arrangement between the Agent and the Lenders
and all matters  pertaining to the Agent's duties  hereunder and under any other
Loan Document.

      11.7 Reliance on Documents;  Counsel.  The Agent shall be entitled to rely
upon any  Note,  notice,  consent,  certificate,  affidavit,  letter,  telegram,
statement,  paper or  document  believed  by it to be genuine and correct and to
have been  signed or sent by the proper  person or  persons,  and, in respect to
legal matters,  upon the opinion of counsel selected by the Agent, which counsel
may be employees of the Agent.

      11.8 The Agent's  Reimbursement and Indemnification.  The Lenders agree to
reimburse and  indemnify  the Agent  ratably in  proportion to their  respective
Revolving  Loan  Commitments  (i) for any amounts not reimbursed by the Borrower
for which the Agent is entitled to  reimbursement by the Borrower under the Loan
Documents,  (ii) for any other  expenses  incurred by the Agent on behalf of the
Lenders, in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration
and   enforcement  of  the  Loan  Documents  and  (iii)  for  any   liabilities,
obligations,  losses,  damages,  penalties,  actions,  judgments,  suits, costs,
expenses or disbursements of any kind and nature whatsoever which may be imposed
on, incurred by or asserted  against the Agent in any way relating to or arising
out of the  Loan  Documents  or  any  other  document  delivered  in  connection
therewith or the transactions contemplated thereby, or the enforcement of any of
the terms thereof or of any such other documents,  provided that no Lender shall
be liable for any of the  foregoing to the extent any of the  foregoing is found
in a final non-appealable  judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have
arisen solely from the Gross Negligence or willful misconduct of the Agent.

      11.9 Rights as a Lender.  With respect to its Revolving  Loan  Commitment,
its Term Loan Commitment, Loans made by it and the Notes issued to it, the Agent
shall have the

                                                  -100-

<PAGE>



same rights and powers hereunder and under any other Loan Document as any Lender
and may  exercise  the  same as  through  it were  not the  Agent,  and the term
"Lender" or "Lenders" shall, unless the context otherwise indicates, include the
Agent in its individual capacity. The Agent may accept deposits from, lend money
to,  and  generally  engage  in  any  kind  of  trust,  debt,  equity  or  other
transaction,  in addition to those  contemplated  by this Agreement or any other
Loan Document, with the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in which such Person
is not prohibited hereby from engaging with any other Person.

      11.10  Lender  Credit  Decision.  Each  Lender  acknowledges  that it has,
independently  and without reliance upon the Agent or any other Lender and based
on the financial  statements  prepared by the Borrower and such other  documents
and information as it has deemed  appropriate,  made its own credit analysis and
decision to enter into this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.  Each Lender
also  acknowledges  that it will,  independently  and without  reliance upon the
Agent or any other  Lender and based on such  documents  and  information  as it
shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in
taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

      11.11 Successor  Agent. The Agent may resign at any time by giving written
notice thereof to the Lenders and the Borrower.  Upon any such resignation,  the
Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint,  on behalf of the Borrower and
the  Lenders,  a  successor  Agent.  If no  successor  Agent  shall have been so
appointed  by the  Required  Lenders and shall have  accepted  such  appointment
within thirty days after the retiring Agent's giving notice of resignation, then
the  retiring  Agent may appoint,  on behalf of the Borrower and the Lenders,  a
successor Agent.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, so long as no
Default has  occurred  and is  continuing,  each such  successor  Agent shall be
subject to approval by the Borrower,  which approval  shall not be  unreasonably
withheld.  Such  successor  Agent shall be a commercial  bank having capital and
retained  earnings  of  at  least  $500,000,000.  Upon  the  acceptance  of  any
appointment as the 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  hereunder and under the other Loan
Documents.  After any  retiring  Agent's  resignation  hereunder  as Agent,  the
provisions  of this  Article  XI shall  continue  in effect  for its  benefit in
respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was acting as
the Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents.

      11.12 Collateral Documents.  (a) Each Lender authorizes the Agent to enter
into  each of the  Collateral  Documents  to which it is a party and to take all
action  contemplated by such documents.  Each Lender agrees that no Lender shall
have the right  individually to seek to realize upon the security granted by any
Collateral  Document,  it being  understood  and  agreed  that such  rights  and
remedies may be exercised  solely by the Agent for the benefit of the Holders of
Secured Obligations upon the terms of the Collateral Documents.

                                                  -101-

<PAGE>



         (b) In the event that any Collateral is hereafter pledged by any Person
as collateral  security for the Obligations,  the Agent is hereby  authorized to
execute  and deliver on behalf of the  Holders of Secured  Obligations  any Loan
Documents  necessary  or  appropriate  to  grant  and  perfect  a Lien  on  such
Collateral  in  favor  of  the  Agent  on  behalf  of  the  Holders  of  Secured
Obligations.

         (c) 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
Agreement  or the Loan  Documents  or the  transactions  contemplated  hereby or
thereby;  (ii) as permitted  by, but only in accordance  with,  the terms of the
applicable  Loan  Document;  or (iii) if  approved,  authorized  or  ratified in
writing by the Required Lenders,  unless such release is required to be approved
by all of the  Lenders  hereunder.  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 11.12(c).

         (d) Upon  any  sale  and  transfer  of  Collateral  which is  expressly
permitted pursuant to the terms of any Loan Document, or consented to in writing
by the Required Lenders or all of the Lenders, as applicable,  and upon at least
five Business Days' prior written request by the Borrower,  the Agent shall (and
is hereby  irrevocably  authorized by the Lenders to) execute such  documents as
may be necessary  to evidence the release of the Liens  granted to the Agent for
the benefit of the Lenders herein or pursuant  hereto upon the  Collateral  that
was sold or  transferred;  provided,  however,  that (i) the Agent  shall not be
required to execute any such  document on terms which,  in the Agent's  opinion,
would  expose  the Agent to  liability  or create any  obligation  or entail any
consequence  other than the release of such Liens without  recourse or warranty,
and (ii) such release  shall not in any manner  discharge,  affect or impair the
Obligations or any Liens upon (or  obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary
in  respect  of) all  interests  retained  by the  Borrower  or any  Subsidiary,
including  (without  limitation)  the  proceeds of the sale,  all of which shall
continue to constitute part of the Collateral.


ARTICLE XII:  SETOFF; RATABLE PAYMENTS

      12.1 Setoff. In addition to, and without  limitation of, any rights of the
Lenders  under  applicable  law, if any Default  occurs and is  continuing,  any
indebtedness  from any Lender to the Borrower  (including all account  balances,
whether  provisional  or final and whether or not collected or available) may be
offset and applied toward the payment of the  Obligations  owing to such Lender,
whether or not the Obligations, or any part hereof, shall then be due.


                                                  -102-

<PAGE>



      12.2 Ratable Payments. If any Lender, whether by setoff or otherwise,  has
payment  made to it upon its Loans  (other than  payments  received  pursuant to
Sections  4.1,  4.2 or 4.4) in a greater  proportion  than that  received by any
other Lender, such Lender agrees, promptly upon demand, to purchase a portion of
the Loans held by the other Lenders so that after such purchase each Lender will
hold its ratable proportion of Loans. If any Lender,  whether in connection with
setoff or  amounts  which  might be  subject  to setoff or  otherwise,  receives
collateral or other  protection  for its Obligation or such amounts which may be
subject to setoff, such Lender agrees, promptly upon demand, to take such action
necessary such that all Lenders share in the benefits of such collateral ratably
in  proportion  to the  obligations  owing to them.  In case any such payment is
disturbed by legal process, or otherwise,  appropriate further adjustments shall
be made.

      12.3  Application  of Payments.  Subject to the provisions of Section 9.2,
the Agent shall,  unless  otherwise  specified at the  direction of the Required
Lenders  which  direction  shall be  consistent  with the last  sentence of this
Section 12.3,  apply all payments and  prepayments in respect of any Obligations
and all proceeds of Collateral in the following order:

                  (A)  first,  to pay  interest  on and  then  principal  of any
         portion of the Loans which the Agent may have advanced on behalf of any
         Lender for which the Agent has not then been  reimbursed by such Lender
         or the Borrower;

                  (B)  second,  to pay  interest  on and then  principal  of any
         advance  made under  Section 10.3 for which the Agent has not then been
         paid by the Borrower or reimbursed by the Lenders;

                  (C) third, to pay Obligations in respect of any fees,  expense
         reimbursements or indemnities then due to the Agent;

                  (D)  fourth,  to pay  Obligations  in  respect  of  any  fees,
         expenses, reimbursements or indemnities then due to the Lenders and the
         issuer(s) of Letters of Credit;

                  (E) fifth, to pay interest due in respect of Swing Line Loans;

                  (F) sixth, to pay interest due in respect of Loans (other than
         Swing Line Loans) and L/C Obligations;

                  (G) seventh, to the ratable payment or prepayment of principal
         outstanding on Swing Line Loans;

                  (H) eighth,  to the ratable payment or prepayment of principal
         outstanding  on Loans  (other  than  Swing Line  Loans),  Reimbursement
         Obligations and Hedging

                                                  -103-

<PAGE>



         Obligations  under Interest Rate  Agreements in such order as the Agent
         may determine in its sole discretion;

                  (I) ninth, to provide  required cash  collateral,  if required
         pursuant to Section 3.11 and

                  (J) tenth, to the ratable payment of all other Obligations.

Unless otherwise designated (which designation shall only be applicable prior to
the occurrence of a Default) by the Borrower,  all principal payments in respect
of Loans  (other  than  Swing  Line  Loans)  shall be  applied  first,  to repay
outstanding  Floating Rate Loans, and then to repay outstanding  Eurodollar Rate
Loans with those  Eurodollar  Rate Loans which have  earlier  expiring  Interest
Periods being repaid prior to those which have later expiring  Interest Periods.
The order of priority set forth in this Section 12.3 and the related  provisions
of this Agreement are set forth solely to determine the rights and priorities of
the Agent,  the  Lenders,  the Swing Line Bank and the  issuer(s)  of Letters of
Credit as among  themselves.  The order of  priority  set forth in  clauses  (D)
through  (J) of this  Section  12.3 may at any  time  and  from  time to time be
changed by the Required Lenders without  necessity of notice to or consent of or
approval  by the  Borrower,  or any other  Person;  provided,  that the order of
priority of payments in respect of Swing Line Loans may be changed only with the
prior written consent of the Swing Line Bank. The order of priority set forth in
clauses (A) through (C) of this  Section 12.3 may be changed only with the prior
written consent of the Agent.

      12.4  Relations Among Lenders.

      (A) Except with respect to the exercise of set-off rights of any Lender in
accordance  with Section  12.1,  the proceeds of which are applied in accordance
with this  Agreement,  and except as set forth in the following  sentence,  each
Lender  agrees that it will not take any action,  nor  institute  any actions or
proceedings, against the Borrower or any other obligor hereunder or with respect
to any Loan Document,  without the prior written consent of the Required Lenders
or, as may be provided in this  Agreement  or the other Loan  Documents,  at the
direction of the Agent.

      (B) The Lenders are not partners or  co-venturers,  and no Lender shall be
liable for the acts or omissions of, or (except as otherwise set forth herein in
case of the Agent) authorized to act for, any other Lender. The Agent shall have
the  exclusive  right on behalf of the  Lenders to enforce on the payment of the
principal of and interest on any Loan after the date such  principal or interest
has become due and payable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

ARTICLE XIII:  BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS;
PARTICIPATIONS

                                                  -104-

<PAGE>



      13.1  Successors  and  Assigns.  The  terms  and  provisions  of the  Loan
Documents shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrower and the
Lenders  and  their  respective  successors  and  assigns,  except  that (i) the
Borrower shall not have the right to assign its rights or obligations  under the
Loan  Documents and (ii) any assignment by any Lender must be made in compliance
with Section 13.3 hereof.  Notwithstanding clause (ii) of this Section 13.1, any
Lender may at any time, without the consent of the Borrower or the Agent, assign
all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement and its Notes to a Federal
Reserve  Bank;  provided,  however,  that no such  assignment  shall release the
transferor Lender from its obligations hereunder.  The Agent may treat the payee
of any Note as the owner  thereof for all purposes  hereof unless and until such
payee complies with Section 13.3 hereof in the case of an assignment thereof or,
in the case of any other  transfer,  a written  notice of the  transfer is filed
with the Agent.  Any  assignee  or  transferee  of a Note  agrees by  acceptance
thereof to be bound by all the terms and provisions of the Loan  Documents.  Any
request,  authority  or consent of any  Person,  who at the time of making  such
request or giving such authority or consent is the holder of any Note,  shall be
conclusive and binding on any subsequent holder,  transferee or assignee of such
Note or of any Note or Notes issued in exchange therefor.

      13.2  Participations.

      (A) Permitted Participants; Effect. Subject to the terms set forth in this
Section  13.2,  any Lender may, in the  ordinary  course of its  business and in
accordance  with  applicable law, at any time sell to one or more banks or other
entities  ("Participants")  participating  interests  in any Loan  owing to such
Lender,  any Note held by such Lender,  any  Revolving  Loan  Commitment of such
Lender,  any L/C  Interest of such  Lender or any other  interest of such Lender
under the Loan  Documents  on a pro rata or non-pro  rata basis.  Notice of such
participation  to the  Borrower  and the Agent  shall be  required  prior to any
participation  becoming  effective with respect to a Participant  which is not a
Lender  or an  Affiliate  thereof.  In the event of any such sale by a Lender of
participating  interests to a Participant,  such Lender's  obligations under the
Loan  Documents  shall  remain  unchanged,   such  Lender  shall  remain  solely
responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations,
such Lender shall remain the holder of any such Note for all purposes  under the
Loan  Documents,  all amounts payable by the Borrower under this Agreement shall
be determined as if such Lender had not sold such participating  interests,  and
the Borrower and the Agent shall  continue to deal solely and directly with such
Lender in connection with such Lender's  rights and  obligations  under the Loan
Documents except that, for purposes of Article IV hereof, the Participants shall
be entitled to the same rights as if they were Lenders.

      (B) Voting  Rights.  Each Lender  shall  retain the sole right to approve,
without the consent of any Participant, any amendment, modification or waiver of
any provision of the Loan Documents  other than any amendment,  modification  or
waiver  with  respect to any Loan or  Revolving  Loan  Commitment  in which such
Participant has an interest which

                                                  -105-

<PAGE>



forgives  principal,  interest  or fees or  reduces  the  interest  rate or fees
payable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement with respect to any such Loan or
Revolving Loan Commitment,  postpones any date fixed for any regularly-scheduled
payment of principal of, or interest or fees on, any such Loan or Revolving Loan
Commitment,  or releases all or  substantially  all of the  Collateral,  if any,
securing any such Loan.

      (C) Benefit of Setoff.  The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be
deemed to have the right of setoff provided in Section 12.1 hereof in respect to
its participating interest in amounts owing under the Loan Documents to the same
extent as if the amount of its participating  interest were owing directly to it
as a Lender under the Loan Documents, provided that each Lender shall retain the
right of setoff  provided in Section  12.1 hereof with  respect to the amount of
participating  interests  sold to each  Participant  except to the  extent  such
Participant  exercises its right of setoff. The Lenders agree to share with each
Participant, and each Participant, by exercising the right of setoff provided in
Section  12.1  hereof,  agrees to share with each  Lender,  any amount  received
pursuant to the  exercise of its right of setoff,  such  amounts to be shared in
accordance with Section 12.2 as if each Participant were a Lender.

      13.3  Assignments.

      (A) Permitted  Assignments.  Any Lender may, in the ordinary course of its
business and in  accordance  with  applicable  law, at any time assign to one or
more banks or other entities  ("Purchasers")  all or a portion of its rights and
obligations under this Agreement (including,  without limitation,  its Revolving
Loan Commitment,  all Loans owing to it, all of its  participation  interests in
existing  Letters of Credit,  and its  obligation to  participate  in additional
Letters of Credit  hereunder) in accordance  with the provisions of this Section
13.3.  Each  assignment  shall  be of a  constant,  and not a  varying,  ratable
percentage of all of the assigning  Lender's rights and  obligations  under this
Agreement.  Such  assignment  shall be  substantially  in the form of  Exhibit E
hereto and shall not be permitted hereunder unless such assignment is either for
all of such Lender's rights and obligations under the Loan Documents or, without
the prior written  consent of the Agent,  involves  loans and  commitments in an
aggregate amount of at least  $5,000,000  (which minimum amount may be waived by
the Required  Lenders after the  occurrence  of a Default or Unmatured  Event of
Default).  The consent of the Agent and, prior to the occurrence of a Default or
Unmatured Default,  the Borrower (which consent, in each such case, shall not be
unreasonably  withheld),  shall  be  required  prior to an  assignment  becoming
effective  with  respect to a  Purchaser  which is not a Lender or an  Affiliate
thereof.

      (B) Effect;  Effective Date. Upon (i) delivery to the Agent of a notice of
assignment, substantially in the form attached as Appendix I to Exhibit E hereto
(a  "Notice of  Assignment"),  together  with any  consent  required  by Section
13.3.(A) hereof,  and (ii), in the case of an assignment to a Purchaser which is
not a Lender or an Affiliate  thereof,  payment of a $3,500 fee to the Agent for
processing such assignment, such assignment

                                                  -106-

<PAGE>



shall  become  effective  on the  effective  date  specified  in such  Notice of
Assignment.  The Notice of  Assignment  shall  contain a  representation  by the
Purchaser to the effect that none of the consideration used to make the purchase
of the  Commitment,  Loans and L/C Obligations  under the applicable  assignment
agreement  are "plan  assets"  as  defined  under  ERISA and that the rights and
interests  of the  Purchaser in and under the Loan  Documents  will not be "plan
assets" under ERISA.  On and after the effective date of such  assignment,  such
Purchaser,  if not already a Lender, shall for all purposes be a Lender party to
this  Agreement and any other Loan  Documents  executed by the Lenders and shall
have all the rights and obligations of a Lender under the Loan Documents, to the
same extent as if it were an original  party hereto,  and no further  consent or
action by the  Borrower,  the  Lenders or the Agent shall be required to release
the transferor Lender with respect to the percentage of the Aggregate  Revolving
Loan  Commitment,  Loans and Letter of Credit  participations  assigned  to such
Purchaser.  Upon the  consummation of any assignment to a Purchaser  pursuant to
this Section 13.3(B),  the transferor  Lender,  the Agent and the Borrower shall
make  appropriate  arrangements  so that  replacement  Notes are  issued to such
transferor  Lender  and new Notes or, as  appropriate,  replacement  Notes,  are
issued to such Purchaser,  in each case in principal  amounts  reflecting  their
Revolving  Loan  Commitment and their Term Loans,  as adjusted  pursuant to such
assignment.

      (C) The Register.  The Agent shall maintain at its address  referred to in
Section 14.1 a copy of each assignment  delivered to and accepted by it pursuant
to this Section 13.3 and a register (the  "Register") for the recordation of the
names and  addresses of the Lenders and the  Revolving  Loan  Commitment  of and
principal  amount  of the  Loans  owing to,  each  Lender  from time to time and
whether  such Lender is an  original  Lender or the  assignee of another  Lender
pursuant to an assignment  under this Section 13.3.  The entries in the Register
shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error, and the
Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries,  the Agent and the Lenders may treat each
Person  whose name is recorded in the  Register  as a Lender  hereunder  for all
purposes of this  Agreement.  The Register  shall be available for inspection by
the  Borrower  or any Lender at any  reasonable  time and from time to time upon
reasonable prior notice.

      13.4  Confidentiality.  Subject to Section 13.5, the Agent and the Lenders
shall hold all nonpublic  information  obtained  pursuant to the requirements of
this  Agreement and  identified as such by the Borrower in accordance  with such
Person's  customary  procedures  for handling  confidential  information of this
nature and in accordance with safe and sound banking  practices and in any event
may  make  disclosure  reasonably  required  by  a  prospective   Transferee  in
connection with the  contemplated  participation or assignment or as required or
requested by any Governmental Authority or representative thereof or pursuant to
legal process and shall require any such Transferee to agree (and require any of
its  Transferees  to agree) to comply with this Section  13.4. In no event shall
the Agent or any  Lender be  obligated  or  required  to  return  any  materials
furnished by the Borrower;  provided, however, each prospective Transferee shall
be required to agree that if it does

                                                  -107-

<PAGE>



not become a participant or assignee it shall return all materials  furnished to
it by or on behalf of the Borrower in connection with this Agreement.

      13.5 Dissemination of Information.  The Borrower authorizes each Lender to
disclose to any  Participant  or  Purchaser  or any other  Person  acquiring  an
interest in the Loan Documents by operation of law (each a "Transferee") and any
prospective  Transferee  any and all  information  in such  Lender's  possession
concerning  the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries;  provided that prior to any such
disclosure,  such  prospective  Transferee shall agree to preserve in accordance
with Section 13.4 the confidentiality of any confidential  information described
therein.


ARTICLE XIV:  NOTICES

      14.1 Giving  Notice.  Except as  otherwise  permitted by Section 2.14 with
respect to borrowing notices, all notices and other  communications  provided to
any party hereto under this  Agreement or any other Loan  Documents  shall be in
writing or by telex or by facsimile  and addressed or delivered to such party at
its address set forth below its signature hereto or at such other address as may
be designated  by such party in a notice to the other  parties.  Any notice,  if
mailed and properly  addressed with postage prepaid,  shall be deemed given when
received;  any notice,  if  transmitted  by telex or facsimile,  shall be deemed
given when transmitted (answerback confirmed in the case of telexes).

      14.2 Change of Address.  The  Borrower,  the Agent and any Lender may each
change the  address  for service of notice upon it by a notice in writing to the
other parties hereto.


ARTICLE XV:  COUNTERPARTS

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


                  [Remainder of This Page Intentionally Blank]

<PAGE>


      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower,  the Lenders and the Agent have executed
this Agreement as of the date first above written.


                               FINISHMASTER, INC.,
                                as the Borrower



                                            By:/s/ Roger A Sorokin
                                               -------------------------------
                                                 Roger A. Sorokin,
                                                 Vice President Finance


                                            Address:
                                            4259 40th Street
                                            Kentwood, Michigan 49512

                                      Attention:  Roger A. Sorokin
                                      Telephone No.: 616-949-0607
                                      Facsimile No.: 616-949-1264



                                        NBD BANK, N.A.,
                                        as Agent, as a Lender, as an Issuing
                                        Bank and as the Swing Line Bank



                                               By:/s/ Scott Morrison
                                                  ----------------------------
                                                    Scott Morrison
                                         Title:

                                       Address:
                                       One Indiana Square
                                       Indianapolis, Indiana  46266
                                       Attention:  Scott C. Morrison
                                       Telephone No.: 317-266-7351
                                       Facsimile No.: 317-266-6042


                                                  -109-


                               FINISHMASTER, INC.








                           SUBORDINATED NOTE AGREEMENT

                        Senior Subordinated Note due 2004










                          Dated as of November 19, 1997






                                        1

<PAGE>



                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                            Page


1.       DEFINED TERMS.........................................................1

2.       DESCRIPTION OF SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTE...............................1

3.       PURCHASE AND SALE OF SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTE.........................1

4.       CLOSING OF SALE OF SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTE...........................2

5.       CONDITIONS TO CLOSING.................................................2
         5A.      Acquisition of Thompson......................................2
         5B.      Payment of Fee...............................................2

6.       OPTIONAL PREPAYMENTS; PRIORITY OF PAYMENT.............................2
         6A.      Optional Prepayments.........................................2
         6B.      Notice of Prepayments........................................2
         6C.      Acquisition of Senior Subordinated Note......................3
         6D.      Subordination of Senior Subordinated Note....................3

7.       AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.................................................3
         7A.      Required Notices; Other Information..........................3
         7B.      Corporate Existence; Maintenance of Properties...............3
         7C.      Payment Of Taxes And Claims..................................4
         7D.      Compliance With Laws, Etc....................................4
         7E.      Satisfaction of Obligations..................................4
         7F.      Proceeds of Financing........................................4

8.       NEGATIVE COVENANTS....................................................5
         8A.      Liens........................................................5
         8B.      Merger or Sale of Assets.....................................6
         8C.      Amendments and Waivers of Charter Documents..................6

9.       EVENTS OF DEFAULT.....................................................6
         9A.      Default; Acceleration........................................6
         9B.      Rescission of Acceleration...................................8
         9C.      Other Remedies...............................................8
         9D.      Default Rate.................................................9

10.      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES........................................9
         10A.     Organization, Powers, Good Standing, 
                    Business and Subsidiaries..................................9

                                        i

<PAGE>



         10B.     Authorization of Financing, Etc..............................9
         10C.     No Material Adverse Change..................................10
         10D.     Title to Properties; Liens..................................10
         10E.     Litigation; Adverse Facts...................................10
         10F.     Payment of Taxes............................................11

11.      DEFINITIONS..........................................................11
         11A.     Definitions.................................................11
         11B.     Accounting Terms............................................16

12.      JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS.................................................16
         12A.     Consent to Jurisdiction.....................................16
         12B.     Enforcement of Judgments....................................16
         12C.     Waiver of Jury Trial........................................16
         12D.     No Limitation on Service or Suit............................17

13.      MISCELLANEOUS........................................................17
         13A.     Payments....................................................17
         13B.     Amendments; Waivers.........................................17
         13C.     Survival of Representations and Warranties; 
                    Entire Agreement..........................................17
         13D.     Successors and Assigns......................................18
         13E.     Notices.....................................................18
         13F.     Descriptive Headings........................................18
         13G.     Severability................................................18
         13H.     Governing Law...............................................18


PURCHASER SCHEDULE

EXHIBITS

Exhibit A         -        Form of Senior Subordinated Note



                                       ii

<PAGE>



         This SUBORDINATED NOTE AGREEMENT (as amended, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time, this "Agreement")  dated as of November 19, 1997, is
among FinishMaster, Inc., Indiana corporation (the "Company"), and LDI, Ltd., an
Indiana limited partnership (the "Purchaser").

         WHEREAS,  in order to provide funds for the  acquisition by the Company
of Thompson  PBE,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation  ("Thompson"),  and for general
corporate  purposes of the  Company,  the Company  desires to issue and sell its
senior subordinated promissory note; and

         WHEREAS,  the Purchaser  desires to purchase  such senior  subordinated
promissory  note on the terms and conditions  more fully set forth herein and in
such senior subordinated promissory note;

         NOW,  THEREFORE,  in consideration of the mutual terms,  conditions and
other agreements set forth herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:


         1. DEFINED TERMS.  Certain capitalized terms used in this Agreement are
defined in Section 11.

2.       DESCRIPTION OF SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTE.

         The Company  will  authorize  the issuance and sale of its 9.00% senior
subordinated  promissory  note  due May 19,  2004 in  substantially  the form of
Exhibit  A hereto  (such  note,  together  with  any  notes  that may be  issued
hereunder in  substitution  or exchange  therefor,  is referred to herein as the
"Senior  Subordinated  Note"),  in the original  aggregate  principal  amount of
$30,000,000.00,  bearing  interest from the date of issuance thereof at the rate
of 9.00% per annum,  payable in arrears  quarterly on the  thirtieth day of each
March,  June,  September  and  December  commencing  December  30,  1997  and at
maturity, calculated on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve thirty-day months.
The Senior  Subordinated  Note is not subject to prepayment or redemption at the
option of the Company prior to its stated  maturity date except on the terms and
conditions  and with the premium,  if any, set forth in Section 6. Principal and
premium not paid when due (whether at  maturity,  by optional  prepayment,  upon
acceleration, pursuant to a permitted demand, upon commencement of bankruptcy or
insolvency  proceedings  or otherwise)  and any overdue  installment of interest
shall bear interest at the Default Rate.

3.       PURCHASE AND SALE OF SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTE.

         The Company hereby agrees to sell to the Purchaser and,  subject to the
terms and  conditions set forth herein,  the Purchaser,  agrees to purchase from
the Company the Senior  Subordinated Note, in the form registered in the name of
such Purchaser,  in the principal amount of $30,000,000.00  for a purchase price
equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof.


                                                         1

<PAGE>



4.       CLOSING OF SALE OF SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTE.

         The purchase and  delivery of the Senior  Subordinated  Note shall take
place at a closing  (the  "Closing")  at the  offices of Barnes &  Thornburg  in
Indianapolis,  Indiana  (or at  such  other  location  as the  Company  and  the
Purchaser  may agree),  at such time as the Purchaser and the Company may agree,
but in no event  later  than  January  31,  1998  (the date of such  Closing  is
referred to herein as the "Closing Date").

5.       CONDITIONS TO CLOSING.

         The  obligation  of the  Purchaser  to purchase  and pay for the Senior
Subordinated  Note is subject to the  satisfaction  of the following  conditions
precedent:

         5A.  Acquisition  of  Thompson.  Prior  to or  simultaneously  with the
Closing,  the Company shall have completed the  acquisition of a majority of the
outstanding capital stock (on a fully diluted basis) of Thompson.

         5B. Payment of Fee. Prior to or  simultaneously  with the Closing,  the
Company  shall pay to the Purchaser a  non-refundable  facility fee in an amount
equal to 1.5% of the principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Note.

6.       OPTIONAL PREPAYMENTS; PRIORITY OF PAYMENT.

         6A.   Optional   Prepayments.   The   Company  may  prepay  the  Senior
Subordinated  Note at any time in  whole or  ratably  in part,  at a price  (the
"Make-Whole  Prepayment  Price") equal to 100% of the principal  amount being so
prepaid plus (i) accrued and unpaid interest on such amount to and including the
date of prepayment, and (ii) the Yield-Maintenance Premium, if any, with respect
to the Senior  Subordinated Note so prepaid;  provided,  however,  that any such
prepayment (a) may be made only in accordance with the provisions of Sections 6B
and 6C, and (b) shall be in a principal  amount of not less than  $1,000,000 and
in an integral multiple of $100,000.

         6B. Notice of  Prepayments.  The Company shall give  Purchaser  written
notice of each  optional  prepayment  of Senior  Subordinated  Note  pursuant to
Section 6A not less than two (2) days prior to the Settlement Date, which notice
shall (i) specify the  Settlement  Date (which  shall be a Business  Day),  (ii)
state the  aggregate  principal  amount of the  Senior  Subordinated  Note to be
prepaid on such date and the amount of accrued  and unpaid  interest  thereon to
and including such date, and (iii) set forth in reasonable  detail  calculations
specifying  the  Make-Whole  Prepayment  Price  that  would  apply to the Senior
Subordinated  Note if the date of such notice were the Settlement Date. Upon the
giving of any such  prepayment  notice,  such  principal  amount,  together with
accrued and unpaid  interest  thereon to and including the Settlement  Date plus
the  Yield-Maintenance  Premium, if any, with respect thereto,  shall become due
and payable on such Settlement Date.


                                                         2

<PAGE>



         6C. Acquisition of Senior Subordinated Note. The Company shall not, and
shall not permit any of its Affiliates to, purchase, prepay, redeem or otherwise
acquire the Senior  Subordinated  Note from the Purchaser,  except pursuant to a
payment or prepayment in accordance with the specific terms of this Agreement.

         6D.  Subordination of Senior Subordinated Note. The Company, for itself
and  its  successors,  and  the  Purchaser,  by its  acceptance  of  the  Senior
Subordinated Note, agrees that the payment of the principal of, and interest and
premium due on, the Senior  Subordinated  Note is hereby expressly  subordinate,
and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner provided in that
certain  Subordination  Agreement dated November 19, 1997 among  Purchaser,  the
Company and the NBD Bank, N.A., as agent for certain lenders,  to the payment of
principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Senior Debt.

7.       AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.

         The Company  covenants and agrees that, until  indefeasible  payment in
full of the Senior  Subordinated  Note and all other amounts  payable under this
Agreement, it shall perform all covenants in this Section 7.

         7A.      Required Notices; Other Information.

                  7A(i) Events of Default,  Etc.  Promptly but in no event later
than five (5) Business Days after any Executive Officer obtains knowledge (a) of
any condition or event that  constitutes  a Default or an Event of Default,  (b)
that the  Purchaser  has given any notice or taken any other action with respect
to a claimed  Default or Event of Default,  (c) that any event or condition  has
occurred which would give rise or could reasonably be expected to give rise to a
Material Adverse Effect, an Officer's Certificate specifying, as applicable, the
nature and period of existence of any such condition or event,  the notice given
(and  providing a copy  thereof),  action  taken and the nature of such  claimed
default,  event  of  default,  Default,  Event  of  Default,  event,  breach  or
condition, and what action the Company has taken, is taking and proposes to take
with  respect  thereto,  or (d) a default or event of  default  under the Senior
Debt.

         7A(ii)   Other   Information.    With   reasonable   promptness,   such
Consolidated,  consolidating  and other information and data with respect to the
Company or any Subsidiary and their respective Properties, assets and businesses
as may be reasonably requested from time to time by any Purchaser.

         7B.  Corporate  Existence;   Maintenance  of  Properties.  The  Company
covenants  that it (a)  will do or  cause to be done  all  things  necessary  to
preserve and keep in full force and effect the corporate,  trust, partnership or
other entity existence,  rights,  licenses,  registrations and franchises of the
Company and the  Subsidiaries,  (b) will cause its properties and the properties
of the  Subsidiaries  used or useful in the conduct of its business,  other than
properties  which  in  the  aggregate  are  not  material  to the  business  and
operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to be

                                                         3

<PAGE>



maintained and kept in good  condition,  repair and working order (ordinary wear
and tear  excepted) and will cause to be made all necessary  repairs,  renewals,
replacements,  betterments and improvements thereto, all as in the best judgment
of the Company may be  necessary so that the  operations  of the Company and the
Subsidiaries may be properly and advantageously conducted and (c) will, and will
cause each of the  Subsidiaries  to,  qualify  and remain  qualified  to conduct
business in each  jurisdiction  where the nature of the business of or ownership
of Property by the Company or such  Subsidiary,  as the case may be, may require
such  qualification,  except where the failure to be so qualified would not, and
could not, have a Material Adverse Effect.

         7C.  Payment Of Taxes And Claims.  The Company  shall,  and shall cause
each Subsidiary to, duly and timely file all tax returns and reports required to
be filed and pay all taxes,  assessments and other governmental  charges imposed
upon such entity or any Property of such entity or in respect of any franchises,
business,  income or  Property  of the  Company,  or any  Subsidiary  before any
penalty or interest in a material  amount  accrues  thereon,  and pay all claims
(including,  without  limitation,  claims for  labor,  services,  materials  and
supplies) for sums  material in the  aggregate  that have become due and payable
and that by law have or may become a Lien upon any of such Properties,  prior to
the time when any penalty or fine shall be incurred with respect thereto unless,
in each case, (i) no Property (other than money for such charge or claim and the
interest or penalty  accruing  thereon) of the  Company,  any  Subsidiary  is in
danger of being lost or forfeited as a result thereof, (ii) such charge or claim
is being contested in good faith by appropriate  proceedings promptly instituted
and diligently conducted, and (iii) such reserve or other appropriate provision,
if any,  as shall be  required  in  conformity  with GAAP  shall  have been made
therefor.

         7D. Compliance With Laws, Etc. The Company will comply,  and will cause
each of the Subsidiaries to comply, with all applicable laws, rules, regulations
and orders and obtain and maintain in good  standing all  licenses,  permits and
approvals  from  any and all  governments,  governmental  commissions,  board or
agencies thereof or of  jurisdictions  in which it or any Subsidiary  carries on
business  required  in respect of the  business  and  operations  of the Company
except  for those  laws,  rules,  regulations,  orders,  licenses,  permits  and
approvals  which the  failure  to comply  with or to  maintain  would not have a
Material Adverse Effect.

         7E.  Satisfaction  of  Obligations.  Without  limiting  Section 7C, the
Company shall, and shall cause the Subsidiaries to, pay,  discharge or otherwise
satisfy  and perform as and when due,  and at or before  maturity or before they
become  delinquent,  as the case may be, all of their respective  obligations of
whatever nature; except when, in the case of payment obligations,  the amount or
validity  thereof is  currently  being  contested  in good faith by  appropriate
proceedings  and  reserves  required  by GAAP  with  respect  thereto  have been
provided on the books of the Company or the Subsidiaries, as the case may be, or
except where the failure to pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy such obligations
would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

         7F.  Proceeds of Financing.  The proceeds of the issuance of the Senior
Subordinated  Note hereunder  shall be used to finance the acquisition of Shares
of Thompson and for general corporate purposes.

                                                         4

<PAGE>




8.       NEGATIVE COVENANTS.

         The Company  covenants and agrees that, until  indefeasible  payment in
full of the Senior  Subordinated  Note and all other amounts  payable under this
Agreement, it shall perform all covenants in this Section 8.

         8A. Liens.  The Company shall not, and shall not permit any  Subsidiary
to, directly or indirectly,  create,  incur, assume or permit or suffer to exist
any  Lien,  or file or  execute  or  agree  to the  execution  of any  financing
statement,  on or with  respect  to any  Property  (including  any  document  or
instrument  in respect of goods or  accounts  receivable)  of the Company or any
Subsidiary,  whether now owned or hereafter  acquired,  or any income or profits
therefrom except:

                  (i) Liens created in favor of the Company or a Subsidiary;

                  (ii)  Liens in  favor of the  holders  of the  Senior  Debt or
         permitted under the terms of the Senior Debt;

                  (iii)  existing  Liens  and  Liens  to  secure   replacements,
         extensions  and  renewals of the Debt or other  obligations  secured by
         such  Liens  only if (a) the  principal  amount  of the  Debt or  other
         obligation secured thereby is not increased, and (b) such Lien does not
         extend to any Property not previously subject thereto;

                  (iv) Liens in respect of Debt (other than as  contemplated  in
         clause  (v)  below)  constituting  purchase  money  security  interests
         provided  that such Liens  attach  solely to the  property  acquired or
         purchased concurrently with such acquisition or purchase;

                  (v)  deposits  to secure  payment  of  workers'  compensation,
         unemployment  insurance,  old age  pensions  or other  social  security
         obligations,  in the ordinary  course of business of the Company or any
         Subsidiary and not related to borrowed money or credit extended;

                  (vi) (a) Liens securing any judgment, award or order that does
         not  constitute  an Event of  Default,  and (b)  Liens  arising  in the
         ordinary   course  of  business   (including   easements   and  similar
         encumbrances)  that  arise  by  operation  of law  and not  related  to
         borrowed money or credit extended that arise in connection with claims,
         the payment of which is not at the time  required by Section 7C, but in
         the case of (a) and (b) only if such  Liens do not  individually  or in
         the aggregate  materially interfere with the conduct of the business of
         the  Company or any  Subsidiary  and would not  individually  or in the
         aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect; and

                  (vii)   deposits  to  secure  the   performance  of  statutory
         obligations  and other  obligations  of a like  nature  incurred in the
         ordinary course of business.

                                                         5

<PAGE>



         8B.      Merger or Sale of Assets.

                  (i) The Company  covenants  that it will not,  and it will not
         permit  any  Subsidiary  to,  enter into any  transaction  of merger or
         consolidation or liquidate or wind up or dissolve itself (or suffer any
         liquidation or  dissolution),  except that (X) the Company may merge or
         consolidate if (a) the Company is the surviving  entity or the survivor
         assumes all of the Company's obligations hereunder and under the Senior
         Subordinated  Note and under the other Credit  Documents  and in either
         case remains or is, as  applicable,  an entity  incorporated  under the
         laws of a state of the United  States of America,  and (b)  immediately
         after such  merger or  consolidation  (and  giving  effect  thereto) no
         Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,  and
         (Y) any Subsidiary may merge or consolidate with or into the Company or
         a Subsidiary, if the Company or such Subsidiary is the surviving entity
         and  remains  incorporated  under the laws of the state of its  present
         incorporation.

                  (ii) The  Company  covenants  that it will  not,  and will not
         permit any  Subsidiary  to, sell,  dispose of or  otherwise  convey (by
         merger,  consolidation,  sale of stock of any Subsidiary or otherwise),
         in any single or related series of sales,  dispositions or conveyances,
         any Property of the Company or any Subsidiary, provided such limitation
         shall not apply to transactions  wherein (a) such transaction is in the
         ordinary  course of  business  and does not  involve  the sale or other
         conveyance of all or a substantial  part of the Property of the Company
         and/or  such  Subsidiary,  as  applicable,  and no  Default or Event of
         Default has occurred and is  continuing or would result  therefrom,  or
         (b) the Company or a  Subsidiary  sells or  transfers  its  property to
         another Subsidiary or the Company.

         8C. Amendments and Waivers of Charter Documents. The Company shall not,
and shall not permit any Subsidiary  to, amend,  waive or terminate its Articles
of  Incorporation  or bylaws in any way that would have or could  reasonably  be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

9.       EVENTS OF DEFAULT.

         9A.  Default;  Acceleration.  If any of the  following  events (each an
"Event of  Default")  shall occur and be  continuing  for any reason  whatsoever
(whether such  occurrence  shall be voluntary or involuntary or come about or be
effected by operation of law or otherwise):

                  (i) the Company shall fail to pay any principal of or premium,
         if any, on the Senior  Subordinated Note when due, or shall fail to pay
         any interest thereon or any other amount payable  hereunder within five
         (5)  days of the  date  due,  in  either  case  whether  due at  stated
         maturity,  upon  acceleration  or  notice  of  optional  prepayment  or
         otherwise; or

                  (ii) (a) The Company or any Subsidiary  shall fail to pay when
         due (upon maturity,  acceleration or otherwise) any principal, premium,
         fee or interest or similar amount in an individual or aggregate  amount
         exceeding  $3,000,000 on any obligations for borrowed money outstanding
         beyond any applicable period of grace, or (b) any other breach, default
         or event

                                                         6

<PAGE>



         of  default  under  any   instrument  or  agreement   relating  to  any
         obligations  for borrowed money of the Company or any Subsidiary  shall
         occur,  and the effect of any such breach or default is to cause, or to
         permit the  Purchaser  or the holder of such  obligations  for borrowed
         money to cause an aggregate amount exceeding $3,000,000 to become or be
         declared due prior to its stated  maturity  (or the stated  maturity of
         any  underlying  obligation,  as the case may be),  and such  breach or
         default  shall not have been  cured  within  any  applicable  period of
         grace; or

                  (iii) any  representation  or warranty or other statement made
         in any  Officer's  Certificate  or by any  Executive  Officer or by the
         Company in this Agreement,  any other Credit Document or in any written
         certificate,  instrument or report  furnished in compliance  with or in
         reference to this Agreement or any other Credit Document shall be false
         in any material respect on the date as of which made or renewed; or

                  (iv)  the  Company  or any  Subsidiary  shall  fail  duly  and
         punctually to perform or observe any other  provision of this Agreement
         or any other  Credit  Document  and such  default  with respect to such
         other  provision shall not have been corrected or waived within 30 days
         after any  Executive  Officer  has  knowledge  thereof  or the  Company
         receives notice thereof from the Purchaser; or

                  (v) the Company, or any Subsidiary shall generally not pay its
         debts as they become due,  or shall admit in writing its  inability  to
         pay its debts  generally,  or shall make a general  assignment  for the
         benefit  of  creditors;  or any  bankruptcy  case  shall  be  commenced
         voluntarily by or  involuntarily  against the Company or any Subsidiary
         or  any  other  proceeding  shall  be  instituted   voluntarily  by  or
         involuntarily  against  the  Company  or  any  Subsidiary  seeking  the
         liquidation,  winding  up,  reorganization,   arrangement,  adjustment,
         protection,  relief or  composition  of it or its  debts  under any law
         relating  to  bankruptcy,  insolvency  or  reorganization  or relief or
         protection  of debtors,  or seeking the entry of an order for relief or
         the  appointment  of a receiver,  trustee,  custodian or other  similar
         official for it or for any substantial part of its Property and, in the
         case of any such  case or  proceeding  instituted  against  it (but not
         instituted  by it) that is  being  diligently  contested  by it in good
         faith,  either such proceeding shall remain undismissed or unstayed for
         a period of sixty (60) days or any of the  actions or relief  sought in
         such proceeding (including,  without limitation,  the entry of an order
         for relief  against  it, or the  appointment  of a  receiver,  trustee,
         custodian or other similar  official for it or for any substantial part
         of its Property)  shall occur; or the board of directors of the Company
         or any  Subsidiary  shall  authorize it to take,  or the Company or any
         Subsidiary shall take any actions in furtherance of, any of the actions
         described in this Section 9A(v); or

                  (vi) any  judgments or orders (or series of related  judgments
         or  orders)  (other  than any such  judgments  or orders  (or series of
         related  judgments  or orders) that do not equal or exceed in aggregate
         $3,000,000)  shall be  entered  or filed  against  the  Company  or any
         Subsidiary   or  their   respective   Properties   and   shall   remain
         undischarged, unvacated, unbonded

                                                         7

<PAGE>



         or unstayed  for a period of thirty (30) days,  or by the date five (5)
         days prior to the date of any proposed sale thereunder; or

                  (vii) any  provision  of this  Agreement  or any other  Credit
         Document  shall for any reason  cease to be valid and  binding on or be
         enforceable  against the Company, or the Company shall state in writing
         that any  provision of this  Agreement or any other Credit  Document to
         which it is a party is not valid and binding on or enforceable  against
         it in any respect.

then (a) upon the occurrence of any Event of Default described in Section 9A(v),
the unpaid  principal  amount of the Senior  Subordinated  Note,  together  with
accrued interest  thereon and together with the  Yield-Maintenance  Premium,  if
any, with respect thereto,  shall  automatically  become due and payable without
presentment,  demand,  protest  or other  notice of any  kind,  all of which are
hereby  waived  by the  Company,  and (b) upon the  occurrence  and  during  the
continuance of any other Event of Default,  the Purchaser may, at its option and
in addition to any other right,  power or remedy  permitted by law or in equity,
by notice in writing to the Company, declare the Senior Subordinated Note to be,
and the Senior Subordinated Note shall thereupon be and become,  immediately due
and  payable  together  with  interest  accrued  thereon and  together  with the
Yield-Maintenance  Premium, if any, with respect thereto,  without  presentment,
demand,  protest or other notice of any kind,  all of which are hereby waived by
the Company.

         9B.  Rescission of  Acceleration.  At any time after any declaration of
acceleration  of the Senior  Subordinated  Note shall have been made pursuant to
Section 9A by the  Purchaser  and before a judgment or decree for the payment of
money due has been obtained by such  Purchaser,  the  Purchaser  may, by written
notice to the Company rescind and annul the declaration and its consequences but
only if (i) the  principal  of,  premium,  if any,  and  interest  on the Senior
Subordinated  Note that shall have become due otherwise than by such declaration
of  acceleration  shall  have been duly and fully  paid,  and (ii) all Events of
Default other than the nonpayment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest
on the Senior  Subordinated Note that have become due solely by such declaration
of  acceleration  shall  have  been  cured  or shall  have  been  waived  by the
Purchaser.  No  rescission  or  annulment  referred  to above  shall  affect any
subsequent Default or Event of Default or any right, power or remedy arising out
of such subsequent Default or Event of Default.

         9C.  Other  Remedies.  If any  Event  of  Default  shall  occur  and be
continuing,  the  Purchaser  may proceed to protect and enforce its rights under
this Agreement and its Senior  Subordinated  Note by exercising such remedies as
are available to the Purchaser in respect  thereof under  applicable law, either
by suit in equity or by action at law, or both,  whether for  collection  of any
payment then due the  Purchaser  under the Senior  Subordinated  Note,  specific
performance of any covenant or other agreement contained in this Agreement or in
aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Agreement.  No remedy conferred
in this  Agreement  upon the  Purchaser is intended to be exclusive of any other
remedy,  and each and every  such  remedy  shall be  cumulative  and shall be in
addition to every other remedy conferred herein or now or hereafter  existing at
law or in equity or by statute or otherwise.

                                                         8

<PAGE>



         9D.  Default  Rate.  Upon the  occurrence  of a Default  or an Event of
Default, the Senior Subordinated Note shall bear interest, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, at the rate otherwise applicable plus 2% per annum, calculated
from the date such Default or Event of Default has  occurred and is  outstanding
until the date such Default or Event of Default  shall have been cured or waived
in writing or otherwise satisfied in full (the "Default Rate.).

10.      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

         The Company represents,  covenants and warrants to each Purchaser that,
as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date:

         10A. Organization, Powers, Good Standing, Business and Subsidiaries.

                  10A(i)  Organization and Powers.  The Company is a corporation
         duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of
         the  State  of  Indiana  and  has all  requisite  corporate  power  and
         authority  to own or lease and  operate its  Property,  to carry on its
         business as now  conducted  and, in the case of the  Company,  to enter
         into this  Agreement  and each other  Credit  Document to which it is a
         party and to issue the  Senior  Subordinated  Note and to carry out the
         transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

                  10A(ii)  Good  Standing.  The  Company  is  in  good  standing
         wherever  necessary to carry on its present  business  and  operations,
         except in jurisdictions in which the failure to be in good standing has
         not had,  would not have, and could not reasonably be expected to have,
         a Material Adverse Effect.

         10B.     Authorization of Financing, Etc.

                  10B(i) Authorization of Financing. The execution, delivery and
         performance  of  this  Agreement,   the  other  Credit  Documents,  the
         issuance, delivery and payment of the Senior Subordinated Note, and the
         consummation of the transactions  contemplated  hereby and thereby have
         been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action by the Company.

                  10B(ii) No Conflict.  The execution,  delivery and performance
         by the Company of each  Credit  Document to which it is a party and the
         issuance,  delivery and payment of the Senior Subordinated Note and the
         consummation of the transactions  contemplated thereby, do not and will
         not (a) violate the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company,
         or any order,  judgment  or decree of any court or other  agency of any
         government  binding  upon the Company or upon any property or assets of
         the  Company,  (b)  violate  any  provision  of law,  or any  rules  or
         regulations of any governmental  authority,  applicable to the Company,
         (c)  violate,  conflict  with,  result  in  a  material  breach  of  or
         constitute  (with notice or lapse of time or both) a default  under any
         indenture, mortgage,  instrument,  contract or other agreement to which
         the Company is a party or pursuant to which any of their  properties or
         assets are bound,  (d) result in or require the creation or  imposition
         of any Lien upon any of the Property

                                                         9

<PAGE>



         of the Company,  or (e) require any approval or consent of stockholders
         of the Company or require any  approval or consent of any Person  under
         any  material  indenture,  mortgage,  instrument,   contract  or  other
         agreement  to which the  Company is a party or pursuant to which any of
         their  properties  are bound,  except for such approvals or consents as
         will have been duly obtained on or before the Closing  Date,  copies of
         which will have been provided to the Purchaser on or before the Closing
         Date.

                  10B(iii) Governmental  Consents.  The execution,  delivery and
         performance  by the  Company of each  Credit  Document to which it is a
         party and the issuance, delivery and payment of the Senior Subordinated
         Note  by  the  Company  and  the   consummation  of  the   transactions
         contemplated  hereby,  do not and will not require any  registration or
         filing with,  consent or approval of, or notice to, or other action to,
         with or by,  any  federal,  state or other  governmental  authority  or
         regulatory body.

                  10B(iv) Due Execution and Delivery; Binding Obligations.  This
         Agreement  has been duly  executed and delivered by the Company and, at
         the time of the  Closing,  each  other  Credit  Document  to which  the
         Company is  required  by this  Agreement  to be a party will have been,
         duly executed and delivered by the Company.  This Agreement is, and, at
         the time of the Closing,  the Senior Subordinated Note (when issued and
         delivered in  accordance  herewith)  and each other Credit  Document to
         which the  Company is a party will be,  the  legal,  valid and  binding
         obligation  of the  Company,  enforceable  against  each such  party in
         accordance with their respective terms.

         10C. No Material  Adverse  Change.  Since December 31, 1996,  there has
been no material adverse change in the financial condition,  operations, assets,
prospects or business of the Company and the  Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole or
event which  would have or could  reasonably  be  expected  to have,  a Material
Adverse Effect.

         10D. Title to Properties;  Liens. The Company and the Subsidiaries have
good and valid title to or beneficial ownership of all their respective Property
reflected in the most recent financial statements, except for assets acquired or
disposed of in  transactions  that are or, if entered  into prior to the date of
this Agreement,  would have been,  permitted  hereunder and have not had, do not
have, and could not reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.

         10E. Litigation;  Adverse Facts. There is no governmental investigation
of which the Company,  or any Subsidiary has or could  reasonably be expected to
have  knowledge,  and  there  is  no  action,  suit,  proceeding,   governmental
arbitration  (whether  or  not  purportedly  on  behalf  of the  Company  or any
Subsidiary) at law or in equity or before or by any federal, state, municipal or
governmental department,  court, tribunal,  commission, board, bureau, agency or
instrumentality,  domestic or foreign, threatened and about which the Company or
any Subsidiary has or could reasonably be expected to have knowledge, or pending
against or affecting the Company or any  Subsidiary  or any of their  respective
Properties which (i) if adversely determined, would have, or reasonably would be
expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) is not routine and does not

                                                        10

<PAGE>



arise in the ordinary course of business.  None of the Company or any Subsidiary
has received any notice of termination of any material contract,  lease or other
agreement or suffered any material damage,  destruction or loss, (whether or not
covered by insurance) or had any employee  strike,  work stoppage,  slow-down or
lockout or any  substantial or non frivolous  threat of which the Company or any
Subsidiary has or could reasonably be expected to have knowledge  directed to it
of any imminent strike, work stoppage, slowdown or lock-out, any of which remain
pending, that in any case, individually or in the aggregate, would have or could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         10F.  Payment of Taxes.  (a) All tax returns and reports of the Company
or each Subsidiary required to be filed by any of them have been duly and timely
filed; and (b) all taxes, assessments,  fees and other governmental charges upon
the  Company or each  Subsidiary  and upon any of their  respective  Properties,
income  and  franchises  that are due and  payable  have  been paid when due and
payable  except as  permitted  by Section 7C, and there is no actual or proposed
tax  assessment  against it,  about which the Company or any  Subsidiary  has or
could reasonably be expected to have knowledge, except for any failure of filing
or payment or assessment that,  individually or in the aggregate,  does not have
or could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

11.      DEFINITIONS.

         11A.     Definitions.

         "Affiliate"  means,  with  respect  to any  Person,  any  other  Person
directly or indirectly  in control of,  controlled  by, or under common  control
with such Person,  whether through power to direct or cause the direction of the
management or policies of such Person,  ownership or control of more than 10% of
the voting stock of such Person,  or otherwise  and any Person who is an officer
or director of such Person;  provided,  however,  that neither any Purchaser nor
any Affiliate of any Purchaser shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Company
or any Subsidiary  solely by reason of its ownership of the Senior  Subordinated
Note or by  reason  of  benefiting  from any  agreements  or  covenants  in this
Agreement or in any other Credit Document.

         "Business  Day" means any day excluding  (i) Saturday and Sunday,  (ii)
any day that is a legal holiday under the laws of the State of Indiana and (iii)
any day on which  banking  institutions  located in Indiana  are  authorized  or
required by law or other governmental action to close.

         "Called Principal" means, with respect to the Senior Subordinated Note,
the outstanding  principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Note that (i) is to
be prepaid or purchased at the Make- Whole Prepayment  Price, or (ii) becomes or
is declared to be immediately due and payable pursuant to Section 9A.

         "Capitalized  Lease  Obligations"  means rental  obligations  under any
lease required to be capitalized  in accordance  with GAAP,  taken at the amount
accounted for as indebtedness (net of interest expense).

                                                        11

<PAGE>



         "Closing" has the meaning specified in Section 4.

         "Closing Date" has the meaning specified in Section 4.

         "Code" means the Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as amended,  and any
successor statute.

         "Commission  "  means  the  United  States   Securities   and  Exchange
Commission and any successor Federal agency having similar powers.

         "Company"  has the  meaning  specified  in the  introductory  paragraph
hereof.

         "Contingent  Obligation" as applied to any Person,  means any direct or
indirect liability,  contingent or otherwise, of that Person with respect to any
Debt,  lease,  dividend,  letter of credit or other obligation of another,  if a
purpose  or intent of the  Person  incurring  the  Contingent  Obligation  is to
provide  assurance  to the  obligee  of such  obligation  of  another  that such
obligation  of  another  will be  paid or  discharged,  or that  any  agreements
relating  thereto will be complied with, or that the holders of such  obligation
will be  protected  (in  whole  or in part)  against  loss in  respect  thereof.
Contingent  Obligations  shall include,  without  limitation,  (i) the direct or
indirect  guaranty,  endorsement  (other than for  collection  or deposit in the
ordinary course of business), co-making,  discounting with recourse or sale with
recourse by such Person of the obligation of another;  and (ii) any liability of
such Person for the obligations of another through any agreement  (contingent or
otherwise) (a) to purchase,  repurchase or otherwise  acquire such obligation or
any security  thereof,  or to provide funds for the payment or discharge of such
obligation  (whether in the form of loans,  advances,  stock purchases,  capital
contributions  or otherwise),  (b) to maintain the solvency or any balance sheet
item,  level  of  income  or  financial  condition  of  another,  or (c) to make
take-or-pay or similar payments if required regardless of non-performance by any
other  party  or  parties  to an  agreement,  if in the  case  of any  agreement
described  under clauses (a), (b) or (c) of this sentence the primary purpose or
intent  thereof is as described  in the  preceding  sentence.  The amount of any
Contingent Obligation shall be equal to the amount of the obligation (or portion
thereof) so guaranteed or otherwise supported.

         "Credit Documents" means this Agreement,  the Senior  Subordinated Note
and each other instrument or agreement  executed and delivered by the Company or
any Subsidiary or Affiliate  pursuant to any Credit Document or any transactions
contemplated thereby.

         "Debt" means, with respect to any Person, the sum, without duplication,
of (i) all  indebtedness  of such Person for borrowed  money or credit  extended
(whether by loan or the issuance and sale of debt securities or otherwise) or in
respect of letters of credit or bankers'  acceptances or credit  enhancement and
the like or for the  deferred  purchase  price of property  or services  (except
trade payables  currently payable in the ordinary course of business),  or which
otherwise  should  constitute  debt  on the  balance  sheet  of such  person  in
accordance  with GAAP,  (ii) all  obligations  of such Person under  Capitalized
Lease Obligations,  (iii) all obligations of such Person to purchase,  retire or
redeem  any  capital  stock or any other  equity  interest,  whether  or not the
performance of such

                                                        12

<PAGE>



obligation  is fixed or  contingent,  (iv) all  Contingent  Obligations  of such
Person,  and all  indebtedness  and  obligations of such Person or other Persons
that are secured by a Lien on any Property of such  Person,  whether or not such
Person  has  assumed  liability  therefor,  and (v) other  recourse  obligations
related to asset  sales to the extent not  already  reflected  in such  Person's
balance sheet.

         "Default" means any event which,  subject only to the lapse of a period
of time  expressly  set forth or  referred  to in  Section 9A or the giving of a
notice  expressly  set  forth or  referred  to in  Section  9A,  or both,  would
constitute an Event of Default.

         "Default Rate" has the meaning specified in Section 9E.

         "Discounted  Value" means,  with respect to the Called Principal of any
Senior  Subordinated  Note,  the amount  obtained by  discounting  all Remaining
Scheduled  Payments with respect to such Called  Principal from their respective
scheduled  due  dates  to the  Settlement  Date  with  respect  to  such  Called
Principal, in accordance with accepted financial practice and at a discount rate
(applied on a semi-annual basis) equal to the Reinvestment Yield with respect to
such Called Principal.

         "Event of Default" means any of the events specified in Section 9A.

         "Exchange Act" means the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and any successor statute.

         "Executive  Officer"  means  with  respect  to any  matter,  any of the
Chairman of its Board of Directors (if an officer) or Chief  Executive  Officer,
President,  Vice  President  or Chief  Financial  Officer of the  Company or any
Subsidiary (or equivalent officer).

         "Fiscal  Quarter"  means  a  fiscal  quarter  of the  Company  and  the
Subsidiaries.

         "Fiscal Year" means a fiscal year of the Company and the Subsidiaries.

         "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting  principles set forth in the
opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting  Principles Board and the American
Institute of Certified Public  Accountants and statements and  pronouncements of
the Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board or in such other  statements by such
other  entity as may be  approved  by a  significant  segment of the  accounting
profession  that  are  applicable  to  the  circumstances  as  of  the  date  of
determination, applied on a consistent basis.

         "Investment"  means,  as applied to any Person,  any direct or indirect
purchase or other  acquisition  by that Person of, or a beneficial  interest in,
stock or other  securities  or similar  interests  of any other  Person,  or any
direct or indirect  loan,  advance  (other than advances to employees for moving
and travel expenses,  drawing accounts and similar  expenditures in the ordinary
course of business) or capital contribution by that Person to any other Person.


                                                        13

<PAGE>



         "Lien" means any assignment,  mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, security
interest,  charge,  encumbrance,  lien, easement or exception of any kind or any
other  preferential  arrangement  of any kind that has the  practical  effect of
constituting  a security  interest or lien  (including any  conditional  sale or
other title retention  agreement and any agreement to give any security interest
and any lease in the nature  thereof) or the filing of or  agreement to give any
financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of any jurisdiction.

         "Make-Whole Prepayment Price" has the meaning specified in Section 6A.

         "Material"  means  material  in  relation  to  the  business,  affairs,
financial condition,  assets or properties of the Company and/or the Company and
the Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

         "Material  Adverse  Effect" means a material  adverse effect on (i) the
condition (financial or otherwise), business, results of operations,  prospects,
liabilities (absolute,  accrued, contingent or otherwise),  properties or assets
the  Company  and the  Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole,  or (ii) the  rights  or
interests  of any  Purchaser  under  any  Credit  Document  (including,  without
limitation,  the  ability of any  Purchaser  to enforce the  obligations  of the
Company in respect of any Credit  Document),  or (iii) the Company's  ability to
perform its obligations under, or as contemplated by, any Credit Document.

         "Officer's  Certificate"  means a certificate signed in the name of the
Company by an Executive Officer.

         "Permitted Liens" means Liens to the extent permitted under Section 8A.

         "Person"  means and includes  natural  persons,  corporations,  limited
partnerships,  general  partnerships,  joint stock  companies,  joint  ventures,
associations,  companies,  trusts, banks, trust companies, land trusts, business
trusts,  unincorporated  organizations  or other  organizations,  whether or not
legal entities, and governments and agencies and political subdivisions thereof.

         "Property" means any interest in any kind of property or asset, whether
real,  personal  or  mixed,  or  tangible  or  intangible,   including,  without
limitation,  all  interests  in real  estate  and  fixtures  and all  equipment,
inventory and other goods, all accounts, instruments,  chattel paper, documents,
money  and  general  intangibles  (as such  terms  are  defined  in the  Uniform
Commercial Code as in effect in all applicable  jurisdictions) whether now owned
or hereafter acquired.

         "Purchaser"  has the meaning  specified in the  introductory  paragraph
hereof.

         "Reinvestment Yield" means, with respect to the Called Principal of any
Senior Subordinated Note, the yield to maturity implied by the sum of 0.50% plus
(i) the yields reported,  as of 10:00 A.M.  (Indianapolis  time) on the Business
Day  immediately  preceding  the  Settlement  Date with  respect to such  Called
Principal,  on the display  designated as "Page T 500", on the Telerate  Service
(or such other  display as may replace Page T 500 on the  Telerate  Service) for
actively traded U.S. Treasury

                                                        14

<PAGE>



securities  having a maturity equal to (or, if not available,  having a maturity
closest  to) the  Remaining  Average  Life of such Called  Principal  as of such
Settlement  Date or, if such yields shall not be reported as of such time or the
yields  reported as of such time shall not be  ascertainable,  (ii) the Treasury
Constant  Maturity  Series  yields  reported  for the  latest day for which such
yields shall have been so reported as of the Business Day immediately  preceding
the Settlement  Date with respect to such Called  Principal,  in Federal Reserve
Statistical  Release  H.15(519) (or any comparable  successor  publication)  for
actively traded U.S. Treasury securities having a constant maturity equal to the
Remaining Average Life of such Called Principal as of such Settlement Date. Such
implied yield shall be determined, if necessary, by (a) converting U.S. Treasury
bill quotations to bond equivalent yields in accordance with accepted  financial
practice and (b) by interpolating linearly between reported yields.

         "Remaining Average Life" means, with respect to the Called Principal of
the Senior  Subordinated  Note,  the number of years  (calculated to the nearest
one-twelfth  year) obtained by dividing (i) such Called  Principal into (ii) the
sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) each Remaining Scheduled Payment
of such  Called  Principal  (but not of  interest  thereon) by (b) the number of
years (calculated to the nearest  one-twelfth year) that will elapse between the
Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal and the scheduled due date
of such Remaining Scheduled Payment.

         "Remaining  Scheduled  Payments"  means,  with  respect  to the  Called
Principal of the Senior Subordinated Note, all payments of such Called Principal
and interest  thereon that would be due on or after the Settlement  Date, to and
including the scheduled due dates thereof, with respect to such Called Principal
if no payment of such  Called  Principal  were made prior to its  scheduled  due
dates.

         "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  and any
successor statute.

         "Senior  Debt" means Debt of the  Company,  including  all interest and
fees  accruing  thereon or in  connection  therewith or any renewal,  extension,
amendment,  supplement  or other  modification  to any of the  documentation  in
respect thereof,  which is incurred pursuant to the terms of that certain Credit
Agreement  dated as of November 19, 1997 among the Company,  the lenders a party
thereto and NBD Bank, N.A., as Agent.

         "Senior Subordinated Note" has the meaning specified in Section 2.

         "Settlement  Date" means,  with respect to the Called  Principal of any
Senior  Subordinated  Note, the date on which such Called Principal (i) is to be
prepaid or purchased at the Make-Whole  Prepayment  Price, or (ii) becomes or is
declared  to be  immediately  due and  payable  pursuant  to Section  9A, as the
context may require.

         "Subsidiary" means any corporation, trust, association,  partnership or
other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares
of stock or other  interests  entitled  to vote in the  election  of  directors,
managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled,

                                                        15

<PAGE>



directly or indirectly,  by the Company or one or more of the other Subsidiaries
or a combination thereof.

         "Wholly Owned Subsidiary" means a Person of which all of the issued and
outstanding  shares of stock (other than directors'  qualifying shares as may be
required  by law) or  similar  equity  interests  shall be owned by the  Company
and/or one or more of its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries.

         "Yield-Maintenance   Premium"   means,   with  respect  to  any  Senior
Subordinated  Note,  a premium  equal to the excess,  if any, of the  Discounted
Value of the Called Principal of such Senior  Subordinated  Note over the sum of
such Called Principal plus interest  accrued thereon to (including  interest due
on)  the   Settlement   Date  with  respect  to  such  Called   Principal.   The
Yield-Maintenance Premium shall in no event be less than zero.

         11B.  Accounting Terms. For purposes of this Agreement,  all accounting
terms not otherwise  defined herein shall have the meanings  assigned to them in
conformity with GAAP.  Financial statements and other information required to be
delivered by the Company  pursuant to Section 7 shall be prepared in  conformity
with GAAP as in effect at the time of such preparation.

12.      JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS.

         12A. Consent to Jurisdiction. The Company hereby irrevocably submits to
the non-exclusive  jurisdiction of any Indiana State or Federal court sitting in
the City of Indianapolis over any suit,  action or proceeding  arising out of or
relating to this  Agreement,  the Senior  Subordinated  Note,  the other  Credit
Documents or the  transactions  contemplated  hereby or thereby.  To the fullest
extent they may effectively do so under applicable law, the Company  irrevocably
waives and agrees not to assert,  by way of motion,  as a defense or  otherwise,
any claim that it is not  subject to the  jurisdiction  of any such  court,  any
objection  that it may now or  hereafter  have to the laying of the venue of any
such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court and any claim that any
such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an
inconvenient forum.

         12B.  Enforcement  of  Judgments.  The Company  agrees,  to the fullest
extent it may  effectively  do so under  applicable  law, that a judgment in any
suit,  action or proceeding of the nature  referred to in Section 12A brought in
any such court  shall be  conclusive  and binding  upon the  Company  subject to
rights of appeal,  as the case may be, and may be  enforced in the courts of the
United  States of America or the State of  Indiana  (or any other  courts to the
jurisdiction  of which the  Company  is or may be  subject)  by a suit upon such
judgment.

         12C.  Waiver of Jury Trial.  THE COMPANY  HEREBY WAIVES ITS RIGHTS TO A
JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING UNDER OR OUT OF
THIS AGREEMENT,  THE SENIOR  SUBORDINATED NOTE, ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT OR ANY
ISSUES  RELATING  HERETO,  THERETO OR TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE  TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED  HEREBY OR  THEREBY.  The scope of this  waiver is  intended  to be
all-encompassing of any and all disputes that may be filed

                                                        16

<PAGE>



in  any  court  and  that  relate  to the  subject  matter  of the  transactions
contemplated hereby, including without limitation, contract claims, tort claims,
breach of duty  claims,  and all other  common  law and  statutory  claims.  The
Company,  each Purchaser and each other Purchaser  acknowledges that this waiver
is a material  inducement to enter into a business  relationship,  that each has
already  relied on the waiver in entering into or accepting the benefits of this
Agreement  and that each will  continue  to rely on the waiver in their  related
future  dealings.  The  Company  further  warrants  and  represents  that it has
reviewed  this  waiver  with  its  legal  counsel,  and  that it  knowingly  and
voluntarily  waives  its jury trial  rights  following  consultation  with legal
counsel. THIS WAIVER IS IRREVOCABLE,  MEANING THAT IT MAY NOT BE MODIFIED EITHER
ORALLY OR IN WRITING,  AND THE WAIVER SHALL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT  AMENDMENTS,
RENEWALS,  SUPPLEMENTS  OR  MODIFICATIONS  TO  THIS  AGREEMENT  OR TO ANY  OTHER
DOCUMENTS OR AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTE
OR THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS. IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE
FILED AS A WRITTEN CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE COURT.

         12D. No Limitation on Service or Suit. Nothing in this Section 12 shall
affect  the right of the  Purchaser  or the  Purchaser  to serve  process in any
manner  permitted by law, or limit any right that the Purchaser or the Purchaser
may  have  to  bring  proceedings  against  the  Company  in the  courts  of any
jurisdiction  or to  enforce in any lawful  manner a  judgment  obtained  in one
jurisdiction in any other jurisdiction.

13.      MISCELLANEOUS.

         13A.  Payments.  The  Company  agrees  that,  so  long  as  the  Senior
Subordinated Note remain outstanding, it will make all payments of principal of,
premium,  if any, and interest on, the Senior  Subordinated  Note in  accordance
with the terms of this Agreement.

         13B. Amendments; Waivers. This Agreement may not be changed orally, but
(subject to the  provisions of this Section 13B) only by an agreement in writing
signed by the party against whom enforcement of any waiver, change, modification
or discharge is sought.  Any such waiver shall be effective only in the specific
instance  and for the  specific  purpose  for which it was  given.  No course of
dealing  between  the Company  and the  Purchaser  and no failure to exercise or
delay in  exercising  any  rights or  remedies  hereunder  or under  the  Senior
Subordinated  Note or any other Credit Document shall operate as a waiver of any
rights or remedies of any  Purchaser,  and no single or partial  exercise by any
Purchaser  of any right or  remedy  under  this  Agreement  or any other  Credit
Document shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of
any other right or remedy.

         13C. Survival of Representations and Warranties;  Entire Agreement. All
representations  and  warranties  contained  herein or made in  writing by or on
behalf of the Company in  connection  herewith  shall  survive the execution and
delivery of this  Agreement  and the Senior  Subordinated  Note.  Subject to the
preceding sentence, this Agreement, the Senior Subordinated Note and the other

                                                        17

<PAGE>



Credit  Documents  embody the entire  agreement  and  understanding  between the
parties hereto and supersede all prior  agreements and  understandings,  if any,
relating to the subject matter hereof.  Without limiting any provisions  hereof,
the  Company  agrees  that it shall  continue  to perform  and  comply  with its
covenants,  obligations  and  duties  contained  herein  until all of the Senior
Subordinated Note are paid in full and all amounts payable hereunder are paid in
full.

         13D.  Successors  and Assigns.  All  covenants  and  agreements in this
Agreement  and each other Credit  Document by or on behalf of any of the parties
hereto  shall bind and inure to the  benefit of the  respective  successors  and
assigns of the parties  hereto whether so expressed or not;  provided,  however,
that the  Company may not  transfer  or assign any of its rights or  obligations
under this  Agreement or any other  Credit  Document  without the prior  written
consent of all Purchaser.

         13E.  Notices.  All  communications  provided for hereunder shall be in
writing and sent by  telecopier,  certified  or  registered  first class mail or
nationwide  overnight  delivery service (with charges prepaid) and (i) if to the
Purchaser,  addressed to it at 54 Monument Circle, Indianapolis,  Indiana 46204,
Attention:  Andre B. Lacy, Chairman,  or to such other address as such Purchaser
may have  designated  to the  Company in  writing,  and (ii) if to the  Company,
addressed to it at 4259 40th Street, S.E., Kentwood,  Michigan 49512 (telecopier
number: (616) 949-1264) Attention:  Thomas U. Young, President, or to such other
address for purposes hereof as the Company may have designated in writing to the
Purchaser (such notice being effective on receipt).

         13F.  Descriptive  Headings.  Descriptive  headings of sections of this
Agreement are for  convenience of reference only and do not constitute a part of
this Agreement.

         13G.  Severability.  In case any provision in or obligation  under this
Agreement 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.

         13H.  Governing  Law. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE SENIOR  SUBORDINATED  NOTE
SHALL BE  CONSTRUED  AND  ENFORCED  IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH,  AND THE RIGHTS OF THE
PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF INDIANA, WITHOUT
REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.



                                                        18

<PAGE>



         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties hereto have caused this  Subordinated
Note  Agreement to be duly  executed  and  delivered  by their  respective  duly
authorized officers.

Execution Date:  November 19, 1997

                                     FINISHMASTER, INC.,
                                     an Indiana corporation


                                     By: /s/ Roger A. Sorokin
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                              Name:    Roger A. Sorokin
                                              Title:   Vice President, Finance











                                                        19

<PAGE>



                                    EXHIBIT A

                       [FORM OF SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTE]

THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED  UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED,
AND MAY NOT BE SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE  REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT
OR AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM.

THE OBLIGATIONS UNDER THIS NOTE ARE SUBORDINATED TO CERTAIN SENIOR  INDEBTEDNESS
TO THE EXTENT AND ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THAT CERTAIN SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF NOVEMBER __, 1997, BY AND AMONG LDI, FINISHMASTER, AND THE NBD BANK,
N.A., AS AGENT, AS SUCH AGREEMENT IS FROM TIME TO TIME AMENDED.

                               FINISHMASTER, INC.

                         _____% Senior Subordinated Note

                              Due _________, 200__


No.  [___]                                                        ________, 1997

$[----------]

         FinishMaster,  Inc., an Indiana corporation (the "Company"),  for value
received, hereby promises to pay to

                    LDI, Ltd., an Indiana limited partnership

                              or registered assigns
                        on the ____ day of _______, 200__
                             the principal amount of

          [INSERT PRINCIPAL AMOUNT IN WORDS] DOLLARS (U.S. $__________)

and to pay interest  (computed  on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve  30-day
months) on the principal amount from time to time remaining unpaid hereon at the
rate of ______% per annum from the date hereof until maturity. Interest shall be
payable, to the extent accrued and unpaid, quarterly in arrears on the thirtieth
day of each March,  June,  September  and  December in each year (with the first
such payment being due on [_______],  1997) and at maturity (whether on the date
stated, upon acceleration,  pursuant to a permitted demand, upon commencement of
bankruptcy  or  insolvency  proceedings  or  otherwise  and  upon  any  optional
prepayment in lieu of the amount prepaid). The

                                                         1

<PAGE>



Company  agrees to pay interest on any  principal  and premium not paid when due
(whether at maturity,  by optional or mandatory  prepayment,  upon acceleration,
pursuant to a permitted  demand,  upon  commencement of bankruptcy or insolvency
proceedings  or otherwise) and on any overdue  installment  of interest,  to the
fullest extent permitted by law, at the rate which is 2% above the interest rate
which is otherwise applicable,  payable on demand. Both the principal hereof and
interest   hereon  and  any   Yield-Maintenance   Premium  (as  defined  in  the
Subordinated  Note  Agreement  referred to below) are payable in lawful money of
the  United  States  of  America  and in same day funds in  accordance  with the
instructions  with  respect  to the  Purchaser  of this  Note  set  forth on the
relevant Purchaser Schedule to that certain Subordinated Note Agreement dated as
of November ___, 1997 (as amended,  supplemented or otherwise modified from time
to time,  the  "Subordinated  Note  Agreement"),  entered  into by and among the
Company and the original Purchaser listed on the signature pages thereof.

         This  Note was  issued  pursuant  to the terms  and  provisions  of the
Subordinated  Note  Agreement.  This Note and the holder  hereof are  subject to
certain obligations  pursuant to, and is entitled to all the rights and benefits
provided for or referred to in, the  Subordinated  Note Agreement.  Reference is
hereby  made  to  the  Subordinated  Note  Agreement  for a  statement  of  such
obligations,  rights and benefits and other terms applicable  hereto  (including
provisions relating to the enforcement  hereof), by each of which the holder and
any transferee of this Note shall be benefited and bound.

         This Note may be declared due prior to their  expressed  maturity date,
all in the events,  on the terms and in the manner provided in the  Subordinated
Note Agreement.

         The Company  will make the  required  payments of principal at maturity
and in the amounts  specified in the Subordinated  Note Agreement.  This Note is
not subject to  prepayment  or  redemption at the option of the Company prior to
its  expressed  maturity  date  except on the terms  and  conditions  and in the
amounts  and with the  premium,  if any,  set  forth  in the  Subordinated  Note
Agreement.

         This Note is registered on the books of the Company and is transferable
only by surrender hereof for registration of transfer at the principal office of
the Company duly  endorsed or  accompanied  by a written  instrument of transfer
duly  executed  by the  holder  of  this  Note or such  holder's  attorney  duly
authorized in writing. Payment of or on account of principal,  Yield Maintenance
Premium,  if any,  and  interest  on this Note shall be made only to or upon the
order in writing of the registered holder.



                                                         2

<PAGE>


         THIS NOTE SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE  WITH,  AND THE
RIGHTS OF THE  COMPANY  AND ANY  PURCHASER  HEREOF  SHALL BE  GOVERNED  BY,  THE
INTERNAL  LAWS OF THE  STATE  OF NEW  YORK,  WITHOUT  REGARD  TO  PRINCIPLES  OF
CONFLICTS OF LAW.

                                 FINISHMASTER, INC.

                                 By:   
                                    ------------------------------------------
                                          Name:
                                          Title:























                                                         3


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