SOS STAFFING SERVICES INC
10-Q, 1996-11-14
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14


               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                     Washington, D.C. 20549

                            FORM 10-Q

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

        For the quarterly period ended September 29, 1996

                               OR

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

      For the transition period from _________to__________

                 Commission File Number  0-26094


                   SOS STAFFING SERVICES, INC.
     (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                   Utah                                       87-0295503
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)          (I.R.S. Employer ID No.)

                     1415 South Main Street
                   Salt Lake City, Utah 84115
            (Address of principal executive offices)
                         (801) 484-4400
                       (Telephone number)

  Indicate  by check  mark  whether  the  registrant  (1) has filed all  reports
  required to be filed by section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act
  of 1934 during the  preceding 12 months ( or for such shorter  period that the
  registrant  was  required to file such  reports),  and (2) has been subject to
  such filings requirements for the past 90 days. Yes____X______ No___________
Indicate the number of shares  outstanding  of each of the  issuer's  classes of
common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

      Class of Common Stock               Outstanding at November 11, 1996
   Common Stock, $0.01 par value                   6,705,660

<PAGE>


                        TABLE OF CONTENTS

                 Part I - Financial Information

     Item 1. Financial Statements                                       Page(s)

               Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
                    As of  September 29, 1996, and December 31, 1995     3-4

               Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
                    For the 13 and 39 Weeks Ended September 29, 1996
                    and October 1, 1995                                   5

               Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                    For the 39 Weeks Ended September 29, 1996
                    and October 1, 1995                                  6-7

               Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial
                    Statements                                           8-10


     Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of
               Financial Condition and Results of Operations             11-12



                   Part II - Other Information

     Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                            13

     Signatures                                                          14
<PAGE>






                           SOS STAFFING SERVICES, INC.
                     CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS



                                     ASSETS

                                        September 29,  December 31,
                                            1996          1995
CURRENT ASSETS:                          (Unaudited)

   Cash                                 $   492,526    $2,717,389
   Accounts receivable, net              17,270,450     9,784,022
   Current portion of workers'
     compensation deposit                   622,743       568,658
   Prepaid expenses and other               388,102       191,616
   Deferred tax asset                       184,640        61,803
   Amounts due from related parties         408,897       460,897
      Total current assets               19,367,358    13,784,385

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, at cost:
   Computer equipment                     1,299,422     1,011,363
   Office equipment                       1,294,244     1,087,262
   Leasehold improvements and other         862,775       789,633
                                          3,456,441     2,888,258
   Less accumulated depreciation and     (1,582,204)   (1,267,233)
     amortization
      Total property and equipment,       1,874,237     1,621,025
        net

OTHER ASSETS:
   Workers' compensation deposit, less
     current portion                        136,549       142,164
   Intangible assets, net                10,306,696     3,582,924
   Deposits and other assets                346,434       196,850
      Total other assets                 10,789,679     3,921,938

      Total assets                     $ 32,031,274  $ 19,327,348





      The accompanying notes to condensed  consolidated financial statements are
      an integral part of these condensed consolidated balance sheets.
<PAGE>


                           SOS STAFFING SERVICES, INC.
                     CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS



                      LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY


                                             September 29,      December 31,
                                                  1996             1995
CURRENT LIABILITIES:                          (Unaudited)
   Note payable                              $         -     $   1,450,000
   Line of credit                              1,325,373                 -
   Accounts payable                              130,895           126,349
   Accrued payroll costs                       2,457,272         1,275,617
   Current portion of workers'
     compensation reserve                      1,101,903           735,799
   Accrued liabilities                         1,999,051           477,361
   Income taxes payable                          536,368            74,576
      Total current liabilities                7,550,862         4,139,702

LONG TERM BANK NOTE                            6,500,000                 -

WORKERS' COMPENSATION
   RESERVE, less current portion                 267,528           183,950
                                                `
DEFERRED INCOME TAX LIABILITY                     66,735           336,155


SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
   Common stock                                   67,048            67,000
   Additional paid-in capital                 13,130,388        13,099,497
   Retained earnings                           4,448,713         1,501,044
      Total shareholders' equity              17,646,149        14,667,541

      Total liabilities and
        shareholders' equity                $ 32,031,274      $ 19,327,348



      The accompanying notes to condensed  consolidated financial statements are
      an integral part of these condensed consolidated balance sheets.
<PAGE>

                           SOS STAFFING SERVICES, INC.
                   CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                             13 Weeks                     39 Weeks
                                               Ended                        Ended
                                   September 29,   October 1,    September 29,   October 1,
                                       1996          1995            1996          1995
                                    (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)
<CAPTION>
<S>                                 <C>           <C>             <C>           <C>
SERVICE REVENUES                    $37,846,104   $23,250,657     $92,834,049   $63,334,207
DIRECT COSTS OF SERVICES            30,091,956     18,343,158      73,734,640    50,138,844
 Gross profit                        7,754,148      4,907,499      19,099,409    13,195,363

SELLING, GENERAL AND
  ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES          5,570,766        3,493,414      14,283,940     9,824,486

INCOME FROM OPERATIONS             2,183,382        1,414,085       4,815,469     3,370,877

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
   Interest expense                 (152,017)         (28,189)       (176,781)     (122,414)
   Interest income                     1,230           36,163          10,729        64,770
   Other, net                        108,871           68,503         104,887        88,083
      Total, net                     (41,916)          76,477         (61,165)       30,439

INCOME BEFORE PROVISION
  FOR INCOME TAXES                 2,141,466        1,490,562       4,754,304     3,401,316
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
 (Including pro forma adjustment
  in ytd 1995)                      (813,392)        (574,178)     (1,806,635)   (1,308,896)

NET INCOME (Pro forma for ytd
 1995)                           $ 1,328,074        $ 916,384     $ 2,947,669   $ 2,092,420

NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE
   (Pro forma for ytd 1995)      $      0.20        $    0.14     $      0.35   $      0.44




WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES
    OUTSTANDING                    6,762,230        6,721,644       6,760,392     6,061,061

</TABLE>





      The accompanying notes to condensed  consolidated financial statements are
        an integral part of these condensed consolidated statements.

<PAGE>


                           SOS STAFFING SERVICES, INC.
                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                           Increase (Decrease) in Cash

                                                39 Weeks Ended
                                          September 29,    October 1,
                                              1996            1995
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:     (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)
Net income                                 $2,947,669      $2,355,282
Adjustments to reconcile net income
  to net cash used in operating
  activities:
     Depreciation and amortization            533,177         250,426
     Deferred income taxes                   (392,257)        451,340
     Loss on disposition of assets             51,647               -
     Other                                    (56,409)              -
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
     Accounts receivable, net              (7,486,427)    (11,097,899)
     Workers' compensation deposit            (48,470)         12,562
     Prepaid expenses and other              (210,895)       (112,680)
     Amounts due from related parties         (80,584)         53,006
     Accounts payable                           4,546         150,551
     Accrued payroll costs                  1,181,654       1,118,978
     Workers' compensation reserve            449,682         (32,018)
     Accrued liabilities                      231,791          21,662
     Income taxes payable                     461,792         595,080
        Net cash used in operating
          activities                       (2,361,084)     (6,510,671)


CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
   Purchases of property and equipment       (457,897)       (541,088)
   Cash paid in acquisition of certain
     assets                                (5,812,195)       (940,507)
   Deposits related to acquisition of
     certain assets                                 -         206,278
   Principal payment on note related to    (1,450,000)              -
     acquisition
      Net cash used in investing
        activities                        $(7,720,092)    $(1,275,317)




      The accompanying notes to condensed  consolidated financial statements are
        an integral part of these condensed consolidated statements.

<PAGE>



                           SOS STAFFING SERVICES, INC.
                 CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                           Increase (Decrease) in Cash

                                                       39 Weeks Ended
                                                  September 29,   October 1,
                                                      1996           1995
 CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:            (Unaudited)    (Unaudited)
  Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net      $   30,940    $12,710,217
  Net (repayments) borrowings on line of credit     1,325,373     (1,478,530)
  Borrowings on long term bank note                 6,500,000              -
  Principal payments on long-term debt                      -       (550,000)
  Capital contribution from shareholders                    -        750,000
  Distributions to shareholders                             -       (750,000)
  Net cash provided by financing activities         7,856,313     10,681,687

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH                    (2,224,863)     2,895,699
CASH AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD                         2,717,389        613,049

CASH AT END OF PERIOD                              $  492,526    $ 3,508,748














      The accompanying notes to condensed  consolidated financial statements are
        an integral part of these condensed consolidated statements.


<PAGE>





                           SOS STAFFING SERVICES, INC.
              NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                   (Unaudited)




Note 1.  Basis of Presentation
     The  accompanying  condensed  consolidated  financial  statements have been
prepared by the Company, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of
the Securities and Exchange  Commission.  Certain  information  and  disclosures
normally included in financial  statements prepared in accordance with generally
accepted  accounting  principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such
rules and regulations. These consolidated condensed financial statements reflect
all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments),  which in the
opinion of management, are necessary to present fairly the results of operations
of  the  Company  for  the  periods  presented.   It  is  suggested  that  these
consolidated  financial  statements  be read in  conjunction  with the condensed
consolidated  financial  statements  and  the  notes  thereto  included  in  the
Company's Annual Report to Shareholders on Form 10-K.

     The results of operations for the 13 and 39 week period ended September 29,
1996 are not  necessarily  indicative of the results to be expected for the full
year.

Note 2.  Asset Acquisitions

     Geomine Personnel, Inc.

     In February,  1996, the Company  purchased certain assets and substantially
all of the business of Geomine Personnel,  Inc. for approximately  $485,000 plus
contingent future earnout payments up to a maximum of $300,000.  As of September
29, 1996,  approximately  $111,000 of contingent  earnouts  were accrued  and/or
paid. This  acquisition has been accounted for as a purchase.  The excess of the
purchase  price over the  estimated  fair market value of the acquired  tangible
assets was  approximately  $576,000,  of which  approximately  $451,000 has been
allocated  to goodwill  and  $125,000  has been  allocated  to other  intangible
assets.

     VIP Limited LLC

     In April,  1996, the Company purchased certain assets and substantially all
of the business of VIP Limited LLC for  approximately  $15,000  plus  contingent
future earnout  payments up to a maximum of $185,000.  As of September 29, 1996,
approximately  $50,000 of contingent earnouts were accrued.  The acquisition has
been accounted for as a purchase. The excess of the purchase price over the fair
market value of the acquired tangible assets was approximately $60,000, of which
approximately  $50,000  has been  allocated  to  goodwill  and  $10,000 has been
allocated to other intangible assets.

       Snake River T.E.M.P.S.,Inc.

     In April,  1996, the Company purchased certain assets and substantially all
the  business of Snake River  T.E.M.P.S.,  Inc. for  approximately  $65,000 plus
contingent  future  earnouts up to a maximum of $135,000.  As of  September  29,
1996, approximately $50,000 of contingent earnouts had been accrued and/or paid.
The acquisition has been accounted for as a purchase. The excess of the purchase
price  over  the  fair  market  value  of  the  acquired   tangible  assets  was
approximately  $114,000 of which  approximately  $84,000 has been  allocated  to
goodwill and $30,000 has been allocated to other intangible assets.

<PAGE>



   Abacus  Consulting Group, Inc., Abacus Consultants, Inc.,  The Performance
      Professionals, Inc.

      In June, 1996, the Company  purchased certain assets and substantially all
the business of Abacus Consulting Group, Inc., Abacus Consultants, Inc., and The
Performance  Professionals,  Inc. for  approximately  $3,638,000  and contingent
future earnouts up to a maximum of approximately $1.775,000. As of September 29,
1996 approximately $500,000 of contingent earnouts had been accrued and/or paid.
The acquisition has been accounted for as a purchase. The excess of the purchase
price  over  the  fair  market  value  of  the  acquired   tangible  assets  was
approximately  $4.1  million,  of  which  approximately  $3.8  million  has been
allocated to goodwill and approximately $0.3 million has been allocated to other
intangible assets.

     Allyn Colorado Enterprises, Inc.

      In June, 1996, the Company  purchased certain assets and substantially all
the business of Allyn Colorado Enterprises,  Inc. for approximately $750,000 and
future contingent earnouts not to exceed $1.25 million. The acquisition has been
accounted for as a purchase. As of September 29, 1996, approximately $650,000 of
contingent  earnouts had been accrued  and/or paid. The excess of purchase price
over the fair market value of the  acquired  tangible  assets was  approximately
$1,380,000 of which approximately  $1,200,000 has been allocated to goodwill and
approximately $180,000 has been allocated to other intangible assets.

     Excell Employment, LLC

      In July, 1996, the Company  purchased certain assets and substantially all
the business of Excell  Employment,  LLC. for  approximately  $25,000 plus other
costs and contingent future earnouts up to a maximum of $75,000. The acquisition
has been accounted for as a purchase.  The excess of the purchase price over the
fair market value of the acquired tangible assets was approximately  $23,000, of
which  approximately  $4,000 has been  allocated to goodwill  and  approximately
$19,000 has been allocated to other intangible assets.

     Performance Plus, Inc.

      In August,  1996, the Company  purchased  certain assets and substantially
all the business of  Performance  Plus,  Inc.  for  approximately  $35,000.  The
acquisition  has been  accounted  for as a purchase.  The excess of the purchase
price  over  the  fair  market  value  of  the  acquired   tangible  assets  was
approximately  $30,000,  of which  approximately  $15,000 has been  allocated to
goodwill  and  approximately  $15,000  has been  allocated  to other  intangible
assets.

     Impact Staffing, a division of Pacific Design Engineering.

      In August,  1996, the Company  purchased  certain assets and substantially
all the business of Impact Staffing,  a division of Pacific Design  Engineering,
Inc. for  approximately  $525,000 and contingent future earnouts up to a maximum
of  $350,000.  As of September  29, 1996  approximately  $150,000 of  contingent
earnout had been accrued and/or paid. The  acquisition has been accounted for as
a purchase.  The excess of the purchase  price over the fair market value of the
acquired  tangible assets was  approximately  $645,000,  of which  approximately
$625,000  has been  allocated  to goodwill  and  approximately  $20,000 has been
allocated to other intangible assets.

     Key Personnel Service, Inc.

     In September,  1996, the Company purchased certain assets and substantially
all the business of Key Personnel Service, Inc. for approximately  $250,000 plus
other  costs and  contingent  future  earnouts up to a maximum of  $150,000.  At
September 29, 1996 approximately $50,000 of contingent earnouts had been accrual
and/or paid. The acquisition has been accounted for as a purchase. The excess of
the purchase  price over the fair market value of the acquired  tangible  assets
was approximately  $280,000, of which approximately  $230,000 has been allocated
to goodwill and  approximately  $50,000 has been  allocated to other  intangible
assets.

<PAGE>



     Pro Forma Acquisition Information_Unaudited

     The  unaudited  pro forma  acquisition  information  for the 39 weeks ended
September  29, 1996 and October 1, 1995  presents the results of  operations  of
material  acquisitions as if the  acquisitions  had occurred at the beginning of
each  period.  The results of  operations  give  effect to certain  adjustments,
including  amortization  of  intangible  assets  and  interest  expense  on debt
borrowings  utilized to fund certain  acquisitions.  The pro forma  results have
been prepared for comparative  purposes only and do not purport to be indicative
of what would have occurred had the  acquisitions  been made at the beginning of
the  applicable  period as described  above or of the results which may occur in
the future.

                                 Unaudited Pro Forma
                                Results of Operations
                                   39 Weeks Ended

                              September 29,      October 1,
                                  1996             1995

   Service revenues           $99,136,061      $71,137,332

   Income from operations     $ 5,097,432      $ 3,704,577

   Net income                 $ 2,977,650      $ 2,151,120



Note 3.  Legal Matters

     In  February  1996,  a former  employee  of the  Company  filed a  wrongful
termination  lawsuit  against the  Company in Third  District  Court,  Salt Lake
County,  State of Utah. The complaint seeks compensatory damages of $4.5 million
and punitive damages of $4.0 million. Discovery is in the early stages; however,
the Company  believes that the claim is without merit,  and that the Company has
valid defenses to all the allegations raised in the complaint.


Note 4.  1995 Pro forma Statements of Income Information

     Effective  June  26,  1995,  the  Company's  S  Corporation   election  was
terminated, accordingly, the income taxes for the 39 weeks ended October 1, 1995
have been reflected as if the election was terminated at the beginning of 1995.

     Prior to the Company's  initial public  offering,  the Company  distributed
approximately  $8.0  million of its  accounts  receivable  to its S  Corporation
shareholders.  The pro forma weighted average common shares  outstanding for the
39 weeks ended  October 1, 1995 reflects the effect of the issuance of 1,230,769
shares at an offering  price of $6.50 per share,  as if the accounts  receivable
distribution of $8.0 million had occurred at the beginning of 1995.

Note 5.  Revolving Credit Line

     The  Company  entered  into  a  secured  revolving  credit  agreement  (the
"Agreement")  dated  as of July 11,  1996  with  certain  banks.  The  Agreement
provides for a maximum  commitment of $20,000,000 to be used for working capital
needs and to fund  acquisitions.  The  commitment  expires in July 1999 at which
time  outstanding  borrowings are due and payable.  As of September 29, 1996 the
Company  had  total  outstanding  borrowings  of  $7.8  million,  consisting  of
short-term  borrowings  of $1.3  million,  which bore interest at the prime rate
<PAGE>



charged by the Company's lender which is periodically  adjusted (8.25 percent at
September 29,  1996),  and  long-term  borrowings  of $6.5  million,  which bore
interest at the LIBOR rate plus 1.75% (7.75 percent at September 29, 1996).  The
Company also had letters of credit of $3.7 million  outstanding at September 29,
1996, for purposes of securing its workers' compensation premium obligation. The
aggregate amount of such letters of credit reduce the borrowing  availability on
the line of credit.  At September 29, 1996, $8.5 million was still available for
borrowings or letters of credit under the line of credit.

     In connection  with the Agreement,  the Company can borrow up to 85 percent
of certain eligible receivables.  Borrowings are secured by substantially all of
the  Company's  assets.  Interest  is paid in arrears and is required to be paid
monthly.   The  Agreement  contains  certain  restrictive   covenants  including
maintenance  of certain  minimums  related to the Company's  tangible net worth,
capital  funds,  total  indebtedness  to EBITDA,  interest  coverage and current
ratio.  In  addition,  acquisitions  with a total  projected  cost in  excess of
certain  individual and aggregate  amounts in any 12 month period requires prior
consent of the banks. The Company is also required to pay a quarterly commitment
fee of .375 percent to .50 percent (on an annualized basis) on the daily average
unused commitment amount.



                           SOS STAFFING SERVICES, INC.
                      MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
                OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

     The following  discussion and analysis  should be read in conjunction  with
the  consolidated  condensed  financial  statements and notes thereto  appearing
elsewhere in this report.  The Company's fiscal year consists of a 52-or 53-week
period ending on the Sunday closest to December 31.

Results of Operations

     The following table sets forth unaudited income  statement  information for
the comparative 13 and 39 week periods (in thousands).

                              13 Weeks Ended                39 Weeks Ended
                         September 29,   October 1,   September 29,   October 1,
                             1996          1995           1996          1995

Service revenues           $37,846       $23,251        $92,834       $63,334
Direct cost of services     30,092        18,343         73,735        50,139
  Gross profit               7,754         4,908         19,099        13,195
Selling, general and
  administrative expenses    5,571         3,494         14,284         9,824

Operating income             2,183         1,414          4,815         3,371

Other income(expense)          (42)           76            (61)           30
Income before provision
 for taxes                   2,141         1,490          4,754         3,401
Provision for income
 taxes (including pro
 forma adjustment in
 1995)                        (813)         (574)        (1,806)       (1,309)

Net income (Pro forma
 for 1995)                 $ 1,328       $   916        $ 2,948       $ 2,092



      Service  Revenues.  Service  revenues for the 13 weeks ended September 29,
1996 were $37.8  million an increase of $14.6  million or 63% from $23.2 million
for the same period in 1995.  Approximately  $7.6  million of the  increase  was
attributable to offices acquired in 1995 and 1996.  Service revenues  (excluding
acquisitions)   grew  by  $7.0  million   during  the  period,   consisting   of
approximately  $5.8 million  attributable  to growth from  existing  offices and
approximately $1.2 million attributable to opening new offices. Service revenues
for the 39 weeks  ended  September  29,  1996 were $92.8  million an increase of
$29.5  million  or  47%  from  $63.3  million  for  the  same  period  in  1995.
Approximately  $15.1  milllion  of the  increase  was  attributable  to  offices
acquired in 1995 and 1996.  Service revenues  (excluding  acquisitions)  grew by
$14.4   million  or   approximately   23%  during  the  period,   consisting  of
approximately  $12.8 million  attributable  to growth from existing  offices and
approximately $1.6 million  attributable to opening new offices. The increase in
service  revenues was also generally  consistent with increases in hours billed,
customers served and temporary staffing employees utilized.

     Gross  Profit.  Gross profit for the 13 weeks ended  September 29, 1996 was
$7.7  million,  an increase of $2.8  million,  or 58%, from $4.9 million for the
same period of 1995.  Gross profit  margin for the 13 weeks ended  September 29,
1996 was 20.5%  compared  to 21.1% for the same period of 1995,  reflecting,  in
part, upward pressure on wages due to lower  unemployment rates in the Company's
service areas.  Gross profit for the 39 weeks ended September 29, 1996 was $19.1
million,  an increase of $5.9  million,  or 45%, from $13.2 million for the same
period of 1995.  Gross profit  margin for the 39 weeks ended  September 29, 1996
was 20.6%  compared to 20.8% for the same period of 1995,  reflecting,  in part,
upward  pressure  on wages  due to  lower  unemployment  rates in the  Company's
service areas. <PAGE>


      Selling,  General  and  Administrative  Expenses.   Selling,  general  and
administrative  expenses for the 13 weeks ended  September  29, 1996 amounted to
$5.6 million or 14.7% of service revenues compared to $3.5 million or 15.0%. The
decrease in selling,  general and  administrative  expenses as a  percentage  of
service  revenues is attributable  primarily to management's  efforts to control
costs.  Selling,  general  and  administrative  expenses  for the 39 weeks ended
September  29,  1996  amounted  to $14.3  million or 15.4% of  service  revenues
compared  to $9.8  million or 15.5% of service  revenues  for the same period of
1995.

     Operating  Income.  Operating  income for the 13 weeks ended  September 29,
1996 was $2.2 million,  an increase of $0.8 million or 54% from $1.4 million for
the same period in 1995.  Operating  margin for the 13 weeks ended September 29,
1996 was 5.8% compared to 6.1% for the same period of 1995. Operating income for
the 39 weeks  ended  September  29, 1996 was $4.8  million,  an increase of $1.4
million or 43% from $3.4 million for the same period in 1995.  Operating  margin
for the 39 weeks ended September 29, 1996 was 5.2% compared to 5.3% for the same
period of 1995.

     Income  Taxes.  The pro forma  provision  for income  taxes for the 39 week
period ending October 1, 1995 has been determined  assuming the Company had been
taxed as a C corporation  for federal and state income tax purposes prior to its
conversion from an S corporation which occurred June 26, 1995.


Liquidity and Capital Resources

     For the 39 weeks ended September 29, 1996 cash used in operating activities
amounted  to $2.4  million,  primarily  as a result  of  increases  in  accounts
receivable  due to  increased  sales,  partially  offset by increases in accrued
payroll costs.

     The Company's investing  activities during the 39 weeks ended September 29,
1996 used cash in the amount of $7.7 million,  principally to purchase assets of
acquired  businesses and to purchase  property and equipment.  See Note 2 to the
condensed  consolidated financial statements of the Company for a description of
the material terms of these acquisitions.

     Cash flows from financing  activities  during the 39 weeks ended  September
29, 1996 amounted to $7.9 million,  consisting  primarily of borrowings  against
the  Company's  credit  facility  used  to fund  the  Company's  acquisition  of
temporary staffing companies.

     The Company's  primary  sources of short-term  and long-term  liquidity and
capital  resources are its cash reserves,  cash flows from operating  activities
and unsecured  line of credit with a bank.  The Company's  line of credit allows
for maximum borrowings of $20 million.  As of September 29, 1996 the Company had
total  outstanding   borrowings  of  $7.8  million,   consisting  of  short-term
borrowings  of $1.3  million,  which bore  interest at the prime rate charged by
lender (at September 29, 1996, 8.25%), and long-term borrowings of $6.5 million,
which bore interest at the LIBOR rate plus 1.75% (at September 29, 1996, 7.75%).
The Company also  commitments for letters of credit of $3.7 million at September
29, 1996, for purposes of securing its workers' compensation premium obligation,
which is  considered  as a reduction  of  borrowing  availability  on the credit
facility. At September 29, 1996, $8.5 million was still available for borrowings
or letters of credit under the credit  facility.  Management  believes  that the
Company's  credit  facility,  together  with  cash  reserves  and cash flow from
operations, is sufficient to fund the currently pending acquisitions and to fund
the Company's  operations and capital  expenditures for at least the next twelve
months. <PAGE>



                           PART II - OTHER INFORMATION


     Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

          a) Exhibit

           10.1 - Credit Agreement dated as of July 11, 1996 by
                  and among the Company, First Security
                  Bank, N.A. and NBD Bank, together with a security
                  agreement and revolving credit
                  notes

          b) Reports filed on Form 8-K

           During the third  quarter of 1996,  the Company filed an amendment to
           the Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated  September 6, 1996,  reporting
           information  required  to be  reported  under  Item  7(a),  Financial
           Statements of businesses acquired.


<PAGE>






                                   SIGNATURES



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


                                        SOS STAFFING SERVICES, INC.
                                                        Registrant



     Dated: November 7, 1996            /s/ Richard D. Reinhold
                                        Richard D. Reinhold
                                        Chairman of the Board,
                                        Chief Executive Officer



     Dated: November 7, 1996            /s/ Gary B. Crook____
                                        Gary B. Crook
                                        Vice President,
                                        Chief Financial Officer


<PAGE>





                           SOS STAFFING SERVICES, INC.

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





                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                            dated as of July 11, 1996




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

                            FIRST SECURITY BANK, N.A.
                                       and
                               NBD BANK, as Banks,

               FIRST SECURITY BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent,

                                       and

                 NBD BANK, as Documentation and Collateral Agent



<PAGE>



                                                 TABLE OF CONTENTS


Article                                                                   Page


      I.    DEFINITIONS.................................................     1

            1.1  Certain Definitions....................................     1
            1.2  Other Definitions; Rules of
                  construction..........................................     13


      II.   THE COMMITMENTS AND THE ADVANCES............................     13

            2.1  Commitment of the Banks................................     13
            2.2  Termination and Reduction of
                   Commitments..........................................     14
            2.3  Fees...................................................     14
            2.4  Disbursement of Advances...............................     15
            2.5  Conditions for First Disbursement......................     18
            2.6  Further Conditions for Disbursement....................     19
            2.7  Subsequent Elections as to Loans.......................     20
            2.8  Limitation of Requests and Elections...................     21
            2.9  Minimum Amounts; Limitation on
                   Number of Loans, Etc.................................     21
            2.10 Borrowing Base Adjustments.............................     21
            2.11 Security and Collateral................................     22


      III.  PAYMENTS AND PREPAYMENTS OF ADVANCES........................     22

            3.1  Principal Payments and Prepayments.....................     22
            3.2  Interest Payments......................................     23
            3.3  Letter of Credit Reimbursement
                   Payments.............................................     24
            3.4  Payment Method.........................................     26
            3.5  No Setoff or Deduction.................................     26
            3.6  Payment on Non-Business Day;
                   Payment Computations.................................     26
            3.7  Additional Costs.......................................     27
            3.8  Illegality and Impossibility...........................     28
            3.9  Indemnification........................................     28

                                      -i-
<PAGE>


      IV.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES..............................     29

            4.1  Corporate Existence and Power..........................     29
            4.2  Corporate Authority....................................     29
            4.3  Binding Effect.........................................     30
            4.4  Subsidiaries...........................................     30
            4.5  Litigation.............................................     30
            4.6  Financial Condition....................................     30
            4.7  Use of Advances........................................     31
            4.8  Consents, Etc..........................................     31
            4.9  Taxes..................................................     31
            4.10 Title to Properties....................................     32
            4.11 Borrowing Base.........................................     32
            4.12 ERISA..................................................     32
            4.13 Disclosure.............................................     32
            4.14 Environmental Matters..................................     33
            4.15 No Default.............................................     33


      V.    COVENANTS...................................................     33

            5.1  Affirmative Covenants..................................     33

                 (a)  Preservation of Corporate
                        Existence, Etc..................................     34
                 (b)  Compliance with Laws, Etc.........................     34
                 (b)  Maintenance of Properties;
                        Insurance.......................................     34
                 (e)  Reporting Requirements............................     34
                 (f)  Accounting; Access to
                        Records, Books, Etc.............................     36
                 (g)  Additional Security and
                        Collateral......................................     37
                 (7)      .................................Further Assurances
            5.2  Negative Covenants.....................................     37

                 (a)  Current Ratio......................................    37
                 (b)  Tangible Net Worth ................................    38
                 (c)  Total Capital Funds................................    39
                 (d)  Total Debt to EBITDA...............................    38
                 (e)  Interest Coverage Ratio............................    38

                                      -ii-
<PAGE>
Article                                                                    Page
                 (f)  Indebtedness.......................................    38
                 (g)  Liens..............................................    39
                 (h)  Merger; Acquisitions; Etc..........................    40
                 (i)  Disposition of Assets, Etc.........................    41
                 (j)  Nature of Business.................................    41
                 (k)  Dividends and Other Restricted
                        Payments.........................................    41
                 (l)  Capital Expenditures...............................    42
                 (m)  Investment Loans and Advances......................    42
                 (n)  Transactions with Affiliates.......................    42
                 (o)  Payments and Modifications
                        of Subordinated Debt.............................    42
                 (p)  Negative Pledge Limitation.........................    42
                 (q)  Inconsistent Agreements............................    43

Article                                                                     Page




            VI.  DEFAULT . . ............................................    43

                 6.1  Events of Default..................................    43
                 6.2  Remedies...........................................    45


            VII. THE AGENTS AND THE BANKS................................    47

                 7.1  Appointment and Authorization......................    47
                 7.2  Agent and Affiliates...............................    47
                 7.3  Scope of Agent's Duties............................    47
                 7.4  Reliance by Agents.................................    47
                 7.5  Default............................................    48
                 7.6  Liability of Agents................................    48
                 7.7  Nonreliance on Agent and
                        Other Banks......................................    48
                 7.8  Indemnification....................................    49
                 7.9  Successor Agent....................................    49
                 7.10 Sharing of Payments................................    50


            VIII.GUARANTY................................................    51

                 8.1  Guarantee of Obligations...........................    51
                 8.2  Nature of Guaranty.................................    51
                 8.3  Waivers and Other Agreements.......................    51

                                     -iii-
<PAGE>
Article                                                                    Page

                 8.4  Obligations Absolute...............................    52
                 8.5  No Investigation by Banks or Agent.................    52
                 8.6  Indemnity..........................................    53
                 8.7  Subordination, Subrogation, Etc....................    53
                 8.8  Waiver.............................................    53


            IX.  MISCELLANEOUS...........................................    54

                 9.1  Amendments, Etc....................................    54
                 9.2  Notices............................................    54
                 9.3  No Waiver By Conduct; Remedies
                        Cumulative.......................................    55
                 9.4  Reliance on and Survival of
                        Various Provisions...............................    55
                 9.5   Expenses; Indemnification.........................    55
                 9.6   Successors and Assigns............................    58
                 9.7   Counterparts......................................    61
                 9.8   Governing Law.....................................    61
                 9.9   Table of Contents and Headings....................    61
                 9.10  Construction of Certain Provisions................    62
                 9.11  Integration and Severability......................    62
                 9.12  Independence of Covenants.........................    62
                 9.13  Interest Rate Limitation..........................    62
                 9.14  Waiver of Jury Trial..............................    62


EXHIBITS


                 Exhibit A..................    Borrowing Base Certificate
                 Exhibit B..................    Note
                 Exhibit C..................    Security Agreement
                 Exhibit D..................    Disbursement of Advances
                 Exhibit E..................    Sweep Agreement
                 Exhibit F..................    Legal Opinion
                 Exhibit G..................    Compliance Certificate
                 Exhibit H..................    Subsequent Elections as to Loans
                 Exhibit I..................    Assignment and Acceptance




                                      -iv-


<PAGE>


                                                                            Page


SCHEDULES

                 Schedule 1.1...............     Letter of Credit
                 Schedule 4.1...............     Corporate Existence & Power
                 Schedule 4.4...............     Subsidiaries
                 Schedule 4.5...............     Litigation
                 Schedule 4.6...............     Financial Condition
                 Schedule 4.12..............     ERISA
                 Schedule 4.14..............     Environmental Matters
                 Schedule 5.2(f)............     Indebtedness
                 Schedule 5.2(g)............     Liens
                 Schedule 5.2(m)............     Investments, Loans and Advances


                                       -V-


<PAGE>





                                CREDIT AGREEMENT


                 THIS  CREDIT  AGREEMENT,  dated  as  of  July  11,  1996  (this
"Agreement"),  is by and among SOS STAFFING  SERVICES,  INC., a Utah corporation
(the  "Company"),  the  Guarantors  named  herein,  the  Banks  set forth on the
signature pages hereof (collectively,  the "Banks" and individually,  a "Bank"),
FIRST SECURITY BANK, N.A., a national  banking  association,  as  Administrative
Agent for the Banks (in such  capacity,  the  "Administrative  Agent"),  and NBD
BANK, a Michigan banking corporation,  as Documentation and Collateral Agent for
the Banks (in such capacity,  the "Collateral Agent") (the Administrative  Agent
and Collateral Agent as sometimes collectively referred to as the "Agents").

                                  INTRODUCTION

                 The  Company  desires to obtain a  revolving  credit  facility,
including letters of credit,  in the aggregate  principal amount of $20,000,000,
in order to provide funds and other financial  accommodations  for acquisitions,
working capital and other general corporate purposes,  and the Banks are willing
to  establish  such a credit  facility  in favor of the Company on the terms and
conditions herein set forth.

                 In consideration  of the premises and of the mutual  agreements
herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I.
                                   DEFINITIONS

                 1.1   Certain Definitions.   As used herein the following terms
 shall have the following respective meanings:

                 "Acquisition  Advance"  shall  mean  any  Advance  used  by the
Company for the purpose of making one or more acquisitions pursuant to the terms
of Section 5.2(h) and which is subject to the other terms and conditions of this
Agreement.

                 "Advance" shall mean any Loan and any Letter of Credit Advance,
including without limitation any Acquisition Advance.

                 "Affiliate",  when used with  respect to any person  shall mean
any other person which, directly or indirectly,  controls or is controlled by or
is under  common  control  with such  person.  For  purposes of this  definition
"control"  (including the correlative  meanings of the terms "controlled by" and
"under common control with"), with respect to any person, shall mean possession,
directly or  indirectly,  of the  power  to direct or cause the direction of the
management and policies of such person,  whether through the ownership of voting
securities or by contract or otherwise.   Unless the context otherwise requires,
"Affiliate" shall mean any Affiliate of the Company.

                                      -1-
<PAGE>


                 "Applicable Commitment Fee" shall mean the following commitment
fee  based  upon the  ratio of  Total  Debt to  EBITDA  of the  Company  and its
Subsidiaries  on a  consolidated  basis,  as  adjusted  on the first day of each
fiscal quarter of the Company based upon such ratio for the four fiscal quarters
immediately preceding the fiscal quarter most recently ended:

                 Total Debt to EBITDA Ratio                 Commitment Fee

               less than or  = 2.00                              .375%
             greater than or = 2.00                              . 50%


The  parties  to this  Agreement  acknowledge  and  agree  that  the  Applicable
Commitment Fee as of the Effective Date is .375%. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the ratio of Total Debt to EBITDA for the quarter  ended March 31, 1996 shall be
determined by  multiplying  EBITDA for the quarter ended March 31, 1996 by four;
shall be determined by multiplying  EBITDA for the two quarters  ending June 30,
1996 by two;  and  shall be  determined  by  multiplying  EBITDA  for the  three
quarters ending September 30, 1996 by one and one-third.

                 "Applicable  Eurodollar  Rate Margin"  shall mean the following
margin  based  upon the ratio of Total  Debt to EBITDA  of the  Company  and its
Subsidiaries  on a  consolidated  basis,  as  adjusted  on the first day of each
fiscal quarter of the Company based upon such ratio for the four fiscal quarters
immediately preceding the fiscal quarter most recently ended.

                                                            Eurodollar
                 Total Debt to EBITDA Ratio                 Rate Margin

                      less than or = 1.50                      1.75%
less than or = 1.75 but greater than 1.50                      2.00%
less than or = 2.00 but greater than 1.75                      2.25%
less than or = 3.00 but greater than 2.00                      3.00%

The Eurodollar Rate shall not be adjusted pursuant to the Applicable  Eurodollar
Rate Margin for any outstanding  Eurodollar Rate Loan until after the end of the
Interest  Period for such  Eurodollar  Rate Loan.  The parties to this Agreement
acknowledge  and agree  that the  applicable  Eurodollar  Rate  Margin as of the
Effective Date is 1.75%.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the ratio of Total Debt
to  EBITDA  for the  quarter  ended  March  31,  1996  shall  be  determined  by
multiplying EBITDA  for  the  quarter  ended  March 31, 1996  by four;  shall be
determined  by multiplying  EBITDA for the two quarters  ending June 30, 1996 by
two; and shall be determined by multiplying EBITDA for the three quarters ending
September 30, 1996 by one and one-third.

                 "Applicable  Floating  Rate  Margin"  shall mean the  following
margin  based  upon the ratio of Total  Debt to EBITDA  of the  Company  and its
Subsidiaries  on a  consolidated  basis,  as  adjusted  on the first day of each
fiscal quarter of the Company based upon such ratio for the four fiscal quarters
immediately preceding the fiscal quarter most recently ended:

                                      -2-

<PAGE>

                                                             Floating
                 Total Debt to EBITDA Ratio                  Rate Margin

                      less than or = 1.50                        0%
less than or = 1.75 but greater than 1.50                        0%
less than or = 2.00 but greater than 1.75                        0%
less than or = 3.00 but greater than 2.00                      .50%

The parties to this Agreement acknowledge and agree that the applicable Floating
Rate Margin as of the Effective Date is 0%.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  the
ratio of Total  Debt to EBITDA for the  quarter  ended  March 31,  1996 shall be
determined by  multiplying  EBITDA for the quarter ended March 31, 1996 by four;
shall be determined by multiplying  EBITDA for the two quarters  ending June 30,
1996 by two;  and  shall be  determined  by  multiplying  EBITDA  for the  three
quarters ending September 30, 1996 by one and one-third.

                 "Applicable  Lending  Office"  shall mean,  with respect to any
Advance made by any Bank or with respect to such Bank's  Commitment,  the office
of such Bank or of any  Affiliate of such Bank located at the address  specified
as the  applicable  lending  office  for such Bank set forth next to the name of
such Bank in the signature pages hereof or any other office or Affiliate of such
Bank or of any  Affiliate  of such Bank  hereafter  selected and notified to the
Company and the Agents by such Bank.

                 "Borrowing"  shall mean the aggregation of Advances,  including
each  Letter of Credit  issuance,  of the  Banks to be made to the  Company,  or
continuations  and  conversions  of any Loans,  made pursuant to Article II on a
single date and, in the case of any Loans, for a single Interest  Period,  which
Borrowings  may be classified for purposes of this Agreement by reference to the
type of Loans or the type of Advance comprising the related  Borrowing,  e.g., a
"Eurodollar  Rate  Borrowing" is a Borrowing  comprised of Eurodollar Rate Loans
and a "Letter of Credit Borrowing" is an Advance comprised of a single Letter of
Credit. "Borrowing Base" shall  mean,  as  of  any  date,  an  amount  equal  to
85% of the  value  of  Eligible  Accounts  Receivable  of the  Company  and  its
Subsidiaries.

                 "Borrowing Base and Overadvance Certificate" for any date shall
mean an appropriately  completed  report as of such date, in  substantially  the
form of Exhibit A hereto,  certified  as true and correct as of such date by the
Chief Financial Officer of the Company, in his or her corporate capacity.

                 "Business  Day" shall mean a day other than a Saturday,  Sunday
or other day on which  either  Agent is not open to the public for  carrying  on
substantially  all of their banking  functions,  in Salt Lake City,  Utah in the
case of the  Administrative  Agent,  or in Detroit,  Michigan in the case of the
Collateral Agent.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

                 "Capital  Lease" of any person shall mean any lease  which,  in
accordance  with  generally  accepted  accounting  principles,  is or  should be
capitalized on the books of such person.

                 "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
from time to time, and the regulations thereunder.

                 "Commitment"  shall  mean,  with  respect  to  each  Bank,  the
commitment  of each such  Bank to make  Loans  and to  participate  in Letter of
Credit Advances made through the  Administrative  Agent pursuant to Section 2.1,
in amounts not exceeding in aggregate  principal amount  outstanding at any time
the respective  commitment amounts for each such Bank set forth next to the name
of each such Bank in the signature pages hereof,  as such amounts may be reduced
from time to time pursuant to Section 2.2.

                 "consolidated"  shall  mean,  when used with  reference  to any
financial term in this  Agreement,  the aggregate for two or more persons of the
amounts signified by such term for all such persons determined on a consolidated
basis in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

                 "Contingent  Liabilities"  of any person shall mean,  as of any
date,  all  obligations  of such  person or of others for which  such  person is
contingently liable, as obligor, guarantor, surety, accommodation party, partner
or in any other  capacity  pursuant  to any  express  written  agreement,  or in
respect of which  obligations  such person assures a creditor in writing against
monetary  loss or agrees to take any action to prevent any monetary  loss (other
than  endorsements  of  negotiable  instruments  for  collection in the ordinary
course of business),  including without limitation all reimbursement obligations
of such  person in respect of any  letters  of credit,  surety  bonds or similar
obligations (including, without limitation, bankers acceptances) and all written
obligations of such person to advance funds to, or to purchase assets,  property
or services  from, any other person in order to maintain the financial condition
of such other person.

                 "Contractual  Obligation"  shall  mean  as to any  person,  any
provision of any security issued by such person or of any agreement,  instrument
or other  undertaking  to which such  person is a party or by which it or any of
its property is bound.

                 "Current Assets" and "Current  Liabilities" of any person shall
mean, as of any date, all assets or  liabilities,  respectively,  of such person
which, in accordance with Generally Accepted  Accounting  Principles,  should be
classified as current assets or current liabilities,  respectively, on a balance
sheet of such person.

                 "Default"  shall mean any event or condition which might become
an Event of Default with notice or lapse of time or both.

                 "Dollars" and "$" shall  mean  the  lawful  money of the United
States of America.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>


                 "EBITDA"  of any person  shall mean,  for any  period,  the net
income of such  person  for such  period  plus,  to the extent  deducted  in the
computation  of such net  income,  the amount of  interest  expense,  income tax
expense,  and  depreciation  and  amortization  expense,  all as  determined  in
accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

                 "Effective Date" shall mean the effective date specified in the
final paragraph of this Agreement.

                 "Eligible  Accounts  Receivable"  shall  mean,  as of any date,
those accounts  receivable owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which
are payable in Dollars and in which the Company or such  Subsidiary  has granted
to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Banks a first- priority perfected
security interest pursuant to the Security Agreement,  valued at the face amount
thereof less sales, excise or similar taxes and less returns, discounts, claims,
credits  and  allowances  of any  nature  at any time  issued,  owing,  granted,
outstanding,  available  or  claimed,  but shall not  include  any such  account
receivable (a) that is not a bona fide existing  obligation  created by the sale
or  furnishing  of  services  or other  good  and  sufficient  consideration  to
customers of the Company or such  Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business,
(b) that has not been paid  within 90 days of the date of  invoice,  (c) that is
subject to any dispute,  contra-account,  defense, offset or counterclaim or any
Lien (except those in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Banks
under the Security Documents),  (d) that is due from any Affiliate or Subsidiary
of the  Company,  (e) that is  payable by any person  whose  principal  place of
business is located  outside  the United  States  (which  shall not be deemed to
include any  territories  of the United States) and are not supported by letters
of credit issued to the Administrative Agent in form and substance  satisfactory
to the Agents,(f) with respect to which any representation or warranty contained
in Section 4.11 is incorrect at any time,  (g)  that  is  payable  by the United
States or any of  its departments, agencies or instrumentalities or by any state
or other governmental entity, but only to the extent the aggregate amount of all
of such receivables exceeds 3% of the total of all of the accounts receivable of
the  Company  and  its  Subsidiaries,  as  reported  on  any Borrowing  Base and
Overadvance Certificate, (h) that is payable by any person as to  which  25%  or
more of the aggregate amount of such accounts receivable payable by such  person
to the  Company or such Subsidiary do not otherwise constitute Eligible Accounts
Receivable, (i) that is payable   by  any  person  that  is the  subject  of any
proceeding  seeking  to  adjudicate  it  a  bankrupt  or  insolvent  or  seeking
liquidation,  winding up or 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
appointment  of a receiver, trustee,  custodian or other similar official for it
or for any substantial part of its property, or that is not generally paying its
debts as they become due or has admitted in writing its  inability  to  pay  its
debts generally or has made a general assignment  for the benefit of  creditors,
(j) that is  evidenced by a promissory note or other  instrument,  (k)  that  is
subordinate or junior in right or priority of payment to any other obligation or
claim,  or (l) that for any other reason is at any time reasonably deemed by the
Administrative  Agent to be ineligible.

- -5-
<PAGE>


                 "Environmental  Laws" at any date shall mean all  provisions of
law, statute,  ordinances,  rules, regulations,  judgments,  writs, injunctions,
decrees,  orders,  awards and  standards  promulgated  by the  government of the
United States of America or any foreign  government  or by any state,  province,
municipality or other political subdivision thereof or therein, or by any court,
agency,  instrumentality,  regulatory  authority  or  commission  of  any of the
foregoing   concerning  the  protection  of,  or  regulating  the  discharge  of
substances into, the environment.

                 "ERISA" shall mean the Employee  Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the regulations thereunder.

                 "ERISA  Affiliate" shall mean, with respect to any person,  any
trade or business (whether or not incorporated) which, together with such person
or any  Subsidiary of such person,  would be treated as a single  employer under
Section 414 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

                 "Eurodollar  Business  Day"  shall  mean,  with  respect to any
Eurodollar  Rate  Loan,  a day which is both a  Business  Day and a day on which
dealings in Dollar  deposits  are carried out in the London,  England  interbank
market.

                 "Eurodollar  Rate" shall mean,  with respect to any  Eurodollar
Rate Loan and the related Interest  Period,  the per annum rate that is equal to
the sum of:
                           (a)      the Applicable Eurodollar Rate Margin, plus

                           (b)      the rate per annum obtained by dividing  (i)
the per annum rate of interest at which deposits in Dollars  for  such  Interest
Period and in an aggregate  amount  comparable to the amount of such  Eurodollar
Rate Loan  to  be  made  by  the  Administrative Agent in its capacity as a Bank
hereunder are offered to the  Administrative  Agent  by  other  prime  banks  in
the  London,  England  interbank  market  (sometimes known as a "LIBOR" rate) at
approximately  11:00  a.m. London,   England  time  on   the  second  Eurodollar
Business Day prior to the first day of such  Interest  Period  by (ii) an amount
equal  to  one  minus  the  stated maximum rate  (expressed as a decimal) of all
reserve  requirements  (including, without  limitation, any marginal, emergency,
supplemental,  special or other reserves)  that are  specified on the first  day
of such  Interest  Period by the Board of  Governors  of  the   Federal  Reserve
System (or any  successor  agency thereto) for determining the  maximum  reserve
requirement  with  respect to  eurocurrency  funding  (currently  referred to as
"Eurocurrency  liabilities"  in  Regulation  D of such Board)  maintained  by  a
member bank of such System; all as conclusively determined by the Administrative
Agent, such sum to be rounded up, if necessary, to the nearest whole multiple of
one one-hundredth of one percent (1/100 of 1%).

                 "Eurodollar Rate Loan" shall mean any Loan which bears interest
at the Eurodollar Rate.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>


                 "Event of Default" shall mean any of the events  or  conditions
described in Section 6.1.

                 "Federal  Funds  Rate"  shall  mean the per annum  rate that is
equal to the average of the rates on overnight  federal funds  transactions with
members of the Federal  Reserve  System  arranged by federal funds  brokers,  as
published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for such day, or, if such rate
is not so published  for any day, the average of the  quotations  for such rates
received  by the  Administrative  Agent  from  three  federal  funds  brokers of
recognized standing selected by the Administrative Agent in its discretion;  all
as conclusively  determined by the Administrative  Agent, such sum to be rounded
up, if necessary,  to the nearest  whole  multiple of one  one-hundredth  of one
percent (1/100 of 1%), which Federal Funds Rate shall change simultaneously with
any change in such published or quoted rates.

                 "Floating  Rate" shall mean the per annum rate equal to the sum
of (a) the Applicable Floating Rate Margin plus (b) the greater of (i) the Prime
Rate in effect from time to time, and (ii) the sum of one percent (1%) per annum
plus the Federal  Funds Rate in effect from time to time;  which  Floating  Rate
shall change  simultaneously with any change in such Prime Rate or Federal Funds
Rate, as the case may be.

                 "Floating  Rate Loan" shall mean any Loan which bears  interest
at the Floating Rate.

                 "Generally Accepted Accounting Principles" shall mean generally
accepted accounting principles applied on a basis consistent with that reflected
in the financial  statements of the Company referred to in Section 4.6, together
with any future  consolidation  of any Subsidiary  located outside of the United
States  to the  extent  such  consolidation  is done  in  accordance  with  such
principles.

                 "Guaranties"  shall mean the  guaranty  entered into by each of
the  Guarantors  for the benefit of the Agent and the Banks  pursuant to Article
VIII of this Agreement, as amended or modified from time to time.

                 "Guarantor"  shall mean each Subsidiary of the Company and each
person  otherwise  becoming a Subsidiary of the Company,  or otherwise  entering
into a Guaranty, from time to time.

                 "Hazardous   Materials"  includes,   without  limitation,   any
flammable  explosives,  radioactive  materials,  hazardous materials,  hazardous
wastes,  hazardous  or toxic  substances  or  related  materials  defined in the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as
amended  (42  U.S.C.   Sections   9601,  et  seq.),   the  Hazardous   Materials
Transportation Act, as amended (49 U.S.C.  Sections 1801, et seq.), the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. Sections 6901, et seq.) and
in the regulations adopted and publications promulgated pursuant thereto, or any
other federal, state or local government law, ordinance, rule or regulation.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>


                 "Indebtedness"  of any person shall mean,  as of any date,  (a)
all obligations of such person for borrowed  money,  (b) all obligations of such
person as lessee under any Capital Lease, (c) all obligations  which are secured
by any Lien existing on any asset or property of such person  whether or not the
obligation secured thereby shall have been assumed by such person (to the extent
of such Lien if such  obligation is not assumed),  (d) all  obligations  of such
person for the unpaid purchase price for goods, property or services acquired by
such person, except for trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of
business that are not past due, (e) all  obligations  of such person to purchase
goods,  property or services  where payment  therefor is required  regardless of
whether  delivery of such goods or property or the  performance of such services
is ever made or tendered (generally referred to as "take or pay contracts"), (f)
all liabilities of such person in respect of Unfunded Benefit  Liabilities under
any Plan of such person or of any ERISA  Affiliate,  (g) all obligations of such
person in respect  of any  interest  rate or  currency  swap,  rate cap or other
similar  transaction  (valued  in an  amount  equal to the  highest  termination
payment,  if any, that would be payable by such person upon  termination for any
reason on the date of determination),  and (h) all obligations of others similar
in  character to those  described in clauses (a) through (g) of this  definition
for  which  such  person  is   contingently   liable,   as  guarantor,   surety,
accommodation party,  partner or in any other capacity pursuant to the  terms of
any written agreement, or in respect of which  obligations  such  person assures
a creditor in writing against  monetary   loss or agrees in writing  to take any
action  to  prevent  any  such  monetary  loss  (other  than   endorsements   of
negotiable  instruments  for  collection  in  the ordinary  course of business),
including without limitation all reimbursement obligations o f  such  person  in
respect of letters of  credit,  surety  bonds  or  similar  obligations  and all
written  obligations  of such person to advance funds to, or to purchase assets,
property or services  from, any  other person in order to maintain the financial
condition of such other person.

                 "Interest  Charges" of any person  shall mean,  for any period,
the sum, without duplication, of (a) interest paid or payable during such period
by such person on  Indebtedness  of such person,  plus (b) all debt discount and
expense amortized or required to be amortized during such period by such person,
plus (c) all  obligations  of such  person in  respect of any  interest  rate or
currency  swap,  rate cap or similar  transaction  paid or  required  to be paid
during such period by such person.

                 "Interest  Coverage  Ratio"  shall  mean,  with  respect to any
person,  the ratio of the EBITDA of such person to the Interest  Charges of such
person.

                 "Interest  Payment  Date"  shall  mean (a) with  respect to any
Eurodollar  Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period with respect to such
Eurodollar  Rate Loan and, in the case of any Interest  Period  exceeding  three
months,  those days that occur during such Interest Period at intervals of three
months after the first day of such Interest Period,  and (b) in all other cases,
the last  Business Day of each March,  June,  September  and December  occurring
after the date hereof,  commencing  with the first such  Business Day  occurring
after the date of this Agreement.

                 "Interest  Period" shall mean,  with respect to any  Eurodollar
Rate Loan, the period commencing on the day such Eurodollar Rate Loan is made or

                                      -8-
<PAGE>

a Loan is  converted  to a  Eurodollar  Rate Loan and ending on the day which is
one,  two,  three or six calendar  months  thereafter,  as the Company may elect
under Section 2.4 or Section 2.7, and each subsequent  period  commencing on the
last day of the  immediately  preceding  Interest  Period  and ending on the day
which is one, two, three or six calendar months  thereafter,  as the Company may
elect under Section 2.4 or Section 2.7, provided, however, that (a) any Interest
Period which commences on the last  Eurodollar  Business Day of a calendar month
(or on any  day for  which  there  is no  numerically  corresponding  day in the
appropriate subsequent calendar month) shall end on the last Eurodollar Business
Day of the appropriate subsequent calendar month, (b) each Interest Period which
would otherwise end on a day which is not a Eurodollar Business Day shall end on
the  next  succeeding  Eurodollar  Business  Day  or,  if such  next  succeeding
Eurodollar Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, on the next
preceding  Eurodollar  Business Day, and (c) no Interest  Period which would end
after July 11, 1999 shall be permitted.

                 "Letter of Credit" shall mean a standby letter of credit having
a stated expiry date or a date upon which the draft must be reimbursed not later
than  twelve  months  after the date of  issuance  and not later  than the fifth
Business Day before the Termination Date issued by the  Administrative  Agent on
behalf of the Banks for the  account of the  Company  under an  application  and
related  documentation  acceptable to the Administrative Agent requiring,  among
other things, immediate reimbursement by the Company to the Administrative Agent
in respect of all drafts or other demand for payment honored  thereunder and all
expenses  paid  or  incurred  by  the  Administrative  Agent  relative  thereto.
Notwithstanding  any other  provision of this  definition of "Letter of Credit",
the  letters of credit set forth on  Schedule  1.1 hereto  shall be deemed to be
Letters of Credit  outstanding  under this  Agreement on and as of the Effective
Date,  with  the  same  effect  as  if  originally   issued   hereunder  by  the
Administrative  Agent (except that the original pricing and any termination date
with  respect to the  twelve-month  period  with  respect to any such  Letter of
Credit shall continue in effect until the expiry thereof).  Renewals of any such
Letters of Credit shall be made pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

                 "Letter of Credit  Advance" shall mean any issuance of a Letter
of Credit  under  Section  2.4 made  pursuant  to Section 2.1 in which each Bank
acquires a pro rata risk participation pursuant to Section 2.4(d).

                 "Letter of Credit  Documents"  shall have the meaning  ascribed
thereto in Section 3.3(b).

                 "Lien"  shall  mean  any  pledge,  assignment,   hypothecation,
mortgage,  security interest,  deposit arrangement,  option, conditional sale or
title retaining contract,  sale and leaseback  transaction,  financing statement
filing,  lessor's or lessee's  interest  under any lease,  subordination  of any
claim or right,  or any other type of lien,  charge,  encumbrance,  preferential
arrangement or other claim or right.

                 "Loan" shall mean any Borrowing  under Section 2.4 evidenced by
the Notes and made pursuant to Section 2.1. Any such Loan or portion thereof may
also be denominated  as a Floating Rate Loan or a Eurodollar  Rate Loan and such
Loans are referred to herein as "types" of Loans.

                                      -9-
<PAGE>


                 "Loan Documents" shall mean, collectively,  this Agreement, the
Notes,  the Security  Documents and all  agreements,  instruments  and documents
executed pursuant thereto at any time.

                 "Material  Adverse Effect" shall mean a material adverse effect
on (a) the  financial  condition  of the  Company  or any  Guarantor  that could
reasonably  be expected to affect the ability of the Company or any Guarantor to
perform  its  obligations  under  any Loan  Document,  or  (b)  the  validity of
enforceability  of any  Loan  Document or the rights or remedies of any Agent or
any Bank under any Loan Document.

                 "Multiemployer  Plan"  shall mean any  "multiemployer  plan" as
defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA or Section 414(f) of the Code.

                 "Net Cash Flow" of any person shall mean the "Net Cash Provided
by Operating  Activities"  as shown on the statement of changes in cash flows of
such  person   prepared  in  accordance  with  Generally   Accepted   Accounting
Principles.

                 "Net  Worth" of any  person  shall  mean,  as of any date,  the
amount of any capital stock,  paid in capital and similar  equity  accounts plus
(or minus in the case of a deficit) the capital surplus and retained earnings of
such  person  and the  amount of any  foreign  currency  translation  adjustment
account shown as a capital account of such person.

                 "Note" shall mean any promissory note of the Company evidencing
the Loans, in substantially  the form annexed hereto as Exhibit B, as amended or
modified from time to time and together with any promissory note or notes issued
in exchange or replacement therefor.

                 "Overadvance  Capacity"  shall  mean any  excess  of the  Total
Availability of the Company over the Borrowing Base of the Company,  as measured
by the most recent Borrowing Base and Overadvance  Certificate  delivered by the
Company pursuant to the terms of Section 5.1(d)(v).  For purposes of calculating
the  "Overadvance  Capacity",  the Company  shall use the most recent  quarterly
computation  of EBITDA of the Company used for purposes of measuring  compliance
with Section 5.2(d).

                 "Overadvance  Position"  shall  mean any  excess  of the  total
Advances  outstanding  from time to time under this Agreement over the Borrowing
Base  of the  Company,  as  measured  on the  most  recent  Borrowing  Base  and
Overadvance  Certificate  delivered  by the  Company  pursuant  to the  terms of
Section 5.1(d)(v).

                 "Overdue  Rate"  shall  mean (a) in  respect  of  principal  of
Floating Rate Loans,  a rate per annum that is equal to the sum of three percent
(3%) per annum plus the Floating Rate, (b) in respect of principal of Eurodollar
Rate Loans,  a rate per annum that is equal to the sum of three percent (3%) per
annum  plus the per  annum  rate in  effect  thereon  until  the end of the then

                                      -10-
<PAGE>

current Interest Period for such Loan and, thereafter,  a rate per annum that is
equal to the sum of three percent (3%) per annum plus the Floating Rate, and (c)
in respect  of other  amounts  payable  by the  Company  hereunder  (other  than
interest),  a per annum rate that is equal to the sum of three  percent (3%) per
annum plus the Floating Rate.

                 "PBGC" shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty  Corporation and
any entity succeeding to any or all of its functions under ERISA.

                 "Permitted Liens" shall mean Liens permitted by Section  5.2(g)
hereof.

                 "person"  shall  include  an  individual,  a  corporation,   an
association,  a partnership,  a limited  liability  company or limited liability
partnership,  a trust  or  estate,  a joint  stock  company,  an  unincorporated
organization,   a  joint   venture,   a  trade  or  business   (whether  or  not
incorporated),  a government  (foreign or domestic)  and any agency or political
subdivision thereof, or any other entity.

                 "Plan" shall mean, with respect to any person, any pension plan
(including a Multiemployer  Plan) subject to Title IV of ERISA or to the minimum
funding  standards  of  Section  412 of the Code which has been  established  or
maintained by such person, any Subsidiary of such person or any ERISA Affiliate,
or by any other  person if such  person,  any  Subsidiary  of such person or any
ERISA Affiliate could have liability with respect to such pension plan.

                 "Prime  Rate"  shall mean the per annum rate  announced  by the
Administrative   Agent  from  time  to  time  as  its  "prime  rate"  (it  being
acknowledged  that such  announced  rate may not  necessarily be the lowest rate
charged by the Administrative  Agent to any of its customers);  which Prime Rate
shall change simultaneously with any change in such announced rate.

                 "Prohibited  Transaction" shall mean any transaction  involving
any Plan  which is  proscribed  by Section  406 of ERISA or Section  4975 of the
Code.

                 "pro rata" or any term of similar import shall mean,  when used
with respect to the Banks,  the relative  share or  proportion  of any amount or
obligation  to be paid to or borne by each  Bank,  determined  by  dividing  the
amount of its Commitment by the aggregate  amount of all the  Commitments of the
Banks as of the date of any determination thereof.

                 "Reportable  Event" shall mean a reportable  event as described
in Section  4043(b) of ERISA  including those events as to which the thirty (30)
day notice period is waived under Part 2615 of the  regulations  promulgated  by
the PBGC under ERISA.

                 "Required  Banks"  shall mean Banks  holding  not less than (i)
66-2/3%  percent  of  the  aggregate  principal  amount  of  the  Advances  then
outstanding,  or (ii) 66-2/3% percent of the Commitments if no Advances are then
outstanding.

                                      -11-
<PAGE>


                 "Requirement  of  Law"  shall  mean  as  to  any  person,   the
certificate of incorporation  and by-laws or other  organizational  or governing
documents  of  such  person,   and  any  law,  treaty,  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 to
which such person or any of its property is subject.

                 "Security Agreement" shall mean each security agreement entered
into by the Company or any Guarantor for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and
the Banks pursuant to this  Agreement,  in  substantially  the form of Exhibit C
hereto, as amended or modified from time to time.

                 "Security  Documents"  shall mean,  collectively,  the Security
Agreements,  the  Guaranties  and all other related  agreements  and  documents,
including financing statements and similar documents, delivered pursuant to this
Agreement or otherwise entered into by any person to secure the Advances.

                 "Subordinated  Debt" of any person shall mean,  as of any date,
that  Indebtedness  of  such  person  for  borrowed  money  which  is  expressly
subordinate  and junior in right and  priority  of payment to the  Advances  and
other  Indebtedness  of such  person  to the Banks in  manner  and by  agreement
satisfactory in form and substance to the Required Banks.

                 "Subsidiary" of any person shall mean any other person (whether
now existing or hereafter  organized or acquired) in which (other than directors
qualifying  shares  required  by law) at least a majority of the  securities  or
other  ownership  interests  of each  class  having  ordinary  voting  power  or
analogous right (other than  securities or other ownership  interests which have
such power or right only by reason of the  happening of a  contingency),  at the
time as of which any determination is being made, are owned, beneficially and of
record,  by such  person  or by one or more of the  other  Subsidiaries  of such
person or by any combination thereof.  Unless otherwise specified,  reference to
"Subsidiary"  shall mean a Subsidiary  of the Company or any  Subsidiary  of the
Company.

                 "Tangible  Net Worth" of any person shall mean, as of any date,
(a) the Net  Worth of such  person,  less (b) the net book  value of all  assets
which  are  deemed  intangible  assets  under  Generally   Accepted   Accounting
Principles.

                 "Termination  Date" shall mean the earlier to occur of (a) July
11, 1999 and (b) the date on which the Commitment  shall be terminated  pursuant
to Section 2.2 or Section 6.2.

                 "Total  Availability" of the Company shall mean three times the
EBITDA of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, based on the
most recent quarterly calculation thereof for purposes of Section 5.2(d).

                 "Total  Capital  Funds" of any person shall mean the sum of the
Net Worth of such person plus the Subordinated Debt of such person.

                                      -12-
<PAGE>



                 "Total  Debt" of any person  shall  mean,  as of any date,  all
obligations  constituting  Indebtedness  of  such  person,  including,   without
limitation,  the stated amount of all Letters of Credit issued on behalf of such
person  from time to time and the amount of all  Indebtedness  of other  persons
guaranteed by such person.

                 "Unfunded Benefit  Liabilities" shall mean, with respect to any
Plan as of any date, the amount of the unfunded benefit  liabilities  determined
in accordance with Section 4001(a)(18) of ERISA.

                 VII.B.  Other  Definitions;  Rules  of  Construction.  As  used
herein, the terms "Administrative Agent", "Collateral  Agent","Agent",  "Banks",
"Company"  and "this  Agreement"  shall have the  respective  meanings  ascribed
thereto  in  the  introductory  paragraph  of  this  Agreement,   and  the  term
"Guaranteed  Obligations" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 8.1
of this Agreement.  Such terms, together with the other terms defined in Section
1.1,  shall  include both the singular and the plural forms thereof and shall be
construed  accordingly.  All computations  required  hereunder and all financial
terms used  herein  shall be made or  construed  in  accordance  with  Generally
Accepted Accounting  Principles unless such principles are inconsistent with the
express  requirements of this Agreement;  provided that, if the Company notifies
the  Agent  that the  Company  wishes  to amend  any  covenant  in  Article V to
eliminate the effect of any change in Generally Accepted  Accounting  Principles
in the operation of such covenant (or if the Agent notifies the Company that the
Required  Banks wish to amend  Article V for such  purpose),  then the Company's
compliance  with such  covenant  shall be  determined  on the basis of Generally
Accepted Accounting  Principles in effect immediately before the relevant change
in Generally Accepted Accounting Principles became effective,  until either such
notice is withdrawn or such covenant is amended in a manner  satisfactory to the
Company  and the  Required  Banks.  Use of the  terms  "herein",  "hereof",  and
"hereunder" shall be deemed references to this Agreement in its entirety and not
to the Section or clause in which such term  appears.  References  to "Sections"
shall be to Sections of this Agreement unless otherwise specifically provided.

                                   ARTICLE II.
                        THE COMMITMENTS AND THE ADVANCES


                 2.1    Commitment of the Banks.


                (a) Advances.  Each Bank agrees, for itself only, subject to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, to make Loans to the Company pursuant to
Section 2.4 and Section 3.3 and to participate  in Letter of Credit  Advances to
the Company  pursuant to Section 2.4,  from time to time from and  including the
Effective Date to but excluding the Termination Date, not to exceed in aggregate
principal  amount at any time  outstanding  the amount  determined  pursuant  to
Section 2.1(b).

                                      -13-
<PAGE>


                (b)           Limitation on Amount of Advances.  Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary,  (i) the aggregate  principal amount
of the Advances  made by any Bank at any time  outstanding  shall not exceed the
amount of its  respective  Commitment  as of the date any such  Advance is made,
provided,  however,  that the  aggregate  principal  amount  of Letter of Credit
Advances outstanding at any time shall not exceed $7,500,000, (ii) the aggregate
principal  amount of all Advances at any time  outstanding  shall not exceed the
amount of the Total Availability, (iii) without the prior written consent of the
Banks,  the aggregate  principal  amount of all  Acquisition  Advances made with
respect to any acquisition shall not exceed $3,000,000 and the total Acquisition
Advances  made  during  any  consecutive  period of 12 months  shall not  exceed
$9,000,000 in the aggregate,  and (iv) without the prior written  consent of the
Banks, no Advance may be made while any Overadvance  Position exists unless such
Advance is an  Acquisition  Advance  made in  compliance  with the terms of this
Agreement and such Overadvance  Position did not exist  immediately prior to the
making of such Advance.

                 2.2     Termination  and  Reduction  of  Commitments.  (a)  The
Company shall have the right to terminate or reduce the  Commitments at any time
and from time to time at its option,  provided  that (i) the Company  shall give
notice of such termination or reduction to the Agents  specifying the amount and
effective date thereof,  (ii) each partial reduction of the Commitments shall be
in a minimum  amount of  $500,000  and in an integral  multiple of $100,000  and
shall reduce the Commitments of all of the Banks  proportionately  in accordance
with the  respective  Commitment  amounts  for each  such  Bank set forth in the
signature pages hereof next to name of each such Bank, (iii) no such termination
or reduction  shall be permitted with respect to any portion of the  Commitments
as to which a request  for an  Advance or  continuation  or  conversion  thereof
pursuant to Section 2.4 or Section 2.7 is then pending and (iv) the  Commitments
may not be entirely  terminated  if any Advances are then  outstanding  and such
termination  would  reduce the  Commitments  below the  principal  amount of the
Advances then outstanding.  The Commitments or any portion thereof terminated or
reduced pursuant to this Section 2.2, whether optional or mandatory,  may not be
reinstated.

                 (b)  For purposes of this Agreement, a Letter of Credit Advance
(i) shall be deemed  outstanding  in an amount  equal to the sum of the  maximum
amount  available to be drawn under the related  Letter of Credit on the date of
determination plus the amount of any draws under such Letter of Credit that have
not been  reimbursed  as provided in  Section  3.3  and  (ii)  shall  be  deemed
outstanding at all times on and before such stated  expiry date or such  earlier
date on which all amounts available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit have
been fully drawn,  and  thereafter  until all related  reimbursement obligations
have been  paid pursuant to Section 3.3.  As  provided in Section 3.3, upon each
payment made by the Administrative Agent in respect of any draft or other demand
for payment under any Letter of Credit,  the  amount  of  any  Letter of  Credit
Advance  outstanding  immediately  prior to such payment  shall be automatically
reduced  by the  amount  of each  Loan deemed advanced in respect of the related
reimbursement obligation of the Company.

                 VII.E.  Fees.  (a) The  Company  agrees  to pay to each  Bank a
commitment fee on the daily average unused amount of its respective  Commitment,

                                      -14-
<PAGE>

for the period from the Effective Date to but excluding the Termination Date, at
a per annum rate equal to the Applicable Commitment Fee. Accrued commitment fees
shall be payable  quarterly  in arrears on the last  Business Day of each March,
June,  September  and  December,  commencing  on the  first  such  Business  Day
occurring after the Effective Date, and on the Termination Date.

               (a)      The Company agrees to pay to the Banks a facility fee in
the aggregate amount of $120,000,  $50,000 of which has been paid by the Company
prior to the Effective Date. The remainder of such facility fee shall be payable
on the Effective Date. The facility fees paid under this Section 2.3(b) shall be
shared equally by the Banks party to this Agreement on the Effective Date.

               (b) On or before the date of issuance of any Letter of Credit (or
on or before  the date of any  increase  in the  stated  amount of any Letter of
Credit)  by  the  Administrative  Agent,  the  Company  agrees  to  pay  to  the
Administrative  Agent for the benefit of Banks a fee computed by multiplying the
Applicable  Eurodollar  Margin per annum by the stated  amount  available  to be
drawn  from time to time under  such  Letter of Credit  for the period  from and
including the date of issuance (or increase in stated  amount) of such Letter of
Credit to but  excluding  the expiry  date of such  Letter of Credit.  It is the
intention of the parties to this  Agreement that in the event of any increase or
"tiering" in the stated amount of any Letter of Credit, the applicable fee to be
paid thereon shall be based upon the stated amount thereof existing from time to
time, rather than the maximum amount to which such Letter of Credit may increase
over the term of such  Letter  of  Credit.  Such  fee is  nonrefundable  and the
Company  shall not be  entitled  to any  rebate of any  portion  thereof if such
Letter of Credit does not remain  outstanding  through its stated expiry date or
for any other reason.  The Company  further agrees to pay to the  Administrative
Agent, on demand, such other customary administrative fees, charges and expenses
of the Administrative Agent in respect of the issuance, negotiation, acceptance,
amendment,  transfer and payment of such Letter of Credit or  otherwise  payable
pursuant to the application and related documentation under which such Letter of
Credit is issued.

                 VII.F. Disbursement of Advances. (a) The Company shall give the
Administrative Agent notice of its request for each Advance in substantially the
form of Exhibit D hereto not later than 10:00 a.m. Salt Lake City, Utah time (i)
three Eurodollar Business Days prior to the date such Advance is requested to be
made if  such  Advance  is to be made as a  Eurodollar  Rate  Loan,  (ii)  three
Business Days prior to the date any Letter of Credit  Advance is requested to be
made,  and (iii) one Business Day prior to the date such Advance is requested to
be made in all other cases, which notice shall specify whether a Eurodollar Rate
Loan or Floating  Rate Loan or a Letter of Credit  Advance is requested  and, in
the case of each  requested  Eurodollar  Rate Loan,  the  Interest  Period to be
initially  applicable  to such  Loan and,  in the case of each  Letter of Credit
Advance,  such  information as may be necessary for the issuance  thereof by the
Administrative  Agent. The Administrative Agent, not later than the Business Day
next  succeeding  the day such  notice is given,  shall  provide  notice of such
requested  Advance to each Bank.  Subject  to the terms and  conditions  of this
Agreement,  the proceeds of each such  requested Loan shall be made available to
the Company by depositing the proceeds  thereof in immediately  available funds,
in an account  maintained and designated by the Company at the principal  office

                                      -15-
<PAGE>

of the  Administrative  Agent.  Subject  to the  terms  and  conditions  of this
Agreement,  the  Administrative  Agent  shall,  on the date any Letter of Credit
Advance is requested to be made, issue the related Letter of Credit on behalf of
the Banks for the account of the Company. Notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary,  the Administrative Agent may decline to issue any requested Letter of
Credit on the basis that the terms or conditions of drawing are  unacceptable to
it in its reasonable discretion.

                 (b)       Each Bank, on the date any Borrowing in the form of a
Loan is  requested to be made,  shall make its pro rata share of such  Borrowing
available in  immediately  available,  freely  transferable,  cleared  funds for
disbursement  to the  Company  pursuant  to the  terms  and  conditions  of this
Agreement  at the  principal  office of the  Administrative  Agent.  Unless  the
Administrative  Agent shall have received notice from any Bank prior to the date
such  Borrowing  is  requested  to be made under this Section 2.4 that such Bank
will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Bank's pro rata portion
of such  Borrowing  (which notice shall in no way excuse any  obligation of such
Bank to make available such amount or the obligation of the Administrative Agent
to make any  Advance  hereunder,  subject  to the terms and  conditions  of this
Agreement)  the  Administrative  Agent may  assume  that such Bank has made such
portion  available  to the  Administrative  Agent on the date such  Borrowing is
requested to be made in  accordance  with this Section 2.4. If and to the extent
such  Bank  shall  not  have so made  such  pro rata  portion  available  to the
Administrative  Agent, the Administrative  Agent may (but shall not be obligated
to) make such amount  available  to the  Company,  and such Bank and the Company
severally  agree to pay to the  Administrative  Agent  forthwith  on demand such
amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is
made  available to the Company by the  Administrative  Agent until the date such
amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate. If such
Bank shall pay such amount to the  Administrative  Agent together with interest,
such amount  so paid  shall  constitute  a Loan by  such  Bank as a part of such
the related  Borrowing  for purposes of this  Agreement. The failure of any Bank
to  make  its  pro  rata  portion  of  any  such  Borrowing   available  to  the
Administrative Agent shall not relieve any other Bank of its obligations to make
available its pro rata portion of  such  Borrowing on the date such Borrowing is
requested to be made,  but no Bank shall be responsible for failure of any other
Bank to make such pro rata portion available to the Administrative  Agent on the
date of any such Borrowing.

              (c)       All Loans made under this Section 2.4 shall be evidenced
by the Notes,  and all such Loans shall be due and payable and bear  interest as
provided in Article III. Each Bank is hereby authorized by the Company to record
on the schedule  attached to the Notes,  or in its books and records,  the date,
amount and type of each Loan and the duration of the related Interest Period (if
applicable),  the amount of each payment or prepayment of principal thereon, and
the other information provided for on such schedule, which schedule or books and
records,  as the case may be,  shall  constitute  prima  facie  evidence  of the
information so recorded,  provided, however, that failure of any Bank to record,
or any error in recording, any such information shall not relieve the Company of
its  obligation  to repay the  outstanding  principal  amount of the Loans,  all
accrued  interest  thereon and other  amounts  payable with  respect  thereto in
accordance with the terms of the Notes and this Agreement.  Subject to the terms

                                      -16-
<PAGE>

and  conditions  of this  Agreement,  the  Company  may borrow  Loans under this
Section 2.4 and under  Section  3.3,  prepay  Loans  pursuant to Section 3.1 and
reborrow Loans under this Section 2.4 and under Section 3.3.

                 (d)         Attached hereto as Exhibit E is a copy of the Sweep
Agreement  entered into between First Security Bank of Utah,  N.A. (now known as
"First Security Bank, N.A.") and the Company (the "Sweep Agreement").  It is the
intention  of the  parties  to this  Agreement  that the  Sweep  Agreement  will
continue in full force and effect, and First Security Bank, N.A. will administer
such  agreement  as  Administrative  Agent under this  Agreement so long as this
Agreement in effect.  Such Sweep  Agreement and the provisions  thereof shall be
used to  determine  the amount of Floating  Rate Loans to be made to the Company
from time to time under this  Agreement,  subject to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement.  Eurodollar Rate Loans shall not be affected by any of the terms
of the Sweep  Agreement.  All amounts  existing in the sweep account or accounts
created  under the Sweep  Agreement  shall be  deemed to be  Collateral  for the
purposes of this  Agreement  and the  Security  Documents.  Notwithstanding  any
provision of Section  2.4(b),  the  principal  amount of all Floating Rate Loans
shall be deemed to be made pro rata by the Banks,  and settlement  thereof shall
be made on a weekly  basis  (unless an Event of Default  exists) or more or less
frequently as the Banks may agree among themselves.

                 (e) Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to require any
Bank to issue any Letter of Credit, it being recognized that the  Administrative
Agent has the sole obligation under this Agreement to issue Letters of Credit on
behalf of the Banks, and the  Commitment  of each Bank with respect to Letter of
Credit  Advances is  expressly   conditioned upon the   Administrative   Agent's
performance  of  such   obligations.  Upon such  issuance by the  Administrative
Agent, each Bank shall  automatically  acquire  a  pro  rata  risk participation
interest in such Letter of Credit Advance based on the amount of its  respective
Commitment.    On and as of the  Effective  Date, each Bank shall  automatically
acquire a pro rata risk   participation  in  each of the  Letters of Credit  set
forth on  Schedule  1.1 hereto based on the amount of its respective Commitment,
and such Letters  of  Credit  shall  be  deemed  to be Letter of Credit Advances
outstanding  under this Agreement   (except that  the original  pricing  and any
termination  date with respect  to  the  twelve-month period with respect to any
such Letter of Credit shall continue in effect until the expiry thereof). If the
Administrative Agent shall honor a draft or other demand for  payment  presented
or  made  under  any  Letter  of  Credit, the Administrative Agent shall provide
notice thereof to each Bank on the date such draft or demand  is honored  unless
the  Company  shall  have  satisfied  its reimbursement obligation under Section
3.3 by  payment  to  the  Administrative  Agent on such date. Each Bank, on such
date,  shall make its pro rata share of the amount paid  by  the  Administrative
Agent available in immediately  available funds at the principal  office  of the
Administrative Agent for the account of the Administrative  Agent. If and to the
extent  such Bank shall not have made such pro rata  portion   available  to the
Administrative  Agent,  such  Bank and the Company severally agree to pay to the
Administrative  Agent forthwith on demand  such amount  together  with  interest
thereon,  for each day from the date such amount was  paid by the Administrative
Agent  until  such  amount  is so made  available to  the  Administrative  Agent
at a per annum rate equal to the Federal Funds  Rate.   If such  Bank  shall pay
such  amount to the  Administrative  Agent  together  with  such interest,  such

                                      -17-
<PAGE>

amount so paid shall constitute a Loan by such Bank  as  part  of the  Borrowing
disbursed  in  respect  of the  reimbursement obligation  of  the  Company under
Section 3.3 for purposes of this Agreement.  The failure of any Bank to make its
pro rata  portion of any such amount paid by the Administrative Agent  available
to the Administrative Agent shall not relieve any other Bank of  its  obligation
to make  available  its pro rata  portion of such amount,  but no Bank shall  be
responsible  for  failure  of  any  other  Bank  to  make  such pro rata portion
available to the Administrative Agent.

          2.5 Conditions for First Disbursement.  The obligation of the Banks to
make the first Advancef hereunder  is  subject  to  receipt  by each Bank of the
following documents  and  completion  of  the  following  matters,  in  form and
substance satisfactory to each Bank:

             (a)          Charter Documents.  Certificates of recent date of the
appropriate  authority  or  official  of  the  Company's  and  each  Guarantor's
respective state of incorporation  (listing all charter documents of the Company
and each  Guarantor,  respectively,  on file in that  office if such  listing is
available) and certifying as to the good standing and corporate existence of the
Company and each Guarantor,  respectively,  together with copies of such charter
documents  of the Company and each  Guarantor,  certified as of a recent date by
such authority or official and certified as true and correct as of the Effective
Date by a duly authorized officer of the Company.

              (b)       By-Laws and Corporate Authorizations.  Copies of the by-
laws of the Company and each Guarantor together with all authorizing resolutions
and evidence of other  corporate  action taken by the Company and each Guarantor
to authorize the  execution,  delivery and  performance  by the Company and each
Guarantor of this Agreement,  the Notes and the Security  Documents to which the
Company and such Guarantor, respectively, is a party and the consummation by the
Company  and such  Guarantor,  respectively,  of the  transactions  contemplated
hereby,  certified  as  true  and  correct  as of the  Effective  Date by a duly
authorized officer of the Company and each Guarantor, respectively.

               (c)    Incumbency Certificate.  Certificates of incumbency of the
Company and each Guarantor containing,  and attesting to the genuineness of, the
signatures of those officers authorized to act on behalf of the Company and such
Guarantor  in  connection  with  this  Agreement,  the  Notes  and the  Security
Documents to which the Company or such Guarantor is a party and the consummation
by the Company  and such  Guarantor  of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,
certified  as true and  correct as of the  Effective  Date by a duly  authorized
officer of the Company and each Guarantor.

               (d)      Notes.  The Notes duly executed on behalf of the Company
for each Bank.

               (e)              Security Documents.  The Security Documents duly
executed  on  behalf  of  the Company  and  each  Guarantor, as the case may be,
granting to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Banks the collateral and
security intended to be provided pursuant to Section 2.11, together with:

                                      -18-
<PAGE>


                     (i)                Recording, Filing, Etc.  Evidence of the
recordation,  filing and other action (including payment of any applicable taxes
or fees) in such  jurisdictions  as the  Collateral  Agent may deem necessary or
appropriate  with respect to the  Security  Documents,  including  the filing of
financing  statements and similar  documents which the Collateral Agent may deem
necessary  or  appropriate  to create,  preserve or perfect the liens,  security
interests and other rights  intended to be granted to the  Collateral  Agent for
the benefit of the Banks  thereunder,  together  with  Uniform  Commercial  Code
record searches in such offices as the Collateral Agent may request; and

                     (ii)                Casualty and Other Insurance.  Evidence
that the casualty and other  insurance  required  pursuant to this Agreement and
the Security Documents is in full force and effect.
               (f)          Legal Opinion.  The favorable written opinion of the
Company's General Counsel,  in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit
F.

               (g)     Consents, Approvals, Etc.  Copies of all governmental and
nongovernmental consents, approvals, authorizations, declarations, registrations
or filings  (if any)  required on the part of the  Company or any  Guarantor  in
connection with the execution,  delivery and performance of this Agreement,  the
Notes, the Security  Documents or the transactions  contemplated  hereby or as a
condition to the legality,  validity or  enforceability  of this Agreement,  the
Notes or any of the  Security  Documents,  certified  as being in full force and
effect as of the Effective Date by a duly authorized officer of the Company, or,
if none are required, a certificate of such officer to that effect.

               (h)  Fees.  The unpaid facility fees described in Section 2.3(b).

               (i)      Compliance Certificate.  The Banks shall have received a
duly completed  Compliance  Certificate of the Company in substantially the form
of  Exhibit G  hereto,  certified  as true and  correct  by the Chief  Financial
Officer  of  the  Company,  in  his or  her  corporate  capacity,  demonstrating
compliance as of the quarter  ended March 31, 1996 on a proforma  basis with the
financial covenants contained in this Agreement.
9.
               (j)        Other Documents.  Such other documents, and completion
of such other matters, as any Bank may reasonably request.

          2.6  Further Conditions for Disbursement.  The obligation of the Banks
to make any Advance  (including  the  first  Advance),  or  any  continuation or
conversion under Section 2.7  is  further  subject  to  the  satisfaction of the
following conditions precedent:

               (a)    The representations and warranties contained in Article IV
hereof,  and in the Security  Documents,  shall be true and correct on and as of
the date such Advance is made (both before and after such Advance is made) as if
such representations and warranties were made on and as of such date;

                                      -19-
<PAGE>

                (b)     No Default or Event of Default shall exist or shall have
occurred and be continuing on the date  such Advance  is made (whether before or
after such Advance is made);

                (c)         The Banks shall have received the Borrowing Base and
Overadvance  Certificate required pursuant to Sections 5.1(d)(v) as of the close
of business on the last day of the month next preceding the date such Advance is
made;

                (d)   If an Overadvance Position exists immediately prior to the
time such Advance is to be made and such Overadvance  Position is not eliminated
prior to such Advance,  the Banks shall have  consented to such Advance in their
sole and absolute discretion; and

                (e)     In the case of any Letter of Credit Advance, the Company
shall have delivered to the Administrative  Agent an application for the related
Letter of Credit and other  related  documentation  reasonably  requested by the
Administrative Agent appropriately  completed and duly executed on behalf of the
Company.

The Company  shall be deemed to have made a  representation  and warranty to the
Banks at the time of the making of, and the  continuation or conversion of, each
Advance to the effects set forth in clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 2.6. For
purposes of this Section 2.6, the  representations  and warranties  contained in
Section  4.6 hereof  shall be deemed  made with  respect  to both the  financial
statements  referred  to  therein  and  the  most  recent  financial  statements
delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(d)(ii) and (iii) (which  representation  shall
be deemed made as of the date of such financial statements).

             2.7         Subsequent Elections as to Loans. The Company may elect
(a) to continue a Eurodollar  Rate Loan, or a portion  thereof,  as a Eurodollar
Rate  Loan or (b) may elect to  convert a  Eurodollar  Rate  Loan,  or a portion
thereof, to a Loan of another type or (c) elect to convert a Floating Rate Loan,
or a portion  thereof,  to a Eurodollar  Rate Loan in each case by giving notice
thereof  to the  Administrative  Agent in  substantially  the form of  Exhibit H
hereto  not later than 10:00  a.m.  Salt Lake City,  Utah time three  Eurodollar
Business  Days prior to the date any such  continuation  of or  conversion  to a
Eurodollar  Rate Loan is to be effective and not later than 10:00 a.m. Salt Lake
City,  Utah  time  one  Business  Day  prior to the date  such  continuation  or
conversion is to be effective in all other cases,  provided that an  outstanding
Eurodollar  Rate Loan may only be  converted on the last day of the then current
Interest  Period  with  respect  to  such  Loan,  and  provided,  further,  if a
continuation  of a Loan as, or a conversion of a Loan to, a Eurodollar Rate Loan
is  requested,  such  notice  shall  also  specify  the  Interest  Period  to be
applicable  thereto upon such  continuation  or conversion.  The  Administrative
Agent,  not later than the Business Day next  succeeding  the day such notice is
given,  shall provide notice of such election to the Banks. If the Company shall
not timely deliver such a notice with respect to any outstanding Eurodollar Rate
Loan,  the Company  shall be deemed to have elected to convert  such  Eurodollar
Rate Loan to a Floating  Rate Loan on the last day of the then current  Interest
Period with respect to such Loan.

                                      -20-
<PAGE>


          2.8   Limitation of Requests and Elections.  Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if, upon receiving a request  for a
Eurodollar Rate Loan pursuant to Section 2.4, or a request for a continuation of
a Eurodollar Rate Loan as a Eurodollar Rate Loan of the then existing type, or a
request for a conversion of a  Floating  Rate  Loan  to  a Eurodollar  Rate Loan
pursuant to Section 2.7, (a) in the case of any Eurodollar  Rate Loan,  deposits
in Dollars for periods comparable to the Interest  Period elected by the Company
are not  available  to any Bank in the  London,  England  interbank  market,  or
(b) the  Eurodollar  Rate will not  adequately and  fairly  reflect  the cost to
any Bank of making,  funding  or  maintaining  the related Eurodollar Rate Loan,
or (c) by reason of national or  international  financial, political or economic
conditions or by reason of any applicable  law,  treaty  or  other international
agreement,  rule or regulation (whether domestic or foreign) now or hereafter in
effect, or the  interpretation  or  administration   thereof by any governmental
authority  charged  with  the  interpretation  or  administration  thereof,   or
compliance by any  Bank  with  any  guideline,  request  or  directive  of  such
authority   (whether   or   not    having  the force of  law),  includingwithout
limitation exchange controls,  it is impracticable,  unlawful or impossible for,
or shall  limit  or  impair  the  ability  of,  (i) any Bank to make or fund the
relevant Loan or to continue such Loan as a Loan of the then existing type or to
convert a Loan to such a Loan or (ii) the Company to make or any Bank to receive
any payment under this Agreement at the place specified for payment hereunder or
to freely convert any amount paid into Dollars at market rates of exchange or to
transfer any amount paid or so converted to the address of its principal  office
specified in Section  9.2,  then the Company  shall not be entitled,  so long as
such circumstances  continue, to request a Loan of the affected type pursuant to
Section 2.4 or a  continuation  of or  conversion to a Loan of the affected type
pursuant to Section  2.7 so long as such  circumstances  continue.  In the event
that such circumstances no longer exist, the Banks shall again consider requests
for Loans of the  affected  type  pursuant  to Section  2.4,  and  requests  for
continuations  of and  conversions  to Loans of the  affected  type  pursuant to
Section 2.7 in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

                 2.9     Minimum  Amounts;  Limitation on Number of Loans;  Etc.
Except  for (a)  Advances  which  exhaust  the  entire  remaining  amount of the
Commitments,  and (b) payments  required  pursuant to Section  3.1(c) or Section
3.8, each Borrowing consisting of Eurodollar Rate Loans and each continuation or
conversion  pursuant to Section 2.7 and each  prepayment  thereof  shall be in a
minimum  amount of $500,000  and in integral  multiples  of $100,000  above such
amount.  The aggregate  number of Eurodollar Rate Borrowings  outstanding at any
one time under this Agreement may not exceed four (4).

            2.10  Borrowing Base Adjustments.  The Company agrees that if at any
time any trade account receivable  of  the  Company  or  any of its Subsidiaries
fails to constitute  Eligible  Account  Receivable  as  the  case may be for any
reason, the Administrative Agent may, at any time and notwithstanding any  prior
classification of eligibility, classify such asset or property as ineligible and
exclude the same from the computation of the  Borrowing  Base without in any way
impairing the rights of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Banks in and
to the same under the Security Agreement.


<PAGE>
                 2.11   Security and Collateral.  To secure the payment when due
of the Notes and all other  obligations  of the Company under this  Agreement to
the Banks and the  Agents,  the  Company and each  Guarantor  shall  execute and
deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered,  to the Collateral Agent for the
benefit of the Banks, Security Documents granting the following:

                    (a)   Security interests in all present and future accounts,
inventory, general intangibles, chattel paper, instruments, equipment, fixtures,
and all other personal property of the Company and each Guarantor.

                    (b)  Pledges of all capital stock of all Subsidiaries of the
Company and each  Guarantor,  if requested by any Bank after the Effective  Date
with respect to any Subsidiary of the Company or any Guarantor created after the
Effective  Date or which  becomes a material  Subsidiary  of the  Company or any
Guarantor after the Effective Date as determined in the reasonable discretion of
such Bank.

                    (c)           Guaranties of all Subsidiaries of the Company.

                   (d) All of the other security and collateral described in the
Security   Documents   ((a)-(d)  are   sometimes   referred  to  herein  as  the
"Collateral").


                                  ARTICLE III.
                      PAYMENTS AND PREPAYMENTS OF ADVANCES

                 3.1                         Principal Payments and Prepayments.

                    (a) Unless earlier payment is required under this Agreement,
the  Company  shall  pay to  the  Banks  on  the  Termination  Date  the  entire
outstanding principal amount of the Loans.

        (b)    The Company may at any time and from time to time prepay all or a
portion of the Loans, without premium or penalty,  provided that (i) the Company
may  not  prepay  any  portion  of  any  Loan  as to  which  an  election  for a
continuation of or a conversion to a Eurodollar Rate Loan is pending pursuant to
Section 2.4 or Section 2.7, and (ii) unless  earlier  payment is required  under
this Agreement,  any Eurodollar Rate Loan may only be prepaid on the last day of
the then current  Interest  Period with respect to such Loan. Upon the giving of
such notice,  the aggregate  principal amount of such Loan or portion thereof so
specified in such notice, together with such accrued interest and other amounts,
shall become due and payable on the specified prepayment date.

        (c)         If at any time the aggregate outstanding principal amount of
the Advances  shall exceed the Borrowing  Base,  the Total  Availability  or the
Commitments, the Company shall forthwith pay to the Administrative Agent for the
benefit of the Banks, without demand, an amount not less than the amount of such

                                      -22-
<PAGE>

excess for  application to the  outstanding  principal  amount of the Borrowings
consisting of Loans then outstanding, provided that if any such prepayment is to
be in an amount in excess of the outstanding amount of the Borrowings consisting
of Loans then  outstanding,  the Company  shall  deliver cash  collateral to the
Collateral  Agent to secure the  outstanding  Letters of Credit in the amount of
such excess which is greater than the outstanding  Borrowing consisting of Loans
then outstanding, and the Company hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, for the
benefit  of the Banks,  a first  priority  lien and  security  interest  in such
collateral,  and all such cash collateral  shall be under the sole and exclusive
control of the  Collateral  Agent for so long as such excess  shall  continue to
exist.

              (d)    If at any time an Overadvance Position exists and the Total
Debt to EBITDA  Ratio of the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  on a  consolidated
basis,  as  reported  on  the  last  regularly  prepared  quarterly   compliance
certificate of the Company delivered under Section 5.1(d)(ii),  exceeds 2.0:1.0,
the Company shall  promptly pay to the  Administrative  Agent for the benefit of
the Banks,  without demand,  an amount not less than 75% of the Net Cash Flow of
the Company and its  Subsidiaries  for such  quarter,  promptly upon delivery of
such compliance certificate, provided that such payment shall be no greater than
the Overadvance  Position and provided further that if any such prepayment would
be in excess of the  outstanding  amount of the  Borrowings  consisting of Loans
then  outstanding,  the Company shall deliver cash  collateral to the Collateral
Agent to secure the  outstanding  Letters of Credit in the amount of such excess
which is  greater  than the  outstanding  Borrowings  consisting  of Loans  then
outstanding,  and the Company  hereby grants to the  Collateral  Agent,  for the
benefit  of the Banks,  a first  priority  lien and  security  interest  in such
collateral,  and all such cash collateral  shall be under the sole and exclusive
control of the  Collateral  Agent for so long as such excess  shall  continue to
exist.

          3.2 Interest Payments.  The Company shall pay interest to the Banks on
the unpaid principal amount of each Loan, for the period commencing on the  date
such Loan is made until such Loan is paid in full, on each Interest Payment Date
and at maturity (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise),  and
thereafter on demand, at the following rates per annum:

             (a) During such periods that such Loan is a Floating Rate Loan, the
Floating Rate.

             (b)         During such periods that such Loan is a Eurodollar Rate
Loan,  the  Eurodollar  Rate  applicable to such Loan for each related  Interest
Period.

Notwithstanding  the  foregoing  paragraphs  (a) and (b), the Company  shall pay
interest on demand by the Required Banks at the Overdue Rate on the  outstanding
principal  amount  of any Loan  and any  other  amount  payable  by the  Company
hereunder  (other than  interest) at any time on or after an Event of Default if
required in writing by the Required Banks.

                                      -23-
<PAGE>


                 3.3     Letter of Credit  Reimbursement  Payments.  (a)(i)  The
Company agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Banks, on the
day on which the  Administrative  Agent shall honor a draft or other  demand for
payment  presented  or made under any Letter of Credit,  an amount  equal to the
amount paid by the Administrative Agent in respect of such draft or other demand
under such Letter of Credit and all reasonable  expenses paid or incurred by the
Administrative  Agent relative thereto.  Unless the Company shall have made such
payment to the Banks on such day,  or unless the  Company  shall have  requested
conversion of any such Loan pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.4 or Section
2.7,  upon each such payment by the  Administrative  Agent,  the  Administrative
Agent shall be deemed to have disbursed to the Company, and the Company shall be
deemed to have  elected  to  satisfy  its  reimbursement  obligation  by, a Loan
bearing  interest at the Floating Rate for the account of the Banks in an amount
equal to the amount so paid by the Administrative Agent in respect of such draft
or other  demand  under  such  Letter of Credit.  Such Loan  shall be  disbursed
notwithstanding  any failure to satisfy any conditions for  disbursement  of any
Loan set forth in Article II hereof and, to the extent of the Loan so disbursed,
the  reimbursement  obligation  of the Company  under this  Section 3.3 shall be
deemed satisfied;  provided,  however, that nothing in this Section 3.3 shall be
deemed to  constitute a waiver of any Default or Event of Default  caused by the
failure to the conditions for disbursement or otherwise.

                      (ii)         If, notwithstanding the provisions of Section
3.3(a)(i),  for any  reason  (including  without  limitation  as a result of the
occurrence  of an Event of Default  with  respect  to the  Company  pursuant  to
Section  6.1(h)),  Floating Rate Loans may not be made by the Banks as described
in Section 3.3(a)(i), then (A) the Company agrees that each reimbursement amount
not paid  pursuant  to the  first  sentence  of  Section  3.3(a)(i)  shall  bear
interest,  payable on demand by the Required  Banks,  at the interest  rate then
applicable  to Floating  Rate  Loans,  and (B)  effective  on the date each such
Floating Rate Loan would  otherwise  have been made (unless timely request shall
have been made for  conversion  pursuant  to the terms of Section 2.4 or Section
2.7) each Bank severally agrees that it shall  unconditionally  and irrevocably,
without regard to the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default,  in lieu of
deemed disbursement of loans, to the extent of such Bank's Commitment,  purchase
a  participating   interest  in  each  reimbursement   amount.  Each  Bank  will
immediately transfer to the Administrative  Agent, in same day funds, the amount
of its  participation.  Each Bank shall share on a pro rata basis (calculated by
reference to its  Commitment) in any interest  which accrues  thereon and in all
repayments  thereof.  If and to the extent  that any Bank shall not have so made
the amount of such participating interest available to the Administrative Agent,
such Bank and the Company severally agree to pay  to  the  Administrative  Agent
forthwith on demand such amount  together  with  interest thereon,  for each day
from the date of demand by the Administrative Agent until  the date such  amoun
is paid  to the  Administrative  Agent,  in  the  case  of  th   Company  at the
interest  rate then  applicable  to  Floating  Rate  Loans  (except as otherwise
permitted pursuant to Section 2.4 or Section 2.7), and in the case of  such Bank
at the Federal Funds Rate.

                     (b)  The reimbursement obligation of the Company under this
Section 3.3 shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable and shall remain in
full force and effect until all obligations of the Company to the Agents and the

                                      -24-
<PAGE>

Banks hereunder shall have been satisfied,  and such  obligations of the Company
shall not be  affected,  modified or impaired  upon the  happening of any event,
including without limitation,  any of the following,  whether or not with notice
to, or the consent of, the Company:

                             (i)   Any lack of validity or enforceability of any
Letter of Credit or any documentation relating to any Letter of Credit or to any
transaction  related in any way to such Letter of Credit (the  "Letter of Credit
Documents");

                             (ii)           Any amendment, modification, waiver,
consent,  or any substitution,  exchange or release of or failure to perfect any
interest in collateral or security,  with respect to any of the Letter of Credit
Documents;

                             (iii)   The existence of any claim, setoff, defense
or other right which the Company may have at any time against any beneficiary or
any  transferee of any Letter of Credit (or any persons or entities for whom any
such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), any Agent or any Bank or
any other  person or  entity,  whether in  connection  with any of the Letter of
Credit  Documents,  the  transactions  contemplated  herein  or  therein  or any
unrelated transactions;

                             (iv)       Any draft or other statement or document
presented under any Letter of Credit proving to be forged,  fraudulent,  invalid
or  insufficient  in any  respect  or any  statement  therein  being  untrue  or
inaccurate in any respect;

                             (v)      Payment by the Administrative Agent to the
beneficiary under any Letter of Credit against presentation of a documents which
do not strictly comply with the terms of the Letter of Credit, including failure
of any documents to bear any  reference or adequate  reference to such Letter of
Credit;

                             (vi)    Any failure, omission, delay or lack on the
part of the Administrative Agent or any Bank or  any party to any of the  Letter
of Credit Documents to enforce,   assert or exercise any right,  power or remedy
conferred  upon the Administrative  Agent, any Bank or any such party under this
Agreement or any of the Letter of Credit Documents;

                             (vii)   Any other event or circumstance that would,
in the absence of this  clause,  result in the release or discharge by operation
of law or otherwise of the Company from the  performance  or  observance  of any
obligation, covenant or agreement contained in this Section 3.3.

No setoff,  counterclaim,  reduction  or  diminution  of any  obligation  or any
defense of any kind or nature  which the  Company  has or may have  against  the
beneficiary of any Letter of Credit shall be available  hereunder to the Company
against  any Agent or any Bank.  Nothing  in this  Section  3.3 shall  limit the
liability, if any, of the Banks to the Company pursuant to Section 9.5.

                                      -25-
<PAGE>


                 3.4     Payment  Method.  (a)  All  payments  to be made by the
Company  hereunder will be made to the  Administrative  Agent for the account of
the Banks in Dollars and in immediately available, freely transferable,  cleared
funds not later than 1:00 p.m. in Salt Lake City,  Utah at the principal  office
of the  Administrative  Agent specified in Section 9.2.  Payments received after
1:00 p.m. at the place for payment  shall be deemed to be payments made prior to
1:00 p.m.  at the place for payment on the next  succeeding  Business  Day.  The
Company hereby  authorizes the  Administrative  Agent to charge its account with
the  Administrative  Agent in  order to cause  timely  payment  of  amounts  due
hereunder  to be made  (subject  to  sufficient  funds being  available  in such
account for that purpose).

                     (b)    At the time of making each such payment, the Company
shall,  subject to the other terms and conditions of this Agreement,  specify to
the Administrative  Agent that Loan or other obligation of the Company hereunder
to which such payment is to be applied.  In the event that the Company  fails to
so specify the relevant obligation or if an Event of Default shall have occurred
and be continuing,  the Required Banks may direct that the Administrative  Agent
apply such payments as they may determine in their sole discretion.

                     (c)       On the day such payments are deemed received, the
Administrative  Agent  shall  remit to the Banks  their pro rata  shares of such
payments in immediately available funds to the Banks at their respective address
in the United States  specified for notices pursuant to Section 9.2. In the case
of payments of  principal  and interest on any  Borrowing,  such pro rata shares
shall be  determined  with  respect  to each such  Bank by the  ratio  which the
outstanding  principal  balance of its Loan included in such Borrowing  bears to
the outstanding  principal  balance of the Loans of all of the Banks included in
such  Borrowing,  and in the case of fees paid pursuant to Section 2.3 and other
amounts payable  hereunder (other than amounts payable to any Bank under Section
3.7), such pro rata shares shall be determined with respect to each such Bank by
the ratio which the Commitment of such Bank bears to the Commitments of  all the
Banks.

                 3.5    No Setoff or Deduction. All payments of principal of and
interest on the Loans and other amounts  payable by the Company  hereunder shall
be made by the Company without setoff or counterclaim (without waiving any right
of the Company to later  assert  such  counterclaim),  and,  subject to the next
succeeding  sentence,  free and clear of, and without  deduction or  withholding
for, or on account of, any present or future  taxes,  levies,  imposts,  duties,
fees,  assessments,  or  other  charges  of  whatever  nature,  imposed  by  any
governmental  authority,  or  by  any  department,  agency  or  other  political
subdivision or taxing authority.  If any such taxes,  levies,  imposts,  duties,
fees,  assessments  or other  charges are  imposed,  the  Company  will pay such
additional  amounts as may be  necessary  so that  payment of  principal  of and
interest on the Loans and other amounts payable hereunder,  after withholding or
deduction for or on account  thereof,  will not be less than any amount provided
to be paid  hereunder  and, in any such case,  the Company  will  furnish to the
Banks  certified  copies of all tax  receipts  evidencing  the  payment  of such
amounts  within  forty-five  (45) days  after the date any such  payment  is due
pursuant to applicable law.

                                      -26-
<PAGE>


                 3.6     Payment  on  Non-Business  Day;  Payment  Computations.
Except as otherwise  provided in this  Agreement to the  contrary,  whenever any
installment  of  principal  of, or interest on, any Loan or any other amount due
hereunder  becomes  due and  payable on a day which is not a Business  Day,  the
maturity  thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding  Business Day and, in
the case of any  installment of principal,  interest shall be payable thereon at
the rate per annum  determined in  accordance  with this  Agreement  during such
extension. Computations of interest, commitment fees and other amounts due under
this  Agreement  shall be made on the basis of a year of 360 days (or 365 or 366
days,  as the case may be, when  determining  the Floating  Rate) for the actual
number of days  elapsed,  including  the first day but excluding the last day of
the relevant period.

                3.7     Additional Costs.   (a)  In the event that any change in
currently  applicable  law,  treaty  or  other  international agreement, rule or
regulation (whether domestic or  foreign) now or hereafter in effect and whether
or not presently applicable to any Bank or any Agent,  or  any interpretation or
administration  thereof  by  any  governmental   authority   charged   with  the
interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any Bank or any Agent
with any guideline,  request  or directive of any such authority (whether or not
having the force of law), shall  (a) affect the basis of taxation of payments to
any Bank or any Agent of any amounts payable by the Company under this Agreement
(other than taxes imposed on the overall net income of any Bank or any Agent, by
the  jurisdiction,  or  by  any political subdivision or taxing authority of any
such jurisdiction, in which such Bank or such Agent, as the case may be, has its
principal office),  or (b)  shall impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve,
special deposit or similar requirement  against assets of,  deposits with or for
the account of, or credit extended by any Bank or any Agent, or (c) shall impose
any other condition with respect to this  Agreement,  or any of the Commitments,
 the Notes or the Loans or any Letter of Credit Advance,  and  the result of any
of the  foregoing  is to increase the cost to any Bank or any Agent, as the case
may be, of making, funding or maintaining any Eurodollar Rate Loan or any Letter
of Credit or to reduce the  amount of any sum  receivable  by  such Bank or such
Agent, as the case may be, thereon, then the Company shall  pay  to such Bank or
such Agent,  as the case may be, from time to time, upon request by such Bank or
such Agent, additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Bank or such Agent,
as the case may  be, for such   increased  cost or reduced sum receivable to the
extent,  in the case of any Eurodollar Rate Loan, such Bank or such Agent is not
compensated  therefor in the computation of the interest rate applicable to such
Eurodollar  Rate Loan.  A statement as to the amount of such increased  cost  or
reduced  sum  receivable,  prepared  in good faith  and in reasonable  detail by
such Bank or such Agent, as the case may be, and submitted by such  Bank or such
 Agent,  as the  case  may be,  to the  Company, shall be conclusive and binding
for all purposes absent manifest error in computation.

        (b)  In the event that any change in currently applicable law, treaty or
other international agreement,  rule or regulation (whether domestic or foreign)
now or hereafter in effect and whether or not  presently  applicable to any Bank
or  any  Agent,  or  any   interpretation  or  administration   thereof  by  any
governmental   authority  charged  with  the  interpretation  or  administration
thereof,  or compliance by any Bank or any Agent with any guideline,  request or

                                      -27-
<PAGE>


directive  of any such  authority  (whether  or not  having  the  force of law),
including any risk-based capital guidelines,  affects or would affect the amount
of capital  required or expected to be maintained by such Bank or such Agent (or
any  corporation  controlling  such  Bank or such  Agent)  and such Bank or such
Agent,  as the case  may be,  determines  that the  amount  of such  capital  is
increased  by or  based  upon  the  existence  of such  Bank's  or such  Agent's
obligations  hereunder  and such increase has the effect of reducing the rate of
return  on such  Bank's  or such  Agent's  (or such  controlling  corporation's)
capital as a  consequence  of such  obligations  hereunder to a level below that
which  such Bank or such  Agent (or such  controlling  corporation)  could  have
achieved  but for such changed  circumstances  (taking  into  consideration  its
policies with respect to capital  adequacy),  then the Company shall pay to such
Bank or such Agent,  as the case may be, from time to time, upon request by such
Bank or such Agent, additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Bank or the
Agent  (or such  controlling  corporation)  for any  increase  in the  amount of
capital  and  reduced  rate of return  which such Bank or such Agent  reasonably
determines  to be  allocable  to the  existence  of such Bank's or such  Agent's
obligations  hereunder.  A  statement  as to the  amount  of such  compensation,
prepared in good faith and in reasonable  detail by such Bank or such Agent,  as
the case may be, and submitted by such Bank or such Agent to the Company,  shall
be conclusive and binding for all purposes absent manifest error in computation.
Such Bank or such Agent may, at its option, specify that such amounts be paid by
way of an increase in the  commitment  fees  payable by the Company  pursuant to
Section 2.3(a).

                 3.8     Illegality  and  Impossibility.  In the event  that any
applicable  law,  treaty or other  international  agreement,  rule or regulation
(whether  domestic or  foreign)  now or  hereafter  in effect and whether or not
presently  applicable  to any  Bank  or any  Agent,  or  any  interpretation  or
administration   thereof  by  any  governmental   authority   charged  with  the
interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any Bank or any Agent
with any  guideline,  request or  directive  of such  authority  (whether or not
having the force of law), including without limitation exchange controls,  shall
make it unlawful or  impossible  for any Bank or any Agent to maintain  any Loan
under this Agreement,  (b) shall make it  impracticable,  unlawful or impossible
for, or shall in any way limit or impair  ability of, the Company to make or any
Bank or any Agent to  receive  any  payment  under this  Agreement  at the place
specified  for  payment  hereunder,  the  Company  shall upon  receipt of notice
thereof  from  such  Bank or such  Agent,  repay in full  the  then  outstanding
principal  amount of each Loan so affected,  together with all accrued  interest
thereon to the date of payment and all amounts  owing to such Bank under Section
3.8, (a) on the last day of the then current Interest Period  applicable to such
Loan if such Bank or such Agent may lawfully  continue to maintain  such Loan to
such day,  or (b)  immediately  if such Bank or such Agent may not  continue  to
maintain such Loan to such day; provided,  however, that such Bank or such Agent
shall  waive any  default,  fee or payment to the extent  such  default,  fee or
payment is triggered solely by virtue of the Company's  obligation to repay such
Loan under the terms of this Section 3.8.

                 3.9     Indemnification.  If the  Company  makes any payment of
principal  with respect to any  Eurodollar  Rate Loan on any other date than the
last day of an Interest Period  applicable  thereto (whether pursuant to Section
3.1(c),  Section  3.7,  Section 6.2 or  otherwise),  or if the Company  fails to
borrow  any  Eurodollar  Rate Loan  after  notice has been given to the Banks in

                                      -28-
<PAGE>

accordance  with  Section  2.4, or if the  Company  fails to make any payment of
principal or interest in respect of a Eurodollar Rate Loan when due, the Company
shall  reimburse each Bank on demand for any resulting loss or expense  incurred
by each such Bank,  including without limitation any loss incurred in obtaining,
liquidating or employing  deposits from third parties,  whether or not such Bank
shall have funded or  committed  to fund such Loan. A statement as to the amount
of such loss or expense, prepared in good faith and in reasonable detail by such
Bank and submitted by such Bank to the Company,  shall be conclusive and binding
for all  purposes  absent  manifest  error in  computation.  Calculation  of all
amounts payable to such Bank under this Section 3.9 shall be made as though such
Bank shall have  actually  funded or committed  to fund the relevant  Eurodollar
Rate Loan  through the purchase of an  underlying  deposit in an amount equal to
the amount of such Loan in the relevant market and having a maturity  comparable
to the related  Interest  Period and,  through the transfer of such deposit to a
domestic office of such Bank in the United States; provided,  however, that such
Bank  may  fund  any  Eurodollar  Rate  Loan in any  manner  it sees fit and the
foregoing  assumption  shall be utilized only for the purpose of  calculation of
amounts payable under this Section 3.9.


                                   ARTICLE IV.
                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

      The Company represents and warrants to the Banks and the Agents that:

                 4.1     Corporate  Existence and Power. Each of the Company and
each Guarantor is a corporation  duly  organized,  validly  existing and in good
standing under the laws of the state of its  jurisdiction  of  incorporation  or
organization,  as the case may be, and is duly qualified to do business,  and is
in good  standing,  in all  additional  jurisdictions  where the  failure  to so
qualify would have a Material Adverse Effect. Schedule 4.1 hereto correctly sets
forth the name of each  entity  that the  Company or any  Guarantor  uses in its
trade or business, and the jurisdictions in which such name is used. The Company
or such  Guarantor  has on file in each such  state  such  documents  reasonably
necessary to use such names,  and to the best  knowledge of the Company and each
Guarantor  the use  therein  does not  conflict  with or  infringe  upon the use
thereof by any other  person.  Each of the  Company and each  Guarantor  has all
requisite  corporate  power to own or lease the properties  used in its business
and to carry on its  business  as now  being  conducted  and as  proposed  to be
conducted, and to execute and deliver this Agreement, the Notes and the Security
Documents to which it is a party and to engage in the transactions  contemplated
by this Agreement.

           4.2  Corporate Authority.  The execution, delivery and performance by
the Company and each Guarantor of this Agreement,  the  Notes  and  the Security
Documents to which it is a  party  have  been  duly  authorized by all necessary
corporate action and are not in contravention of any law, rule or regulation, or
any judgment, decree, writ, injunction, order or  award of any arbitrator, court
or governmental authority, or of the terms of the Company's or  the  Guarantor's
charter or by-laws, or of any mortgage, trust deed, security agreement or  other
material contract to which the Company or any Guarantor is a party or  by  which

                                      -29-
<PAGE>

the Company or any Guarantor or any of their respective property may be bound or
affected  and  will  not  result  in  the imposition of any Lien on any of their
property or of any of their Subsidiaries, except for Permitted Liens.

        4.3   Binding Effect.  This Agreement is, and the Notes and the Security
Documents to which  the  Company  or any  Guarantor is a  party  when  delivered
hereunder will be, legal, valid and binding obligations of the  Company and each
Guarantor, respectively, enforceable  against the Company and each  Guarantor in
accordance with their respective terms, subject to general equitable principles,
bankruptcy  and  other  similar  laws  pertaining to the rights of creditors and
debtors generally.
 
       4.4  Subsidiaries. Schedule 4.4 hereto correctly sets forth the corporate
name,  jurisdiction  of  incorporation  and  ownership of each Subsidiary of the
Company and each Guarantor. Each such Subsidiary and each  corporation  becoming
a Subsidiary of  the Company or any Guarantor  after the date hereof is and will
be a corporation duly  organized,  validly  existing and in good  standing under
the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation  and is and will be duly qualified
to do business in each additional  jurisdiction  where the failure to so qualify
would have a  Material  Adverse Effect.  Each Subsidiary of the Company and each
Guarantor has  and will have all  requisite  corporate power to own or lease the
properties used  in  its  business  and  to carry on its  business  as now being
conducted  and as  proposed  to be conducted.  All outstanding shares of capital
stock of each class  of each  Subsidiary  of the  Company  and  each   Guarantor
have  been  and  will  be  validly  issued  and  are  and will be fully paid and
nonassessable and are and will  be owned,   beneficially  and of record,  by the
Company or another  Subsidiary  of  the  Company,  free and  clear of any  Liens
except  for  Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent on behalf of the Banks.

       4.5  Litigation.  Except as set forth in Schedule 4.5 hereto, there is no
action,  suit  or  proceeding  pending  or, to the best of the Company's and the
Guarantors'  knowledge,  threatened  against  or  affecting  the   Company,  any
Guarantor  or  any  of  their  respective  Subsidiaries  before or by any court,
governmental authority or arbitrator, which if  adversely  decided  might have a
Material  Adverse  Effect  and, to the best of the Company's and the Guarantor's
knowledge, there is no basis for any such action, suit or proceeding.

   4.6 Financial Condition.The consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its
Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1995 and the consolidated  statements of income,
retained  earnings  and cash flows of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  for the
fiscal year ended  December  31, 1995 and  reported on by Arthur  Andersen  LLP,
independent  certified public accountants,  and the interim consolidated balance
sheet and interim consolidated  statements of income, retained earnings and cash
flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries,  as of or for the three-month  period
ended on March 31,  1996,  copies of which  have been  furnished  to the  Banks,
fairly present, and the financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries
delivered  pursuant  to Section  5.1(d) will fairly  present,  the  consolidated
financial  position  of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  as at the  respective
dates thereof, and the consolidated results of operations of the Company and its
Subsidiaries  for the  respective  periods  indicated,  all in  accordance  with

                                      -30-
<PAGE>

Generally Accepted Accounting  Principles  consistently applied (subject, in the
case  of  said  interim  statements,   to  normal  year-end  audit  adjustments,
presentation requirements and the absence of footnotes).  Except as set forth on
Schedule  4.6,  there  has been no event or  development  which has had or could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect since December 31, 1995
that has not been disclosed in the annual consolidated  financial  statements of
the  Company and its  Subsidiary  dated  December  31,  1995,  as updated by the
quarterly  consolidated  financial  statements of the Company and its Subsidiary
dated March 31, 1996. There is no material  Contingent  Liability of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries  that is not reflected in such Schedule 4.6 or in any
of such financial statements or in the notes thereto.


                 4.7      Use of Advances.  The Company will use the proceeds of
the Advances for  acquisitions  (subject to the  restrictions  set forth in this
Agreement),  working  capital and its general  corporate  purposes.  Neither the
Company nor any Guarantor nor any of their  respective  Subsidiaries  extends or
maintains, in the ordinary course of business,  credit for the purpose,  whether
immediate,  incidental,  or ultimate, of buying or carrying margin stock (within
the meaning of  Regulation U of the Board of  Governors  of the Federal  Reserve
System),  and no part  of the  proceeds  of any  Advance  will  be used  for the
purpose, whether immediate,  incidental,  or ultimate, of buying or carrying any
such margin stock or maintaining or extending credit to others for such purpose.
After  applying  the  proceeds  of each  Advance,  such  margin  stock  will not
constitute  more than 25% of the value of the assets  (either of the  Company or
any Guarantor  alone or of the Company and the Guarantors  and their  respective
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis) that are subject to any provisions of this
Agreement  or any  Security  Document  that may cause the  Advances to be deemed
secured, directly or indirectly, by margin stock.

      4.8   Consents, Etc.  Except for such consents, approvals, authorizations,
declarations,  registrations  or  filings  delivered   by  the  Company  and the
Guarantors pursuant to Section  2.5(g),  if  any, each of which is in full force
and  effect,  no  consent,  approval  or   authorization   of   or  declaration,
registration or filing with any governmental authority or  any   nongovernmental
person  or  entity,  including  without  limitation   any  creditor,  lessor  or
stockholder  of  the  Company  or  any  Guarantor  or  any  of  their respective
Subsidiaries,  is  required  on  the  part  of  the  Company or any Guarantor in
connection  with  the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the
Notes,  the  Security Documents  or the transactions contemplated hereby or as a
condition to the  legality,  validity  or  enforceability of this Agreement, the
Notes or any of the Security Documents.

                 4.9      Taxes.  The  Company  and  the  Guarantors  and  their
respective  Subsidiaries have filed all tax returns  (federal,  state and local)
required to be filed and have paid all taxes shown thereon to be due,  including
interest and penalties, or have established adequate financial reserves on their
respective  books and records for payment  thereof in accordance  with Generally
Accepted Accounting Principles. Neither the Company nor any Guarantor nor any of
their respective  Subsidiaries knows of any actual or threatened tax deficiency,
and no extension of time for the  assessment of  deficiencies  in any federal or
state tax has been granted by the Company, any Guarantor or any such Subsidiary.

                                      -31-
<PAGE>


                 4.10     Title to Properties.  Except as otherwise disclosed in
the latest  balance  sheet  delivered  pursuant to Section 4.6 or 5.1(d) of this
Agreement,  the  Company,  the  Guarantors  or one or more of  their  respective
Subsidiaries  have good and marketable  title to, or a valid leasehold  interest
in, as the case may be, all of the  properties  and assets  (including,  without
limitation,  the  collateral  subject to the Security  Documents to which any of
them is a party) reflected in said balance sheet or subsequently acquired by the
Company, any Guarantor or any such Subsidiary. All of such properties and assets
are free and clear of any Lien, except for Permitted Liens.

            4.11  Borrowing Base.   All trade accounts receivable of the Company
represented  or  reported  by  the  Company to be, or are otherwise included in,
Eligible  Accounts  Receivable  comply  in  all  respects  with the requirements
therefor  set  forth  in  the  definition  thereof,  and  the computation of the
Borrowing Base set forth in each Borrowing Base and  Overadvance  Certificate is
true and correct.

                 4.12    ERISA. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.12 hereto, the
Company, the Guarantors,  their respective Subsidiaries,  their ERISA Affiliates
and their respective Plans are in compliance in all material respects with those
provisions  of ERISA and of the Code which are  applicable  with  respect to any
Plan.  No  Prohibited  Transaction  and no  Reportable  Event has occurred  with
respect to any such  Plan.  None of the  Company,  any  Guarantor,  any of their
respective  Subsidiaries  or any of their ERISA  Affiliates  is an employer with
respect to any Multiemployer Plan. The Company, the Guarantors, their respective
Subsidiaries   and  their  ERISA   Affiliates   have  met  the  minimum  funding
requirements  under ERISA and the Code with respect to each of their  respective
Plans,  if any, and have not incurred any liability to the PBGC or any Plan. The
execution,  delivery  and  performance  of this  Agreement,  the  Notes  and the
Security  Documents  does not constitute a Prohibited  Transaction.  There is no
material Unfunded Benefit Liability with respect to any Plan of the Company, any
Guarantor, their respective Subsidiaries or their ERISA Affiliates.

                 4.13     Disclosure.  No  report or other  written  information
furnished  by or on behalf of the  Company or any  Guarantor  to any Bank or any
Agent in connection  with the  negotiation or  administration  of this Agreement
contains any material  misstatement  of fact or omits to state any material fact
or any fact necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading in
light of the circumstances in which they were made. Neither this Agreement,  the
Notes, the Security  Documents nor any other document,  certificate,  or written
report or written  statement or other  information  furnished to any Bank or any
Agent by or on behalf of the Company or any  Guarantor  in  connection  with the
transactions  contemplated  hereby  contains any untrue  statement of a material
fact or omits to state a material fact in order to make the statements contained
herein and therein not  misleading in light of the  circumstances  in which they
were made. There is no fact known to the Company or any  Guarantor  which has or
which in  the  future may have (so far as  the Company or any Guarantor  can now
reasonably  foresee)  a  Material   Adverse  Effect,  which  has  not  been  set
forth  in  this  Agreement  or in the other documents, certificates, statements,
reports and other information  furnished in writing to the Banks by or on behalf

                                      -32-
<PAGE>

of the Company or any Guarantor in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereby.

                 4.14     Environmental  Matters. The Company, the Guarantor and
each of their respective  Subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects
with all Environmental Laws in jurisdictions in which the Company, the Guarantor
or any such Subsidiary owns or operates, or has owned or operated, a facility or
site,  or arranges  or has  arranged  for  disposal or  treatment  of  hazardous
substances,  solid waste, or other wastes, accepts or has accepted for transport
any hazardous substances,  solid wastes or other wastes or holds or has held any
interest in real  property  or  otherwise.  No demand,  claim,  notice,  action,
administrative  proceeding,  investigation  or  inquiry  whether  brought by any
governmental  authority,  private person or entity or otherwise,  arising under,
relating  to  or in  connection  with  any  Environmental  Laws  is  pending  or
threatened  against  the  Company,  the  Guarantor  or any of  their  respective
Subsidiaries,  any real property in which the Company, the Guarantor or any such
Subsidiary holds or has held an interest or any past or present operation of the
Company,  the  Guarantor  or any  such  Subsidiary.  Neither  the  Company,  the
Guarantor  nor any of their  respective  Subsidiaries  (a) is the subject of any
federal or state investigation  evaluating whether any remedial action is needed
to  respond  to a  release  of  any  toxic  substances,  radioactive  materials,
hazardous wastes or related materials into the environment, (b) has received any
notice  of any  toxic  substances,  radioactive  materials,  hazardous  waste or
related  materials  in,  or  upon  any of its  properties  in  violation  of any
Environmental Laws, (c) knows of any basis for any such investigation, notice or
violation,  or (d) owns or operates,  or has owned or operated,  property  which
appears on the United States  National  Priority List or any other  governmental
listing which identifies sites for remedial  clean-up or investigatory  actions,
except as disclosed on Schedule 4.14 hereto, and as to such matters disclosed on
such Schedule, none will have a Material Adverse Effect. No release,  threatened
release or disposal of hazardous waste, solid waste or other wastes is occurring
or has  occurred on,  under or to any real  property in which the  Company,  the
Guarantor or any of their respective Subsidiaries holds any interest or performs
any of its operations, in violation of any Environmental Law.

        4.15   No Default.  Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default
or has received any written  notice  of default  under or with respect to any of
its Contractual  Obligations in any  respect which could have a Material Adverse
Effect.  No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.



                                   ARTICLE V.
                                    COVENANTS

           5.1    Affirmative Covenants.  Each of the Company and the Guarantors
covenants and agrees that,  until  the  Termination  Date  and  thereafter until
payment in full of the principal of and accrued interest  on  the  Notes and the
performance  of  all  other  obligations of the Company and the Guarantors under
this Agreement, the Notes and the Security Documents, unless  the Required Banks
shall otherwise  consent  in  writing, it  shall,  and shall cause each of their
respective Subsidiaries to:

                                      -33-
<PAGE>


              (a)   Preservation of Corporate Existence, Etc.  Do or cause to be
done all things  necessary to preserve,  renew and keep in full force and effect
its legal existence,  except to the extent permitted by Section 5.2(f),  and its
qualification as a foreign  corporation in good standing in each jurisdiction in
which the failure to so qualify would have a Material  Adverse  Effect,  and the
rights,  licenses,  permits (including those required under Environmental Laws),
franchises,  patents,  copyrights,  trademarks  and trade names  material to the
conduct of its businesses;  and defend all of the foregoing  against all claims,
actions,  demands,  suits or proceedings at law or in equity or by or before any
governmental instrumentality or other agency or regulatory authority.

              (b)             Compliance with Laws, Etc.  Comply in all material
respects  with  all  applicable  laws,  rules,  regulations  and  orders  of any
governmental  authority,  whether federal,  state,  local or foreign  (including
without limitation ERISA, the Code and Environmental  Laws), in effect from time
to time;  and pay and  discharge  promptly when due all taxes,  assessments  and
governmental  charges or levies imposed upon it or upon its income,  revenues or
property,  before the same shall become delinquent or in default, as well as all
lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies or otherwise,  which, if unpaid,
might give rise to Liens upon such properties or any portion thereof,  except to
the extent that payment of any of the foregoing is then being  contested in good
faith by  appropriate  legal  proceedings  and with  respect  to which  adequate
financial  reserves  have  been  established  on the books  and  records  of the
Company,  any Guarantor or any of their  respective  Subsidiaries  in accordance
with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

              (c)      Maintenance of Properties; Insurance.  Maintain, preserve
and protect all property  that is material to the conduct of the business of the
Company,  any Guarantor or any of their  respective  Subsidiaries  and keep such
property in good repair, working order and condition and from time to time make,
or  cause  to be made all  needful  and  proper  repairs,  renewals,  additions,
improvements  and  replacements  thereto  necessary  in order that the  business
carried on in  connection  therewith  may be properly  conducted at all times in
accordance with customary and prudent business practices for similar businesses;
and, in addition  to  that  insurance  required  under the  Security  Documents,
maintain  in full  force  and  effect  insurance  with responsible and reputable
insurance companies or associations in such amounts,  on such terms and covering
such  risks,  including  fire  and  other  risks  insured  against  by  extended
coverage,  as is usually carried by companies  engaged in similar businesses and
owning similar  properties  similarly situated  and  maintain in  full force and
effect  public  liability  insurance,  insurance  against  claims  for  personal
injury or death or  property  damage  occurring  in  connection  with any of its
activities  or  any  properties  owned,  occupied  or controlled  by it, in such
amount  as  it  shall  reasonably  deem   necessary,  and  maintain  such  other
insurance as may be  required  by law  or  as may be reasonably requested by the
Required  Banks for purposes of assuring  compliance  with this Section 5.1(c).

                      (d)  Reporting Requirements.  Furnish to the Banks and the
Agents the following:

                                      -34-
<PAGE>


               (i)                         Promptly and in any event within five
calendar days after becoming aware of the occurrence of (A) any Default or Event
of Default,  (B) any material  litigation  against, by or affecting the Company,
any  Guarantor  or  any  of  their  respective  Subsidiaries,  or  any  material
developments  therein, or (C) entering into any material contract or undertaking
that  is not  entered  into  in the  ordinary  course  of  business  or (D)  any
development  in the business or affairs of the Company,  any Guarantor or any of
their  respective  Subsidiaries  which has resulted in or which is likely in the
reasonable  judgment  of the Company or any  Guarantor,  to result in a Material
Adverse Effect,  a statement of a duly authorized  officer of the Company or the
Guarantor,  as the case may be setting  forth  details  of each such  Default or
Event of  Default  or such  litigation,  material  contract  or  undertaking  or
development and the action which the Company, such Guarantor or such Subsidiary,
as the case may be, has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto;

                (ii)                As soon as available and in any event within
45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of the Company,
the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the end
of such quarter,  and the related  consolidated  statements of income,  retained
earnings  and cash flows for the period  commencing  at the end of the  previous
fiscal year and ending with the end of such quarter,  setting forth in each case
in comparative  form the  corresponding  figures for the  corresponding  date or
period of the preceding fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and duly certified
(subject to normal  year-end audit  adjustments and the absence of footnotes) by
the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, in his or her corporate capacity, as
having  been  prepared  in  accordance   with  Generally   Accepted   Accounting
Principles,  together with a certificate of the Chief  Financial  Officer of the
Company, in his or her corporate capacity,  stating (A) that no Default or Event
of Default has occurred and is  continuing  or, if a Default or Event of Default
has occurred and is continuing,  a statement  setting forth the details  thereof
and the action  which the  Company has taken and  proposes to take with  respect
thereto,  and (B) that a computation  (which  computation  shall  accompany such
certificate and shall be in  reasonable  detail)  demonstrates  compliance  with
the  covenants  set forth in Section 5.2 is in conformity with the terms of this
Agreement;

                (iii)               As soon as available and in any event within
90 days  after  the  end of  each  fiscal  year  of the  Company,  a copy of the
consolidated  balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the end of
such fiscal year and the related  consolidated  statements  of income,  retained
earnings and changes in cash flows of the Company and its  Subsidiaries for such
fiscal  year,  with a customary  audit report of Arthur  Andersen  LLP, or other
independent  certified public accountants selected by the Company and acceptable
to the  Required  Banks,  without  qualifications  unacceptable  to the Required
Banks,  together with a certificate  of such  accountants  stating (A) that they
have reviewed this Agreement and stating further whether, in the course of their
review of such  financial  statements,  they have become aware of any Default or
Event of  Default  and,  if such a Default  or Event of  Default  exists  and is
continuing,  a statement  setting forth the nature and status  thereof,  and (B)
that a  computation  by the Company  (which  computation  shall  accompany  such
certificate and shall be in reasonable detail) demonstrates  compliance with the
covenants  set  forth  in  Section  5.2 in  conformity  with  the  terms of this
Agreement;

                                      -35-
<PAGE>


                 (iv)              Promptly after the sending or filing thereof,
copies of all reports,  proxy  statements  and  financial  statements  which the
Company or any  Guarantor or any of their  respective  Subsidiaries  sends to or
files with any of their respective  security holders or any securities  exchange
or organization  (including  without  limitation the NASD) or the Securities and
Exchange Commission or any successor agency thereof;

                 (v)                No later than the tenth Business Day of each
month, a Borrowing Base and Overadvance  Certificate is prepared as of the close
of business on the last day of each month,  together with supporting  schedules,
in form and detail satisfactory to the Agents, setting forth such information as
the Agents may reasonably request with respect to the aging, value, location and
other  information  relating to the  computation  of the Borrowing  Base and the
eligibility of any property or assets included in such computation, certified as
true and correct by the Chief  Financial  Officer of the Company,  in his or her
corporate capacity;

                 (vi)               As soon as available and in any event within
90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the  Company,  the  Guarantors  and
their respective Subsidiaries, a report describing all insurance with respect to
the Company,  the Guarantors and their  respective  Subsidiaries or any of their
respective  property  or assets as of the end of such  fiscal  year,  including,
without limitation,  liability,  casualty, and business interruption  (including
product  liability),  insurance,  in form and detail satisfactory to the Agents,
certified as true and correct by the Chief Financial Officer of the Company,  in
his or her corporate capacity;


                  (vii)                      Promptly and in any event within 10
calendar days after receiving or becoming aware thereof (A) a copy of any notice
of intent to terminate any Plan of the Company, any Guarantor,  their respective
Subsidiaries  or any ERISA Affiliate filed with the PBGC, (B) a statement of the
chief  financial  officer of the Company or any  Guarantor,  as the case may be;
setting forth the details of the occurrence of any Reportable Event with respect
to any such Plan, (C) a copy of any notice that the Company, any Guarantor,  any
of their  respective  Subsidiaries  or any ERISA  Affiliate may receive from the
PBGC  relating to the  intention  of the PBGC to  terminate  any such Plan or to
appoint a trustee to  administer  any such Plan,  or (D) a copy of any notice of
failure to make a required  installment  or other payment  within the meaning of
Section  412(n) of the Code or Section  302(f) of ERISA with respect to any such
Plan; and

                   (viii)            Promptly, such other information respecting
the business,  properties,  operations or condition  (financial or otherwise) of
the Company,  any Guarantor or any of their respective  Subsidiaries as any Bank
or any Agent may from time to time reasonably request.

                   (e)    Accounting; Access to Records, Books, Etc.  Maintain a
system of accounting  established  and  administered  in  accordance  with sound
business practices to permit  preparation of financial  statements in accordance
with  Generally   Accepted   Accounting   Principles  and  to  comply  with  the
requirements  of this  Agreement  and, at any  reasonable  time and from time to
time, (i) permit any Bank or any Agent or any agents or representatives  thereof
to  examine  and make  copies of and  abstracts  from the  records  and books of

                                      -36-
<PAGE>

account of, and visit the properties  of, the Company,  the Guarantors and their
respective  Subsidiaries,  and to discuss the affairs,  finances and accounts of
the  Company,  the  Guarantors  and their  respective  Subsidiaries  with  their
respective directors,  officers, employees and independent auditors, and by this
provision each of the Company and the Guarantors  hereby authorizes such persons
to discuss such affairs,  finances and accounts with any Bank or the Agent,  and
(ii) not less frequently than annually (or more frequently, at the option of any
Agent,  during the  continuation  of any Default or Event of Default) permit any
Agent or any of its agents or representatives  to conduct a comprehensive  field
audit of its books, records, properties and assets, including without limitation
all collateral subject to the Security  Documents,  with the reasonable expenses
thereof to be borne by the Company.

                   (f) Additional Security and Collateral.  Promptly (i) execute
and deliver and cause each  Subsidiary  of the  Company  and the  Guarantors  to
execute and deliver, additional Security Documents, within 30 days after request
therefor  by the  Required  Banks  or any  Agent,  sufficient  to  grant  to the
Collateral  Agent for the benefit of the Banks liens and  security  interests in
any after  acquired  property of the type  described in Section  2.11,  and (ii)
cause each person  becoming a Subsidiary  of the Company or any  Guarantor  from
time to time to execute and deliver to the Banks and the Agents,  within 30 days
after such person becomes a Subsidiary, Security  Documents, together with other
related  documents  described  in  Section  2.5,  sufficient  to  grant  to  the
Collateral  Agent for the benefit of the Banks  liens and security  interests in
all collateral of the type described in Section 2.11.  The Company  shall notify
the Banks and the Agents,  within 10 days  after  the occurrence thereof, of the
acquisition of any property by the Company or any  Guarantor that is not subject
to the existing Security  Documents,  any person's  becoming  a  Subsidiary  and
any  other  event  or  condition  that  may  require  additional  action  of any
nature in order to  preserve  the  effectiveness  and  perfected  status  of the
liens and  security  interests  of  the  Collateral Agent for the benefit of the
Banks with respect to such property  pursuant to the Security Documents.

                    (g) Further Assurances.  Will, and will cause each Guarantor
to,  execute  and  deliver  within 30 days  after  request  by the Banks and the
Agents,  all further  instruments and documents and take all further action that
may be  necessary  or  desirable,  or that the  Required  Banks or any Agent may
request,  in order to give effect to, and to aid in the exercise and enforcement
of the rights and remedies of the Banks under, this Agreement, the Notes and the
Security Documents.

                 5.2         Negative Covenants.  Until the Termination Date and
thereafter until payment in full of the principal of and accrued interest on the
Notes  and  the  performance  of  all  other  obligations of the Company and the
Guarantors  under  this  Agreement,  the  Notes and the Security  Documents, the
Company agrees  that,  unless  the  Required  Banks  shall  otherwise consent i
writing it shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to:

              (a) Current Ratio.  Permit or suffer the ratio of the consolidated
Current Assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries to the  consolidated  Current

                                      -37-
<PAGE>

Liabilities of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  to be less than 1.5 to 1.0 for
the quarter  ending June 30, 1996,  or to be less than 2.5 to 1.0 at any quarter
end thereafter.
                    (b)   Tangible Net Worth.  Permit or suffer the consolidated
Tangible  Net  Worth  of the  Company  and  its  Subsidiaries  to be  less  than
$4,000,000 at any fiscal quarter end of the Company after the Effective Date.

                    (c)  Total Capital Funds.  Permit or suffer the consolidated
Total  Capital  Funds  of  the  Company  in its  Subsidiaries  to be  less  than
$15,000,000 at any fiscal quarter end of the Company after the Effective Date.

                    (d) Total Debt to EBITDA.  Permit or suffer the consolidated
Total Debt of the Company and its Subsidiaries to the consolidated EBITDA of the
Company and its  Subsidiaries to be greater than 3.0 to 1.0 as of the end of any
fiscal quarter of the Company after the Effective Date. The  consolidated  Total
Debt of the Company and its Subsidiary shall be  measured  as of the  last  date
of any fiscal quarter of  the  Company.  The consolidated  EBITDA of the Company
and  its  Subsidiary  shall  be  measured  for  the  four (4) consecutive fiscal
quarters then ending. Notwithstanding the foregoing,  the ratio of Total Debt to
EBITDA for the quarter  ended March 31, 1996 shall be determined by  multiplying
EBITDA  for  the  quarter  ended  March 31, 1996 by four; shall be determined by
multiplying  EBITDA for the two quarters  ending June 30, 1996 by two; and shall
be  determined  by multiplying  EBITDA  for the  three quarters ending Septembe
30, 1996 by one and one-third.

                 (e) Interest Coverage Ratio.  Permit or suffer the consolidated
Interest  Coverage Ratio of the Company and its Subsidiaries to be less than 3.0
to 1.0 as of the end of any fiscal  quarter of the Company  after the  Effective
Date, in each case calculated for the four (4) consecutive  fiscal quarters then
ending.

                 (f)       Indebtedness.  Create, incur, assume or in any manner
become liable in respect of, or suffer to exist, any Indebtedness other than:

                       (i)                The Loans;

                       (ii)               The Indebtedness described in Schedule
5.2(f)  hereto,  having  the same  terms as those  existing  on the date of this
Agreement, but no extension or renewal thereof shall be permitted;

                       (iii)               Indebtedness in aggregate outstanding
principal amount not exceeding $250,000 which is secured by  one  or  more liens
permitted by Section 5.2(g)(vi) hereof;

                       (iv)                Indebtedness of any Subsidiary of the
Company owing to the Company or to any other Subsidiary of the Company;

                                      -38-
<PAGE>

                       (v)                 Indebtedness in aggregate outstanding
amount not exceeding $250,000  constituting  obligations  as  lessee  under  any
Capital Lease;

                       (vi)              Subordinated Debt of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries;

                       (vii)       Interest rate or currency swaps, rate caps or
other similar transactions with any Bank;

                       (viii)           Trade payables that are past due but not
materially delinquent as measured by  past  practice, custom and usage, trade or
industry practice or standards, or Company policies; and

                       (ix)             Any contra-account, offset, or liability
arising in the ordinary course of business and in accordance with  the Company's
past practice.
 
                 (g) Liens.  Create, incur or suffer to exist any Lien on any of
the assets, rights,  revenues or property,  real, personal or mixed, tangible or
intangible,  whether now owned or hereafter  acquired,  of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries, other than:

                        (i)          Liens for taxes not delinquent or for taxes
being  contested  in good  faith  by  appropriate  proceedings  and as to  which
adequate  financial  reserves have been  established on its books and records in
accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles;

                        (ii)               Liens (other than any Lien imposed by
ERISA or any Environmental Law) created and maintained in the ordinary course of
business which do not secure obligations  exceeding  $2,000,000 in the aggregate
and which  would not have a Material  Adverse  Effect and which  constitute  (A)
pledges or deposits under worker's  compensation  laws,  unemployment  insurance
laws or similar  legislation,  (B) good faith deposits in connection  with bids,
tenders,  contracts or leases to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is
a party for a purpose other than borrowing money or obtaining credit,  including
rent  security  deposits,  (C) liens  imposed by law, such as those of carriers,
warehousemen and mechanics,  if payment of the obligation secured thereby is not
yet due, (D) Liens securing taxes,  assessments or other governmental charges or
levies not yet subject to penalties for nonpayment,  and (E) pledges or deposits
to  secure  public  or  statutory  obligations  of  the  Company  or  any of its
Subsidiaries,  or surety, customs or appeal bonds to which the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries is a party;

                         (iii)               Liens affecting real property which
constitute minor survey exceptions or defects or irregularities in title,  minor
encumbrances,  easements or reservations  of, or rights of others for, rights of
way,  sewers,  electric  lines,  telegraph and telephone lines and other similar
purposes,  or zoning or other  restrictions as to the use of such real property,
provided  that  all  of the  foregoing,  in the  aggregate,  do not at any  time
materially  detract from the value of said properties or materially impair their

                                      -39-
<PAGE>

use  in  the  operation  of  the  businesses  of  the  Company  or  any  of  its
Subsidiaries;
                         
                         (iv)             Liens created pursuant to the Security
Documents and Liens expressly permitted by the Security Documents;

                         (v)              Each Lien described in Schedule 5.2(g)
                                                                               
hereto may be  suffered  to exist upon the same terms as those  existing  on the
date hereof, but no extension or renewal thereof shall be permitted;

                         (vi)            Any Lien created to secure payment of a
portion of the purchase price of, or existing at the time of acquisition of, any
tangible fixed asset acquired by the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  may be
created or suffered to exist upon such fixed asset if the outstanding  principal
amount of the Indebtedness  secured by such Lien does not at any time exceed the
purchase  price paid by the Company or such  Subsidiary for such fixed asset and
the aggregate  principal amount of all  Indebtedness  secured by such Liens does
not exceed  $250,000,  provided that such Lien does not encumber any other asset
at any time owned by the Company or such Subsidiary, and provided, further, that
not more than one such Lien shall encumber such fixed asset at any one time;

                         (vii)       Liens in favor of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries as security for Indebtedness permitted by Section 5.2(f)(iv); and

                         (viii)      The interest or title of a lessor under any
lease  otherwise  permitted  under this  Agreement  with respect to the property
subject  to such  lease to the  extent  performance  of the  obligations  of the
Company or its Subsidiary thereunder are not delinquent.

                     (h)  Merger; Acquisitions; Etc.  Subject to Section 5.2(m),
purchase or otherwise acquire,  whether in one or a series of transactions,  all
or a substantial portion of the business assets,  rights,  revenues or property,
real,  personal or mixed,  tangible or  intangible,  of any person,  or all or a
substantial  portion of the capital stock of or other ownership  interest in any
other person;  nor merge or consolidate  or amalgamate  with any other person or
take any other action having a similar effect,  nor enter into any joint venture
or similar  arrangement  with any other  person,  provided,  however,  that this
Section  5.2(h) shall not prohibit any merger or acquisition or joint venture or
similar  arrangement  if (i) the aggregate net  consideration  to be paid by the
Company  in  connection  with  such  transaction  is  not  projected  to  exceed
$3,000,000,  the aggregate net consideration paid by the Company during the then
most recent twelve-month period of operations of the Company with respect to all
such transactions has not exceeded $9,000,000 in the aggregate,  and the Company
is  not  in an  Overadvance  Position,  (ii)  in  the  case  of  any  merger  or
acquisition,  the  Company  shall be the  surviving  or  continuing  corporation
thereof,  (iii) immediately before and after such merger or acquisition or joint
venture or similar  arrangement,  no Default or Event of Default  shall exist or
shall have occurred and be continuing  and the  representations  and  warranties
contained  in  Article  IV,  and in the  Security  Documents,  shall be true and
correct on and as of the date  thereof  (both  before  and after such  merger or
acquisition or joint venture or similar  arrangement is  consummated) as if made

                                      -40-
<PAGE>

on the date such merger or acquisition or joint venture or  similar  arrangement
is consummated,  (iv),  the  Company  shall  execute and deliver, or cause to be
executed and delivered, such documents as may be requested by the Required Banks
or any Agent under Sections  5.1(f) and 5.1(g), and (v) prior to or concurrently
with the  consummation of such merger or acquisition or joint venture or similar
arrangement,  the Company shall have provided to the Banks a certificate of  the
Chief  Financial  Officer  of the  Company,  in his or her  corporate  capacity,
stating that such  transaction  complies with this Section   5.2(h) and that any
other  conditions  under  this  Agreement  relating  to such  transaction   have
been  satisfied   (attaching   computations  to  demonstrate compliance with all
financial covenants hereunder).  In the event an  Overadvance  Position  exists,
the  prior  written  consent  of  the  Banks  is  required  in  connection  with
any such  merger or  acquisition  or joint  venture  or similar arrangement.  In
calculating  the  consideration  to  be  paid  in  connection   with   any  such
transaction,  the  Company shall follow the rules and regulations promulgated by
the  Securities  and Exchange Commission from time to time, including such rules
governing the calculation of "earn-out" provisions.  No certificate of the Chief
Financial  Officer of the Company  shall be required  under this  Section 5.2(h)
for any transaction  having net consideration  to be paid of less than $500,000.

             (i)    Disposition of Assets; Etc.  Sell, lease, license, transfer,
assign or otherwise  dispose of all or a  substantial  portion of its  business,
assets,  rights,  revenues or  property,  real,  personal or mixed,  tangible or
intangible, whether in one or a series of transactions,  provided, however, that
this Section 5.2(i) shall not prohibit any such sale, lease, license,  transfer,
assignment or other  disposition if the aggregate book value  (disregarding  any
write-downs   of  such  book  value  other  than   ordinary   depreciation   and
amortization)  of all of the  business,  assets,  rights,  revenues and property
disposed of after the date of this Agreement  shall be less than $250,000 in the
aggregate, and if, immediately before and after such transaction,  no Default or
Event of Default shall exist or shall have occurred and be continuing.

             (j)            Nature of Business.  Make any material change in the
nature of its business from that engaged in on the date of this Agreement.

             (k) Dividends and Other Restricted Payments.  Make, pay, declare or
authorize any dividend, payment or other distribution in respect of any class of
its capital stock or any dividend,  payment or  distribution  in connection with
the  redemption,   purchase,  retirement  or  other  acquisition,   directly  or
indirectly,  of any  shares of its  capital  stock  other  than such  dividends,
payments or other  distributions  to the extent  payable solely in shares of the
capital  stock of the  Company  or to the  extent  payable  to the  Company by a
wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company, if any Default or Event of Default shall
exist or shall have  occurred  and be  continuing  or if any Default or Event of
Default under any other provision of this Agreement would result therefrom.  For
purposes of this Section 5.2(k), "capital stock" shall include capital stock and
any  securities  exchangeable  for or  convertible  into  capital  stock and any
warrants, rights or other options to purchase or otherwise acquire capital stock
or such securities.

                                      -41-
<PAGE>

                (l)   Capital Expenditures.  Acquire any fixed asset or make any
other capital  expenditure if the aggregate purchase price and other acquisition
costs of all such fixed assets acquired and other capital  expenditures  made by
the  Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  during any fiscal  year of the Company
would exceed, on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to $1,500,000 during such
fiscal year. For purposes of calculating  such capital  expenditure  limitation,
the amount of any fixed  assets  acquired  in  connection  with any  transaction
permitted by Section 5.2(h) shall be excluded.

                (m)     Investments, Loans and Advances.  Except as permitted by
Section  5.2(h),  purchase or  otherwise  acquire any capital  stock of or other
ownership  interest in, or debt securities of or other evidences of Indebtedness
of,  any  other  person;  nor make any loan or  advance  of any of its  funds or
property or make any other  extension  of credit to, or make any  investment  or
acquire any interest  whatsoever in, any other person;  nor incur any Contingent
Liability; other than (i) extensions of trade credit made in the ordinary course
of  business  on  customary  credit  terms and  commission,  travel and  similar
advances made to officers and employees in the ordinary course of business,  and
(ii) commercial paper of any United States issuer having the highest rating then
given by Moody's  Investors  Service,  Inc.,  or Standard & Poor's  Corporation,
direct  obligations of and obligations  fully guaranteed by the United States of
America or any agency or instrumentality  thereof, or certificates of deposit of
any  commercial  bank which is a member of the Federal  Reserve System and which
has  capital,  surplus  and  undivided  profit  (as  shown on its most  recently
published  statement  of  condition)  aggregating  not less  than  $100,000,000,
provided,  however,  that each of the foregoing  investments has a maturity date
not later than thirty (30) days after the acquisition  thereof by the Company or
any  of its  Subsidiaries,  (iii)  money  market  investments,  and  (iv)  those
investments, loans, advances and other transactions described in Schedule 5.2(m)
hereto, having the same terms as existing on the date of this Agreement,  but no
extension or renewal thereof shall be permitted.

                (n)Transactions with Affiliates.  Enter into, become a party to,
or become liable in respect of, any contract or  undertaking  with any Affiliate
except in the ordinary course of business and on terms not less favorable to the
Company or such  Subsidiary  than those which could be obtained if such contract
or  undertaking  were an arms  length  transaction  with a person  other than an
Affiliate.

                (o)        Payments and Modification of Subordinated Debt.  Make
any optional  payment,  prepayment or redemption of any  Subordinated  Debt, nor
amend or modify,  or consent or agree to any  amendment or  modification,  which
would shorten any maturity or increase the amount of any payment of principal or
increase  the  rate  (or  require  earlier  payment)  of  interest  on any  such
Subordinated Debt, nor amend any agreement under which any Subordinated  Debt is
issued or  created  or  otherwise related  thereto, nor enter into any agreement
or  arrangement  providing  for the defeasance of any Subordinated Indebtedness.

                (p)   Negative Pledge Limitation.  Enter into any agreement with
any person other than the Banks  pursuant  hereto which  prohibits or limits the
ability of the Company or any Subsidiary to create,  incur,  assume or suffer to
exist any Lien upon any of its  assets,  rights,  revenues  or  property,  real,

                                      -42-
<PAGE>

personal  or mixed,  tangible  or  intangible,  whether  now owned or  hereafter
acquired.

                 (q)          Inconsistent Agreements.  Enter into any agreement
containing  any material  provision  which would be violated or breached by this
Agreement or any of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby or by performance by
the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  or any Guarantor of its  obligations in
connection therewith.


                                   ARTICLE VI.
                                     DEFAULT

             6.1  Events of Default.  The occurrence of any one of the following
events or conditions shall be deemed an  "Event  of  Default"  hereunder  unless
waived pursuant to Section 9.1:

                  (a)    Nonpayment.  The Company shall fail to pay when due any
principal  of the Notes,  or any  reimbursement  obligation  under  Section  3.3
(whether by deemed  disbursement of a Loan or otherwise),  or failure to pay any
interest on the Notes or any fees or any other amount payable hereunder; or

                  (b)    Misrepresentation.  Any representation or warranty made
by the Company or any Guarantor in Article IV, or in any Security  Document,  or
any other certificate,  report,  financial statement or other document furnished
by or on  behalf  of the  Company  or any  Guarantor  in  connection  with  this
Agreement,  shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made
or deemed made; or

                  (c)     Certain Covenants.  The Company or any Guarantor shall
fail to perform or observe any term,  covenant or agreement contained in Article
V hereof,  and such  failure  shall not be cured  within the  earlier of 15 days
after  discovery  thereof by the Company or such  Guarantor or notice thereof by
any Bank or any Agent to the Company or such Guarantor; or

                  (d)   Other Defaults.  The Company or any Guarantor shall fail
to perform or  observe  any  other term, covenant or agreement contained in this
Agreement  or  in  any  Security  Document,  and  any  such failure shall remain
unremedied for 15 calendar days  after  notice  thereof  shall have  been  given
to the  Company  or such  Guarantor, as the case may be, by  any  Agent (or such
longer or shorter period of time as may be specified in such Security Document);
or

                  (e)     Cross Default.  The Company or any Guarantor or any of
their  respective  Subsidiaries  shall fail to pay any part of the principal of,
the premium, if any, or the interest on, or any other payment of money due under
any of its Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness  hereunder),  beyond any period

                                      -43-
<PAGE>

of grace  provided with respect  thereto,  which  individually  or together with
other such  Indebtedness  as to which any such  failure  exists has an aggregate
outstanding  principal  amount in excess of  $250,000;  or if the Company or any
Guarantor or any of their  respective  Subsidiaries  fails to perform or observe
any other term,  covenant or  agreement  contained  in, or if any other event or
condition  occurs  or  exists  under,  any  agreement,  document  or  instrument
evidencing or securing any such Indebtedness  having such aggregate  outstanding
principal amount,  or under which any such Indebtedness was incurred,  issued or
created,  beyond any period of grace,  if any,  provided with respect thereto if
the effect of such failure is either (i) to cause, or permit the holders of such
Indebtedness  (or a trustee on behalf of such holders) to cause,  any payment in
respect  of such  Indebtedness  to  become  due prior to its due date or (ii) to
permit the holders of such Indebtedness (or a trustee on behalf of such holders)
to elect a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company; or

                (f)          Judgments.  One or more judgments or orders for the
payment of money in an aggregate  amount of $100,000 which are not fully insured
shall  be  rendered  against  the  Company  or any  Guarantor  or  any of  their
respective Subsidiaries,  or any other judgment or order (whether or not for the
payment of money)  shall be rendered  against or shall affect the Company or any
Guarantor or any of their respective  Subsidiaries  which causes or could have a
Material  Adverse  Effect,  and either  (i) such  judgment  or order  shall have
remained  unsatisfied  for a period of 30 days and the Company or such Guarantor
or such  Subsidiary  shall not have taken action  necessary to stay  enforcement
thereof by reason of pending appeal or otherwise, prior to the expiration of the
applicable period of limitations for taking such action or, if such action shall
have been taken,  a final order denying such stay shall have been  rendered,  or
(ii) enforcement  proceedings shall have been commenced by any creditor upon any
such judgment or order; or

                (g)    ERISA.  The occurrence of a Reportable Event that results
in or could result in liability  of the Company,  any  Guarantor or any of their
respective Subsidiaries or their ERISA Affiliates to the PBGC or to any Plan and
such  Reportable  Event is not  corrected  within  thirty  (30)  days  after the
occurrence  thereof;  or the  occurrence  of any  Reportable  Event  which could
constitute grounds for termination of any Plan of the Company,  any Guarantor or
any of their  respective  Subsidiaries or their ERISA  Affiliates by the PBGC or
for the appointment by the appropriate United States District Court of a trustee
to administer any such Plan and such  Reportable  Event is not corrected  within
thirty (30) days after the occurrence thereof; or the filing by the Company, any
Guarantor,  any  of  their  respective   Subsidiaries or  any  of  their   ERISA
Affiliates  of a  notice  of  intent  to  terminate  a Plan or  the  institution
of other  proceedings  to  terminate a  Plan;  or the  Company,  any  Guarantor,
any of their respective Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates shall fail
to pay when due any  liability to the PBGC or to a Plan;  or the PBGC shall have
instituted   proceedings  to  terminate,  or to cause a trustee to be  appointed
to  administer,  any  Plan  of   the   Company,  any  Guarantor,  any  of  their
respective Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates;  or any person engages
in a Prohibited  Transaction  with respect to any Plan which results in or could
result in liability  of the  Company,  any  Guarantor,  any of their  respective
Subsidiaries,  any of  their  ERISA  Affiliates,  any Plan of the  Company,  any
Guarantor,  any of their  respective  Subsidiaries or their ERISA  Affiliates or
fiduciary of any such Plan;  or failure by the Company,  any  Guarantor,  any of
their  respective  Subsidiaries  or any of  their  ERISA  Affiliates  to  make a

                                      -44-
<PAGE>

required  installment or other payment to any Plan within the meaning of Section
302(f) of ERISA or Section 412(n) of the Code that results in or could result in
liability of the Company, any Guarantor, any of their respective Subsidiaries or
any of their ERISA  Affiliates to the PBGC or any Plan; or the withdrawal of the
Company,  any Guarantor,  any of their  respective  Subsidiaries or any of their
ERISA  Affiliates  from a Plan during a plan year in which it was a "substantial
employer"  as defined in  Section  4001(9a)(2)  of ERISA;  or the  Company,  any
Guarantor, any of their respective Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates
becomes an employer  with  respect to any  Multiemployer  Plan without the prior
written consent of the Required Banks; or

                (h)       Insolvency, Etc.  The Company, any Guarantor or any of
their respective Subsidiaries shall be dissolved or liquidated (or any judgment,
order or decree  therefor shall be entered),  or shall  generally not be able to
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 shall institute, or there shall be instituted against the Company,
any Guarantor or any of their  respective  Subsidiaries,  any proceeding or case
seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent or seeking 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  assets,  rights,
revenues or property, and, if such proceeding is instituted against the Company,
such Guarantor or such  Subsidiary and is being  contested by the Company,  such
Guarantor or such  Subsidiary,  as the case may be, in good faith by appropriate
proceedings,  such proceeding shall remain  undismissed or unstayed for a period
of 60 days; or the Company,  such  Guarantor or such  Subsidiary  shall take any
action (corporate or other) to authorize or further any of the actions described
above in this subsection; or

                (i)       Loan Documents.  Any event of default described in any
Loan Document shall have occurred and be continuing  (which default shall not be
cured  within the earlier of 15 days after  discovery  thereof by the Company or
any Guaranty or notice thereof by any  Bank or any  Agent to the Company or such
Guarantor),  or any material  provision  of Article VIII  hereof or  of any Loan
Document  shall at any time for any reason cease to be  valid  and  binding  and
enforceable against any obligor thereunder, or  the validity, binding  effect or
enforceability thereof shall be contested by any person,  or any  obligor, shall
deny that it has any or further liability  or obligation thereunder, or any Loan
Document  shall  be  terminated,   invalidated  or  set  aside,  or  be declared
ineffective or inoperative or in any way cease to give or  provide  to the Banks
or the Agents  the  benefits  purported  to be created thereby.

                6.2     Remedies.

                   (a)     Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any
Event of  Default,  the Agents  may and,  upon  being  directed  to do so by the
Required Banks,  shall by notice to the Company (i) terminate the Commitments or
(ii) declare the outstanding  principal of, and accrued  interest on, the Notes,
all unpaid  reimbursement  obligations  in respect of drawings  under Letters of

                                      -45-
<PAGE>

Credit and all other amounts owing under this  Agreement to be  immediately  due
and  payable,  or (iii)  demand  immediate  delivery of cash  collateral  to the
Collateral  Agent,  and the Company agrees to deliver such cash  collateral upon
demand,  in an amount  equal to the maximum  amount that may be  available to be
drawn at any time  prior to the  stated  expiry of all  outstanding  Letters  of
Credit,  or any one or more of the foregoing,  whereupon the  Commitments  shall
terminate forthwith and all such amounts, including such cash collateral,  shall
become  immediately  due and payable,  provided that in the case of any event or
condition  described  in  Section  6.1(h)  with  respect  to the  Company or any
Guarantor,  the Commitments shall automatically terminate forthwith and all such
amounts, including such cash collateral,  shall automatically become immediately
due and  payable  without  notice;  in all cases  without  demand,  presentment,
protest,  diligence,  notice of  dishonor or other  formality,  all of which are
hereby  expressly  waived.   Such  cash  collateral   delivered  in  respect  of
outstanding  Letters of Credit shall be  deposited in a special cash  collateral
account  to be held by the  Collateral  Agent  as  collateral  security  for the
payment and performance of the Company's obligations under this Agreement to the
Banks and the Agents.

                 (b)     Each Agent may and, upon being directed to do so by the
Required Banks,  shall, in addition to the remedies  provided in Section 6.2(a),
exercise  and enforce any and all other  rights and  remedies  available  to it,
whether  arising  under this  Agreement,  the Notes or any Security  Document or
under applicable law, in any manner deemed appropriate by the Agents,  including
suit in equity, action at law, or other appropriate proceedings, whether for the
specific  performance  (to the  extent  permitted  by law)  of any  covenant  or
agreement  contained in this Agreement or in the Notes or any Security  Document
or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this  Agreement,  the Notes or
any Security Document.

                 (c)       Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any
Event  of  Default,  each  Bank  may  at any time and from time to time, without
notice to the Company  or  any Guarantor (any  requirement for such notice being
expressly waived by the Company and each Guarantor) set off  and  apply  against
any  and  all  of  the  obligations  of  the  Company and each  Guarantor now or
hereafter existing under this Agreement, whether owing to such Bank or any other
Bank or any Agent,   any  and all deposits (general or special,  time or demand,
provisional or final) at any time held and other  indebtedness at any time owing
by such Bank to or for the credit or the account of the Company or any Guarantor
and  any   property  of  the  Company  or any  Guarantor  from  time  to time in
possession  of such Bank,  irrespective  of whether  or not such Bank shall have
made any demand  hereunder and although such  obligations  may be contingent and
unmatured.  Each of the  Company and the  Guarantors  hereby grants to the Banks
and  the  Agents  a  lien  on  and  security  interest  in  all  such  deposits,
indebtedness and property as collateral security for the payment and performance
of the  obligations of the Company and each Guarantor under this  Agreement. The
rights of such Bank under this Section  6.2(c)  are  in addition to other rights
and  remedies (including, without limitation, other rights of setoff) which such
Bank may have.

                                      -46-
<PAGE>



                                  ARTICLE VII.
                            THE AGENTS AND THE BANKS

                 7.1     Appointment  and  Authorization.   Each  Bank  hereby
irrevocably  appoints First Security Bank, N.A. as the Administrative  Agent and
NBD Bank as the  Documentation  and Collateral Agent under this Agreement.  Each
Bank hereby  irrevocably  authorizes  each Agent to take such action as agent on
its behalf and to exercise such powers under this  Agreement,  the Notes and the
Security  Documents  as are  delegated  to such  Agent by the  terms  hereof  or
thereof, together with all such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The
provisions  of this Article VII are solely for the benefit of the Agents and the
Banks,  and neither the  Company  nor any  Guarantor  shall have any rights as a
third party  beneficiary  of any of the  provisions  hereof.  In performing  its
functions and duties under this Agreement, the Agents shall act solely as agents
of the Banks and do not  assume  and  shall  not be deemed to have  assumed  any
obligation towards or relationship of agency or trust with or for the Company.

             7.2  Agent and Affiliates.  First Security Bank, N.A. and NBD Bank,
each in its capacity as a Bank hereunder, shall have the same rights and  powers
hereunder as any other Bank and may exercise or refrain from exercising the same
as though it were not an Agent.  First Security Bank, N.A. and NBD  Bank and its
affiliates may (without having to account therefor  to any Bank) accept deposits
from,  lend  money  to,  and  generally  engage  in  any kind of banking, trust,
financial advisory or other business with the Company, any  Guarantor  or any of
their  respective Subsidiaries as if it were not  acting  as an Agent hereunder,
and may accept fees and other consideration  therefor  without having to account
for the same to the Banks.

                7.3       Scope of  Agents'  Duties.  The  Agents  shall have no
duties or  responsibilities  except those expressly set forth herein,  and shall
not, by reason of this Agreement,  have a fiduciary  relationship with any Bank,
and no implied covenants,  responsibilities,  duties, obligations or liabilities
shall be read into this Agreement or shall  otherwise  exist against the Agents.
As to any matters  not  expressly  provided  for by this  Agreement  (including,
without limitation,  collection and enforcement actioned under the Notes and the
Security Documents), the Agents shall not be required to exercise any discretion
or take any  action,  but the Agents  shall take such action or omit to take any
action pursuant to the reasonable written instructions of the Required Banks and
may request  instructions from the Required Banks. The Agents shall in all cases
be fully  protected in acting,  or in  refraining  from acting,  pursuant to the
written instructions of the Required Banks (or all of the Banks, as the case may
be, in accordance with the requirements of this Agreement),  which  instructions
and any action or omission  pursuant  thereto  shall be binding  upon all of the
Banks;  provided,  however, no Agent shall be required to act or omit to act if,
in the judgment of such Agent,  such action or omission may expose such Agent to
personal  liability or is contrary to this Agreement,  the Notes or the Security
Documents or applicable law.

                 7.4      Reliance  by Agents.  The Agents  shall be entitled to
rely  upon  the  contents  of  any  certificate,   notice,   document  or  other
communication  (including any cable, telegram,  telex, facsimile transmission or
oral communication)  believed by them to be genuine and correct and to have been

                                      -47-
<PAGE>

sent or given by or on behalf of a proper person. The Agents may treat the payee
of any Note as the holder thereof  unless and until the Agents  receive  written
notice of the assignment  thereof pursuant to the terms of this Agreement signed
by such payee and the Agents receive the written  agreement of the assignee that
such  assignee is bound  hereby to the same extent as if it had been an original
party hereto.  The Agents may each employ agents (including  without  limitation
collateral  agents) and may consult  with legal  counsel (who may be counsel for
the Company),  independent  public  accountants and other experts selected by it
and shall not be liable to the Banks, except as to money or property received by
them or their  authorized  agents,  for the negligence or misconduct of any such
agent selected by them with  reasonable  care or for any action taken or omitted
to be taken by it in good faith in  accordance  with the advice of such counsel,
accountants or experts.

                 7.5      Default. No Agent shall be deemed to have knowledge of
the  occurrence  of any  Default or Event of  Default,  unless  the Agents  have
received  written notice from a Bank or the Company or any Guarantor  specifying
such  Default or Event of Default and  stating  that such notice is a "Notice of
Default".  In the event that the Agents receive such a notice,  the Agents shall
give written notice thereto to the Banks.

          7.6  Liability of Agents.  Neither any Agent nor any of its directors,
officers, agents, or employees shall be liable to the Banks for any action taken
or not  taken  by  it  or them in connection herewith with the consent or at the
request  of  the  Required  Banks  or  in  the absence of its or their own gross
negligence or willful misconduct.  Neither any 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 recital, statement,  warranty or
representation contained in this Agreement, any Note or  any Security  Document,
or in  any  certificate,  eport, financial statement or other document furnished
in connection with this  Agreement,  (ii) the  performance or observance  of any
of  the  covenants  or   agreements  of the Company or any Guarantor,  (iii) the
satisfaction  of  any  condition  specified  in  Article  II hereof, or (iv) the
validity,  effectiveness,  legal  enforceability,  value or  genuineness of this
Agreement,  Notes or the Security  Documents or any collateral  subject  thereto
or any other  instrument  or document  furnished in connection herewith.

          7.7  Nonreliance on Agent and Other Banks.  Each Bank acknowledges and
agrees that it has, independently and without reliance on any Agent or any other
Bank, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed  appropriate,
made its own credit  analysis of the Company and the  Guarantors and decision to
enter into this Agreement and that it will, inde pendently and without  reliance
upon any Agent or any other Bank, and based on such documents and information as
it shall deem  appropriate  at the time,  continue to make its own  analysis and
decision in taking or not taking action under this  Agreement.  The Agents shall
not be required to keep themselves  informed as to the performance or observance
by the Company or any  Guarantor  of this  Agreement,  the Notes or the Security
Documents  or any other  documents  referred  to or  provided  for  herein or to
inspect the properties or books of the Company or any Guarantor and,  except for
notices,  reports and other documents and information  expressly  required to be
furnished to the Banks by any Agent  hereunder,  no Agent shall have any duty or
responsibility to provide any Bank with any information  concerning the affairs,

                                      -48-
<PAGE>

financial  condition or business of the Company,  any  Guarantor or any of their
respective  Subsidiaries which may come into the possession of such Agent or any
of its Affiliates.

                      7.8 Indemnification.  The Banks  agree to  indemnify  each
Agent (to the extent not reimbursed by the Company or any Guarantor, but without
limiting  any   obligation  of  the  Company  or  any  Guarantor  to  make  such
reimbursement),  ratably  according to the respective  principal  amounts of the
Advances  then  outstanding  made by each of them (or if no Advances  are at the
time  outstanding,   ratably  according  to  the  respective  amounts  of  their
Commitments), from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities,
costs  or  expenses  of  any  kind  or  nature  whatsoever  (including,  without
limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel) which may be imposed on, incurred
by, or asserted against such Agent in any way relating to or arising out of this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or any action taken or omitted
by such Agent under this  Agreement,  provided,  however,  that no Bank shall be
liable for any portion of such claims, damages,  losses,  liabilities,  costs or
expenses  resulting  from such Agent's gross  negligence or willful  misconduct.
Without  limitation of the  foregoing,  each Bank agrees to reimburse the Agents
promptly  upon  demand  for its  ratable  share  of any  out-of-pocket  expenses
(including  without  limitation  fees and  expenses of counsel)  incurred by the
Agents in connection with the preparation,  execution, delivery, administration,
modification,  amendment  or enforcement (whether  through  negotiations,  legal
proceedings  or  otherwise)  of,  or  legal  advice  in  respect  of  rights  or
responsibilities  under, this Agreement,  to the extent that  such  Agent is not
reimbursed  for  such  expenses  by  the Company or any  Guarantor,  but without
limiting  the  obligation   of  the  Company  or  any  Guarantor  to  make  such
reimbursement. Each Bank agrees to reimburse the Agents promptly upon demand for
its ratable share of any amounts owing to the Agents  by  the Banks  pursuant to
this Section. If the indemnity furnished to the Agents under this Section shall,
in the  judgment of any Agent,  be  insufficient  or become impaired,  the Agent
may call for additional indemnity from the Banks and cease, or not commence,  to
take any action until such  additional  indemnity is furnished.

                 7.9      Successor Agent.  Each Agent may resign as such at any
time upon ten days' prior  written  notice to the Company and the Banks.  In the
event of any such  resignation,  the Required  Banks shall,  by an instrument in
writing  delivered  to the Company and the Agents,  appoint a  successor,  which
shall be a commercial  bank organized under the laws of the United States or any
State   thereof  and  having  a  combined   capital  and  surplus  of  at  least
$500,000,000.  If a  successor  is not so  appointed  or does  not  accept  such
appointment  before such Agent's  resignation  becomes  effective,  the retiring
Agent may appoint a temporary  successor  to act until such  appointment  by the
Required  Banks  is made  and  accepted  or if no such  temporary  successor  is
appointed as provided  above by the  retiring  Agent,  the Required  Banks shall
thereafter  perform all the duties of the retiring  Agent  hereunder  until such
appointment  by the Required  Banks is made and accepted.  Any successor to such
Agent shall  execute  and  deliver to the  Company  and the Banks an  instrument
accepting such appointment and thereupon such successor  Agent,  without further
act,  deed,  conveyance  or  transfer  shall  become  vested  with  all  of  the
properties,  rights,  interests,  powers,  authorities  and  obligations  of its
predecessor  hereunder  with  like  effect  as if  originally  named as an Agent
hereunder.  Upon request of such successor  Agent,  the Company and the retiring
Agent shall execute and deliver such  instruments of conveyance,  assignment and

                                      -49-
<PAGE>

further  assurance  and do such other things as may  reasonably  be required for
more fully and certainly vesting and confirming in such successor Agent all such
properties,   rights,  interests,   powers,  authorities  and  obligations.  The
provisions  of this  Article  VII shall  thereafter  remain  effective  for such
retiring  Agent with respect to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by such
Agent while acting as an Agent hereunder.

                 7.10     Sharing of Payments.  The Banks agree among themselves
that, in the event that any Bank shall obtain  payment in respect of any Advance
or any other  obligation  owing to the Banks  under this  Agreement  through the
exercise of a right of set-off,  banker's  lien,  counterclaim  or  otherwise in
excess of its ratable share of payments  received by all of the Banks on account
of the  Advances  and other  obligations  (or if no  Advances  are  outstanding,
ratably according to the respective amounts of the Commitments), such Bank shall
promptly purchase from the other Banks participations in such Advances and other
obligations in such amounts,  and make such other adjustments from time to time,
as shall be equitable to  the  end  that al  of  the Banks share such payment in
accordance  with such ratable  shares.  The Banks further agree among themselves
that if payment to a Bank obtained by such Bank  through the exercise of a right
of set-off,  banker's  lien,  counterclaim  or  otherwise as aforesaid  shall be
rescinded or  must  otherwise  be  restored,  each Bank which shall  have  share
the benefit of such payment shall, by  repurchase of participations  theretofore
sold,  return  its  share  of that benefit to each Bank whose payment shall have
been rescinded or otherwise restored. The Company and the Guarantors each agrees
that  any  Bank so purchasing  such  a participation may, to the  fullest extent
permitted by law, exercise all rights  of  payment,including  set-off,  banker's
lien  or  counterclaim,   with  respect  to  such  participation  as fully as if
such Bank  were a holder of such  Advance  or other obligation  in the amount of
such  participation. The Banks further agree among themselves that, in the event
that amounts received by the Banks and the Agents hereunder are  insufficient to
pay all such  obligations or insufficient to pay all such  obligations when due,
the fees and  other  amounts owing to the Agents in such capacity (if any) shall
be paid  therefrom  before  payment of obligations owing to the Banks under this
Agreement. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, if any Bank
or any Agent shall fail to  remit  to  any  Agent  or  any other  Bank an amount
payable  by such Bank or such Agent to such Agent or such other Bank pursuant to
this  Agreement on the date when such amount is due, such payments shall be made
together with  interest  thereon for each date from the date such  amount is due
until the date such amount is paid to such Agent or such  other  Bank  at a rate
per annum  equal to the rate at which  borrowings  are available to the payee in
its overnight federal funds market.  It is further understood  and agreed  among
the  Banks  and  the  Agents  that  if  any  Agent  shall  engage  in  any other
transactions with the Company and shall have the  benefit of any  collateral  or
security  therefor  which  does not  expressly  secure  the  obligations arising
under  this  Agreement  except  by  virtue  of  a  so-called  dragnet  clause or
comparable  provision,  such  Agent  shall be entitled to apply any proceeds  of
such  collateral  or security  first in respect  of  the  obligations arising in
connection  with such other  transaction  before  application to the obligations
arising under this Agreement.

                                      -50-
<PAGE>

                                  ARTICLE VIII.
                                    GUARANTY

                 As an  inducement to the Banks and the Agents to enter into the
transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement,  each Guarantor  agrees with the
Banks and the Agents as follows:

                 8.1     Guarantee of Obligations. (a) Each Guarantor hereby (i)
guarantees, as principal obligor and not as surety only, to the Banks the prompt
payment  of the  principal  of and any  and  all  accrued  and  unpaid  interest
(including  interest  which  otherwise  may cease to accrue by  operation of any
insolvency law, rule, regulation or interpretation  thereof) on the Advances and
all other  obligations  of the  Company to the Banks and the  Agents  under this
Agreement when due,  whether by scheduled  maturity,  acceleration or otherwise,
all in accordance with the terms of this  Agreement,  the Notes and the Security
Documents, including,  without  limitation,  default  interest,  indemnification
payments  and  all  reasonable costs and expenses  incurred by the Banks and the
Agents in connection with  enforcing  any  obligations of the Company hereunder,
including without  limitation  the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel,
(ii) guarantees the prompt and punctual  performance and observance of  each and
every term,  covenant or  agreement  contained in this  Agreement, the Notes and
the Security  Documents to be performed or observed on the part of  the  Company
and (iii)  agrees to make  prompt  payment, on demand, of any and all reasonable
costs and  expenses  incurred  by  the  Banks  or  the Agents in connection with
enforcing  the  obligations  of  the  Guarantors  hereunder,  including, without
limitation,  the  reasonable  fees  and  disbursements  of  counsel  (all of the
foregoing being collectively referred to as the "Guaranteed Obligations").

                  (b) If for any reason any duty, agreement or obligation of the
Company  contained in this  Agreement  shall not be performed or observed by the
Company as provided  therein,  or if any amount  payable  under or in connection
with this  Agreement  shall not be paid in full  when the same  becomes  due and
payable,  each Guarantor undertakes to perform or cause to be performed promptly
each of such duties,  agreements and  obligations and to pay forthwith each such
amount to the Agents for the account of the Banks  regardless  of any defense or
setoff or counterclaim  which the Company may have or assert,  and regardless of
any other condition or contingency.

8.2  Nature of Guaranty.  The obligations of the Guarantors hereunder constitute
an absolute  and  unconditional  and  irrevocable  guaranty of payment and not a
guaranty of collection  and are wholly  independent  of and in addition to other
rights and remedies of the Banks and the Agents and are not contingent  upon the
pursuit  by the  Banks and the  Agents of any such  rights  and  remedies,  such
pursuit being hereby waived by the Guarantors.

                 8.3       Waivers and Other  Agreements.  Each Guarantor hereby
unconditionally  (a) waives any requirement  that the Banks or the Agents,  upon
the occurrence of an Event of Default first make demand upon, or seek to enforce
remedies  against  the  Company  before  demanding  payment  under or seeking to
enforce the  obligations  of the  Guarantors  hereunder,  (b) covenants that the

- -51-
<PAGE>

obligations  of the  Guarantors  hereunder  will  not be  discharged  except  by
complete  performance  of all  obligations  of the  Company  contained  in  this
Agreement, the Notes and the Security Documents, (c) agrees that the obligations
of the Guarantors hereunder shall remain in full force and effect without regard
to,  and  shall  not  be  affected  or  impaired,  without  limitation,  by  any
invalidity,  irregularity  or  unenforceability  in  whole  or in  part  of this
Agreement,  the  Notes  or the  Security  Documents,  or any  limitation  on the
liability of the Company thereunder, or any limitation on the method or terms of
payment  thereunder  which may or  hereafter  be caused or imposed in any manner
whatsoever  (including,  without limitation,  usury laws), (d) waives diligence,
presentment  and protest  with respect to, and any notice of default or dishonor
in the  payment of any amount at any time  payable  by the  Company  under or in
connection with this Agreement, the Notes or the Security Documents, and further
waives any requirement of notice of acceptance of, or other  formality  relating
to,  the  obligations  of  the  Guarantors  hereunder  and  (e) agrees  that the
Guaranteed  Obligations  shall  include any  amounts  paid by the Company to the
Banks or the Agents which may be required to be returned  to  the  Company or to
its  representative or to a trustee,  custodianor receiver for the Company.

                 8.4       Obligations  Absolute.  The  obligations,  covenants,
agreements  and  duties of the  Guarantors  under  this  Agreement  shall not be
released, affected or impaired by any of the following whether or not undertaken
with notice to or consent of the Guarantors:  (a) an assignment or transfer,  in
whole or in part, of the Advances made to the Company or of this Agreement,  any
Note or any Security  Document although made without notice to or consent of the
Guarantors,  or (b) any waiver by any Bank or any Agent or by any other  person,
of the  performance  or  observance  by the  Company  of any of the  agreements,
covenants,  terms or conditions contained in this Agreement or in the other Loan
Documents,  or (c) any indulgence in or the extension of the time for payment by
the Company of any amounts payable under or in connection with this Agreement or
any other Loan  Document,  or of the time for  performance by the Company of any
other  obligations  under or  arising  out of this  Agreement  or any other Loan
Document,  or  the  extension  or  renewal  thereof,  or (d)  the  modification,
amendment or waiver  (whether  material or otherwise) of any duty,  agreement or
obligation of the Company set forth in this Agreement or any other Loan Document
(the  modification,  amendment or waiver from time to time of this Agreement and
the other Loan Documents being expressly authorized without further notice to or
consent of the  Guarantors),  or (e) the voluntary or  involuntary  liquidation,
sale or other  disposition  of all or  substantially  all of the  assets  of the
Company or any receivership,  insolvency,  bankruptcy,  reorganization, or other
similar  proceedings,  affecting  the Company or any of its  assets,  or (f) the
merger or  consolidation of the Company or the Guarantors with any other person,
or (g) the  release  of  discharge  of the  Company or the  Guarantors  from the
performance  or  observance  of  any  agreement,  covenant,  term  or  condition
contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document,  by operation of law, or
(h) any other cause whether  similar or dissimilar to the foregoing  which would
release,  affect or impair the obligations,  covenants,  agreements or duties of
the Guarantors hereunder.

                 8.5       No  Investigation  by Banks or Agent.  Each Guarantor
hereby  waives  unconditionally  any  obligation  which,  in the absence of such
provision,  the Banks or the Agents might  otherwise  have to  investigate or to

                                      -52-
<PAGE>


assure  that there has been  compliance  with the law of any  jurisdiction  with
respect to the Guaranteed  Obligations  recognizing  that, to save both time and
expense,  each  Guarantor  has  requested  that the  Banks  and the  Agents  not
undertake such investigation.  Each Guarantor hereby expressly confirms that the
obligations  of such Guarantor  hereunder  shall remain in full force and effect
without regard to compliance or noncompliance with any such law and irrespective
of any investigation or knowledge of any Bank or any Agent of any such law.


                8.6         Indemnity.  As a separate, additional and continuing
obligation, each Guarantor unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes and agrees
with  the  Banks  and  the Agents that, should the Guaranteed Obligations not be
recoverable  from  the  Guarantors  under  Section 8.1 for any reason whatsoever
(including,  without  limitation,  by reason of any provision of this Agreement,
any Note, any Security Document or any other agreement or instrument executed in
connection herewith being or becoming void, unenforceable, or otherwise  invalid
under any applicable law) then,  notwithstanding  any  knowledge  thereof by any
Bank or any  Agent at any time, each Guarantor as sole, original and independent
obligor, upon demand by  the  Required  Banks or any Agent, will make payment to
the  Agents  for  the  account  of  the  Banks  and the Agents of the Guaranteed
Obligations  by  way of a  full indemnity in such currency and otherwise in such
manner as is provided in this Agreement, the Notes and the Security Documents.

                 8.7      Subordination, Subrogation, Etc. Each Guarantor agrees
that any  present or future  indebtedness,  obligations  or  liabilities  of the
Company  to any  Guarantor  shall be fully  subordinate  and junior in right and
priority  of  payment  to any  present or future  indebtedness,  obligations  or
liabilities of the Company to the Banks and the Agents.  Each  Guarantor  waives
any right of  subrogation  to the  rights of any Bank or any Agent  against  the
Company or any other person obligated for payment of the Guaranteed  Obligations
and any right of reimbursement or indemnity  whatsoever  arising or accruing out
of any payment which any  Guarantor may make pursuant to this  Agreement and the
Notes,  and any right of recourse to security for the debts and  obligations  of
the Company,  unless and until the entire  principal  balance of and interest on
the Guaranteed Obligations shall have been paid in full.

                8.8  Waiver.  To the extent that it lawfully may, each Guarantor
agrees  that  it  will  not  at  any time insist upon or plead, or in any manner
whatsoever claim or take  any  benefit or advantage of any applicable present or
future  stay,  extension  or  moratorium  law,  which  may  affect observance or
performance  of  the  provisions  of  this Agreement, the Notes and the Security
Documents; nor will it claim, take or insist upon any  benefit  or  advantage of
any  present  or  future l aw  providing  for the evaluation or appraisal of any
security for its obligations hereunder orthe Company under this  Agreement,  the
Notes and the Security Documents prior to any sale or sales thereof which may be
made under or by virtue of any instrument governing the same; nor will it, after
any such sale or sales claim or exercise any right, under any applicable law, to
redeem any portion of such security so sold.



                                      -53-


<PAGE>





                                   ARTICLE IX.
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

                 9.1           Amendments, Etc.  (a) No amendment, modification,
termination or waiver of any provision of this  Agreement nor any consent to any
departure  therefrom shall be effective unless the same shall be in writing  and
signed by the Company and Required Banks and, to the extent any rights or duties
of any Agent may be affected thereby, such Agent,  provided,  however,  that  no
such amendment, modification, termination, waiver or consent  shall, without the
consent  of  the  Agents  and  all  of  the  Banks,  (i) authorize or permit the
extension of time for, or any  reduction  of  the  amount of, any payment of the
principal of, or interest on, theNotes or  any  Letter  of  Credit reimbursement
obligation, or any fees or other amount payable hereunder, (ii) amend, extend or
terminate  the  respective  Commitments  of  any Bank set forth on the signature
pages hereof or modify the provisions of this Section regarding  the  taking  of
any action under this Section  9.1  or  the  provisions  of  Section 9.10 or the
definition of "Required Banks" or  any provision of this Agreement requiring the
consent of all of the Banks, (iii) provide for the discharge of any Guarantor or
the release of any Collateral subject to  any  Security Document, or (iv) modify
any other provision of this Agreement which by its terms requires the consent of
all of the Banks.

                  (b)   Any such amendment, waiver or consent shall be effective
only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.

                  (c)   Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Bank
that is in default of any of its obligations, covenants or agreements under this
Agreement  shall be  entitled to vote  (whether  to consent or to  withhold  its
consent) with respect to any amendment,  modification,  termination or waiver of
any provision of this Agreement or any departure therefrom or any direction from
the Banks to any Agent,  and, for purposes of determining  the Required Banks at
any time when any Bank is in default under this  Agreement,  the Commitments and
Advances of such defaulting Banks shall be disregarded.

       9.2  Notices.  (a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 9.2(c) hereof,
all notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing  and shall be
delivered or sent to the Company at 1415 South Main Street, Salt Lake City, Utah
84115, Attention: Chief Financial Officer, Facsimile No. 801-483-4283, Facsimile
Confirmation  No.  801-484-4400, and to the Guarantors, the Agents and the Banks
at the respective addresses  for  notices  set  forth  on  the  signatures pages
hereof,  or  to  such  other  address  as  may be designated by the Company, any
Guarantor, any Agent or any Bank  by  notice  to  the other parties hereto.  All
notices and other  communications shall be deemed to have been given at the time
of actual delivery thereof to such  address, or, unless sooner delivered, (i) if
sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, to  such address, on  the
third day after the date of mailing, or (ii) if sent by facsimile  transmission,
upon   confirmation  of  receipt  by  telephone  at  the  number  specified  for
confirmation,  provided,  however,  that  notices  to  any  Agent  shall  not be
effective until received.

                                      -54-
<PAGE>


                  (b)       Notices by the Company to the Agents with respect to
terminations or reductions of the Commitments  pursuant to Section 2.2, requests
for Advances  pursuant to Section 2.4, requests for continuations or conversions
of Loans  pursuant to Section 2.7 and notices of prepayment  pursuant to Section
3.1 shall be irrevocable and binding on the Company.

                  (c)         Any notice to be given by the Company to any Agent
pursuant to Sections  2.4, 2.7 or 3.1 and any notice to be given by any Agent or
any Bank hereunder, may be given by telephone, and all such notices given by the
Company must be promptly  confirmed in writing in the manner provided in Section
9.2(a).  Any such  notice  given by  telephone  shall be deemed  effective  upon
receipt thereof by the party to whom such notice is to be given. The Company and
the Guarantors  shall  indemnify and hold harmless the Banks and the Agents from
any and all losses,  damages,  liabilities  and claims  arising  from their good
faith reliance on any such telephone notice.

                 9.3      No Waiver By Conduct;  Remedies Cumulative.  No course
of dealing on the part of any Agent or any Bank, nor any delay or failure on any
part of any  Agent or any  Bank in  exercising  any  right,  power or  privilege
hereunder  shall  operate  as a waiver  of such  right,  power or  privilege  or
otherwise  prejudice such Agent's or such Bank's rights and remedies  hereunder;
nor shall any single or partial  exercise  thereof preclude any further exercise
thereof or the  exercise of any other  right,  power or  privilege.  No right or
remedy conferred upon or reserved to any Agent or any Bank under this Agreement,
the Notes or the  Security  Documents  is intended to be  exclusive of any other
right or remedy,  and every right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition
to every other right or remedy granted  thereunder or now or hereafter  existing
under any applicable law. Every right and remedy granted by this Agreement,  any
Note or any Security  Document or by applicable law to any Agent or any Bank may
be  exercised  from time to time and as often as may be deemed  expedient by any
Agent or any  Bank  and,  unless  contrary  to the  express  provisions  of this
Agreement,  the Notes or the Security Documents,  irrespective of the occurrence
or continuance of any Default or Event of Default.

                      9.4  Reliance on and Survival of Various  Provisions.  All
terms, covenants,  agreements,  representations and warranties of the Company or
any  Guarantor  made herein or in any Security  Document or in any  certificate,
report,  financial  statement or other document furnished by or on behalf of the
Company or any Guarantor in connection with this Agreement shall be deemed to be
material  and to  have  been  relied  upon  by the  Banks,  notwithstanding  any
investigation heretofore or hereafter made by any Bank or on such Bank's behalf,
and those covenants and agreements of the Company set forth in Sections 3.7, 3.9
and  9.5  hereof  shall  survive  the  repayment in full of the Advances and the
termination of the Commitments.

                 9.5      Expenses;  Indemnification.  (a) The Company agrees to
pay, or reimburse the Agents for the payment of, on demand,  (i) the  reasonable
fees  and  expenses  of  counsel  to the  Collateral  Agent,  including  without
limitation the fees and expenses of Messrs. Dickinson, Wright, Moon, Van Dusen &
Freeman,   in  connection  with  the   preparation,   execution,   delivery  and
administration  of this  Agreement,  the Notes,  the Security  Documents  and in
connection   with   advising  the   Collateral   Agent  as  to  its  rights  and

                                      -55-
<PAGE>

responsibilities  with respect  thereto,  and in connection with any amendments,
waivers or consents in connection therewith,  and (ii) all stamp and other taxes
and fees payable or determined to be payable in connection  with the  execution,
delivery,  filing or recording of this Agreement,  Notes, the Security Documents
(or the verification of filing,  recording,  perfection or priority  thereof) or
the  consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  and  any and all
liabilities with respect to or resulting from any delay in paying or omitting to
pay such  taxes or fees,  and (iii) all  reasonable  costs and  expenses  of the
Agents and the Banks  (including  reasonable  fees and  expenses  of counsel and
whether  incurred  through  negotiations,  legal  proceedings  or otherwise)) in
connection  with any Default or Event of Default or the  enforcement  of, or the
exercise or preservation of any rights under,  this Agreement,  the Notes or the
Security Documents or in connection with any refinancing or restructuring of the
credit arrangements  provided under this Agreement and (iv) all reasonable costs
and expenses of the Agents and the Banks (including reasonable fees and expenses
of  counsel) in  connection  with any action or  proceeding  relating to a court
order,  injunction or other process or decree restraining or seeking to restrain
the Agent from paying any amount under, or otherwise relating in any way to, any
Letter of Credit and any and all costs and expenses  which any of them may incur
relative to any payment under any Letter of Credit.

                         (b)   The Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold
harmless the Banks and the Agents,  and their  respective  officers,  directors,
employees  and agents,  harmless  from and against any and all claims,  damages,
losses,  liabilities,  costs  or  expenses  of any  kind  or  nature  whatsoever
(excluding  punitive  damages  arising  directly  out of any action taken by any
Agent or any Bank based on a final  judicial  determination  thereof)  which the
Banks or the Agent or any such person may incur or which may be claimed  against
any of them by reason of or in connection with any Letter of Credit, and neither
any Bank nor any Agent or any of their respective officers, directors, employees
or agents shall be liable or  responsible  for: (i) the use which may be made of
any  Letter  of  Credit  or for any  acts or  omissions  of any  beneficiary  in
connection therewith; (ii) the validity, sufficiency or genuineness of documents
or of any endorsement thereon, even if such documents should in fact prove to be
in any or all  respects  invalid,  insufficient,  fraudulent  or  forged;  (iii)
payment  by any  Agent to the  beneficiary  under any  Letter of Credit  against
presentation  of documents  which do not  strictly  comply with the terms of any
Letter of Credit,  including  failure of any  documents to bear any reference or
adequate  reference  to  such  Letter  of  Credit;  or (iv) any error, omission,
interruption or delay in transmission,  dispatch  or  delivery  of  any  message
or  advice,   however  transmitted,  in  connection  with  any Letter of Credit;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to indemnify the Banks
and the Agents and such  other persons,  and  the  Banks  shall be liable to the
Company to the extent,  but  only to the extent,  of any direct,  as  opposed to
consequential or incidental, damages suffered by the Company  which were  caused
by  (A) the  Administrative  Agent's  wrongful  dishonor of any Letter of Credit
after the presentation to it by the  beneficiary  thereunder of a draft or other
demand for payment and other documentation strictly complying with the terms and
conditions of such Letter of Credit, or (B) the  Administrative  Agent's payment
to the beneficiary under any Letter of Credit against  presentation of documents
which do not comply with the terms of the  Letter  of Credit to the extent,  but
only to the  extent,  that such  payment  constitutes gross negligence of wilful
misconduct  of  the  Administrative  Agent.  It is understood that in making any
payment under a Letter of Credit the Administrative Agent will rely on documents
presented to it under such Letter of  Credit as to any and all matters set forth
therein  without  further   investigation  and   regardless  of  any  notice  or
information to the contrary,  and  such  reliance  and payment against documents
presented  under  a  Letter  of  Credit  substantially  complying with the terms
thereof  shall  not  be  deemed  gross  negligence  or  wilful misconduct of the
Administrative Agent in connection with such payment. It is further acknowledged
and agreed that the  Company may have rights  against the beneficiary  or others
in  connection  with  any  Letter of  Credit with respect to which the Banks are
alleged to be liable and it  shall be a  precondition  of the  assertion  of any
liability  of  the  Banks  under  this  Section  9.5(b)  that the Company  shall
first have  exhausted all remedies  in respect of the alleged loss  against such
beneficiary and any other parties  obligated  or liable in connection  with such
Letter of Credit and any related transactions.

                (c)     Subject to the provisions of Section 9.5(b), the Company
hereby  indemnifies  and agrees to hold  harmless the Banks and the Agents,  and
their respective officers, directors, employees and agents, from and against any
and all claims, damages, losses,  liabilities,  costs or expenses of any kind or
nature whatsoever (excluding punitive damages arising directly out of any action
taken by any Agent or any Bank based on a final judicial  determination thereof,
but  including  reasonable   attorneys'  fees  and  disbursements   incurred  in
connection with any investigative, administrative or judicial proceeding whether
or not such person shall be  designated as a party  thereto)  which the Banks or
the Agents or any such  person may incur or which may be claimed  against any of
them by reason of or in  connection  with  entering  into this  Agreement or the
transactions  contemplated  hereby,  including without  limitation those arising
under  Environmental  Laws;  provided,  however,  that the Company  shall not be
required to indemnify any such Bank or any such Agent or such other  person,  to
the extent, but only to the extent, that such claim,  damage,  loss,  liability,
cost or expense is attributable to the gross negligence or willful misconduct of
such Bank or such Agent, as the case may be.


              (d)         In consideration of the execution and delivery of this
Agreement by each Bank and the extension of the Commitments,  the Company hereby
indemnifies,  exonerates  and  holds  each  Agent,  each  Bank and each of their
respective  officers,  directors,   employees  and  agents  (collectively,   the
"Indemnified  Parties")  free and harmless from and against any and all actions,
causes of action,  suits,  losses,  costs,  liabilities and damages,  (excluding
punitive  damages  arising  directly out of any action taken by any Agent or any
Bank based on a final judicial  determination  thereof) and expenses incurred in
connection  therewith  (irrespective of whether any such Indemnified  Party is a
party to the action for which  indemnification  hereunder is sought),  including
reasonable  attorneys' fees and  disbursements  (collectively,  the "Indemnified
Liabilities"),  incurred by the  Indemnified  Parties or any of them as a result
of, or arising out of, or relating to:

                         (i)       any transaction financed or to be financed in
whole or in part, directly or indirectly, with the proceeds of any Advance;

                         (ii)          the entering into and performance of this
Agreement and any other agreement or instrument  executed in connection herewith

                                      -57-
<PAGE>

by any of the Indemnified  Parties (including any action brought by or on behalf
of a person  other than the  Company as the result of any  determination  by the
Required Banks not to fund any Advance);

                         (iii)       any investigation, litigation or proceeding
related to any acquisition or proposed  acquisition by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries of any portion of the stock or assets of any person, whether or not
such Agent or such Bank is party thereto;

                         (iv)        any investigation, litigation or proceeding
related to any environmental cleanup, audit, compliance or other matter relating
to the protection of the environment or the release by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries of any Hazardous Material; or

                         (v)            the presence on or under, or the escape,
seepage, leakage, spillage, discharge,  emission, discharging or releasing from,
any real property owned or operated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of
any Hazardous Material (including any losses,  liabilities,  damages,  injuries,
costs,  expenses or claims  asserted or arising  under any  Environmental  Law),
regardless  of whether  caused by, or within the control of, the Company or such
Subsidiary,  except for any such Indemnified Liabilities arising for the account
of a particular Indemnified Party by reason of the activities of the Indemnified
Party on the property of the Company  conducted  subsequent to a foreclosure  on
such  property  by the Banks or by reason of the  relevant  Indemnified  Party's
gross negligence or willful  misconduct or breach of this Agreement,  and if and
to the  extent  that the  foregoing  undertaking  may be  unenforceable  for any
reason,  the  Company  hereby  agrees to make the  maximum  contribution  to the
payment and satisfaction  of  each  of  the  Indemnified   Liabilities  which is
permissible under applicable law. The Company shall be  obligated  to  indemnify
the Indemnified Parties for all Indemnified  Liabilities subject to and pursuant
to the  foregoing  provisions,  regardless  of whether the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries  had  knowledge of the  facts and circumstances giving rise to such
Indemnified Liability.

                 9.6       Successors and Assigns.  (a) This Agreement  shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors  and assigns,  provided  that the Company may not,  without the prior
consent of the Banks,  assign its rights or  obligations  hereunder or under the
Notes or the Security Documents and the Banks shall not be obligated to make any
Advance hereunder to any entity other than the Company.

        (b)  Any Bank may sell to any financial institution or institutions, and
such financial  institution or  institutions  may further sell, a  participation
interest  (undivided  or divided) in, the  Advances  and such Bank's  rights and
benefits under this Agreement,  the Notes and the Security Documents, and to the
extent of that  participation  interest such  participant or participants  shall
have the same rights and benefits  against the Company  under  Sections 3.7, 3.9
and 6.2(c) as it or they would have had if such participant or participants were
the Bank making the Advances to the Company hereunder,  provided,  however, that
(i) such Bank's  obligations  under this Agreement  shall remain  unmodified and
fully effective and  enforceable  against such Bank, (ii) such Bank shall remain
solely  responsible  to the other  parties  hereto for the  performance  of such

                                      -58-
<PAGE>

obligations,  (iii)  such  Bank  shall  remain  the  holder of its Notes for all
purposes of this  Agreement,  (iv) the  Company,  the Agents and the other Banks
shall  continue to deal solely and directly  with such Bank in  connection  with
such Bank's rights and obligations under this Agreement, and (v) such Bank shall
not grant to its  participant  any rights to consent or withhold  consent to any
action  taken by such Bank or the Agent under this  Agreement  other than action
requiring the consent of all of the Banks hereunder.

               (c)     The Agents from time to time in their sole discretion may
appoint agents for the purpose of servicing and administering this Agreement and
the transactions  contemplated  hereby and enforcing or exercising any rights or
remedies of the Agents  provided under this Agreement,  the Notes,  the Security
Documents or otherwise.  In furtherance of such agency, the Agents may from time
to time direct that the Company and the Guarantors provide notices,  reports and
other documents  contemplated by this Agreement (or duplicates  thereof) to such
agents.  The Company and each Guarantor  hereby  consents to the  appointment of
such agents and agrees to provide all such notices,  reports and other documents
and to  otherwise  deal with such  agents  acting on behalf of such Agent in the
same manner as would be required if dealing with such Agent itself.

               (d)         Each Bank may, with the prior consent of the Required
Banks, assign to one or more banks or  other  entities  all  or a portion of its
rights and obligations (including, without  limitation,  all or a portion of its
Commitment,  the  Advances  owing  to it and  the  Note  or  Notes  held by it);
provided,  however, that (i) each such assignment shall be of a uniform, and not
a varying, percentage of all rights and obligations,  (ii) except in the case of
an assignment of all of a Bank's rights and  obligations  under this  Agreement,
(A) the amount of the Commitment of the assigning  Bank being assigned  pursuant
to  each  such  assignment  (determined  as of the  date of the  Assignment  and
Acceptance  with  respect  to such  assignment)  shall in no event be less  than
$5,000,000,  and in integral multiples of $1,000,000 thereafter,  or such lesser
amount as the Agents may  consent  to and (B) after  giving  effect to each such
assignment, the amount of the Commitment of the assigning Bank shall in no event
be less than $5,000,000, (iii) the parties to each such assignment shall execute
and deliver to the Administrative Agent, for its acceptance and recording in the
Register,  an  Assignment  and  Acceptance  in the form of  Exhibit I hereto (an
"Assignment  and  Acceptance"),  together with any Note or Notes subject to such
assignment and a processing and recordation fee of $3,000, and (iv) any Bank may
without the  consent of any Agent,  and  without  paying any fee,  assign to any
Affiliate of such Bank that is a bank or financial institution all of its rights
and obligations under this Agreement. Upon such execution,  delivery, acceptance
and recording,  from and after the effective  date specified in such  Assignment
and Acceptance,  (x) the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the
extent that rights and  obligations  hereunder have been assigned to it pursuant
to such  Assignment and  Acceptance,  have the rights and  obligations of a Bank
hereunder and (y) the Bank assignor  thereunder shall, to the extent that rights
and  obligations  hereunder have been assigned by it pursuant to such Assignment
and Acceptance, relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations under
this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all of
the remaining  portion of an assigning Bank's rights and obligations  under this
Agreement, such Bank shall cease to be a party hereto).

                                      -59-
<PAGE>


              (e)                  By executing and delivering an Assignment and
Acceptance,  the Bank assignor thereunder and the assignee thereunder confirm to
and agree with each other and the other  parties  hereto as  follows:  (i) other
than as provided in such Assignment and Acceptance, such assigning Bank makes no
representation  or warranty  and assumes no  responsibility  with respect to any
statements,  warranties or  representations  made in or in connection  with this
Agreement or the execution,  legality,  validity,  enforceability,  genuineness,
sufficiency  or value of this  Agreement  or any other  instrument  or  document
furnished  pursuant hereto;  (ii) such assigning Bank makes no representation or
warranty and assumes no responsibility  with respect to the financial  condition
of the Company or the  performance  or  observance  by the Company of any of its
obligations  under this Agreement or any other instrument or document  furnished
pursuant  hereto;  (iii) such  assignee  confirms that it has received a copy of
this Agreement,  together with copies of the financial statements referred to in
Sections  4.6 and 5.1(d)  and such other  documents  and  information  as it has
deemed  appropriate  to make its own credit  analysis and decision to enter into
such  Assignment  and  Acceptance;  (iv) such assignee will,  independently  and
without reliance upon any Agent, such assigning Bank or any other Bank 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;  (v) such  assignee  appoints  and authorizes the Agents to take
such action as agent on its behalf  and  to exercise such powers and  discretion
under this  Agreement   as  are  delegated  to the  Agents by the terms  hereof,
together  with such powers and discretion as are reasonably  incidental thereto;
and (vi) such assignee  agrees  that  it  will  perform in accordance with their
terms all of the obligations that by the terms of this Agreement are required to
be performed by it as a Bank.

                 (f)      The Administrative Agent shall maintain at its address
designated  on  the  signature  pages  hereof  a copy  of  each  Assignment  and
Acceptance delivered to and accepted by it and a register for the recordation of
the names and addresses of the Banks and the Commitment of, and principal amount
of the  Advances  owing to,  each Bank from time to time (the  "Register").  The
entries in the Register shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent
manifest  error,  and the Company,  the  Administrative  Agent and the Banks may
treat each person whose name is recorded in the Register as a Bank hereunder for
all purposes of this  Agreement.  The Register shall be available for inspection
by the  Company  or any Bank at any  reasonable  time and from time to time upon
reasonable prior notice. 5.
                 (g)   Upon its receipt of an Assignment and Acceptance executed
by an assigning Bank and an assignee, together with any Note or Notes subject to
such  assignment,  the  Administrative  Agent  shall,  if  such  Assignment  and
Acceptance has been completed,  (i) accept such Assignment and Acceptance,  (ii)
record the information  contained  therein in the Register and (iii) give prompt
notice  thereof to the Company.  Within five  Business Days after its receipt of
such notice, the Company,  at its own expense,  shall execute and deliver to the
Administrative Agent in exchange for the surrendered Note or Notes a new Note to
the order of such  assignee in an amount equal to the  Commitment  assumed by it
pursuant  to such  Assignment  and  Acceptance  and, if the  assigning  Bank has
retained a Commitment  hereunder,  a new Note to the order of the assigning Bank
in an amount equal to the Commitment retained by it hereunder.  Such new Note or
Notes shall be in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal
amount of such surrendered  Note or Notes,  shall be dated the effective date of

                                      -60-
<PAGE>

such Assignment and Acceptance and shall otherwise be in substantially  the form
of Exhibit B hereto.

                (h)    The Company shall not be liable for any costs or expenses
of any Bank in effectuating any participation or assignment  under  this Section
9.6.

                (i)          The Banks may, in connection with any assignment or
participation or proposed  assignment or participation  pursuant to this Section
9.6, disclose to the assignee or participant or proposed assignee or participant
any information relating to the Company.


                (j)        Notwithstanding any other provision set forth in this
Agreement,  any Bank may at any time create a security  interest  in, or assign,
all or any  portion  of its  rights  under this  Agreement  (including,  without
limitation,  the Loans owing to it and the Note or Notes held by it) in favor of
any  Federal  Reserve  Bank in  accordance  with  Regulation  A of the  Board of
Governors  of the  Federal  Reserve  System;  provided  that such  creation of a
security interest or assignment shall not release such Bank from its obligations
under this Agreement.

                9.7         Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the
same  instrument,  and  any  of the parties hereto may execute this Agreement by
signing any such counterpart.

                9.8        Governing  Law.  This  Agreement  is a contract  made
under, and shall be governed by and construed in accordance with, the law of the
State of Michigan  appli cable to contracts  made and to be  performed  entirely
within such State and without  giving effect to choice of law principles of such
State.  Each of the  Company  and the  Guarantors  and the  Agents and the Banks
further agrees that any legal or equitable  action or proceeding with respect to
this  Agreement,  the  Notes  and the  Security  Documents  or the  transactions
contemplated hereby may be brought in any court of the State of Michigan,  or in
any court of the United States of America  sitting in Michigan,  and the Company
and each  Guarantor  and the Agents and the Banks hereby  submits to and accepts
generally and  unconditionally  the jurisdiction of those courts with respect to
its person and  property,  and, in the case of the  Company  and each  Guarantor
irrevocably  consents  to the  service of process  in  connection  with any such
action or proceeding by personal  delivery to the mailing  thereof by registered
or  certified  mail,  postage  prepaid to the Company or such  Guarantor  at its
address for notices  pursuant to Section 9.2.  Nothing in this  paragraph  shall
affect  the  rights of the Banks and the  Agents to serve  process  in any other
manner permitted by law or limit the rights of the Banks and the Agents to bring
any such action or  proceeding  against the Company or any Guarantor or property
in the courts of any other  jurisdiction.  The  Company and each  Guarantor  and
Agents and the Banks  hereby  irrevocably  waive any  objection to the laying of
venue of any such action or proceeding in the above described courts.

             9.9  Table of Contents and Headings.  The table of contents and the
headings of the various subdivisions hereof are for the convenience of reference
only and  shall in no way modify any of the terms or provisions hereof.

                                      -61-
<PAGE>


                 9.10      Construction of Certain Provisions.  If any provision
of this Agreement refers to any action to be taken by any person,  or which such
person is prohibited  from taking,  such provision  shall be applicable  whether
such  action is taken  directly or  indirectly  by such  person,  whether or not
expressly specified in such provision.


                 9.11      Integration and  Severability.  This  Agreement,  the
Notes and the Security  Documents embody the entire agreement and  understanding
between the Company,  the Guarantors and the Agents and the Banks, and supersede
all prior agreements and understandings,  relating to the subject matter hereof.
In case any one or more of the obligations of the Company or any Guarantor under
this Agreement, the Notes or the Security Documents shall be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction,  the validity, legality and enforceability of
the remaining obligations of the Company and the Guarantors shall not in any way
be  affected  or  impaired   thereby,   and  such   invalidity,   illegality  or
unenforceability in one jurisdiction shall not affect the validity,  legality or
enforceability  of the  obligations  of the Company or any Guarantor  under this
Agreement, the Notes or the Security Documents in any other jurisdiction.

                 9.12      Independence  of Covenants.  All covenants  hereunder
shall be given independent effect so that if a particular action or condition is
not  permitted by any such  covenant,  the fact that it would be permitted by an
exception to, or would be otherwise  within the limitations of, another covenant
shall not avoid the  occurrence  of a  Default  or an Event of  Default  if such
action is taken or such condition exists.

                 9.13       Interest  Rate   Limitation.   Notwithstanding   any
provisions of this Agreement,  the Notes or the Security Documents,  in no event
shall the amount of interest paid or agreed to be paid by the Company  exceed an
amount  computed at the highest rate of interest  permissible  under  applicable
law. If, from any circumstances whatsoever, fulfillment of any provision of this
Agreement,  the Notes or the Security  Documents at the time performance of such
provision  shall be due,  shall involve  exceeding the interest rate  limitation
validly  prescribed  by law  which a court of  competent  jurisdiction  may deem
applicable  hereto,  then, ipso facto,  the obligations to be fulfilled shall be
reduced to an amount computed at the highest rate of interest  permissible under
applicable law, and if for any reason  whatsoever any Bank shall ever receive as
interest an amount which would be deemed unlawful under such applicable law such
interest  shall be  automatically  applied to the  payment of  principal  of the
Advances outstanding  hereunder (whether or not then due and payable) and not to
the payment of interest,  or shall be refunded to the Company if such  principal
and all other obligations of the Company to the Banks have been paid in full.

                 9.14     Waiver of Jury Trial. The Banks and the Agents and the
Company and the  Guarantors,  after  consulting or having had the opportunity to
consult with counsel,  knowingly,  voluntarily and intentionally waive any right
either  of them  may  have to a trial by jury in any  litigation  based  upon or
arising out of this  Agreement or any related  instrument or agreement or any of
the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement  or any  course of  conduct,
dealing, statements (whether oral or written) or actions of any of them. Neither

                                      -62-
<PAGE>

any Bank, any Agent, any Guarantor nor the Company shall seek to consolidate, by
counterclaim or otherwise, any such action in which a jury trial has been waived
with any other  action  in which a jury trial cannot be or has not been  waived.
These  provisions  shall not be deemed to have been  modified in  any respect or
relinquished by any party hereto except by a written instrument executed by such
party.

                 IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  parties  hereto  have  caused  this
Agreement to be duly  executed and  delivered as of the 11th day of July,  1996,
which shall be the Effective Date of this Agreement.


                                          SOS STAFFING SERVICES, INC.



                                           By:_________________________________
                                           Its:_______________________________

                                      -63-


<PAGE>

Address for Notices:                  SOS COLLECTION SERVICES, INC.,
AS A GUARANTOR

1415 South Main Street                  By:__________________________________
Salt Lake City, Utah 84115
Attention: Chief Financial Officer           Its:_______________________________
Facsimile No.: 801-483-4283

Facsimile
  Confirmation No.: 801-484-4400


Address for Notices:                  FIRST SECURITY BANK, N.A.,
   Individually as a Bank and as
   Administrative Agent


15 East 100 South                       By:_________________________________
Second Floor
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
Attention: David Williams                  Its:________________________________

Telephone: (801) 246-5540

Facsimile: (801) 246-5532

Commitment Amount: $10,000,000

Percentage of
  Total Commitments:  50%



                                      -64-


<PAGE>

  Address for Notices:               NBD BANK, Individually as a Bank
                                       and as Documentation and Collateral Agent



611 Woodward Avenue                   By__________________________________
Detroit, Michigan 4822                      Its_________________________________

Attention: Timothy P. O'Neil

Facsimile No.: (313) 225-2649

Facsimile
  Confirmation No.:  (313) 225-1282

Commitment Amount: $10,000,000

Percentage of
  Total Commitments:  50%


Total Commitment Amount of
all Banks: $20,000,000

















WP6:[WPSHH.00007.2954]CREDIT3.AGR

                                      -65-


<PAGE>


                                

                               SECURITY AGREEMENT


     THIS  SECURITY  AGREEMENT,  dated  as of  July  11,  1996  (this  "Security
Agreement"),  is made by SOS COLLECTION  SERVICES,  INC., an Arizona corporation
(the  "Company"),  in favor of NBD Bank,  a  Michigan  banking  corporation,  as
collateral  agent (in such capacity,  the "Agent") for the benefit of itself and
the banks  (the  "Banks")  now or  hereafter  parties  to the  Credit  Agreement
described below.

                                    RECITALS

     A. The Company has entered into a Credit  Agreement  of even date  herewith
(as amended or modified from time to time,  including any agreement entered into
in  substitution  therefor,  the "Credit  Agreement"),  as  guarantor,  with SOS
Staffing Services,  Inc., a Utah corporation (the "Borrower"),  the Banks, First
Security Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and NBD Bank, as Documentation and
Collateral  Agent,  pursuant  to which the Banks may make  Advances  (as therein
defined) to the Borrower.

     B. Under the terms of the Credit Agreement, the Company has agreed to grant
to the Agent, for the benefit of itself and the Banks, a first-priority security
interest,  subject only to security interests  expressly permitted by the Credit
Agreement, in and to the Collateral hereinafter described.

                                    AGREEMENT

     To secure (a) the prompt and complete payment of all indebtedness and other
obligations  of the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  now or  hereafter  owing to the
Banks or the Agent  under or on account of the Credit  Agreement,  any  Security
Document  or any  letters of credit,  notes or other  instruments  issued to the
Agent or Banks pursuant thereto,  (b) the performance of the covenants under the
Credit Agreement and the Security Documents and any monies expended by the Agent
in connection therewith,  (c) the prompt and complete payment of all obligations
and  performance  of all covenants of the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  under any
interest rate or currency swap agreements or similar  transactions with any Bank
and (d) the  prompt  and  complete  payment  of any and all other  indebtedness,
obligations and liabilities of any kind of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to the
Agent  and the  Banks,  or any of them,  in all  cases,  of any kind or  nature,
howsoever created or evidenced and whether now or hereafter existing,  direct or
indirect  (including without  limitation any participation  interest acquired by
any Bank in any such indebtedness, obligations or liabilities of the Borrower or
any  Subsidiary  to any other  person),  absolute or  contingent,  joint  and/or
several,  secured or unsecured,  arising by operation of law or  otherwise,  and
whether  incurred  by the  Borrower  or any  Subsidiary  as  principal,  surety,
endorser,  guarantor,   accommodation  party  or  otherwise,  including  without
limitation  all  principal  and all interest  (including  any interest  accruing
subsequent  to any petition  filed by or against the Borrower or any  Subsidiary
under  the U.S.  Bankruptcy  Code),  indemnity  and  reimbursement  obligations,
charges, expenses, fees, attorneys' fees and disbursements and any other amounts

<PAGE>

owing thereunder (all of the aforesaid indebtedness, obligations and liabilities
of  the  Borrower  and  its  Subsidiaries   being  herein  called  the  "Secured
Obligations",  and all of the documents,  agreements and  instruments  among the
Borrower, the Subsidiaries,  the Agent, the Banks, or any of them, evidencing or
securing the repayment of, or otherwise  pertaining to, the Secured  Obligations
including without  limitation the Credit  Agreement,  the Notes and the Security
Documents,  being herein  collectively  called the "Operative  Documents"),  for
value received and pursuant to the Credit Agreement,  the Company hereby grants,
assigns and transfers to the Agent for the benefit of the Banks a first-priority
security  interest,  subject only to Permitted  Liens,  in and to the  following
described  property  whether  now owned or  existing  or  hereafter  acquired or
arising and  wherever  located (all of which is herein  collectively  called the
"Collateral"):

     (a)  All  of  the  Company's   present  and  future  accounts,   documents,
instruments,  general  intangibles  and chattel  paper,  including,  but without
limitation,  all accounts receivable,  contract rights, all deposit accounts and
all monies and  claims for money due or to become due to the  Company,  security
held or granted to the Company, and all assets described in clause (d) below;

     (b) All of the Company's  furniture,  fixtures,  machinery  and  equipment,
whether now owned or hereafter acquired,  and wherever located, and whether used
by the Company or any other  person,  or leased by the Company to any person and
whether the interest of Company is as owner, lessee or otherwise;

     (c) All of the  Company's  present  and  future  inventory  of every  type,
wherever located,  including but not limited to raw materials,  work in process,
finished  goods and all  inventory  that is  available  for leasing or leased to
others by the Company;

     (d) All other present and future personal  property of the Company (whether
tangible  or   intangible),   including  but  not  limited  to  all  trademarks,
tradenames,  service marks,  patents,  industrial  designs,  masks, trade names,
trade secrets, copyrights,  franchises,  customer lists, service marks, computer
programs,  software, tax refund claims,  licenses and permits, and the good will
associated therewith and all federal,  state, foreign and other applications and
registrations  therefor,  all  reissues,  divisions,  continuations,   renewals,
extensions  and  continuations-in-part  thereof now or hereafter in effect,  all
income, license royalties, damages and payments now and hereafter due or payable
under and with respect  thereto,  including,  without  limitation,  any damages,
proceeds or payments  for past or future  infringements  thereof and all income,
royalties, damages and payments under all licenses thereof, the right to sue for
past, present and future infringements thereof, all right, title and interest of
the  Company  as  licensor  under  any of the  foregoing  whether  now owned and
existing  or  hereafter  arising,  and all  other  rights  and  other  interests
corresponding  thereto throughout the world (all of the assets described in this
clause (d) collectively referred to as the "Intellectual Property");

     (e) All books, records, files,  correspondence,  computer programs,  tapes,
disks,  cards,  accounting  information and other data of the Company related in

                               SECURITY AGREEMENT
                                       -2-
<PAGE>

any way to the  Collateral  described  in clauses  (a),  (b), (c) and (d) above,
including but not limited to any of the foregoing necessary to administer,  sell
or dispose of any of the Collateral;

     (f)  All   substitutions  and  replacements  for,  and  all  additions  and
accessions to, any and all of the foregoing; and

     (g) All products and all proceeds of any and all of the foregoing,  and, to
the extent not otherwise included,  all payments under insurance (whether or not
the Agent is the loss payee thereof),  and any indemnity,  warranty or guaranty,
payable by reason of loss or damage to or  otherwise  with respect to any of the
foregoing.

     1.  Representations,  Warranties,  Covenants and  Agreements.  The  Company
further  represents,  warrants,  covenants,  and  agrees  with the Agent for the
benefit of the Banks as follows:

     (a) Ownership of Collateral;  Security Interest  Priority.  At the time any
Collateral becomes subject to a security interest of the Agent hereunder, unless
the  Agent  shall  otherwise  consent,  the  Company  shall  be  deemed  to have
represented  and  warranted  that  (i) the  Company  is the  lawful  owner of or
otherwise has an interest in such  Collateral and has the right and authority to
subject  the  same to the  security  interest  of the  Agent;  (ii)  other  than
Permitted Liens and lessors'  interest with respect to any security  interest in
any property leased by the Company as lessee,  none of the Collateral is subject
to any Lien  other  than that in favor of the  Agent  and there is no  effective
financing  statement or other filing  covering any of the  Collateral on file in
any public  office,  other than in favor of the Agent.  This Security  Agreement
creates in favor of the Agent a valid first-priority security interest,  subject
only to Permitted Liens, in the Collateral  enforceable  against the Company and
all third  parties and  securing  the payment of the  Secured  Obligations.  All
financing  statements  necessary  to  perfect  such  security  interest  in  the
Collateral have been delivered by the Company to the Agent for filing.

     (b)  Location  of Offices,  Records and  Facilities.  The  Company's  chief
executive  office and chief place of business  and the office  where the Company
keeps its records  concerning its accounts,  contract  rights,  chattel  papers,
instruments,  general  intangibles  and other  obligations  arising out of or in
connection  with the sale or lease of  goods or the  rendering  of  services  or
otherwise  ("Receivables"),  and all  originals of all leases and other  chattel
paper which evidence  Receivables,  are located in the State of Utah,  County of
Salt Lake at 1415 South Main  Street,  Salt Lake City,  Utah 84115.  The Company
will provide the Agent with prior written  notice of any proposed  change in the
location of its chief  executive  office.  The Company's  only other offices and
facilities  are at the locations set forth in Schedule 1(b) hereto.  The Company
will provide the Agent with prior written  notice of any change in the locations
of its other  offices and the  facilities at which any assets of the Company are
located. The tax identification number of the Company is 86-0808307. The name of
the Company is SOS Collection Services,  Inc., and the Company operates under no

                               SECURITY AGREEMENT
                                       -3-
<PAGE>

other names other than National Collex Corporation. The Company shall not change
its name or operate under any names other than as listed above without the prior
written consent of the Agent.

     (C) Location of Inventory,  Fixtures,  Machinery and Equipment.  (i) Except
for  purchased  inventory in transit,  all  Collateral  consisting  of inventory
currently is located at the locations  listed on Schedule  1(c)(i) hereto.  (ii)
All  Collateral  consisting  of fixtures,  machinery  or  equipment  (except for
purchased  machinery or equipment in transit),  if any,  currently is located at
the locations listed on Schedule 1(c)(ii) hereto.

     (d) Liens,  Etc.  The  Company will keep the  Collateral  free at all times
from any and all liens,  security  interests  or  encumbrances  other than those
described  in  paragraph  1(a)(ii)  and those  consented  to in  writing  by the
Required Banks.  The Company will not,  without the prior written consent of the
Agent, sell, lease, license, transfer, assign or otherwise dispose, or permit or
suffer  to  be  sold,  leased,  licensed,  transferred,  assigned  or  otherwise
disposed,  any of the Collateral,  except for, prior to an event of default only
(notwithstanding  any other  agreement),  the  following:  inventory sold in the
ordinary  course of business  and other  assets  permitted  to be sold,  leased,
licensed,  transferred,  assigned or otherwise  disposed under Sections  5.2(h),
5.2(i) and or 5.2(m) of the Credit Agreement.  The Agent or its attorneys may at
any and all  reasonable  times inspect the  Collateral  and for such purpose may
enter  upon any and all  premises  where the  Collateral  is or might be kept or
located.

     (e)  Insurance.  The  Company shall keep the tangible Collateral insured at
all times against loss by theft, fire and other casualties. Said insurance shall
be  issued  by a  company  rated A or  better  by Best and  shall be in  amounts
sufficient  to  protect  the  Agent  against  any and all loss or  damage to the
Collateral.  The policy or  policies  which  evidence  said  insurance  shall be
delivered to the Agent upon request,  shall contain a lender loss payable clause
in favor of the Agent,  shall name the Agent for the  benefit of the Banks as an
additional  insured,  as its  interest may appear,  shall not permit  amendment,
cancellation  or  termination  without  giving  the Agent at least 30 days prior
written  notice   thereof,   and  shall  otherwise  be  in  form  and  substance
satisfactory  to  the  Agent.   Reimbursement   under  any  liability  insurance
maintained by the Company  pursuant to this  paragraph 1(e) may be paid directly
to the person  who shall  have  incurred  liability  covered by such  insurance,
provided  that if there is no  Default or Event of  Default  (whether  before or
after any event which caused any  reimbursement  under any liability  insurance)
the Company may use the proceeds of such  insurance  solely to repair or replace
the property  damaged if the insurance  proceeds are less than $500,000,  and if
such  reimbursement  is  greater  than  $500,000  any such  amounts in excess of
$500,000 shall be paid to the Agent for application to the Secured Obligations.

     (f) Taxes,  Etc.  The  Company will pay promptly,  and within the time that
they can be paid without interest or penalty, any taxes, assessments and similar
imposts  and  charges,  not  being  contested  in good  faith,  which are now or
hereafter may become a Lien upon any of the Collateral.  If the Company fails to
pay any such taxes,  assessments or other imposts or charges in accordance  with

                               SECURITY AGREEMENT
                                       -5-
<PAGE>

this Section, the Agent shall have the option to do so and the Company agrees to
repay  forthwith  all  amounts so  expended  by the Agent with  interest  at the
Overdue Rate.

     (g) Further  Assurances.  The  Company will do all acts and things and will
execute all financing  statements and writings reasonably requested by the Agent
to establish,  maintain and continue a perfected and valid security  interest of
the Agent in the  Collateral,  and will  promptly  on demand pay all  reasonable
costs and expenses of filing and recording all instruments,  including the costs
of any searches  deemed  necessary by the Agent,  to establish and determine the
validity  and  the  priority  of  the  Agent's  security  interests.  A  carbon,
photographic or other  reproduction of this Security  Agreement or any financing
statement covering the Collateral shall be sufficient as a financing statement.

     (h) List of Patents, Copyrights, Mask Works and Trademarks. Attached hereto
as  Schedule 1(h)(i)  is a list of all patents and patent  applications owned by
the Company.  Attached hereto as  Schedule 1(h)(ii)  is a list of all registered
copyrights  and all mask works and  applications  therefor owned by the Company.
Attached  hereto as Schedule  1(h)(iii) is a list of all  trademarks and service
marks  owned by the  Company.  If the  Company  at any time owns any  additional
patents,  copyrights,  mask works,  trademarks or any applications  therefor not
listed on such schedules, the Company shall give the Agent prompt written notice
thereof and hereby  authorizes  the Agent to modify this  Agreement  by amending
Schedules 1(h)(i),  1(h)(ii)  and  1(h)(iii)  to  include  all  future  patents,
copyrights,  mask works,  trademarks  and  applications  therefor  and agrees to
execute all further  instruments  and  agreements,  if any, if  requested by the
Agent to evidence the Agent's interest therein.

     (i) Maintenance of Tangible  Collateral.  To  the extent  necessary for the
operation  of its  business,  the  Company  will cause the  tangible  Collateral
material to the conduct of its business to be  maintained  and  preserved in the
same  condition,  repair and working  order as when new,  ordinary wear and tear
excepted, and in accordance with any manufacturer's manual, and shall forthwith,
or,  in the case of any loss or  damage  to any of the  tangible  Collateral  as
quickly as practicable  after the occurrence  thereof,  make or cause to be made
all  repairs,  replacements,  and  other  improvements  which are  necessary  or
desirable  to such  end.  The  Company  shall  promptly  furnish  to the Agent a
statement respecting any loss or damage to any of the tangible Collateral.

     (j) Special Rights  Regarding  Receivables.  The Agent or any of its agents
may, at any time and from time to time in its sole  discretion and  irrespective
of the existence of any event of default under this Security Agreement,  verify,
directly  with  each  person  (collectively,  the  "Obligors")  which  owes  any
Receivables to the Company,  the Receivables in any manner.  The Agent or any of
its agents may,  at any time from time to time after and during the  continuance
of an event of default under this Security Agreement, notify the Obligors of the
security  interest of the Agent in the  Collateral  and/or  direct such  account
debtors that all payments in connection with such obligations and the Collateral

                               SECURITY AGREEMENT
                                       -5-
<PAGE>

be made  directly to the Agent in the Agent's  name.  If the Agent or any of its
agents shall collect such obligations  directly from the Obligors,  the Agent or
any of its agents  shall  have the right to resolve  any  disputes  relating  to
returned  goods  directly  with the Obligors in such manner and on such terms as
the Agent or any of its agents shall  reasonably deem  appropriate.  The Company
directs and authorizes any and all of its present and future account  debtors to
comply with requests for information from the Agent,  the Agent's  designees and
agents and/or auditors,  relating to any and all business  transactions  between
the Company and the Obligors.  The Company further directs and authorizes all of
its Obligors upon receiving a notice or request sent by the Agent or the Agent's
agents or  designees  to pay  directly to the Agent any and all sums of money or
proceeds  now or hereafter  owing by the  Obligors to the Company,  and any such
payment  shall act as a discharge  of any debt of such Obligor to the Company in
the same manner as if such payment had been made  directly to the  Company.  The
Company agrees to take any and all action as the Agent may reasonably request to
assist the Agent in exercising the rights described in this Section.

     (k) Maintenance of Intellectual  Property and Other Intangible  Collateral.
To the extent  necessary for the  operation of its  business,  the Company shall
preserve  and  maintain  all rights of the Company and the Agent in all material
Intellectual  Property and all other material intangible  Collateral,  including
without  limitation  the payment of all  maintenance  fees,  filing fees and the
taking  of  all  appropriate  action  at  the  Company's  expense  to  halt  the
infringement of any of the Intellectual  Property or other Collateral,  provided
that, with respect to halting the infringement of any  Intellectual  Property or
other Collateral,  the Company does not need to take all such appropriate action
if the  Company  has,  or after  event  of  default  the  Required  Banks  have,
reasonably  determined  that it is not in its best interest to demand or enforce
cessation  of such  infringement  or other  conduct  because  it is  either  not
material or because the adverse  consequences  to the Company would outweigh the
benefits gained by such demand or enforcement.

     2. Events of  Default.  The  occurrence  of any Event of Default  under the
Credit  Agreement  shall be deemed an "event of  default"  under  this  Security
Agreement.

     3.  Remedies.  Upon  the  occurrence  of any event of default  specified in
Paragraph 2 hereof, the Agent shall have and may exercise any one or more of the
rights and remedies  provided to it under this Security  Agreement or any of the
other Operative  Documents or provided by law,  including but not limited to all
of the rights and remedies of a secured party under the Uniform Commercial Code,
and the Company  hereby agrees to assemble the  Collateral and make it available
to the  Agent at a place  to be  designated  by the  Agent  which is  reasonably
convenient  to both  parties,  authorizes  the Agent to take  possession  of the
Collateral with or without demand and with or without process of law and to sell
and dispose of the same at public or private  sale and to apply the  proceeds of
such sale to the costs and expenses  thereof  (including  reasonable  attorneys'
fees and  disbursements,  incurred  by the  Agent) and then to the  payment  and
satisfaction of the Secured  Obligations.  Any requirement of reasonable  notice

                               SECURITY AGREEMENT
                                       -6-
<PAGE>

shall be met if the Agent sends such notice to the  Company,  by  registered  or
certified mail, at least 5 days prior to the date of sale,  disposition or other
event  giving  rise to a  required  notice.  The  Agent  or any  Bank may be the
purchaser at any such sale. The Company expressly  authorizes such sale or sales
of the  Collateral in advance of and to the exclusion of any sale or sales of or
other  realization upon any other collateral  securing the Secured  Obligations.
The Agent shall have no obligation to preserve rights against prior parties. The
Company  hereby waives as to the Agent and each Bank any right of subrogation or
marshalling  of  such  Collateral  and any  other  collateral  for  the  Secured
Obligations.  To this end,  the Company  hereby  expressly  agrees that any such
collateral  or other  security of the Company or any other party which the Agent
may hold, or which may come to any of the Banks or any of their possession,  may
be dealt with in all respects and particulars as though this Security  Agreement
were not in existence.  The parties hereto further agree that public sale of the
Collateral by auction conducted in any county in which any Collateral is located
or in which the Agent or the Company does business  after  advertisement  of the
time and place thereof shall, among other manners of public and private sale, be
deemed  to be a  commercially  reasonable  disposition  of the  Collateral.  The
Company shall be liable for any deficiency  remaining  after  disposition of the
Collateral.

     4. Special Remedies Concerning Certain Collateral.

     (a) Upon the occurrence of any event of default which shall remain uncured,
the  Company  shall,  if  requested  to do so in  writing,  and to the extent so
requested  (i)  promptly  collect  and  enforce  payment of all  amounts due the
Company  on  account  of, in  payment  of,  or in  connection  with,  any of the
Collateral,  (ii) hold all  payments  in the form  received  by the  Company  as
trustee  for the Agent,  without  commingling  with any funds  belonging  to the
Company, (iii) forthwith deliver all such payments to the Agent with endorsement
to the Agent's  order of any checks or similar  instruments,  and (iv)  promptly
provide to the Agent a listing or listings (including addresses) of all obligors
under accounts receivable owing to the Company or any Subsidiary.

     (b) Upon the occurrence of any event of default which shall remain uncured,
the Company shall, if requested to do so, and to the extent so requested, notify
all Obligors and other persons with  obligations to the Company on account of or
in connection  with any of the Collateral of the security  interest of the Agent
in the  Collateral  and direct such account  debtors and other  persons that all
payments in connection with such obligations and the Collateral be made directly
to the Agent.  The Agent itself may, upon the  occurrence of an event of default
which shall  remain  uncured,  so notify and direct any such  account  debtor or
other person that such payments are to be made directly to the Agent.

     (c) Upon the occurrence of any event of default which shall remain uncured,
for  purposes  of  assisting  the Agent in  exercising  its rights and  remedies
provided to it under this Security Agreement, the Company (i) hereby irrevocably
constitutes and appoints the Agent its true and lawful attorney,  for and in the
Company's  name,  place  and  stead,  to  collect,  demand,  receive,  sue  for,

                               SECURITY AGREEMENT
                                       -7-
<PAGE>

compromise,  and give good and  sufficient  releases  for,  any monies due or to
become due on account of, in payment of, or in connection  with the  Collateral,
(ii) hereby irrevocably authorizes the Agent to endorse the name of the Company,
upon any checks,  drafts,  or similar items which are received in payment of, or
in connection  with, any of the  Collateral,  and to do all things  necessary in
order to reduce the same to money, (iii) with respect to any Collateral,  hereby
irrevocably  assents to all extensions or  postponements  of the time of payment
thereof or any other indulgence in connection  therewith,  to each substitution,
exchange  or  release of  Collateral,  to the  addition  or release of any party
primarily or secondarily  liable,  to the acceptance of partial payments thereon
and the settlement,  compromise or adjustment (including adjustment of insurance
payments)  thereof,  all in such  manner  and at such time or times as the Agent
shall deem advisable and (iv) hereby irrevocably  authorizes the Agent to notify
the post office  authorities to change the address for delivery of the Company's
mail to an address designated by the Agent, and the Agent may receive,  open and
dispose  of  all  mail  addressed  to the  Company.  Notwithstanding  any  other
provisions of this Security  Agreement,  it is expressly  understood  and agreed
that the Agent shall have no duty, and shall not be obligated in any manner,  to
make any demand or to make any  inquiry as to the nature or  sufficiency  of any
payments received by it or to present or file any claim or take any other action
to collect or enforce the payment of any amounts due or to become due on account
of or in connection with any of the Collateral.

     5. Remedies  Cumulative.  No  right or remedy conferred upon or reserved to
the Agent under any Operative  Document is intended to be exclusive of any other
right or remedy,  and every right and remedy shall be  cumulative in addition to
every other right or remedy given  hereunder or now or hereafter  existing under
any  applicable  law.  Every right and remedy of the Agent  under any  Operative
Document or under applicable law may be exercised from time to time and as often
as may be deemed expedient by the Agent. To the extent that it lawfully may, the
Company agrees that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner
whatever  claim or take any benefit or  advantage of any  applicable  present or
future  stay,  extension  or  moratorium  law,  which may affect  observance  or
performance of any provisions of any Operative Document; nor will it claim, take
or insist upon any benefit or advantage  of any present or future law  providing
for the  valuation or appraisal  of any security for its  obligations  under any
Operative Document prior to any sale or sales thereof which may be made under or
by virtue of any instrument governing the same; nor will the Company,  after any
such sale or sales,  claim or exercise any right,  under any  applicable  law to
redeem any portion of such security so sold.

     6. Conduct No  Waiver.  No  waiver of default shall be effective  unless in
writing  executed by the Agent and waiver of any default or  forbearance  on the
part of the Agent in enforcing any of its rights under this  Security  Agreement
shall not operate as a waiver of any other  default or of the same  default on a
future occasion or of such right.

     7.  Governing Law;  Consent to  Jurisdiction;  Definitions.  This  Security
Agreement is a contract  made under,  and shall be governed by and  construed in
accordance  with, the law of the State of Michigan  applicable to contracts made

                             SECURITY AGREEMENT
                                       -8-
<PAGE>

and to be  performed  entirely  within  such State  and without giving effect to
choice of law principles of such State. The Company agrees that any legal action
or  proceeding  with  respect to this  Security  Agreement  or the  transactions
contemplated hereby may be brought in any court of the State of Michigan,  or in
any court of the United States of America  sitting in Michigan,  and the Company
hereby submits to and accepts generally and  unconditionally the jurisdiction of
those courts with respect to its person and property,  and irrevocably  appoints
the Chief Financial  Officer of the Company,  at the Company's address set forth
in the Credit  Agreement,  as its agent for service of process  and  irrevocably
consents  to the  service  of  process  in  connection  with any such  action or
proceeding  by personal  delivery  to the  Company or by the mailing  thereof by
registered or certified mail,  postage prepaid to the Company at its address set
forth in the Credit Agreement.  Nothing in this paragraph shall affect the right
of the Agent to serve process in any other manner  permitted by law or limit the
right of the Agent to bring any such action or proceeding against the Company or
its  property  in the  courts  of any other  jurisdiction.  The  Company  hereby
irrevocably  waives  any  objection  to the  laying of venue of any such suit or
proceeding  in the above  described  courts.  Terms used but not defined  herein
shall have the respective  meanings  ascribed  thereto in the Credit  Agreement.
Unless  otherwise  defined  herein or in the  Credit  Agreement,  terms  used in
Article  9 of the  Uniform  Commercial  Code in the State of  Michigan  are used
herein as therein  defined  on the date  hereof.  The  headings  of the  various
subdivisions  hereof are for  convenience  of reference only and shall in no way
modify any of the terms or provisions hereof.

     8.   Notices.   All  notices,   demands,   requests,   consents  and  other
communications  hereunder  shall be  delivered  in the manner  described  in the
Credit Agreement.

     9. Rights Not Construed as Duties.  The  Agent neither assumes nor shall it
have any duty of  performance  or other  responsibility  under any  contracts in
which the Agent has or obtains a security  interest  hereunder.  If the  Company
fails to perform any agreement  contained herein, the Agent may but is in no way
obligated to itself perform,  or cause  performance of, such agreement,  and the
reasonable  expenses of the Agent  incurred  in  connection  therewith  shall be
payable by the Company  under  paragraph  12. The powers  conferred on the Agent
hereunder  are solely to protect its interests in the  Collateral  and shall not
impose any duty upon it to exercise any such powers. Except for the safe custody
of any Collateral in its possession and accounting for monies actually  received
by it hereunder,  the Agent shall have no duty as to any Collateral or as to the
taking of any necessary  steps to preserve  rights  against prior parties or any
other rights pertaining to any Collateral.

     10.  Amendments.  None  of  the  terms  and  provisions  of  this  Security
Agreement  may be  modified  or amended in any way  except by an  instrument  in
writing executed by each of the parties hereto.

     11. Severability.  If any one or more provisions of this Security Agreement
should be  invalid,  illegal or  unenforceable  in any  respect,  the  validity,

                               SECURITY AGREEMENT
                                      -9-
<PAGE>

legality and enforceability of the remaining  provisions  contained herein shall
not in any way be affected, impaired or prejudiced thereby.

     12.  Expenses.  (a)  The  Company  agrees to  indemnify  the Agent from and
against any and all claims,  losses and liabilities  growing out of or resulting
from this Security Agreement (including, without limitation, enforcement of this
Security  Agreement),  except claims,  losses or liabilities  resulting from the
Agent's gross negligence or willful misconduct.

     (b) The Company  will,  upon demand,  pay to the Agent an amount of any and
all reasonable expenses,  including the reasonable fees and disbursements of its
counsel and of any experts and agents,  which the Agent may incur in  connection
with (i) the  administration  of this  Security  Agreement,  (ii)  the  custody,
preservation,  use or  operation  of, or the sale of,  collection  from or other
realization  upon, any of the  Collateral,  (iii) the exercise or enforcement of
any of the rights of the Agent  hereunder or under the Operative  Documents,  or
(iv) the  failure of the  Company to  perform or observe  any of the  provisions
hereof.

     13.  Successors and Assigns;  Termination.  This  Security  Agreement shall
create a continuing  security  interest in the  Collateral  and shall be binding
upon the Company,  its  successors  and assigns,  and inure,  together  with the
rights and remedies of the Agent hereunder,  to the benefit of the Agent and its
successors,  transferees  and assigns.  Upon the payment in full in  immediately
available  funds of all of the Secured  Obligations  and the  termination of all
commitments to lend under the Operative Documents, the security interest granted
hereunder shall  terminate and all rights to the Collateral  shall revert to the
Company.

     14.  Waiver of Jury  Trial.  The  Agent and the Banks,  in  accepting  this
Security  Agreement,  and  the  Company,  after  consulting  or  having  had the
opportunity to consult with counsel,  knowingly,  voluntarily and  intentionally
waive any right any of them may have to a trial by jury in any litigation  based
upon or arising out of this  Security  Agreement  or any related  instrument  or
agreement or any of the transactions  contemplated by this Security Agreement or
any course of conduct, dealing,  statements (whether oral or written) or actions
of any of them.  Neither  the  Agent,  the Banks nor the  Company  shall seek to
consolidate, by counterclaim or otherwise, any such action in which a jury trial
has been waived with any other action in which a jury trial cannot be or has not
been waived.  These  provisions shall not be deemed to have been modified in any
respect or relinquished by either the Agent,  the Banks or the Company except by
a written instrument executed by all of them.

                               SECURITY AGREEMENT
                                      -10
<PAGE>


     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the Company has caused this Security  Agreement to be
duly executed as of the day and year first set forth above.

                                       SOS COLLECTION SERVICES, INC.


                                       By: /S/ Richard D Reinhold
                                           Richard J. Tripp
                                           Its:  Chief Executive Officer

Accepted and Agreed:


NBD BANK, as Collateral Agent
and on behalf of the Banks



By: ____________________________________

     Its: ______________________________



                         CERTIFICATE OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT


STATE OF   _______         )
                           ) ss.
COUNTY OF  _______         )


     The foregoing Security Agreement was acknowledged before me on this _______
day of July,  1996 by  Richard  J.  Tripp,  the Chief  Executive  Officer of SOS
Collection  Services,   Inc.,  an  Arizona   corporation,   on  behalf  of  said
corporation

(seal)                                     Notary Public

                                            /s/ Ken J Zaholini

                               SECURITY AGREEMENT
                                      -11-
<PAGE>



STATE OF MICHIGAN )
                               ) ss.
COUNTY OF WAYNE )


     The foregoing Security Agreement was acknowledged  before me on this ______
day of July, 1996, by ____________________, the ___________________ of NBD Bank,
as  Collateral  Agent,  a  Michigan  banking  corporation,  on  behalf  of  said
corporation.


(Seal)                                      Notary Public

 
                                            /s/ Phyllis Bonzani




WP6:[WPMYL.00007.2954]AGR_AA2_01.

                               SECURITY AGREEMENT
                                      -12-

<PAGE>


                             SECURITY AGREEMENT


     THIS  SECURITY  AGREEMENT,  dated  as of  July  11,  1996  (this  "Security
Agreement"),  is  made  by  SOS  STAFFING  SERVICES,  INC., a  Utah  corporation
(the  "Company"),  in favor of NBD Bank,  a  Michigan  banking  corporation,  as
collateral  agent (in such capacity,  the "Agent") for the benefit of itself and
the banks  (the  "Banks")  now or  hereafter  parties  to the  Credit  Agreement
described below.

                                    RECITALS

     A. The Company has entered into a Credit  Agreement  of even date  herewith
(as amended or modified from time to time,  including any agreement entered into
in  substitution  therefor,  the "Credit Agreement"),with the guarantors parties
thereto, the Banks, First Security Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and  NBD
Bank, as Documentation and Collateral  Agent,  pursuant  to which the  Banks may
make  Advances  (as therein defined) to the Borrower.

     B. Under the terms of the Credit Agreement, the Company has agreed to grant
to the Agent, for the benefit of itself and the Banks, a first-priority security
interest,  subject only to security interests  expressly permitted by the Credit
Agreement, in and to the Collateral hereinafter described.

                                    AGREEMENT

     To secure (a) the prompt and complete payment of all indebtedness and other
obligations  of the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  now or  hereafter  owing to the
Banks or the Agent  under or on account of the Credit  Agreement,  any  Security
Document  or any  letters of credit,  notes or other  instruments  issued to the
Agent or Banks pursuant thereto,  (b) the performance of the covenants under the
Credit Agreement and the Security Documents and any monies expended by the Agent
in connection therewith,  (c) the prompt and complete payment of all obligations
and  performance  of all covenants of the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  under any
interest rate or currency swap agreements or similar  transactions with any Bank
and (d) the  prompt  and  complete  payment  of any and all other  indebtedness,
obligations and liabilities of any kind of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to the
Agent  and the  Banks,  or any of them,  in all  cases,  of any kind or  nature,
howsoever created or evidenced and whether now or hereafter existing,  direct or
indirect  (including without  limitation any participation  interest acquired by
any Bank in any such indebtedness, obligations or liabilities of the Borrower or
any  Subsidiary  to any other  person),  absolute or  contingent,  joint  and/or
several,  secured or unsecured,  arising by operation of law or  otherwise,  and
whether  incurred  by the  Borrower  or any  Subsidiary  as  principal,  surety,
endorser,  guarantor,   accommodation  party  or  otherwise,  including  without
limitation  all  principal  and all interest  (including  any interest  accruing
subsequent  to any petition  filed by or against the Borrower or any  Subsidiary
under  the U.S.  Bankruptcy  Code),  indemnity  and  reimbursement  obligations,
charges, expenses, fees, attorneys' fees and disbursements and any other amounts

<PAGE>

owing thereunder (all of the aforesaid indebtedness, obligations and liabilities
of  the  Borrower  and  its  Subsidiaries   being  herein  called  the  "Secured
Obligations",  and all of the documents,  agreements and  instruments  among the
Borrower, the Subsidiaries,  the Agent, the Banks, or any of them, evidencing or
securing the repayment of, or otherwise  pertaining to, the Secured  Obligations
including without  limitation the Credit  Agreement,  the Notes and the Security
Documents,  being herein  collectively  called the "Operative  Documents"),  for
value received and pursuant to the Credit Agreement,  the Company hereby grants,
assigns and transfers to the Agent for the benefit of the Banks a first-priority
security  interest,  subject only to Permitted  Liens,  in and to the  following
described  property  whether  now owned or  existing  or  hereafter  acquired or
arising and  wherever  located (all of which is herein  collectively  called the
"Collateral"):

     (a)  All  of  the  Company's   present  and  future  accounts,   documents,
instruments,  general  intangibles  and chattel  paper,  including,  but without
limitation,  all accounts receivable,  contract rights, all deposit accounts and
all monies and  claims for money due or to become due to the  Company,  security
held or granted to the Company, and all assets described in clause (d) below;

     (b) All of the Company's  furniture,  fixtures,  machinery  and  equipment,
whether now owned or hereafter acquired,  and wherever located, and whether used
by the Company or any other  person,  or leased by the Company to any person and
whether the interest of Company is as owner, lessee or otherwise;

     (c) All of the  Company's  present  and  future  inventory  of every  type,
wherever located,  including but not limited to raw materials,  work in process,
finished  goods and all  inventory  that is  available  for leasing or leased to
others by the Company;

     (d) All other present and future personal  property of the Company (whether
tangible  or   intangible),   including  but  not  limited  to  all  trademarks,
tradenames,  service marks,  patents,  industrial  designs,  masks, trade names,
trade secrets, copyrights,  franchises,  customer lists, service marks, computer
programs,  software, tax refund claims,  licenses and permits, and the good will
associated therewith and all federal,  state, foreign and other applications and
registrations  therefor,  all  reissues,  divisions,  continuations,   renewals,
extensions  and  continuations-in-part  thereof now or hereafter in effect,  all
income, license royalties, damages and payments now and hereafter due or payable
under and with respect  thereto,  including,  without  limitation,  any damages,
proceeds or payments  for past or future  infringements  thereof and all income,
royalties, damages and payments under all licenses thereof, the right to sue for
past, present and future infringements thereof, all right, title and interest of
the  Company  as  licensor  under  any of the  foregoing  whether  now owned and
existing  or  hereafter  arising,  and all  other  rights  and  other  interests
corresponding  thereto throughout the world (all of the assets described in this
clause (d) collectively referred to as the "Intellectual Property");

     (e) All books, records, files,  correspondence,  computer programs,  tapes,
disks,  cards,  accounting  information and other data of the Company related in

                               SECURITY AGREEMENT
                                       -2-
<PAGE>

any way to the  Collateral  described  in clauses  (a),  (b), (c) and (d) above,
including but not limited to any of the foregoing necessary to administer,  sell
or dispose of any of the Collateral;

     (f)  All   substitutions  and  replacements  for,  and  all  additions  and
accessions to, any and all of the foregoing; and

     (g) All products and all proceeds of any and all of the foregoing,  and, to
the extent not otherwise included,  all payments under insurance (whether or not
the Agent is the loss payee thereof),  and any indemnity,  warranty or guaranty,
payable by reason of loss or damage to or  otherwise  with respect to any of the
foregoing.

     1.  Representations,  Warranties,  Covenants and  Agreements.  The  Company
further  represents,  warrants,  covenants,  and  agrees  with the Agent for the
benefit of the Banks as follows:

     (a) Ownership of Collateral;  Security Interest  Priority.  At the time any
Collateral becomes subject to a security interest of the Agent hereunder, unless
the  Agent  shall  otherwise  consent,  the  Company  shall  be  deemed  to have
represented  and  warranted  that  (i) the  Company  is the  lawful  owner of or
otherwise has an interest in such  Collateral and has the right and authority to
subject  the  same to the  security  interest  of the  Agent;  (ii)  other  than
Permitted Liens and lessors'  interest with respect to any security  interest in
any property leased by the Company as lessee,  none of the Collateral is subject
to any Lien  other  than that in favor of the  Agent  and there is no  effective
financing  statement or other filing  covering any of the  Collateral on file in
any public  office,  other than in favor of the Agent.  This Security  Agreement
creates in favor of the Agent a valid first-priority security interest,  subject
only to Permitted Liens, in the Collateral  enforceable  against the Company and
all third  parties and  securing  the payment of the  Secured  Obligations.  All
financing  statements  necessary  to  perfect  such  security  interest  in  the
Collateral have been delivered by the Company to the Agent for filing.

     (b)  Location  of Offices,  Records and  Facilities.  The  Company's  chief
executive  office and chief place of business  and the office  where the Company
keeps its records  concerning its accounts,  contract  rights,  chattel  papers,
instruments,  general  intangibles  and other  obligations  arising out of or in
connection  with the sale or lease of  goods or the  rendering  of  services  or
otherwise  ("Receivables"),  and all  originals of all leases and other  chattel
paper which evidence  Receivables,  are located in the State of Utah,  County of
Salt Lake at 1415 South Main  Street,  Salt Lake City,  Utah 84115.  The Company
will provide the Agent with prior written  notice of any proposed  change in the
location of its chief  executive  office.  The Company's  only other offices and
facilities  are at the locations set forth in Schedule 1(b) hereto.  The Company
will provide the Agent with prior written  notice of any change in the locations
of its other  offices and the  facilities at which any assets of the Company are
located. The tax identification number of the Company is 86-0808307. The name of
the Company is SOS Collection Services,  Inc., and the Company operates under no

                               SECURITY AGREEMENT
                                       -3-
<PAGE>

other names other than National Collex Corporation. The Company shall not change
its name or operate under any names other than as listed above without the prior
written consent of the Agent.

     (C) Location of Inventory,  Fixtures,  Machinery and Equipment.  (i) Except
for  purchased  inventory in transit,  all  Collateral  consisting  of inventory
currently is located at the locations  listed on Schedule  1(c)(i) hereto.  (ii)
All  Collateral  consisting  of fixtures,  machinery  or  equipment  (except for
purchased  machinery or equipment in transit),  if any,  currently is located at
the locations listed on Schedule 1(c)(ii) hereto.

     (d) Liens,  Etc.  The  Company will keep the  Collateral  free at all times
from any and all liens,  security  interests  or  encumbrances  other than those
described  in  paragraph  1(a)(ii)  and those  consented  to in  writing  by the
Required Banks.  The Company will not,  without the prior written consent of the
Agent, sell, lease, license, transfer, assign or otherwise dispose, or permit or
suffer  to  be  sold,  leased,  licensed,  transferred,  assigned  or  otherwise
disposed,  any of the Collateral,  except for, prior to an event of default only
(notwithstanding  any other  agreement),  the  following:  inventory sold in the
ordinary  course of business  and other  assets  permitted  to be sold,  leased,
licensed,  transferred,  assigned or otherwise  disposed under Sections  5.2(h),
5.2(i) and or 5.2(m) of the Credit Agreement.  The Agent or its attorneys may at
any and all  reasonable  times inspect the  Collateral  and for such purpose may
enter  upon any and all  premises  where the  Collateral  is or might be kept or
located.

     (e)  Insurance.  The  Company shall keep the tangible Collateral insured at
all times against loss by theft, fire and other casualties. Said insurance shall
be  issued  by a  company  rated A or  better  by Best and  shall be in  amounts
sufficient  to  protect  the  Agent  against  any and all loss or  damage to the
Collateral.  The policy or  policies  which  evidence  said  insurance  shall be
delivered to the Agent upon request,  shall contain a lender loss payable clause
in favor of the Agent,  shall name the Agent for the  benefit of the Banks as an
additional  insured,  as its  interest may appear,  shall not permit  amendment,
cancellation  or  termination  without  giving  the Agent at least 30 days prior
written  notice   thereof,   and  shall  otherwise  be  in  form  and  substance
satisfactory  to  the  Agent.   Reimbursement   under  any  liability  insurance
maintained by the Company  pursuant to this  paragraph 1(e) may be paid directly
to the person  who shall  have  incurred  liability  covered by such  insurance,
provided  that if there is no  Default or Event of  Default  (whether  before or
after any event which caused any  reimbursement  under any liability  insurance)
the Company may use the proceeds of such  insurance  solely to repair or replace
the property  damaged if the insurance  proceeds are less than $500,000,  and if
such  reimbursement  is  greater  than  $500,000  any such  amounts in excess of
$500,000 shall be paid to the Agent for application to the Secured Obligations.

     (f) Taxes,  Etc.  The  Company will pay promptly,  and within the time that
they can be paid without interest or penalty, any taxes, assessments and similar
imposts  and  charges,  not  being  contested  in good  faith,  which are now or
hereafter may become a Lien upon any of the Collateral.  If the Company fails to
pay any such taxes,  assessments or other imposts or charges in accordance  with

                               SECURITY AGREEMENT
                                       -5-
<PAGE>

this Section, the Agent shall have the option to do so and the Company agrees to
repay  forthwith  all  amounts so  expended  by the Agent with  interest  at the
Overdue Rate.

     (g) Further  Assurances.  The  Company will do all acts and things and will
execute all financing  statements and writings reasonably requested by the Agent
to establish,  maintain and continue a perfected and valid security  interest of
the Agent in the  Collateral,  and will  promptly  on demand pay all  reasonable
costs and expenses of filing and recording all instruments,  including the costs
of any searches  deemed  necessary by the Agent,  to establish and determine the
validity  and  the  priority  of  the  Agent's  security  interests.  A  carbon,
photographic or other  reproduction of this Security  Agreement or any financing
statement covering the Collateral shall be sufficient as a financing statement.

     (h) List of Patents, Copyrights, Mask Works and Trademarks. Attached hereto
as  Schedule 1(h)(i)  is a list of all patents and patent  applications owned by
the Company.  Attached hereto as  Schedule 1(h)(ii)  is a list of all registered
copyrights  and all mask works and  applications  therefor owned by the Company.
Attached  hereto as Schedule  1(h)(iii) is a list of all  trademarks and service
marks  owned by the  Company.  If the  Company  at any time owns any  additional
patents,  copyrights,  mask works,  trademarks or any applications  therefor not
listed on such schedules, the Company shall give the Agent prompt written notice
thereof and hereby  authorizes  the Agent to modify this  Agreement  by amending
Schedules 1(h)(i),  1(h)(ii)  and  1(h)(iii)  to  include  all  future  patents,
copyrights,  mask works,  trademarks  and  applications  therefor  and agrees to
execute all further  instruments  and  agreements,  if any, if  requested by the
Agent to evidence the Agent's interest therein.

     (i) Maintenance of Tangible  Collateral.  To  the extent  necessary for the
operation  of its  business,  the  Company  will cause the  tangible  Collateral
material to the conduct of its business to be  maintained  and  preserved in the
same  condition,  repair and working  order as when new,  ordinary wear and tear
excepted, and in accordance with any manufacturer's manual, and shall forthwith,
or,  in the case of any loss or  damage  to any of the  tangible  Collateral  as
quickly as practicable  after the occurrence  thereof,  make or cause to be made
all  repairs,  replacements,  and  other  improvements  which are  necessary  or
desirable  to such  end.  The  Company  shall  promptly  furnish  to the Agent a
statement respecting any loss or damage to any of the tangible Collateral.

     (j) Special Rights  Regarding  Receivables.  The Agent or any of its agents
may, at any time and from time to time in its sole  discretion and  irrespective
of the existence of any event of default under this Security Agreement,  verify,
directly  with  each  person  (collectively,  the  "Obligors")  which  owes  any
Receivables to the Company,  the Receivables in any manner.  The Agent or any of
its agents may,  at any time from time to time after and during the  continuance
of an event of default under this Security Agreement, notify the Obligors of the
security  interest of the Agent in the  Collateral  and/or  direct such  account
debtors that all payments in connection with such obligations and the Collateral

                               SECURITY AGREEMENT
                                       -5-
<PAGE>

be made  directly to the Agent in the Agent's  name.  If the Agent or any of its
agents shall collect such obligations  directly from the Obligors,  the Agent or
any of its agents  shall  have the right to resolve  any  disputes  relating  to
returned  goods  directly  with the Obligors in such manner and on such terms as
the Agent or any of its agents shall  reasonably deem  appropriate.  The Company
directs and authorizes any and all of its present and future account  debtors to
comply with requests for information from the Agent,  the Agent's  designees and
agents and/or auditors,  relating to any and all business  transactions  between
the Company and the Obligors.  The Company further directs and authorizes all of
its Obligors upon receiving a notice or request sent by the Agent or the Agent's
agents or  designees  to pay  directly to the Agent any and all sums of money or
proceeds  now or hereafter  owing by the  Obligors to the Company,  and any such
payment  shall act as a discharge  of any debt of such Obligor to the Company in
the same manner as if such payment had been made  directly to the  Company.  The
Company agrees to take any and all action as the Agent may reasonably request to
assist the Agent in exercising the rights described in this Section.

     (k) Maintenance of Intellectual  Property and Other Intangible  Collateral.
To the extent  necessary for the  operation of its  business,  the Company shall
preserve  and  maintain  all rights of the Company and the Agent in all material
Intellectual  Property and all other material intangible  Collateral,  including
without  limitation  the payment of all  maintenance  fees,  filing fees and the
taking  of  all  appropriate  action  at  the  Company's  expense  to  halt  the
infringement of any of the Intellectual  Property or other Collateral,  provided
that, with respect to halting the infringement of any  Intellectual  Property or
other Collateral,  the Company does not need to take all such appropriate action
if the  Company  has,  or after  event  of  default  the  Required  Banks  have,
reasonably  determined  that it is not in its best interest to demand or enforce
cessation  of such  infringement  or other  conduct  because  it is  either  not
material or because the adverse  consequences  to the Company would outweigh the
benefits gained by such demand or enforcement.

     2. Events of  Default.  The  occurrence  of any Event of Default  under the
Credit  Agreement  shall be deemed an "event of  default"  under  this  Security
Agreement.

     3.  Remedies.  Upon  the  occurrence  of any event of default  specified in
Paragraph 2 hereof, the Agent shall have and may exercise any one or more of the
rights and remedies  provided to it under this Security  Agreement or any of the
other Operative  Documents or provided by law,  including but not limited to all
of the rights and remedies of a secured party under the Uniform Commercial Code,
and the Company  hereby agrees to assemble the  Collateral and make it available
to the  Agent at a place  to be  designated  by the  Agent  which is  reasonably
convenient  to both  parties,  authorizes  the Agent to take  possession  of the
Collateral with or without demand and with or without process of law and to sell
and dispose of the same at public or private  sale and to apply the  proceeds of
such sale to the costs and expenses  thereof  (including  reasonable  attorneys'
fees and  disbursements,  incurred  by the  Agent) and then to the  payment  and
satisfaction of the Secured  Obligations.  Any requirement of reasonable  notice

                               SECURITY AGREEMENT
                                       -6-
<PAGE>

shall be met if the Agent sends such notice to the  Company,  by  registered  or
certified mail, at least 5 days prior to the date of sale,  disposition or other
event  giving  rise to a  required  notice.  The  Agent  or any  Bank may be the
purchaser at any such sale. The Company expressly  authorizes such sale or sales
of the  Collateral in advance of and to the exclusion of any sale or sales of or
other  realization upon any other collateral  securing the Secured  Obligations.
The Agent shall have no obligation to preserve rights against prior parties. The
Company  hereby waives as to the Agent and each Bank any right of subrogation or
marshalling  of  such  Collateral  and any  other  collateral  for  the  Secured
Obligations.  To this end,  the Company  hereby  expressly  agrees that any such
collateral  or other  security of the Company or any other party which the Agent
may hold, or which may come to any of the Banks or any of their possession,  may
be dealt with in all respects and particulars as though this Security  Agreement
were not in existence.  The parties hereto further agree that public sale of the
Collateral by auction conducted in any county in which any Collateral is located
or in which the Agent or the Company does business  after  advertisement  of the
time and place thereof shall, among other manners of public and private sale, be
deemed  to be a  commercially  reasonable  disposition  of the  Collateral.  The
Company shall be liable for any deficiency  remaining  after  disposition of the
Collateral.

     4. Special Remedies Concerning Certain Collateral.

     (a) Upon the occurrence of any event of default which shall remain uncured,
the  Company  shall,  if  requested  to do so in  writing,  and to the extent so
requested  (i)  promptly  collect  and  enforce  payment of all  amounts due the
Company  on  account  of, in  payment  of,  or in  connection  with,  any of the
Collateral,  (ii) hold all  payments  in the form  received  by the  Company  as
trustee  for the Agent,  without  commingling  with any funds  belonging  to the
Company, (iii) forthwith deliver all such payments to the Agent with endorsement
to the Agent's  order of any checks or similar  instruments,  and (iv)  promptly
provide to the Agent a listing or listings (including addresses) of all obligors
under accounts receivable owing to the Company or any Subsidiary.

     (b) Upon the occurrence of any event of default which shall remain uncured,
the Company shall, if requested to do so, and to the extent so requested, notify
all Obligors and other persons with  obligations to the Company on account of or
in connection  with any of the Collateral of the security  interest of the Agent
in the  Collateral  and direct such account  debtors and other  persons that all
payments in connection with such obligations and the Collateral be made directly
to the Agent.  The Agent itself may, upon the  occurrence of an event of default
which shall  remain  uncured,  so notify and direct any such  account  debtor or
other person that such payments are to be made directly to the Agent.

     (c) Upon the occurrence of any event of default which shall remain uncured,
for  purposes  of  assisting  the Agent in  exercising  its rights and  remedies
provided to it under this Security Agreement, the Company (i) hereby irrevocably
constitutes and appoints the Agent its true and lawful attorney,  for and in the
Company's  name,  place  and  stead,  to  collect,  demand,  receive,  sue  for,

                               SECURITY AGREEMENT
                                       -7-
<PAGE>

compromise,  and give good and  sufficient  releases  for,  any monies due or to
become due on account of, in payment of, or in connection  with the  Collateral,
(ii) hereby irrevocably authorizes the Agent to endorse the name of the Company,
upon any checks,  drafts,  or similar items which are received in payment of, or
in connection  with, any of the  Collateral,  and to do all things  necessary in
order to reduce the same to money, (iii) with respect to any Collateral,  hereby
irrevocably  assents to all extensions or  postponements  of the time of payment
thereof or any other indulgence in connection  therewith,  to each substitution,
exchange  or  release of  Collateral,  to the  addition  or release of any party
primarily or secondarily  liable,  to the acceptance of partial payments thereon
and the settlement,  compromise or adjustment (including adjustment of insurance
payments)  thereof,  all in such  manner  and at such time or times as the Agent
shall deem advisable and (iv) hereby irrevocably  authorizes the Agent to notify
the post office  authorities to change the address for delivery of the Company's
mail to an address designated by the Agent, and the Agent may receive,  open and
dispose  of  all  mail  addressed  to the  Company.  Notwithstanding  any  other
provisions of this Security  Agreement,  it is expressly  understood  and agreed
that the Agent shall have no duty, and shall not be obligated in any manner,  to
make any demand or to make any  inquiry as to the nature or  sufficiency  of any
payments received by it or to present or file any claim or take any other action
to collect or enforce the payment of any amounts due or to become due on account
of or in connection with any of the Collateral.

     5. Remedies  Cumulative.  No  right or remedy conferred upon or reserved to
the Agent under any Operative  Document is intended to be exclusive of any other
right or remedy,  and every right and remedy shall be  cumulative in addition to
every other right or remedy given  hereunder or now or hereafter  existing under
any  applicable  law.  Every right and remedy of the Agent  under any  Operative
Document or under applicable law may be exercised from time to time and as often
as may be deemed expedient by the Agent. To the extent that it lawfully may, the
Company agrees that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner
whatever  claim or take any benefit or  advantage of any  applicable  present or
future  stay,  extension  or  moratorium  law,  which may affect  observance  or
performance of any provisions of any Operative Document; nor will it claim, take
or insist upon any benefit or advantage  of any present or future law  providing
for the  valuation or appraisal  of any security for its  obligations  under any
Operative Document prior to any sale or sales thereof which may be made under or
by virtue of any instrument governing the same; nor will the Company,  after any
such sale or sales,  claim or exercise any right,  under any  applicable  law to
redeem any portion of such security so sold.

     6. Conduct No  Waiver.  No  waiver of default shall be effective  unless in
writing  executed by the Agent and waiver of any default or  forbearance  on the
part of the Agent in enforcing any of its rights under this  Security  Agreement
shall not operate as a waiver of any other  default or of the same  default on a
future occasion or of such right.

     7.  Governing Law;  Consent to  Jurisdiction;  Definitions.  This  Security
Agreement is a contract  made under,  and shall be governed by and  construed in
accordance  with, the law of the State of Michigan  applicable to contracts made

                             SECURITY AGREEMENT
                                       -8-
<PAGE>

and to be  performed  entirely  within  such State  and without giving effect to
choice of law principles of such State. The Company agrees that any legal action
or  proceeding  with  respect to this  Security  Agreement  or the  transactions
contemplated hereby may be brought in any court of the State of Michigan,  or in
any court of the United States of America  sitting in Michigan,  and the Company
hereby submits to and accepts generally and  unconditionally the jurisdiction of
those courts with respect to its person and property,  and irrevocably  appoints
the Chief Financial  Officer of the Company,  at the Company's address set forth
in the Credit  Agreement,  as its agent for service of process  and  irrevocably
consents  to the  service  of  process  in  connection  with any such  action or
proceeding  by personal  delivery  to the  Company or by the mailing  thereof by
registered or certified mail,  postage prepaid to the Company at its address set
forth in the Credit Agreement.  Nothing in this paragraph shall affect the right
of the Agent to serve process in any other manner  permitted by law or limit the
right of the Agent to bring any such action or proceeding against the Company or
its  property  in the  courts  of any other  jurisdiction.  The  Company  hereby
irrevocably  waives  any  objection  to the  laying of venue of any such suit or
proceeding  in the above  described  courts.  Terms used but not defined  herein
shall have the respective  meanings  ascribed  thereto in the Credit  Agreement.
Unless  otherwise  defined  herein or in the  Credit  Agreement,  terms  used in
Article  9 of the  Uniform  Commercial  Code in the State of  Michigan  are used
herein as therein  defined  on the date  hereof.  The  headings  of the  various
subdivisions  hereof are for  convenience  of reference only and shall in no way
modify any of the terms or provisions hereof.

     8.   Notices.   All  notices,   demands,   requests,   consents  and  other
communications  hereunder  shall be  delivered  in the manner  described  in the
Credit Agreement.

     9. Rights Not Construed as Duties.  The  Agent neither assumes nor shall it
have any duty of  performance  or other  responsibility  under any  contracts in
which the Agent has or obtains a security  interest  hereunder.  If the  Company
fails to perform any agreement  contained herein, the Agent may but is in no way
obligated to itself perform,  or cause  performance of, such agreement,  and the
reasonable  expenses of the Agent  incurred  in  connection  therewith  shall be
payable by the Company  under  paragraph  12. The powers  conferred on the Agent
hereunder  are solely to protect its interests in the  Collateral  and shall not
impose any duty upon it to exercise any such powers. Except for the safe custody
of any Collateral in its possession and accounting for monies actually  received
by it hereunder,  the Agent shall have no duty as to any Collateral or as to the
taking of any necessary  steps to preserve  rights  against prior parties or any
other rights pertaining to any Collateral.

     10.  Amendments.  None  of  the  terms  and  provisions  of  this  Security
Agreement  may be  modified  or amended in any way  except by an  instrument  in
writing executed by each of the parties hereto.

     11. Severability.  If any one or more provisions of this Security Agreement
should be  invalid,  illegal or  unenforceable  in any  respect,  the  validity,

                               SECURITY AGREEMENT
                                      -9-
<PAGE>

legality and enforceability of the remaining  provisions  contained herein shall
not in any way be affected, impaired or prejudiced thereby.

     12.  Expenses.  (a)  The  Company  agrees to  indemnify  the Agent from and
against any and all claims,  losses and liabilities  growing out of or resulting
from this Security Agreement (including, without limitation, enforcement of this
Security  Agreement),  except claims,  losses or liabilities  resulting from the
Agent's gross negligence or willful misconduct.

     (b) The Company  will,  upon demand,  pay to the Agent an amount of any and
all reasonable expenses,  including the reasonable fees and disbursements of its
counsel and of any experts and agents,  which the Agent may incur in  connection
with (i) the  administration  of this  Security  Agreement,  (ii)  the  custody,
preservation,  use or  operation  of, or the sale of,  collection  from or other
realization  upon, any of the  Collateral,  (iii) the exercise or enforcement of
any of the rights of the Agent  hereunder or under the Operative  Documents,  or
(iv) the  failure of the  Company to  perform or observe  any of the  provisions
hereof.

     13.  Successors and Assigns;  Termination.  This  Security  Agreement shall
create a continuing  security  interest in the  Collateral  and shall be binding
upon the Company,  its  successors  and assigns,  and inure,  together  with the
rights and remedies of the Agent hereunder,  to the benefit of the Agent and its
successors,  transferees  and assigns.  Upon the payment in full in  immediately
available  funds of all of the Secured  Obligations  and the  termination of all
commitments to lend under the Operative Documents, the security interest granted
hereunder shall  terminate and all rights to the Collateral  shall revert to the
Company.

     14.  Waiver of Jury  Trial.  The  Agent and the Banks,  in  accepting  this
Security  Agreement,  and  the  Company,  after  consulting  or  having  had the
opportunity to consult with counsel,  knowingly,  voluntarily and  intentionally
waive any right any of them may have to a trial by jury in any litigation  based
upon or arising out of this  Security  Agreement  or any related  instrument  or
agreement or any of the transactions  contemplated by this Security Agreement or
any course of conduct, dealing,  statements (whether oral or written) or actions
of any of them.  Neither  the  Agent,  the Banks nor the  Company  shall seek to
consolidate, by counterclaim or otherwise, any such action in which a jury trial
has been waived with any other action in which a jury trial cannot be or has not
been waived.  These  provisions shall not be deemed to have been modified in any
respect or relinquished by either the Agent,  the Banks or the Company except by
a written instrument executed by all of them.

                               SECURITY AGREEMENT
                                      -10
<PAGE>


     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the Company has caused this Security  Agreement to be
duly executed as of the day and year first set forth above.

                                       SOS COLLECTION SERVICES, INC.


                                       By: /S/ Richard D Reinhold
                                           Richard J. Tripp
                                           Its:  Chief Executive Officer

Accepted and Agreed:


NBD BANK, as Collateral Agent
and on behalf of the Banks



By: ____________________________________

     Its: ______________________________



                         CERTIFICATE OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT


STATE OF   _______         )
                           ) ss.
COUNTY OF  _______         )


     The foregoing Security Agreement was acknowledged before me on this _______
day of July,  1996 by  Richard  J.  Tripp,  the Chief  Executive  Officer of SOS
Collection  Services,   Inc.,  an  Arizona   corporation,   on  behalf  of  said
corporation.

(seal)                                     Notary Public

                                           /s/ Ken J Zaholini

                               SECURITY AGREEMENT
                                      -11-
<PAGE>



STATE OF MICHIGAN )
                               ) ss.
COUNTY OF WAYNE )


     The foregoing Security Agreement was acknowledged  before me on this ______
day of July, 1996, by ____________________, the ___________________ of NBD Bank,
as  Collateral  Agent,  a  Michigan  banking  corporation,  on  behalf  of  said
corporation.


(Seal)                                      Notary Public

 
                                            /s/ Phyllis Bonzani




WP6:[WPMYL.00007.2954]AGR_AA2_01.

                               SECURITY AGREEMENT
                                      -12-


<PAGE>
 
 







                                                
                              REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE



$10,000,000                                                        July 11, 1996
                                                               Detroit, Michigan



     FOR VALUE RECEIVED,  SOS STAFFING  SERVICES,  INC., a Utah corporation (the
"Company"),  hereby promises to pay to the order of NBD Bank, a Michigan banking
corporation  (the "Bank"),  at the principal  banking  office of First  Security
Bank,  N.A., as  Administrative  Agent,  in lawful money of the United States of
America and in  immediately  available  funds,  the principal sum of Ten Million
Dollars  ($10,000,000),  or such lesser  amount as is  recorded on the  schedule
attached  hereto,  or in the books and records of the Bank,  on the  Termination
Date;  and to pay interest on the unpaid  principal  balance hereof from time to
time  outstanding,  in like money and funds, for the period from the date hereof
until the Loans  evidenced  hereby shall be paid in full, at the rates per annum
and on the dates provided in the Credit Agreement referred to below.

     The Bank is hereby  authorized  by the  Company  to record on the  schedule
attached to this Note, or on its books and records, the date, amount and type of
each Loan,  the duration of the related  Interest  Period (if  applicable),  the
amount  of each  payment  or  prepayment  of  principal  thereon  and the  other
information  provided  for on such  schedule,  which  schedule or such books and
records,  as the case may be,  shall  constitute  prima  facie  evidence  of the
information  so  recorded,  provided,  however,  that any failure by the Bank to
record any such  information  shall not relieve the Company of its obligation to
repay the  outstanding  principal  amount of such Loans,  all  accrued  interest
thereon and any amount payable with respect thereto in accordance with the terms
of this Note and the Credit Agreement.

     The  Company  and  each  endorser  or  guarantor   hereof  waives   demand,
presentment,  protest,  diligence, notice of dishonor and any other formality in
connection with this Note. Should the indebtedness evidenced by this Note or any
part  thereof  be  collected  in any  proceeding  or be  placed  in the hands of
attorneys  for  collection,  the  Company  agrees  to pay,  in  addition  to the
principal,  interest  and  other  sums  due and  payable  hereon,  all  costs of
collecting this Note, including attorneys' fees and expenses.

     This Note evidences one or more Loans made under a Credit Agreement,  dated
as of July 11,  1996 (as  amended or  modified  from time to time,  the  "Credit
Agreement"),  by and among the Company,  the Guarantor named therein,  the banks
(including the Bank) named therein, First Security Bank, N.A., as Administrative
Agent for the banks and NBD Bank, as Documentation  and Collateral Agent for the
banks,  to which  reference is hereby made for a statement of the  circumstances
under which this Note is subject to prepayment  and under which its due date may
be accelerated  and for a description  of the  collateral and security  securing

<PAGE>

this Note.  Capitalized  terms used but not  defined in this Note shall have the
respective meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement.

     This  Note is made  under,  and  shall  be  governed  by and  construed  in
accordance with, the laws of the State of Michigan in the same manner applicable
to  contracts  made and to be performed  entirely  within such State and without
giving effect to choice of law principles of such State.

                                              SOS STAFFING SERVICES, INC.


                                               By:/s/ Richard D Reinhold
                                                  Richard D. Reinhold
                                                  Its:  Chief Executive Officer

                             REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE
                                      -2-
<PAGE>


                    Schedule to Revolving Credit Note, dated
               July 11, 1996, made by SOS Staffing Services, Inc.
                              in favor of NBD Bank



                                                 Principal
                                                  Amount
 Trans-  Principal  Type             Interest   Paid, Pre-  Principal
 action  Amount of   of   Interest  Period (if   paid or     Balance    Notation
 Date      Loan     Loan*   Rate    applicable) Converted  Outstanding   Made by



_________________________

*  E - Eurodollar Rate
   F - Floating Rate








WP6:[WPMYL.00007.2954]NOT_AA1_01.

                             REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE
                                      -3-
<PAGE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                          492526
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  17522054
<ALLOWANCES>                                   (251,604)
<INVENTORY>                                           0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               19367358
<PP&E>                                          3456441
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (1582204)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 32031274
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           7550862
<BONDS>                                               0
                                 0
                                           0
<COMMON>                                          67048
<OTHER-SE>                                     17579101
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   32031274
<SALES>                                               0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               37846104
<CGS>                                                 0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  30091956
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                      0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                      0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               152017
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 2141466
<INCOME-TAX>                                     813392
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             1328074
<DISCONTINUED>                                        0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                       0
<CHANGES>                                             0
<NET-INCOME>                                    1328074
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      0.20
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      0.20
        


</TABLE>


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