EXHIBIT 10.17 SIXTH AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT THIS SIXTH AMENDMENT (the "Amendment") dated as of July 31, 2002 is to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of August 29, 1998 (as previously amended and modified and as may be subsequently amended and modified from time to time, the "Credit Agreement"), by and among TUFCO, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the "Borrower"), TUFCO TECHNOLOGIES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Parent"), the other guarantors defined therein, the several banks and other financial institutions identified therein (the "Lenders") and WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, formerly known as First Union National Bank, as agent for the Lenders thereunder (in such capacity, the "Agent"). Terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings provided in the Credit Agreement. WITNESSETH: WHEREAS, the Lenders have established a credit facility for the benefit of the Borrower pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement; WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Required Banks amend the Credit Agreement; and WHEREAS, the Required Banks have agreed to the requested amendment on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth; NOW, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION of the premises and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows: A. The Credit Agreement is amended in the following respect: The definition of "Revolving Termination Date" in Section 1.1 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the reference to "August 1, 2002" and replacing it with "August 31, 2002". B. Except as modified hereby, all of the terms and provisions of the Credit Agreement (and Exhibits) remain in full force and effect. C. This Amendment shall become effective as of the date hereof upon receipt by the Agent of counterparts of this Amendment, executed by a duly authorized officer of each party hereto. D. The Borrower agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of this Amendment, including without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of Agent's legal counsel. E. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original and it shall not be necessary in making proof of this Amendment to produce or account for more than one such counterpart. F. This Amendment and the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, shall be deemed to be contracts made under, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of North Carolina. [remainder of page intentionally left blank] 2 TUFCO, L.P. SIXTH AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused a counterpart of this Amendment to be duly executed and delivered as of the date and year first above written. BORROWER: TUFCO, L.P., By: Tufco Tech, Inc. its Managing General Partner By: ----------------------------------------- Name: Drew W. Cook Title: CAO/Corporate Controller PARENT: TUFCO TECHNOLOGIES, INC., By: ----------------------------------------------- Name: Drew W. Cook Title: CAO/Corporate Controller OTHER GUARANTORS: TECHNOLOGIES I, INC. By: ----------------------------------------------- Name: Kathy Manos Title: President TUFCO, INC. By: ----------------------------------------------- Name: Kathy Manos Title: President TFCO, INC. By: ----------------------------------------------- Name: Kathy Manos Title: President TUFCO, L.P. SIXTH AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT FOREMOST MANUFACTURING COMPANY INC. By: ----------------------------------------------- Name: Drew W. Cook Title: CAO/Corporate Controller TUFCO TECH, INC. By: ----------------------------------------------- Name: Drew W. Cook Title: CAO/Corporate Controller TUFCO, L.P. SIXTH AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT AGENTS AND LENDERS: WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, formerly known as FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK, as Administrative Agent and as a Lender By: ----------------------------------------------- Name: Title: TUFCO, L.P. SIXTH AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT JP MORGAN CHASE BANK By: ----------------------------------------------- Name: Title: