$300,000,000

                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                           Dated as of March 31, 1998

                                      among

                         COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION,

                                  as Borrower,

                      THE BANKS, FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND
                    OTHER INSTITUTIONAL LENDERS NAMED HEREIN,

                               as Initial Lenders,

                              FLEET NATIONAL BANK,

                          as the Initial Issuing Bank,

                              FLEET NATIONAL BANK,

                             as the Swing Line Bank,

                                       and

                              FLEET NATIONAL BANK,

                             as Administrative Agent



 





                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS..............................................2
         SECTION 1.01.  Certain Defined Terms.................................2
         SECTION 1.02.  Computation of Time Periods..........................25
         SECTION 1.03.  Accounting Terms.....................................26

ARTICLE II
AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE ADVANCES,
THE LETTERS OF CREDIT AND ALTERNATIVE
CURRENCY LETTERS OF CREDIT...................................................26
         SECTION 2.01.  The Advances.........................................26
                  (a)      The Revolving Credit Advances.....................26
                  (b)      The Alternative Currency Revolving 
                              Credit Advances................................26
                  (c)      The Swing Line Advances...........................27
                  (d)      Letters of Credit.................................27
                  (e)      Alternative Currency Letters of Credit............28
         SECTION 2.02.  Making the Advances..................................28
         SECTION 2.03.  Issuance of and Drawings and Reimbursement Under
                               Letters of Credit.............................32
                  (a)      Request for Issuance..............................32
                  (b)      Letter of Credit Reports..........................32
                  (c)      Drawing and Reimbursement.........................33
                  (d)      Alternative Currency Letters of Credit............34
                  (e)      Failure to Make Letter of Credit Advances 
                              or Alternative Currency Letter of 
                              Credit Advances................................35
         SECTION 2.04.  Repayment of Advances................................36
                  (a)      Revolving Credit Advances.........................36
                  (b)      Alternative Currency Revolving Credit Advances....36
                  (c)      Swing Line Advances...............................36
                  (d)      Letter of Credit Advances and Alternative 
                              Currency Letter of Credit Advances.............36
         SECTION 2.05.  Termination or Reduction of the Commitments..........37
                  (a)      Optional..........................................37
                  (b)      Mandatory.........................................37
         SECTION 2.06.  Prepayments..........................................38
                  (a)      Optional..........................................38
                  (b)      Mandatory.........................................38
         SECTION 2.07.  Interest.............................................40
                  (a)      Scheduled Interest................................40
                           (i)      Prime Rate Advances......................40
                           (ii)     Eurodollar Rate Advances.................40
                  (b)      Default Interest..................................40
                  (c)      Notice of Interest Rate...........................40

 
                                        i





         SECTION 2.08.  Fees.................................................40
                  (a)      Revolving Credit Commitment Fee...................40
                  (b)      Letter of Credit and Alternative Currency 
                              Letter of Credit Fees..........................41
                  (c)      Administrative Agent's Fees.......................41
         SECTION 2.09.  Conversion of Advances...............................42
                  (a)      Optional..........................................42
                  (b)      Mandatory.........................................42
                  (c)      Alternative Currency Revolving Credit Advances....42
         SECTION 2.10.  Increased Costs, Etc.................................42
         SECTION 2.11.  Payments and Computations............................44
         SECTION 2.12.  Taxes................................................45
         SECTION 2.13.  Sharing of Payments, Etc.............................47
         SECTION 2.14.  Use of Proceeds......................................48
         SECTION 2.15.  Defaulting Lenders...................................48

ARTICLE III
CONDITIONS OF LENDING........................................................51
         SECTION 3.01.  Conditions Precedent to Initial Extension of Credit..51
         SECTION 3.02.  Conditions Precedent to Each Borrowing and Issuance..57
         SECTION 3.03.  Determinations Under Section 3.01....................59

ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES...............................................59
         SECTION 4.01.  Representations and Warranties of the Borrower.......59

ARTICLE V
COVENANTS OF THE BORROWER AND THE SUBSIDIARIES...............................67
         SECTION 5.01.  Affirmative Covenants................................67
                  (a)      Compliance with Law...............................67
                  (b)      Payment of Taxes, Etc.............................67
                  (c)      Compliance with Environmental Laws................67
                  (d)      Preparation of Environmental Reports..............67
                  (e)      Maintenance of Insurance..........................68
                  (f)      Preservation of Corporate Existence, Etc..........68
                  (g)      Visitation Rights.................................69
                  (h)      Keeping of Books..................................69
                  (i)      Maintenance of Properties, Etc....................69
                  (j)      Compliance with Terms of Leaseholds...............69
                  (k)      Performance of Material Contracts.................69
                  (l)      Transactions with Affiliates......................69
                  (m)      Agreement to Grant Additional Security............70
                  (n)      Performance of Acquisition Documents..............72
                  (o)      Cash Concentration Accounts.......................72
         SECTION 5.02.  Negative Covenants...................................72
                  (a)      Liens, Etc........................................72

 
                                       ii





                  (b)      Debt..............................................73
                  (c)      Lease Obligations.................................75
                  (d)      Fundamental Changes...............................75
                  (e)      Sales, Etc. of Assets.............................76
                  (f)      Investments in Other Persons......................77
                  (g)      Dividends, Etc....................................78
                  (h)      Change in Nature of Business......................78
                  (i)      Charter Amendments................................78
                  (j)      Accounting Changes................................78
                  (k)      Prepayments, Etc. of Debt.........................78
                  (l)      Amendment, Etc. of Acquisition Documents or 
                              Senior Subordinated Note Documents.............79
                  (m)      Amendment, Etc. of Material Contracts.............79
                  (n)      Negative Pledge...................................79
                  (o)      Partnerships, New Subsidiaries....................79
                  (p)      Speculative Transactions..........................80
                  (q)      Capital Expenditures..............................80
                  (r)      Issuance of Stock.................................80
         SECTION 5.03.  Reporting Requirements...............................80
                  (a)      Default Notice....................................80
                  (b)      Quarterly Financials..............................80
                  (c)      Annual Financials.................................81
                  (d)      Pro Forma Financials..............................82
                  (e)      Annual Forecasts..................................82
                  (f)      ERISA Events and ERISA Reports....................82
                  (g)      Plan Terminations.................................82
                  (h)      Actuarial Reports.................................83
                  (i)      Plan Annual Reports...............................83
                  (j)      Annual Plan Summaries.............................83
                  (k)      Multiemployer Plan Notices........................83
                  (l)      Litigation........................................83
                  (m)      Securities Reports................................83
                  (n)      Creditor Reports..................................83
                  (o)      Agreement Notices.................................83
                  (p)      Revenue Agent Reports.............................84
                  (q)      Environmental Conditions..........................84
                  (r)      Real Property.....................................84
                  (s)      Insurance.........................................84
                  (t)      Management Letters................................84
                  (u)      Other Information.................................84
         SECTION 5.04.  Financial Covenants..................................85
                  (a)      Funded Debt to EBITDA Ratio.......................85
                  (b)      Interest Coverage Ratio...........................85
                  (c)      Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.......................85
                  (d)      Minimum Net Worth.................................86

 
                                       iii






ARTICLE VI
EVENTS OF DEFAULT............................................................86
         SECTION 6.01   Events of Default....................................86
         SECTION 6.02.  Actions in Respect of the Letters of Credit and
                                   Alternative Currency Letters of Credit 
                                   upon Default..............................89

ARTICLE VII
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT.....................................................90
         SECTION 7.01.  Authorization and Action.............................90
         SECTION 7.02.  Agent's Reliance, Etc................................90
         SECTION 7.03.  Fleet and Affiliates.................................91
         SECTION 7.04.  Lender Party Credit Decision.........................91
         SECTION 7.05.  Indemnification......................................91
         SECTION 7.06.  Successor Administrative Agents......................92

ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS................................................................93
         SECTION 8.01.  Amendments, Etc......................................93
         SECTION 8.02.  Notices Etc..........................................94
         SECTION 8.03.  No Waiver; Remedies..................................96
         SECTION 8.04.  Costs and Expenses...................................96
         SECTION 8.05.  Right of Set-off.....................................97
         SECTION 8.06.  Binding Effect.......................................98
         SECTION 8.07.  Assignments and Participations.......................98
         SECTION 8.08.  Execution in Counterparts...........................101
         SECTION 8.09.  No Liability of the Issuing Bank....................101
         SECTION 8.10.  Confidentiality.....................................102
         SECTION 8.11.  JURISDICTION, ETC...................................102
         SECTION 8.12.  GOVERNING LAW.......................................102
         SECTION 8.13.  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL................................103


 
                                       iv





EXHIBITS

Exhibit A -       Form of Assignment and Acceptance
Exhibit B -       Form of Revolving Credit Note
Exhibit C -       Form of Alternative Currency Revolving Credit Note
Exhibit D -       Form of Notice of Borrowing
Exhibit E -       Form of Notice of Alternative Currency Borrowing
Exhibit F -       Form of Security Agreement
Exhibit G -       Form of Intellectual Property Security Agreement
Exhibit H -       Form of Subsidiary Guaranty


SCHEDULES

Schedule I Commitments and Applicable Lending Offices
Schedule II Existing Letters of Credit
Schedule  3.01(a)(ix)  States in which Loan Parties are Qualified to do Business
Schedule  4.01(b)  Subsidiaries  
Schedule  4.01(d)  Required  Authorizations  and Approvals  
Schedule  4.01(i)  Disclosed   Litigation   
Schedule  4.01(k)  Plans; Multiemployer  Plans;  Welfare Plans 
Schedule  4.01(o)  Environmental  Assessment Reports   
Schedule Certain Agreements   
Schedule  4.01(r)  Pledged  Foreign Subsidiaries  
Schedule  4.01(t)  Open Tax Years  
Schedule  4.01(z)  Existing Debt (other than Surviving Debt) 
Schedule  4.01(aa) Surviving Debt 
Schedule  4.01(bb) Owned Real Estate  
Schedule  4.01(cc) Leased  Real  Estate  
Schedule  4.01(dd) Material Contracts 
Schedule  4.01(ee) Investments 
Schedule  4.01(ff) Intellectual Property 
Schedule  5.02(a)(iii)  Liens  
Schedule  5.02(f)(i)    Investments  in Subsidiaries   
Schedule  5.02(f)(vii)  Existing  Investments  
Schedule  5.02(r)  Existing Issuances, Etc. of Stock


 
                                        v






                                CREDIT AGREEMENT


    CREDIT  AGREEMENT  (this  "Agreement"),  dated as of March 31, 1998,  by and
among COLUMBUS  MCKINNON  CORPORATION,  a New York corporation (the "Borrower"),
the banks,  financial institutions and other institutional lenders listed on the
signature  pages hereof as the Initial  Lenders (the "Initial  Lenders"),  FLEET
NATIONAL  BANK, as Initial  Issuing Bank (the  "Initial  Issuing  Bank"),  FLEET
NATIONAL  BANK,  as the Swing  Line  Bank (as  hereinafter  defined),  and FLEET
NATIONAL BANK, as  administrative  agent (together with any successor  appointed
pursuant to Article VII, the "Administrative  Agent") for the Lender Parties (as
hereinafter defined).

                             PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS:

    (1) The Borrower,  the lenders party thereto,  the Initial Issuing Bank, the
Swing Line Bank and the Administrative  Agent are parties to that certain Credit
Agreement, originally dated as of October 16, 1996 (as heretofore amended and in
effect  on  the  date  of  this  Agreement,  the  "Existing  Credit  Agreement")
providing, subject to the terms and conditions thereof, for, among other things,
the making of revolving credit loans and term loans to the Borrower.

    (2) The Borrower  desires to purchase all (100%) of the  outstanding  Shares
(as  hereinafter  defined) of LICO, Inc.  ("LICO")  pursuant to a stock purchase
agreement  by and among the  Borrower  and the  shareholders  of LICO (the "LICO
Stock Purchase Agreement").

    (3) In connection  with the  Borrower's  proposed  acquisition of all of the
Shares of LICO, the Borrower desires to make an offering of Senior  Subordinated
Notes  (as   hereinafter   defined)  in  the  aggregate   principal   amount  of
$200,000,000,  to be used by the  Borrower,  together with the proceeds of loans
under this Agreement, to finance such acquisition,  to pay fees and expenses, to
refinance existing  indebtedness,  including,  without limitation,  the Existing
Credit Facility, and for general corporate purposes.

    (4) The  Borrower  has  requested  that the Lender  Parties (as  hereinafter
defined)  make  loans to the  Borrower  and issue  letters  of credit  having an
aggregate  principal and face amount at any one time  outstanding of up to Three
Hundred Million  Dollars  ($300,000,000),  to be used by the Borrower,  together
with the proceeds  from the offering of the Senior  Subordinated  Notes,  (i) to
finance the  acquisition  of the Shares of LICO pursuant to terms and conditions
of the LICO Stock Purchase  Agreement,  (ii) to pay fees and expenses,  (iii) to
refinance existing  indebtedness,  including,  without limitation,  the Existing
Credit Facility, and (iv) for general corporate purposes, and the Lender Parties
have  agreed to make such  loans and issue  such  letters  of credit  all on and
subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

    NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants
and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:







                                    ARTICLE I
                        DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

    SECTION  1.01.  Certain  Defined  Terms.  As  used in  this  Agreement,  the
following  terms shall have the following  meanings (such meanings to be equally
applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):

         "Acquisition"  means the  acquisition  by the Borrower of all (100%) of
the Shares of LICO in accordance with the terms and conditions of the LICO Stock
Purchase Agreement.

         "Acquisition Documents" means the LICO Stock Purchase Agreement and all
other  instruments,  agreements and documents prepared or executed and delivered
in connection therewith.

         "Additional  Collateral Documents" has the meaning specified in Section
5.01(m).

         "Additional  Cost"  means,  in relation to any Advance  denominated  in
Pounds  Sterling  for any  Interest  Period  applicable  to such  Advance  or in
relation to any overdue  amount  denominated  in Pounds  Sterling for any period
relating thereto,  the cost (as calculated by the Administrative  Agent) imputed
to the  Lender(s)  making such  Advance or owed such  overdue  amount  through a
lending  office in the United  Kingdom of compliance  with the mandatory  liquid
assets requirements,  if any, of the Bank of England during such Interest Period
or period, as the case may be, expressed as a percentage rate per annum.

         "Administrative  Agent" has the  meaning  specified  in the  recital of
parties to this Agreement.

         "Administrative   Agent's   Account"   means   the   account   of   the
Administrative  Agent maintained by the  Administrative  Agent with Fleet at its
office at Fleet  National  Bank,  10 Fountain  Plaza,  Buffalo,  New York 14202,
Account No. 1983580, Attention: Loan Administration.

         "Advance"  means a Revolving  Credit Advance,  an Alternative  Currency
Revolving Credit Advance, a Swing Line Advance, a Letter of Credit Advance or an
Alternative Currency Letter of Credit Advance.

         "Affiliate" means, as to any Person, any other Person that, directly or
indirectly,  controls,  is  controlled  by or is under common  control with such
Person  or is a  director  or  officer  of such  Person.  For  purposes  of this
definition,  the term "control" (including the terms "controlling,"  "controlled
by" and "under common control with") of a Person means the possession, direct or
indirect, of the power to vote 50% or more of the Voting Stock of such Person or
to direct or cause the direction of the  management and policies of such Person,
whether through the ownership of Voting Stock, by contract or otherwise.

         "Alternative  Currency"  means  with  respect to  Alternative  Currency
Revolving  Credit  Sub-  Commitments,   Alternative  Currency  Revolving  Credit
Advances,  Alternative  Currency  Letter of Credit  Commitments  or  Alternative
Currency Letters of Credit, Danish Crowns, Deutsche Marks

 
                                        2





and  Pounds  Sterling  in  each  case  to the  extent  freely  transferable  and
convertible into U.S. Dollars.

         "Alternative  Currency Letter of Credit" means any Alternative Currency
Letter of Credit issued hereunder.

         "Alternative  Currency  Letter of Credit Advance" means an advance made
by the Issuing Bank or any Revolving Credit Lender pursuant to Section 2.03(d).

         "Alternative  Currency  Letter of  Credit  Agreement"  has the  meaning
specified in Section 2.04(d).

         "Alternative  Currency Letter of Credit Commitment" means, with respect
to the Issuing Bank,  the amount set forth  opposite the Issuing  Bank's name on
Schedule  I hereto  under the  caption  "Alternative  Currency  Letter of Credit
Commitment" or, if the Issuing Bank has entered into one or more Assignments and
Acceptances, as set forth for the Issuing Bank in the Register maintained by the
Administrative   Agent  pursuant  to  Section  8.07(d)  as  the  Issuing  Bank's
"Alternative  Currency  Letter  of Credit  Commitment,"  as such  amount  may be
reduced at or prior to such time pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

         "Alternative Currency Letter of Credit Facility" means, at any time, an
amount equal to the amount of the Issuing Bank's Alternative  Currency Letter of
Credit  Commitment  at such time,  as such  amount may be reduced at or prior to
such time pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

         "Alternative  Currency  Note" means an Alternative  Currency  Revolving
Credit Note.

         "Alternative  Currency Notice of Issuance" has the meaning specified in
Section 2.03(d).

         "Alternative   Currency  Revolving  Credit  Advance"  has  the  meaning
specified in Section 2.01(b).

         "Alternative  Currency  Revolving  Credit  Borrowing" means a Borrowing
consisting of Alternative Currency Revolving Credit Advances.

         "Alternative  Currency  Revolving Credit  Sub-Commitment"  means,  with
respect to any  Lender,  the amount set forth  opposite  such  Lender's  name on
Schedule I hereto under the caption  "Amount of Alternative  Currency  Revolving
Credit  Sub-Commitment"  or,  if  such  Lender  has  entered  into  one or  more
Assignments  and  Acceptances,  set  forth  for  such  Lender  in  the  Register
maintained  by the  Administrative  Agent  pursuant  to Section  8.07(d) as such
Lender's "Alternative Currency Revolving Credit  Sub-Commitment," as such amount
may be reduced at or prior to such time pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
The Alternative Currency Revolving Credit Sub-Commitments of all the Alternative
Currency  Revolving Credit Lenders equal  $20,000,000 in the aggregate as of the
date hereof.

         "Alternative  Currency  Revolving  Credit  Facility"  has  the  meaning
specified in Section 2.01(b).


 
                                        3





         "Alternative  Currency  Revolving  Credit  Lenders" means those Lenders
providing  Alternative Currency Revolving Credit  Sub-Commitments  hereunder and
shall include any Person which becomes a Alternative  Currency  Revolving Credit
Lender as contemplated by Section 8.07.

         "Alternative Currency Revolving Credit Note" means a promissory note of
the Borrower payable to the order of any Alternative  Currency  Revolving Credit
Lender, in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto,  evidencing the aggregate
indebtedness  of the  Borrower to such  Alternative  Currency  Revolving  Credit
Lender resulting from the Alternative Currency Revolving Credit Advances made by
such Lender.

         "Applicable  Currency"  means as to any particular  payment or Advance,
U.S.  Dollars  or the  Alternative  Currency  in which it is  denominated  or is
payable.

         "Applicable  Lending Office" means,  with respect to each Lender Party,
such Lender Party's  Domestic Lending Office in the case of a Prime Rate Advance
and such Lender  Party's  Eurodollar  Lending Office in the case of a Eurodollar
Rate Advance.

         "Applicable  Margin"  means  at  any  time  and  from  time  to  time a
percentage  per annum  determined  by  reference  to the ratio of Funded Debt to
EBITDA for the four full fiscal quarters  preceding such  determination,  as set
forth below:

                                   APPLICABLE        APPLICABLE       APPLICABLE
                                   MARGIN FOR        MARGIN FOR       MARGIN FOR
                                   PRIME RATE      EURODOLLAR RATE    COMMITMENT
RATIO OF FUNDED DEBT/EBITDA         ADVANCES          ADVANCES             FEE
- -----------------------------      ----------      ---------------    ----------
Equal to or greater than 4.25          0.0%             1.250%           0.275%

Equal to or greater than 3.75          0.0%             1.125%           0.250%
     less than 4.25

Equal to or greater than 3.50          0.0%              .875%           0.250%
     less than 3.75     

Equal to or greater than 3.00          0.0%              .750%           0.225%
     less than 3.50

Equal to or greater than 2.50          0.0%              .625%           0.200%
     less than 3.00

Equal to or greater than 2.00          0.0%              .450%           0.150%
     less than 2.50

Less than 2.00                         0.0%              .375%           0.125%



 
                                        4





Notwithstanding the above schedule,  prior to the delivery to the Administrative
Agent of the  Borrower's  Financial  Statements for its Fiscal Year ending March
31, 1998, the Applicable Margin for a Revolving Credit Advance shall be 0.0% for
a Prime Rate Advance and 1.250% for a Eurodollar  Advance and for the commitment
fee payable under Section 2.08(a) shall be 0.275%.

All  Alternative  Currency  Revolving  Credit  Advances will be Eurodollar  Rate
Advances,  with a margin equal to that of a Revolving Credit Advance.  All Swing
Line  Advances  will be Prime Rate  Advances,  with a margin  equal to that of a
Revolving Credit Advance.

The  Applicable  Margin shall be  determined by reference to the Ratio of Funded
Debt to EBITDA which shall be determined  three  Business Days after the date on
which the Administrative Agent receives financial statements pursuant to Section
5.03(b) or (c) and a certificate of the chief financial  officer of the Borrower
demonstrating  the Ratio of  Funded  Debt to  EBITDA.  If the  Borrower  has not
submitted to the  Administrative  Agent the  information  described above as and
when required  under Section  5.03(b) or (c), as the case may be, the Applicable
Margin shall be as  determined by the  Administrative  Agent for so long as such
information has not been received by the Administrative Agent.

         "Assigned   Dollar  Value"  means  (a)  in  respect  of  any  Borrowing
denominated in U.S. Dollars,  the amount thereof,  (b) in respect of the undrawn
amount of any  Alternative  Currency  Letter of Credit,  the  Dollar  Equivalent
thereof determined based upon the applicable Exchange Rate as of (i) the date of
issuance of such Letter of Credit and (ii) thereafter, (A) the last Business Day
of a month,  with respect to Alternative  Currency  Letters of Credit the stated
amount of which is denominated in Pounds  Sterling or Deutsche Marks, or (B) the
last  Business  Day of March,  June,  September  or  December,  with  respect to
Alternative Currency Letters of Credit the stated amount of which is denominated
in Danish  Crowns,  (c) in  respect  of  Alternative  Currency  Letter of Credit
reimbursement  obligations,  the Dollar Equivalent thereof determined based upon
the applicable  Exchange Rate as of the date such  reimbursement  obligation was
incurred  and  (d) in  respect  of a  Borrowing  denominated  in an  Alternative
Currency,  the Dollar Equivalent thereof based upon the applicable Exchange Rate
as of the  Exchange  Rate  Determination  Date  for  such  Borrowing;  provided,
however,  if, as of the end of any Interest Period in respect of such Borrowing,
the Dollar Equivalent thereof determined based upon the applicable Exchange Rate
as of the date that is five (5)  Business  Days before the end of such  Interest
Period would be at least 5% more, or 5% less,  than the "Assigned  Dollar Value"
thereof,  then on and after the end of such Interest Period the "Assigned Dollar
Value" of such Borrowing shall be adjusted to be the Dollar  Equivalent  thereof
determined  based  upon the  Exchange  Rate that  gave  rise to such  adjustment
(subject to further adjustment in accordance with this proviso thereafter).  The
Assigned  Dollar  Value of an  Alternative  Currency  Revolving  Credit  Advance
included  in any  Borrowing  shall  equal the pro rata  portion of the  Assigned
Dollar Value of such Borrowing represented by such Advance.

         "Assignment and Acceptance" means an assignment and acceptance  entered
into  by  a  Lender  Party  and  an  Eligible  Assignee,  and  accepted  by  the
Administrative  Agent, in accordance with Section 8.07 and in substantially  the
form of Exhibit A hereto.


 
                                        5





         "Automatically  Converted  Revolving  Credit  Advance"  has the meaning
specified in Section 2.02(b).

         "Available  Amount"  means,  (i) with  respect  to any Letter of Credit
issued in U.S.  Dollars,  the stated or face  amount of such Letter of Credit to
the extent  available  at the time for drawing  (subject to  presentment  of all
requisite documents) and (ii) with respect to any Alternative Currency Letter of
Credit, the Assigned Dollar Value of the stated or face amount of such Letter of
Credit to the extent  available at the time for drawing  (subject to presentment
of all  requisite  documents),  in either case as the same may be  increased  or
decreased  from  time to time in  accordance  with the  terms of such  Letter of
Credit or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit, as the case may be.

         "Borrower" has the meaning  specified in the recital of parties to this
Agreement.

         "Borrower's  Account"  means the account of the Borrower  maintained by
the  Borrower  with  Fleet  National  Bank at its office at 10  Fountain  Plaza,
Buffalo, New York 14202, Account No. 7168306.

         "Borrowing" means a Revolving Credit Borrowing, an Alternative Currency
Revolving Credit Borrowing or a Swing Line Borrowing.

         "Business  Day" means a day of the year on which banks are not required
or authorized by law to close in Buffalo New York; provided,  however,  that (i)
when used in connection  with Eurodollar Rate Advances which are not Alternative
Currency  Revolving Credit Advances,  the term "Business Day" shall also exclude
any day on which banks are not open for dealings in the London interbank market,
and (ii) when used in connection  with  Alternative  Currency  Revolving  Credit
Advances,  the term  "Business  Day"  shall  also  exclude  any day (A) on which
dealings  in  deposits in the  Alternative  Currency  are not carried out in the
London  interbank  market or (B) on which  commercial banks and foreign exchange
markets  are not open  for  business  in any of  London,  New York  City and the
principal financial center for such Alternative Currency.

         "Capital Expenditures" means, for any Person for any period, the sum of
all  expenditures  made,  directly or  indirectly,  by such Person or any of its
Subsidiaries  during such period for equipment,  fixed assets,  real property or
improvements,  or  for  replacements  or  substitutions  therefor  or  additions
thereto,  that have been or should be, in  accordance  with GAAP,  reflected  as
additions to property,  plant or equipment on a  Consolidated  balance  sheet of
such Person.

         "Capitalized  Leases"  means all leases that have been or should be, in
accordance with GAAP, recorded as capitalized leases.

         "Cash Equivalents"  means any of the following,  to the extent owned by
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries,  free and clear of all Liens other than
Liens created under the  Collateral  Documents:  (i) readily  marketable  direct
obligations   of  the   Government  of  the  United  States  or  any  agency  or
instrumentality  thereof or obligations  unconditionally  guaranteed by the full
faith and credit of the Government of the United States having a maturity of not
greater  than  360  days  from  the  date  of  issuance  thereof,  (ii)  insured
certificates  of deposit of or time  deposits  having a maturity  of not greater
than 360 days from the date of issuance thereof with any commercial

 
                                        6





bank that is a Lender Party or a member of the Federal  Reserve  System,  issues
(or the parent of which  issues)  commercial  paper rated as described in clause
(iii), is organized under the laws of the United States or any State thereof and
has  combined  capital  and  surplus of at least $1 billion or (iii)  commercial
paper  having a maturity of not greater  than 180 days from the date of issuance
thereof in an aggregate amount of no more than $2,500,000 per issuer outstanding
at any time, issued by any corporation  organized under the laws of any State of
the United States and rated at least "Prime-1" (or the then equivalent grade) by
Moody's  Investors  Service,  Inc.  or "A-1" (or the then  equivalent  grade) by
Standard & Poor's Ratings Group.

         "CERCLA" means the Comprehensive  Environmental Response,  Compensation
and Liability  Act of 1980, 42 U.S.C.  ss. 9601 et seq., as amended from time to
time.

         "CERCLIS" means the Comprehensive Environmental Response,  Compensation
and Liability Information System maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency.

         "Closing Date" means the date on which all of the conditions  precedent
set forth in Section  3.01 to the Initial  Extension  of Credit  shall have been
satisfied or waived.

         "Collateral"  means  all  "Collateral"  referred  to in the  Collateral
Documents  and all other  property  that is or is  intended to be subject to any
Lien in  favor  of the  Administrative  Agent  for the  benefit  of the  Secured
Parties.

         "Collateral  Documents" means the Security Agreement,  the Intellectual
Property Security  Agreement and any other agreement that creates or purports to
create  a Lien in favor  of the  Administrative  Agent  for the  benefit  of the
Secured  Parties,  including,   without  limitation,  the  Collateral  Documents
delivered  pursuant  to  Section  3.01  and any and  all  Additional  Collateral
Documents delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(m).

         "Commitment"  means  a  Revolving  Credit  Commitment,  an  Alternative
Currency  Revolving Credit  Sub-Commitment,  a Letter of Credit Commitment or an
Alternative Currency Letter of Credit Commitment.

         "Commitment  Percentage" means, as to any Lender, the percentage of the
aggregate Commitments constituted by such Lender's Commitments.

         "Confidential   Information"   means   information  that  the  Borrower
furnishes  to  the  Administrative  Agent  or  any  Lender  Party  in a  writing
designated as confidential, but does not include any such information that is or
becomes generally  available to the public other than as a result of a breach by
the  Administrative  Agent or any Lender Party of its  obligations  hereunder or
that is or becomes  available to the  Administrative  Agent or such Lender Party
from a  source  other  than  the  Borrower  that  is  not,  to the  best  of the
Administrative Agent's or such Lender Party's knowledge,  acting in violation of
a  confidentiality  agreement  with the Borrower;  provided,  further,  that any
information  described in Section  5.01(d)  hereof shall be deemed  Confidential
Information  without reference to whether it was provided by the Borrower to the
Administrative Agent or was independently  generated by the Administrative Agent
pursuant to such Section.


 
                                        7





         "Consolidated"  refers to the consolidation of accounts,  in accordance
with GAAP, of the Borrower and all of its Subsidiaries.

         "Conversion",  "Convert" and "Converted"  each refer to a conversion of
Advances of one Type into Advances of the other Type pursuant to Section 2.09 or
2.10.

         "Current  Assets" of any Person  means all assets of such  Person  that
would,  in accordance  with GAAP,  be classified as current  assets of a company
conducting  a  business  the same as or similar  to that of such  Person,  after
deducting  adequate  reserves  in each  case in which a  reserve  is  proper  in
accordance with GAAP.

         "Current  Liabilities" of any Person means (i) all Debt of such Person,
except Funded Debt, that by its terms is payable on demand or matures within one
year  after  the  date  of  determination   (excluding  any  Debt  renewable  or
extendible, at the option of such Person, to a date more than one year from such
date or arising under a revolving credit or similar agreement that obligates the
lender or  lenders to extend  credit  during a period of more than one year from
such date),  (ii) all amounts of Funded Debt of such Person  required to be paid
or prepaid within one year after such date and (iii) all other items  (including
taxes accrued as estimated)  that in accordance with GAAP would be classified as
current liabilities of such Person.

         "Danish Crowns" or "DKK" means the lawful currency of Denmark.

         "Debt" of any Person means, without  duplication,  (i) all indebtedness
of such Person for borrowed  money,  (ii) all Obligations of such Person for the
deferred  purchase price of property or services,  (iii) all Obligations of such
Person evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or other similar instruments,  (iv)
all Obligations of such Person created or arising under any conditional  sale or
other title retention agreement with respect to property acquired by such Person
(even  though  the  rights  and  remedies  of the  seller or lender  under  such
agreement  in the event of default are limited to  repossession  or sale of such
property),  (v) all  Obligations  of such  Person  as lessee  under  Capitalized
Leases,  (vi) all  Obligations,  contingent or  otherwise,  of such Person under
acceptance,  letter of credit or similar  facilities,  (vii) all  Obligations of
such Person to purchase,  redeem,  retire, defease or otherwise make any payment
in respect of any capital stock of or other ownership or profit interest in such
Person or any other  Person or any  warrants,  rights or options to acquire such
capital  stock,  (viii)  all  Obligations  of such  Person in  respect  of Hedge
Agreements,  (ix) all Debt of others  referred to in clauses (i) through  (viii)
above or clause (x) below  guaranteed  directly or  indirectly  in any manner by
such  Person,  or in effect  guaranteed  directly or  indirectly  by such Person
through an  agreement  (w) to pay or purchase  such Debt or to advance or supply
funds for the payment or purchase of such Debt,  (x) to purchase,  sell or lease
(as lessee or lessor) property,  or to purchase or sell services,  primarily for
the purpose of enabling the debtor to make payment of such Debt or to assure the
holder of such Debt against loss,  (y) to supply funds to or in any other manner
invest in the debtor  (including  any  agreement to pay for property or services
irrespective of whether such property is received or such services are rendered)
or (z) otherwise to assure a creditor against loss, and (x) all Debt referred to
in clauses (i) through (ix) above of another Person secured by (or for which the
holder  of such Debt has an  existing  right,  contingent  or  otherwise,  to be
secured  by) any Lien on  property  (including,  without  limitation,  accounts,
contract rights or inventory) owned by such Person,  even though such Person has
not assumed or become liable for the payment of such Debt.

 
                                        8






         "Default" means any Event of Default or any event that would constitute
an Event of Default but for the requirement  that notice be given or time elapse
or both.

         "Defaulted  Advance"  means,  with  respect to any Lender  Party at any
time, the portion of any Advance required to be made by such Lender Party to the
Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01 or 2.02 at or prior to such time which has not
been made by such Lender Party or by the Administrative Agent for the account of
such Lender Party pursuant to Section 2.02(f) as of such time. In the event that
a portion  of a  Defaulted  Advance  shall be deemed  made  pursuant  to Section
2.15(a),  the remaining  portion of such Defaulted Advance shall be considered a
Defaulted Advance originally required to be made pursuant to Section 2.01 on the
same date as the Defaulted Advance so deemed made in part.

         "Defaulted Amount" means, with respect to any Lender Party at any time,
any amount required to be paid by such Lender Party to the Administrative  Agent
or any other Lender Party hereunder or under any other Loan Document at or prior
to such time  which  has not been so paid as of such  time,  including,  without
limitation,  any  amount  required  to be paid by such  Lender  Party to (i) the
Administrative  Agent and/or the Alternative  Currency  Revolving Credit Lenders
pursuant  to Section  2.02(b) to purchase a portion of  Automatically  Converted
Revolving  Credit  Advances made by an  Alternative  Currency  Revolving  Credit
Lender,  (ii) the Swing  Line Bank  pursuant  to Section  2.02(c) to  purchase a
portion of a Swing Line Advance  made by the Swing Line Bank,  (iii) the Issuing
Bank  pursuant  to Section  2.03(c) to  purchase a portion of a Letter of Credit
Advance  made by the Issuing  Bank,  (iv) the Issuing  Bank  pursuant to Section
2.03(d)  to  purchase  a portion  of an  Alternative  Currency  Letter of Credit
Advance  made by the Issuing  Bank,  (v) the  Administrative  Agent  pursuant to
Section  2.02(f) to  reimburse  the  Administrative  Agent for the amount of any
Advance made by the  Administrative  Agent for the account of such Lender Party,
(vi)  any  other  Lender  Party   pursuant  to  Section  2.13  to  purchase  any
participation  in  Advances  owing to such  other  Lender  Party  and  (vii) the
Administrative  Agent or the Issuing Bank  pursuant to Section 7.05 to reimburse
the  Administrative  Agent or the Issuing Bank for such Lender  Party's  ratable
share  of  any  amount  required  to be  paid  by  the  Lender  Parties  to  the
Administrative  Agent or the Issuing Bank as provided therein. In the event that
a portion  of a  Defaulted  Amount  shall be deemed  paid  pursuant  to  Section
2.15(b),  the remaining  portion of such Defaulted  Amount shall be considered a
Defaulted  Amount  originally  required to be paid  hereunder or under any other
Loan Document on the same date as the Defaulted Amount so deemed paid in part.

         "Defaulting  Lender" means, at any time, any Lender Party that, at such
time, (i) owes a Defaulted  Advance or a Defaulted Amount or (ii) shall take any
action or be the  subject of any action or  proceeding  of a type  described  in
Section 6.01(f).

         "Deutsche  Marks" or "DM"  means the  lawful  currency  of the  Federal
Republic of Germany.

         "Disposal" means the discharge,  deposit, injection, dumping, spilling,
leaking or placing of any solid  waste or  hazardous  waste,  as those terms are
defined by any applicable  federal,  state, local or foreign law, into or on any
land or water so that such solid waste or  hazardous  waste or any  constituents
thereof may enter the  environment or be emitted into the air or discharged into
any waters, including ground waters.

 
                                        9






         "Dollar Equivalent" means, on any date of determination, in relation to
an amount  denominated in any Alternative  Currency,  the amount of U.S. Dollars
required to purchase the relevant stated amount of such Alternative  Currency at
the Exchange Rate with respect to such Alternative Currency on such date.

         "Domestic  Lending Office" means, with respect to any Lender Party, the
office of such Lender Party specified as its "Domestic  Lending Office" opposite
its name on Schedule I hereto or in the Assignment  and  Acceptance  pursuant to
which it became a Lender Party, as the case may be, or such other office of such
Lender  Party as such Lender Party may from time to time specify to the Borrower
and the Administrative Agent.

         "Domestic Significant  Subsidiary" means any Domestic Subsidiary of the
Borrower which is also a Significant Subsidiary.

         "Domestic  Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary organized under the laws of
the United States of America or any State thereof.

         "EBITDA"  means,  for  any  period,  (A)  the  sum,   determined  on  a
Consolidated  basis,  of (i) net income (or net loss),  (ii)  interest  expense,
(iii)  income  tax  expense,  (iv)  depreciation  expense  and (v)  amortization
expense,  in  each  case of the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  determined  in
accordance  with GAAP for such  period,  plus (B) the pro forma effect on EBITDA
for  such  period  of  any  acquisition  made  by  the  Borrower  or  one of its
Subsidiaries  (such  pro  forma  effect  to  be  reasonably  acceptable  to  the
Administrative Agent).

         "Eligible  Assignee"  means with respect to any portion of any Facility
(other than the Letter of Credit  Facility  or  Alternative  Currency  Letter of
Credit Facility), (A) a Lender; (B) an Affiliate of a Lender; and (C) subject to
the prior approval of the Administrative  Agent and the Borrower,  such approval
not to be  unreasonably  withheld or delayed,  (i) a commercial  bank  organized
under the laws of the United  States,  or any State  thereof,  and having  total
assets in excess of $500,000,000; (ii) a savings and loan association or savings
bank organized  under the laws of the United States,  or any State thereof,  and
having total assets in excess of $500,000,000; (iii) a commercial bank organized
under  the  laws of any  other  country  that  is a  member  of the  OECD or has
concluded  special lending  arrangements  with the  International  Monetary Fund
associated with its General  Arrangements to Borrow or of the Cayman Islands, or
a political  subdivision of any such country,  and having total assets in excess
of  $500,000,000,  so long as such  bank is  acting  through  a branch or agency
located in the United  States;  (iv) the central  bank of any country  that is a
member  of the OECD;  and (v) a  finance  company,  insurance  company  or other
financial  institution  or fund (whether a  corporation,  partnership,  trust or
other entity) that is engaged in making,  purchasing  or otherwise  investing in
commercial  loans in the ordinary course of its business and having total assets
in excess of $100,000,000; and, with respect to the Letter of Credit Facility or
Alternative  Currency  Letter of Credit  Facility,  a Person that is an Eligible
Assignee  under  subclause (i) or (iii) of clause (C) of this  definition and is
approved by the Administrative  Agent and the Borrower,  such approval not to be
unreasonably  withheld  or  delayed;  provided,  however,  that no Loan Party or
Affiliate  of a Loan Party  shall  qualify as an  Eligible  Assignee  under this
definition.


 
                                       10





         "Environmental  Action" means any action, suit, demand,  demand letter,
claim,  notice of non-compliance or violation,  notice of liability or potential
liability,  investigation,   proceeding,  consent  order  or  consent  agreement
relating  in any way to any  Environmental  Law,  any  Environmental  Permit  or
Hazardous Material or arising from alleged injury or threat to public health and
safety  or  the  environment,   including,   without  limitation,   (i)  by  any
governmental or regulatory  authority or third party for  enforcement,  cleanup,
Removal,  Response,  Remedial  or  other  actions  or  damages  and  (ii) by any
governmental or regulatory  authority or third party for damages,  contribution,
indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief.

         "Environmental  Law"  means any  international  or  transnational  law,
federal,  state, local or foreign statute,  law,  ordinance,  rule,  regulation,
code,  order,  writ,  judgment,   injunction,   decree  or  judicial  or  agency
interpretation,  policy or guidance  relating to pollution or  protection of the
environment or natural resources,  including, without limitation, those relating
to the use, handling,  transportation,  treatment, storage, disposal, threatened
release, release or discharge of Hazardous Materials.

         "Environmental  Permit"  means  any  permit,  approval,  identification
number, license or other authorization required under any Environmental Law.

         "ERISA" means the Employee  Retirement  Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended from time to time, and the  regulations  promulgated  and rulings issued
thereunder.

         "ERISA  Affiliate"  means any Person  that for  purposes of Title IV of
ERISA is a member of the  controlled  group of any Loan Party,  or under  common
control  with any Loan Party,  within the meaning of Section 414 of the Internal
Revenue Code.

         "ERISA  Event"  means (i) (y) the  occurrence  of a  reportable  event,
within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA, with respect to any Plan unless the
30-day  notice  requirement  with  respect to such event has been  waived by the
PBGC,  or (z) the  requirements  of subsection  (1) of Section  4043(b) of ERISA
(without  regard to  subsection  (2) of such  Section) are met with respect to a
contributing sponsor, as defined in Section 4001(a)(13) of ERISA, of a Plan, and
an event described in paragraph (9), (10), (11), (12) or (13) of Section 4043(c)
of ERISA is  reasonably  expected to occur with  respect to such Plan within the
following  30 days;  (ii) the  application  for a minimum  funding  waiver  with
respect to a Plan;  (iii) the  provision by the  administrator  of any Plan of a
notice of intent to terminate such Plan under ERISA Section 4041(c), pursuant to
Section  4041(a)(2) of ERISA  (including  any such notice with respect to a plan
amendment  referred  to in  Section  4041(e) of ERISA);  (iv) the  cessation  of
operations  at a  facility  of any Loan  Party  or any  ERISA  Affiliate  in the
circumstances  described in Section 4062(e) of ERISA;  (v) the withdrawal by any
Loan Party or any ERISA  Affiliate  from a Multiple  Employer Plan during a plan
year for which it was a substantial  employer,  as defined in Section 4001(a)(2)
of ERISA;  (vi) the  conditions for imposition of a lien under Section 302(f) of
ERISA  shall have been met with  respect to any Plan;  (vii) the  adoption of an
amendment to a Plan requiring the provision of security to such Plan pursuant to
Section 307 of ERISA;  or (viii) the  institution  by the PBGC of proceedings to
terminate a Plan  pursuant to Section 4042 of ERISA,  or the  occurrence  of any
event or condition  described in Section 4042 of ERISA that constitutes  grounds
for the  termination  of, or the  appointment of a trustee to  administer,  such
Plan.


 
                                       11





         "Eurocurrency Liabilities" has the meaning specified in Regulation D of
the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System,  as in effect from time to
time.

         "Eurodollar  Lending  Office" means,  with respect to any Lender Party,
the office of such Lender Party  specified as its  "Eurodollar  Lending  Office"
opposite  its name on  Schedule  I hereto or in the  Assignment  and  Acceptance
pursuant to which it became a Lender Party (or, if no such office is  specified,
its Domestic Lending Office),  or such other office of such Lender Party as such
Lender   Party  may  from  time  to  time   specify  to  the  Borrower  and  the
Administrative Agent.

         "Eurodollar  Rate" means,  for any Interest  Period for all  Eurodollar
Rate Advances comprising part of the same Borrowing,  an interest rate per annum
equal to the rate per annum obtained by dividing (i) the rate per annum at which
deposits in the  Applicable  Currency are offered to Fleet by prime banks in the
London interbank market at 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days before the
first day of such Interest  Period in an amount  substantially  equal to Fleet's
Eurodollar  Rate Advance  comprising  part of such  Borrowing to be  outstanding
during such Interest  Period (or, if Fleet shall not have such a Eurodollar Rate
Advance,  $1,000,000 or, if such  Borrowing is made in an Alternative  Currency,
the  amount of such  Alternative  Currency  for which the Dollar  Equivalent  is
$1,000,000)  and for a period equal to such Interest Period by (ii) a percentage
equal to 100% minus the  Eurodollar  Rate Reserve  Percentage  for such Interest
Period.

         "Eurodollar  Rate  Advance"  means an Advance  that bears  interest  as
provided  in Section  2.07(a)(ii)  and shall  include any  Alternative  Currency
Revolving Credit Advance.

         "Eurodollar Rate Reserve Percentage" means, for any Interest Period for
all Eurodollar Rate Advances comprising part of the same Borrowing,  the reserve
percentage  applicable  two Business  Days before the first day of such Interest
Period under  regulations  issued from time to time by the Board of Governors of
the  Federal  Reserve  System (or any  successor)  for  determining  the maximum
reserve requirement (including, without limitation, any emergency,  supplemental
or other marginal reserve  requirement) for a member bank of the Federal Reserve
System in New York City with respect to liabilities  or assets  consisting of or
including  Eurocurrency  Liabilities  (or with respect to any other  category of
liabilities  that  includes  deposits by reference to which the interest rate on
Eurodollar  Rate  Advances is  determined)  having a term equal to such Interest
Period.

         "Events  of  Default"  has  the  meaning  specified  in  Section  6.01.

         "Exchange  Rate"  shall  mean,  on any  day,  (a) with  respect  to any
Alternative  Currency,  the spot rate at which U.S.  Dollars are offered on such
day by the  Administrative  Agent in London  for such  Alternative  Currency  at
approximately  11:00 A.M. (London time), and (b) with respect to U.S. Dollars in
relation  to any  specified  Alternative  Currency,  the spot rate at which such
specified  Alternative  Currency  is offered  on such day by the  Administrative
Agent in London for U.S. Dollars at approximately  11:00 A.M. (London time). For
purposes of  determining  the Exchange  Rate in connection  with an  Alternative
Currency  Revolving Credit Borrowing,  such Exchange Rate shall be determined as
of the Exchange Rate Determination  Date for such Borrowing.  The Administrative
Agent shall provide  Borrower  with the then current  Exchange Rate from time to
time upon Borrower's request therefor.

 
                                       12






         "Exchange  Rate   Determination   Date"  means,  for  purposes  of  the
determination  of the Exchange  Rate of any stated amount on any Business Day in
relation to any Alternative Currency Revolving Credit Borrowing,  the date which
is three Business Days prior to such Borrowing.

         "Existing  Credit  Agreement"  means  that  certain  Credit  Agreement,
originally dated as of October 16, 1996, as heretofore amended, by and among the
Borrower,  the lenders party thereto,  and Fleet, as Initial Issuing Bank, Swing
Line Bank and Administrative Agent.

         "Existing Credit Facility" means the credit  facilities  provided under
the Existing Credit Agreement.

         "Existing  Debt" means Debt of the  Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  and
LICO and its Subsidiaries  outstanding  immediately  before giving effect to the
Acquisition,  including,  without  limitation,  Debt under the  Existing  Credit
Facility.

         "Existing  Letters of Credit" means those certain  existing  Letters of
Credit  issued by Fleet for the account of the  Borrower  which are set forth on
Schedule II hereto.

         "Existing  Marine  Midland  Letters  of  Credit"  means  those  certain
existing  letters of credit issued by Marine Midland in an aggregate face amount
of not more than  $5,000,000  issued as security for the Borrower's  obligations
under (A) that certain Series Guaranty Agreement, dated November 1, 1993, by and
between  the  Borrower,  as  guarantor,  and Fleet  Trust  Company,  as trustee,
relating to that certain Master Indenture,  dated as of November 1, 1993, by and
between Town of Amherst Industrial  Development Agency, as the issuer, and Fleet
Trust Company,  as trustee,  as supplemented by that certain Series Supplemental
Indenture,  dated  November  1,  1993,  and (B)  that  certain  Series  Guaranty
Agreement,  dated  November 1, 1993, by and between the Borrower,  as guarantor,
and Fleet Trust Company, as trustee,  relating to that certain Master Indenture,
dated  November 1, 1993, by and between the City of Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa, as the
issuer,  and Fleet Trust Company,  as trustee,  as  supplemented by that certain
Series Supplemental Indenture,  dated November 1, 1993, in each instance as such
letters of credit may be renewed, but not increased in amount, by Marine Midland
from time to time.

         "Extraordinary  Receipt"  means any cash  received by or paid to or for
the account of any Person not in the  ordinary  course of  business,  including,
without limitation, tax refunds, pension plan reversions,  proceeds of insurance
(other  than  proceeds  of business  interruption  insurance  to the extent such
proceeds  constitute  compensation for lost earnings),  condemnation awards (and
payments in lieu thereof) and indemnity  payments;  provided,  however,  that an
Extraordinary  Receipt shall not include cash receipts received from proceeds of
insurance,  condemnation  awards (or  payments  in lieu  thereof)  or  indemnity
payments to the extent that such proceeds,  awards or payments (i) in respect of
loss or damage to equipment,  fixed assets or real property,  are applied (or in
respect of which expenditures were previously incurred) to replace or repair the
equipment,  fixed  assets or real  property  in respect of which such  proceeds,
awards  or  payments  were  received  in  accordance  with the terms of the Loan
Documents, so long as (A) such application is made within ninety (90) days after
such  Person's  receipt  of such  proceeds,  awards  or  payments  and (B)  such
proceeds,  awards or payments  are received by such Person  within  fifteen (15)
months after the  occurrence of such damage or loss; or (ii) are received by any
Person in respect

 
                                       13





of any third party claim against such Person and applied to pay (or to reimburse
such Person for its prior  payment of) such claim and the costs and  expenses of
such Person with respect thereto.

         "Facilities"  means the  Revolving  Credit  Facility,  the  Alternative
Currency  Revolving  Credit  Facility,   the  Letter  of  Credit  Facility,  the
Alternative Currency Letter of Credit Facility or the Swing Line Facility.

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

         "Fiscal Year" means a fiscal year of the Borrower and its  Consolidated
Subsidiaries ending on March 31 in any calendar year.

         "Fleet" means Fleet National Bank in its capacity as a Lender or issuer
of Letters of Credit or Alternative Currency Letters of Credit hereunder.

         "Foreign  Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary  organized under the laws of
any jurisdiction other than the United States of America or any State thereof.

         "Foreign  Significant  Subsidiary" means any Foreign  Subsidiary of the
Borrower which is also a Significant Subsidiary.

         "Funded Debt" means,  with respect to the Borrower,  the Advances,  and
with respect to the Borrower and any other Person, all other Debt of such Person
that by its terms matures more than one year after the date of  determination or
matures  within one year from such date but is renewable or  extendible,  at the
option of such  Person,  to a date more than one year  after such date or arises
under a  revolving  credit or similar  agreement  that  obligates  the lender or
lenders to extend  credit during a period of more than one year after such date,
including the current portion of all such Debt.

         "GAAP" has the meaning specified in Section 1.03.

         "Guaranteed Obligations" has the meaning specified in the Guaranty.

         "Guarantors"  means (i) each  Domestic  Significant  Subsidiary  of the
Borrower,  (ii) upon  consummation  of the  Acquisition,  LICO and each Domestic
Significant  Subsidiary  of LICO and (iii) each other  Person  which  shall have
executed and delivered or become a party to a Guaranty hereunder.

         "Guaranty" has the meaning specified in Section 3.01.


 
                                       14





         "Hazardous  Materials"  means  (i)  petroleum  or  petroleum  products,
by-products or breakdown products,  radioactive  materials,  asbestos-containing
materials, polychlorinated biphenyls and radon gas and (ii) any other chemicals,
materials  or  substances  designated,  classified  or regulated as hazardous or
toxic or as a pollutant or contaminant under any Environmental Law.

         "Hedge  Agreements" means interest rate swap, cap or collar agreements,
interest rate future or option  contracts,  currency swap  agreements,  currency
future or option contracts and other similar agreements.

         "Hedge Bank" means the  Administrative  Agent or any other Lender Party
in its capacity as a party to a Hedge Agreement entered into pursuant to, and in
compliance with, the terms and conditions of Section 5.02(b)(v).

         "Indemnified Party" has the meaning specified in Section 8.04(b).

         "Initial Extension of Credit" means the earlier to occur of the initial
Borrowing and the initial issuance of a Letter of Credit or Alternative Currency
Letter of Credit.

         "Initial Issuing Bank" means Fleet.

         "Initial  Lenders" has the meaning  specified in the recital of parties
to this Agreement.

         "Insufficiency" means, with respect to any Plan, the amount, if any, of
its unfunded benefit liabilities, as defined in Section 4001(a)(18) of ERISA.

         "Intellectual Property Security Agreement" has the meaning specified in
Section 3.01.

         "Interest  Expense"  means,  with respect to any Person for any period,
interest  expense on all Debt of such Person for such  period,  whether  paid or
accrued, determined on a Consolidated basis for such Person and its Subsidiaries
and in accordance with GAAP, and including,  without limitation, (i) in the case
of the Borrower,  interest  expense in respect of Debt  resulting from Advances,
(ii) the interest component of all obligations under Capitalized  Leases,  (iii)
commissions,  discounts and other fees and charges  payable in  connection  with
letters  of  credit  (including,  without  limitation,  Letters  of  Credit  and
Alternative  Currency Letters of Credit),  (iv) the net payment, if any, payable
in connection  with Hedge  Agreements less the net credit,  if any,  received in
connection with Hedge Agreements and (v) all fees paid by the Borrower  pursuant
to Section 2.08(a).

         "Interest  Period" means,  for each Eurodollar Rate Advance  comprising
part of the same Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Eurodollar
Rate Advance or the date of the  Conversion  of any Prime Rate Advance into such
Eurodollar  Rate Advance,  and ending on the last day of the period  selected by
the Borrower pursuant to the provisions below and,  thereafter,  each subsequent
period commencing on the last day of the immediately  preceding  Interest Period
and ending on the last day of the period  selected by the  Borrower  pursuant to
the provisions  below.  The duration of each such Interest  Period shall be one,
two,  three or six months,  as the  Borrower  may,  upon notice  received by the
Administrative Agent not later than

 
                                       15





11:00 A.M. (Buffalo, New York time) on the third (3rd) Business Day prior to the
first day of such Interest Period, select; provided, however, that:

                  (a) The  Borrower  may not select  any  Interest  Period  with
         respect to any Eurodollar Rate Advance under a Facility that ends after
         any principal  repayment  installment  date for such  Facility  unless,
         after giving effect to such selection,  the aggregate  principal amount
         of Prime Rate Advances and of Eurodollar  Rate Advances having Interest
         Periods that end on or prior to such  principal  repayment  installment
         date  for such  Facility  shall  be at  least  equal  to the  aggregate
         principal  amount of Advances under such Facility due and payable on or
         prior to such date;

                  (b)  Interest   Periods   commencing  on  the  same  date  for
         Eurodollar Rate Advances comprising part of the same Borrowing shall be
         of the same duration;

                  (c)  Whenever  the  last  day of  any  Interest  Period  would
         otherwise  occur on a day other  than a Business  Day,  the last day of
         such Interest  Period shall be extended to occur on the next succeeding
         Business Day,  provided,  however,  that, if such extension would cause
         the last day of such  Interest  Period  to occur in the next  following
         calendar month, the last day of such Interest Period shall occur on the
         next preceding Business Day; and

                  (d) Whenever the first day of any Interest  Period occurs on a
         day of an  initial  calendar  month for which  there is no  numerically
         corresponding  day in the  calendar  month that  succeeds  such initial
         calendar month by the number of months equal to the number of months in
         such  Interest  Period,  such  Interest  Period  shall  end on the last
         Business Day of such succeeding calendar month.

         "Internal  Revenue  Code" means the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as
amended from time to time, and the  regulations  promulgated  and rulings issued
thereunder.

         "Inventory"  of any  Person  means all of such  Person's  now owned and
hereafter acquired inventory,  goods, merchandise,  and other personal property,
wherever located, to be furnished under any contract of service or held for sale
or lease, all returned goods, raw materials, other materials and supplies of any
kind,  nature or  description  which are or might be consumed  in such  Person's
business or used in connection with the packing, shipping, advertising,  selling
or finishing of such goods,  merchandise and such other personal  property,  and
all documents of title or other documents representing them.

         "Investment"  in any Person  means any loan or advance to such  Person,
any purchase or other  acquisition  of any capital  stock or other  ownership or
profit interest,  warrants, rights, options,  obligations or other securities of
such Person, any capital  contribution to such Person or any other investment in
such Person,  including,  without limitation,  any arrangement pursuant to which
the investor  incurs Debt of the types  referred to in clause (ix) or (x) of the
definition of "Debt" in respect of such Person.

         "Issuing  Bank"  means  the  Initial  Issuing  Bank and  each  Eligible
Assignee  to which the  Letter of Credit  Commitment  and  Alternative  Currency
Letter of Credit Commitment hereunder

 
                                       16





has been  assigned  pursuant to Section  8.07;  provided,  however,  that,  with
respect to the Existing  Letters of Credit,  the term "Issuing Bank" means Fleet
as issuer of the Existing Letters of Credit.

         "L/C Cash Collateral Account" has the meaning specified in the Security
Agreement.

         "L/C  Related   Documents"   has  the  meaning   specified  in  Section
2.04(d)(ii)(A).

         "Lender  Party"  means any Lender,  the Issuing  Bank or the Swing Line
Bank.

         "Lenders" means the Initial Lenders, including, without limitation, the
initial  Alternative  Currency  Revolving  Credit Lenders,  and each Person that
shall become a Lender hereunder pursuant to Section 8.07.

         "Letter of Credit" means any Letter of Credit  issued  hereunder or any
Existing Letter of Credit, but does not mean or include any Alternative Currency
Letter of Credit.

         "Letter of Credit Advance" means an advance made by the Issuing Bank or
any Revolving Credit Lender pursuant to Section 2.03(c).

         "Letter  of Credit  Agreement"  has the  meaning  specified  in Section
2.03(a).

         "Letter of Credit  Commitment" means, with respect to the Issuing Bank,
the amount set forth opposite the Issuing Bank's name on Schedule I hereto under
the caption  "Letter of Credit  Commitment"  or, if the Issuing Bank has entered
into one or more Assignments and Acceptances,  set forth for the Issuing Bank in
the Register maintained by the Administrative  Agent pursuant to Section 8.07(d)
as the  Issuing  Bank's  "Letter of Credit  Commitment,"  as such  amount may be
reduced at or prior to such time pursuant to Section 2.05.

         "Letter of Credit  Facility" means, at any time, an amount equal to the
amount of the Issuing  Bank's Letter of Credit  Commitment at such time, as such
amount may be reduced at or prior to such time pursuant to Section 2.05 less the
aggregate  Available Amount under all Existing Letters of Credit  outstanding at
such time.

         "LICO Stock Purchase  Agreement"  means the stock  purchase  agreement,
dated as of March 11, 1998,  by and among the Borrower and the  shareholders  of
LICO, pursuant to which the Acquisition will be consummated.

         "Lien" means any lien, security interest or other charge or encumbrance
of any kind, or any other type of preferential arrangement,  including,  without
limitation,  the lien or retained security title of a conditional vendor and any
easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to real property.

         "Loan  Documents" means (i) this Agreement,  (ii) the Notes,  (iii) the
Guaranty,  (iv) the Collateral  Documents,  (v) each Letter of Credit Agreement,
(vi) each Alternative  Currency Letter of Credit  Agreement,  (vii) the Existing
Letters of Credit,  (viii) each Hedge  Agreement  entered into by a Lender Party
pursuant  to,  and in  compliance  with the terms  and  conditions  of,  Section
5.02(b)(v),  (ix) each  document  or  agreement  delivered  pursuant  to Section
5.01(m), and all other

 
                                       17





agreements,  instruments  and  documents  executed  in  connection  herewith  or
therewith,  in each case as the same may at any time be  amended,  supplemented,
restated or otherwise modified and in effect.

         "Loan Parties" means the Borrower and the Guarantors.

         "Margin Stock" has the meaning specified in Regulation U.

         "Marine Midland" means Marine Midland Bank.

         "Material  Adverse Change" means any material adverse change in (i) the
business,   condition   (financial  or  otherwise),   operations,   performance,
properties  or  prospects  of any Loan  Party and its  Subsidiaries  (taken as a
whole),  (ii) the  ability of the  Borrower  or any  Guarantor  to  perform  its
obligations  under the Loan Documents or (iii) any material aspect of any of the
Transactions.

         "Material Adverse Effect" has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(e).

         "Material  Contract" means,  with respect to any Person,  each contract
listed  on  Schedule  4.01(dd),  each  contract  which  is  a  replacement  or a
substitute for any contract listed on Schedule  4.01(dd) and each other contract
to which such Person is a party which is  material  to the  business,  condition
(financial or otherwise),  operations,  performance,  properties or prospects of
such Person.

         "Mechanical  Products"  means  Mechanical  Products,  Inc.,  a Delaware
corporation.

         "Minitec" means Minitec Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

         "Multiemployer  Plan" means a multiemployer plan, as defined in Section
4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate is making or
accruing an obligation to make contributions, or has within any of the preceding
five plan years made or accrued an obligation to make contributions.

         "Multiple  Employer  Plan" means a single  employer plan, as defined in
Section  4001(a)(15) of ERISA,  that (i) is maintained for employees of any Loan
Party or any ERISA Affiliate and at least one Person other than the Loan Parties
and the ERISA  Affiliates or (ii) was so maintained  and in respect of which any
Loan Party or any ERISA  Affiliate  could have  liability  under Section 4064 or
4069 of ERISA in the event such plan has been or were to be terminated.

         "Net Cash Proceeds" means, with respect to any sale, lease, transfer or
other disposition of any asset, or any Extraordinary Receipt received by or paid
to or for the account of any Person,  the aggregate amount of cash received from
time to time (whether as initial consideration or through payment or disposition
of deferred  consideration)  by or on behalf of such Person in  connection  with
such  transaction  after  deducting  therefrom  only (without  duplication)  (i)
reasonable and customary brokerage commissions, underwriting fees and discounts,
legal fees,  finder's  fees and other  similar  fees and  commissions,  (ii) the
amount of taxes  payable in connection  with or as a result of such  transaction
and (iii) the amount of any Debt (not including

 
                                       18





any Debt incurred under this Agreement) secured by a Lien on such asset that, by
the terms of such  transaction,  is required to be repaid upon such disposition,
in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that the amounts so deducted
are, at the time of receipt of such cash,  actually paid to a Person that is not
an Affiliate of such Person or any Loan Party or any Affiliate of any Loan Party
and are properly  attributable  to such  transaction or to the asset that is the
subject thereof.

         "Note" means a Revolving Credit Note or an Alternative Currency Note.

         "Notice of Alternative Currency Borrowing" has the meaning specified in
Section 2.02(b).

         "Notice of Borrowing" has the meaning specified in Section 2.02(a).

         "Notice of Issuance" has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(a).

         "Notice of Renewal" has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(d).

         "Notice of Swing Line  Borrowing" has the meaning  specified in Section
2.02(c).

         "Notice of Termination" has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(d).

         "NPL" means the National Priorities List under CERCLA.

         "Obligation"   means,   with  respect  to  any  Person,   any  payment,
performance or other obligation of such Person of any kind,  including,  without
limitation,  any liability of such Person on any claim, whether or not the right
of any  creditor  to payment  in  respect of such claim is reduced to  judgment,
liquidated,  unliquidated,  fixed, contingent,  matured,  disputed,  undisputed,
legal,  equitable,  secured  or  unsecured,  and  whether  or not such  claim is
discharged,  stayed or  otherwise  affected  by any  proceeding  referred  to in
Section  6.01(f).   Without  limiting  the  generality  of  the  foregoing,  the
Obligations  of the Loan  Parties  under  the  Loan  Documents  include  (i) the
obligation to pay principal, interest, Letter of Credit and Alternative Currency
Letter of Credit  commissions,  charges,  expenses,  fees,  attorneys'  fees and
disbursements, indemnities and other amounts payable by any Loan Party under any
Loan Document,  (ii) all liabilities and other obligations arising out of, based
upon or relating to the Existing Letters of Credit,  and (iii) the obligation of
any Loan Party to reimburse any amount in respect of any of the  foregoing  that
any Lender Party, in its sole discretion,  may elect to pay or advance on behalf
of such Loan Party.

         "OECD" means the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

         "Open Year" has the meaning specified in Section 4.01(t).

         "Other Taxes" has the meaning specified in Section 2.12(b).

         "PBGC"  means  the  Pension  Benefit   Guaranty   Corporation  (or  any
successor).


 
                                       19





         "Permitted   Liens"  means  such  of  the  following  as  to  which  no
enforcement,  collection,  execution,  levy or foreclosure proceeding shall have
been commenced:  (i) Liens for taxes,  assessments and  governmental  charges or
levies  not  yet  due  and  payable;   (ii)  Liens   imposed  by  law,  such  as
materialmen's,  mechanics', carriers', workmen's and repairmen's Liens and other
similar Liens arising in the ordinary  course of business  securing  obligations
that are not  overdue  for a period of more than 30 days;  and (iii)  pledges or
deposits  to secure  obligations  under  workers'  compensation  laws or similar
legislation or to secure public or statutory obligations.

         "Person" means an  individual,  partnership,  corporation  (including a
business  trust),  limited  liability  company,  joint  stock  company,   trust,
unincorporated  association,  joint  venture  or other  entity  or any  division
thereof, or a government or any political subdivision, agency or instrumentality
thereof.

         "Plan" means a Single Employer Plan or a Multiple Employer Plan.

         "Pounds  Sterling" or "(pound)" means the lawful currency of the United
Kingdom.

         "Pre-Commitment  Information"  has the  meaning  specified  in  Section
3.01(g).

         "Preferred Stock" means, with respect to any corporation, capital stock
issued by such corporation that is entitled to a preference or priority over any
other capital stock issued by such  corporation  upon any  distribution  of such
corporation's assets, whether by dividend or upon liquidation.

         "Prime Rate" means a fluctuating interest rate per annum in effect from
time to time, which rate per annum shall at all times be equal to the higher of:

                  (a) the  rate of  interest  announced  publicly  by  Fleet  in
         Boston, Massachusetts,  from time to time, as Fleet's prime rate, which
         is not necessarily the lowest rate made available by Fleet; or

                  (b) 1/2 of one percent per annum above the Federal Funds Rate.

         "Prime Rate Advance"  means an Advance that bears  interest as provided
in Section 2.07(a)(i).

         "Pro Rata Share" of any amount  means,  with  respect to any  Revolving
Credit  Lender at any time,  the  product of such  amount  times a fraction  the
numerator of which is the amount of such Lender's Revolving Credit Commitment at
such time and the denominator of which is the Revolving  Credit Facility at such
time and, with respect to any Alternative  Currency  Revolving Credit Lender (in
its  capacity as such) at any time,  the product of such amount times a fraction
the  numerator  of which is the amount of such  Alternative  Currency  Revolving
Credit Lender's  Alternative  Currency  Revolving Credit  Sub-Commitment at such
time and the denominator of which is the Alternative  Currency  Revolving Credit
Facility at such time.

         "Receivables" of any Person means all of such Person's right, title and
interest,  whether  now owned or  hereafter  acquired,  in and to all  accounts,
contract rights, chattel paper,

 
                                       20





instruments,  deposit accounts, general intangibles and other obligations of any
kind, now or hereafter existing,  whether or not arising out of or in connection
with the sale or lease of goods or the rendering of services, and all rights now
or  hereafter  existing  in and to all  security  agreements,  leases  and other
contracts securing or otherwise relating to any such accounts,  contract rights,
chattel  paper,   instruments,   deposit   accounts,   general   intangibles  or
obligations.

         "Reduction Amount" has the meaning specified in Section 2.06(b)(iv).

         "Register" has the meaning specified in Section 8.07(d).

         "Regulation  G" means  Regulation  G of the Board of  Governors  of the
Federal Reserve System, as in effect from time to time.

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

         "Release"  means  any  release,  spill,  emission,   leaking,  pumping,
pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping
or disposing into the  environment  (including the  abandonment or discarding of
barrels,  containers  and other  closed  receptacles  containing  any  Hazardous
Materials)  or into or from any property,  including,  without  limitation,  the
movement of any Hazardous  Materials  through the air,  soil,  surface waters or
ground water.

         "Remedial"  shall have the  meaning as set forth in CERCLA at 42 U.S.C.
ss. 9601(24) and/or any other applicable Environmental Laws.

         "Removal"  shall  have the  meaning as set forth in CERCLA at 42 U.S.C.
ss. 9601(23) and/or any other applicable Environmental Laws.

         "Required  Alternative  Currency Lenders" means at any time Alternative
Currency  Revolving  Credit  Lenders  owed or  holding  greater  than 50% of the
aggregate principal amount of the Alternative Currency Revolving Credit Advances
outstanding at such time or, if no such principal  amount is outstanding at such
time,  Alternative Currency Revolving Credit Lenders holding greater than 50% of
the aggregate of the  Alternative  Currency  Revolving  Credit  Sub-Commitments;
provided,  however,  that if any Alternative  Currency  Revolving  Credit Lender
shall be a  Defaulting  Lender at such time,  there shall be  excluded  from the
determination  of  Required  Alternative  Currency  Lenders at such time (i) the
aggregate principal amount of the Alternative Currency Revolving Credit Advances
owing to such  Lender  and  outstanding  at such  time,  and (ii) the  aggregate
Alternative  Currency  Revolving  Credit  Sub-Commitment  of such Lender at such
time.

         "Required  Lenders"  means at any time Lenders owed or holding  greater
than  50% of the sum of (i)  the  aggregate  principal  amount  of the  Advances
outstanding at such time and (ii) the aggregate  Available Amount of all Letters
of Credit and all  Alternative  Currency  Letters of Credit  outstanding at such
time,  or,  if no  such  principal  amount  and  no  Letters  of  Credit  and no
Alternative  Currency  Letters of Credit are  outstanding at such time,  Lenders
holding greater than 50% of the aggregate of the Revolving  Credit  Commitments;
provided, however, that if any Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender at such time,
there shall be excluded from the determination

 
                                       21





of  Required  Lenders  at such time (i) the  aggregate  principal  amount of the
Advances  owing to such Lender (in its capacity as a Lender) and  outstanding at
such time, and (ii) the aggregate  Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender at
such time. For purposes of this  definition,  the aggregate  principal amount of
Swing Line Advances owing to the Swing Line Bank,  Letter of Credit Advances and
Alternative Currency Letter of Credit Advances owing to the Issuing Bank and the
Available Amount of each Letter of Credit and each  Alternative  Currency Letter
of Credit shall be considered to be owed to the Revolving Credit Lenders ratably
in accordance with their respective Revolving Credit Commitments.

         "Response"  shall have the  meaning as set forth in CERCLA at 42 U.S.C.
ss. 9601(25) and/or any other applicable Environmental Laws.

         "Responsible  Officer" means, in the case of the Borrower,  any officer
and, in the case of any other Loan Party,  the Chairman,  Treasurer or Assistant
Treasurer of such Loan Party.

         "Revolving Credit Advance" has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(a)
and shall include an Automatically Converted Revolving Credit Advance.

         "Revolving   Credit   Borrowing"   means  a  borrowing   consisting  of
simultaneous  Revolving  Credit  Advances of the same Type made by the Revolving
Credit Lenders.

         "Revolving  Credit  Commitment"  means,  with respect to any  Revolving
Credit Lender at any time,  the amount set forth  opposite such Lender's name on
Schedule I hereto under the caption  "Revolving  Credit  Commitment" or, if such
Lender has entered into one or more Assignments and  Acceptances,  set forth for
such Lender in the Register  maintained by the Administrative  Agent pursuant to
Section 8.07(d) as such Lender's  "Revolving Credit  Commitment," as such amount
may be reduced at or prior to such time pursuant to Section 2.05.

         "Revolving Credit Facility" means, at any time, the aggregate amount of
the Revolving Credit Lenders' Revolving Credit Commitments at such time.

         "Revolving  Credit Lender" means any Lender that has a Revolving Credit
Commitment.

         "Revolving Credit Note" means a promissory note of the Borrower payable
to the  order of any  Revolving  Credit  Lender,  in  substantially  the form of
Exhibit B hereto,  evidencing the aggregate indebtedness of the Borrower to such
Lender resulting from the Revolving Credit Advances made by such Lender.

         "Revolving  Credit  Termination  Date"  means the  earlier of the fifth
anniversary of the Closing Date and the Termination Date.

         "Secured  Obligations"  has  the  meaning  specified  in  the  Security
Agreement.

         "Secured  Parties" means the  Administrative  Agent, the Lender Parties
and the Hedge Banks and the other Persons the Obligations  owing to which are or
are purported to be secured by the Collateral  under the terms of the Collateral
Documents.


 
                                       22





         "Security Agreement" has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(a).

         "Senior Subordinated Note Documents" means the Senior Subordinated Note
Indenture,  Senior  Subordinated Notes and all other documents,  instruments and
agreements  executed and delivered in connection  with the original  issuance of
the Senior Subordinated  Notes, in each case, as the same shall,  subject to the
terms and conditions of this  Agreement,  be amended,  supplemented or otherwise
modified and in effect from time to time.

         "Senior  Subordinated Note Indenture" means the indenture,  dated as of
March 31, 1998, between the Borrower, as issuer, and State Street Bank and Trust
Company,  N.A.,  as  trustee,  as the  same  shall,  subject  to the  terms  and
conditions of this Agreement, be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified and
in effect from time to time.

         "Senior   Subordinated  Notes"  means  the  Borrower's  8  1/2%  senior
subordinated  notes due 2008  issued  pursuant to the Senior  Subordinated  Note
Indenture,  as the same  shall,  subject  to the  terms and  conditions  of this
Agreement,  be amended,  supplemented  or otherwise  modified and in effect from
time to time.

         "Shares" means the shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of
LICO.

         "Significant Subsidiary" means each Loan Party and any other Subsidiary
of the  Borrower  which  (i) for the most  recent  Fiscal  Year of the  Borrower
accounted for more than 5% of the Consolidated revenues of the Borrower, or (ii)
as of the  end of  such  Fiscal  Year  was  the  owner  of  more  than 5% of the
Consolidated assets of the Borrower,  all as shown on the Consolidated financial
statements of the Borrower for such fiscal year.

         "Single  Employer  Plan" means a single  employer  plan,  as defined in
Section  4001(a)(15) of ERISA,  that (i) is maintained for employees of any Loan
Party or any ERISA  Affiliate  and no Person other than the Loan Parties and the
ERISA  Affiliates  or (ii) was so  maintained  and in  respect of which any Loan
Party or any ERISA Affiliate could have liability under Section 4069 of ERISA in
the event such plan has been or were to be terminated.

         "Solvent"  and  "Solvency"  mean,  with  respect  to  any  Person  on a
particular  date,  that on such date (i) the fair value of the  property of such
Person is  greater  than the total  amount of  liabilities,  including,  without
limitation,  contingent  liabilities,  of such  Person,  (ii) the  present  fair
salable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will
be required to pay the  probable  liability  of such Person on its debts as they
become absolute and matured,  (iii) such Person does not intend to, and does not
believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person's ability to
pay such  debts and  liabilities  as they  mature  and (iv)  such  Person is not
engaged in business or a transaction,  and is not about to engage in business or
a transaction, for which such Person's property would constitute an unreasonably
small  capital.  The  amount  of  contingent  liabilities  at any time  shall be
computed  as the amount  that,  in the light of all the facts and  circumstances
existing at such time,  represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to
become an actual or matured liability.

         "Standby  Letter of Credit"  means any Letter of Credit or  Alternative
Currency Letter of Credit other than a Trade Letter of Credit.

 
                                       23






         "Subsidiary" of any Person means any  corporation,  partnership,  joint
venture,  limited liability company, trust or estate of which (or in which) more
than 50% of (i) the issued and outstanding  capital stock having ordinary voting
power  to  elect a  majority  of the  Board  of  Directors  of such  corporation
(irrespective of whether at the time capital stock of any other class or classes
of such corporation  shall or might have voting power upon the occurrence of any
contingency),  (ii) the interest in the capital or profits of such  partnership,
joint venture or limited liability  company or (iii) the beneficial  interest in
such trust or estate is at the time directly or  indirectly  owned or controlled
by such Person,  by such Person and one or more of its other  Subsidiaries or by
one or more of such Person's other Subsidiaries.

         "Surviving Debt" shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.01(c).

         "Swing Line  Advance"  means an advance made by (x) the Swing Line Bank
pursuant  to Section  2.01(c) or (y) any  Revolving  Credit  Lender  pursuant to
Section 2.02(c).

         "Swing Line Bank" means Fleet.

         "Swing Line  Borrowing"  means a borrowing  consisting  of a Swing Line
Advance made by the Swing Line Bank.

         "Swing Line Facility" has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(c).

         "Taxes" has the meaning specified in Section 2.12(a).

         "Termination  Date"  means  the  date of  termination  in  whole of the
Commitments pursuant to Section 2.05 or 6.01.

         "Trade  Letter of  Credit"  means any  Letter of Credit or  Alternative
Currency  Letter of Credit  that is issued  for the  benefit  of a  supplier  of
Inventory to the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries to effect payment for such
Inventory, the conditions to drawing under which include the presentation to the
Issuing  Bank of  negotiable  bills of lading,  invoices  and related  documents
sufficient, in the judgment of the Issuing Bank, to create a valid and perfected
lien on or security  interest in such Inventory,  bills of lading,  invoices and
related documents in favor of the Issuing Bank.

         "Transactions" means the transactions  contemplated by the Acquisition,
the Senior Subordinated Note Documents and the Loan Documents.

         "Type" refers to the distinction  between  Advances bearing interest at
the Prime Rate and Advances bearing interest at the Eurodollar Rate.

         "Univeyor"  means  Univeyor A/S, a  corporation  organized and existing
under the laws of Denmark and a direct or indirect  wholly-owned  Subsidiary  of
the Borrower.

         "Unused Alternative Currency Revolving Credit Sub-Commitment" means, as
to any Alternative  Currency  Revolving  Credit Lender at any time, an amount in
U.S. Dollars equal to (i) such Lender's  Alternative  Currency  Revolving Credit
Sub-Commitment minus (ii) the sum of

 
                                       24





(x) the aggregate  Assigned Dollar Value of all Alternative  Currency  Revolving
Credit Advances made by such Lender (in its capacity as an Alternative  Currency
Revolving  Credit Lender) and  outstanding at such time,  plus (y) such Lender's
Pro Rata Share of (1) the  aggregate  Assigned  Dollar Value of all  Alternative
Currency  Revolving Credit Advances made by the Alternative  Currency  Revolving
Credit  Lenders  (other than such Lender) and  outstanding at such time, (2) the
aggregate  Available  Amount  of all  Alternative  Currency  Letters  of  Credit
outstanding  at such time and (3) the  aggregate  Assigned  Dollar  Value of all
Alternative Currency Letter of Credit Advances made by the Issuing Bank pursuant
to Section 2.03(d) and outstanding at such time.

         "Unused Revolving Credit  Commitment" means, with respect to any Lender
at any time, (i) such Lender's  Revolving  Credit  Commitment at such time minus
(ii) the sum of (x) the  aggregate  principal  amount  of all  Revolving  Credit
Advances,  all Swing Line Advances,  all Letter of Credit Advances, the Assigned
Dollar  Value of all  Alternative  Currency  Letter of Credit  Advances  and the
Assigned Dollar Value of all Alternative Currency Revolving Credit Advances,  in
each instance made by such Lender (in its capacity as a Lender) and  outstanding
at such  time,  plus  (y) such  Lender's  Pro  Rata  Share of (1) the  aggregate
Assigned Dollar Value of all Alternative Currency Revolving Credit Advances made
by the Alternative  Currency  Revolving  Credit Lenders (other than such Lender)
and outstanding at such time, (2) the aggregate  Available Amount of all Letters
of  Credit,   including,   without  limitation,   Existing  Letters  of  Credit,
outstanding at such time, (3) the aggregate  Available Amount of all Alternative
Currency Letters of Credit outstanding at such time, (4) the aggregate principal
amount of all Letter of Credit  Advances  made by the Issuing  Bank  pursuant to
Section 2.03(c) and outstanding at such time, (5) the aggregate  Assigned Dollar
Value of all Alternative  Currency Letter of Credit Advances made by the Issuing
Bank  pursuant to Section  2.03(d)  and  outstanding  at such time,  and (6) the
aggregate  principal  amount of all Swing Line  Advances  made by the Swing Line
Bank pursuant to Section 2.01(c) and outstanding at such time.

         "Voting  Stock"  means  capital  stock  issued  by  a  corporation,  or
equivalent  interests in any other Person,  the holders of which are ordinarily,
in the absence of contingencies,  entitled to vote for the election of directors
(or persons performing  similar functions) of such Person,  even if the right so
to vote has been suspended by the happening of such a contingency.

         "Welfare  Plan"  means a welfare  plan,  as defined in Section  3(1) of
ERISA, that is maintained for employees of any Loan Party or in respect of which
any Loan Party could have liability.

         "Withdrawal  Liabilities"  has  the  meaning  specified  in  Part  I of
Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

         "Yale  Germany"  means Yale  Industrial  Products  GmbH, a  corporation
organized  and  existing  under the laws of  Germany  and a direct  or  indirect
wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower.

         SECTION 1.02.  Computation  of Time Periods.  In this  Agreement in the
computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later  specified date,
the word "from" means "from and  including"  and the words "to" and "until" each
mean "to but excluding."


 
                                       25





         SECTION 1.03. Accounting Terms. All accounting terms used in any of the
financial  covenants set forth in Section 5.04, and all other  accounting  terms
not specifically defined herein, shall be construed in accordance with generally
accepted accounting  principles consistent with those applied in the preparation
of the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01(f)(ii) ("GAAP").


                                   ARTICLE II

                       AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE ADVANCES,
                      THE LETTERS OF CREDIT AND ALTERNATIVE
                           CURRENCY LETTERS OF CREDIT

         SECTION 2.01.  The Advances.

         (a)  The  Revolving  Credit  Advances.  Each  Revolving  Credit  Lender
severally  agrees,  on the terms and conditions  hereinafter  set forth, to make
advances (each a "Revolving  Credit  Advance") to the Borrower from time to time
on any Business  Day during the period from the date hereof until the  Revolving
Credit  Termination  Date in an amount for each such  Advance not to exceed such
Lender's Unused Revolving Credit  Commitment at such time. Each Revolving Credit
Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount of $5,000,000 or an integral  multiple
of  $1,000,000 in excess  thereof  (other than a Borrowing the proceeds of which
shall be used solely to repay or prepay in full outstanding Swing Line Advances,
outstanding Letter of Credit Advances or outstanding Alternative Currency Letter
of  Credit  Advances)  and shall  consist  of  Revolving  Credit  Advances  made
simultaneously  by the  Revolving  Credit  Lenders  ratably  according  to their
Revolving  Credit  Commitments.  Within  the  limits  of each  Revolving  Credit
Lender's  Unused  Revolving  Credit  Commitment in effect from time to time, the
Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow.

         (b)  The  Alternative   Currency   Revolving  Credit   Advances.   Each
Alternative  Currency Revolving Credit Lender severally agrees, on the terms and
conditions hereinafter set forth, to make advances denominated in an Alternative
Currency ("Alternative Currency Revolving Credit Advances") to the Borrower from
time to time on any  Business  Day during the period from the date hereof  until
the Revolving Credit  Termination Date in an amount for each such Advance not to
exceed the Assigned  Dollar Value of such Lender's Unused  Alternative  Currency
Revolving  Credit  Sub-Commitment  at such  time;  provided,  however,  that the
aggregate  amount of all Alternative  Currency  Revolving Credit Advances at any
time  outstanding  shall not at any time  exceed the  Assigned  Dollar  Value of
$20,000,000  (the  "Alternative  Currency  Revolving  Credit  Facility"),   and,
provided,  further,  that  the  aggregate  amount  of  an  Alternative  Currency
Revolving  Credit Borrowing shall in no event exceed the aggregate of the Unused
Revolving Credit  Commitments of the Revolving Credit Lenders at such time. Each
Alternative  Currency  Revolving  Credit Borrowing (other than, in the case of a
continuation of a Eurodollar Rate Advance, a change in the Assigned Dollar Value
thereof  solely as a result of currency  fluctuations)  shall be in an aggregate
amount of the Applicable Currency which would purchase approximately two million
dollars ($2,000,000) or an integral multiple of one million dollars ($1,000,000)
in excess  thereof  based on the  exchange  rate as published in the Wall Street
Journal  (or if  such  rate  is not  available,  the  spot  rate  quoted  by the
Administrative Agent on such date)

 
                                       26





with  respect  to  such  currency  on the  date  of  the  applicable  Notice  of
Alternative Currency Borrowing or, if less, the then Dollar Equivalent amount of
the aggregate Unused Alternative Currency Revolving Credit Sub-Commitments. Each
Alternative  Currency  Revolving  Credit  Borrowing shall consist of Alternative
Currency  Revolving  Credit  Advances  made  simultaneously  by the  Alternative
Currency  Revolving  Credit  Lenders  ratably  according  to  their  Alternative
Currency Revolving Credit Sub-Commitments. Within the limits of each Alternative
Currency Revolving Credit Lender's Unused Alternative  Currency Revolving Credit
Sub-Commitment  in effect from time to time, the Borrower may borrow,  repay and
reborrow.

         (c) The Swing Line  Advances.  The  Borrower may request the Swing Line
Bank to make,  and the Swing Line Bank may, if in its discretion it elects to do
so, make, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, Swing Line Advances
to the Borrower from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the
date hereof  until the  Revolving  Credit  Termination  Date (i) in an aggregate
amount  not to exceed  at any time  outstanding  $15,000,000  (the  "Swing  Line
Facility")  and (ii) in an amount  for each such  Swing  Line  Borrowing  not to
exceed the aggregate of the Unused Revolving Credit Commitments of the Revolving
Credit Lenders at such time. No Swing Line Advance shall be used for the purpose
of funding the payment of principal of any other Swing Line Advance.  Each Swing
Line Borrowing  shall be made as a Prime Rate Advance.  Within the limits of the
Swing Line Facility and within the limits  referred to in clause (ii) above,  so
long as the Swing  Line  Bank,  in its  discretion,  elects to make  Swing  Line
Advances,  the Borrower may borrow and reborrow  under this Section  2.01(c) and
may repay or prepay the Swing Line Advances at such times prior to the Revolving
Credit  Termination  Date, and in such integral  multiples,  as the Borrower may
elect.

         (d)  Letters of  Credit.  The  Issuing  Bank  agrees,  on the terms and
conditions  hereinafter set forth, to issue Letters of Credit for the account of
the  Borrower  from time to time on any  Business Day during the period from the
Closing Date until sixty (60) days before the Revolving Credit  Termination Date
(A) in an  aggregate  Available  Amount for all  Letters  of Credit,  including,
without  limitation,  Existing Letters of Credit,  not to exceed at any time the
Issuing Bank's Letter of Credit  Commitment at such time and (B) in an Available
Amount  for each  such  Letter of  Credit  not to exceed an amount  equal to the
Unused  Revolving  Credit  Commitments  of the Revolving  Credit Lenders at such
time. No Letter of Credit shall have an expiration date (including all rights of
the Borrower or the  beneficiary to require  renewal) later than the earliest of
(A) 60 days before the Revolving Credit  Termination  Date, (B) in the case of a
Standby Letter of Credit, 365 days after the date of issuance thereof and (C) in
the case of a Trade  Letter  of  Credit,  180 days  after  the date of  issuance
thereof. The foregoing notwithstanding, any Standby Letter of Credit may, by its
terms,  be renewable  annually upon notice (a "Notice of Renewal")  given to the
Issuing Bank and the Administrative  Agent on or prior to any date for notice of
renewal  set forth in such  Letter of Credit (but in any event at least five (5)
Business Days prior to the date of the proposed  renewal of such Standby  Letter
of  Credit)  and upon  fulfillment  of the  applicable  conditions  set forth in
Article III unless such  Issuing Bank shall have  notified the Borrower  (with a
copy to the  Administrative  Agent)  on or  prior  to the  date  for  notice  of
termination set forth in such Letter of Credit (but in any event at least thirty
(30) Business  Days prior to the date of automatic  renewal) of its election not
to renew such  Standby  Letter of Credit (a "Notice of  Termination");  provided
that the terms of each Standby Letter of Credit that is automatically  renewable
annually  shall not permit  the  expiration  date  (after  giving  effect to any
renewal) of such Standby  Letter of Credit in any event to be extended to a date
later

 
                                       27





than sixty (60) days before the Revolving Credit  Termination  Date. If either a
Notice of Renewal is not given by the  Borrower  or a Notice of  Termination  is
given by the Issuing Bank pursuant to the immediately  preceding sentence,  such
Standby  Letter of Credit shall  expire on the date on which it otherwise  would
have been automatically renewed; provided,  however, that even in the absence of
receipt of a Notice of Renewal,  the Issuing Bank may, in its discretion  unless
instructed to the contrary by the  Administrative  Agent or the  Borrower,  deem
that a Notice of Renewal had been timely  delivered  and, in such case, a Notice
of Renewal shall be deemed to have been so delivered for all purposes under this
Agreement.  Within the limits of the Letter of Credit  Facility,  and subject to
the limits  referred to above,  the Borrower may request the issuance of Letters
of Credit  under  this  Section  2.01(d),  repay any  Letter of Credit  Advances
resulting from drawings under Letters of Credit  pursuant to Section 2.03(c) and
request the issuance of additional Letters of Credit under this Section 2.01(d).

         (e) Alternative Currency Letters of Credit. The Issuing Bank agrees, on
the terms and subject to the  conditions set forth in this  Agreement,  to issue
Alternative Currency Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower from time
to time on any  Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until sixty
(60) days  before the  Revolving  Credit  Termination  Date (A) in an  aggregate
Available Amount for all Alternative Currency Letters of Credit not to exceed at
any time the Issuing Bank's Alternative  Currency Letter of Credit Commitment at
such time and (B) in an  Available  Amount  for each such  Alternative  Currency
Letter of Credit  (i) not to exceed an amount  equal to the  Unused  Alternative
Currency Revolving Credit  Sub-Commitments of the Alternative Currency Revolving
Credit Lenders at such time and (ii) not to exceed an amount equal to the Unused
Revolving  Credit  Commitments of the Revolving  Credit Lenders at such time. No
Alternative  Currency  Letter of Credit shall have an expiration date (including
all rights of the Borrower or the beneficiary to require renewal) later than the
earliest of (A) 60 days before the Revolving Credit Termination Date, (B) in the
case of a Standby Letter of Credit,  365 days after the date of issuance thereof
and (C) in the case of a Trade  Letter  of  Credit,  180 days  after the date of
issuance thereof. Within the limits of the Alternative Currency Letter of Credit
Facility,  and subject to the limits referred to above, the Borrower may request
the  issuance  of  Alternative  Currency  Letters of Credit  under this  Section
2.01(e), repay any Alternative Currency Letter of Credit Advances resulting from
drawings  under  Alternative  Currency  Letters  of Credit  pursuant  to Section
2.03(d) and request the issuance of additional  Alternative  Currency Letters of
Credit under this Section 2.01(e).

         SECTION 2.02. Making the Advances.  (a) Each Revolving Credit Borrowing
shall be made on notice,  given not later than  11:00  A.M.  (Buffalo,  New York
time) on the third  Business Day prior to the date of the proposed  Borrowing in
the case of a Borrowing  consisting of Eurodollar  Rate Advances,  or the second
Business  Day  prior  to the  date of the  proposed  Borrowing  in the case of a
Borrowing   consisting  of  Prime  Rate   Advances,   by  the  Borrower  to  the
Administrative  Agent, which shall give to each appropriate Lender prompt notice
thereof by telex or telecopier. Each such notice of a Revolving Credit Borrowing
(a "Notice of Borrowing") may be by telephone, confirmed immediately in writing,
or telex or telecopier in substantially the form of Exhibit D hereto, specifying
therein  the  requested  (i)  date  of such  Borrowing,  (ii)  Type of  Advances
comprising such Borrowing,  (iii) aggregate amount of such Borrowing and (iv) in
the case of a Borrowing consisting of Eurodollar Rate Advances, initial Interest
Period for each such Advance. Each Lender shall, before 11:00 A.M. (Buffalo, New
York time) on the date of such Borrowing,  make available for the account of its
Applicable Lending Office to the

 
                                       28





Administrative  Agent at the Administrative  Agent's Account, in same day funds,
such  Lender's  ratable  portion  of  such  Borrowing  in  accordance  with  the
respective  Revolving  Credit  Commitments of such Lender and the other Lenders.
After the  Administrative  Agent's receipt of such funds and upon fulfillment of
the  applicable  conditions set forth in Article III, the  Administrative  Agent
will make such funds  available  to the  Borrower by  crediting  the  Borrower's
Account;  provided,  however,  that the Administrative  Agent shall first make a
portion of such funds equal to the aggregate  principal amount of any Swing Line
Advances,  Letter of Credit Advances and  Alternative  Currency Letter of Credit
Advances made by the Swing Line Bank,  the Issuing Bank and any other  Revolving
Credit  Lender and  outstanding  on the date of such  Borrowing,  plus  interest
accrued and unpaid  thereon to and as of such date,  available to the Swing Line
Bank, the Issuing Bank and such other Revolving  Credit Lenders for repayment of
such Swing Line Advances,  Letter of Credit  Advances and  Alternative  Currency
Letter of Credit Advances.

         (b) (i) Each Alternative  Currency  Revolving Credit Borrowing shall be
made on notice, given not later than 11:00 A.M. (Buffalo,  New York time) on the
fifth Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Borrowing,  by the Borrower
to the  Administrative  Agent,  which  shall give to each  Alternative  Currency
Revolving Credit Lender prompt notice thereof by telex or telecopier.  Each such
notice of an  Alternative  Currency  Revolving  Credit  Borrowing  (a "Notice of
Alternative Currency Borrowing") may be by telephone,  confirmed  immediately in
writing,  or telex or telecopier in substantially  the form of Exhibit E hereto,
specifying therein the requested (i) date of such Alternative Currency Revolving
Credit  Borrowing,  (ii) Applicable  Currency,  (iii)  aggregate  amount of such
Alternative Currency Revolving Credit Borrowing and (iv) initial Interest Period
for each such Alternative Currency Revolving Credit Advance (it being understood
by the Borrower  and  Alternative  Currency  Revolving  Credit  Lenders that all
Alternative   Currency  Revolving  Credit  Advances  shall  be  Eurodollar  Rate
Advances). Each Alternative Currency Revolving Credit Lender shall, before 11:00
A.M.  (local time at the place of payment) on the date of such  Borrowing,  make
available to the Administrative  Agent at such account at such bank or office in
London or the  principal  financial  center  in the  country  of the  Applicable
Currency as the Administrative  Agent shall have designated by written notice to
such Lender,  in same day funds,  such  Alternative  Currency  Revolving  Credit
Lender's  ratable  portion of such  Borrowing in accordance  with the respective
Alternative  Currency  Revolving  Credit  Sub-Commitments  of  such  Alternative
Currency  Revolving Credit Lender and the other Alternative  Currency  Revolving
Credit Lenders.  After the Administrative Agent's receipt of such funds and upon
fulfillment  of  the  applicable  conditions  set  forth  in  Article  III,  the
Administrative  Agent will make such funds  available  to the  Borrower  by wire
transfer to such account as the Borrower shall have previously designated to the
Administrative  Agent  in  writing,  which  account  must be in the  name of the
Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower and in London or the  financial  center
of the country of the Applicable Currency.

         (ii) Upon the occurrence  and during the  continuance of any Default or
Event of Default or at any other time that the  Administrative  Agent may in its
reasonable  discretion so determine,  the Administrative  Agent may, and, in the
case of the occurrence and  continuance of a Default or Event or Default,  shall
at the direction of the Required  Alternative  Currency  Lenders,  terminate the
Alternative  Currency  Revolving  Credit  Facility  by  giving  notice  of  such
termination to the Borrower,  each of the Alternative  Currency Revolving Credit
Lenders and each of the other Revolving Credit Lenders.  Thereupon,  (A) any and
all then outstanding

 
                                       29





Alternative  Currency Revolving Credit Advances shall automatically be converted
into Revolving  Credit Advances  denominated in U.S. Dollars (in an amount equal
to the Dollar Equivalent thereof) (the "Automatically Converted Revolving Credit
Advances"),  (B) no further Alternative Currency Revolving Credit Advances shall
be  permitted  to be made  and (C) the  Alternative  Currency  Revolving  Credit
Sub-Commitments  of the Alternative  Currency  Revolving Credit Lenders shall be
automatically terminated. In addition, at such time the Revolving Credit Lenders
shall purchase from the Alternative  Currency Revolving Credit Lenders,  and the
Alternative  Currency  Revolving  Credit  Lenders  shall  sell and assign to the
Revolving Credit Lenders,  Automatically  Converted Revolving Credit Advances in
an amount so that each and every  Revolving  Credit Lender shall have a share of
the total  Automatically  Converted  Revolving  Credit Advances equal to its Pro
Rata Share of the aggregate  Revolving Credit  Commitments.  The  Administrative
Agent  shall  specify the amounts  required to effect such  purchases  and sales
among the Revolving Credit Lenders. The Borrower hereby agrees to each such sale
and  assignment.  Each  Revolving  Credit Lender agrees to purchase its Pro Rata
Share of Automatically  Converted  Revolving Credit Advances on (i) the Business
Day on which  demand  therefor is made,  provided  that notice of such demand is
given not later than 11:00 A.M.  (Buffalo,  New York time) on such Business Day,
or (ii) the first  Business  Day next  succeeding  such demand if notice of such
demand is given  after such time.  Upon any such  assignment  by an  Alternative
Currency Revolving Credit Lender to Revolving Credit Lenders of a portion of the
Automatically  Converted  Revolving Credit Advances,  such Alternative  Currency
Revolving Credit Lender  represents and warrants to such other Lenders that such
Alternative  Currency  Revolving Credit Lender is the legal and beneficial owner
of the  interest  being  assigned  by it, but makes no other  representation  or
warranty and assumes no responsibility  with respect to any of the Automatically
Converted Revolving Credit Advances, any of the Loan Documents,  the Borrower or
any Loan Party (including,  without limitation, as to the financial condition of
the Borrower or any Loan Party).  The  occurrence  of any event which results in
the existence of Automatically  Converted  Revolving Credit Advances pursuant to
the foregoing shall be deemed to constitute, for all purposes of this Agreement,
a prepayment of all of the  Alternative  Currency  Revolving  Credit Advances so
automatically  converted into Automatically  Converted Revolving Credit Advances
before the last day of the Interest Period relating thereto.

         (c) Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be made either (x) on notice, given
not later than 11:00 A.M.  (Buffalo,  New York time) on the date of the proposed
Swing  Line  Borrowing,  by  the  Borrower  to  the  Swing  Line  Bank  and  the
Administrative Agent or (y) pursuant to other arrangements, including, by way of
example and not of limitation,  arrangements for daily repayments and borrowings
on each Business Day, which are  satisfactory in form and substance to the Swing
Line Bank,  the  Administrative  Agent and the Borrower.  Each notice of a Swing
Line Borrowing  pursuant to clause (x) in the immediately  preceding sentence (a
"Notice of Swing Line Borrowing") shall be by telephone,  confirmed  immediately
in writing, or telex or telecopier, specifying therein the requested (i) date of
such  Borrowing,  (ii)  amount  of such  Borrowing  and (iii)  maturity  of such
Borrowing  (which  maturity  shall be no later  than the  seventh  day after the
requested date of such  Borrowing).  If, in its discretion,  it elects to make a
requested  Swing Line Advance,  the Swing Line Bank will make the amount thereof
available to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative  Agent's Account, in
same day funds. After the Administrative  Agent's receipt of such funds and upon
fulfillment  of  the  applicable  conditions  set  forth  in  Article  III,  the
Administrative Agent will make such funds available to the Borrower by crediting
the Borrower's Account.  Upon written demand by the Swing Line Bank, with a copy
of such

 
                                       30





demand to the  Administrative  Agent,  each other Revolving  Credit Lender shall
purchase from the Swing Line Bank, and the Swing Line Bank shall sell and assign
to each such other Lender, such other Lender's Pro Rata Share of all outstanding
Swing Line Advances as of the date of such demand,  by making  available for the
account of its  Applicable  Lending Office to the  Administrative  Agent for the
account  of the Swing  Line  Bank,  by  deposit  to the  Administrative  Agent's
Account,  in same day funds,  an amount equal to the portion of the  outstanding
principal  amount of Swing Line  Advances to be purchased  by such  Lender.  The
Borrower hereby agrees to each such sale and assignment.  Each Revolving  Credit
Lender agrees to purchase its Pro Rata Share of outstanding  Swing Line Advances
on (i) the Business Day on which demand therefor is made by the Swing Line Bank,
provided that notice of such demand is given not later than 11:00 A.M. (Buffalo,
New York  time)  on such  Business  Day,  or (ii) the  first  Business  Day next
succeeding  such demand if notice of such demand is given after such time.  Upon
any such assignment by the Swing Line Bank to any other Revolving  Credit Lender
of a portion  of a Swing  Line  Advance,  the Swing  Line  Bank  represents  and
warrants  to such  other  Lender  that the  Swing  Line  Bank is the  legal  and
beneficial  owner of such  interest  being  assigned  by it,  but makes no other
representation  or warranty and assumes no  responsibility  with respect to such
Swing Line Advance,  the Loan Documents or any Loan Party.  If and to the extent
that any Revolving Credit Lender shall not have so made the amount of such Swing
Line Advance available to the Administrative Agent, such Lender agrees to pay to
the Administrative  Agent, for the account of the Swing Line Bank,  forthwith on
demand such amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date of
demand  by the  Swing  Line  Bank  until  the date  such  amount  is paid to the
Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate. If such Lender shall pay to the
Administrative  Agent such  amount for the account of the Swing Line Bank on any
Business  Day,  such amount so paid in respect of principal  shall  constitute a
Swing Line Advance made by such Lender on such Business Day for purposes of this
Agreement,  and the outstanding  principal amount of the Swing Line Advance made
by the Swing Line Bank shall be reduced by such amount on such Business Day.

         (d) Anything in subsection  (a) above to the contrary  notwithstanding,
(i) the Borrower may not select  Eurodollar  Rate Advances if the  obligation of
the appropriate Lenders to make Eurodollar Rate Advances shall then be suspended
pursuant to Section 2.09 or Section 2.10,  and (ii)  Revolving  Credit  Advances
made on any date may not be  outstanding  as part of more than ten (10) separate
Borrowings.

         (e) Each Notice of Borrowing,  Notice of Alternative Currency Borrowing
and Notice of Swing  Line  Borrowing  shall be  irrevocable  and  binding on the
Borrower.  In the case of any  Borrowing  that the related  Notice of  Borrowing
specifies is to be comprised of Eurodollar Rate Advances, and in the case of any
Alternative  Currency  Revolving Credit Borrowing,  the Borrower shall indemnify
each  appropriate  Lender  against  any loss,  cost or expense  incurred by such
Lender as a result of any failure to fulfill on or before the date  specified in
such Notice of Borrowing or Notice of  Alternative  Currency  Borrowing,  as the
case may be, for such Borrowing the  applicable  conditions set forth in Article
III,  including,  without  limitation,  any loss  (including loss of anticipated
profits as reasonably  determined by such Lender),  cost or expense  incurred by
reason of the liquidation or redeployment of deposits or other funds acquired by
such  Lender  to fund  the  Advance  to be made by such  Lender  as part of such
Borrowing  when such Advance,  as a result of such failure,  is not made on such
date.


 
                                       31





         (f) Unless the  Administrative  Agent shall have received notice from a
Lender  prior  to the  date of any  Borrowing  that  such  Lender  will not make
available to the  Administrative  Agent such  Lender's  ratable  portion of such
Borrowing,  the  Administrative  Agent may assume that such Lender has made such
portion available to the  Administrative  Agent on the date of such Borrowing in
accordance  with  subsection  (a),  (b) or (c) of  this  Section  2.02  and  the
Administrative  Agent may, in reliance upon such  assumption,  make available to
the Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If and to the extent that such
Lender  shall  not  have  so  made  such  ratable   portion   available  to  the
Administrative  Agent, such Lender and the Borrower  severally agree to repay or
pay to the Administrative  Agent forthwith on demand such  corresponding  amount
and to pay  interest  thereon,  for each day from the date  such  amount is made
available  to the  Borrower  until the date such amount is repaid or paid to the
Administrative  Agent,  at (i) in the case of the  Borrower,  the interest  rate
applicable at such time under Section 2.07 to Advances comprising such Borrowing
and (ii) in the case of such  Lender,  the Federal  Funds  Rate.  If such Lender
shall pay to the Administrative Agent such corresponding  amount, such amount so
paid shall  constitute  such Lender's  Advance as part of such Borrowing for all
purposes.

         (g) The  failure of any Lender to make the  Advance to be made by it as
part of any Borrowing shall not relieve any other Lender of its  obligation,  if
any, hereunder to make its Advance on the date of such Borrowing,  but no Lender
shall be responsible  for the failure of any other Lender to make the Advance to
be made by such other Lender on the date of any Borrowing.

         SECTION 2.03.  Issuance of and Drawings and Reimbursement Under Letters
of Credit.

         (a)  Request  for  Issuance.  Each  Letter  of  Credit  which is not an
Existing  Letter of Credit  shall be issued  upon  notice,  given not later than
11:00 A.M. (Buffalo, New York time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day prior to the
date of the proposed  issuance of such Letter of Credit,  by the Borrower to the
Issuing Bank,  which shall give to the  Administrative  Agent and each Revolving
Credit Lender prompt notice thereof by telex or telecopier.  Each such notice of
issuance of a Letter of Credit (a "Notice of  Issuance")  shall be by telephone,
confirmed immedi-

ately in writing,  or telex or telecopier,  specifying therein the requested (i)
date of such issuance (which shall be a Business Day), (ii) Available  Amount of
such Letter of Credit, (iii) expiration date of such Letter of Credit, (iv) name
and  address of the  beneficiary  of such  Letter of Credit and (v) form of such
Letter of Credit, and shall be accompanied by such application and agreement for
letter of credit as the  Issuing  Bank may  specify to the  Borrower  for use in
connection   with  such  requested   Letter  of  Credit  (a  "Letter  of  Credit
Agreement"). If the requested form of such Letter of Credit is acceptable to the
Issuing Bank, in its sole discretion, the Issuing Bank will, upon fulfillment of
the  applicable  conditions set forth in Article III, make such Letter of Credit
available  to the  Borrower  at its office  referred  to in  Section  8.02 or as
otherwise  agreed with the Borrower in  connection  with such  issuance.  In the
event  and to the  extent  that the  provisions  of any such  Letter  of  Credit
Agreement shall conflict with this  Agreement,  the provisions of this Agreement
shall govern.

         (b) Letter of Credit Reports. The Issuing Bank shall furnish (i) to the
Administrative  Agent on the first  Business  Day of each week a written  report
summarizing issuance and expiration dates of Letters of Credit issued during the
previous week and drawings during such

 
                                       32





week under all Letters of Credit, including, without limitation,  drawings under
Existing Letters of Credit,  (ii) to the Administrative  Agent, the Borrower and
each  Revolving  Credit Lender on the first Business Day of each month a written
report  summarizing  issuance and  expiration  dates of Letters of Credit issued
during the preceding  month and drawings  during such month under all Letters of
Credit,  including,  without  limitation,  drawings  under  Existing  Letters of
Credit, and (iii) to the  Administrative  Agent, the Borrower and each Revolving
Credit  Lender  on the first  Business  Day of each  calendar  quarter a written
report  setting forth the average daily  aggregate  Available  Amount during the
preceding  calendar  quarter  of  all  Letters  of  Credit,  including,  without
limitation, all Existing Letters of Credit.

         (c) Drawing  and  Reimbursement.  The payment by the Issuing  Bank of a
draft drawn under any Letter of Credit, including, without limitation, under any
Existing Letter of Credit,  shall  constitute for all purposes of this Agreement
the making by the Issuing  Bank of a Letter of Credit  Advance  which shall be a
Prime Rate  Advance,  in the amount of such  draft.  Each of the  Borrower,  the
Administrative  Agent and each Revolving  Credit Lender hereby  acknowledges and
agrees  that  Letter of Credit  Advances  may be made,  or deemed  made,  by the
Issuing  Bank in respect of  Existing  Letters of Credit or any other  Letter of
Credit and to  participate  in all Letter of Credit  Advances made  hereunder as
provided  herein.  Upon written demand by the Issuing Bank,  with a copy of such
demand to the Administrative  Agent, each Revolving Credit Lender shall purchase
from the Issuing  Bank,  and the Issuing Bank shall sell and assign to each such
Revolving Credit Lender such Lender's Pro Rata Share of such outstanding  Letter
of Credit Advance as of the date of such purchase,  by making available (for the
account of its Applicable Lending Office) to the  Administrative  Agent (for the
account of the Issuing Bank), by deposit to the Administrative  Agent's Account,
in same day funds, an amount equal to the portion of the  outstanding  principal
amount of such Letter of Credit Advance to be purchased by such Lender. Promptly
after receipt thereof, the Administrative Agent shall transfer such funds to the
Issuing Bank. The Borrower hereby agrees to each such sale and assignment.  Each
Revolving  Credit Lender agrees to purchase its Pro Rata Share of an outstanding
Letter of Credit  Advance on (i) the Business  Day on which  demand  therefor is
made by the Issuing Bank, provided notice of such demand is given not later than
11:00  A.M.  (Buffalo,  New York  time) on such  Business  Day or (ii) the first
Business Day next succeeding such demand if notice of such demand is given after
such time.  Upon any such  assignment by the Issuing Bank to any other Revolving
Credit  Lender of a portion  of a Letter of Credit  Advance,  the  Issuing  Bank
represents  and warrants to such other Lender that the Issuing Bank is the legal
and  beneficial  owner of such interest  being assigned by it, free and clear of
any  liens,  but  makes no other  representation  or  warranty  and  assumes  no
responsibility  with  respect  to  such  Letter  of  Credit  Advance,  the  Loan
Documents,  the Borrower or any other Loan Party.  If and to the extent that any
Revolving  Credit  Lender  shall not have so made the  amount of such  Letter of
Credit Advance  available to the  Administrative  Agent,  such Revolving  Credit
Lender agrees 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
Issuing Bank until the date such amount is paid to the Administrative  Agent, at
the Federal  Funds Rate for its account or the account of the Issuing  Bank,  as
applicable. If such Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent such amount for
the  account of the Issuing  Bank on any  Business  Day,  such amount so paid in
respect of principal  shall  constitute a Letter of Credit  Advance made by such
Lender on such Business Day for purposes of this Agreement,  and the outstanding
principal  amount of the Letter of Credit Advance made by the Issuing Bank shall
be reduced by such amount on such Business Day.

 
                                       33






         (d)  Alternative  Currency  Letters  of  Credit.  (i) Each  Alternative
Currency  Letter of Credit may, in the sole  discretion  of the Issuing Bank, be
issued upon notice, given not later than 11:00 A.M. (Buffalo,  New York time) on
the tenth (10th) Business Day prior to the date of the proposed issuance of such
Alternative  Currency  Letter of Credit,  by the  Borrower to the Issuing  Bank,
which  shall  give  to  the  Administrative  Agent,  each  Alternative  Currency
Revolving  Credit  Lender and each other  Revolving  Credit Lender prompt notice
thereof by telex or  telecopier.  Each such notice of issuance of an Alternative
Currency Letter of Credit (an  "Alternative  Currency Notice of Issuance") shall
be by  telephone,  confirmed  immediately  in writing,  or telex or  telecopier,
specifying therein the requested (i) date of issuance (which shall be a Business
Day), (ii) Available Amount of such Alternative Currency Letter of Credit, (iii)
Applicable Currency, (iv) expiration date of such Alternative Currency Letter of
Credit,  (v) name and address of the  beneficiary of such  Alternative  Currency
Letter of Credit and (vi) form of such  Alternative  Currency  Letter of Credit,
and shall be accompanied by such  application and agreement for letter of credit
as the Issuing Bank may specify to the Borrower for use in connection  with such
requested Alternative Currency Letter of Credit (an "Alternative Currency Letter
of Credit Agreement"). If the requested form of such Alternative Currency Letter
of Credit is acceptable to the Issuing Bank, in its sole discretion, the Issuing
Bank may, in its sole discretion,  upon fulfillment of the applicable conditions
set forth in  Article  III,  make  such  Alternative  Currency  Letter of Credit
available to the Borrower as agreed between the Issuing Bank and the Borrower in
connection with such issuance,  provided, that, such Alternative Currency Letter
of  Credit  shall  in any  event be made  available  to the  Borrower  or as the
Borrower  may  direct in London or the  financial  center of the  country of the
Applicable  Currency.  In the event and to the extent that the provisions of any
such  Alternative  Currency Letter of Credit  Agreement shall conflict with this
Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall govern.

                  (ii) The Issuing Bank shall furnish (i) to the  Administrative
Agent on the  first  Business  Day of each  week a  written  report  summarizing
issuance and expiration  dates of Alternative  Currency Letters of Credit issued
during the  previous  week and drawings  during such week under all  Alternative
Currency Letters of Credit, (ii) to the Administrative Agent, the Borrower, each
Alternative  Currency  Revolving  Credit Lender and each other Revolving  Credit
Lender on the first  Business  Day of each  month a written  report  summarizing
issuance and expiration  dates of Alternative  Currency Letters of Credit issued
during the preceding  month and drawings during such month under all Alternative
Currency Letters of Credit and (iii) to the Administrative  Agent, the Borrower,
each  Alternative  Currency  Revolving  Credit  Lender and each other  Revolving
Credit  Lender  on the first  Business  Day of each  calendar  quarter a written
report  setting forth the average daily  aggregate  Available  Amount during the
preceding calendar quarter of all Alternative Currency Letters of Credit.

                  (iii) The payment by the  Issuing  Bank of a draft drawn under
any Alternative  Currency Letter of Credit shall  constitute for all purposes of
this Agreement the making by the Issuing Bank of an Alternative  Currency Letter
of Credit  Advance which shall be a Prime Rate Advance,  shall be denominated in
U.S. Dollars and shall for all purposes of this Agreement be treated the same as
a Revolving  Credit Advance made as a Prime Rate Advance,  in the amount of such
draft,  the amount of such  Alternative  Currency Letter of Credit Advance to be
determined by the  Administration  Agent based on the Dollar  Equivalent of such
draft. Each of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, each Alternative Currency
Revolving   Credit  Lender  and  each  other  Revolving   Credit  Lender  hereby
acknowledges and agrees that such Alternative Currency Letter

 
                                       34





of Credit  Advances may be made,  or deemed made, by the Issuing Bank in respect
of such  Alternative  Currency  Letters  of  Credit  and to  participate  in all
Alternative  Currency  Letter of Credit  Advances  made  hereunder  as  provided
herein.  Upon written demand by the Issuing Bank,  with a copy of such demand to
the  Administrative  Agent, each Revolving Credit Lender shall purchase from the
Issuing  Bank,  and the  Issuing  Bank shall  sell and assign to each  Revolving
Credit  Lender,  such  Lender's Pro Rata Share of each  outstanding  Alternative
Currency  Letter of Credit  Advance as of the date of such  purchase,  by making
available   (for  the  account  of  its  Applicable   Lending   Office)  to  the
Administrative  Agent (for the account of the Issuing  Bank),  by deposit to the
Administrative  Agent's Account,  in same day funds in U.S.  Dollars,  an amount
equal to the portion of the  outstanding  principal  amount of such  Alternative
Currency Letter of Credit Advance to be purchased by such Lender. Promptly after
receipt  thereof,  the  Administrative  Agent shall  transfer  such funds to the
Issuing Bank. The Borrower hereby agrees to each such sale and assignment.  Each
Revolving  Credit Lender agrees to purchase its Pro Rata Share of an outstanding
Alternative  Currency  Letter of Credit Advance on (i) the Business Day on which
demand  therefor is made by the Issuing Bank,  provided notice of such demand is
given not later than 11:00 A.M. (Buffalo, New York time) on such Business Day or
(ii) the first Business Day next succeeding such demand if notice of such demand
is given after such time.  Upon any such  assignment  by the Issuing Bank to any
Revolving Credit Lender of a portion of an Alternative Currency Letter of Credit
Advance,  the  Issuing  Bank  represents  and  warrants  to such Lender that the
Issuing Bank is the legal and  beneficial  owner of such interest being assigned
by it,  free and  clear of any  liens,  but  makes  no other  representation  or
warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to such Alternative Currency
Letter of Credit  Advance,  the Loan  Documents,  the Borrower or any other Loan
Party.  If and to the extent that any Revolving  Credit Lender shall not have so
made the amount of such Alternative  Currency Letter of Credit Advance available
to the Administrative  Agent, such Alternative  Currency Revolving Credit Lender
agrees  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
Issuing Bank until the date such amount is paid to the Administrative  Agent, at
the Federal  Funds Rate for its account or the account of the Issuing  Bank,  as
applicable. If such Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent such amount for
the  account of the Issuing  Bank on any  Business  Day,  such amount so paid in
respect of principal shall  constitute an Alternative  Currency Letter of Credit
Advance made by such Lender on such Business Day for purposes of this Agreement,
and the  outstanding  principal  amount of the  Alternative  Currency  Letter of
Credit  Advance made by the Issuing Bank shall be reduced by such amount on such
Business Day.

         (e) Failure to Make Letter of Credit  Advances or Alternative  Currency
Letter of Credit  Advances.  The  failure  of any  Lender to make any  Letter of
Credit Advance or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit Advance to be made by it
on the date  specified  in Section  2.03(c)  or (d),  as  applicable,  shall not
relieve  any other  Lender of its  obligation  hereunder  to make its  Letter of
Credit Advance or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit Advance, as the case may
be, on such date,  but no Lender  shall be  responsible  for the  failure of any
other Lender to make the Letter of Credit Advance or Alternative Currency Letter
of Credit  Advance,  as the case may be, to be made by such other Lender on such
date.


 
                                       35





         SECTION 2.04.  Repayment of Advances.

         (a)  Revolving  Credit  Advances.  The  Borrower  shall  repay  to  the
Administrative  Agent for the ratable account of the Revolving Credit Lenders on
the Revolving Credit Termination Date the aggregate outstanding principal amount
of the Revolving Credit Advances then outstanding.

         (b) Alternative Currency Revolving Credit Advances.  The Borrower shall
repay to the  Administrative  Agent for the ratable  account of the  Alternative
Currency  Revolving Credit Lenders on the Revolving Credit  Termination Date the
aggregate  outstanding  principal amount of the Alternative  Currency  Revolving
Credit Advances then outstanding.

         (c) Swing Line Advances. The Borrower shall repay to the Administrative
Agent for the  account of the Swing Line Bank and each  other  Revolving  Credit
Lender that has made a Swing Line Advance the  outstanding  principal  amount of
each Swing Line Advance made by each of them on the earlier of the maturity date
for such Swing Line Advance and the Revolving Credit Termination Date.

         (d) Letter of Credit Advances and Alternative Currency Letter of Credit
Advances.  (i) The  Borrower  shall  repay to the  Administrative  Agent for the
account of the Issuing Bank and each other Revolving Credit Lender that has made
a Letter of Credit Advance or an Alternative  Currency Letter of Credit Advance,
on the  earlier  of  demand  and  the  Revolving  Credit  Termination  Date  the
outstanding  principal  amount  of  each  Letter  of  Credit  Advance  and  each
Alternative Currency Letter of Credit Advance made by each of them.

                  (ii) The Obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement, any
Letter of Credit Agreement,  any Alternative Currency Letter of Credit Agreement
and any  other  agreement  or  instrument  relating  to any  Letter  of  Credit,
including, without limitation, any Existing Letter of Credit, or any Alternative
Currency Letter of Credit,  shall be unconditional  and irrevocable and shall be
paid strictly in  accordance  with the terms of this  Agreement,  such Letter of
Credit Agreement,  such Alternative Currency Letter of Credit Agreement and such
other  agreement  or  instrument  under all  circumstances,  including,  without
limitation, the following circumstances:

                           (A) any lack of  validity  or  enforceability  of any
         Loan Document, any Letter of Credit Agreement, any Alternative Currency
         Letter of Credit Agreement,  any Letter of Credit,  including,  without
         limitation,  any Existing Letter of Credit,  any  Alternative  Currency
         Letter of Credit or any other  agreement or instrument  relating to any
         of the foregoing (all of the foregoing  being,  collectively,  the "L/C
         Related Documents");

                           (B) any  change  in the  time,  manner  or  place  of
         payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the  Obligations  of
         the  Borrower  in  respect  of any L/C  Related  Document  or any other
         amendment or waiver of or any consent to  departure  from all or any of
         the L/C Related Documents;

                           (C) the existence of any claim,  set-off,  defense or
         other  right  that  the  Borrower  may  have at any  time  against  any
         beneficiary or any transferee of a Letter of

 
                                       36





         Credit or an Alternative  Currency Letter of Credit (or any Persons for
         whom any such  beneficiary or any such  transferee may be acting),  the
         Issuing  Bank,  or any other  Person,  whether in  connection  with the
         transactions contemplated by the L/C Related Documents or any unrelated
         transaction;

                           (D) any  statement  or any other  document  presented
         under a Letter of Credit or an  Alternative  Currency  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; or

                           (E) any exchange,  release or  non-perfection  of any
         Collateral or other  collateral,  or any release or amendment or waiver
         of or consent to departure  from any  Guaranty or any other  guarantee,
         for all or any of the Obligations of the Borrower in respect of the L/C
         Related Documents.

         SECTION 2.05.  Termination or Reduction of the Commitments.

         (a)  Optional.  The Borrower may,  upon at least three  Business  Days'
notice to the  Administrative  Agent,  terminate  in whole or reduce in part the
unused portions of the Letter of Credit Facility and the Unused Revolving Credit
Commitments;  provided,  however,  that each partial reduction of a Facility (i)
shall be in an  aggregate  amount of  $10,000,000  or an  integral  multiple  of
$5,000,000  in  excess  thereof,  and  (ii)  shall  be made  ratably  among  the
appropriate  Lenders in accordance with their  Commitments  with respect to such
Facility.

         (b) Mandatory. (i) The Revolving Credit Facility shall be automatically
and  permanently  reduced  on the third  anniversary  of the  Closing  Date,  by
$25,000,000, and on the fourth anniversary of the Closing Date, by an additional
$25,000,000,  each such reduction to be made ratably among the Revolving  Credit
Lenders in accordance with their Revolving Credit Commitments.

                  (ii) The Revolving Credit Facility shall be automatically  and
permanently  reduced on each date on which prepayment  thereof is required to be
made  pursuant  to  Section  2.06(b)(ii)  or  (iii)  in an  amount  equal to the
applicable  Reduction  Amount,  each such reduction to be made ratably among the
Revolving  Credit  Lenders  in  accordance  with  their  Commitments,  provided,
however,  that,  notwithstanding  the foregoing,  in the case of a sale,  lease,
transfer  or  other  disposition  of all  of the  capital  stock  of,  or all or
substantially  all of the assets of, Minitec and/or Mechanical  Products,  after
prepayment of the Advances in accordance with Section 2.06(b), there shall be no
permanent reduction of the Revolving Credit Facility.

                  (iii)  The  Letter  of Credit  Facility  shall be  permanently
reduced from time to time on the date of each reduction in the Revolving  Credit
Facility  by the  amount,  if any,  by which the  amount of the Letter of Credit
Facility  exceeds the  Revolving  Credit  Facility  after giving  effect to such
reduction of the Revolving Credit Facility.

                  (iv) In the  event  that  the  Closing  Date  shall  not  have
occurred by April 30, 1998, then all of the Commitments  shall be  automatically
terminated and this Agreement shall be of no further force or effect.

 
                                       37






         SECTION 2.06.  Prepayments.

         (a) Optional.  The Borrower  may, upon at least one (1) Business  Day's
notice in the case of Prime Rate Advances and three (3) Business Days' notice in
the case of Eurodollar Rate Advances,  in each case to the Administrative  Agent
stating the proposed date and aggregate principal amount of the prepayment,  and
if such notice is given the Borrower shall,  permanently  prepay the outstanding
aggregate  principal  amount  of the  Advances,  in  whole or  ratably  in part,
together with accrued  interest to the date of such  prepayment on the aggregate
principal  amount  prepaid;  provided,  however,  that  (i)  each  such  partial
prepayment  shall be in an  aggregate  principal  amount  of  $10,000,000  or an
integral multiple of $5,000,000 in excess thereof and (ii) no such prepayment of
a  Eurodollar  Rate  Advance  shall  be made  other  than on the  last day of an
Interest  Period  therefor.  Each  permanent  prepayment  made  pursuant to this
Section  2.06(a)  shall be  applied  to repay the  Facilities  in the  following
manner:  first, to prepay Letter of Credit Advances then outstanding  until such
Advances are paid in full;  second,  to prepay  Alternative  Currency  Letter of
Credit Advances then outstanding until such Advances are paid in full; third, to
prepay Swing Line  Advances  then  outstanding  until such  Advances are paid in
full;  fourth,  to prepay  Alternative  Currency  Revolving Credit Advances then
outstanding until such Alternative  Currency  Revolving Credit Advances are paid
in full;  fifth, to prepay Revolving Credit Advances then outstanding until such
Revolving Credit Advances are paid in full; and sixth, deposited in the L/C Cash
Collateral  Account to cash  collateralize  100% of the Available  Amount of the
Letters of Credit and Alternative  Currency Letters of Credit then  outstanding.
Upon the  drawing  of any  Letter of Credit or  Alternative  Currency  Letter of
Credit for which funds are on deposit in the L/C Cash Collateral  Account,  such
funds shall be applied to  reimburse  the Issuing Bank or the  Revolving  Credit
Lenders, as applicable.

         (b) Mandatory. (i) On the third anniversary of the Closing Date and the
fourth anniversary of the Closing Date, respectively,  the Borrower shall prepay
the amount, if any, equal to the excess of (A) the aggregate principal amount of
the  Revolving  Credit  Advances  plus  the  aggregate   Dollar   Equivalent  of
Alternative  Currency  Revolving  Credit  Advances plus the aggregate  principal
amount of Swing Line Advances plus the aggregate  principal  amount of Letter of
Credit  Advances plus the aggregate  principal  amount of  Alternative  Currency
Letter of Credit Advances plus the aggregate  Available Amount of all Letters of
Credit, including,  without limitation, all Existing Letters of Credit, plus the
aggregate  Available Amount of all Alternative  Currency  Letters of Credit,  in
each  instance,  as then  outstanding,  after  giving  effect to any Advances or
renewals on such date,  over (B) the  Revolving  Credit  Facility  after  giving
effect to the permanent  reduction  thereof on such  anniversary  of the Closing
Date in accordance with this Section 2.05(b)(i).

                  (ii) Within  fifteen (15) days after receipt by any Loan Party
or any of its Subsidiaries of Net Cash Proceeds from the sale,  lease,  transfer
or other  disposition  of any property or assets of any Loan Party or any of its
Subsidiaries  (other  than any sale,  lease,  transfer or other  disposition  of
inventory in the ordinary  course of  business),  the Borrower  shall prepay the
then  outstanding  Advances in an amount equal to one-hundred  percent (100%) of
such Net Cash Proceeds; provided, however, that, in the case of the sale, lease,
transfer  or  other  disposition  of all  of the  capital  stock  of,  or all or
substantially  all of the assets of, Minitec and/or  Mechanical  Products,  such
prepayment of then outstanding Advances in an amount equal to one-hundred

 
                                       38





percent  (100%)  of such Net Cash  Proceeds  shall be  applied  to  reduce  then
outstanding Advances without any corresponding permanent reduction in the amount
of the Revolving Credit Facility.

                  (iii) Within  fifteen (15) days  following  the receipt of Net
Cash  Proceeds  by  any  Loan  Party  or  any  of  its  Subsidiaries   from  any
Extraordinary  Receipt  received  by or paid to or for the  account  of any Loan
Party or any of its  Subsidiaries  and not  otherwise  included  in clause  (ii)
above,  the  Borrower  shall prepay the then  outstanding  Advances in an amount
equal to one hundred percent (100%) of such Net Cash Proceeds.

                  (iv) Each  prepayment  made  pursuant to clause  (i),  (ii) or
(iii) shall be applied to prepay the Facilities in the following manner:  first,
to prepay Letter of Credit Advances then outstanding until such Letter of Credit
Advances are paid in full;  second,  to prepay  Alternative  Currency  Letter of
Credit  Advances then  outstanding  until such  Alternative  Currency  Letter of
Credit  Advances are paid in full;  third,  to prepay Swing Line  Advances  then
outstanding  until such Swing Line Advances are paid in full;  fourth, to prepay
Alternative  Currency  Revolving  Credit  Advances then  outstanding  until such
Alternative  Currency  Revolving  Credit  Advances are paid in full;  fifth,  to
prepay Revolving  Credit Advances then  outstanding  until such Revolving Credit
Advances  are paid in full;  and  sixth,  deposited  in the L/C Cash  Collateral
Account to cash  collateralize  100% of the  Available  Amount of the Letters of
Credit and Alternative  Currency Letters of Credit then outstanding.  The amount
remaining  (if  any)  after  the  required   prepayment  of  the  Advances  then
outstanding  and the 100%  cash  collateralization  of the  aggregate  Available
Amount of Letters of Credit, including, without limitation,  Existing Letters of
Credit, and Alternative  Currency Letters of Credit then outstanding (the sum of
such prepayment  amounts,  cash  collateralization  amounts and remaining amount
being  referred  to herein as the  "Reduction  Amount")  may be  retained by the
Borrower.  Upon  the  drawing  of  any  Letter  of  Credit,  including,  without
limitation, any Existing Letter of Credit, or any Alternative Currency Letter of
Credit for which funds are on deposit in the L/C Cash Collateral  Account,  such
funds shall be applied to  reimburse  the Issuing Bank or the  Revolving  Credit
Lenders,  as applicable.  Upon the termination of all of the Commitments and the
indefeasible payment in full of all Obligations,  including, without limitation,
termination  or  expiration  of  all  Letters  of  Credit,  including,   without
limitation, all Existing Letters of Credit, and all Alternative Currency Letters
of Credit and the indefeasible  payment in full of all Obligations in respect of
all Letters of Credit,  including,  without limitation,  all Existing Letters of
Credit,  and all  Alternative  Currency  Letters of Credit  funds,  if any, then
remaining on deposit in the L/C Cash Collateral Account shall be returned to the
Borrower.

                  (v) The Borrower shall, within fifteen (15) days following the
end of each  month in each  Fiscal  Year,  pay to the  Administrative  Agent for
deposit in the L/C Cash  Collateral  Account an amount  sufficient  to cause the
aggregate amount on deposit in such Account to equal (i) the amount by which the
aggregate Available Amount of all Letters of Credit then outstanding exceeds the
Letter of Credit  Facility on such Business Day plus (ii) the Dollar  Equivalent
amount by which the  aggregate  Available  Amount  of all  Alternative  Currency
Letters of Credit then  outstanding  exceeds the Alternative  Currency Letter of
Credit Facility on such Business Day.


 
                                       39





         SECTION 2.07. Interest.

         (a) Scheduled  Interest.  The Borrower shall pay to the  Administrative
Agent, for the benefit of the Revolving  Credit Lenders or Alternative  Currency
Revolving  Credit  Lenders,  as  appropriate,  interest on the unpaid  principal
amount of each Advance owing to each Lender which has made such Advance from the
date of such Advance until such  principal  amount shall be paid in full, at the
following rates per annum:

                  (i) Prime Rate  Advances.  During such periods as such Advance
is a Prime Rate  Advance,  a rate per annum equal at all times to the sum of (x)
the Prime Rate in effect  from time to time plus (y) the  Applicable  Margin for
such Advance in effect from time to time, payable in arrears monthly on the last
day of each month  during such  periods and on the date such Prime Rate  Advance
shall be Converted or paid in full.

                  (ii)  Eurodollar  Rate  Advances.  During such periods as such
Advance is a Eurodollar Rate Advance, a rate per annum equal at all times during
each Interest  Period for such Advance to the sum of (x) the Eurodollar Rate for
such Interest  Period for such Advance plus (y) the  Applicable  Margin for such
Advance  in effect on the first  day of such  Interest  Period  plus (z) if such
Advance is denominated in Pounds Sterling,  the Additional Cost relating to such
Advance  for such  Interest  Period,  payable in arrears on the last day of such
Interest  Period and, if such Interest  Period has a duration of more than three
months,  on each day that occurs during such Interest  Period every three months
from the first day of such Interest  Period and on the date such Eurodollar Rate
Advance shall be Converted or paid in full.

         (b) Default Interest. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of
a Default, the Borrower shall pay interest on (i) the unpaid principal amount of
each Advance owing to each Lender,  payable in arrears on the dates  referred to
in clause  (a)(i) or (a)(ii)  above and on demand,  at a rate per annum equal at
all times to 2% per annum  above the rate per annum  required to be paid on such
Advance  pursuant  to clause  (a)(i) or  (a)(ii)  above and (ii) to the  fullest
extent permitted by law, the amount of any interest, fee or other amount payable
hereunder  that is not paid when due,  from the date  such  amount  shall be due
until  such  amount  shall be paid in full,  payable in arrears on the date such
amount  shall be paid in full and on  demand,  at a rate per annum  equal at all
times to 2% per annum above the rate per annum  required to be paid, in the case
of interest,  on the type of Advance on which such interest has accrued pursuant
to clause  (a)(i) or  (a)(ii)  above,  and,  in all other  cases,  on Prime Rate
Advances pursuant to clause (a)(i) above.

         (c) Notice of  Interest  Rate.  Promptly  after  receipt of a Notice of
Borrowing  pursuant  to  Section  2.02(a)  or a Notice of  Alternative  Currency
Borrowing  pursuant  to Section  2.02(b),  the  Administrative  Agent shall give
notice to the Borrower and each  appropriate  Lender of the applicable  interest
rate  determined  by the  Administrative  Agent for purposes of clause (a)(i) or
(ii).

         SECTION 2.08. Fees.

         (a)  Revolving  Credit  Commitment  Fee. The Borrower  shall pay to the
Administrative Agent, for the account of the Lenders, a commitment fee, from the
Closing Date in the case of

 
                                       40





each Initial  Lender and from the effective date specified in the Assignment and
Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender in the case of each other Lender
until the  Revolving  Credit  Termination  Date,  payable in arrears on the last
Business Day of each March, June, September,  and December,  commencing June 30,
1998, and on the Revolving Credit Termination Date, at a rate per annum equal to
the Applicable Margin then in effect for the Commitment Fee on the average daily
Unused  Revolving  Credit  Commitment  of such Lender.  For the purposes of this
clause (a), (i) Swing Line  Advances  shall not  constitute  utilization  of the
Revolving   Credit   Commitments  of  the  Revolving  Credit  Lenders  and  (ii)
Alternative Currency Revolving Credit Advances shall not constitute  utilization
of the Revolving  Credit  Commitments of Revolving  Credit Lenders which are not
also Alternative Currency Revolving Credit Lenders.

         (b) Letter of Credit and  Alternative  Currency  Letter of Credit Fees.
(i) The Borrower shall pay to the  Administrative  Agent for the account of each
Revolving Credit Lender a commission,  payable in arrears  quarterly on the last
Business Day of each March,  June,  September and December,  commencing June 30,
1998, and on the earliest to occur of the full drawing, expiration,  termination
or  cancellation  of any  Letter  of Credit or  Alternative  Currency  Letter of
Credit,  other  than a Trade  Letter  of  Credit,  and on the  Revolving  Credit
Termination Date, on such Lender's Pro Rata Share of the average daily aggregate
Available  Amount  during  such  quarter of all  Letters  of Credit,  including,
without  limitation,  all  Existing  Letters of Credit,  and the  average  daily
aggregate  Available  Amount  during such  quarter of all  Alternative  Currency
Letters of Credit,  in each instance,  excluding all Trade Letters of Credit and
outstanding  from  time to time at the rate per  annum  equal to the  Applicable
Margin  then in  effect  for  Eurodollar  Advances  under the  Revolving  Credit
Facility. All fees payable under Section 2.08(b)(i), (ii) or (iii) in connection
with any  Letter of Credit or  Alternative  Currency  Letter of Credit  shall be
payable in U.S. Dollars.

                  (ii) The Borrower  shall pay to the  Administrative  Agent for
the account of each  Revolving  Credit Lender a  commission,  payable in arrears
quarterly on the last Business Day of each March, June,  September and December,
commencing  June 30,  1998,  and on the  earliest to occur of the full  drawing,
expiration,   termination  or   cancellation  of  any  Trade  Letter  of  Credit
(regardless  of  whether  it is a Letter of Credit  or an  Alternative  Currency
Letter of Credit) and on the Revolving Credit Termination Date, on such Lender's
Pro Rata Share of the  average  daily  aggregate  Available  Amount  during such
quarter of all Trade Letters of Credit  (regardless of whether Letters of Credit
or Alternative  Currency Letters of Credit)  outstanding from time to time, at a
rate per annum equal to 0.25%.

                  (iii) The Borrower  shall pay to the Issuing Bank, for its own
account, such commissions, issuance fees, fronting fees, transfer fees and other
fees and  charges in  connection  with the  issuance or  administration  of each
Letter of Credit and each Alternative  Currency Letter of Credit as the Borrower
and the Issuing Bank shall agree.

         (c)  Administrative  Agent's  Fees.  The  Borrower  shall  pay  to  the
Administrative  Agent for its own account  such fees as may from time to time be
agreed between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.




 
                                       41





         SECTION 2.09.  Conversion of Advances.

         (a)  Optional.  The Borrower may on any Business Day, upon notice given
to the Administrative  Agent not later than 11:00 A.M. (Buffalo,  New York time)
on the third (3rd) Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Conversion and
subject to the provisions of Sections 2.07 and 2.10,  Convert all or any portion
of the Advances of one Type  comprising  the same Borrowing into Advances of the
other Type; provided,  however,  that any Conversion of Eurodollar Rate Advances
into  Prime  Rate  Advances  shall be made  only on the last day of an  Interest
Period for such Eurodollar Rate Advances,  any Conversion of Prime Rate Advances
into  Eurodollar  Rate Advances  shall be in an amount not less than the minimum
amount specified in Section 2.01(a),  no Conversion of any Advances shall result
in more  separate  Borrowings  than  permitted  under  Section  2.02(d) and each
Conversion of Advances  comprising part of the same Borrowing under any Facility
shall be made ratably among the  appropriate  Lenders in  accordance  with their
Commitments under such Facility.  Each such notice of Conversion  shall,  within
the restrictions specified above, specify (i) the date of such Conversion,  (ii)
the Advances to be Converted  and (iii) if such  Conversion  is into  Eurodollar
Rate Advances,  the duration of the initial  Interest  Period for such Advances.
Each notice of Conversion shall be irrevocable and binding on the Borrower.

         (b) Mandatory.  (i) On the date on which the aggregate unpaid principal
amount of Eurodollar Rate Advances comprising any Borrowing shall be reduced, by
payment or prepayment or otherwise, to less than $1,000,000, such Advances shall
automatically Convert into Prime Rate Advances.

                  (ii) If the Borrower  shall fail to select the duration of any
Interest  Period  for any  Eurodollar  Rate  Advances  in  accordance  with  the
provisions contained in the definition of "Interest Period" in Section 1.01, the
Administrative  Agent will forthwith so notify the Borrower and the  appropriate
Lenders, whereupon each such Eurodollar Rate Advance will automatically,  on the
last day of the then existing  Interest  Period  therefor,  Convert into a Prime
Rate Advance.

                  (iii) Upon the  occurrence  and during the  continuance of any
Default, (x) each Eurodollar Rate Advance will automatically, on the last day of
the then existing  Interest Period  therefor,  Convert into a Prime Rate Advance
and (y) the  obligation  of the Lenders to make,  or to Convert  Advances  into,
Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be suspended.

         (c) Alternative Currency Revolving Credit Advances. Notwithstanding the
foregoing,  Alternative Currency Revolving Credit Advances shall at all times be
Eurodollar  Rate  Advances,  must comply with all  provisions of this  Agreement
applicable to Eurodollar  Rate Advances and may not be converted by the Borrower
into Prime Rate Advances.

         SECTION 2.10. Increased Costs, Etc.

         (a) If, due to either (i) the  introduction of or any change in reserve
requirements  included in the  Eurodollar  Rate  Reserve  Percentage,  or in the
interpretation  of any  law or  regulation,  or (ii)  the  compliance  with  any
guideline  or request  from any  central  bank or other  governmental  authority
(whether  or not having the force of law),  there  shall be any  increase in the
cost  to any  Lender  Party  of  agreeing  to  make  or of  making,  funding  or
maintaining

 
                                       42





Eurodollar  Rate or Prime Rate Advances or of agreeing to issue or of issuing or
maintaining  Letters of Credit or Alternative  Currency  Letters of Credit or of
agreeing  to make or of making or  maintaining  Letter  of  Credit  Advances  or
Alternative  Currency Letter of Credit Advances  (excluding for purposes of this
Section 2.10 any such  increased  costs  resulting from (x) Taxes or Other Taxes
(as to which Section 2.12 shall govern) and (y) changes in the basis of taxation
of overall  net income or overall  gross  income by the United  States or by the
foreign  jurisdiction  or state  under the laws of which  such  Lender  Party is
organized or has its  Applicable  Lending  Office or any  political  subdivision
thereof),  then the Borrower shall from time to time, upon demand by such Lender
Party  (with a copy of such  demand  to the  Administrative  Agent),  pay to the
Administrative  Agent for the account of such Lender  Party  additional  amounts
sufficient to compensate  such Lender Party for such increased  cost;  provided,
however,  that a Lender Party  claiming  additional  amounts  under this Section
2.10(a) agrees to use reasonable  efforts  (consistent  with its internal policy
and legal and  regulatory  restrictions)  to  designate a  different  Applicable
Lending Office if the making of such a designation  would avoid the need for, or
reduce the amount of, such increased  cost that may thereafter  accrue and would
not,  in  the   reasonable   judgment  of  such  Lender   Party,   be  otherwise
disadvantageous  to such Lender Party.  A  certificate  as to the amount of such
increased  cost,  submitted  to the  Borrower  by such  Lender  Party,  shall be
conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

         (b) If,  due to either (i) the  introduction  of or any change in or in
the  interpretation  of any law or  regulation or (ii) the  compliance  with any
guideline  or request  from any  central  bank or other  governmental  authority
(whether  or not having the force of law),  there  shall be any  increase in the
amount of capital required or reasonably expected to be maintained by any Lender
Party or any corporation  controlling  such Lender Party as a result of or based
upon the existence of such Lender Party's commitment to lend or to issue Letters
of  Credit  or  Alternative  Currency  Letters  of  Credit  hereunder  and other
commitments of such type or the issuance or maintenance of the Letters of Credit
or Alternative  Currency Letters of Credit (or similar contingent  obligations),
then,  upon  demand  by such  Lender  Party  (with a copy of such  demand to the
Administrative  Agent), the Borrower shall pay to the  Administrative  Agent for
the account of such Lender Party,  from time to time as specified by such Lender
Party,  additional  amounts  sufficient to  compensate  such Lender Party in the
light of such  circumstances,  to the extent that such Lender  Party  reasonably
determines  such  increase in capital to be allocable  to the  existence of such
Lender  Party's  commitment to lend or to issue Letters of Credit or Alternative
Currency  Letters of Credit  hereunder or to the issuance or  maintenance of any
Letters of Credit or Alternative Currency Letters of Credit. A certificate as to
such amounts  submitted to the Borrower by such Lender Party shall be conclusive
and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

         (c)  If,  with  respect  to any  Eurodollar  Rate  Advances  under  any
Facility,  Lenders owed at least 66-2/3 % of the then aggregate unpaid principal
amount thereof notify the Administrative  Agent that the Eurodollar Rate for any
Interest  Period for such Advances will not adequately  reflect the cost to such
Lenders of making,  funding or maintaining  their  Eurodollar  Rate Advances for
such Interest  Period,  the  Administrative  Agent shall forthwith so notify the
Borrower and the  appropriate  Lenders,  whereupon (i) each such Eurodollar Rate
Advance  under  any  Facility  will  automatically,  on the last day of the then
existing  Interest Period  therefor,  Convert into a Prime Rate Advance and (ii)
the obligation of the appropriate  Lenders to make, or to Convert Advances into,
Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be suspended until the

 
                                       43





Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower that such Lenders have determined
that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist.

         (d)  Notwithstanding  any other  provision  of this  Agreement,  if the
introduction  of or  any  change  in or in  the  interpretation  of  any  law or
regulation  shall make it unlawful,  or any central  bank or other  governmental
authority  shall  assert that it is unlawful,  for any Lender or its  Eurodollar
Lending  Office to perform its  obligations  hereunder to make  Eurodollar  Rate
Advances or to continue to fund or maintain  Eurodollar Rate Advances hereunder,
then,  on notice  thereof and demand  therefor  by such  Lender to the  Borrower
through the  Administrative  Agent,  (i) each Eurodollar Rate Advance under each
Facility under which such Lender has a Commit-

ment will automatically, upon such demand, Convert into a Prime Rate Advance and
(ii) the obligation of the appropriate  Lenders to make, or to Convert  Advances
into, Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent
shall notify the Borrower that such Lender has determined that the circumstances
causing such suspension no longer exist; provided,  however, that, before making
any such demand,  such Lender agrees to use reasonable efforts  (consistent with
its  internal  policy and legal and  regulatory  restrictions)  to  designate  a
different  Eurodollar  Lending Office if the making of such a designation  would
allow such Lender or its  Eurodollar  Lending  Office to continue to perform its
obligations to make  Eurodollar Rate Advances or to continue to find or maintain
Eurodollar  Rate  Advances  and would not, in the  judgment of such  Lender,  be
otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender.

         SECTION 2.11. Payments and Computations.

         (a) Except as otherwise  specifically  provided in this Agreement,  the
Borrower shall make each payment hereunder and under the Notes,  irrespective of
any right of counterclaim  or set-off  (except as otherwise  provided in Section
2.15), not later than 11:00 A.M. (Buffalo, New York time) on the day when due in
U.S. Dollars to the Administrative  Agent at the Administrative  Agent's Account
in same day funds. The Administrative  Agent will promptly thereafter cause like
funds to be  distributed  (i) if such  payment by the  Borrower is in respect of
principal,  interest,  commitment  fees or any  other  Obligation  then  payable
hereunder  and under the Notes to more than one  Lender  Party,  to such  Lender
Parties for the account of their respective  Applicable  Lending Offices ratably
in accordance  with the amounts of such respective  Obligations  then payable to
such Lender  Parties and (ii) if such  payment by the  Borrower is in respect of
any Obligation then payable  hereunder to one Lender Party, to such Lender Party
for the account of its Applicable  Lending Office, in each case to be applied in
accordance  with  the  terms  of  this  Agreement.  Upon  its  acceptance  of an
Assignment and Acceptance and recording of the information  contained therein in
the Register  pursuant to Section 8.07(d),  from and after the effective date of
such Assignment and Acceptance, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments
hereunder and under the Notes in respect of the interest assigned thereby to the
Lender  Party  assignee  thereunder,  and the  parties  to such  Assignment  and
Acceptance  shall make all appropriate  adjustments in such payments for periods
prior to such effective date directly between themselves.

         (b) If the  Administrative  Agent receives funds for application to the
Obligations  under the Loan  Documents  under  circumstances  for which the Loan
Documents do not specify the Advances or the Facility to which, or the manner in
which, such funds are to be applied, the Administrative Agent may, but shall not
be obligated to, elect to distribute such funds to each

 
                                       44





Lender Party ratably in accordance with such Lender Party's  proportionate share
of the principal amount of all outstanding  Advances and the Available Amount of
all Letters of Credit  then  outstanding,  including,  without  limitation,  all
Existing  Letters of Credit then  outstanding,  and the Available  Amount of all
Alternative  Currency  Letters of Credit,  in repayment or prepayment of such of
the outstanding Advances or other Obligations owed to such Lender Party, and for
application to such principal  installments,  as the Administrative  Agent shall
direct.

         (c) The Borrower  hereby  authorizes  each Lender Party,  if and to the
extent  payment owed to such Lender Party is not made when due  hereunder or, in
the case of a Lender,  under a Note held by such Lender,  to charge from time to
time against any or all of the  Borrower's  accounts  with such Lender Party any
amount so due.

         (d) All computations of interest, fees and Letter of Credit commissions
shall be made by the Administrative Agent on the basis of a year of 360 days, in
each case for the actual number of days  (including  the first day but excluding
the  last  day)  occurring  in the  period  for  which  such  interest,  fees or
commissions are payable.  Each determination by the  Administrative  Agent of an
interest rate, fee or commission  hereunder  shall be conclusive and binding for
all purposes, absent manifest error.

         (e) Whenever  any payment  hereunder or under the Notes shall be stated
to be due on a day other than a Business  Day, such payment shall be made on the
next  succeeding  Business Day, and such extension of time shall in such case be
included in the  computation  of payment of interest or  commitment  fee, as the
case may be; provided,  however,  that, if such extension would cause payment of
interest on or  principal  of  Eurodollar  Rate  Advances to be made in the next
following  calendar  month,  such  payment  shall be made on the next  preceding
Business Day.

         (f) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the
Borrower  prior to the date on which  any  payment  is due to any  Lender  Party
hereunder   that  the  Borrower  will  not  make  such  payment  in  full,   the
Administrative  Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment in full
to the Administrative  Agent on such date and the  Administrative  Agent may, in
reliance upon such assumption, cause to be distributed to each such Lender Party
on such due date an amount  equal to the amount then due such Lender  Party.  If
and to the extent the  Borrower  shall not have so made such  payment in full to
the   Administrative   Agent,   each  such  Lender  Party  shall  repay  to  the
Administrative  Agent forthwith on demand such amount distributed to such Lender
Party together with interest thereon,  for each day from the date such amount is
distributed  to such Lender  Party until the date such Lender  Party repays such
amount to the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate or, in the case of
Alternative  Currency  Revolving  Credit  Advances  only, at the  Administrative
Agent's applicable cost as determined by the  Administrative  Agent and notified
by it to such Lender Party.

         SECTION 2.12. Taxes.

         (a) Any and all payments by the  Borrower  hereunder or under the Notes
shall be made,  in accordance  with Section 2.11,  free and clear of and without
deduction for any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts,  deductions,
charges or withholdings, and all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding, in
the case of each Lender  Party and the  Administrative  Agent,  net income taxes
that are imposed by the United States and net income taxes (or franchise taxes

 
                                       45





imposed  in  lieu  thereof)  that  are  imposed  on  such  Lender  Party  or the
Administrative  Agent by the  state or  foreign  jurisdiction  under the laws of
which  such  Lender  Party or the  Administrative  Agent (as the case may be) is
organized or any political  subdivision  thereof and, in the case of each Lender
Party,  net income taxes (or  franchise  taxes imposed in lieu thereof) that are
imposed on such Lender Party by the state or foreign jurisdiction of such Lender
Party's Applicable Lending Office or any political subdivision thereof (all such
non-excluded  taxes,  levies,  imposts,  deductions,  charges,  withholdings and
liabilities  in  respect  of  payments   hereunder  or  under  the  Notes  being
hereinafter referred to as "Taxes"). If the Borrower shall be required by law to
deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum  payable  hereunder  or under any
Note to any Lender Party or the Administrative  Agent, (i) the sum payable shall
be increased  as may be  necessary so that after making all required  deductions
(including  deductions  applicable to additional sums payable under this Section
2.12)  such  Lender  Party  or the  Administrative  Agent  (as the  case may be)
receives  an  amount  equal  to the  sum it  would  have  received  had no  such
deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) the
Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant  taxation  authority
or other authority in accordance with applicable law.

         (b) In addition,  the Borrower  shall pay any present or future  stamp,
documentary,  excise,  property or similar  taxes,  charges or levies that arise
from any  payment  made  hereunder  or under  the  Notes or from the  execution,
delivery or  registration  of,  performing  under, or otherwise with respect to,
this Agreement or the Notes (hereinafter referred to as "Other Taxes").

         (c)  The   Borrower   shall   indemnify   each  Lender  Party  and  the
Administrative  Agent for the full amount of Taxes and Other Taxes,  and for the
full amount of taxes imposed by any  jurisdiction  on amounts payable under this
Section  2.12,  imposed on or paid by such  Lender  Party or the  Administrative
Agent, as the case may be, and any liability (including penalties,  additions to
tax, interest and expenses)  arising  therefrom or with respect thereto,  except
with respect to any Lender Party or the  Administrative  Agent,  as the case may
be, for such a liability arising from such Lender Party's or the  Administrative
Agent's,  as the case may be,  willful  misconduct  or  gross  negligence.  This
indemnification  shall be made  within  thirty  (30) days from the date on which
such Lender Party or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, makes written
demand specifying in reasonable detail the basis therefor.

         (d) Within thirty (30) days after the date of any payment of Taxes, the
Borrower shall furnish to the  Administrative  Agent, at its address referred to
in Section 8.02, the original  receipt of payment thereof or a certified copy of
such receipt.  In the case of any payment  hereunder or under the Notes by or on
behalf of the Borrower through an account or branch outside the United States or
by or on behalf of the Borrower by a payor that is not a United  States  person,
if the Borrower  determines  that no Taxes are payable in respect  thereof,  the
Borrower  shall  furnish,   or  shall  cause  such  payor  to  furnish,  to  the
Administrative  Agent, at such address,  an opinion of counsel acceptable to the
Administrative  Agent  stating  that such  payment  is exempt  from  Taxes.  For
purposes of this  subsection (d) and subsection  (e), the terms "United  States"
and "United States person" shall have the meanings  specified in Section 7701 of
the Internal Revenue Code.

         (e) Each  Lender  Party  organized  under  the  laws of a  jurisdiction
outside the United  States  shall,  on or prior to the date of its execution and
delivery of this Agreement in the case of each Initial Lender or Initial Issuing
Bank, as the case may be, and on the date of the

 
                                       46





Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender Party in the case
of each other Lender  Party,  and from time to time  thereafter  as requested in
writing by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent (but only so long thereafter
as such  Lender  Party  remains  lawfully  able to do so),  provide  each of the
Administrative Agent and the Borrower with two original Internal Revenue Service
forms 1001 or 4224, as appropriate, or any successor or other form prescribed by
the  Internal  Revenue  Service,  certifying  that such Lender is exempt from or
entitled to a reduced rate of United States withholding tax on payments pursuant
to this  Agreement or the Notes.  If the forms provided by a Lender Party at the
time such  Lender  Party  first  becomes a party to this  Agreement  indicates a
United States interest  withholding tax rate in excess of zero,  withholding tax
at such rate  shall be  considered  excluded  from  Taxes  unless and until such
Lender  Party  provides  the  appropriate  form  certifying  that a lesser  rate
applies,  whereupon withholding tax at such lesser rate only shall be considered
excluded from Taxes for periods governed by such form; provided,  however, that,
if at the date of the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which a Lender Party
becomes a party to this  Agreement,  the Lender  Party  assignor was entitled to
payments under  subsection (a) in respect of United States  withholding tax with
respect to interest  paid at such date,  then,  to such  extent,  the term Taxes
shall  include  (in  addition  to  withholding  taxes that may be imposed in the
future or other amounts otherwise includable in Taxes) United States withholding
tax, if any,  applicable with respect to the Lender Party assignee on such date.
If any  form  or  document  referred  to in this  subsection  (e)  requires  the
disclosure of information,  other than information  necessary to compute the tax
payable and information  required on the date hereof by Internal Revenue Service
form  1001  or  4224,  that  the  Lender  Party   reasonably   considers  to  be
confidential,  the Lender  Party shall give notice  thereof to the  Borrower and
shall not be  obligated  to include in such form or document  such  confidential
information.

         (f) For any period with  respect to which a Lender  Party has failed to
provide the Borrower  with the  appropriate  form  described in  subsection  (e)
(other than if such failure is due to a change in law  occurring  after the date
on which a form originally was required to be provided or if such form otherwise
is not required under  subsection  (e)), such Lender Party shall not be entitled
to indemnification  under subsection (a) or (c) with respect to Taxes imposed by
the United States by reason of such failure;  provided,  however,  that should a
Lender  Party become  subject to Taxes  because of its failure to deliver a form
required  hereunder,  the  Borrower  shall take such steps as such Lender  Party
shall reasonably request to assist such Lender Party to recover such Taxes.

         (g) Any Lender Party claiming any additional  amounts payable  pursuant
to this  Section  2.12 agrees to use  reasonable  efforts  (consistent  with its
internal   policy  and  legal  and  regulatory   restrictions)   to  change  the
jurisdiction  of its  Eurodollar  Lending  Office if the making of such a change
would avoid the need for, or reduce the amount of, any such  additional  amounts
that may  thereafter  accrue and would not, in the  reasonable  judgment of such
Lender Party, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender Party.

         SECTION  2.13.  Sharing of  Payments,  Etc.  If any Lender  Party shall
obtain at any time any  payment  (whether  voluntary,  involuntary,  through the
exercise of any right of set-off,  or otherwise)  (i) on account of  Obligations
due and payable to such Lender  Party  hereunder or under the Notes at such time
in excess of its ratable share (according to the proportion of (x) the amount of
such  Obligations  due and payable to such Lender  Party at such time to (y) the
aggregate  amount of the  Obligations  due and  payable  to all  Lender  Parties
hereunder and under

 
                                       47





the Notes at such  time) of  payments  on  account  of the  Obligations  due and
payable to all Lender Parties hereunder or under the Notes at such time obtained
by all the Lender Parties at such time or (ii) on account of  Obligations  owing
(but not due and payable) to such Lender Party  hereunder and under the Notes at
such time in excess of its ratable share (according to the proportion of (x) the
amount of such  Obligations  owing to such Lender  Party at such time to (y) the
aggregate  amount of the  Obligations  owing  (but not due and  payable)  to all
Lender  Parties  hereunder  and  under the Notes at such  time) of  payments  on
account of the Obligations owing (but not due and payable) to all Lender Parties
hereunder and under the Notes at such time obtained by all of the Lender Parties
at such time, such Lender Party shall forthwith notify the Administrative  Agent
thereof and purchase from the other Lender  Parties such  participations  in the
Obligations  due and  payable or owing to them,  as the case may be, as shall be
necessary  to cause such  purchasing  Lender  Party to share the excess  payment
ratably with each of them; provided, however, that if all or any portion of such
excess payment is thereafter  recovered from such purchasing  Lender Party, such
purchase  from each other Lender  Party shall be  rescinded  and each such other
Lender Party shall repay to the  purchasing  Lender Party the purchase  price to
the extent of such Lender Party's ratable share  (according to the proportion of
(x) the purchase  price paid to such Lender Party to (y) the aggregate  purchase
price paid to all Lender Parties) of such recovery together with an amount equal
to such Lender  Party's  ratable share  (according to the  proportion of (x) the
amount of such other Lender Party's  required  repayment to (y) the total amount
of such required  repayments to the purchasing  Lender Party) of any interest or
other  amount paid or payable by the  purchasing  Lender Party in respect of the
total amount so recovered.

The Borrower  agrees that any Lender Party so  purchasing a  participation  from
another  Lender Party  pursuant to this Section 2.13 may, to the fullest  extent
permitted  by law,  exercise all its rights of payment  (including  the right of
set-off)  with  respect to such  participation  as fully as if such Lender Party
were the direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

         SECTION  2.14.  Use of  Proceeds.  The  proceeds  of the  Advances  and
issuances of Letters of Credit and Alternative  Currency Letters of Credit shall
be available, and the Borrower shall use such proceeds and Letters of Credit and
Alternative  Currency  Letters of Credit solely (i) to finance the  Acquisition,
(ii) to pay fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Acquisition, (iii)
to  refinance  certain  Existing  Debt of the  Borrower  and LICO,  and (iv) for
general corporate purposes,  including to finance  acquisitions  permitted under
clause (B) of Section  5.02(d)(iii).  Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other
provision  of this  Agreement or any other Loan  Document,  Letters of Credit in
face  amounts not to exceed  $5,000,000  in the  aggregate  may be issued by the
Issuing  Bank  hereunder in support of the Existing  Marine  Midland  Letters of
Credit or otherwise for the benefit of Marine Midland in respect of the Existing
Marine Midland Letters of Credit.

         SECTION  2.15.  Defaulting  Lenders.  (a) In the event that, at any one
time, (i) any Lender Party shall be a Defaulting  Lender,  (ii) such  Defaulting
Lender  shall owe a Defaulted  Advance to the  Borrower  and (iii) the  Borrower
shall be required to make any payment hereunder or under any other Loan Document
to or for the account of such Defaulting Lender,  then the Borrower may, so long
as no  Default  shall  occur or be  continuing  at such time and to the  fullest
extent  permitted by applicable  law, set off and otherwise apply the obligation
of the  Borrower to make such  payment to or for the account of such  Defaulting
Lender against the obligation of such  Defaulting  Lender to make such Defaulted
Advance. In the event that, on any date, the

 
                                       48





Borrower  shall so set off and otherwise  apply its  obligation to make any such
payment  against  the  obligation  of such  Defaulting  Lender  to make any such
Defaulted  Advance on or prior to such date, the amount so set off and otherwise
applied by the Borrower shall  constitute for all purposes of this Agreement and
the other Loan Documents an Advance by such  Defaulting  Lender made on the date
under the  Facility  pursuant to which such  Defaulted  Advance  was  originally
required to have been made  pursuant to Section  2.01.  Such Advance  shall be a
Prime Rate Advance and shall be considered,  for all purposes of this Agreement,
to  comprise  part of the  Borrowing  in  connection  with which such  Defaulted
Advance was originally required to have been made pursuant to Section 2.01, even
if the  other  Advances  comprising  such  Borrowing  shall be  Eurodollar  Rate
Advances  on the  date  such  Advance  is  deemed  to be made  pursuant  to this
subsection (a). The Borrower shall notify the  Administrative  Agent at any time
the Borrower  exercises its right of set-off pursuant to this subsection (a) and
shall set forth in such  notice  (i) the name of the  Defaulting  Lender and the
Defaulted  Advance  required to be made by such  Defaulting  Lender and (ii) the
amount  set off and  otherwise  applied in  respect  of such  Defaulted  Advance
pursuant to this subsection (a). Any portion of such payment otherwise  required
to be made by the Borrower to or for the account of such Defaulting Lender which
is paid by the Borrower, after giving effect to the amount set off and otherwise
applied by the Borrower pursuant to this subsection (a), shall be applied by the
Administrative Agent as specified in subsection (b) or (c) of this Section 2.15.

         (b) In the event that, at any one time, (i) any Lender Party shall be a
Defaulting  Lender,  (ii) such Defaulting Lender shall owe a Defaulted Amount to
the  Administrative  Agent or any of the  other  Lender  Parties  and  (iii) the
Borrower  shall make any payment  hereunder or under any other Loan  Document to
the  Administrative  Agent for the account of such Defaulting  Lender,  then the
Administrative  Agent  may,  on its  behalf or on behalf  of such  other  Lender
Parties and to the fullest  extent  permitted by applicable  law,  apply at such
time the amount so paid by the Borrower to or for the account of such Defaulting
Lender to the payment of each such  Defaulted  Amount to the extent  required to
pay such Defaulted Amount. In the event that the  Administrative  Agent shall so
apply any such amount to the payment of any such  Defaulted  Amount on any date,
the amount so applied  by the  Administrative  Agent  shall  constitute  for all
purposes  of this  Agreement  and the other  Loan  Documents,  payment,  to such
extent, of such Defaulted Amount on such date. Any such amount so applied by the
Administrative   Agent  shall  be  retained  by  the  Administrative   Agent  or
distributed by the Administrative Agent to such other Lender Parties, ratably in
accordance  with the respective  portions of such Defaulted  Amounts  payable at
such time to the Administrative  Agent and such other Lender Parties and, if the
amount of such payment made by the Borrower  shall at such time be  insufficient
to pay all Defaulted Amounts owing at such time to the Administrative  Agent and
the other Lender Parties, in the following order of priority:

                  (i)  first,  to the  Administrative  Agent  for any  Defaulted
Amount then owing to the Administrative Agent; and

                  (ii) second,  to the Lender Parties for any Defaulted  Amounts
then owing to such Lender  Parties,  ratably in accordance  with such respective
Defaulted Amounts then owing to such Lender Parties.


 
                                       49





Any  portion  of such  amount  paid by the  Borrower  for  the  account  of such
Defaulting  Lender  remaining,  after giving effect to the amount applied by the
Administrative  Agent pursuant to this  subsection  (b), shall be applied by the
Administrative Agent as specified in subsection (c) of this Section 2.15.

         (c) In the event that, at any one time, (i) any Lender Party shall be a
Defaulting Lender, (ii) such Defaulting Lender shall not owe a Defaulted Advance
or a Defaulted Amount and (iii) the Borrower,  the  Administrative  Agent or any
other Lender Party shall be required to pay or distribute  any amount  hereunder
or under  any other  Loan  Document  to or for the  account  of such  Defaulting
Lender,  then the  Borrower or such other  Lender Party shall pay such amount to
the Administrative Agent to be held by the Administrative  Agent, to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law, in escrow or the Administrative Agent shall,
to the fullest  extent  permitted by applicable  law, hold in escrow such amount
otherwise held by it. Any funds held by the Administrative Agent in escrow under
this subsection (c) shall be deposited by the Administrative Agent in an account
with Fleet, in the name and under the control of the  Administrative  Agent, but
subject to the provisions of this subsection  (c). The terms  applicable to such
account,  including  the rate of  interest  payable  with  respect to the credit
balance  of such  account  from time to time,  shall be Fleet's  standard  terms
applicable to escrow accounts  maintained with it. Any interest credited to such
account  from time to time shall be held by the  Administrative  Agent in escrow
under, and applied by the  Administrative  Agent from time to time in accordance
with the provisions of, this subsection (c). The Administrative  Agent shall, to
the fullest  extent  permitted  by  applicable  law,  apply all funds so held in
escrow from time to time to the extent  necessary to make any Advances  required
to be made by such  Defaulting  Lender  and to pay any  amount  payable  by such
Defaulting   Lender  hereunder  and  under  the  other  Loan  Documents  to  the
Administrative  Agent or any other Lender  Party,  as and when such  Advances or
amounts  are  required  to be made or paid and,  if the amount so held in escrow
shall at any time be  insufficient to make and pay all such Advances and amounts
required to be made or paid at such time, in the following order of priority:

                  (i) first, to the Administrative Agent for any amount then due
and  payable  by such  Defaulting  Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder;

                  (ii) second, to the Lender Parties for any amount then due and
payable by such Defaulting Lender to such Lender Parties  hereunder,  ratably in
accordance  with such  respective  amounts  then due and  payable to such Lender
Parties; and

                  (iii) third,  to the Borrower for any Advance then required to
be made by such  Defaulting  Lender  pursuant to a Commitment of such Defaulting
Lender.

In the event that any Lender Party that is a  Defaulting  Lender  shall,  at any
time,  cease to be a  Defaulting  Lender,  any funds held by the  Administrative
Agent in  escrow  at such  time  with  respect  to such  Lender  Party  shall be
distributed by the Administrative Agent to such Lender Party and applied by such
Lender  Party to the  Obligations  owing to such Lender Party at such time under
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents in such manner as the Administrative
Agent shall reasonably direct.


 
                                       50





         (d) The rights and  remedies  against a  Defaulting  Lender  under this
Section 2.15 are in addition to other rights and remedies  that the Borrower may
have against such  Defaulting  Lender with respect to any Defaulted  Advance and
that the  Administrative  Agent  or any  Lender  Party  may  have  against  such
Defaulting Lender with respect to any Defaulted Amount.



                                   ARTICLE III

                              CONDITIONS OF LENDING

         SECTION 3.01.  Conditions Precedent to Initial Extension of Credit. The
obligation  of each Lender to make an Advance or of the Issuing  Bank to issue a
Letter of Credit (other than the Existing  Letters of Credit,  which are already
issued and outstanding on the date hereof) or an Alternative  Currency Letter of
Credit on the occasion of the Initial  Extension of Credit  hereunder is subject
to the  satisfaction  of each of the following  conditions  precedent  before or
concurrently with the Initial Extension of Credit:

         (a) The  Administrative  Agent shall have received on or before the day
of the Initial  Extension of Credit the  following,  each dated such day (unless
otherwise specified),  in form and substance  satisfactory to the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders, and in sufficient copies (except for the Notes), for each
Lender Party:

                  (i) The  Revolving  Credit  Notes  payable to the order of the
Revolving Credit Lenders.

                  (ii) The  Alternative  Currency  Notes payable to the order of
the Alternative Currency Revolving Credit Lenders.

                  (iii)  A  security  agreement  in  substantially  the  form of
Exhibit F granting to the  Administrative  Agent, for the ratable benefit of the
Lenders,  a first and only  priority  security  interest in all of the  personal
property  and  assets  of the  Borrower  and  each of its  Domestic  Significant
Subsidiaries  and  such  other  Domestic  Subsidiaries  of the  Borrower  as the
Administrative  Agent may  reasonably  request and LICO and each of its Domestic
Significant  Subsidiaries  and such other Domestic  Subsidiaries  of LICO as the
Administrative  Agent may reasonably  request (together with each other security
agreement  delivered  pursuant  to  Section  5.01(m),  in each case as  amended,
supplemented  or otherwise  modified  from time to time in  accordance  with its
terms, each a "Security  Agreement"),  duly executed by the Borrower and each of
such of its Subsidiaries and LICO and each of such of its Subsidiaries, together
with:

                           (A)  acknowledgment  copies or stamped receipt copies
         of  proper  financing  statements,  duly  filed  before  the day of the
         Initial   Extension  of  Credit  (or  other   confirmation   reasonably
         satisfactory  to the  Administrative  Agent of such  filing)  under the
         Uniform  Commercial Code of all jurisdictions  that the  Administrative
         Agent may deem  necessary  or desirable in order to perfect and protect
         the first and only priority liens and security  interests created under
         the  Security  Agreement,  covering  the  Collateral  described  in the
         Security Agreement;

 
                                       51






                           (B) completed  requests for information,  dated on or
         before  the  date of the  Initial  Extension  of  Credit,  listing  the
         financing  statements  referred  to in  clause  (A) above and all other
         effective financing  statements filed in the jurisdictions  referred to
         in clause (A) above that name the  Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries
         or LICO or any of its  Subsidiaries as debtor,  together with copies of
         such other financing statements;

                           (C)   evidence  of  the   completion   of  all  other
         recordings  and filings of or with  respect to the  Security  Agreement
         that the Administrative  Agent may deem necessary or desirable in order
         to perfect and protect the Liens created thereby;

                           (D) evidence of the  insurance  required by the terms
         of the Security Agreement;

                           (E)  copies  of  the  Assigned  Agreements,  if  any,
         referred to in the Security Agreement,  together with a consent to such
         assignments,  if any,  in  substantially  the form of  Exhibit C to the
         Security  Agreement,  duly  executed  by each  party  to such  Assigned
         Agreements other than the Borrower;

                           (F)  certificates  representing  the  Pledged  Shares
         referred to in the Security Agreement,  accompanied  by  undated  stock
         powers executed in blank; and

                           (G)   evidence   that  all  other   action  that  the
         Administrative  Agent  may  deem  necessary  or  desirable  in order to
         perfect  and  protect the first and only  priority  liens and  security
         interests created under the Security Agreement has been taken.

                  (iv)  An   intellectual   property   security   agreement   in
         substantially   the  form  of   Exhibit  G  hereto   granting   to  the
         Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Lenders a first and
         only priority security interest in all of the intellectual  property of
         the Borrower and each of its Domestic Significant Subsidiaries and such
         other Domestic Subsidiaries of the Borrower as the Administrative Agent
         shall reasonably request, and LICO and each of its Domestic Significant
         Subsidiaries  and  such  other  Domestic  Subsidiaries  of  LICO as the
         Administrative Agent shall reasonably request (together with each other
         intellectual  property security agreement delivered pursuant to Section
         5.01(m),  in each case as amended,  supplemented or otherwise  modified
         from time to time in accordance with its terms,  each an  "Intellectual
         Property Security  Agreement"),  duly executed by the Borrower and each
         of  such  of  its  Subsidiaries  and  LICO  and  each  of  such  of its
         Subsidiaries,   together   with  evidence  that  all  action  that  the
         Administrative  Agent  may  deem  necessary  or  desirable  in order to
         perfect  and  protect the first and only  priority  liens and  security
         interests created under the Intellectual  Property  Security  Agreement
         has been taken.

                  (v) A guaranty in  substantially  the form of Exhibit H hereto
(as hereafter  amended,  supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in
accordance  with its terms,  the  "Guaranty"),  duly  executed by each  Domestic
Significant  Subsidiary  of the  Borrower  or LICO and each such other  Domestic
Subsidiary of the Borrower or LICO as the  Administrative  Agent may  reasonably
request.


 
                                       52





                  (vi)  Certified  copies  of (A)  resolutions  of the  Board of
Directors of the Borrower and each other Loan Party  approving  this  Agreement,
the Notes,  the  Acquisition,  the LICO  Stock  Purchase  Agreement,  the Senior
Subordinated  Notes,  and each other Loan  Document,  Acquisition  Document  and
Senior Subordinated Note Document to which it is or is to be a party, and all of
the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, including,  without limitation,
the Acquisition and the offering of the Senior  Subordinated  Notes, and (B) all
documents evidencing other necessary corporate action and governmental and other
third party approvals and consents, if any, with respect to this Agreement,  the
Notes,  the  Acquisition,   the  LICO  Stock  Purchase  Agreement,   the  Senior
Subordinated Notes, the Senior Subordinated Note Indenture,  and each other Loan
Document, Acquisition Document and Senior Subordinated Note Document, and all of
the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, including,  without limitation,
the Acquisition and the offering of the Senior Subordinated Notes.

                  (vii) A copy of the  charter  of the  Borrower,  LICO and each
other Loan Party and each amendment thereto,  certified (as of a date reasonably
near the date of the Initial Exten-

sion  of  Credit)  by  the  Secretary  of  State  of  the  jurisdiction  of  its
incorporation as being a true and correct copy thereof.

                  (viii) A copy of a  certificate  of the  Secretary of State of
the  jurisdiction of its  incorporation,  dated within five (5) Business Days of
the  date of the  Initial  Extension  of  Credit,  listing  the  charter  of the
Borrower,  LICO and each other Loan Party and each amendment  thereto on file in
its office and certifying  that (A) such  amendments are the only  amendments to
the Borrower's, LICO's or such other Loan Party's charter on file in its office,
(B) the Borrower,  LICO and each other Loan Party have paid all franchise  taxes
to the date of such  certificate and (C) the Borrower,  LICO and each other Loan
Party are duly  incorporated and in good standing under the laws of the State of
the jurisdiction of its incorporation.

                  (ix) A copy of a certificate of the Secretary of State of each
State  listed on Schedule  3.01(a)(ix),  dated  reasonably  near the date of the
Initial Extension of Credit, stating that the Borrower, LICO and each other Loan
Party are duly  qualified and in good standing as foreign  corporations  in such
State and have filed all annual reports required to be filed to the date of such
certificate.

                  (x) A certificate  of the  Borrower,  LICO and each other Loan
Party signed on behalf of the  Borrower,  LICO or such other Loan Party,  as the
case  may be,  by a  Responsible  Officer  and  the  Secretary  or an  Assistant
Secretary of the  Borrower,  LICO or such other Loan Party,  as the case may be,
dated the date of the Initial  Extension of Credit (the  statements made in such
certificate  shall be true on and as of the  date of the  Initial  Extension  of
Credit),  certifying  as to (A) the absence of any  amendments to the charter of
the  Borrower,  LICO or such other Loan Party since the date of the Secretary of
State's certificate referred to in Section 3.01(a)(viii), (B) a true and correct
copy of the bylaws of the Borrower,  LICO and each other Loan Party as in effect
on the date of the Initial  Extension of Credit,  (C) the due  incorporation and
good standing of the  Borrower,  LICO and each other Loan Party as a corporation
organized  under  the laws of the  jurisdiction  of its  incorporation,  and the
absence of any  proceeding  for the  dissolution or liquidation of the Borrower,
LICO  or any  other  Loan  Party,  (D)  the  truth  of the  representations  and
warranties contained in any Pre-Commitment Information,  the Loan Documents, the
Acquisition  Documents and the Senior Subordinated Note Documents as though made
on and as

 
                                       53





of the date of the Initial  Extension of Credit and (E) the absence of any event
occurring and  continuing,  or resulting  from the Initial  Extension of Credit,
that constitutes a Default.

                  (xi) A certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant  Secretary
of each of the Borrower, LICO and each other Loan Party certifying the names and
true signatures of the officers of the Borrower,  LICO and each other Loan Party
authorized to sign this Agreement,  the Notes, each other Loan Document to which
it is or is to be a party and the other documents to be delivered  hereunder and
thereunder.

                  (xii) Such financial, business and other information regarding
the Borrower, LICO, each other Loan Party and each such Person's Subsidiaries as
any of the Lender Parties shall have reasonably  requested,  including,  without
limitation,  information  as to possible  contingent  liabilities,  tax matters,
Environmental   Actions,   Environmental   Permits,   obligations  under  Plans,
Multiemployer  Plans and Welfare  Plans,  collective  bargaining  agreements and
other  arrangements  with employees,  audited annual financial  statements dated
March 31, 1997  (September 30, 1997, in the case of LICO and its  Subsidiaries),
interim financial statements dated the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for
which  financial  statements are available (or, in the event the Lender Parties'
due diligence review reveals  material changes since such financial  statements,
as of a later date within  thirty (30) days of the day of the Initial  Extension
of Credit), pro forma financial statements as to the Borrower,  LICO and each of
the other Loan Parties and forecasts prepared by management the Borrower, all in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lender Parties.

                  (xiii)   A Notice of Borrowing.

         (b) The Lender  Parties shall be satisfied with the corporate and legal
structure and  capitalization  of the Borrower,  each Guarantor and each Foreign
Significant Subsidiary,  including, without limitation, the terms and conditions
of the charter,  by-laws and each class of capital stock of the  Borrower,  each
such  Guarantor  and  each  such  Foreign  Significant  Subsidiary  and of  each
agreement or instrument relating to such structure or capitalization.

         (c) The Lender Parties shall be satisfied that all Existing Debt, other
than the Debt identified on Schedule 4.01(aa) (the "Surviving  Debt"),  has been
(or, upon consummation of the Acquisition, will be) prepaid, repaid, redeemed or
defeased in full or  otherwise  satisfied  and  extinguished,  that all Liens in
respect thereof have been (or, upon  consummation of the  Acquisition,  will be)
terminated  and released and that all such  Surviving Debt shall be on terms and
conditions satisfactory to the Lender Parties.

         (d)  There  shall  have  occurred  no  material  adverse  change in the
business,   condition   (financial  or  otherwise),   operations,   performance,
properties or prospects of either (i) the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries,  taken
as a whole, since March 31, 1997, or (ii) LICO and its Subsidiaries,  taken as a
whole, since September 30, 1997.

         (e) There shall exist no action,  suit,  investigation,  litigation  or
proceeding  pending  or  threatened  in any court or before  any  arbitrator  or
governmental  or  regulatory  agency or authority  that (i) could  reasonably be
expected  to (A) have a  material  adverse  effect  on the  business,  condition
(financial or otherwise),  operations,  performance,  properties or prospects of
the

 
                                       54





Borrower and its  Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole, or LICO and its Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole,  (B)  adversely  affect  the  ability of the  Borrower  or any
Guarantor to perform its  obligations  under the Loan Documents or (C) adversely
affect  the  rights  and  remedies  of the  Administrative  Agent and the Lender
Parties under the Loan Documents or (ii) purports to adversely affect any aspect
of the Transactions or the Facilities.

         (f) All governmental  and third party consents and approvals  necessary
in connection with each aspect of the Acquisition, the Senior Subordinated Notes
(including,  without limitation, the offering thereof), and the Facilities shall
have been  obtained  (without  the  imposition  of any  conditions  that are not
acceptable to the Initial  Lenders) and shall remain in effect;  all  applicable
waiting periods shall have expired without any adverse action being taken by any
competent  authority;  and no law  or  regulation  shall  be  applicable  in the
reasonable  judgment of the Lender Parties that  restrains,  prevents or imposes
materially  adverse  conditions upon any aspect of the  Acquisition,  the Senior
Subordinated Notes (including,  without limitation, the offering thereof) or the
Facilities.

         (g)  The  Lender   Parties   shall  have   completed  a  due  diligence
investigation  of  LICO  and  its  Subsidiaries  in  scope,  and  with  results,
satisfactory  to the Lender  Parties;  the Borrower  and each of the  Guarantors
shall have given the Administrative  Agent such access to their respective books
and records as the Administrative Agent may have requested in order to carry out
its investigations, appraisals and analyses, and the Lenders shall have received
all additional financial, business and other information regarding the Borrower,
LICO and  their  respective  Subsidiaries  and  properties  as they  shall  have
reasonably  requested.  All of the  information  provided by or on behalf of the
Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries  or by or on  behalf of LICO or any of its
Subsidiaries to the Administrative Agent or the Lender Parties prior to February
26,  1998 (the  "Pre-Commitment  Information")  shall be true and correct in all
material  aspects,  and no  development  or change shall have  occurred,  and no
additional  information  shall have come to the attention of the  Administrative
Agent or the Lenders,  that (i) has resulted in or could  reasonably be expected
to  result  in  a  material   change  in,  or  material   deviation   from,  the
Pre-Commitment  Information  or (ii) has had or could  reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect.

         (h) The Borrower shall have  delivered a letter,  in form and substance
satisfactory  to  the  Administrative  Agent,  attesting  to  the  Solvency  (as
hereinafter  defined)  of the  Borrower,  individually  and  together  with  its
Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole, immediately before and immediately after giving
effect to the  Acquisition  and the offering of the Senior  Subordinated  Notes,
from its chief  financial  officer.  As used herein,  the term "Solvency" of any
person means (i) the fair value of the property of such person exceeds its total
liabilities (including,  without limitation,  contingent liabilities),  (ii) the
present  fair  saleable  value of the assets of such person is not less than the
amount that will be required to pay its probable  liability on its debts as they
become absolute and matured,  (iii) such person does not intend to, and does not
believe that it will,  incur debts or  liabilities  beyond its ability to pay as
such debts and  liabilities  mature and (iv) such person is not engaged,  and is
not about to engage,  in business or a transaction  for which its property would
constitute an unreasonably small capital.

         (i) The Borrower shall have demonstrated to the Administrative  Agent's
reasonable  satisfaction  (i) whether the  operations  of the  Borrower  and its
Subsidiaries and LICO and its

 
                                       55





Subsidiaries comply in all material respects with applicable  Environmental Laws
and health and safety statutes and regulations,  including,  without limitation,
regulations  promulgated  under the Federal  Resource  Conservation and Recovery
Act; (ii) whether such operations are the subject of any  Environmental  Actions
requiring  an  expenditure  which  could have a Material  Adverse  Effect on the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole, or, in the case of LICO or any
of its Subsidiaries, LICO and its Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole, to respond to
such Environmental Actions; (iii) whether the Borrower, any of the Guarantors or
any Foreign  Significant  Subsidiary has or could reasonably be expected to have
any  contingent  liability  which  could have a Material  Adverse  Effect on the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole, or, in the case of LICO or any
of its Subsidiaries, LICO and its Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole, in connection
with any Environmental Action; (iv) that the Borrower, LICO and their respective
Subsidiaries   have   complied  in  all  material   respects   with   applicable
Environmental  Laws; and (v) that the Borrower has completed such  environmental
investigations  as the  Administrative  Agent may  request  with  respect to the
operations of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  and LICO and its  Subsidiaries
and such  investigations  have not uncovered  any condition or conditions  which
could  reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse Effect on the Borrower
and its  Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole,  or, in the case of LICO or any of its
Subsidiaries, LICO and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

         (j) The  Lenders  shall  be  satisfied  that (i) the  Borrower  and its
Subsidiaries  will be  able  to meet  their  respective  obligations  under  all
employee  and retiree  welfare  plans,  (ii) the employee  benefit  plans of the
Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  and of LICO and its  Subsidiaries  are,  in all
material respects, funded in accordance with the minimum statutory requirements,
(iii) no material  "reportable event" (as defined in ERISA, but excluding events
for which  reporting  has been  waived)  has  occurred  as to any such  employee
benefit plan and (iv) no termination  of, or withdrawal  from, any such employee
benefit  plan,  including,  without  limitation,  any  Multiemployer  Plan,  has
occurred or is  contemplated  that could  reasonably  be expected to result in a
material  liability.  The Borrower  shall have  delivered to the  Administrative
Agent copies of each employment agreement and each other compensation  agreement
or arrangement with any officer of the Borrower, LICO or any other Loan Party.

         (k) The Lenders shall be satisfied with the amount, types and terms and
conditions  of all  insurance  maintained  by or,  after  giving  effect  to the
consummation  of the  Acquisition,  to be  maintained  by, the  Borrower and its
Subsidiaries,  and the  Lenders  shall  have  received  endorsements  naming the
Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, as an additional insured or loss
payee, as applicable, under all insurance policies to be maintained with respect
to the properties of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  forming any part of the
Lenders' Collateral under the Security Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

         (l) The Lenders  shall have received  satisfactory  opinions of counsel
for the Borrower and Guarantors, and of local and special counsel, to the extent
requested  by the  Administrative  Agent,  as to the  transactions  contemplated
hereby.

         (m) There shall  exist no Default or Event of Default  under any of the
Loan  Documents,  and all legal  matters  incident to the Initial  Extension  of
Credit shall be satisfactory to counsel for the Administrative Agent.


 
                                       56





         (n) All accrued fees and expenses of the  Administrative  Agent and the
Lenders (including the fees and expenses of counsel for the Administrative Agent
and local counsel for the Administrative Agent) shall have been paid.

         (o) The final terms and conditions of the  Acquisition  (i) shall be as
described  in this  Agreement  and  otherwise  consistent  with the  description
thereof received in writing as part of the  Pre-Commitment  Information and (ii)
shall be otherwise  satisfactory to the  Administrative  Agent and Lenders.  All
documentation  relating  to the  Acquisition  shall  be in  form  and  substance
satisfactory  to the  Administrative  Agent.  The  Acquisition  shall  have been
consummated for aggregate  consideration  not in excess of $155,000,000,  all in
accordance  with the terms of the LICO Stock Purchase  Agreement (such Agreement
to be in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent), without any
waiver or  amendment of any material  term or  condition  contained  therein not
consented to by the  Administrative  Agent and in compliance with all applicable
laws and all  necessary  approvals,  and the  Administrative  Agent  shall  have
received  evidence,  in form and substance  satisfactory  to the  Administrative
Agent, of such consummation.

         (p) The final terms and  conditions  of the Senior  Subordinated  Notes
shall be in form and  substance  satisfactory  to the  Administrative  Agent and
Lenders. All of the Senior Subordinated Note Documents, including the prospectus
and the  Senior  Subordinated  Note  Indenture,  shall be in form and  substance
satisfactory to the Administrative  Agent and Lenders.  The Senior  Subordinated
Notes shall be general unsecured obligations of the Borrower, fully subordinated
to all  Obligations  under this  Agreement and the other Loan Documents on terms
and  pursuant  to  documentation  acceptable  to the  Administrative  Agent  and
Lenders. The net proceeds of the offering of the Senior Subordinated Notes shall
be at least  $190,000,000,  and the entire net  proceeds of the  offering of the
Senior  Subordinated  Notes shall have been received by the Borrower and used by
the  Borrower,  together  with proceeds of the  Revolving  Credit  Facility,  to
finance the  Acquisition,  to pay fees and expenses  and to  refinance  existing
indebtedness,  including,  without limitation, the Existing Credit Agreement and
other  Existing   Debt,   all  in  amounts  and  on  terms   acceptable  to  the
Administrative Agent and Lenders.

         (q) All Advances made under this Agreement  shall be in full compliance
with  all  applicable  requirements  of  law,  including,   without  limitation,
Regulations G, T, U and X.

         (r) The  Administrative  Agent shall have  received a duly executed and
delivered  counterpart  of landlord  waivers from all  landlords  and  leasehold
mortgage holders with respect to any Inventory located at a location that is not
owned by the Borrower,  as deemed  necessary or desirable in the  Administrative
Agent's   sole   discretion,   to  preserve  or  otherwise  in  respect  of  the
Administrative Agent's rights in Collateral.

         (s) The Administrative  Agent shall have received such other approvals,
opinions  or  documents  as any  Lender  through  the  Administrative  Agent may
reasonably  request,  and all legal matters  incident to such Borrowing shall be
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

         SECTION 3.02. Conditions Precedent to Each Borrowing and Issuance.  The
obligation of each appropriate Lender to make an Advance (other than a Revolving
Credit Advance made by a Revolving Credit Lender pursuant to Section 2.02(b),  a
Letter of Credit  Advance made by the Issuing Bank or a Revolving  Credit Lender
pursuant to Section 2.03(c), an Alternative

 
                                       57





Currency  Letter of Credit  Advance made by Issuing  Bank or a Revolving  Credit
Lender  pursuant to Section 2.03(d) and a Swing Line Advance made by a Revolving
Credit Lender  pursuant to Section  2.02(c)),  and the obligation of the Issuing
Bank to issue a Letter  of Credit or an  Alternative  Currency  Letter of Credit
(including  the  initial  issuance  thereof)  or renew a Letter  of Credit or an
Alternative  Currency  Letter of Credit and the right of the Borrower to request
the issuance or renewal of a Letter of Credit or an Alternative  Currency Letter
of Credit, shall each be subject to the further conditions precedent that on the
date of each such Borrowing or issuance or renewal:

         (a) Each of the conditions  precedent listed in Section 3.01 shall have
been satisfied or waived in accordance with this Agreement.

         (b) The following statements shall be true and the Administrative Agent
shall have received a  certificate  signed by a duly  authorized  officer of the
Borrower,  dated the date of such Borrowing or issuance or renewal, stating that
(and each of the giving of the applicable  Notice of Borrowing,  Notice of Swing
Line  Borrowing or Notice of Issuance or Notice of Renewal and the acceptance by
the  Borrower of the  proceeds  of a  Borrowing  or of a Letter of Credit or the
renewal of a Letter of Credit shall constitute a representation  and warranty by
the  Borrower  that  both on the  date of such  notice  and on the  date of such
Borrowing or issuance or renewal such statements are true):

                  (i) the representations and warranties  contained in each Loan
Document are correct on and as of such date,  before and after giving  effect to
such  Borrowing  or issuance or renewal and to the  application  of the proceeds
therefrom, as though made on and as of such date;

                  (ii) no event has occurred and is continuing,  or would result
from such  Borrowing  or  issuance  or  renewal or from the  application  of the
proceeds therefrom, that consti-

tutes a Default; and

                  (iii) for each Revolving Credit Advance,  Alternative Currency
Revolving  Credit  Advance,  Swing Line  Advance  made by the Swing Line Bank or
issuance or renewal of any Letter of Credit or  Alternative  Currency  Letter of
Credit, the Revolving Credit Facility exceeds the aggregate  principal amount of
the  Revolving  Credit  Advances plus the Assigned  Dollar Value of  Alternative
Currency  Revolving  Credit  Advances  plus Swing Line  Advances  plus Letter of
Credit Advances plus the Assigned Dollar Value of Alternative Currency Letter of
Credit Advances plus the aggregate Available Amount of all Letters of Credit and
Alternative Currency Letters of Credit, in each instance, then outstanding after
giving effect to such Advance or issuance or renewal, respectively.

         (c) for each Alternative  Currency Revolving Credit Advance or issuance
or  renewal  of any  Alternative  Currency  Letter of  Credit,  the  Alternative
Currency Revolving Credit Facility exceeds the aggregate principal amount of the
Assigned  Dollar Value of Alternative  Currency  Revolving  Credit Advances plus
Alternative  Currency  Letter of Credit  Advances plus the  aggregate  Available
Amount of all Alternative  Currency  Letters of Credit,  in each instance,  then
outstanding  after  giving  effect  to such  Advance  or  issuance  or  renewal,
respectively.


 
                                       58





         (d) The Administrative  Agent shall have received such other approvals,
opinions or documents as any appropriate Lender through the Administrative Agent
may  reasonably  request,  and all legal matters  incident to such  Borrowing or
issuance  of such  Letter of Credit  shall be  satisfactory  to counsel  for the
Administrative Agent.

         SECTION  3.03.  Determinations  Under  Section  3.01.  For  purposes of
determining  compliance  with the  conditions  specified in Section  3.0l,  each
Lender Party shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be
satisfied with each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented
to or approved by or acceptable or  satisfactory to the Lender Parties unless an
officer  of  the   Administrative   Agent   responsible  for  the   transactions
contemplated by the Loan Documents shall have received  written notice from such
Lender Party prior to the Initial Extension of Credit,  specifying its objection
thereto.


                                   ARTICLE IV

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES


         SECTION 4.01.  Representations  and  Warranties  of the  Borrower.  The
Borrower represents and warrants as follows:

         (a) Each  Loan  Party  (i) is a  corporation  duly  organized,  validly
existing  and in  good  standing  under  the  laws  of the  jurisdiction  of its
incorporation,  (ii)  is  duly  qualified  and in  good  standing  as a  foreign
corporation in each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases property or in
which the  conduct of its  business  requires  it to so  qualify or be  licensed
except where the failure to so qualify or be licensed  could not  reasonably  be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (iii) has all requisite corporate
power and authority (including,  without limitation,  all governmental licenses,
permits and other  approvals) to own or lease and operate its  properties and to
carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted.

         (b) Set forth on Schedule  4.01(b)  hereto is a complete  and  accurate
list of all  Subsidiaries  of each Loan Party,  showing as of the Closing  Date,
after giving effect to the Borrower's  satisfaction of the conditions  precedent
set forth in Section 3.01(o) of this Agreement,  and as to each such Subsidiary,
the  jurisdiction  of its  incorporation,  the number of shares of each class of
capital stock authorized, and the number outstanding, on the date hereof and the
percentage  of the  outstanding  shares of each such class  owned  (directly  or
indirectly)  by such  Loan  Party  and  the  number  of  shares  covered  by all
outstanding  options,  warrants,  rights of  conversion  or purchase and similar
rights at the date hereof.  All of the outstanding  capital stock of all of such
Subsidiaries has been validly issued,  is fully paid and  non-assessable  and is
owned by such Loan  Party or one or more of its  Subsidiaries  free and clear of
all Liens,  except  those  created  under the  Collateral  Documents.  Each such
Subsidiary (i) is a corporation  duly  organized,  validly  existing and in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its  incorporation,  (ii) is duly
qualified  and  in  good  standing  as  a  foreign  corporation  in  each  other
jurisdiction  in which it owns or leases property or in which the conduct of its
business  requires it to so qualify or be licensed,  except where the failure to
so qualify or be licensed  could not  reasonably  be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect, and (iii) has all requisite corporate

 
                                       59





power and authority (including,  without limitation,  all governmental licenses,
permits and other  approvals) to own or lease and operate its  properties and to
carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted.

         (c) The execution,  delivery and performance by each Loan Party of this
Agreement,  the Notes,  each other Loan Document,  each Acquisition  Document to
which it is or is to be a party, and each Senior  Subordinated  Note Document to
which it is or is to be a party, and the consummation of the Acquisition and the
offering of the Senior  Subordinated  Notes,  and the  consummation of the other
transactions  contemplated  hereby and  thereby,  are within  such Loan  Party's
corporate powers,  have been duly authorized by all necessary  corporate action,
and do not (i) contravene such Loan Party's charter or bylaws,  (ii) violate any
law (including,  without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,  and the Racketeer  Influenced and
Corrupt Organizations Chapter of the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970), rule,
regulation (including, without limitation,  Regulation G, T, U or X of the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), order, writ, judgment,  injunction,
decree,  determination or award, (iii) conflict with or result in the breach of,
or constitute a default under, any material contract, loan agreement, indenture,
mortgage, deed of trust, lease or other material instrument or agreement binding
on or  affecting  any  Loan  Party,  any of  its  Subsidiaries  or any of  their
respective  properties or (iv) except for the Liens created under the Collateral
Documents,  result in or require the creation or  imposition of any Lien upon or
with  respect  to  any  of  the  properties  of  any  Loan  Party  or any of its
Subsidiaries.  No Loan Party or any of its  Subsidiaries  is in violation of any
such  law,  rule,  regulation,  order,  writ,  judgment,   injunction,   decree,
determination  or  award or in  breach  of any such  contract,  loan  agreement,
indenture,  mortgage, deed of trust, lease or other instrument or agreement, the
violation  or breach of which  could  reasonably  be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.

         (d) No  authorization  or approval or other action by, and no notice to
or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body or any other third
party is required for (i) the due execution,  delivery,  recordation,  filing or
performance  by any Loan  Party of this  Agreement,  the  Notes,  any other Loan
Document,  any  Acquisition  Document to which it is or is to be a party, or any
Senior Subordinated Note Document to which it is or is to be a party, or for the
consummation  of the  Acquisition  or the  offering  of the Senior  Subordinated
Notes, or the  consummation  of the other  transactions  contemplated  hereby or
thereby, (ii) the grant by any Loan Party of the Liens granted by it pursuant to
the  Collateral  Documents,  (iii) the  perfection or  maintenance  of the Liens
created  by the  Collateral  Documents  (including  the first and only  priority
nature thereof) or (iv) the exercise by the  Administrative  Agent or any Lender
Party of its rights  under the Loan  Documents or the remedies in respect of the
Collateral pursuant to the Collateral Documents,  except for the authorizations,
approvals, actions, notices and filings listed on Schedule 4.01(d), all of which
have been duly obtained,  taken, given or made and are in full force and effect.
All applicable  waiting periods in connection with the Acquisition and the other
transactions  contemplated  hereby or thereby  have  expired  without any action
having been taken by any competent authority restraining, preventing or imposing
materially adverse  conditions upon the Acquisition,  the offering of the Senior
Subordinated  Notes or the  transactions  contemplated  hereby or thereby or the
rights of the Loan Parties or their Subsidiaries freely to transfer or otherwise
dispose  of, or to create any Lien on,  any  properties  now owned or  hereafter
acquired by any of them.


 
                                       60





         (e) This Agreement,  each of the Notes, each other Loan Document,  each
Acquisition  Document and each Senior  Subordinated  Note  Document has been, or
when  delivered  hereunder  will have been,  duly executed and delivered by each
Loan Party thereto. This Agreement, each of the Notes, each other Loan Document,
each Acquisition  Document and each Senior  Subordinated Note Document has been,
or when delivered  hereunder will be, the legal, valid and binding obligation of
each Loan Party thereto,  enforceable against such Loan Party in accordance with
its terms.

         (f)  (i) The  Consolidated  and  consolidating  balance  sheets  of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at March 31, 1997, and the related Consolidated
and  consolidating  statements  of income  and  Consolidated  and  consolidating
statements  of cash flows of the  Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  for the fiscal
year then  ended,  accompanied  by (in the case of such  Consolidated  financial
statements) an opinion of Ernst & Young LLP, independent public accountants, and
the Consolidated  balance sheets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at June
30, 1997,  September 30, 1997 and December 31, 1997 and the related Consolidated
statements of income and  Consolidated  statements of cash flows of the Borrower
and its  Subsidiaries  for the periods then ended,  duly  certified by the chief
financial  officer of the Borrower,  copies of which have been furnished to each
Lender Party, fairly present,  subject, in the case of said balance sheets as at
June 30, 1997,  September 30, 1997 and December 31, 1997 and said  statements of
income and cash flows for each of the  periods  then ended,  to normal  year-end
audit  adjustments,  the  Consolidated  (and, with respect to the balance sheets
dated March 31, 1997, consolidating) financial condition of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries  as at such dates and the  Consolidated  (and,  with respect to the
statements  of  income  dated  March 31,  1997,  consolidating)  results  of the
operations  of the  Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  for the period ended on such
date, all in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on
a  consistent  basis,  and,  since  March 31,  1997,  there has been no Material
Adverse Change.

                  (ii) The consolidated and consolidating balance sheets of LICO
and its Subsidiaries as at September 30, 1997, and the related  consolidated and
consolidating statements of income and consolidated and consolidating statements
of cash  flows of LICO and its  Subsidiaries  for the  fiscal  year then  ended,
accompanied  by (in the  case of such  consolidated  financial  statements)  the
opinion  of  Ernst  &  Young  LLP,  independent  public  accountants,   and  the
consolidated  balance sheet of LICO and its Subsidiaries as at December 31, 1997
and the related consolidated  statement of income and consolidated  statement of
cash flows of LICO and its Subsidiaries for the three months then ended,  copies
of which have been furnished to each Lender Party,  fairly present,  subject, in
the case of said balance  sheet as at December 31, 1997 and said  statements  of
income  and cash flows for the  period  then  ended,  to normal  year-end  audit
adjustments,  the  consolidated  (and,  with respect to the balance sheets dated
September  30,  1997,   consolidating)  financial  condition  of  LICO  and  its
Subsidiaries  as at such dates and the  consolidated  (and,  with respect to the
statements  of income  dated  September  30,  1997,  consolidating)  results  of
operations of LICO and its  Subsidiaries  for the period ended on such date, all
in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent  basis,  and since September 30,
1997, there has been no Material Adverse Change.

         (g) The  Consolidated  pro forma  balance sheet of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries  as at the date on which the  Acquisition is  consummated,  and the
related  Consolidated  pro  forma  statement  of  income  and cash  flows of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the period then

 
                                       61





ended, certified by the chief financial officer of the Borrower, copies of which
have been furnished to each Lender Party,  fairly present the  Consolidated  pro
forma financial  condition of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries as at such date
and the  Consolidated  pro forma  results of  operations of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries for the period ended on such date, in each case after giving effect
to the  Acquisition,  the  offering  of the Senior  Subordinated  Notes (and the
receipt and  application by the Borrower of the net proceeds  therefrom) and the
other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, all in accordance with GAAP.

         (h) None of the Pre-Commitment Information or any information,  exhibit
or report furnished by any Loan Party to the Administrative  Agent or any Lender
Party in connection with the Loan Documents or pursuant to the terms of the Loan
Documents  contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state
a material fact necessary to make the statements made therein not misleading.

         (i) Except as set forth on Schedule 4.01(i) hereto, there is no action,
suit, investigation,  litigation or proceeding affecting the Borrower, LICO, any
other Loan Party or any of their  respective  Subsidiaries,  including,  without
limitation,  any Environmental  Action,  pending or threatened before any court,
governmental  agency or arbitrator  that could  reasonably be expected to have a
Material  Adverse Effect,  and there has been no material  adverse change in the
status, or financial effect on any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, of any
of the litigation disclosed on Schedule 4.01(i) from the description thereof set
forth on such Schedule 4.01(i).

         (j)  Neither  the  Borrower  nor  LICO  nor  any  of  their  respective
Subsidiaries  is engaged in the business of extending  credit for the purpose of
purchasing or carrying Margin Stock.

         (k)  Except  as set  forth  on  Schedule  4.01(k)  hereto,  none of the
Borrower,  LICO or any of their ERISA Affiliates maintains or has maintained any
Plans or  Multiemployer  Plans.  Set forth on Schedule 4.01(k) is a complete and
accurate list of all Welfare Plans and all defined contribution plans in respect
of which any Loan Party could have liability.

         (l) Except as set forth in the financial statements referred to in this
Section 4.01 and in Section 5.03,  none of the Borrower,  LICO, any of the other
Loan Parties or any of their respective  Subsidiaries has any material liability
with  respect to  "expected  post  retirement  benefit  obligations"  within the
meaning of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 106.

         (m) Neither the business nor the properties of any Loan Party or any of
its Subsidiaries are affected by any fire, explosion,  accident, strike, lockout
or other labor dispute, drought, storm, hail, earthquake, embargo, act of God or
of the public enemy or other casualty (whether or not covered by insurance) that
could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         (n) The  operations  and  properties of each Loan Party and each of its
Subsidiaries   comply  in  all  known  material  respects  with  all  applicable
Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits, all known past non-compliance with
such  Environmental  Laws and  Environmental  Permits has been resolved  without
ongoing  obligations  or costs  that  could  reasonably  be  expected  to have a
Material  Adverse Effect,  and no  circumstances  exist that could reasonably be
expected to (i) form the basis of an Environmental Action against any Loan Party
or any of its  Subsidiaries or any of their  properties that could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect

 
                                       62





or (ii) cause any such  property to be subject to any material  restrictions  on
ownership, occupancy, use or transferability under any Environmental Law.

         (o) Except as disclosed in the environmental  assessment reports listed
on Schedule 4.01(o) hereto and except for any or all disclosures which would not
either individually or in the aggregate be material to the Borrower or any other
Loan Party,  (i) none of the properties  currently or formerly owned or operated
by any Loan Party or any of its  Subsidiaries  is listed or proposed for listing
on the NPL or on the CERCLIS or any analogous foreign, state or local list or is
adjacent  to any  such  property;  (ii)  there  are no and,  to the  best of its
knowledge,  never have been any underground or aboveground  storage tanks or any
surface  impoundments,  septic tanks,  pits, sumps or lagoons in which Hazardous
Materials are being or, to the best of its knowledge,  have been treated, stored
or disposed on any property currently owned or operated by any Loan Party or any
of its  Subsidiaries  or on any property  formerly owned or operated by any Loan
Party or any of its Subsidiaries;  (iii) there is no friable asbestos or friable
asbestos-containing  material on any property currently owned or operated by any
Loan Party or any of its  Subsidiaries;  and (iv)  Hazardous  Materials have not
been  released,  discharged  or disposed of on any property  currently  owned or
operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries,  or any property formerly
owned or operated by any Loan Party or any of its  Subsidiaries  or, to the best
of its  knowledge,  any property owned or operated or formerly owned or operated
by LICO or any of its Subsidiaries.

         (p) Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.01(o), neither any Loan Party nor
any  of  its  Subsidiaries  is  undertaking,   and  has  not  completed,  either
individually  or  together  with  other  potentially  responsible  parties,  any
investigation or assessment or Remedial,  Response or Removal action relating to
any actual or threatened  release,  discharge or disposal of Hazardous Materials
at any site, location or operation,  either voluntarily or pursuant to the order
of  any  governmental  or  regulatory  authority  or  the  requirements  of  any
Environmental  Law that could  reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect; and all Hazardous Materials generated,  used, treated, handled or stored
at, or transported to or from, any property  currently  owned or operated by any
Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or any property formerly owned or operated
by any Loan Party or any of its  Subsidiaries  or, to the best of its knowledge,
any property  owned or operated or formerly  owned or operated by LICO or any of
its  Subsidiaries  have been disposed of in a manner not reasonably  expected to
result in material liability to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries.

         (q) Except as set forth on Schedule 4.01(q), neither any Loan Party nor
any of its  Subsidiaries  nor LICO nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any
indenture,  loan  or  credit  agreement  or any  lease  or  other  agreement  or
instrument  or  subject  to any  charter  or  corporate  restriction  that could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         (r) The  Collateral  Documents  create  in favor of the  Administrative
Agent,  for the ratable  benefit of the  Lenders,  a valid and  perfected  first
priority security  interest in the Collateral (which Collateral  includes all of
the assets and personal  property,  whether now owned or hereafter  acquired and
all of the products and  proceeds of any of the  foregoing,  of the Borrower and
each  Guarantor,  and  all of the  outstanding  capital  stock  of  each  of the
Borrower's Domestic Subsidiaries and such of the Borrower's Foreign Subsidiaries
as are listed on Schedule 4.01(r)), securing the payment of the Obligations, and
all filings and other actions necessary or reasonably

 
                                       63





desirable to perfect and protect such  security  interest  have been duly taken.
The Loan Parties are the legal and beneficial  owners of the Collateral free and
clear of any Lien,  except  for the  liens and  security  interests  created  or
expressly permitted under the Loan Documents.

         (s) Each Loan Party and each of its  Subsidiaries has filed, has caused
to be filed or has been included in all tax returns (Federal,  state,  local and
foreign)  required to be filed and has paid all taxes  shown  thereon to be due,
together with applicable interest and penalties.

         (t) Set forth on Schedule  4.01(t) is a complete and  accurate  list of
each  taxable  year of each Loan  Party and each of its  Subsidiaries  for which
Federal  income tax returns have been filed and for which the  expiration of the
applicable  statute of limitations for assessment or collection has not occurred
by reason of extension or otherwise (an "Open Year").

         (u) There is no unpaid amount of  adjustments to the Federal income tax
liability  of each  Loan  Party  and each of its  Subsidiaries  proposed  by the
Internal  Revenue Service with respect to Open Years. No issues have been raised
by the Internal Revenue Service in respect of Open Years that, in the aggregate,
could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         (v) There is no unpaid amount of  adjustments  to the state,  local and
foreign tax  liability of each Loan Party and its  Subsidiaries  proposed by any
state,  local or foreign  taxing  authorities  (other than amounts  arising from
adjustments to Federal  income tax returns).  No issues have been raised by such
taxing authorities that,  individually or in the aggregate,  could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         (w)  Except  to  the  extent  effected  by  the   consummation  of  the
Acquisition,  no "ownership change" as defined in Section 382(g) of the Internal
Revenue Code, and no event that would result in the application of the "separate
return limitation year" or "consolidated return change of ownership" limitations
under the Federal income tax consolidated return regulations,  has occurred with
respect to any Loan Party.

         (x)  Neither  any  Loan  Party  nor  any  of  its  Subsidiaries  is  an
"investment  company," or an "affiliated person" of, or "promoter" or "principal
underwriter"  for,  an  "investment  company,"  as such terms are defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.  Neither the making of any Advances,
nor the issuance of any Letters of Credit,  nor the  application of the proceeds
or repayment thereof by the Borrower, nor the consummation of the Acquisition or
the  other  transactions  contemplated  hereby  or  thereby,  will  violate  any
provision of such Act or any rule,  regulation  or order of the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission  thereunder or any takeover,  disclosure or other  federal,
state or  foreign  securities  law or  Regulations  G, T, U or X of the  Federal
Reserve  Board.  The  Borrower is not subject to  regulation  under any federal,
state or foreign statute or regulation which limits its ability to incur Debt.

         (y)  Each  Loan  Party  is,   individually   and   together   with  its
Subsidiaries, Solvent.

         (z) Set forth on Schedule  4.01(z) is a complete and  accurate  list of
all  Existing  Debt the  principal  amount of which is greater  than  $1,000,000
(other than Surviving Debt), showing

 
                                       64





as of the date hereof the principal amount outstanding thereunder,  the maturity
date thereof and the amortization schedule therefor.

         (aa) Set forth on Schedule  4.01(aa) is a complete and accurate list of
all  Surviving  Debt the principal  amount of which is greater than  $1,000,000,
showing as of the date hereof the principal amount outstanding  thereunder,  the
maturity date thereof and the amortization schedule therefor.

         (bb) Set forth on Schedule 4.01 (bb) is a complete and accurate list of
all real property owned by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or in which
any Loan  Party has an  interest  as a contract  vendee,  showing as of the date
hereof the street address, county or other relevant jurisdiction,  state, record
owner  and book and  estimated  fair  value  thereof.  Each  Loan  Party or such
Subsidiary  has good,  marketable  and  insurable  fee simple title to such real
property, free and clear of all Liens, other than Permitted Liens.

         (cc) Set forth on Schedule  4.01(cc) is a complete and accurate list of
all  leases  of  real  property  under  which  any  Loan  Party  or  any  of its
Subsidiaries  is the lessee,  showing as of the date hereof the street  address,
county or other relevant jurisdiction,  state, lessor,  lessee,  expiration date
and annual rental cost thereof.  To the best knowledge of each Loan Party,  each
such lease is the legal,  valid and binding  obligation  of the lessor  thereof,
enforceable in accordance with its terms.

         (dd) Set forth on Schedule  4.01(dd) is a complete and accurate list of
all Material  Contracts of each Loan Party and its  Subsidiaries,  showing as of
the date hereof the parties,  subject  matter and term thereof.  Except as could
not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, each such Material
Contract  has been  duly  authorized,  executed  and  delivered  by all  parties
thereto, has not been amended or otherwise modified, is in full force and effect
and is binding upon and  enforceable  against all parties  thereto in accordance
with its terms.  There exists no material default under any Material Contract by
the Borrower, LICO or any of their respective Subsidiaries party thereto and, to
the best  knowledge  of each  Loan  Party,  there  exists no  default  under any
Material Contract by any other party thereto.

         (ee) Set forth on Schedule  4.01(ee) is a complete and accurate list of
all  Investments  in excess of  $1,000,000  held by any Loan Party or any of its
Subsidiaries,  showing as of the date hereof the  amount,  obligor or issuer and
maturity, if any, thereof.

         (ff) Set forth on Schedule  4.01(ff) is a complete and accurate list of
all patents,  trademarks,  trade names,  service marks and  copyrights,  and all
applications  therefor  and licenses  thereof,  of each Loan Party or any of its
Subsidiaries,   showing  as  of  the  date  hereof  the  jurisdiction  in  which
registered, the registration number, the date of registration and the expiration
date.  Each Loan  Party and each of their  respective  Subsidiaries  owns or has
rights to use all patents,  trademarks,  trade names, service marks,  copyrights
and other  intellectual  property  necessary  to conduct its  business as now or
heretofore  conducted  by it or proposed to be  conducted by it. Each Loan Party
and each of their  respective  Subsidiaries  conducts  its  business and affairs
without infringement of or interference with any patent, trademark,  trade name,
service mark, copyright or other intellectual property of any other Person.


 
                                       65





         (gg)  Each  Acquisition  Document  and each  Senior  Subordinated  Note
Document to which the  Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  is a party has been
duly executed and delivered by the Borrower or such Subsidiary,  as the case may
be, and, to the best knowledge of the Borrower,  each  Acquisition  Document and
each Senior  Subordinated  Note Document has been duly executed and delivered by
the parties thereto other than the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries and is in full
force and effect. The representations and warranties of the Borrower and each of
its  Subsidiaries  contained  in  each  Acquisition  Document  and  each  Senior
Subordinated Note Document to which the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case
may be, is a party are true and  correct in all  material  respects  on the date
hereof and will be true and  correct in all  material  respects  on the  Closing
Date,  as if made on such date,  and the  Administrative  Agent and each  Lender
Party shall be entitled to rely upon such  representations  and warranties  with
the same force and effect as if they were  incorporated  in this  Agreement  and
made to the  Administrative  Agent and each Lender Party directly as of the date
hereof and the Closing Date.  To the best  knowledge of the Borrower and each of
its  Subsidiaries,  the  representations  and  warranties  of each other  party,
including,  without limitation, in the case of the Acquisition Documents,  LICO,
to  each  Acquisition  Document  and  each  Senior  Subordinated  Note  Document
contained  therein  are true and  correct in all  material  respects on the date
hereof and will be true and correct on the Closing Date as if made on such date.

         (ii)  Except  for the  fees to be paid  to the  initial  purchasers  in
accordance  with the Senior  Subordinated  Note Documents  (which fees are fully
disclosed in the prospectus used in connection with the offering and sale of the
Senior  Subordinated  Notes), no broker's or finder's fees or commissions or any
similar fees or  commissions  will be payable by the Borrower or any  Subsidiary
with respect to the incurrence and  maintenance  of the  Obligations,  any other
transaction contemplated by the Loan Documents, the Acquisition Documents or the
Senior  Subordinated  Note Documents or any services rendered in connection with
any such transactions. The Borrower hereby covenants and agrees to indemnify the
Administrative  Agent and each Lender Party against and hold the  Administrative
Agent and each Lender Party  harmless  from any claim,  demand or liability  for
broker's or finder's  fees or similar fees or  commissions,  including,  without
limitation,  those of the initial purchasers under the Senior  Subordinated Note
Documents  and those of any financial  advisors to LICO,  incurred or alleged to
have been  incurred  in  connection  with any of the  transactions  contemplated
hereby,  by  the  Acquisition  Documents  or by  the  Senior  Subordinated  Note
Documents.

         (hh)  For as long  as any  Senior  Subordinated  Notes,  or  guaranties
executed in connection therewith, remain outstanding, all principal and interest
in respect of the Advances,  and all other  Obligations  under this Agreement or
any other Loan Document,  including,  without limitation, (i) Obligations to pay
charges, expenses, fees, attorneys' fees and disbursements,  indemnities, Letter
of Credit  and  Alternative  Currency  Letter of  Credit  commissions  and other
amounts  payable by the Borrower and/or any of the other Loan Parties under this
Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) all liabilities and other Obligations
arising out of,  based upon or  relating  to  Existing  Letters of Credit or any
other Letters of Credit or any Alternative Currency Letters of Credit, and (iii)
all Obligations to reimburse any amounts in respect of any of the foregoing that
any Lender Party, in its sole discretion,  may elect to pay or advance on behalf
of any Loan Party, constitute Senior Debt (as defined in the Senior Subordinated
Note   Indenture)  and  Designated   Senior  Debt  (as  defined  in  the  Senior
Subordinated  Note  Indenture).  As  such,  all  of  the  Obligations  (and  the
Administrative Agent and Lenders) are entitled to the benefits of each of

 
                                       66





the subordination and other provisions contained in the Senior Subordinated Note
Documents  which are available in respect of Senior Debt and  Designated  Senior
Debt (and to the  holders  thereof),  and each of such  subordination  and other
provisions is in full force and effect and  enforceable  in accordance  with its
terms.


                                    ARTICLE V

                 COVENANTS OF THE BORROWER AND THE SUBSIDIARIES

         SECTION  5.01.  Affirmative  Covenants.  So long as any  Advance  shall
remain  unpaid,  any Letter of Credit or Alternative  Currency  Letter of Credit
shall be outstanding  or any Lender Party shall have any  Commitment  hereunder,
the Borrower will:

         (a) Compliance with Law. Comply,  and cause each of its Subsidiaries to
comply, in all material respects,  with all applicable laws, rules,  regulations
and orders,  such  compliance to include,  without  limitation,  compliance with
ERISA.

         (b) Payment of Taxes, Etc. Timely pay and discharge,  and cause each of
its  Subsidiaries  to timely pay and discharge,  (i) all taxes,  assessments and
governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or upon its property and (ii) all
lawful  claims that,  if unpaid,  might by law become a Lien upon its  property;
provided,  however, that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall not be required
to pay or  discharge  any such tax,  assessment,  charge or claim  that is being
contested in good faith and by proper  proceedings  and as to which  appropriate
reserves are being  maintained,  unless and until any Lien  resulting  therefrom
attaches to its property and becomes  enforceable against the Borrower or any of
its Subsidiaries;  and, provided,  further, that, if such Lien, individually and
in the aggregate  with all such other Liens,  does not secure more than $250,000
of taxes,  assessments,  charges and claims,  such Lien may be paid within three
(3)  Business  Days after the Borrower or such  Subsidiary,  as the case may be,
obtains knowledge thereof.

         (c) Compliance with  Environmental  Laws. Comply, and cause each of its
Subsidiaries  and all lessees  and other  Persons  operating  or  occupying  its
properties  to  comply,   in  all  material   respects,   with  all   applicable
Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits; obtain and renew and cause each of
its  Subsidiaries  to  obtain  and renew all  Environmental  Permits  reasonably
necessary for its operations and properties;  and conduct, and cause each of its
Subsidiaries to conduct,  any investigation,  study,  sampling and testing,  and
undertake any cleanup, removal, remedial or other action necessary to remove and
clean up all Hazardous Materials from any of its properties,  in accordance with
the requirements of all Environmental Laws; provided, however, that the Borrower
and its  Subsidiaries  shall not be  required  to  undertake  any such  cleanup,
Removal,  Remedial or Response action to the extent that its obligation to do so
is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and adequate reserves
as reasonably  determined by the Administrative  Agent are being maintained with
respect to such circumstances.

         (d) Preparation of Environmental  Reports. The Borrower agrees that the
Administrative Agent may, upon reasonable prior notice, from time to time in its
reasonable  discretion,  retain,  in  consultation  with the Borrower and at the
Borrower's expense, an

 
                                       67





independent  professional  consultant to prepare  environmental  site assessment
reports for the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries  and/or to review any report
(other than a report properly subject to attorney-client  privilege) relating to
Hazardous  Materials  prepared by or for the  Borrower  and,  upon a  reasonable
belief that the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries has breached any covenant or
representation  with respect to  environmental  matters or that there has been a
material  violation  of  Environmental  Laws  by  the  Borrower  or  one  of its
Subsidiaries, the Administrative Agent may conduct its own investigation of such
matter at any facility or property currently owned, leased,  operated or used by
the Borrower or one of its  Subsidiaries and the Borrower agrees to use its best
efforts  to  obtain  permission  for  the  Administrative  Agent's  professional
consultant to conduct its own  investigation  of any such matter at any facility
or property previously owned, leased, operated or used by the Borrower or one of
its  Subsidiaries.  The  Borrower  and  its  Subsidiaries  hereby  grant  to the
Administrative Agent, its employees,  consultants and contractors,  the right to
enter  into or onto  the  facilities  or  properties  currently  owned,  leased,
operated or used by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries  upon reasonable  notice to
the  Borrower to perform such  assessments  on such  property as are  reasonably
necessary to conduct such a review and/or investigation.  Any such investigation
of any such facility or property shall be conducted,  unless otherwise agreed to
by the Borrower and the Administrative  Agent, during normal business hours and,
to the extent reasonably practicable,  shall be conducted so as not to interfere
with the ongoing  operations  at any facility or property or to cause any damage
or loss to any facility or property.  The Borrower and the Administrative  Agent
hereby  acknowledge and agree that any report of any investigation  conducted at
the request of the Administrative Agent will be obtained and shall be reasonably
used by the Administrative  Agent and Lender Parties for the purpose of internal
credit  decisions  to  monitor  and  police  the  Advances  and/or  protect  the
Administrative  Agent's and Lender Parties' security interests in the Collateral
and shall not be used by the  Administrative  Agent or  Lender  Parties  for any
other purpose  except as otherwise  expressly set forth in this  Agreement.  The
Administrative  Agent and  Lender  Parties  acknowledge  and agree that any such
report and any information or data gleaned from or based upon any such report or
investigation  conducted by the Administrative Agent, by the Borrower or by both
the Administrative  Agent and Borrower acting in cooperation  hereunder,  is and
will be considered Confidential  Information for the purposes of this Agreement.
The  Administrative  Agent  agrees to  deliver a copy of any such  report to the
Borrower with the understanding  that the Borrower  acknowledges and agrees that
(i) the Borrower will indemnify and hold harmless the  Administrative  Agent and
each  Lender  Party  from any  costs,  losses  or  liabilities  relating  to the
Borrower's use of or reliance on such report and (ii) neither the Administrative
Agent nor any Lender Party makes any  representation or warranty with respect to
such report.

         (e)  Maintenance  of  Insurance.   Maintain,  and  cause  each  of  its
Subsidiaries to maintain,  insurance with  responsible  and reputable  insurance
companies or  associations in such amounts and covering such risks as is usually
carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties
in the same general areas in which the Borrower or such Subsidiary operates.

         (f) Preservation of Corporate  Existence,  Etc.  Preserve and maintain,
and cause each of its  Subsidiaries  to preserve and  maintain,  its  existence,
legal structure, legal name, rights (charter and statutory),  permits, licenses,
approvals, privileges and franchises.


 
                                       68





         (g)  Visitation  Rights.  (i) At any  reasonable  time and from time to
time, upon reasonable notice,  permit the Administrative  Agent or any agents or
representatives  thereof,  together  with  no more  than  three  (3)  designated
representatives  of the  Required  Lenders,  to examine  and make  copies of and
abstracts  from the records and books of account of, and visit the properties of
the Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries,  and to discuss the  affairs,  finances and
accounts of the Borrower and any such Subsidiaries with any of their officers or
directors.

                  (ii) In the  case of the  Borrower,  meet at least  once  each
calendar year (and more frequently if the Administrative Agent so requests) with
representatives of the Adminis-

trative  Agent and the Lender  Parties  to discuss  the  affairs,  finances  and
accounts of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries.

                  (iii) If a Default or Event of  Default  has  occurred  and is
continuing, permit the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lender Parties, to
conduct such commercial  finance  examinations  and/or  Collateral audits of the
Borrower  and  its  Subsidiaries  as the  Administrative  Agent  may  reasonably
request.  Such commercial  finance  examinations and Collateral  audits shall be
conducted,  in  accordance  with the  Administrative  Agent's  instructions  and
protocol, by, at the Administrative  Agent's election,  either Ernst & Young LLP
or any other Person reasonably selected by the Administrative Agent.

         (h) Keeping of Books. Keep, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to keep,
proper books of record and account,  in which full and correct  entries shall be
made of all financial  transactions  and the assets and business of the Borrower
and each such Subsidiary in accordance with GAAP.

         (i) Maintenance of Properties,  Etc.  Maintain and preserve,  and cause
each of its  Subsidiaries  to maintain and preserve,  all of its properties that
are  reasonably  necessary in the conduct of its business in good working  order
and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted.

         (j)  Compliance  with  Terms  of  Leaseholds.  Make  all  payments  and
otherwise  perform all  obligations in respect of all leases of real property to
which the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  is a party,  keep such leases in
full force and effect and not allow such leases to lapse or be terminated or any
rights  to  renew  such  leases  to  be  forfeited   or  canceled,   notify  the
Administrative Agent of any default by any party with respect to such leases and
cooperate  with  the  Administrative  Agent  in all  respects  to cure  any such
default,  and cause each of its Subsidiaries to do so except, in any case, where
the  failure  to do so,  either  individually  or in the  aggregate,  could  not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         (k) Performance of Material Contracts.  Perform and observe,  and cause
each of its Subsidiaries to perform and observe, all of the terms and provisions
of each Material Contract to be performed or observed by it, maintain, and cause
each of its Subsidiaries to maintain,  each such Material Contract in full force
and effect,  and enforce,  and cause each of its  Subsidiaries to enforce,  each
such Material Contract in accordance with its terms.

         (l)  Transactions  with  Affiliates.  Conduct,  and  cause  each of its
Subsidiaries to conduct,  all  transactions  otherwise  permitted under the Loan
Documents with any of their Affiliates on terms that are fair and reasonable and
no less favorable to the Borrower or such

 
                                       69





Subsidiary than it would obtain in a comparable  arms-length  transaction with a
Person not an Affiliate.

         (m) Agreement to Grant Additional  Security.  (i) Promptly,  and in any
event within thirty (30) days after the  acquisition  of assets of the type that
would have constituted Collateral at the date hereof and investments of the type
that would have  constituted  Collateral  on the date hereof  (other than assets
with a fair market value of less than $50,000),  notify the Administrative Agent
of the acquisition of such assets or investments  and, to the extent not already
Collateral in which the  Administrative  Agent has a perfected security interest
pursuant to the Collateral  Documents,  such assets and investments  will become
additional Collateral hereunder to the extent the Administrative Agent deems the
pledge  of  such  assets  practicable  (the  "Additional  Collateral"),  and the
Borrower  will, and will cause each of its  Subsidiaries  to, take all necessary
action,  including  the filing of  appropriate  financing  statements  under the
provisions  of the UCC,  applicable  foreign,  domestic or local laws,  rules or
regulations in each of the offices where such filing is necessary or appropriate
to grant Administrative Agent a perfected Lien in such Collateral (or comparable
interest under foreign law in the case of foreign Collateral) pursuant to and to
the full extent required by the Collateral Documents and this Agreement.

                  (ii) Promptly, and in any event no later than thirty (30) days
after a request  with respect  thereto,  cause (a) LICO and each of its Domestic
Significant  Subsidiaries and such other of LICO's Domestic  Subsidiaries as the
Administrative  Agent shall reasonably  request,  and (b) each of the Borrower's
Domestic  Significant  Subsidiaries  and such other of the  Borrower's  Domestic
Subsidiaries as the  Administrative  Agent shall reasonably  request,  to become
party  to,  or  to  execute  and  deliver,   a  Guaranty   guarantying   to  the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders the prompt payment, when and as due, of all
Obligations  of the  Loan  Parties  under  the  Loan  Documents,  including  all
obligations  under any Hedge Agreements  entered into by a Lender Party pursuant
to, and in accordance with the terms and conditions of, Section 5.02(b)(v), each
such Guaranty to be in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent.

                  (iii)  Promptly,  and in any event no later than  thirty  (30)
days after a request with respect thereto,  pledge to the Administrative  Agent,
for the ratable  benefit of the Lenders and pursuant to the  Security  Agreement
(or another pledge or security  agreement in form and substance  satisfactory to
the  Administrative  Agent),  all  (100%)  of the  capital  stock of each of the
Borrower's Domestic Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, of LICO and its
Domestic Subsidiaries) and sixty-five percent (65%) of the capital stock of such
of the Borrower's Foreign Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, of LICO's
Foreign Subsidiaries) as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request after
consultation with the Borrower.

                  (iv) Promptly, and in any event no later than thirty (30) days
after a request with respect thereto,  pledge to the  Administrative  Agent, for
the ratable benefit of the Lenders,  and pursuant to the Security  Agreement (or
another pledge and security agreement in form and substance  satisfactory to the
Administrative  Agent)  sixty-five  percent (65%) of the capital stock of all or
such of the Borrower's  Foreign  Significant  Subsidiaries  (including,  without
limitation,  of LICO's Foreign  Significant  Subsidiaries) as the Administrative
Agent or Required  Lenders  shall request and, in  connection  therewith,  shall
deliver such legal opinions  (including,  without  limitation,  of local counsel
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) as to perfection and other

 
                                       70





matters as the Administrative  Agent or Required Lenders may request,  each such
legal opinion to be in form and  substance  satisfactory  to the  Administrative
Agent and its counsel.

                  (v) Promptly,  and in any event no later than thirty (30) days
after  a  request  with  respect  thereto,   cause  each  Guarantor  created  or
established after the date hereof to grant to the Administrative  Agent, for the
ratable benefit of the Lenders,  a first priority Lien on all property (tangible
and  intangible)  of such Guarantor upon terms similar to those set forth in the
Collateral  Documents  and  otherwise  satisfactory  in form  and  substance  to
Administrative  Agent.  The  Borrower  shall  cause each  Guarantor,  at its own
expense, to become a party to a Security Agreement and an Intellectual  Property
Security  Agreement  and to  execute,  acknowledge  and  deliver,  or cause  the
execution,  acknowledgment  and delivery of, and  thereafter  register,  file or
record in any  appropriate  governmental  office,  any  document  or  instrument
reasonably deemed by  Administrative  Agent to be necessary or desirable for the
creation and  perfection of the foregoing  Liens  (including  any  additional or
substitute security agreements).  The Borrower will cause each such Guarantor to
take  all  actions  requested  by  Administrative   Agent  (including,   without
limitation,  the filing of  UCC-1's)  in  connection  with the  granting of such
security interests.

                  (vi)  Promptly,  and in any event not later than  thirty  (30)
days after a request with  respect  thereto,  (A) deliver to the  Administrative
Agent the original of all  instruments,  documents  and chattel  paper,  and all
other  Collateral of which the  Administrative  Agent  determines it should have
physical  possession  in order to perfect  and  protect  its  security  interest
therein, duly pledged,  endorsed or assigned to the Administrative Agent without
restriction;  (B) obtain landlord waivers, in form and substance satisfactory to
the  Administrative  Agent,  with respect to any  Inventory or other  Collateral
located at a location  that is not owned by the  Borrower or a  Subsidiary;  (C)
deliver to the  Administrative  Agent warehouse receipts covering any portion of
the Inventory or other Collateral  located in warehouses and for which warehouse
receipts are issued; (D) when an Event of Default exists,  transfer Inventory to
locations  designated by the  Administrative  Agent; (E) if any Collateral is at
any time in the possession or control of any warehousemen,  bailee or any of the
Borrower's  agents or processors,  notify the  Administrative  Agent thereof and
notify  such  person of the  Administrative  Agent's  security  interest in such
Collateral and obtain a landlord waiver or bailee letter,  in form and substance
satisfactory  to the  Administrative  Agent,  from such person and instruct such
person  to hold all  such  Collateral  for the  Administrative  Agent's  account
subject  to the  Administrative  Agent's  instructions;  (F) if at any  time any
Inventory or other  Collateral  is located on any real  property of the Borrower
which is subject to a mortgage or other Lien, obtain a mortgagee waiver, in form
and substance  satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, from the holder of each
mortgage  or other  Lien on such  real  property;  and (G)  take all such  other
actions and obtain all such other  agreements  as the  Administrative  Agent may
reasonably deem necessary or desirable in respect of any Collateral.

                  (vii) The security  interests  required to be granted pursuant
to this Section shall be granted pursuant to the Collateral Documents or, in the
Administrative  Agent's  discretion,  such other security  documentation  (which
shall be substantially  similar to the Collateral Documents already executed and
delivered  by  the  Borrower)  as is  satisfactory  in  form  and  substance  to
Administrative   Agent  (the  "Additional   Collateral   Documents")  and  shall
constitute  valid and  enforceable  perfected  security  interests  prior to the
rights of all third Persons and subject to no

 
                                       71





other Liens  except  Liens  permitted  under  Section  5.02(a).  The  Additional
Collateral  Documents  and  other  instruments  related  thereto  shall  be duly
recorded  or filed in such  manner  and in such  places and at such times as are
required by law to establish,  perfect, preserve and protect the Liens, in favor
of Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lender Parties, granted pursuant
to the Additional  Collateral  Documents and, all taxes,  fees and other charges
payable in connection  therewith  shall be paid in full by the Borrower.  At the
time of the  execution  and delivery of  Additional  Collateral  Documents,  the
Borrower shall cause to be delivered to  Administrative  Agent such  agreements,
opinions of counsel,  and other related documents as may be reasonably requested
by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders to  assure  themselves  that
this Section has been complied with.

         (n) Performance of Acquisition Documents. Perform and observe, or cause
the relevant Subsidiary to perform and observe,  all of the terms and provisions
of  each  Acquisition  Document  to be  performed  or  observed  by  it or  such
Subsidiary,  maintain each such  Acquisition  Document in full force and effect,
enforce each such  Acquisition  Document in accordance with its terms,  take all
such  action  to such  end as may be from time to time requested by the Adminis-
trative Agent and, upon request of the Administrative  Agent, make to each other
party to each such Acquisition  Document such demands and requests for action or
for  information  and reports as the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  is entitled to
make under such Acquisition Document.

         (o) Cash Concentration Accounts. The Borrower will, and will cause each
of its Subsidiaries to, maintain its main cash  concentration  accounts with the
Administrative Agent.

         SECTION 5.02. Negative  Covenants.  So long as any Advance shall remain
unpaid,  any Letter of Credit or Alternative  Currency Letter of Credit shall be
outstanding  or any  Lender  Party  shall  have any  Commitment  hereunder,  the
Borrower  will not,  at any time,  without  the prior  consent  of the  Required
Lenders:

         (a) Liens,  Etc.. Create,  incur,  assume or suffer to exist, or permit
any of its Subsidiaries to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist, any Lien on
or with respect to any of its  properties of any character  (including,  without
limitation,  Accounts,  Inventory  and other  Collateral)  whether  now owned or
hereafter  acquired,  or sign or file or suffer to exist,  or permit  any of its
Subsidiaries  to sign or file or suffer to exist,  under the Uniform  Commercial
Code or any other statute of any jurisdiction,  a financing statement that names
the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries as debtor,  or sign or suffer to exist,
or permit  any of its  Subsidiaries  to sign or suffer  to exist,  any  security
agreement  authorizing  any secured party  thereunder to file any such financing
statement,  or assign, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to assign, any accounts
or other right to receive income, excluding,  however, from the operation of the
foregoing restrictions the following:

                  (i)      Liens created under the Loan Documents;

                  (ii)     Permitted Liens;

                  (iii)    Liens  existing  on the date  hereof and  described  
                           on Schedule 5.02(a)(iii);


 
                                       72





                  (iv)  purchase  money Liens upon real  property  or  equipment
acquired or held by the  Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries  in the  ordinary
course of  business  to secure  the  purchase  price of such  real  property  or
equipment or to secure Debt  incurred  solely for the purpose of  financing  the
acquisition,  construction or improvement of any such real property or equipment
to be subject to such  Liens,  or Liens  existing  on any such real  property or
equipment  at the time of  acquisition  (other  than any such  Liens  created in
contemplation of such  acquisition  that do not secure the purchase  price),  or
extensions,  renewals or  replacements of any of the foregoing for the same or a
lesser amount; provided, however, that no such Lien shall extend to or cover any
property other than the real property or equipment being  acquired,  constructed
or improved,  and no such extension,  renewal or replacement  shall extend to or
cover any property not theretofore  subject to the Lien being extended,  renewed
or replaced; and, provided,  further, that the aggregate principal amount of the
Debt secured by Liens permitted by this clause (iv) shall not exceed  $4,000,000
at any time outstanding;  and, provided,  further,  that any such Debt shall not
otherwise be prohibited by the terms of the Loan Documents;

                  (v)  Liens  arising  in  connection  with  Capitalized  Leases
permitted  under  Section  5.02(b)(iii)(B);  provided,  that no such Lien  shall
extend to or cover any Collateral or any assets other than the assets subject to
such Capitalized Leases;

                  (vi)  the  replacement,  extension  or  renewal  of  any  Lien
permitted  by  clauses  (iii)  through  (v) above  upon or in the same  property
theretofore  subject  thereto in connection with the  replacement,  extension or
renewal  (without  increase  in the  amount  or any  change  in  any  direct  or
contingent obligor) of the Debt secured thereby.

         (b) Debt.  Create,  incur,  assume or suffer to exist, or permit any of
its  Subsidiaries to create,  incur,  assume or suffer to exist,  any Debt other
than:

                  (i) in the case of the Borrower, Debt incurred pursuant to the
         Loan Documents;

                  (ii) in the case of any of the  Subsidiaries  of the Borrower,
Debt owed to the  Borrower  or to a  wholly-owned  Subsidiary  of the  Borrower;
provided,  that,  such Debt is evidenced by a promissory  note,  such promissory
note is  pledged  to the  Administrative  Agent  pursuant  to the  terms  of the
Security  Agreement and there are no  restrictions  whatsoever on the ability of
the Subsidiary to repay such Debt;

                  (iii) unsecured,  fully  subordinated Debt of the Borrower and
certain of its Domestic Subsidiaries incurred under the Senior Subordinated Note
Indenture  and the other  Senior  Subordinated  Note  Documents  in an aggregate
amount not to exceed $200,000,000 less the amount of any and all prepayments, if
any, of principal thereof after the date of this Agreement;

                  (iv) in the case of the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries:

                           (A)  Debt  secured  by  Liens  permitted  by  Section
                  5.02(a)(iv)  not to exceed in the aggregate  $4,000,000 at any
                  time outstanding;


 
                                       73





                           (B) Capitalized Leases not to exceed in the aggregate
                  $2,000,000 at any time outstanding;

                           (C) the Surviving  Debt,  and any Debt  extending the
                  maturity of, or refunding or refinancing, in whole or in part,
                  the  Surviving  Debt;  provided,  that  the  terms of any such
                  extending, refunding or refinancing Debt, and of any agreement
                  entered  into  and  of any  instrument  issued  in  connection
                  therewith,  are consented to in writing by the  Administrative
                  Agent,  with  the  approval  of  the  Required  Lenders,   and
                  otherwise  permitted  by this  Agreement  and the  other  Loan
                  Documents;  and, provided,  further, that the principal amount
                  of such  Surviving  Debt  shall  not be  increased  above  the
                  principal amount thereof  outstanding on the date hereof,  and
                  the  direct  and  contingent  obligors  therefor  shall not be
                  changed,  as a result of or in connection with such extension,
                  refunding or refinancing; and

                           (D) endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit
                  or collection or similar  transactions  in the ordinary course
                  of business;

                  (v) in the  case of the  Borrower,  Debt in  respect  of Hedge
Agreements  entered into from time to time in the ordinary course of business by
the  Borrower  with  counterparties  that are  Hedge  Banks in  connection  with
transactions  otherwise expressly permitted  hereunder;  provided,  that (A) the
Borrower  shall have  notified  the  Administrative  Agent in  writing  prior to
entering  into each and every such Hedge  Agreement  and (B) each and every such
Hedge  Agreement  shall  be  non-speculative   in  nature  (including,   without
limitation, with respect to the term and purpose thereof);

                  (vi) in the case of Yale  Germany  or  Univeyor,  Debt of Yale
Germany or Univeyor,  as the case may be, in an amount for all such Debt of Yale
Germany and Univeyor not to exceed the Dollar  Equivalent of  $20,000,000 in the
aggregate at any one time outstanding;  provided, that (A) such Debt is incurred
solely by Yale Germany or Univeyor,  as the case may be, (B) such Debt is either
unsecured or secured only by the assets of Yale Germany or Univeyor, as the case
may be, and (C) no guaranty or other  credit  support of any kind is provided by
any  Person  (including,   without  limitation,  the  Borrower  or  any  of  its
Subsidiaries) of or for such Debt or any holder thereof, other than an unsecured
guaranty (having terms and conditions acceptable to the Administrative Agent, in
its sole  discretion) by the Borrower  limited to the amount of Debt incurred by
Yale Germany or Univeyor,  as the case may be; and provided,  further,  that (X)
the Borrower shall notify the  Administrative  Agent in writing in advance prior
to  permitting  Yale  Germany or Univeyor  to incur any Debt under this  Section
5.02(b)(vi) and (Y) prior to the Borrower  entering into any unsecured  guaranty
pursuant to clause (C) above,  the Borrower  shall have provided a draft copy of
such guaranty to the Administrative Agent for its review and such guaranty shall
be in form and substance  satisfactory to the Administrative  Agent, in its sole
discretion; and

                  (vii) in the case of the Borrower,  unsecured Debt incurred in
the ordinary  course of business for the deferred  purchase price of property or
services,  maturing within one year from the date created, and aggregating, on a
Consolidated basis, not more than $3,000,000 at any one time outstanding.


 
                                       74





         (c) Lease  Obligations.  Create,  incur,  assume or suffer to exist, or
permit any of its Subsidiaries to create,  incur, assume or suffer to exist, any
obligations as lessee (i) for the rental or hire of real or personal property in
connection  with any sale and leaseback  transaction,  or (ii) for the rental or
hire of other real or personal  property of any kind under leases or  agreements
to lease, including,  without limitation,  Capitalized Leases having an original
term of one year or more, that would cause the direct and contingent liabilities
of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a Consolidated basis, in respect of all
such  obligations to exceed  $5,000,000  payable in any period of 12 consecutive
months.

         (d) Fundamental  Changes. (i) Merge into or consolidate with any Person
or permit any Person to merge into it, or permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to do
any of the foregoing;

                  (ii)  liquidate,  wind-up  or  dissolve  itself (or suffer any
liquidation or dissolution),  convey, sell, assign, lease, transfer or otherwise
dispose  of (or  agree to do any of the  foregoing  at any  future  time) all or
substantially  all of its  property,  business  or assets,  or permit any of its
Subsidiaries to do any of the foregoing; and

                  (iii)  acquire or permit  any  Subsidiary  to  acquire  all or
substantially all of the assets of any other Person  (including  capital stock),
(A) except that the Borrower may consummate the  Acquisition in accordance  with
the terms and  conditions  of the LICO Stock  Purchase  Agreement and (B) except
that the Borrower or any wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower may acquire all
or substantially  all of the assets,  or all of the capital stock, of any Person
(the  "Target")  (in  each  case,  a  "Permitted  Acquisition")  subject  to the
satisfaction of each of the following conditions:

                           (1)      the Administrative Agent shall have received
                                    at least  twenty (20)  Business  Days' prior
                                    written  notice of such  proposed  Permitted
                                    Acquisition,  which notice  shall  include a
                                    reasonably  detailed   description  of  such
                                    proposed Permitted Acquisition;

                           (2)      such   Permitted   Acquisition   shall  only
                                    involve a business of the same type  engaged
                                    in  by   the   Borrower   or   one   of  its
                                    Subsidiaries  as of the  date  hereof,  or a
                                    business reasonably  incidental thereto, and
                                    such acquired business shall not subject the
                                    Administrative  Agent or any  Lender  to any
                                    regulatory  or  third  party   approvals  in
                                    connection  with the  exercise of its rights
                                    and  remedies  under this  Agreement  or any
                                    other Loan  Document,  other than  approvals
                                    applicable  to the  exercise  of such rights
                                    and   remedies   prior  to  such   Permitted
                                    Acquisition;

                           (3)      such   Permitted    Acquisition   shall   be
                                    consensual  and shall have been  approved by
                                    the Target's board of directors;

                           (4)      the sum of all amounts payable in connection
                                    with all Permitted  Acquisitions  (including
                                    all   transaction   costs   and  all   Debt,
                                    liabilities   and   contingent   obligations
                                    incurred or assumed in connection

 
                                       75





                                    therewith  or   otherwise   reflected  on  a
                                    balance  sheet  of  the  Target)  shall  not
                                    exceed  $35,000,000  in the aggregate in any
                                    Fiscal Year;

                           (5)      the  business  and assets  acquired  in such
                                    Permitted  Acquisition  shall  be  free  and
                                    clear of all  Liens,  other  than  Permitted
                                    Liens   and   other    non-material    Liens
                                    acceptable to the  Administrative  Agent, in
                                    its reasonable discretion, including, by way
                                    of example, but not of limitation,  Liens in
                                    respect  of  purchase   money   indebtedness
                                    incurred  by  the  Target  in  the  ordinary
                                    course of business and Liens  consisting  of
                                    mortgages  on real  property  the amount and
                                    terms of which  mortgages are  acceptable to
                                    the   Administrative   Agent,  in  its  sole
                                    discretion;

                           (6)      at or prior to the closing of any  Permitted
                                    Acquisition,  the  Administrative  Agent, on
                                    behalf  of the  Secured  Parties,  shall  be
                                    granted  a  first  priority  perfected  Lien
                                    (subject only to Liens  expressly  permitted
                                    under clause (5)  immediately  above) in all
                                    assets  of  the   Target  and  each  of  its
                                    Domestic Significant Subsidiaries and in all
                                    of the Target's and each of its  Significant
                                    Subsidiaries'  capital stock, the Target and
                                    each    of    its    Domestic    Significant
                                    Subsidiaries  shall  each  become a party to
                                    the Guaranty and the  Borrower,  each of the
                                    Borrower's  Subsidiaries  and the Target and
                                    each of the Target's Subsidiaries shall each
                                    have   executed  and   delivered   all  such
                                    Collateral Documents and other documents and
                                    taken all such actions as may be required by
                                    the   Administrative   Agent  in  connection
                                    therewith;

                           (7)      at the  time of such  Permitted  Acquisition
                                    and after giving effect thereto,  including,
                                    without  limitation,  after giving pro forma
                                    effect  thereto for  purposes of each of the
                                    Financial  Covenants  set  forth in  Section
                                    5.04 of this Agreement,  no Default or Event
                                    of  Default   shall  have  occurred  and  be
                                    continuing or would result therefrom; and

                           (8)      prior   to  the   date  of  such   Permitted
                                    Acquisition,  the Administrative Agent shall
                                    have   received,   in  form  and   substance
                                    satisfactory  to the  Administrative  Agent,
                                    copies of the acquisition  agreement and all
                                    related agreements and instruments,  and all
                                    legal opinions,  officer's  certificates and
                                    other certificates,  lien search results and
                                    other  information and documents  reasonably
                                    requested by the Administrative Agent.

         (e) Sales, Etc. of Assets.  Sell, lease,  transfer or otherwise dispose
of, or permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to sell,  lease,  transfer or  otherwise
dispose of, any assets or grant any option or other right to purchase,  lease or
otherwise acquire any assets, except:

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

 
                                       76






                  (ii) sales of obsolete  equipment  in the  ordinary  course of
business;

                  (iii)  the  sale of any  asset by the  Borrower  or any of its
Subsidiaries  (other than a sale of Inventory or a sale of  Receivables) so long
as (A) the purchase price paid to the Borrower or such Subsidiary for such asset
shall be no less than the fair  market  value of such  asset at the time of such
sale,  (B) the  purchase  price for such asset shall be paid to the  Borrower or
such Subsidiary solely in cash and (C) the aggregate  purchase price paid to the
Borrower and all of its Subsidiaries for such asset and all other assets sold by
the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  pursuant to this clause (iii) since the date
of this Agreement shall not exceed $25,000,000 in the aggregate;

                  (iv)  the  sale  of  all  of  the  capital  stock,  or  all or
substantially  all  of  the  assets,  of  Minitec  and/or  Mechanical  Products;
provided,  that (A) the purchase  price paid to the Borrower in connection  with
any such sale  shall be no less than the fair  market  value of  Minitec  and/or
Mechanical  Products,  as the case may be, and (B) the purchase price is paid to
the Borrower at least 75% in cash; and

provided,  further,  that in the case of sales of  assets  pursuant  to  Section
5.02(e)(ii),  (iii) or (iv) above,  the Borrower  shall,  on the date of receipt
thereof,  apply the entire Net Cash Proceeds  from such sale in accordance  with
Section 2.06(b)(ii).

         (f)  Investments in Other  Persons.  Make or hold, or permit any of its
Subsidiaries to make or hold, any Investment in any Person other than:

                  (i) Investments by the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries in their
Subsidiaries   outstanding   on  the  date  hereof  and  described  on  Schedule
5.02(f)(i),  and additional  investments  in  wholly-owned  Subsidiaries  of the
Borrower  in an  aggregate  amount  invested  not to  exceed  $7,000,000  in the
aggregate in any Fiscal Year; provided, however, that no more than an aggre-

gate amount equal to  $3,000,000  shall be invested (in addition to  investments
outstanding  on  the  date  hereof  and  described  on  Schedule   5.02(f)(i))in
wholly-owned  Foreign  Subsidiaries in any Fiscal Year; and, provided,  further,
that with respect to Investments  in any newly acquired or created  wholly-owned
Subsidiary,  (A) any such Subsidiary which is a Domestic Significant  Subsidiary
shall become a Guarantor pursuant to the terms of the Guaranty and an additional
grantor  pursuant  to the  terms  of the  Security  Agreement  and  Intellectual
Property Security Agreement and (B) the Borrower shall otherwise comply with the
provisions of Section 5.01(m);

                  (ii) Loans and advances to officers and other employees in the
ordinary  course of the  business of the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  in an
aggregate principal amount not to exceed $500,000 at any time outstanding;

                  (iii) Investments by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in Cash
Equivalents;


                  (iv)  Investments  consisting of  intercompany  Debt permitted
under Section 5.02(b)(ii); and


 
                                       77





                  (v)  Investments  existing on the date hereof and described on
Schedule 5.02(f)(vii) hereto.

         (g) Dividends,  Etc.  Declare or pay any dividends,  purchase,  redeem,
retire,  defease or otherwise  acquire for value any of its capital stock or any
warrants,  rights or options to acquire  such  capital  stock,  now or hereafter
outstanding,   return  any  capital  to  its  stockholders  as  such,  make  any
distribution of assets, capital stock, warrants, rights, options, obligations or
securities to its stockholders as such or issue or sell any capital stock or any
warrants,  rights or options to acquire such capital stock, or permit any of its
Subsidiaries  to do any of the  foregoing or permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to
purchase,  redeem,  retire,  defease or otherwise  acquire for value any capital
stock of the Borrower or any warrants, rights or options to acquire such capital
stock or to issue or sell any such  capital  stock or any  warrants,  rights  or
options to acquire such capital stock, except:

                  (i) so long as no  Default  or Event  of  Default  shall  have
occurred and be continuing,  or would result therefrom, the Borrower may declare
and pay regular quarterly  dividends in cash on its common stock in an aggregate
amount not to exceed $10,000,000 in any Fiscal Year,

                  (ii)  the   Borrower  may  declare  and  pay   dividends   and
distributions payable solely in common stock of the Borrower,

                  (iii)  a  Subsidiary  of the  Borrower  may  declare  and  pay
dividends and distributions to the Borrower,

                  (iv) for  issuances  of stock  expressly  permitted by Section
5.02(r).

         (h)  Change  in  Nature  of  Business.  Make,  or  permit  any  of  its
Subsidiaries  to make,  any  material  change in the nature of its  business  as
carried on at the date hereof.

         (i) Charter  Amendments.  Amend,  or permit any of its  Subsidiaries to
amend, its certificate or articles of incorporation or bylaws.

         (j)  Accounting  Changes.   Make  or  permit,  or  permit  any  of  its
Subsidiaries  to make or  permit,  any  change  in (i)  accounting  policies  or
reporting  practices,  except as required by GAAP (which required changes may be
made on a timely basis), or (ii) its Fiscal Year.

         (k)  Prepayments,  Etc. of Debt. (i) Prepay,  redeem,  purchase,  call,
defease or otherwise  satisfy  prior to the  scheduled  maturity  thereof in any
manner,  including,  without limitation, as a result of an asset sale, change of
control or any other event or  occurrence,  or make any payment in  violation of
any subordination terms of, any Debt, including,  without limitation, the Senior
Subordinated  Notes,  or make any payment of  principal,  interest or liquidated
damages in respect of the Senior Subordinated Notes, other than (A) as expressly
provided in Schedule 4.01(aa), (B) the prepayment of Advances in accordance with
the terms of this Agreement, (C) so long as no Default or Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing, or would result therefrom,  regularly scheduled
payments  of  interest   (but  not  of  principal)  in  respect  of  the  Senior
Subordinated  Notes in  accordance  with the terms and  conditions of the Senior
Subordinated Note

 
                                       78





Indenture, (D) so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and
be  continuing,  or would result  therefrom,  the redemption of up to 35% of the
aggregate  original  principal  amount of the  Senior  Subordinated  Notes  plus
accrued but unpaid interest  thereon in accordance with the terms and conditions
of the Senior  Subordinated  Note Indenture with the net proceeds of one or more
public offerings of common stock of the Borrower,  and (E) so long as no Default
or Event of Default  shall have  occurred  and be  continuing,  or would  result
therefrom,  the  payment of  Liquidated  Damages (as such term is defined in the
Senior  Subordinated  Note  Documents)  in an  aggregate  amount  not to  exceed
$150,000,  it being  understood  that any payment of  Liquidated  Damages  which
causes such aggregate  amount to exceed  $150,000 shall  constitute an immediate
Event of Default  hereunder  or (ii)  amend,  modify or change in any manner any
term or condition of any Existing  Debt or Surviving  Debt,  including,  without
limitation,   the  Senior  Subordinated  Notes,  or  (iii)  permit  any  of  its
Subsidiaries  to do any of the foregoing other than to repay any Debt payable to
the Borrower.

         (l)  Amendment,  Etc. of Acquisition  Documents or Senior  Subordinated
Note  Documents.   Cancel  or  terminate  any  Acquisition  Document  or  Senior
Subordinated  Note  Document  or  consent  to  or  accept  any  cancellation  or
termination thereof, amend, modify or change in any manner any term or condition
of any  Acquisition  Document or Senior  Subordinated  Note Document or give any
consent, waiver or approval thereunder, waive any default under or any breach of
any term or condition of any Acquisition  Document or Senior  Subordinated  Note
Document or take any other action in connection with any Acquisition Document or
Senior  Subordinated  Note Document that would impair the value of the interests
or rights of the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  thereunder  or that would
impair the interests or rights of the Administrative  Agent or any Lender Party,
or permit any of its Subsidiaries to do any of the foregoing.

         (m)  Amendment,  Etc. of Material  Contracts.  Cancel or terminate  any
Material  Contract  or  consent  to or accept any  cancellation  or  termination
thereof,  amend or otherwise  modify any Material  Contract or give any consent,
waiver or approval thereunder, waive any default under or breach of any Material
Contract or take any other action in connection with any Material  Contract that
would materially  impair the value of the interests or rights of the Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries thereunder or that would materially impair the interests
or rights of the Administrative  Agent or any Lender Party, or permit any of its
Subsidiaries to do any of the foregoing.

         (n) Negative  Pledge.  Enter into or suffer to exist,  or permit any of
its Subsidiaries to enter into or suffer to exist, any agreement  prohibiting or
conditioning  the creation or assumption of any Lien upon any of its  properties
or assets other than as provided in the Loan Documents.

         (o) Partnerships, New Subsidiaries. (i) Become a general partner in any
general  or  limited  partnership  or  joint  venture,  or  permit  any  of  its
Subsidiaries  to do so, or (ii)  create any new  Subsidiary,  unless  such newly
created  Subsidiary  shall  become  a  Guarantor  pursuant  to the  terms of the
Guaranty  and an  additional  grantor  pursuant  to the  terms  of the  Security
Agreement and  Intellectual  Property  Security  Agreement and all shares of the
capital stock of such new  Subsidiary  are pledged to the  Administrative  Agent
pursuant to the Pledge Agreement.


 
                                       79





         (p) Speculative Transactions. Engage, or permit any of its Subsidiaries
to engage, in any transaction  involving  commodity options or futures contracts
or derivatives or any similar speculative transactions.

         (q) Capital  Expenditures.  Make, or permit any of its  Subsidiaries to
make,  any Capital  Expenditures  in excess of an amount equal to $25,000,000 in
the aggregate in any Fiscal Year.

         (r) Issuance of Stock.  (i) The Borrower  will not, and will not permit
any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly,  issue, sell, assign, pledge
or otherwise  encumber or dispose of any shares of capital stock of the Borrower
or any  Subsidiary of the Borrower,  except (x) to the Borrower,  (y) to qualify
directors if required by applicable law or (z) as set forth in Schedule 5.02(r),
and except for  issuances of common stock for cash by the Borrower to the extent
expressly permitted under Section 5.02(r)(ii) below.

                  (ii) The Borrower  shall not issue any capital  stock,  except
for  issuances of its common stock for cash in one or more  underwritten  public
offerings  registered  under the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,  where no
Default  or Event of  Default  either  exists or,  after  giving  effect to such
issuance, will exist.

         SECTION  5.03.  Reporting  Requirements.  So long as any Advance  shall
remain  unpaid,  any Letter of Credit or Alternative  Currency  Letter of Credit
shall be outstanding  or any Lender Party shall have any  Commitment  hereunder,
the Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and Lender Parties:

         (a) Default Notice. As soon as possible and in any event within two (2)
Business Days after obtaining  knowledge of the occurrence of any Default or any
event,  development or occurrence  reasonably  likely to have a Material Adverse
Effect, a statement of the chief financial officer of the Borrower setting forth
details of such Default or event,  development or occurrence and the action that
the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto.

         (b) Quarterly Financials.  As soon as available and in any event within
forty-five (45) days after the end of each of the first, second and third fiscal
quarters of each Fiscal Year,  and as soon as available  and in any event within
ninety (90) days after the end of the fourth fiscal quarter of each Fiscal Year,
a  Consolidated  balance  sheet  of  the  Borrower  and  its  Subsidiaries,  and
consolidating  balance sheets of the Borrower and its Significant  Subsidiaries,
as of the end of such  quarter  and a  Consolidated  statement  of income  and a
Consolidated  statement of cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries,  and
consolidating statements of income and consolidating statements of cash flows of
the Borrower and its Significant Subsidiaries,  for the period commencing at the
end of the  previous  fiscal  quarter  and  ending  with the end of such  fiscal
quarter and a Consolidated  statement of income and a Consolidated  statement of
cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and consolidating statements of
income  and  consolidating  statements  of cash  flows of the  Borrower  and its
Significant  Subsidiaries,  for the period commencing at the end of the previous
Fiscal  Year and ending with the end of such fiscal  quarter,  setting  forth in
each case in comparative form the  corresponding  figures for the  corresponding
period of the  preceding  Fiscal  Year and the  corresponding  figures  from the
budgeted forecasts delivered pursuant to Section 5.03(e) for such period and for
the Fiscal Year which  includes such period,  all in reasonable  detail and duly
certified by the chief financial

 
                                       80





officer of the Borrower as having been prepared in accordance with GAAP (subject
to normal year-end audit  adjustments),  together with (i) a certificate of said
officer  stating that no Default has occurred and is continuing or, if a Default
has occurred  and is  continuing,  a statement as to the nature  thereof and the
action that the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto and
(ii) a  schedule  in  form  satisfactory  to  the  Administrative  Agent  of the
computations  used by the Borrower in determining  compliance with the financial
covenants contained in Sections 5.04(a) through (d), provided, that in the event
of any change in GAAP used in the preparation of such financial statements,  the
Borrower shall also provide,  if necessary for the  determination  of compliance
with Section  5.04,  a statement of  reconciliation  conforming  such  financial
statements to GAAP. In connection with the Borrower's  delivery of all quarterly
financial statements pursuant to the foregoing,  the Borrower shall also furnish
to the  Administrative  Agent and Lender Parties a contract progress report with
respect  to each and every  ongoing  contracted  for  project  in process of the
Borrower,  LICO or any of their respective Subsidiaries which involves aggregate
payments  during the life of such  contract  in excess of  $5,000,000.  All such
contract in progress  reports  shall be prepared in a manner and  presented in a
form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

         (c) Annual Financials. As soon as available and in any event within one
hundred  and five (105) days after the end of each  Fiscal  Year,  a copy of the
annual  audit  report  for such  year  for the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries,
including  therein  a  Consolidated  balance  sheet  of  the  Borrower  and  its
Subsidiaries,   and  consolidating  balance  sheets  of  the  Borrower  and  its
Significant  Subsidiaries,  as of the end of such Fiscal Year and a Consolidated
statement of income and a  Consolidated  statement of cash flows of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries,  and consolidating  statements of income and consolidating
statements of cash flows of the Borrower and its Significant  Subsidiaries,  for
such  Fiscal  Year,  in  each  case  setting  forth  in  comparative   form  the
corresponding  figures for the prior Fiscal Year and the  corresponding  figures
from the  budgeted  forecasts  delivered  pursuant  to Section  5.03(e) for such
Fiscal  Year and in each  case  accompanied  (in the  case of such  Consolidated
financial statements) by an opinion acceptable to the Administrative Agent, with
the consent of the Required  Lenders,  of Ernst & Young LLP or other independent
certified public accountants of recognized  national standing  acceptable to the
Administrative  Agent, with the consent of the Required  Lenders,  together with
(i) a letter of such  accounting  firm to the  Administrative  Agent and  Lender
Parties  stating that in the course of the regular  audit of the business of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries, which audit was conducted by such accounting firm
in accordance with generally accepted auditing  standards,  such accounting firm
has obtained no knowledge that a Default has occurred and is continuing,  or if,
in  the  opinion  of  such  accounting  firm,  a  Default  has  occurred  and is
continuing,  a  statement  as to the nature  thereof,  (ii) a  schedule  in form
satisfactory  to the  Administrative  Agent  of the  computations  used  by such
accountants in determining,  as of the end of such Fiscal Year,  compliance with
the covenants  contained in Sections 5.04(a) through (d), provided,  that in the
event  of  any  change  in  GAAP  used  in the  preparation  of  such  financial
statements,  the Borrower shall also provide, if necessary for the determination
of compliance with Section 5.04, a statement of  reconciliation  conforming such
financial  statements  to GAAP and (iii) a  certificate  of the chief  financial
officer of the Borrower  stating that no Default has occurred and is  continuing
or, if a Default has  occurred and is  continuing,  a statement as to the nature
thereof and the action  that the  Borrower  has taken and  proposes to take with
respect thereto.


 
                                       81





         (d) Pro  Forma  Financials.  In  connection  with the  delivery  of all
financial statements delivered under Section 5.03(b) or 5.03(c) above, pro forma
financial   statements   reflecting  the  acquisition  of  LICO  and  all  other
acquisitions  made by the Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries at any time during
such period,  such pro forma  financials  to be prepared both (i) for the period
commencing  at the end of the  previous  Fiscal  Year and ending with the end of
such fiscal quarter or Fiscal Year, as the case may be, as if the acquisition of
LICO and all such other  acquisitions  had  occurred  at the  beginning  of such
period  and (ii) for the  corresponding  period of the  preceding  Fiscal  Year,
setting forth the  corresponding  figures for such  corresponding  period of the
preceding  Fiscal  Year,  as if the  acquisition  of  LICO  and all  such  other
acquisitions had occurred at the beginning of such corresponding period. All pro
forma  balance  sheets shall be prepared as if the  acquisition  of LICO and all
such other acquisitions had occurred as of the beginning of the period ending on
the relevant  balance sheet date, and all pro forma statements of income and pro
forma  statements of cash flows shall be prepared as if the  acquisition of LICO
and all such other  acquisitions  had occurred at the  beginning of the relevant
periods reflected therein.  All pro forma financial statements shall be prepared
on a basis and presented in a form reasonably  acceptable to the  Administrative
Agent.  The  requirements set forth in this Section 5.03(d) to deliver pro forma
financial  statements  with  respect  to the  acquisition  of LICO or any  other
acquisition made by the Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries, as the case may be,
shall  continue  until  such  time as the  acquisition  of  LICO  or such  other
acquisition,  as the case may be, has been fully reflected for all relevant time
periods in the financial  statements  delivered under Section 5.03(b) or 5.03(c)
above, as appropriate, whereupon the requirements to deliver pro forma financial
statements with respect to the acquisition of LICO or such other acquisition, as
the case may be,  shall cease with  respect to the  acquisition  of LICO or such
other acquisition,  as the case may be, only, but shall continue with respect to
any and all acquisitions of the Borrower or one of its  Subsidiaries  other than
the acquisition of LICO or such other acquisition, as the case may be.

         (e) Annual  Forecasts.  As soon as available  and in any event no later
than sixty (60) days after the end of each Fiscal  Year,  forecasts  prepared by
management   of  the  Borrower,   in  form   reasonably   satisfactory   to  the
Administrative  Agent,  of  balance  sheets,  income  statements  and cash  flow
statements on a quarterly  basis for the Fiscal Year  following such Fiscal Year
then ended.

         (f) ERISA  Events  and ERISA  Reports.  (i)  Promptly  and in any event
within twenty (20) days after any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate knows or has
reason to know  that any ERISA  Event has  occurred,  a  statement  of the chief
financial officer of the Borrower describing such ERISA Event and the action, if
any, that such Loan Party or such ERISA Affiliate has taken and proposes to take
with  respect  thereto  and  (ii) on the date any  records,  documents  or other
information  must be furnished to the PBGC with respect to any Plan  pursuant to
Section 4010 of ERISA, a copy of such records, documents and information.

         (g)  Plan  Terminations.  Promptly  and in any  event  within  five (5)
Business  Days after receipt  thereof by any Loan Party or any ERISA  Affiliate,
copies of each notice from the PBGC stating its  intention to terminate any Plan
or to have a trustee appointed to administer any Plan or correspondence from the
PBGC indicating it is considering termination of any Plan.


 
                                       82





         (h) Actuarial Reports.  Promptly upon receipt thereof by any Loan Party
or any ERISA Affiliate, a copy of the annual actuarial valuation report for each
Plan the funded current liability percentage (as defined in Section 302(d)(8)(B)
of  ERISA)  of which is less  than 75% or the  unfunded  current  liability  (as
defined in Section 302(d)(8)(A) of ERISA) of which exceeds $2,000,000.

         (i) Plan Annual  Reports.  Upon the request,  from time to time, of the
Administrative  Agent,  promptly and in any event within  thirty (30) days after
the filing thereof with the Internal Revenue Service,  copies of each Schedule B
(Actuarial  Information) to the annual report (Form 5500 Series) with respect to
each Plan.

         (j) Annual Plan Summaries. As soon as available and in any event within
one  hundred and five (105) days after the end of each  Fiscal  Year,  an annual
summary of actuarial  valuation and other  information with respect to each Plan
in form,  substance and detail  reasonably  satisfactory  to the  Administrative
Agent.

         (k) Multiemployer  Plan Notices.  Promptly and in any event within five
(5) Business Days after receipt thereof by any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate
from the sponsor of a Multiemployer  Plan, copies of each notice concerning,  or
other correspondence with respect to, (i) the imposition of Withdrawal Liability
by any such Multiemployer  Plan, (ii) the reorganization or termination,  within
the meaning of Title IV of ERISA,  of any such  Multiemployer  Plan or (iii) the
amount of liability incurred, or that may be incurred, by such Loan Party or any
ERISA Affiliate in connection with any event described in clause (i) or (ii).

         (l)  Litigation.  Promptly  after  the  commencement  thereof,  or  any
material   development   therein,   notice  of  all  material  actions,   suits,
investigations,  litigation  and  proceedings  before any court or  governmental
department,  commission,  board,  bureau,  agency or  instrumentality,  Federal,
state,  local or foreign,  affecting any Loan Party or any of its  Subsidiaries.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,  promptly after the occurrence
thereof,  notice of any material adverse change in the status,  or the financial
effect on any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, of any litigation disclosed
on Schedule 4.01(i).

         (m) Securities  Reports.  Promptly after the sending or filing thereof,
copies of all proxy statements,  financial  statements and reports that any Loan
Party or any of its Subsidiaries  sends to its  stockholders,  and copies of all
regular, periodic and special reports, and all registration statements, that any
Loan Party or any of its  Subsidiaries  files with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission or any other governmental  authority, or with any national securities
exchange.

         (n) Creditor Reports.  Promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of
any statement or report  furnished to any other holder of the  securities of any
Loan Party or of any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of any indenture,
loan or credit  agreement or similar  agreement or instrument  and not otherwise
required to be furnished to the Lender  Parties  pursuant to any other clause of
this Section 5.03.

         (o) Agreement  Notices.  Promptly upon receipt  thereof,  copies of all
notices,  requests and other documents  received by any Loan Party or any of its
Subsidiaries under or pursuant to any Acquisition Document,  Senior Subordinated
Note Document or Material Contract or

 
                                       83





indenture, loan or credit agreement or similar agreement or instrument regarding
or related to any breach or default by any party thereto or any event that could
materially  impair the value of the interests or the rights of any Loan Party or
any of its  Subsidiaries or otherwise have a Material  Adverse Effect and copies
of any  amendment,  modification  or waiver of any provision of any  Acquisition
Document, Senior Subordinated Note Document, Material Contract or loan or credit
agreement or similar  agreement or indenture and, from time to time upon request
by  the  Administrative  Agent,  such  information  and  reports  regarding  the
foregoing as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

         (p) Revenue Agent Reports.  Within ten (10) days after receipt,  copies
of all Revenue  Agent  Reports  (Internal  Revenue  Service Form 886),  or other
written  proposals of the Internal Revenue Service,  that propose,  determine or
otherwise set forth any  adjustments  to the Federal income tax liability of the
affiliated  group  (within the  meaning of Section  1504(a)(1)  of the  Internal
Revenue Code) of which the Borrower is a member aggregating $250,000 or more.

         (q)   Environmental   Conditions.   Promptly  after  the  assertion  or
occurrence  thereof,  notice  of  any  Environmental  Action  against  or of any
noncompliance  by  any  Loan  Party  or  any  of  its   Subsidiaries   with  any
Environmental  Law or Environmental  Permit that could reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect.

         (r)  Real  Property.  Upon  the  request,  from  time to  time,  of the
Administrative  Agent,  promptly and in any event within  thirty (30) days after
any such request, a report supplementing Schedules 4.01(bb) and 4.01(cc) hereto,
including an  identification  of all real and leased property disposed of by the
Borrower  or any  of its  Subsidiaries  during  such  Fiscal  Year,  a list  and
description   (including   the  street   address,   county  or  other   relevant
jurisdiction,  state,  record  owner  and,  in the case of leases  of  property,
lessor,  lessee,  expiration  date and annual  rental cost  thereof) of all real
property  acquired or leased during such Fiscal Year and a  description  of such
other changes in the information  included in such Schedules as may be necessary
for such Schedules to remain accurate and complete in all respects.

         (s) Insurance. As soon as available and in any event within thirty (30)
days after the end of each  Fiscal  Year,  a report  summarizing  the  insurance
coverage (specifying type, amount and carrier) in effect for each Loan Party and
its   Subsidiaries   and   containing   such   additional   information  as  the
Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

         (t)  Management  Letters.  As soon as available and in any event within
five (5)  Business  Days after the receipt  thereof,  copies of any  "management
letter" or similar letter received by the Borrower or its Board of Directors (or
any Committee thereof) from its independent public accountants.

         (u) Other Information.  Such other information respecting the business,
condition  (financial  or  otherwise),  operations,  performance,  properties or
prospects of any Loan Party or any of its  Subsidiaries or the Collateral as the
Administrative Agent or any Lender Party (through the Administrative  Agent) may
from time to time reasonably request.


 
                                       84





         SECTION 5.04. Financial Covenants.  So long as any Advance shall remain
unpaid,  any Letter of Credit or Alternative  Currency Letter of Credit shall be
outstanding  or any  Lender  Party  shall  have any  Commitment  hereunder,  the
Borrower will:

         (a) Funded Debt to EBITDA Ratio.  Maintain as of the end of each fiscal
quarter of the Borrower a ratio of (i)  Consolidated  Funded Debt to (ii) EBITDA
for the most recently completed four fiscal quarters of the Borrower of not more
than the ratio set forth below:

                  Four Fiscal Quarters ending on:                     Ratio

                  June 30, 1998                                    4.75 to 1.0
                  September 30, 1998                               4.75 to 1.0
                  December 31, 1998                                4.75 to 1.0
                  March 31, 1999                                   3.75 to 1.0
                  June 30, 1999                                    3.75 to 1.0
                  September 30, 1999                               3.75 to 1.0
                  December 31, 1999                                3.75 to 1.0
                  March 31, 2000                                   3.25 to 1.0
                  June 30, 2000                                    3.25 to 1.0
                  September 30, 2000                               3.25 to 1.0
                  December 31, 2000                                3.25 to 1.0
                  March 31, 2001 and each fiscal
                     quarter end thereafter                        3.00 to 1.0

         (b)  Interest  Coverage  Ratio.  Maintain  as of the end of each fiscal
quarter of the Borrower a ratio of (i) Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently
completed four fiscal  quarters of the Borrower to (ii) Interest  Expense of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period of not less than 3.0 to 1.0.

         (c) Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.  Maintain as of the end of each fiscal
quarter of the Borrower a ratio of (i) Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently
completed four fiscal quarters of the Borrower,  less Capital  Expenditures made
during such  period,  less the  aggregate  amount of federal,  state,  local and
foreign taxes paid by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries during such period, less
cash  dividends  paid by the  Borrower to the holders of its common stock during
such  period,  to the (ii)  sum of (x)  cash  interest  paid or  payable  by the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries on all Debt,  including,  without limitation,  the
Senior  Subordinated  Notes,  during such period,  plus (y) cash rentals paid or
payable under Capitalized Leases during such period,  plus (z) principal amounts
of all Funded Debt paid or payable by the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  during
such period, of not less than the ratio set forth below for such period:

Four Fiscal Quarters ending on:                        Ratio
- ------------------------------                         -----
June 30, 1998                                        1.40 to 1.0
September 30, 1998                                   1.40 to 1.0
December 31, 1998                                    1.40 to 1.0
March 31, 1999 and each fiscal
   quarter ending thereafter                         1.50 to 1.0

 
                                       85







         (d)  Minimum  Net Worth.  Maintain,  as of the last day of each  fiscal
quarter,  an  excess  of  Consolidated  total  assets  over  Consolidated  total
liabilities  of the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  of not  less  than (i) the
greater of (A) 85% of the excess of Consolidated  total assets over Consolidated
total liabilities of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at March 31, 1998 and (B)
$155,000,000,  plus (ii) 75% of Consolidated  positive net income (and excluding
100% of  Consolidated  net losses) of the  Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  since
March  31,  1998 to and  including  each  date of  determination  computed  on a
cumulative basis for said entire period.


                                   ARTICLE VI

                                EVENTS OF DEFAULT

         SECTION  6.01 Events of Default.  If any of the  following  ("Events of
Default") shall occur and be continuing:

         (a) (i) the  Borrower  shall fail to pay any  principal  of any Advance
when the same shall  become due and payable or (ii) the  Borrower  shall fail to
pay any interest on any Advance,  or any Loan Party shall fail to make any other
payment under any Loan Document,  in each case under this clause (ii) within two
(2) Business Days after the same becomes due and payable; or

         (b) any  representation  or warranty  made by any Loan Party (or any of
its officers)  under or in connection with any Loan Document shall prove to have
been incorrect in any material respect when made or confirmed; or

         (c) the Borrower shall fail to perform or observe any term, covenant or
agreement  contained in Section 2.14,  5.01(d),  (e), (f), (g), (l), (m) or (n),
5.02, 5.03 or 5.04; or

         (d) any Loan Party shall fail to perform  any other  term,  covenant or
agreement contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed
if such failure shall remain  unremedied  for thirty (30) days after the earlier
of the date on which (i) a  Responsible  Officer of any Loan Party becomes aware
of such  failure or (ii)  written  notice  thereof  shall have been given to the
Borrower by the Administrative Agent or any Lender Party; or

         (e) any Loan  Party or any of its  Subsidiaries  shall  fail to pay any
principal of,  premium or interest on or any other amount  payable in respect of
any Debt, including,  without limitation, the Senior Subordinated Notes, that is
outstanding  in a principal  or notional  amount of at least  $1,000,000  either
individually or in the aggregate (but excluding Debt  outstanding  hereunder) of
such Loan Party or such  Subsidiary  (as the case may be), when the same becomes
due  and  payable   (whether  by  scheduled   maturity,   required   prepayment,
acceleration,  demand or otherwise); or any event shall occur or condition shall
exist under any agreement or instrument  relating to any such Debt, in each case
if the  effect of such event or  condition  is to  accelerate,  or to permit the
acceleration  of, the maturity of such Debt or otherwise to cause,  or to permit
the  holder  thereof to cause,  such Debt to  mature;  or any such Debt shall be
declared to be due and payable or required to be prepaid or redeemed (other than
by a regularly scheduled required prepayment or redemption),  purchased,  called
or defeased, or an offer to prepay, redeem,

 
                                       86





purchase,  call or defease such Debt shall be required to be made,  in each case
prior to the stated maturity thereof, including, without limitation, as a result
of an asset sale, a change of control or any other event or occurrence; or

         (f) any Loan Party or any of its  Subsidiaries  shall generally not pay
its debts as such debts  become due, or shall admit in writing its  inability to
pay its debts generally,  or shall make a general  assignment for the benefit of
creditors; or any proceeding shall be instituted by or against any Loan Party or
any of its  Subsidiaries  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 of debtors,  or seeking the
entry of an order for relief or the appointment of a receiver,  trustee or other
similar  official for it or for any substantial part of its property and, in the
case of any such  proceeding  instituted  against it (but not  instituted by it)
that is being diligently  contested by it in good faith,  either such proceeding
shall remain  undismissed or unstayed for a period of thirty (30) days or any of
the actions sought in such proceeding (including,  without limitation, the entry
of an order for relief  against,  or the  appointment  of a  receiver,  trustee,
custodian  or other  similar  official  for, it or any  substantial  part of its
property) shall occur, or any Loan Party or any of its  Subsidiaries  shall take
any  corporate  action to  authorize  any of the actions set forth above in this
subsection (f); or

         (g) any  judgment  or order  for the  payment  of money  in  excess  of
$1,000,000  (other  than such a  judgment  or order  which is fully  covered  by
insurance for which the appropriate  insurer has acknowledged  responsibility in
writing) shall be rendered against any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries and
either (i)  enforcement  proceedings  shall have been  commenced by any creditor
upon  such  judgment  or order or (ii)  there  shall  be a period  of seven  (7)
consecutive  days during which a stay of  enforcement of such judgment or order,
by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect; or

         (h) any  non-monetary  judgment or order shall be rendered  against any
Loan  Party  or any of its  Subsidiaries  that is  reasonably  likely  to have a
Material Adverse Effect; or

         (i) any material  provision of any Loan Document after delivery thereof
shall for any reason cease to be valid and binding on or enforceable against any
Loan  Party  which is party to it,  or any  such  Loan  Party  shall so state in
writing; or

         (j) any Collateral Document after delivery thereof shall for any reason
cease to or otherwise not create a valid and  perfected  first and only priority
lien on and security interest in the Collateral purported to be covered thereby;
or

         (k) (i) any Person or two or more Persons  acting in concert shall have
acquired  beneficial  ownership  (within  the  meaning  of  Rule  13d-3,  of the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended),  directly or  indirectly,  of Voting  Stock of the  Borrower (or other
securities  convertible into such Voting Stock)  representing 15% or more of the
combined voting power of all Voting Stock of the Borrower;  (ii) the individuals
who at the date hereof were  Directors of the Borrower  (together with any other
Director  whose  election to the Board of  Directors  of the  Borrower (or whose
nomination  by the Board of Directors  for election by the  stockholders  of the
Borrower) was approved by a

 
                                       87





vote of at least a majority  of the  Directors  then in office  who either  were
directors at the date hereof or whose election was previously so approved) shall
cease for any reason to  constitute  a majority of the Board of Directors of the
Borrower;  or (iii) any Person or two or more  Persons  acting in concert  shall
have acquired by contract or otherwise, or shall have entered into a contract or
arrangement that, upon consummation,  will result in its or their acquisition of
the power to exercise,  directly or indirectly, a controlling influence over the
management or policies of the Borrower; or

         (1) any ERISA Event shall have  occurred with respect to a Plan and the
sum  (determined  as of the date of  occurrence of the last such ERISA Event) of
the  Insufficiency of such Plan and the Insufficiency of any and all other Plans
with respect to which an ERISA Event shall have  occurred and then exist (or the
liability  of the Loan  Parties and the ERISA  Affiliates  related to such ERISA
Events) exceeds $2,000,000; or

         (m) any Loan Party or any ERISA  Affiliate  shall have been notified by
the sponsor of a Multiemployer Plan that it has incurred Withdrawal Liability to
such  Multiemployer  Plan in an  amount  that,  when  aggregated  with all other
amounts required to be paid to  Multiemployer  Plans by the Loan Parties and the
ERISA  Affiliates as  Withdrawal  Liability  (determined  as of the date of such
notification),  exceeds  $500,000 or requires  payments  exceeding  $200,000 per
annum; or

         (n) any Loan Party or any ERISA  Affiliate  shall have been notified by
the  sponsor  of a  Multiemployer  Plan  that  such  Multiemployer  Plan  is  in
reorganization or is being terminated,  within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA,
and as a result of such  reorganization  or  termination  the  aggregate  annual
contributions of the Loan Parties and the ERISA Affiliates to all  Multiemployer
Plans that are then in  reorganization  or being terminated have been or will be
increased over the amounts  contributed to such Multiemployer Plans for the plan
years of such Multiemployer  Plans immediately  preceding the plan year in which
such reorganization or termination occurs by an amount exceeding $200,000; or

         (o)  there  shall  occur in the  reasonable  judgment  of the  Required
Lenders any Material Adverse Change; or

         (p) the  aggregate  amount of the  Revolving  Credit  Advances plus the
Assigned  Dollar Value of Alternative  Currency  Revolving  Credit Advances plus
Swing Line  Advances  plus Letter of Credit  Advances  plus the Assigned  Dollar
Value of all  Alternative  Currency Letter of Credit Advances plus the aggregate
Available  Amount of all Letters of Credit and Alternative  Currency  Letters of
Credit outstanding shall at any time exceed the Revolving Credit Facility, which
excess  is not  eliminated  by  the  Borrower's  immediate  prepayment  of  then
outstanding  Swing Line  Advances,  Revolving  Credit  Advances and  Alternative
Currency  Revolving  Credit Advances in an amount at least equal to such excess;
or

         (q) the aggregate  amount of the Assigned  Dollar Value of  Alternative
Currency  Revolving  Credit  Advances  plus  the  Assigned  Dollar  Value of all
Alternative  Currency  Letter of Credit  Advances plus the  aggregate  Available
Amount of all Alternative  Currency Letters of Credit  outstanding  shall at any
time exceed the Alternative Currency Revolving Credit Facility,  which excess is
not  eliminated  by the  Borrower's  immediate  prepayment  of then  outstanding
Alternative  Currency  Revolving  Credit Advances in an amount at least equal to
such excess; or

 
                                       88






         (r)  for as  long  as any  Senior  Subordinated  Notes,  or  guaranties
executed in connection  therewith,  remain  outstanding,  all or any part of the
principal or interest in respect of the  Advances,  or other  Obligations  under
this Agreement or any other Loan Document,  including,  without limitation,  (i)
Obligations to pay charges,  expenses,  fees, attorneys' fees and disbursements,
indemnities,  Letter  of  Credit  and  Alternative  Currency  Letter  of  Credit
commissions  and other amounts  payable by the Borrower  and/or any of the other
Loan  Parties  under  this  Agreement  or any  other  Loan  Document,  (ii)  all
liabilities  and other  Obligations  arising  out of,  based upon or relating to
Existing  Letters of Credit or any other  Letters  of Credit or any  Alternative
Currency  Letters of Credit,  and (iii)  Obligations  to reimburse any amount in
respect of any of the foregoing that any Lender Party,  in its sole  discretion,
may  elect to pay or  advance  on  behalf  of any  Loan  Party,  shall  cease to
constitute  Senior Debt (as defined in the Senior  Subordinated  Note Indenture)
and  Designated  Senior  Debt  (as  defined  in  the  Senior  Subordinated  Note
Indenture).  Or, as such, any of the Obligations (or the Administrative Agent or
Lenders)  shall cease to be entitled to the benefit of any of the  subordination
and  other  provisions  which  are  available  in  respect  of  Senior  Debt and
Designated Senior Debt (and to the holders thereof) or any of such subordination
or other  provisions  shall cease to be in full force and effect and enforceable
in accordance with its terms;

then, and in any such event, the Administrative  Agent (i) shall at the request,
or may with the consent,  of the Required  Lenders,  by notice to the  Borrower,
declare the Commitments of each appropriate Lender (other than the Commitment in
respect of Letter of Credit  Advances or Alternative  Currency  Letter of Credit
Advances by the Issuing Bank or a Revolving  Credit  Lender  pursuant to Section
2.03(c)  or Section  2.03(d),  as  appropriate,  and Swing  Line  Advances  by a
Revolving  Credit Lender pursuant to Section 2.02(c)) and of the Issuing Bank to
issue  Letters  of  Credit  and  Alternative  Currency  Letters  of Credit to be
terminated,  whereupon the same shall forthwith terminate, and (ii) shall at the
request, or may with the consent, of the Required Lenders,  (A) by notice to the
Borrower,  declare the Notes, all interest thereon and all other amounts payable
under  this  Agreement  and the other Loan  Documents  to be  forthwith  due and
payable, whereupon the Notes, all such interest and all such other amounts shall
become and be forthwith due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or
further  notice of any kind,  all of which are  hereby  expressly  waived by the
Borrower  and (B) by  notice  to each  party  required  under  the  terms of any
agreement  in support of which a Standby  Letter of Credit  (whether a Letter of
Credit or an Alternative Currency Letter of Credit) is issued,  request that all
Obligations  under such  agreement be declared to be due and payable;  provided,
however,  that in the event of an actual or deemed  entry of an order for relief
with  respect to any Loan  Party or any of its  Subsidiaries  under the  Federal
Bankruptcy  Code, (x) the obligation of each Lender to make Advances (other than
Letter of Credit  Advances or Alternative  Currency Letter of Credit Advances by
the Issuing Bank or a Revolving  Credit  Lender  pursuant to Section  2.03(c) or
Section 2.03(d),  as appropriate,  and Swing Line Advances by a Revolving Credit
Lender pursuant to Section  2.02(c)) and of the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of
Credit  and  Alternative  Currency  Letters  of Credit  shall  automatically  be
terminated  and (y) the Notes,  all such  interest  and all such  amounts  shall
automatically  become  and be due  and  payable,  without  presentment,  demand,
protest or any notice of any kind, all of which are hereby  expressly  waived by
the Borrower.

         SECTION  6.02.  Actions  in  Respect  of  the  Letters  of  Credit  and
Alternative  Currency  Letters of Credit upon  Default.  If any Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing, the Administrative Agent may, or shall at
the request of the Required Lenders, irrespective of

 
                                       89





whether it is taking any of the actions  described in Section 6.01 or otherwise,
make demand upon the  Borrower to, and  forthwith  upon such demand the Borrower
will,  pay to the  Administrative  Agent on behalf of the Lender Parties in same
day funds at the  Administrative  Agent's office designated in such demand,  for
deposit in the L/C Cash  Collateral  Account,  an amount equal to the  aggregate
Available  Amount of all Letters of Credit and Alternative  Currency  Letters of
Credit then outstanding. If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that
any funds held in the L/C Cash  Collateral  Account  are subject to any right or
claim of any Person other than the  Administrative  Agent and the Lender Parties
or that the total  amount of such  funds is less  than the  aggregate  Available
Amount of all Letters of Credit and Alternative  Currency Letters of Credit, the
Borrower will,  forthwith upon demand by the  Administrative  Agent,  pay to the
Administrative  Agent,  as additional  funds to be deposited and held in the L/C
Cash  Collateral  Account,  an amount equal to the excess of (a) such  aggregate
Available  Amount over (b) the total amount of funds,  if any,  then held in the
L/C Cash Collateral Account that the Administrative  Agent determines to be free
and clear of any such right and claim.


                                   ARTICLE VII

                            THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

         SECTION  7.01.  Authorization  and Action.  Each  Lender  Party (in its
capacities  as a Lender,  the  Issuing  Bank,  the Swing Line Bank and any Hedge
Bank)  hereby  appoints and  authorizes  the  Administrative  Agent to take such
action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers and  discretion  under
this   Agreement  and  the  other  Loan   Documents  as  are  delegated  to  the
Administrative Agent by the terms hereof and thereof,  together with such powers
and  discretion  as are  reasonably  incidental  thereto.  As to any matters not
expressly  provided for by the Loan Documents  (including,  without  limitation,
enforcement or collection of the Notes), the  Administrative  Agent shall not be
required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to
act or to refrain  from  acting  (and shall be fully  protected  in so acting or
refraining from acting) upon the instructions of the Required Lenders,  and such
instructions  shall be binding upon all Lender Parties and all holders of Notes;
provided,  however,  that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take
any action that exposes the  Administrative  Agent to personal liability or that
is contrary to this  Agreement,  any other Loan Document or applicable  law. The
Administrative  Agent agrees to give to each Lender Party prompt  notice of each
notice given to it by the Borrower pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

         SECTION 7.02. Agent's Reliance,  Etc. Neither the Administrative  Agent
nor any of its directors,  officers, agents or employees shall be liable for any
action  taken or omitted to be taken by it or them under or in  connection  with
the Loan  Documents,  except  for its or their own gross  negligence  or willful
misconduct.   Without  limitation  of  the  generality  of  the  foregoing,  the
Administrative  Agent: (a) may treat the payee of any Note as the holder thereof
until the Administrative Agent receives and accepts an Assignment and Acceptance
entered into by the Lender that is the payee of such Note,  as assignor,  and an
Eligible  Assignee,  as assignee,  as provided in Section 8.07;  (b) may consult
with legal counsel  (including  counsel for any Loan Party),  independent public
accountants  and other  experts  selected  by it and shall not be liable for any
action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in  accordance  with the
advice  of such  counsel,  accountants  or  experts;  (c) makes no  warranty  or
representation to any Lender Party and

 
                                       90





shall not be responsible to any Lender Party for any  statements,  warranties or
representations (whether written or oral) made in or in connection with the Loan
Documents;  (d) shall not have any duty to  ascertain  or to  inquire  as to the
performance  or observance  of any of the terms,  covenants or conditions of any
Loan  Document  on the  part  of any  Loan  Party  or to  inspect  the  property
(including  the  books  and  records)  of  any  Loan  Party;  (e)  shall  not be
responsible  to any  Lender  Party for the due  execution,  legality,  validity,
enforceability,  genuineness,  sufficiency  or value  of, or the  perfection  or
priority of any lien or security  interest  created or  purported  to be created
under or in  connection  with,  any Loan  Document  or any other  instrument  or
document furnished  pursuant thereto;  and (f) shall incur no liability under or
in respect of any Loan Document by acting upon any notice, consent,  certificate
or other  instrument  or writing  (which may be by telegram,  telecopy or telex)
believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent by the proper party or parties.

         SECTION 7.03.  Fleet and Affiliates.  With respect to its  Commitments,
the  Advances  made by it and the Notes  issued to it, Fleet shall have the same
rights and powers  under the Loan  Documents  as any other  Lender Party and may
exercise the same as though it were not the  Administrative  Agent; and the term
"Lender Party" or "Lender Parties" shall, unless otherwise expressly  indicated,
include Fleet in its  individual  capacity.  Fleet and its affiliates may accept
deposits  from,  lend money to,  act as  trustee  under  indentures  of,  accept
investment banking engagements from and generally engage in any kind of business
with, any Loan Party, any of its Subsidiaries and any Person who may do business
with or own securities of any Loan Party or any such Subsidiary, all as if Fleet
were not the  Administrative  Agent and without any duty to account  therefor to
the Lender Parties.

         SECTION  7.04.   Lender  Party  Credit  Decision.   Each  Lender  Party
acknowledges   that  it  has,   independently  and  without  reliance  upon  the
Administrative  Agent or any  other  Lender  Party  and  based on the  financial
statements  referred to in Section 4.01 and such other documents and information
as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter
into  this  Agreement.  Each  Lender  Party  also  acknowledges  that  it  will,
independently  and without reliance upon the  Administrative  Agent or any other
Lender  Party 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.

         SECTION 7.05.  Indemnification.  (a) Each Lender Party severally agrees
to indemnify the Administrative  Agent (to the extent not promptly reimbursed by
the Borrower) from and against such Lender Party's ratable share  (determined as
provided  below)  of any  and all  liabilities,  obligations,  losses,  damages,
penalties,  actions,  judgments,  suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any
kind or nature  whatsoever  that may be imposed  on,  incurred  by, or  asserted
against the Administrative Agent in any way relating to or arising out of any of
the Loan  Documents or any action taken or omitted by the  Administrative  Agent
under any of the Loan Documents;  provided,  however, that no Lender Party shall
be liable for any portion of such  liabilities,  obligations,  losses,  damages,
penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting
from the Administrative Agent's gross negligence or willful misconduct.  Without
limitation  of  the  foregoing,  each  Lender  Party  agrees  to  reimburse  the
Administrative Agent promptly upon demand for its ratable share of any costs and
expenses (including,  without limitation,  fees and expenses of counsel) payable
by the Borrower under Section 8.04, to the

 
                                       91





extent that the Administrative  Agent is not promptly  reimbursed for such costs
and expenses by the Borrower.

         (b) Each Lender Party  severally  agrees to indemnify  the Issuing Bank
(to the extent not promptly  reimbursed by the  Borrower)  from and against such
Lender  Party's  ratable  share  (determined  as provided  below) of any and all
liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits,
costs,  expenses or disbursements  of any kind or nature  whatsoever that may be
imposed  on,  incurred  by, or  asserted  against  the  Issuing  Bank in any way
relating to or arising out of any of the Loan  Documents  or any action taken or
omitted by the Issuing Bank under any of the Loan Documents;  provided, however,
that no  Lender  Party  shall be liable  for any  portion  of such  liabilities,
obligations,  losses,  damages,  penalties,  actions,  judgments,  suits, costs,
expenses or disbursements  resulting from the Issuing Bank's gross negligence or
willful  misconduct.  Without  limitation  of the  foregoing,  each Lender Party
agrees to reimburse  the Issuing Bank promptly upon demand for its ratable share
of any costs and expenses (including,  without limitation,  fees and expenses of
counsel)  payable by the Borrower  under  Section  8.04,  to the extent that the
Issuing  Bank is not  promptly  reimbursed  for such costs and  expenses  by the
Borrower.

         (c) For purposes of Sections  7.05(a) and 7.05(b),  the Lender Parties'
respective  ratable  shares  of any  amount  shall be  determined,  at any time,
according  to the sum of (a) the  aggregate  principal  amount  of the  Advances
outstanding at such time and owing to the respective  Lender Parties,  (b) their
respective Pro Rata Shares of the aggregate  Available  Amount of all Letters of
Credit and Alternative  Currency Letters of Credit  outstanding at such time and
(c) their respective Unused Revolving Credit Commitments at such time; provided,
that the aggregate  principal  amount of Swing Line Advances  owing to the Swing
Line Bank and  Letter of Credit  Advances  and  Alternative  Currency  Letter of
Credit  Advances owing to the Issuing Bank shall be considered to be owed to the
Revolving Credit Lenders ratably in accordance with their  respective  Revolving
Credit  Commitments.  In the event that any Defaulted  Advance shall be owing by
any Defaulting  Lender at any time, such Lender Party's  Commitment with respect
to the  Facility  under which such  Defaulted  Advance was required to have been
made shall be  considered  to be unused for purposes of this Section 7.05 to the
extent of the amount of such Defaulted Advance.  The failure of any Lender Party
to reimburse the  Administrative  Agent or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be,
promptly upon demand for its ratable share of any amount  required to be paid by
the Lender Parties to the Administrative  Agent or the Issuing Bank, as the case
may be, as  provided  herein  shall not relieve  any other  Lender  Party of its
obligation  hereunder to reimburse the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank,
as the case may be, for its ratable  share of such  amount,  but no Lender Party
shall be responsible  for the failure of any other Lender Party to reimburse the
Administrative  Agent or the  Issuing  Bank,  as the case may be, for such other
Lender Party's ratable share of such amount.  Without  prejudice to the survival
of any other  agreements  of any  Lender  Party  hereunder,  the  agreement  and
obligations  of each Lender Party  contained in this Section 7.05 shall  survive
the  payment  in full of  principal,  interest  and all  other  amounts  payable
hereunder and under the other Loan Documents.

         SECTION 7.06. Successor Administrative Agents. The Administrative Agent
may  resign as to any or all of the  Facilities  at any time by  giving  written
notice  thereof to the Lender  Parties and the Borrower and may be removed as to
all of the Facilities at any time with or without cause by the Required Lenders.
Upon any such resignation or removal, the Required Lenders

 
                                       92





shall have the right to appoint a successor  Administrative  Agent as to such of
the  Facilities  as to which  the  Administrative  Agent  has  resigned  or been
removed.  If no successor  Administrative  Agent shall have been so appointed by
the Required Lenders,  and shall have accepted such  appointment,  within thirty
(30)  days  after  the  retiring  Administrative  Agent's  giving  of  notice of
resignation  or the Required  Lenders'  removal of the  retiring  Administrative
Agent,  then the  retiring  Administrative  Agent  may,  on behalf of the Lender
Parties, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be a Lender which
is a commercial  bank  organized or licensed under the laws of the United States
or of any State  thereof  and having a combined  capital and surplus of at least
$250,000,000.  Upon the acceptance of any  appointment as  Administrative  Agent
hereunder by a successor  Administrative  Agent as to all of the  Facilities and
upon the  execution  and filing or recording of such  financing  statements,  or
amendments  thereto,  and such other instruments or notices, as may be necessary
or desirable,  or as the Required Lenders may request,  in order to continue the
perfection  of the Liens  granted or purported  to be granted by the  Collateral
Documents,  such  successor  Administrative  Agent  shall  succeed to and become
vested with all the rights,  powers,  discretion,  privileges  and duties of the
retiring  Administrative  Agent, and the retiring  Administrative Agent shall be
discharged from all of its duties and  obligations  under this Agreement and the
other Loan Documents.  Upon the acceptance of any appointment as  Administrative
Agent hereunder by a successor  Administrative  Agent as to less than all of the
Facilities  and upon the  execution  and filing or recording  of such  financing
statements, or amendments thereto, and such other instruments or notices, as may
be necessary or desirable,  or as the Required Lenders may request,  in order to
continue the  perfection  of the Liens granted or purported to be granted by the
Collateral Documents,  such successor  Administrative Agent shall succeed to and
become vested with all the rights, powers, discretion,  privileges and duties of
the retiring Administrative Agent as to such Facilities, other than with respect
to funds transfers and other similar aspects of the administration of Borrowings
under such  Facilities,  issuances  of Letters  of Credit  (notwithstanding  any
resignation  as  Administrative  Agent  with  respect  to the  Letter  of Credit
Facility)  and payments by the Borrower in respect of such  Facilities,  and the
retiring   Administrative   Agent  shall  be  discharged  from  its  duties  and
obligations under this Agreement as to such Facilities, other than as aforesaid.
After any retiring  Administrative  Agent's  resignation or removal hereunder as
Administrative Agent as to all of the Facilities, the provisions of this Article
VII shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by
it while it was  Administrative  Agent as to any of the  Facilities  under  this
Agreement.


                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         SECTION 8.01. Amendments,  Etc. No amendment or waiver of any provision
of this  Agreement or the Notes or any other Loan  Document,  nor consent to any
departure by the Borrower therefrom,  shall in any event be effective unless the
same  shall  be in  writing  and  signed  (or,  in the  case  of the  Collateral
Documents,  consented  to) by the  Required  Lenders,  and then  such  waiver or
consent  shall be effective  only in the specific  instance and for the specific
purpose for which given;  provided,  however,  that (a) no amendment,  waiver or
consent  shall,  unless in writing and signed by all of the Lenders  (other than
any Lender  Party that is, at such time,  a  Defaulting  Lender),  do any of the
following at any time: (i) waive any of the conditions specified in Section 3.01
or, in the case of the Initial  Extension of Credit,  Section 3.02;  (ii) change
the

 
                                       93





number of Lenders or the  percentage of (x) the  Commitments,  (y) the aggregate
unpaid principal amount of the Advances or (z) the aggregate Available Amount of
outstanding Letters of Credit or Alternative Currency Letters of Credit that, in
each case,  shall be required  for the Lenders or any of them to take any action
hereunder;  (iii)  release  any  material  portion  of  the  Collateral  in  any
transaction  or  series  of  related   transactions   or  permit  the  creation,
incurrence,  assumption or existence of any Lien on any material  portion of the
Collateral in any  transaction or series of related  transactions  to secure any
liabilities or obligations  other than Obligations  owing to the Secured Parties
under  the  Loan  Documents;  (iv)  release  any of the  Guarantors  from  their
Guaranty,  other than the release of the Guaranty of Mechanical  Products and/or
Minitec (and the release from any Collateral  Document executed and delivered by
Mechanical  Products and/or Minitec of Mechanical  Products  and/or Minitec,  as
appropriate)  upon the sale of all of the capital stock, or all or substantially
all of the assets,  of Mechanical  Products  and/or Minitec,  as applicable,  in
accordance  with the terms and  conditions  of this  Agreement;  (v) amend  this
Section  8.01;  or (vi) limit the  liability  of any Loan Party under any of the
Loan Documents and (b) no amendment,  waiver or consent shall, unless in writing
and  signed by the  Required  Lenders  and each  Lender  affected  thereby,  (i)
increase the Commitments of such Lender or subject such Lender to any additional
obligations,  (ii) reduce the  principal  of, or interest  on, the Notes held by
such Lender or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder to such Lender, (iii)
postpone  any date fixed for any payment of  principal  of, or interest  on, the
Notes held by such Lender or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder to such
Lender or (iv)  waive or  change  the  order or  method  of  application  of any
prepayment set forth in Section 2.06 in any manner that materially  affects such
Lender; provided, further, that no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in
writing and signed by the Required  Alternative Currency Lenders, in addition to
the Lenders required above to take such action, affect the rights or obligations
of the Alternative Currency Revolving Credit Lenders under this Agreement or any
other Loan Document;  provided,  further,  that no amendment,  waiver or consent
shall,  unless in writing and signed by the Swing Line Bank or the Issuing Bank,
as the case may be,  in  addition  to the  Lenders  required  above to take such
action,  affect the rights or  obligations of the Swing Line Bank or the Issuing
Bank, as the case may be, under this Agreement or any other Loan  Document;  and
provided, further, that no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing
and signed by the  Administrative  Agent,  in addition  to the Lenders  required
above to take such  action,  affect the  rights or duties of the  Administrative
Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

         SECTION  8.02.  Notices  Etc.  All  notices  and  other  communications
provided for hereunder shall be in writing (including  telegraphic,  telecopy or
telex communication) and mailed, telegraphed, telecopied, telexed or delivered,

                  (i)      if to the Borrower:

                                    Columbus McKinnon Corporation
                                    140 John James Audubon Parkway
                                    Amherst, New York 14228
                                    Attention: Robert L. Montgomery, Jr.
                                    Executive Vice President
                                    Telephone No.:  (716) 689-5405
                                    Facsimile No.:  (716) 689-5598


 
                                       94





                           with a copy to:

                                    Phillips, Lytle, Hitchcock, Blaine & Huber
                                    3400 Marine Midland Center
                                    Buffalo, New York  14203
                                    Attention: Frederick G. Attea, Esq.
                                    Telephone No.:  (716) 847-7010
                                    Facsimile No.:  (716) 852-6100

                  (ii)     if to the Administrative Agent:

                                    Fleet National Bank
                                    10 Fountain Plaza
                                    Buffalo, New York  14202
                                    Attention: Corporate Banking Group
                                    Telephone No.:  (716) 847-7332
                                    Facsimile No.:  (716) 847-4491

                           with a copy to:

                                    Winston & Strawn
                                    200 Park Avenue
                                    New York, New York 10166
                                    Attention:  William D. Brewer, Esq.
                                    Telephone No.:  (212) 294-6793
                                    Facsimile No.:  (212) 294-4700

                  (iii) if to any Initial Lender or the Initial Issuing Bank, at
         its Domestic Lending Office  specified  opposite its name on Schedule I
         attached hereto.

                  (iv) if to any other Lender  Party,  at its  Domestic  Lending
         Office specified in the Assignment and Acceptance  pursuant to which it
         became a Lender Party;

or, as to the Borrower or the  Administrative  Agent,  at such other  address as
shall be designated by such party in a written  notice to the other parties and,
as to each other party,  at such other  address as shall be  designated  by such
party in a written notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. All such
notices and communications  shall, when mailed by certified mail, return receipt
requested, telegraphed, telecopied or telexed, be effective three (3) days after
mailing, upon delivery to the telegraph company, upon transmission by telecopier
or upon confirmation by telex answerback,  respectively, except that notices and
communications  to the  Administrative  Agent pursuant to Article II, III or VII
shall not be effective until received by the Administrative  Agent.  Delivery by
telecopier of an executed counterpart of this Agreement,  the Notes or any other
Loan Document or of any Exhibit  hereto or thereto or of any amendment or waiver
of any  provision  thereof  shall be as  effective  as  delivery  of a  manually
executed counterpart thereof.


 
                                       95





         SECTION 8.03. No Waiver; Remedies. No failure on the part of any Lender
Party or the Administrative Agent to exercise,  and no delay in exercising,  any
right hereunder or under any Note or under any other Loan Document shall operate
as a waiver thereof,  nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right
preclude  any other or further  exercise  thereof or the  exercise  of any other
right.  The remedies  herein  provided are  cumulative  and not exclusive of any
remedies provided by law or in equity.

         SECTION  8.04.  Costs and Expenses.  (a) The Borrower  agrees to pay on
demand (i) all  reasonable  costs and  expenses of the  Administrative  Agent in
connection   with  the   preparation,   execution,   delivery,   administration,
modification and amendment of the Loan Documents (including, without limitation,
(A) all due  diligence,  collateral  review,  syndication  (including  printing,
distribution  and  bank  meetings),   transportation,   computer,   duplication,
appraisal, audit, insurance,  consultant,  search, filing and recording fees and
expenses,  and  (B)  the  reasonable  fees  and  expenses  of  counsel  for  the
Administrative  Agent  with  respect  thereto,  with  respect  to  advising  the
Administrative Agent as to its rights and  responsibilities,  or the perfection,
protection or preservation of rights or interests under the Loan Documents, with
respect to negotiations  with any Loan Party or with other creditors of any Loan
Party or any of its  Subsidiaries  arising  out of any  Default or any events or
circumstances  that may give rise to a Default  and with  respect to  presenting
claims in or otherwise participating in or monitoring any bankruptcy, insolvency
or other  similar  proceeding  involving  creditors'  rights  generally  and any
proceeding   ancillary   thereto)  and  (ii)  all  costs  and  expenses  of  the
Administrative  Agent and the Lender Parties in connection  with the enforcement
of the  Loan  Documents,  whether  in any  action,  suit  or  litigation  or any
bankruptcy,  insolvency or other similar proceeding  affecting creditors' rights
generally or otherwise (including,  without limitation, the fees and expenses of
counsel  for the  Administrative  Agent  and  each  Lender  Party  with  respect
thereto).

         (b)  The   Borrower   agrees  to  indemnify   and  hold   harmless  the
Administrative  Agent, each Lender Party and each of their respective Affiliates
and their respective officers, directors,  employees, agents and advisors (each,
an "Indemnified  Party") from and against any and all claims,  damages,  losses,
liabilities and expenses  (including,  without  limitation,  reasonable fees and
expenses of counsel) that may be incurred by or asserted or awarded  against any
Indemnified  Party,  in each case  arising  out of or in  connection  with or by
reason  of,  or in  connection  with  the  preparation  for a  defense  of,  any
investigation,  litigation  or  proceeding  arising  out  of,  related  to or in
connection  with (i) the  Acquisition or any related  transaction of Borrower or
any of its  Subsidiaries or other  Affiliates and any of the other  transactions
contemplated  by the  Acquisition  Documents,  (ii) the  offering  of the Senior
Subordinated  Notes  or  any  related  transaction  of  Borrower  or  any of its
Subsidiaries or other Affiliates and any of the other transactions  contemplated
by the Senior  Subordinated  Note  Documents,  (iii) any acquisition or proposed
acquisition or similar business  combination or proposed business combination by
the  Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries  or  other  Affiliates  of all or any
portion of the shares of capital stock or substantially  all of the property and
assets of any other Person,  (iv) the Facilities,  the actual or proposed use of
the  proceeds of the Advances or the Letters of Credit by the Borrower or any of
its  Subsidiaries  or  other  Affiliates  and  any  of  the  other  transactions
contemplated  by the Loan  Documents,  or (v) the actual or alleged  presence of
Hazardous Materials on any property of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries
or any Environmental  Action relating in any way to any Loan Party or any of its
Subsidiaries,  in each case  whether or not such  investigation,  litigation  or
proceeding is brought by any Loan Party,  its  directors,  officers,  employees,
stockholders or

 
                                       96





creditors or an Indemnified  Party or any Indemnified Party is otherwise a party
thereto and whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated,
except to the extent such claim,  damage, loss, liability or expense is found in
a final,  non-appealable  judgment by a court of competent  jurisdiction to have
resulted from such Indemnified  Party's gross negligence or willful  misconduct.
The  Borrower  also agrees not to assert any claim  against  the  Administrative
Agent, any Lender Party or any of their respective  Affiliates,  or any of their
respective officers, directors,  employees,  attorneys and agents, on any theory
of liability, for special,  indirect,  consequential or punitive damages arising
out of or otherwise relating to the Acquisition,  the Senior  Subordinated Notes
(including,  without  limitation,  the offering  thereof),  the Facilities,  the
actual or proposed use of the proceeds of the Advances or the Letters of Credit,
the Loan Documents,  the Acquisition  Documents,  the Senior  Subordinated  Note
Documents or any of the transactions contemplated thereby, other than claims for
direct, as opposed to consequential, damages which shall have been determined in
a final  non-appealable  judgment by a court of competent  jurisdiction  to have
resulted from such Person's gross negligence or willful misconduct.

         (c) If any payment of principal  of, or Conversion  of, any  Eurodollar
Rate  Advance is made by the  Borrower to or for the  account of a Lender  Party
other than on the last day of the Interest Period for such Advance,  as a result
of  a  payment  or  Conversion   pursuant  to  Section  2.09(b)(i)  or  2.10(d),
acceleration  of the  maturity of the Notes  pursuant to Section 6.01 or for any
other  reason,  or by an Eligible  Assignee to a Lender  Party other than on the
last day of the Interest  Period for such Advance upon an  assignment  of rights
and  obligations  under this  Agreement  pursuant to Section 8.07,  the Borrower
shall,  upon  demand by such  Lender  Party  (with a copy of such  demand to the
Administrative  Agent), pay to the Administrative  Agent for the account of such
Lender  Party any amounts  required  to  compensate  such  Lender  Party for any
additional losses, costs or expenses that it may reasonably incur as a result of
such  payment,  including,  without  limitation,  any  loss  (including  loss of
anticipated  profits),  cost or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or
re-employment of deposits or other funds required by any Lender Party to fund or
maintain such Advance.

         (d) If any Loan  Party  fails to pay when due any  costs,  expenses  or
other  amounts  payable  by it  under  any  Loan  Document,  including,  without
limitation,  fees and  expenses of counsel and  indemnities,  such amount may be
paid on behalf  of such  Loan  Party by the  Administrative  Agent,  in its sole
discretion.

         (e) Without  prejudice  to the  survival of any other  agreement of any
Loan  Party  hereunder  or under any other Loan  Document,  the  agreements  and
obligations of the Borrower contained in Sections 2.10 and 2.12 and this Section
8.04 shall  survive the  payment in full of  principal,  interest  and all other
amounts payable hereunder and under any of the other Loan Documents.

         SECTION 8.05. Right of Set-off.  Upon (a) the occurrence and during the
continuance  of any Default and (b) the making of the request or the granting of
the consent specified by Section 6.01 to authorize the  Administrative  Agent to
declare the Notes due and payable  pursuant to the  provisions  of Section 6.01,
each Lender Party and each of its respective  Affiliates is hereby authorized at
any time and from time to time, to the fullest  extent  permitted by law, to set
off and  otherwise  apply any and all  deposits  (general  or  special,  time or
demand, provisional or final)

 
                                       97





at any time held and other  indebtedness  at any time owing by such Lender Party
or such  Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any of
its  Subsidiaries  against any and all of the Obligations of the Borrower now or
hereafter  existing  under this Agreement and the Note or Notes (if any) held by
such Lender Party, irrespective of whether such Lender Party shall have made any
demand under this Agreement or such Note or Notes and although such  obligations
may be unmatured.  Each Lender Party agrees  promptly to notify the Borrower and
Administrative Agent after any such set-off and application;  provided, however,
that the  failure to give such  notice  shall not affect  the  validity  of such
set-off  and  application.  The rights of each Lender  Party and its  respective
Affiliates  under this  Section  are in addition  to other  rights and  remedies
(including,  without limitation, other rights of set-off) that such Lender Party
and its respective Affiliates may have at law, in equity or otherwise.

         SECTION 8.06. Binding Effect This Agreement shall become effective when
it shall have been  executed by the  Borrower and the  Administrative  Agent and
when the  Administrative  Agent shall have been notified by each Initial  Lender
and the  Initial  Issuing  Bank that each such  Initial  Lender and the  Initial
Issuing Bank has executed it and  thereafter  shall be binding upon and inure to
the benefit of the Borrower,  the Administrative Agent and each Lender Party and
their respective successors and assigns, except that the Borrower shall not have
the right to assign any of its rights  hereunder or any interest  herein without
the prior written consent of the Lender Parties.

         SECTION  8.07.  Assignments  and  Participations.  (a) Each  Lender may
assign to one or more  Eligible  Assignees  all or a portion  of its  rights and
obligations  under  this  Agreement  (including,  without  limitation,  all or a
portion of its Commitment or Commitments,  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 under
and in  respect  of one or more the  Facilities,  (ii)  except in the case of an
assignment to a Person that, immediately prior to such assignment,  was a Lender
or an  assignment  of  all of a  Lender's  rights  and  obligations  under  this
Agreement,  the amount of the Commitment of the assigning  Lender 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, (iii) each such assignment shall be to an Eligible Assignee, (iv) no
such  assignments   shall  be  permitted   without  the  prior  consent  of  the
Administrative Agent (which may be withheld for any reason) until the earlier of
(A)  the  Administrative   Agent's  having  notified  the  Lender  Parties  that
syndication of the Commitments  hereunder has been completed and (B) ninety (90)
days after the Closing  Date,  (v) no such  assignment  shall be  permitted  if,
immediately after giving effect thereto,  the Borrower would be required to make
payments  to or on behalf of the  assignee  Lender  Party  pursuant  to  Section
2.10(a)  or (b) and the  assignor  Lender  Party  was  not,  at the time of such
assignment,  entitled to receive any payment pursuant to Section 2.10(a) or (b),
(vi) no such assignment shall be permitted if,  immediately  after giving effect
thereto,  either  (1) the  Assigned  Dollar  Value of the  Alternative  Currency
Revolving Credit Sub-Commitment, if any, of the assignor Lender shall be greater
than the Revolving  Credit  Commitment of such Lender or (2) the Assigned Dollar
Value of the Alternative  Currency Revolving Credit  Sub-Commitment,  if any, of
the assignee  Lender shall be greater than the  Revolving  Credit  Commitment of
such Lender,  and (vii) 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

 
                                       98





Acceptance,  together  with any Note or Notes subject to such  assignment  and a
processing and recordation fee of $3,000.

         (b) 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 Lender or Issuing Bank, as the
case may be, hereunder and (y) the Lender or Issuing Bank assignor thereun-

der  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 or the  remaining  portion  of an
assigning   Lender's  or  Issuing  Bank's  rights  and  obligations  under  this
Agreement, such Lender or Issuing Bank shall cease to be a party hereto).

         (c) By executing  and  delivering  an Assignment  and  Acceptance,  the
Lender Party  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 Lender Party 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 any other Loan  Document  or the  execution,  legality,  validity,
enforceability,  genuineness,  sufficiency  or value  of, or the  perfection  or
priority of any lien or security  interest  created or  purported  to be created
under or in connection  with,  this  Agreement or any other Loan Document or any
other  instrument or document  furnished  pursuant hereto or thereto;  (ii) such
assigning  Lender  Party  makes no  representation  or  warranty  and assumes no
responsibility  with respect to the  financial  condition of the Borrower or any
other Loan Party or the  performance  or  observance by any Loan Party of any of
its  obligations  under any Loan  Document or any other  instrument  or document
furnished pursuant thereto;  (iii) such assignee confirms that it has received a
copy of  this  Agreement,  together  with  copies  of the  financial  statements
referred to in Section 4.01 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 the  Administrative  Agent, such assigning Lender Party or
any other Lender Party 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  confirms
that it is an Eligible Assignee;  (vi) such assignee appoints and authorizes the
Administrative  Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise
such powers and discretion  under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as
are  delegated  to the  Administrative  Agent by the terms  hereof and  thereof,
together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably  incidental  thereto;
and (vii) such  assignee  agrees that it will perform in  accordance  with their
terms all of the  obligations  which by the terms of this Agreement are required
to be performed by it as a Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be.

         (d) The Administrative  Agent shall maintain at its address referred to
in  Section  8.02 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 Lender  Parties and the  Commitment  under each  Facility of, and  principal
amount of the Advances owing under each Facility to, each Lender Party from time
to time (the "Register"). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive and

 
                                       99





binding  for  all  purposes,  absent  manifest  error,  and  the  Borrower,  the
Administrative  Agent and the Lender Parties may treat each Person whose name is
recorded in the  Register as a Lender Party  hereunder  for all purposes of this
Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower or any
Lender Party at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable  prior
notice.

         (e) Upon its receipt of an  Assignment  and  Acceptance  executed by an
assigning Lender Party and an assignee,  together with any Note or Notes subject
to such assignment and the appropriate  processing and  reconciliation  fee, the
Administrative Agent shall, if such Assignment and Acceptance has been completed
and is in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto, (i) accept such Assignment
and Acceptance,  (ii) record the information  contained  therein in the Register
and  (iii)  give  prompt  notice  thereof  to the  Borrower.  In the case of any
assignment by a Lender,  within five (5) Business Days after its receipt of such
notice,  the  Borrower,  at its own  expense,  shall  execute and deliver to the
Administrative Agent in exchange for the surrendered Note or Notes a new Note to
the order of such Eligible Assignee in an amount equal to the Commitment assumed
by it under a Facility  pursuant to such  Assignment and Acceptance  and, if the
assigning Lender has retained a Commitment  hereunder under such Facility, a new
Note to the order of the assigning  Lender 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 such  Assignment  and
Acceptance and shall  otherwise be in  substantially  the form of Exhibit B or C
hereto, as the case may be .

         (f) The  Issuing  Bank may assign to an  Eligible  Assignee  all of its
rights  and  obligations  under  the  undrawn  portion  of its  Letter of Credit
Commitment and/or Alternative  Currency Letter of Credit Commitment at any time;
provided,  however,  that  (i) each  such  assignment  shall  be to an  Eligible
Assignee and (ii) 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,  together with a processing and recordation fee of
$3,000.

         (g) Each Lender  Party may sell  participations  to one or more Persons
(other than any Loan Party or any of its  Affiliates)  in or to all or a portion
of  its  rights  and  obligations  under  this  Agreement  (including,   without
limitation,  all or a portion of its  Commitments,  the Advances owing to it and
the Note or Notes, if any, held by it); provided,  however, that (i) such Lender
Party's obligations under this Agreement  (including,  without  limitation,  its
Commitments) shall remain unchanged,  (ii) such Lender Party shall remain solely
responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations,
(iii)  such  Lender  Party  shall  remain  the  holder  of any such Note for all
purposes of this Agreement,  (iv) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the
other Lender Parties shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender
Party in connection with such Lender Party's rights and  obligations  under this
Agreement and (v) no  participant  under any such  participation  shall have any
right to approve any amendment, waiver or other modification of any provision of
this  Agreement or any other Loan  Document,  or any consent to any departure by
any Loan Party  therefrom,  except to the extent  that such  amendment,  waiver,
modification or consent would reduce the principal of, or interest on, the Notes
or any fees or other  amounts  payable  hereunder,  in each  case to the  extent
subject  to such  participation,  postpone  any date  fixed for any  payment  of
principal of, or interest on, the Notes or any fees or

 
                                       100





other  amounts  payable  hereunder,  in each case to the extent  subject to such
participation, or release all or substantially all of the Collateral.

         (h) Any  Lender  Party  may,  in  connection  with  any  assignment  or
participation or proposed  assignment or participation  pursuant to this Section
8.07,   disclose  to  the  assignee  or  participant  or  proposed  assignee  or
participant,  any information  relating to the Borrower furnished to such Lender
Party by or on behalf of the Borrower;  provided,  however,  that,  prior to any
such disclosure, the assignee or participant or proposed assignee or participant
shall agree to preserve  the  confidentiality  of any  Confidential  Information
received by it from such Lender Party.

         (i)  Notwithstanding  any other  provision set forth in this Agreement,
any  Lender  Party  may at any time  create a  security  interest  in all or any
portion of its rights under this Agreement (including,  without limitation,  the
Advances  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.

         SECTION 8.08. Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed
in any  number of  counterparts  and by  different  parties  hereto in  separate
counterparts,  each of which when so executed  shall be deemed to be an original
and all of which taken  together shall  constitute  one and the same  agreement.
Delivery of an executed  counterpart  of a signature  page to this  Agreement by
telecopier shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed  counterpart
of this Agreement.

         SECTION 8.09. No Liability of the Issuing  Bank.  The Borrower  assumes
all risks of the acts or  omissions  of any  beneficiary  or  transferee  of any
Letter of Credit or  Alternative  Currency  Letter of Credit with respect to its
use of such Letter of Credit or Alternative  Currency  Letter of Credit,  as the
case  may be.  Neither  the  Issuing  Bank nor any of its  officers,  directors,
employees or agents shall be liable or responsible  for: (a) the use that may be
made of any  Letter of Credit or  Alternative  Currency  Letter of Credit or any
acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee in connection therewith;  (b)
the validity,  sufficiency or genuineness  of documents,  or of any  endorsement
thereon,  even if  such  documents  should  prove  to be in any or all  respects
invalid,  insufficient,  fraudulent  or forged;  (c) payment by the Issuing Bank
against  presentation of documents that do not comply with the terms of a Letter
of Credit or an Alternative Currency Letter of Credit,  including failure of any
documents to bear any reference or adequate reference to the Letter of Credit or
Alternative  Currency  Letter  of  Credit,  as the case may be; or (d) any other
circumstances  whatsoever  in making or failing to make payment under any Letter
of Credit or  Alternative  Currency  Letter of Credit,  except that the Borrower
shall have a claim  against the  Issuing  Bank,  and the  Issuing  Bank shall be
liable to the  Borrower,  to the extent of any  direct,  but not  consequential,
damages suffered by the Borrower that the Borrower proves were caused by (i) the
Issuing Bank's  willful  misconduct or gross  negligence in determining  whether
documents presented under any Letter of Credit or an Alternative Currency Letter
of Credit comply with the terms of the Letter of Credit or Alternative  Currency
Letter of Credit, as the case may be, or (ii) the Issuing Bank's willful failure
to make lawful payment under a Letter of Credit or Alternative  Currency  Letter
of Credit  after the  presentation  to it of a draft and  certificates  strictly
complying  with the terms and  conditions of the Letter of Credit or Alternative
Currency  Letter  of  Credit,  as the case  may be.  In  furtherance  and not in
limitation of the foregoing, the

 
                                       101





Issuing  Bank may  accept  documents  that  appear on their face to be in order,
without  responsibility for further  investigation,  regardless of any notice or
information to the contrary.

         SECTION 8.10. Confidentiality. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any
Lender Party shall disclose any  Confidential  Information to any Person without
the consent of the  Borrower,  other than (a) to the  Administrative  Agent's or
such Lender Party's Affiliates and their officers, directors,  employees, agents
and advisors and to actual or prospective  Eligible  Assignees and participants,
and then only on a  confidential  basis,  (b) as  required  by any law,  rule or
regulation or judicial process,  (c) as required by the National  Association of
Insurance  Commissioners and (d) as requested or required by any state,  federal
or foreign  authority  or  examiner  regulating  banks or  banking or  insurance
companies.

         SECTION 8.11. JURISDICTION,  ETC. (a) EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY
IRREVOCABLY AND  UNCONDITIONALLY  SUBMITS,  FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY,  TO THE
NONEXCLUSIVE  JURISDICTION  OF ANY NEW YORK STATE COURT OR FEDERAL  COURT OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  SITTING IN NEW YORK CITY, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM
ANY  THEREOF,  IN ANY ACTION OR  PROCEEDING  ARISING  OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS
AGREEMENT  OR ANY OF THE OTHER  LOAN  DOCUMENTS  TO WHICH IT IS A PARTY,  OR FOR
RECOGNITION  OR  ENFORCEMENT  OF ANY  JUDGMENT,  AND EACH OF THE PARTIES  HERETO
HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY  AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY
SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN ANY SUCH NEW YORK STATE
COURT OR, TO THE EXTENT  PERMITTED  BY LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL  COURT.  EACH OF THE
PARTIES  HERETO  AGREES THAT A FINAL  JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR  PROCEEDING
SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE  AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER  JURISDICTIONS  BY SUIT ON THE
JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT SHALL
AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT ANY LENDER PARTY MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR
PROCEEDING  RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS IN THE
COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

         (b) EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY  WAIVES,
TO THE FULLEST  EXTENT IT MAY LEGALLY AND  EFFECTIVELY DO SO, ANY OBJECTION THAT
IT MAY NOW OR  HEREAFTER  HAVE TO THE  LAYING  OF VENUE OF ANY  SUIT,  ACTION OR
PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN
DOCUMENTS TO WHICH IT IS A PARTY IN ANY NEW YORK STATE OR FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF
THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY
LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN  INCONVENIENT  FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR
PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

         SECTION 8.12.  GOVERNING LAW.  THIS AGREEMENT, THE NOTES AND THE
OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


 
                                       102





         SECTION  8.13.  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  EACH OF THE  BORROWER,  THE LOAN
PARTIES,  THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND THE LENDER PARTIES IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL
RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION,  PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED
ON CONTRACT,  TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR
ANY  OF  THE  OTHER  LOAN  DOCUMENTS,   THE  ADVANCES  OR  THE  ACTIONS  OF  THE
ADMINISTRATIVE  AGENT OR ANY LENDER  PARTY IN THE  NEGOTIATION,  ADMINISTRATION,
PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT THEREOF.





                            [SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 
                                       103





         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized,  as of the date
first above written.

                                         COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION


                                         By___________________________________

                                         Title:_________________________________


                                         FLEET NATIONAL BANK, AS
                                            ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT


                                         By:__________________________________

                                         Title:_________________________________


                                         FLEET NATIONAL BANK,
                                            AS INITIAL ISSUING BANK


                                         By:_________________________________

                                         Title:________________________________


                                         FLEET NATIONAL BANK,
                                            AS SWING LINE BANK


                                         By:_________________________________

                                         Title:________________________________



 





                                 INITIAL LENDERS


                                         FLEET NATIONAL BANK


                                         By:_________________________________

                                         Title:________________________________



 





                                 INITIAL LENDERS


                                         FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK


                                         By:_________________________________

                                         Title:________________________________




 





                                 INITIAL LENDERS


                                         MARINE MIDLAND BANK, AS A CO-AGENT
                                         AND LENDER


                                         By:_________________________________

                                         Title:________________________________




                                       107





                                 INITIAL LENDERS


                                         BANKERS TRUST COMPANY


                                         By:_________________________________

                                         Title:________________________________




                                       108





                                 INITIAL LENDERS


                                         MANUFACTURERS AND TRADERS
                                         TRUST COMPANY, AS A CO-AGENT AND LENDER


                                         By:_________________________________

                                         Title:________________________________




                                       109





                                 INITIAL LENDERS


                                         MELLON BANK, N.A.


                                         By:_________________________________

                                         Title:________________________________




                                       110





                                 INITIAL LENDERS


                                         THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, AS A
                                         CO-AGENT AND LENDER


                                         By:_________________________________

                                         Title:________________________________




                                       111





                                 INITIAL LENDERS


                                         KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION


                                         By:_________________________________

                                         Title:________________________________




                                       112





                                 INITIAL LENDERS


                                         ABN-AMRO BANK N.V. NEW YORK
                                         BRANCH, AS A CO-AGENT AND LENDER



                                         By:_________________________________
                                         Title:________________________________


                                         By:__________________________________

                                         Title:_________________________________




                                       113





                                 INITIAL LENDERS


                                         TORONTO DOMINION  (TEXAS), INC.


                                         By:_________________________________

                                         Title:________________________________




                                       114





                                 INITIAL LENDERS


                                         NATIONAL CITY BANK OF
                                         PENNSYLVANIA


                                         By:_________________________________

                                         Title:________________________________




                                       115





                                 INITIAL LENDERS


                                  COMERICA BANK


                                         By:_________________________________

                                         Title:________________________________




                                       116





                                 INITIAL LENDERS


                                         BANK OF NEW YORK


                                         By:_________________________________

                                         Title:________________________________




                                       117




                                 INITIAL LENDERS


                                         NATIONAL BANK OF CANADA


                                         By:_________________________________

                                         Title:________________________________


                                         By:_________________________________

                                         Title:________________________________




                                       118