IMPERIAL BANK 
                                          
                                  CREDIT AGREEMENT
                                          
     This Agreement is made by and between ATC HOLDINGS, INC. ("Borrower") and
Imperial Bank, a California banking corporation, ("Bank").
     
     Subject to the terms and conditions of the Loan Documents (as defined
below), Bank shall make loans to Borrower from time to time as advances are 
requested by Borrower until October 3, 1997, not to exceed, in the aggregate,
$6,000,000.00. To induce Bank to make loans to Borrower and in consideration
of any loan or loans Bank may make to Borrower, Borrower warrants and agrees 
as follows:

A. REPRESENTATIONS OF BORROWER

          Borrower represents and warrants that:
          
1)   EXISTENCE AND RIGHTS. Borrower is a corporation duly organized and existing
     and in good standing under the laws of California, without limit as to the
     duration of its existence and is authorized and in good standing to do
     business in the State of California; Borrower has corporate powers and
     adequate authority, rights and franchises to own its property and to carry
     on its business as now conducted, and is duly qualified and in good 
     standing in each State in which the character of the properties owned by it
     therein or the conduct of its business makes such qualification necessary; 
     and Borrower has the power and adequate authority to make and carry out 
     this Agreement

2)   AGREEMENT AUTHORIZED. The execution, delivery and performance of this
     Agreement are duly authorized and do not require the consent or approval of
     any governmental body or other regulatory authority; are not in
     contravention of or in conflict with any law or regulation or any term or
     provision of Borrower's articles of incorporation, by-laws, or Articles of
     Association, as the case may be, and this Agreement is the valid, binding
     and legally enforceable obligation of Borrower in accordance with its
     terms; subject only to bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting
     creditors rights generally.

3)   NO CONFLICT. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement are
     not in contravention of or in conflict with any agreement, indenture or
     undertaking to which Borrower is a party or by which it or any of its
     property may be bound or affected, and do not cause any lien, charge or
     other encumbrance to be created or imposed upon any such property by reason
     thereof.

4)   LITIGATION. There is no litigation or other proceeding pending or 
     threatened against or affecting Borrower which if determined adversely 
     to Borrower or its interest would have a material adverse effect on the 
     financial condition of Borrower, and Borrower is not in default with 
     respect to any order, writ, injunction, decree or demand of any court or 
     other governmental or regulatory authority.




5)   FINANCIAL CONDITION. The balance sheet of Borrower as of March 31, 1997, a
     copy of which has heretofore been delivered to Bank by Borrower, and all
     other statements and data submitted in writing by Borrower to Bank in
     connection with this request for credit are true and correct, and said
     balance sheet truly presents the financial condition of Borrower as of the
     date thereof, and has been prepared in accordance with generally accepted
     accounting principles on a basis consistently maintained. Since such date,
     there have been no material adverse changes in the financial condition or
     business of Borrower. Borrower has no knowledge of any liabilities,
     contingent or otherwise, at such date not reflected in said balance sheet,
     and Borrower has not entered into any special commitments or substantial
     contracts which are not reflected in said balance sheet, other than in the
     ordinary and normal course of its business, which may have a materially
     adverse effect upon its financial condition, operations or business as now
     conducted.

6)   TITLE TO ASSETS. Borrower has good title to its assets, and the same are 
     not subject to any liens or encumbrances other than those permitted by 
     Section C.3 hereof.

7)   TAX STATUS. Borrower has no liability for any delinquent state, local or
     federal taxes, and, if Borrower has contracted with any government agency,
     Borrower has no liability for renegotiation of profits.

8)   TRADEMARKS, PATENTS. Borrower, as of the date hereof, possesses all 
     necessary trademarks, trade names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, 
     and licenses to conduct its business as now operated, without any known 
     conflict with the valid trademarks, trade names, copyrights, patents and 
     license rights of others.

9)   REGULATION U. The proceeds of the Loan shall not be used to purchase or
     carry margin stock (as defined within Regulation U of the Board of 
     Governors of the Federal Reserve system).

B.   AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS OF BORROWER

          Borrower agrees that so long as it is indebted to Bank, under
borrowings, or other indebtedness, it will, unless Bank shall otherwise consent
in writing:
          
1)   RIGHTS AND FACILITIES. Maintain and preserve all rights, franchises and
     other authority adequate for the conduct of its business; maintain its
     properties, equipment and facilities in good order and repair; conduct its
     business in an orderly manner without voluntary interruption and, if a
     corporation or partnership, maintain and preserve its existence.

2)   INSURANCE. Maintain public liability, property damage and workers'
     compensation insurance and insurance on all its insurable property against
     fire and other hazards with responsible insurance carriers to the extent
     usually maintained by similar businesses and/or in the exercise of good
     business judgment and as to property insurance have Bank named as loss
     payee in a Lenders "Loss Payable" Endorsement Form 438BFU or equivalent.

3)   TAXES AND OTHER LIABILITIES. Pay and discharge, before the same become
     delinquent and before penalties accrue thereon, all taxes, assessments and
     governmental charges upon or against it or any of its properties, and all
     its other liabilities at any time existing, except to the extent and so
     long as:

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     a) The same are being contested in good faith and by appropriate
        proceedings in such manner as not to cause any materially adverse 
        effect upon its financial condition or the loss of any right of 
        redemption from any sale thereunder; and
        
     b) It shall have set aside on its books reserves (segregated to the extent
        required by generally accepted accounting practice) deemed by it 
        adequate with respect thereto.
        
4)   RECORDS AND REPORTS. Maintain a standard and modern system of accounting in
     accordance with generally accepted accounting principles on a basis
     consistently maintained; permit Bank's representatives to have access to,
     and to examine its properties, books and records at all reasonable times
     and upon reasonable notice during normal business hours; and furnish Bank:

     a) As soon as available, and in any event within forty five (45) days 
        after the close of each quarter of each fiscal year of 
        Borrower, commencing with the quarter next ending, a balance sheet, 
        profit and loss statement and reconciliation of Borrower's capital 
        accounts as of the close of such period and covering operations for 
        the portion of Borrower's fiscal year ending on the last day of such 
        period, all in reasonable detail, prepared in accordance with 
        generally accepted accounting principles on a basis consistently 
        maintained by Borrower and certified by an appropriate officer of 
        Borrower;
       
     b) As soon as available, and in any event within one hundred and twenty 
        (120) days of fiscal year end, a report of Borrower as of the close 
        of and for each fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, prepared on an 
        audited basis by an independent certified public accountant selected 
        by Borrower and reasonably acceptable to Bank, in accordance with 
        generally accepted accounting principles on a basis consistently 
        maintained by Borrower and certified by an appropriate officer of 
        Borrower;
       
     c) In connection with each fiscal year end financial statement furnished 
        to Bank hereunder, any management letter of Borrower's independent 
        certified public accountant;
       
     d) Budgets, operating plans, and such other information relating to the
        affairs of Borrower as the Bank may reasonably request from time to 
        time;
       
     e) Personal financial statements and individual tax returns of all
        guarantors of loans to Borrower, annually or otherwise as the Bank may
        reasonably request from time to time;
       
     f) As soon as available, and in any event within forty five (45) days 
        after the close of each quarter of each fiscal year of American Title 
        Company, commencing with the quarter next ending, a balance sheet, 
        profit and loss statement and reconciliation of American Title 
        Company's capital accounts as of the close of such period and 
        covering operations for the portion of American Title Company's 
        fiscal year ending on the last day of such period, all in reasonable 
        detail, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting 
        principles on a basis consistently maintained by American Title 
        Company and certified by an appropriate officer of American Title 
        Company;
       
     g) As soon as available, and in any event within one hundred and twenty 
        (120) days of fiscal year end, a report of American Title Company as 
        of the close of and for each fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, 
        prepared on an audited basis by an independent certified public 
        accountant selected by American Title Company and reasonably 
        acceptable to Bank, in
                                                                           
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        requirement of the Federal Reserve Board and uncollected funds.
        Any deficiencies shall be charged directly to the Borrower on a
        monthly basis.
          
7)   ATTORNEY'S FEES. Pay promptly to Bank without demand after notice, with 
     interest thereon from the date of expenditure at the rate applicable to 
     any loans from Bank to Borrower, reasonable attorneys' fees and all 
     costs and expenses paid or incurred by Bank in collecting or 
     compromising any such loan after the occurrence of an Event of Default, 
     whether or not suit is filed. If suit is brought to enforce any 
     provision of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to 
     recover its reasonable attorneys' fees and court costs in addition to 
     any other remedy or recovery awarded by the court.
            
8)   FINANCIAL COVENANTS. Maintain the following financial covenants:
     
     a) Tangible Net Worth of not less than $200,000.00;

     b) Net current assets (Working Capital) of not less than $(250,000.00);
            [initialed] ML
            [initialed] MD
        All financial covenants and financial information referenced herein 
        shall be interpreted and prepared in accordance with generally 
        accepted accounting principals applied on a basis consistent with 
        previous years. Compliance with financial covenants shall be 
        calculated and monitored on a quarterly basis.
          
C.   NEGATIVE COVENANTS OF BORROWER
     
             Borrower agrees that so long as it is indebted to Bank, it
will not, without Bank's written consent:
             
1.   TYPE OF BUSINESS; MANAGEMENT. Make any substantial change in the 
     character of its business; or make any change in its executive 
     management.
     
2.   OTHER INDEBTEDNESS. Other than in the ordinary course of business and 
     consistent with past practices, create, incur, assume or permit to 
     exist any indebtedness for borrowed moneys, other than loans from the 
     Bank, except obligations now existing as shown in the financial 
     statement dated March 31, 1997, excluding those obligations being 
     refinanced by Bank.
     
3.   LIENS AND ENCUMBRANCES. Other than in the ordinary course of business
     and consistent with past practices, create, incur, or assume any 
     mortgage, pledge, encumbrance, lien or charge of any kind upon any 
     asset now owned, other than liens for taxes not delinquent and liens 
     in Bank's favor, except for those already existing as of March 31, 1997.
     
4.   LOANS, INVESTMENTS, SECONDARY LIABILITIES. Make any loans or advances 
     to any person or other entity other than in the ordinary and normal 
     course of its business as now conducted or make any investment in the 
     securities of any person or other entity other than the United States 
     Government or commercial paper maturing no more than one (1) year 
     from the date of creation thereof and currently having the highest 
     rating obtainable from either Standard & Poor's Corporation or 
     Moody's Investors Service, Ind., or certificates of deposit maturing 
     more than one (1) year from the date of investment therein issued by 
     Bank; or guarantee or otherwise become liable upon the

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3.   LIENS AND ENCUMBRANCES. Other than in the ordinary course of business 
     and consistent with past practices, create, incur, or assume any 
     mortgage, pledge, encumbrance, lien or charge of any kind upon any 
     asset now owned, other than liens for taxes not delinquent and liens 
     in Bank's favor, except for those already existing as of March 31, 
     1997.

4.   LOANS, INVESTMENTS, SECONDARY LIABILITIES. Make any loans or advances 
     to any person or other entity other than in the ordinary and normal 
     course of its business as now conducted or make any investment in the 
     securities of any person or other entity other than the United States 
     Government or commercial paper maturing no more than one (1) year 
     from the date of creation thereof and currently having the highest 
     rating obtainable from either Standard & Poor's Corporation or 
     Moody's Investors Service, Ind., or certificates of deposit maturing 
     more than one (1) year from the date of investment therein issued by 
     Bank; or guarantee or otherwise become liable upon the obligation of 
     any person or other entity, except by endorsement of negotiable 
     instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary and normal 
     course of its business.

5.   ACQUISITION OR SALE OF BUSINESS; MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION. Purchase or 
     otherwise acquire the assets or business of any person or other 
     entity; or liquidate, dissolve, merge or consolidate, or commence any 
     proceedings therefor; or sell any assets except in the ordinary and 
     normal course of its business as now conducted; or sell, lease assign 
     or transfer any substantial part of its business or fixed assets, or 
     any property or other assets necessary for the continuance of its 
     business as now conducted, including without limitation the selling 
     of any property or other asset accompanied by the leasing back of the 
     same.

6.   CAPITAL EXPENDITURES. Make or incur obligations for capital 
     expenditures, which includes purchase money indebtedness or capital 
     lease obligations, in excess of $500,000.00 in any one fiscal year.

7.   LEASE LIABILITY. Make or incur additional liability for payments of 
     rent under leases of real property in excess of $250,000.00 or personal
     property in excess of $250,000.00 in any one fiscal year.

D. EVENTS OF DEFAULT

     The occurrence of any of the following Events of Default shall, at Bank's
option, terminate Bank's commitment to lend and make all sums of principal and
interest then remaining unpaid on all Borrower's indebtedness to Bank
immediately due and payable, all without demand, presentment or notice, all of
which are hereby expressly waived:
     
1)   FAILURE TO PAY. Failure to pay any installment of principal or interest
     on any indebtedness of Borrower to Bank.
    
2)   BREACH OF COVENANT. Failure of Borrower to perform any other term or
     condition of this Agreement binding upon Borrower.
    
3)   BREACH OF WARRANTY. Any of Borrower's representations or warranties 
     made herein or any statement or certificate at any time given in 
     writing pursuant hereto or in connection herewith shall be false or 
     misleading in any respect.

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4)   INSOLVENCY; RECEIVER OR TRUSTEE. Borrower shall become insolvent; or 
     admit its inability to pay its debts as they mature; or make an 
     assignment for the benefit of creditors; or apply for or consent to the 
     appointment of a receiver or trustee for it or for a substantial part 
     of its property or business.

5)   JUDGMENTS, ATTACHMENTS. Any money judgment, writ or warrant of 
     attachment, or similar process shall be entered or filed against 
     Borrower or any of its assets and shall remain unvacated, unbonded or 
     unstayed for a period later than five days prior to the date of any 
     proposed sale thereunder.

6)   BANKRUPTCY. Bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or liquidation 
     proceedings or other proceedings for relief under any bankruptcy law 
     or any law for the relief of debtors shall be instituted by or 
     against Borrower and, if instituted against it, shall be consented to.

7)   FAILURE TO MEET DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS. Failure of 
     American Title Company to meet the net worth and working capital 
     requirements, as they may exist from time to time, imposed upon 
     American Title Company by the State of California Department of 
     Insurance.

8)   ADVERSE ACTION. Any action taken by the State of California 
     Department of Insurance which would adversely effect the continued 
     operation of American Title Company's business, including the 
     issuance of any notice of intended adverse action by the Department 
     of Insurance.

9)   FAILURE TO MEET MINIMUM TANGIBLE NET WORTH. Failure of American Title 
     Company to maintain Tangible Net Worth of no less than $2,500,000.00.

E.   MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

1)   FAILURE OR INDULGENCE NOT WAIVER. No failure or delay on the part of 
     Bank or any holder of any note issued by Borrower to Bank, in the 
     exercise of any power, right or privilege hereunder shall operate as 
     a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any 
     such power, right or privilege preclude other or further exercise 
     thereof or of any other right, power or privilege. All rights and 
     remedies existing under this Agreement or any note issued in 
     connection with a loan that Bank may make hereunder, are cumulative 
     to, and not exclusive of, any rights or remedies otherwise available.

2)   ADDITIONAL REMEDIES. The rights, powers and remedies given to Bank 
     hereunder shall be cumulative and not alternative and shall be in 
     addition to all rights, powers and remedies given to Bank by law 
     against Borrower or any other person, including but not limited to 
     Bank's rights of setoff or banker's lien.

3)   INUREMENT. The benefits of this Agreement shall inure to the successors
     and assigns of Bank and the permitted successors and assigns of 
     Borrower.

4)   APPLICABLE LAW. This Agreement and all other agreements and 
     instruments required by Bank in connection therewith shall be 
     governed by and construed according to the laws of the State of 
     California, to the jurisdiction of whose courts the parties hereby 
     agree to submit.

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5)   OFFSET. In addition to and not in limitation of all rights of 
     offset that Bank or other holder of any note issued by Borrower in 
     favor of Bank may have under applicable law, Bank or other holder of 
     such notes shall, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default or any 
     event which with the passage of time or notice would constitute such 
     an Event of Default, have the right to appropriate and apply to the 
     payment of the outstanding under any such note any and all balances, 
     credits, deposits, accounts or monies of Borrower then or thereafter 
     with Bank or other holder, within ten (10) days after the Event of 
     Default, and notice of the occurrence of any Event of Default by Bank 
     to Borrower.

6)   SEVERABILITY. Should any one or more provisions of the Agreement be
     determined to be illegal or unenforceable, all other provisions
     nevertheless shall be effective.

7)   TIME OF THE ESSENCE. Time is hereby declared to be of the essence of this
     Agreement and of every part hereof.

8)   INTEGRATION CLAUSES. Except for documents and instruments 
     specifically referenced herein, the Agreement constitutes the entire 
     agreement between Bank and Borrower regarding the Loan, and all prior 
     communications verbal or written between Borrower and Bank shall be 
     of no further effect or evidentiary value. In the event of a conflict 
     or inconsistency among any other documents and instruments and this 
     Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall prevail.

9)   ACCOUNTING. All accounting terms shall have the meanings applied under
     generally accepted accounting principles unless otherwise specified.

10)  MODIFICATION. This Agreement may be modified only by a writing signed by
     both parties hereto.

11)  SUPPLEMENTAL PRINCIPAL PAYMENTS. Borrower agrees that seventy five 
     percent (75%) of the annual excess cash flow of American Title 
     Company, as defined below, will be utilized as supplemental principal 
     payments to debt. Such payments are to be applied to principal in 
     inverse order of maturity and are to be made prior to the end of the 
     first quarter following the end of each fiscal year.

          EXCESS CASH FLOW OF AMERICAN TITLE COMPANY:
          
          1. Net Profit After Tax of American Title Company
          2. Plus: Depreciation and Amortization
          3. Equals American Title Company Operating Cash Flow
          4. Less: American Title Company CPLTD
          5. Less: American Title Company Capital Expenditures
          6. Equals American Title Company Net Operating Cash Flow
          7. Multiply by ATC Holdings, Inc. ownership percentage (60%)
          8. Less: ATC Holdings, Inc. CPLTD
          9. Less: ATC Holdings, Inc. Capital Expenditures
          10. Equals: Excess Cash Flow of American Title Company
          11. Multiply by seventy five percent (75%)
          12. Equals: Supplemental Principal Payment
          
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12)  RELEASE OF GUARANTORS. Providing that no Event of 
     Default exists, each of the personal guarantees taken in support of 
     any loans extended to Borrower pursuant to this Agreement shall be 
     reduced according to the following schedule:


        OUTSTANDING LOAN BALANCE            PERCENTAGE OF ORIGINAL GUARANTEE AMOUNT
                                           
           $6,000,000                                        100%
           $5,400,000                                        90%
           $4,800,000                                        80%
           $4,200,000                                        70%
           $3,600,000                                        60%
           $3,000,000                                        50%

     
13)  COLLATERAL. Loan will be secured by a first priority lien on all corporate
     assets of Borrower and one hundred percent (100%) of the Common Stock of
     Borrower.

     This Agreement is executed on behalf of the parties by duly authorized
representatives as of August 7, 1997.

     
                    IMPERIAL BANK ("Bank")
                    
                    By: [Illegible]
                    Date: 8-7-97
                    
                    ATC HOLDINGS, INC. ("Borrower")
                    
                    By: /s/ Michael Lowther

                    By: /s/ Wayne Diaz

                    Date:
                         ------------------------------------

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