SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                   FORM 10-Q

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




For the Quarter Ended June 30, 1999               Commission File Number 0-16093


                               CONMED CORPORATION
           (Exact name of the registrant as specified in its charter)




          New York                                               16-0977505
(State or other jurisdiction of                              (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                               Identification No.)



   310 Broad Street, Utica, New York                               13501
(Address of principal executive offices)                         (Zip Code)



                                 (315) 797-8375
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)



         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934  during  the  preceding  12 months  (or for such  shorter  period  that the
registrant was required to file such reports),  and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.

                                 Yes  [ X ]   No [  ]

         The number of shares  outstanding of  registrant's  common stock, as of
August 4, 1999 is 15,294,798 shares.

                               CONMED CORPORATION


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                    FORM 10-Q


                          PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION


         Item 1.  Financial Statements

                           - Consolidated Statements of Income

                           - Consolidated Balance Sheets

                           - Consolidated Statements of Shareholders'
                                    Equity

                           - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

                           - Notes to Consolidated Financial
                             Statements




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




                            PART II OTHER INFORMATION


         Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K



         Signatures



         Exhibit Index

CONMED CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (in thousands except per share amounts) (unaudited) For three months ended For six months ended ------------------------ ------------------------ June June June June 1998 1999 1998 1999 --------- --------- --------- --------- Net sales ...................... $ 80,513 $ 90,483 $ 160,755 $ 181,352 --------- --------- --------- --------- Cost and expenses: Cost of sales ................ 40,874 42,825 85,264 86,367 Selling and administrative ... 21,995 26,550 43,774 53,116 Research and development ..... 2,874 2,842 5,601 5,798 --------- --------- --------- --------- Total operating expenses ... 65,743 72,217 134,639 145,281 --------- --------- --------- --------- Income from operations ......... 14,770 18,266 26,116 36,071 Interest expense, net .......... (7,666) (7,814) (15,181) (15,740) --------- --------- --------- --------- Income before income taxes and extraordinary item ....... 7,104 10,452 10,935 20,331 Provision for income taxes ..... (2,557) (3,762) (3,936) (7,318) --------- --------- --------- --------- Income before extraordinary item ......................... 4,547 6,690 6,999 13,013 Extraordinary item, net of income taxes (Note 4) ........ -- -- (1,569) -- --------- --------- --------- --------- Net income ..................... $ 4,547 $ 6,690 $ 5,430 $ 13,013 ========= ========= ========= ========= CONMED CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (in thousands except per share amounts) (unaudited) For three months ended For six months ended ------------------------ ------------------------ June June June June 1998 1999 1998 1999 --------- --------- --------- --------- Per share data: Income before extraordinary item Basic ................. $ .30 $ .44 $ .46 $ .86 Diluted ............... .30 .43 .46 .84 Extraordinary item - (Note 4) Basic ................. $ -- $ -- $ (.10) $ -- Diluted ............... -- -- (.10) -- Net Income Basic ................. $ .30 $ .44 $ .36 $ .86 Diluted ............... .30 .43 .36 .84 Weighted average common shares Basic ................. 15,057 15,235 15,047 15,204 Diluted ............... 15,326 15,612 15,286 15,575
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
CONMED CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands except share amounts) (unaudited) December June 1998 1999 --------- --------- ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents ...................... $ 5,906 $ 2,519 Accounts receivable, net ....................... 66,819 70,515 Income taxes receivable ........................ 1,441 -- Inventories (Note 3) ........................... 78,058 87,920 Deferred income taxes .......................... 2,776 2,776 Prepaid expenses and other current assets ...... 4,620 4,178 --------- --------- Total current assets .................... 159,620 167,908 Property, plant and equipment, net ............... 59,044 56,479 Deferred income taxes ............................ 3,900 3,900 Goodwill, net .................................... 194,690 192,443 Patents, trademarks, and other assets, net ....... 211,530 207,700 --------- --------- Total assets ............................... $ 628,784 $ 628,430 ========= ========= CONMED CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands except share amounts) (unaudited) December June 1998 1999 --------- --------- LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Current portion of long-term debt .............. $ 22,995 $ 27,785 Accrued interest ............................... 6,069 4,458 Accounts payable ............................... 19,594 18,125 Income taxes payable ........................... -- 7,526 Accrued payroll and withholdings ............... 9,665 6,519 Other current liabilities ...................... 7,873 5,517 --------- --------- Total current liabilities .................. 66,196 69,930 Long-term debt ................................... 361,877 341,478 Other long-term liabilities ...................... 18,543 20,294 --------- --------- Total liabilities ....................... 446,616 431,702 --------- --------- Shareholders' equity: Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share; authorized 500,000 shares; none outstanding -- -- Common stock, par value $.01 per share; 100,000,000 authorized; 15,182,811 and 15,300,091 issued and outstanding,in 1998 and 1999, respectively ................ 152 153 Paid-in capital ................................ 125,039 126,605 Retained earnings .............................. 57,361 70,374 Cumulative translation adjustments ............. 35 15 Less 25,000 shares of common stock in treasury, at cost ...................................... (419) (419) --------- --------- Total equity ............................ 182,168 196,728 --------- --------- Total liabilities and shareholders' equity . $ 628,784 $ 628,430 ========= =========
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
CONMED CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Six Months Ended June 1998 and 1999 (in thousands) (unaudited) 1998 1999 --------- --------- Common stock Balance at beginning of period ................. $ 151 $ 152 Exercise of stock options ...................... -- 1 --------- --------- Balance at end of period ....................... 151 153 --------- --------- Paid-in capital Balance at beginning of period ................. 123,451 125,039 Exercise of stock options ...................... 416 1,566 --------- --------- Balance at end of period ....................... 123,867 126,605 --------- --------- Retained earnings Balance at beginning of period ................. 39,553 57,361 Net income (A) ................................. 5,430 13,013 --------- --------- Balance at end of period ....................... 44,983 70,374 --------- --------- Accumulated other comprehensive income Balance at beginning of period Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments ............................... -- 35 Other comprehensive income Foreign currency translation adjustments(B) .. -- (20) --------- --------- Balance at end of period Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments ............................... -- 15 --------- --------- Treasury stock at beginning and end of period ............................ (419) (419) --------- --------- Total shareholders' equity ....................... $ 168,582 $ 196,728 ========= ========= Total comprehensive income (A + B) ............... $ 5,430 $ 12,993 ========= =========
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
CONMED CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS Six Months Ended June 30 1998 and 1999 (in thousands) (unaudited) 1998 1999 ---- ---- Cash flows from operating activities: Net income ..................................... $ 5,430 $ 13,013 --------- --------- Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operations: Depreciation ............................ 3,944 4,330 Amortization ............................ 7,849 8,095 Extraordinary item, net of income taxes (Note 4) ................. 1,569 -- Increase (decrease) in cash flows from changes in assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable ............ (1,867) (3,716) Inventories .................... (8,192) (11,039) Prepaid expenses and other current assets ......... (1,387) 442 Accounts payable ............... 8,703 (1,469) Income taxes receivable/payable (1,081) 8,967 Accrued interest ............... 4,832 (1,611) Accrued payroll and withholdings 1,438 (3,146) Other current liabilities ...... (2,305) (668) Other assets/liabilities, net .. (439) 1,249 --------- --------- 13,064 1,434 Net cash provided by operations .............. 18,494 14,447 --------- --------- Cash flows from investing activities: Payments related to acquisition of Linvatec .... (6,996) -- Acquisition of property, plant, and equipment ............................. (6,663) (3,792) --------- --------- Net cash used by investing activities ........ (13,659) (3,792) --------- --------- Cash flows from financing activities: Proceeds of long term debt ..................... 130,000 900 Repayments under revolving credit facility .............................. (10,000) (5,000) Proceeds from issuance of common stock ......... 416 1,567 Payments related to issuance of long-term debt . (4,635) -- Payments on long-term debt ..................... (129,614) (11,509) --------- --------- Net cash used by financing activities ............................. (13,833) (14,042) --------- --------- Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents .......................... (8,998) (3,387) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period . 13,452 5,906 --------- --------- Cash and cash equivalents at end of period ....... $ 4,454 $ 2,519 ========= =========
See notes to consolidated financial statements. CONMED CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 1 - Organization and Operations The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of CONMED Corporation (the "Company"), and its subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company is a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of a range of medical instruments and systems used in surgical and other medical procedures. The Company's business is organized, managed and internally reported as a single segment. The Company believes its product offerings, which include arthroscopic surgery devices, powered surgical instruments, electrosurgical systems, electrocardiogram electrodes and accessories, surgical suction instruments, intravenous therapy accessories and wound care products, have similar economic, operating and other related characteristics. The Company's products are used in a variety of clinical settings, such as operating rooms, surgery centers, physicians' offices and critical care areas of hospitals. Note 2 - Interim financial information The financial statements for the three and six months ended June 1998 and 1999 are unaudited; in the opinion of the Company such unaudited statements include all adjustments (which comprise only normal recurring accruals) necessary for a fair presentation of the results for such periods. The consolidated financial statements for the year ending December 1999 are subject to adjustment at the end of the year when they will be audited by independent accountants. The results of operations for the three and six months ended June 1999 are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for any other quarter nor for the year ending December 1999. The consolidated financial statements and notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes for the year ended December 1998 included in the Company's Annual Report to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10-K. Certain 1998 amounts previously reported have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation. Note 3 - Inventories The components of inventory are as follows (in thousands): December June 1998 1999 ------- ------- Raw materials......... $35,204 $35,963 Work-in-process....... 7,429 11,472 Finished goods........ 35,425 40,485 ------- ------- Total........ $78,058 $87,920 ======= ======= Note 4 - Subordinated Note Offering The Company completed a subordinated note offering (the "Notes") in the aggregate principal amount of $130,000,000 in March 1998. Proceeds from the offering amounting to $126,100,000 were used to reduce the Company's term loans under its credit facility. Deferred financing fees related to the portion of the credit facility repaid amounting to $2,451,000 ($1,569,000 net of income taxes) were written-off as an extraordinary charge. Note 5 - Subsidiary Guarantees The Company's credit facility and Notes are guaranteed (the "Subsidiary Guarantees") by each of the Company's subsidiaries (the "Subsidiary Guarantors"). The Subsidiary Guarantees provide that each Subsidiary Guarantor will fully and unconditionally guarantee the Company's obligations on a joint and several basis. Each Subsidiary Guarantor is wholly-owned by the Company. Separate financial statements and other disclosures concerning the Subsidiary Guarantors are not presented because management has determined such financial statements and other disclosures are not material to investors. The combined condensed financial information of the Company's Subsidiary Guarantors is as follows (in thousands): December June -------- ---- 1998 1999 ---- ---- Current assets................................... $ 96,434 $106,411 Non-current assets............................... 366,299 356,652 Current liabilities.............................. 30,367 23,852 Non-current liabilities.......................... 363,160 347,347 For the Six Months Ended June ----------------- 1998 1999 ---- ---- Revenues......................................... $113,579 $139,222 Operating income................................. 18,266 30,205 Net income....................................... 1,849 9,229 Note 6 - Subsequent Events On June 29, 1999, the Company entered into an agreement to purchase certain assets of the Powered Surgical Instrument business of Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company ("3M")). The Company and 3M have also agreed to a series of transition-related matters that will facilitate the transfer of the business. The acquisition was completed on August 11, 1999 for a purchase price of $39,000,000, before certain adjustments, which was funded through borrowings under the Company's amended credit facility (see discussion under Liquidity and Capital Resources section of Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations). Item 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS The following discussion includes certain forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of factors, including material risks, uncertainties and contingencies, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following: general economic and business conditions; changes in customer preferences; competition; changes in technology; the integration of any acquisitions, changes in business strategy; the indebtedness of the Company; the identification and remediation of Year 2000 issues; quality of management, business abilities and judgment of the Company's personnel; and the availability, terms and deployment of capital. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Three months ended June 1999 compared to three months ended June 1998 Sales for the quarter ended June 1999 were $90,483,000, an increase of 12.4% compared to sales of $80,513,000 in the quarter ended June 1998. Approximately 5% of the sales increase reflects the pricing impact of changes in distribution from the second quarter of 1999 as compared to 1998. In connection with the December 31, 1997 acquisition of Linvatec Corporation from Bristol-Myers Squibb ("BMS"), the Company entered into fixed price distribution agreements with Zimmer, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of BMS, to distribute certain of the Company's orthopaedic products in selected geographic markets. In 1999, most of the products formerly distributed by Zimmer were sold and distributed directly by the Company, resulting in improved pricing for the affected products. The remainder of the increase is a result of increased sales volumes, primarily of orthopaedic products, due to the acquisition of the fluid management business from 3M in November 1998 as well as increased demand for existing product lines. Cost of sales increased to $42,825,000 in the current quarter compared to the $40,874,000 in the same quarter a year ago. The Company's gross margin percentage for the second quarter of 1998 was 49.2% compared to 52.7% for the second quarter of 1999. The increase in gross margin percentage is primarily attributable to higher sales volumes of orthopaedic products as well as improved pricing resulting from the elimination of most of the fixed price distribution agreements with Zimmer discussed previously. Selling and administrative costs increased to $26,550,000 in the current quarter as compared to $21,995,000 in the second quarter of 1998. As a percentage of sales, selling and administrative expense was 29.3% in the second quarter of 1999 as compared to 27.3% in the comparable 1998 period. The increase was primarily a result of costs associated with the direct selling and distribution of products formerly distributed through Zimmer. Research and development expense was $2,842,000 in the second quarter of 1999 as compared to $2,874,000 in the second quarter of 1998. As a percentage of sales, research and development expense was 3.1% in the second quarter of 1999 as compared to 3.6% in the comparable 1998 period. The amount of research and development expense incurred in the second quarter of 1999 is consistent with the comparable 1998 quarter representing the Company's ongoing efforts in this area; the decrease in second quarter 1999 expense as a percentage of sales is primarily a result of higher sales in the second quarter of 1999 as compared to the second quarter 1998. Interest expense for the second quarter of 1999 was $7,814,000 compared to $7,666,000 in the second quarter of 1998. The increase in interest expense is a result of higher borrowings under the Company's revolving credit facility during the second quarter of 1999 as compared to the second quarter of 1998, partially offset by lower principal balances on the Company's term debt. The higher borrowings were primarily a result of the Company's $17,500,000 acquisition of a fluid management product line from 3M during the fourth quarter of 1998. Six months ended June 1999 compared to six months ended June 1998 Sales for the six months ended June 1999 were $181,352,000, an increase of 12.8% compared to sales of $160,755,000 in the six months ended June 1998. Approximately 5% of the increase reflects the pricing impact of changes in distribution from the first six months of 1999 as compared to 1998. In connection with the December 31, 1997 acquisition of Linvatec Corporation from Bristol-Meyers Squibb ("BMS"), the Company entered into fixed price distribution agreements with Zimmer, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of BMS, to distribute certain of the Company's orthopaedic products in selected geographic markets. In 1999, most of the products formerly distributed by Zimmer were sold and distributed directly by the Company, resulting in improved pricing for the affected products. The remainder of the increase is a result of increased sales volumes, primarily of orthopaedic products, due to the acquisition of the fluid management product line from 3M in November 1998 as well as increased demand for existing product lines. Cost of sales increased to $86,367,000 in the six months ended June 1999 compared to $85,264,000 in the six months ended June 1998. In connection with purchase accounting for the December 31, 1997 acquisition of Linvatec Corporation, the Company increased the acquired value of inventory by $3,000,000 over its production cost. This inventory was sold during the quarter ended March 1998 and, accordingly, this non-recurring adjustment served to increase cost of sales during the first quarter of 1998 by $3,000,000. Excluding the impact of this adjustment, cost of sales increased from $82,271,000 in the first six months of 1998 to $86,367,000 in the first six months of 1999, as a result of increased sales volumes. Excluding the nonrecurring adjustment, the Company's gross margin percentage for the first six months of 1998 was 48.8% compared to 52.4% for the first six months of 1999. The increase in gross margin percentage is primarily attributable to higher sales volumes as well as improved pricing resulting from the elimination of most of the fixed price product distribution agreements with Zimmer discussed previously. Selling and administrative costs increased to $53,116,000 in the six months ended June 1999 as compared to $43,774,000 in the six months ended June 1998. As a percentage of sales, selling and administrative expense was 29.2% in the first half of 1999 as compared to 27.2% in the comparable 1998 period. The increase was primarily a result of costs associated with the direct selling and distribution of products formerly distributed through Zimmer and the launch of several new products. Research and development expense was $5,798,000 in the first half of 1999 as compared to $5,601,000 in the first half of 1998. As a percentage of sales, research and development expense was 3.2% in the first half of 1999 as compared to 3.5% in the comparable 1998 period. The amount of research and development expense incurred in the six months ended June 1999 is consistent with the comparable 1998 period representing the Company's ongoing efforts in this area; the decrease in six months ended June 1999 expense as a percentage of sales is primarily a result of higher sales in the six months ended June 1999 as compared to the six months ended June 1998. Interest expense for the six months ended June 1999 was $15,740,000 compared to $15,181,000 in the first six months of 1998. The increase in interest expense is a result of higher borrowings under the Company's revolving credit facility during the first half of 1999 as compared to the first half of 1998, partially offset by lower principal balances on the Company's term debt. The higher borrowings were primarily a result of the Company's $17,500,000 acquisition of an arthroscopy product line from 3M during the fourth quarter of 1998. As discussed under Liquidity and Capital Resources, during the first quarter of 1998, the Company completed an offering of subordinated notes (the "Notes") and used the net proceeds to repay a portion of the Company's term loans under its credit facility. Deferred financing fees relating to the portion of the credit facility repaid amounting to $2,451,000 ($1,569,000 net of income taxes) were written-off as an extraordinary charge. There was no such write-off during the first six months of 1999. Liquidity and Capital Resources The Company's net working capital position increased $4,554,000 or 5% to $97,978,000 at June 1999 compared to $93,424,000 at December 1998. Net cash provided by operations was $14,447,000 for the first six months of 1999 compared to $18,494,000 for the first six months of 1998. Operating cash flow in the first half of 1999 was positively impacted by higher net income and increases in depreciation, amortization and accrued income taxes payable compared to the first half of 1998. Negatively impacting operating cash flow in the first half of 1999 were increases in accounts receivable and inventory and decreases in accrued interest and accrued payroll compared to the first half of 1998. Net cash used by investing activities for the first six months of 1998 included $6,996,000 of transaction costs related to the Linvatec acquisition. There were no such costs incurred during the first six months of 1999. Capital expenditures for the first six months of 1999 and 1998 amounted to $3,792,000 and $6,663,000, respectively. Financing activities during the first six months of 1999 consisted primarily of scheduled payments of $11,509,000 on the Company's term loans; additionally, $5,000,000 was repaid on the Company's revolving credit facility. Financing activities during the first six months of 1998 involved the completion of the Notes offering in the aggregate principal amount of $130,000,000. Net proceeds from the offering amounting to $126,100,000 were used to repay a portion of the Company's term loans under its credit facility. Additionally, scheduled payments of $1,757,000 on the Company's term loans and $10,000,000 on the Company's revolving credit facility were repaid during the first six months of 1998. The Company's term loans under its credit facility at June 30, 1999 aggregate $205,375,000 and are repayable quarterly over remaining terms approximating four and six years. The Company's credit facility also includes a $100,000,000 revolving credit facility which expires December 2002, of which $67,000,000 was available on June 30, 1999. The borrowings under the credit facility carry interest rates based on a spread over LIBOR or an alternative base interest rate. The covenants of the credit facility provide for increase and decrease to this interest rate spread based on the operating results of the Company. The weighted average interest rates at June 30, 1999 under the term loans and the revolving credit facility were 7.04% and 6.81%, respectively. Additionally, the Company is obligated to pay a fee of .375% per annum on the unused portion of the revolving credit facility. The Company does not use derivative financial instruments for trading or other speculative purposes. Interest rate swaps, a form of derivative, are used to manage interest rate risk. Currently, the Company has entered into two interest rate swaps expiring in June 2001 which convert $100,000,000 of floating rate debt under the Company's credit facility into fixed rate debt at rates ranging from 7.18% to 8.25%. Provisions in one of the interest rate swaps cancels such agreement when LIBOR exceeds 7.35%. The credit facility is collateralized by all the Company's personal property. The credit facility contains covenants and restrictions which, among other things, require maintenance of certain working capital levels and financial ratios, prohibit dividend payments and restrict the incurrence of certain indebtedness and other activities, including acquisitions and dispositions. The Company is also required to make mandatory prepayments from net cash proceeds from any issue of equity and asset sales and also from any excess cash flow, as defined in the credit agreement. The Notes are in aggregate principal amount of $130,000,000 and have a maturity date of March 15, 2008. The Notes bear interest at 9.0% per annum which is payable semi-annually. The indenture governing the Notes has certain restrictive covenants and provides for, among other things, mandatory and optional redemptions by the Company. The credit facility and Notes are guaranteed by each of the Company's subsidiaries. The Subsidiary Guarantees provide that each Subsidiary Guarantor will fully and unconditionally guarantee the Company's obligations on a joint and several basis. Each Subsidiary Guarantor is wholly-owned by the Company. Under the credit facility and Note indenture, the Company's subsidiaries are subject to the same covenants and restrictions that apply to the Company (except that the Subsidiary Guarantors are permitted to make dividend payments and distributions, including cash dividend payments, to the Company or another Subsidiary Guarantor). On June 29, 1999, the Company entered into an agreement to purchase certain assets of the Powered Surgical Instrument business of 3M. The Company and 3M have also agreed to a series of transition-related matters that will facilitate the transfer of the business. The acquisition was completed on August 11, 1999 for a purchase price of $39,000,000, before certain adjustments. The Company's existing credit facility was amended to provide for an additional $40,000,000 loan commitment, due June 30, 2005, which was used to fund the purchase price and related fees and expenses. The $40,000,000 loan commitment carries an interest rate based on a 2.5% spread over LIBOR. Management believes that cash generated from operations, its current cash resources and funds available under its credit facility will provide sufficient liquidity to ensure continued working capital for operations, debt service and funding of capital expenditures in the foreseeable future. Year 2000 The Company and its subsidiaries use information technology ("IT") and non-IT systems that contain embedded technology throughout their businesses. Third parties with which the Company has material relationships also use such systems. After December 31, 1999, these systems will face a potentially serious problem if they are not able to recognize and correctly process dates beyond December 31, 1999. All of the Company's products, operations and information technology systems have been inventoried and those that were not Year 2000 ready have been identified, upgraded and tested to ensure they function properly after December 31, 1999. The Company is also in the process of contacting its vendors and customers to ascertain their preparation for the Year 2000 issue and is in the process of identifying critical business partners for which the need for additional due diligence will be assessed. The costs of the Company's Year 2000 assessment and remediation program have not been and are not expected to be material. Although the Company does not expect the Year 2000 issue to have a material effect on its results of operations, liquidity or financial condition, failure of critical IT and non-IT systems could have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations, liquidity or financial condition. Further, the Company cannot eliminate the risk that revenue will be lost or costs will be incurred as a result of the failure by third parties to properly remediate their Year 2000 issues. Foreign Operations The Company's foreign operations are subject to special risks inherent in doing business outside the United States, including governmental instability, war and other international conflicts, civil and labor disturbances, requirements of local ownership, partial or total expropriation, nationalization, currency devaluation, foreign exchange controls and foreign laws and policies, each of which may limit the movement of assets or funds or result in the deprivation of contract rights or the taking of property without fair compensation. An additional risk with respect to the Company's European operations relates to the conversion of certain European countries to a common currency which began January 1, 1999 (the "Euro Conversion"). The Company has formed an internal task force to evaluate the risks and implement any required actions with respect to the Euro Conversion. Based on the analysis of this task force, the Company does not believe that the costs to the Company to convert to a common currency will be material. Additionally the Company does not believe that there will be any material impact from a competitive point of view with respect to the impact of the Euro Conversion on the sales of products. Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K List of Exhibits Exhibit No. Description of Instrument ----------- ------------------------- 10.1 The Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 29, 1999 by and between Linvatec Corporation and Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, as amended by an amendment dated as of August 11, 1999. 10.2 Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of August 11, 1999, among CONMED Corporation and the several banks and other financial institutions or entities from time to time parties thereto. 10.3 Acknowledgement and Consent, dated as of August 11, 1999, among CONMED Corporation and each of its subsidiaries. 11 Computation of weighted average number of shares of common stock 27 Financial Data Schedule Reports on Form 8-K (1) On July 1, 1999, the Company filed a report on Form 8-K which reported a press release that on June 29, 1999, Linvatec Corporation, ("Linvatec") a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Registrant, and Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company ("3M") entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of June 29, 1999, pursuant to which Linvatec agreed to purchase for cash certain assets relating to 3M's business of manufacturing and selling certain surgical powered instrument products. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. CONMED CORPORATION (Registrant) Date: August 13, 1999 /s/ Robert D. Shallish, Jr. ----------------------------- Robert D. Shallish, Jr. Vice President - Finance (Principal Financial Officer) Exhibit Index Exhibit 10.1 The Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 29, 1999 by and between Linvatec Corporation and Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, as amended by an amendment dated as of August 11, 1999. 10.2 Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of August 11, 1999, among CONMED Corporation and the several banks and other financial institutions or entities from time to time parties thereto. 10.3 Acknowledgement and Consent, dated as of August 11, 1999, among CONMED Corporation and each of its subsidiaries. 11 Computations of weighted average number of shares of common stock 27 Financial Data Schedule
                                                                    Exhibit 10.1
                            ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT

         THIS ASSET PURCHASE  AGREEMENT  (this  "Agreement") is made and entered
into as of this 29th day of June, 1999 by and between  Linvatec  Corporation,  a
Florida  corporation  (the  "Buyer"),  and  Minnesota  Mining and  Manufacturing
Company, a Delaware corporation ("3M").

         WHEREAS,  3M, through its Medical Surgical  Division (the  "Division"),
engages in the business of  manufacturing  and selling a broad range of surgical
powered instrument products excluding those instruments that formed any portions
of 3M's  cardiovascular  perfusion  business,  its orthopedic  devices business,
metal implant  business and carpal tunnel release  businesses,  (the manufacture
and  sale of such  products  through  such  Division  being  herein  called  the
"Business");

         WHEREAS,  3M now desires to exit the Business without  interrupting the
availability of products and customer  support and Buyer desires to purchase and
acquire the assets of the Business, all on the terms and conditions set forth in
this Agreement;

         WHEREAS,  Buyer  wishes to purchase  all assets used in or necessary to
the  Business,  and to hire or  otherwise  retain  the  services  of  certain 3M
employees or agents  necessary  to or used in the Business  subject to the terms
set forth herein;

         WHEREAS,  Buyer wishes to purchase the Business in a manner that causes
as little  disruption as possible to customers of and the  profitability  of the
Business; and

         WHEREAS,  3M now desires to sell and the Buyer  desires to purchase and
acquire  certain  assets of the Business,  all on the terms and  conditions  set
forth in this Agreement.

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



                                    ARTICLE I

                                   Definitions

         1.01 Purchased  Assets.  The term  "Purchased  Assets" or any variation
thereof as used in this  Agreement  shall mean the assets  required  to be sold,
assigned,  transferred  and  conveyed by 3M to the Buyer  pursuant to Article II
hereof.

         1.02 3M Products.  The term "3M  Products" or "3M Product  Line" or any
variation  thereof  as used in this  Agreement  shall  mean  those  3M  products
manufactured  or sold  through the Division  described in the attached  Schedule
1.02.

         1.03  Assumed  Liabilities.  The  term  "Assumed  Liabilities"  or  any
variation  thereof  as used in this  Agreement  shall mean the  liabilities  and
obligations required to be assumed by the Buyer pursuant to Article IV hereof.

         1.04 Purchased Intellectual Property. The term "Purchased  Intellectual
Property"  means  patents,  patent  applications,  utility model  registrations,
design  patents,  registered  or  unregistered  trademarks,  trade  secrets  and
know-how  owned by 3M on the Closing Date that directly and solely relate to the
Business as conducted on the Closing Date,  with such  products  being listed in
Schedule 1.04, but excluding  components and materials  supplied to the Business
by other businesses of 3M.

         1.05 Licensed Intellectual  Property.  The term "Licensed  Intellectual
Property"  means  patents,  patent  applications,  utility model  registrations,
design patents,  trade secrets and know-how owned by 3M on the Closing Date that
are used directly in both the Business as conducted on the Closing Date and 3M's
electronic products and/or orthopedic casting business, but excluding Components
and Materials supplied to the Business by other businesses of 3M.

         1.06 IP Agreements.  The term "IP  Agreements"  means those  agreements
licensing  patents to or from 3M that directly and solely relate to the Business
as  conducted  on the Closing  Date and are listed in Schedule  1.06,  excluding
however supplier, distribution, consulting and confidentiality agreements.

         1.07  Sublicensed  IP Agreement.  The term  "Sublicensed  IP Agreement"
means the Automotive  Supplier  Agreement  dated 22nd September 1998 between the
Lemelson Medical, Education and Research Foundation, Limited Partnership and 3M.

         1.08 Adverse Material Change.  The term "Adverse Material Change" shall
mean any change that  affects the  valuation  of the Business in a manner that a
reasonable  buyer,  familiar with trends  likely to affect the  Business,  would
consider such change in valuing the Business.



                                   ARTICLE II

                                 Sale of Assets

         2.01 Purchased Assets.  Subject to the terms and conditions  hereof, 3M
agrees to sell,  assign,  transfer and convey to the Buyer, and the Buyer agrees
to purchase and acquire from 3M, at the Closing (as hereinafter  defined) on the
Closing Date (as hereinafter defined), all of 3M's right, title and interest, if
any,  immediately  prior  to the  effective  time of the  Closing  in and to the
following assets wherever located:

         (a) The fixed assets,  machinery,  manufacturing equipment,  laboratory
and test  equipment and 3M Product  specifications,  drawings and  manufacturing
processes  documents and office equipment used in the Business,  including those
assets specified, on and offsite, in Schedule 2.01(a).

         (b) Raw material,  packaging,  factory  supplies,  work in progress and
finished  goods  inventories to the extent related to the 3M Product Line, in an
amount consistent with past practices of the Business.

         (c) Purchased Intellectual Property as provided in Article VI.

         (d) Records to the extent substantially  related to the 3M Product Line
and the Purchased Assets.

         (e)  Purchase  orders to the  extent  substantially  related  to the 3M
Product  Line,  the Purchased  Assets or the Business  issued by or to 3M in the
ordinary course of business.

         (f)  Subject  to  Section  VI,   leases,   contracts,   agreements  and
commitments  to the extent  substantially  related to the 3M Product  Line,  the
Purchased Assets or the Business, to the extent assignable and/or transferable.

         (g)  All  registrations,  licenses,  permits  or any  other  government
authorizations  relating  to the 3M  Product  Line to the  extent  transferable,
subject to Article VI.

         (h) All demonstration  units or loaner units relating to the 3M Product
Line, including those listed on Schedule 2.01(h).

         2.02 Excluded  Assets.  It is understood  and agreed that the following
assets of the  Business are  excluded  from  Purchased  Assets:  (i) cash;  (ii)
accounts receivable;  (iii) any items listed in Schedule 2.02 (Excluded Assets);
and (iv) excluded intellectual property assets set forth in Section 6.10.

         2.03 Retention of Certain Records.  It is understood and agreed that 3M
reserves the right to retain copies or written  records of the items referred to
in Sections  2.01(c) and (d) for the purpose of  defending  any claims,  losses,
causes of action or  lawsuits,  including  those  related  to the sale of the 3M
Product  Line  by 3M,  and for the  purpose  of  preparing  any tax  returns  or
financial   statements  or  reports,   provided  that  3M  shall   maintain  the
confidentiality  of such  documents and shall  promptly  notify the Buyer of any
lawsuit or claim  served  upon 3M  relating to the  Business  and/or  records or
documents.

                                   ARTICLE III

                                 Purchase Price

         3.01 Purchase  Price and Payment.  In  consideration  for the Purchased
Assets,  the Buyer agrees to pay to 3M Forty Million Dollars  ($40,000,000) (the
"Purchase  Price"),  subject to being  adjusted  pursuant to Section  3.04.  The
Purchase  Price  shall be payable in cash at the  Closing  by wire  transfer  of
immediately  available  federal  funds to 3M at Norwest Bank,  Minnesota,  N.A.,
Minneapolis, Minnesota, ABA #091 000 019, credit to 3M General Account #30103.

         3.02  Allocation of Purchase  Price. It is understood and agreed by the
parties  that,  except as  hereinafter  provided,  the  Purchase  Price shall be
allocated,  within ninety (90) days  following the Closing,  among the Purchased
Assets in accordance with the attached  Exhibit A, and that said allocation will
be used for state and federal tax purposes.  Each party  acknowledges  that such
allocation is consistent  with the  requirements of Section 1060 of the Internal
Revenue Code 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder. Each party agrees
(i) to jointly  complete and  separately  file Form 8594 with its federal income
tax return for the tax year in which the Closing Date occurs, and (ii) that such
party will not take a position  on any  income,  transfer  or gains tax  return,
before any governmental agency charged with the collection of any such tax or in
any judicial  proceeding,  that is in any manner  inconsistent with the terms of
such allocation without the written consent of the other party.  Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary  provided herein,  neither party shall be bound by such
allocation  in the event the Internal  Revenue  Service or another tax authority
successfully  challenges the  allocation.  In the event of any challenge to such
allocation by the Internal Revenue Service or another tax authority, the parties
will give each other notice of the challenge and advise each other  periodically
of the status of such  challenge and  reasonably  cooperate with each other with
respect to such challenge.

         3.03 Sales,  Use and Transfer Taxes. The Buyer shall be responsible for
all sales,  use and transfer  taxes,  deed taxes and recording  fees, if any, in
each case applicable to the sale and transfer of the Purchased Assets hereunder,
except for any taxes or other fees imposed by foreign jurisdictions, which taxes
or other fees shall be paid as is  customary  in such  jurisdictions.  The Buyer
will furnish 3M at the Closing with properly  executed  exemption  certificates,
dated the Closing Date,  relating to the inventory,  supplies and  manufacturing
equipment  being  transferred  pursuant to this  Agreement  as to which Buyer is
claiming an exemption from sales, use or other transfer taxes.

         3.04  Adjustment to Purchase  Price.  In  conjunction  with the payment
called for in Section 3.01, the Purchase  Price shall be reduced,  or increased,
for the precise amount,  in dollars,  by which the Net Assets of the Business as
of the Closing are less or more than the amount  listed on the December 31, 1998
Balance Sheet.  If the parties are unable to agree as to the value of the assets
conveyed  pursuant to Section 2.01(b),  the Buyer may withhold from the Purchase
Price so much as corresponds to Buyer's calculation of the value of such assets,
with a national  accounting  firm, to be selected  within twenty (20) days after
the Closing to complete a  valuation,  using the same  methodology  used for the
December 31, 1998 Balance Sheet, within sixty (60) days after Closing, with both
parties making final  submissions  ten (10) days after such firm is selected and
with both parties being bound thereby.



                                   ARTICLE IV

                            Assumption of Liabilities

         4.01  Assumption of  Liabilities.  Subject to the terms and  conditions
hereof and subject to Article VI (Intellectual  Property),  at the Closing,  the
Buyer  shall  assume  and agree to carry out and  perform  all of the  following
liabilities  and obligations  which have not been paid,  performed or discharged
prior to the effective time of the Closing by 3M:

         (a) all  obligations  of 3M related to the Business in respect of goods
received  and  services  delivered  after  the  Closing  Date  under  any of the
licenses,  purchase orders, leases, contracts, or written agreements included in
the  Purchased  Assets  (collectively,  the  "Contracts"),  the  Sublicensed  IP
Agreement and the IP Agreements;

         (b) all warranty obligations of 3M with respect to 3M Products; and

         (c) such other  liabilities  of the Business  related to the 3M Product
Line,  the Purchased  Assets and the Business  arising after the Closing  (e.g.,
intellectual and/or product liability claims arising for products sold after the
Closing).

         4.02 The language of Section 4.01(a) - (c) notwithstanding, Buyer shall
not be responsible  for any taxes or liens upon the Purchased  Assets that arise
from pre-Closing facts or circumstances,  which 3M agrees to remove for a period
of up to  eighteen  (18)  months  following  Closing,  regardless  of amount and
notwithstanding the materiality threshold in Article XI concerning indemnity.



                                    ARTICLE V

                         Representations and Warranties

         5.01 3M Representations. 3M hereby represents and warrants as follows:

         (a)  Organization of 3M. 3M is a corporation  duly  organized,  validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.

         (b)  Authority  of 3M. 3M has full  corporate  power and  authority  to
execute,  deliver  and  perform  this  Agreement  and  each  of the  Transaction
Documents (as hereinafter  defined) to be entered into by it at the Closing, and
such  execution,  delivery  and  performance  have been duly  authorized  by all
necessary  and  proper  corporate  action of 3M.  This  Agreement  has been duly
executed and  delivered by 3M, and (assuming  due  authorization,  execution and
delivery  hereof  by the  Buyer)  is the  valid  and  binding  obligation  of 3M
enforceable   against  3M  in   accordance   with  its  terms  (except  as  such
enforceability  may  be  limited  by  bankruptcy,  reorganization,   insolvency,
moratorium and other similar laws affecting  creditors'  rights  generally or by
general principles of equity).  Upon execution and delivery thereof by 3M at the
Closing (and assuming due  authorization,  execution and delivery thereof by the
Buyer,  to the  extent  applicable),  each of the  Transaction  Documents  to be
entered into by 3M at the Closing will be the valid and binding obligation of 3M
enforceable   against  3M  in   accordance   with  its  terms  (except  as  such
enforceability  may  be  limited  by  bankruptcy,  reorganization,   insolvency,
moratorium or other similar laws  affecting  creditors'  rights  generally or by
general principles of equity).

         (c) Title to Purchased Assets. Except as set forth in Schedule 5.01(c),
Article VI  (Intellectual  Property) or elsewhere in this  Agreement,  3M has or
will have at the Closing  title to the Purchased  Assets,  free and clear of all
mortgages,  liens,  security  interests,  claims,  tax liabilities,  charges and
encumbrances.

         (d) Contracts.  The attached Schedule  5.01(d)(i) lists, as of the date
of Closing,  all leases,  contracts,  agreements  and  commitments to the extent
substantially  related to the 3M Product  Line,  other than those IP  agreements
listed on Schedule 1.06,  the Purchased  Assets or the Business to which 3M is a
party or by which 3M is bound and which involve payments of more than $10,000.00
per annum, with all purchase orders that entail annual expenditures in excess of
$10,000.00,  whether in the  ordinary  course or  otherwise,  listed on Schedule
5.01(d)(ii).

         (e) No Brokers.  With respect to the transactions  contemplated by this
Agreement,  3M has not dealt with or been  contacted by any finder or broker and
is not in any way obligated to compensate such persons.

         (f) Compliance with Law And Other  Requirements.  Except as provided in
Schedule  5.01(f),  to 3M's  knowledge,  the Business is not in violation of any
law, ordinance or regulation of any governmental  entity, which violations would
have an Adverse Material Change. All governmental approvals,  permits,  licenses
and other authorizations required in connection with the conduct of any material
aspect of the Business  have been  obtained and are in full force and effect and
are being  complied  with in all  material  respects.  During  the last five (5)
years,  3M has not received  any  notification  of any asserted  past or present
violation in connection  with the conduct of the Business of any law,  ordinance
or regulation,  which violation would have an Adverse  Material  Change,  or any
complaint,  inquiry or request  for  information  from any  governmental  entity
relating thereto  (including 483s,  warning letters,  consent decrees,  or other
asserted violations of legal or regulatory requirements).  The Business complies
in all material respects with the requirements for ISO 9001  certification,  and
has such  certifications  and 3M has no knowledge that it is in violation of any
requirement for CE-markings.

         (g) Financials.  The financial  statements  provided by 3M and attached
hereto as Schedule 5.01(g) are true and accurate in all material respects,  have
been  derived  from the books and  records  of 3M that  have been  prepared  and
maintained in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in
all material respects.

         (h)  Claims  Status.  Except as set forth on  Schedule  5.01(h),  3M is
unaware of any claims that are being asserted with respect to product liability,
regulatory or other claims.

         (i) Intellectual  Property. 3M disclaims any representation or warranty
provided in this  Agreement as it might be  construed  to apply to  intellectual
property except as provided in Article VI (Intellectual Property).

         (j) Regulatory  Approval  Status.  Except for the Blitz(TM) II Surgical
Powered  Instruments  Cleaner  and  Lubricant  (the  "Blitz(TM)  products"),  3M
represents and warrants that to 3M's  knowledge,  all 3M Products  including any
accessories  currently are being  marketed in compliance  with all Food and Drug
Act, Medical Device Directive,  CE-marking and other legal  requirements in each
jurisdiction in which the 3M Products are marketed.  3M further  represents that
the Food and Drug Act, Medical Device Directive, and CE-marking requirements are
not applicable to the Blitz(TM) products.

         (k) Completeness of Purchased  Assets.  The Purchased Assets constitute
all  assets  necessary  for 3M or used  by 3M in the  conduct  of the  Business,
particularly the manufacture of the 3M Products,  except those assets identified
on Schedule  2.02 as the  Excluded  Assets or  intellectual  property,  which is
governed by Article VI, or those products  supplied by 3M's New Ulm plant,  with
such products to be provided in the Supply  Agreement.  Moreover,  the Purchased
Assets  include  all assets  necessary  for 3M or used by 3M in  production  and
testing processes of the Business at Irvine, California.

         (l)  Inventory.  All raw material,  work in progress and finished goods
inventory is current and  non-obsolete in accordance with 3M's inventory  policy
which is attached as Schedule  5.01(i).  All such inventory,  wherever  located,
bears the CE mark.

         (m)  Environmental.  Except as may be  disclosed  in the  environmental
audit as provided  for in Section  8.19,  3M's  operation  of the  Business  and
ownership of the  Purchased  Assets are,  and have been,  in  compliance  in all
material respects with all applicable  environmental laws, permit  requirements,
use  restrictions,  and  waste  control  requirements,  and no  releases  of any
hazardous  substance  requiring  notification  to  a  governmental  entity  have
occurred in  connection  with the  operation  of the  Business or the  Purchased
Assets; and no hazardous substances are used in the operation of the Business or
use of the Purchased  Assets except in compliance in all material  respects with
applicable law as of the date of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement,
the term  "hazardous  substance"  shall  mean any  substance  which is listed or
otherwise defined as "hazardous" or "toxic" under applicable law; as well as any
petroleum product or nuclear materials; and the term "applicable law" as used in
this Section 5.01(m) shall include any local, state, federal and/or foreign laws
and  regulations  that govern the existence  and/or remedy of  contamination  on
property,  the protection of the environment from contamination,  the control of
hazardous wastes, or other activities involving hazardous substances,  including
building materials as of the date of this Agreement.

         5.02 Buyer Representations. The Buyer hereby represents and warrants as
follows:

         (a)  Organization of Buyer.  The Buyer is a corporation duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Florida.

         (b) Authority of Buyer. Buyer has full corporate power and authority to
execute,  deliver  and  perform  this  Agreement  and  each  of the  Transaction
Documents to be entered into by it at the Closing, and such execution,  delivery
and performance  have been duly authorized by all necessary and proper corporate
action of Buyer.  This  Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Buyer,
and (assuming  due  authorization,  execution and delivery  hereof by 3M) is the
valid and binding  obligation of Buyer  enforceable  against Buyer in accordance
with its terms  (except as such  enforceability  may be  limited by  bankruptcy,
reorganization,   insolvency   moratorium   and  other  similar  laws  affecting
creditors' rights generally or by general principles of equity).  Upon execution
and delivery  thereof by Buyer at the Closing (and  assuming due  authorization,
execution  and delivery  thereof by 3M, to the extent  applicable),  each of the
Transaction  Documents  to be entered  into by Buyer at the Closing  will be the
valid and binding  obligation of Buyer  enforceable  against Buyer in accordance
with its terms  (except as such  enforceability  may be  limited by  bankruptcy,
reorganization,   insolvency,   moratorium  or  other  similar  laws   affecting
creditors' rights generally or by general principles of equity).

         (c) Financial  Ability of Buyer.  The Buyer has  available  cash and/or
existing committed  borrowing  facilities  sufficient to enable it to consummate
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

         (d) No Brokers.  With respect to the transactions  contemplated by this
Agreement,  Buyer has not dealt with or been  contacted  by any finder or broker
and is not in any way obligated to compensate such persons.



                                   ARTICLE VI

                              Intellectual Property

         6.01  Intellectual  Property  Recitals.  The  transfer of  intellectual
property,  and any representations or warranties regarding intellectual property
by 3M, are exclusively  controlled by this Article. 3M disclaims any warranty or
representation  provided elsewhere in this Agreement as it might be construed to
apply to intellectual  property owned, licensed or controlled by 3M or any third
party  intellectual   property  right.  Except  as  provided  in  this  Article,
intellectual  property is being transferred or licensed on an "AS IS" basis. The
general  intent of this  Article is to transfer  or license to Buyer  sufficient
intellectual  property rights (to the extent  transferable) that are owned by or
licensed to 3M to allow Buyer to conduct the  Business in the same manner it was
conducted by 3M on the Closing Date, excluding,  however,  intellectual property
rights  relating to  components  or materials  supplied to the Business by other
businesses of 3M, which components or materials are identified on Schedule 6.01.
Buyer does not expect to be placed in a better  position  with  respect to third
party intellectual property rights by virtue of this Agreement than the position
occupied by 3M as to such matters as of Closing.  Buyer will be responsible  for
any  infringement  alleged  with  respect to third party  intellectual  property
rights relating to products sold after Closing.

         6.02  Purchased  Intellectual  Property.   Subject  to  the  terms  and
conditions hereof, 3M agrees to sell, assign,  transfer and convey to Buyer, and
Buyer  agrees to  purchase  and  acquire  from 3M, at the Closing on the Closing
Date,  all of 3M's right,  title and interest,  if any,  immediately  before the
effective time of the Closing in and to the following assets:

         (a) The technology and know-how within Purchased  Intellectual Property
to  the  extent  transferable  by 3M,  subject  to a  worldwide,  non-exclusive,
royalty-free,  assignable license,  with the right to sublicense,  from Linvatec
back to 3M of any  technology  and  know-how  within  the  field  of  electronic
products and equipment and orthopedic casting products and equipment;

         (b) The patents,  applications for patents, utility model registrations
and  design  patents  within  Purchased  Intellectual  Property,  subject  to  a
worldwide,  non-exclusive,  royalty-free,  assignable license, with the right to
sublicense,  from  Linvatec  back to 3M of such  rights  within  the  fields  of
electronic products and equipment and orthopedic casting products and equipment,
and subject to any  agreement  listed in Schedule 1.06 (If any royalties are due
to a third  party  under an IP  Agreement  due to 3M's sales  under its  license
provided herein,  however,  3M will pay those royalties to Linvatec so that they
may be passed through to the third party);

         (c) Any registered and unregistered trademarks (and the goodwill of the
business in which any such  trademarks  are used and which is symbolized by said
trademarks), and copyrights within Purchased Intellectual Property to the extent
transferable by 3M, subject to any agreement listed in Schedule 1.06.

         (d) Any IP Agreement to the extent transferable by 3M. 3M's obligations
with respect to transferability of any IP Agreement are provided in Section 8.03
(Unassignable  Contracts) to the extent the  mechanism  provided in Section 8.03
would not constitute a breach of the IP Agreement.

         6.03 Trade Name and Trademark Restrictions. It is understood and agreed
that this  Agreement  does not  constitute an agreement to transfer to Buyer the
right to use:  (i) the name 3M, (ii) any 3M corporate  logo alone,  or (iii) any
combination  of any other  mark or symbol  with any of the marks  identified  in
Sections 6.03(i) or 6.03(ii), except as provided in Section 6.04.

         6.04 Removal of 3M Trade Names.  Within a reasonable period of time not
to exceed  twenty-four  (24) months,  except as noted  below,  after the Closing
Date,  Buyer shall remove all trade names and  trademarks  of 3M not included in
the Purchased Assets from all assets  transferred to Buyer hereunder;  provided,
however,  that  it is  understood  and  agreed  that  with  respect  to  product
literature  and other  assets  where  removal of such trade names or  trademarks
would result in damage to such asset,  Buyer may instead  relabel such assets to
conceal such trade names or trademarks.  It is understood that Buyer will not be
required to remove the 3M trademark or relabel the  products,  if to do so would
jeopardize  the  registration  of such  product  in a  particular  jurisdiction,
provided  that  Buyer  agrees  not to change  the  manner in which  such mark is
displayed.   Buyer  will  use  its  best   efforts  to  transfer   said  product
registrations in its own name as soon as reasonably possible after Closing.

         6.05  Intellectual  Property  Agreement  Assumptions.  Buyer  agrees to
assume all of 3M's post-Closing obligations, duties, liabilities and commitments
pursuant to the IP Agreements including but not limited to any obligation for 3M
to pay any royalty.  Buyer  agrees to forever  hold 3M  harmless,  defend 3M and
indemnify  3M  for  any  damages,  penalties  or  expenses  incurred,  including
reasonable  attorney  expenses,  with respect to any claim or cause of action of
any description  (regardless of the theory of liability)  related to the alleged
breach  of  Buyer's  or  3M's  assumed  post-Closing  obligations  under  the IP
Agreements.  Without  limiting the  generality  of the previous  portion of this
section,  Buyer agrees to forever hold 3M harmless,  defend 3M and  indemnify 3M
for any damages with respect to a) any cause of action  alleging  that any third
party is entitled to a royalty for sales after the Closing Date  pursuant to the
IP  Agreements,  or b)  any  cause  of  action  for a  breach  of  any of the IP
Agreements  arising out of this  Agreement or the assignment of any IP Agreement
to Buyer. The consideration  paid by Buyer for the transfer of the IP Agreements
shall include the  assumption by Buyer of the duties,  liabilities,  obligations
and commitments relating to the Intellectual Property Agreements as set forth in
this Section of the Agreement.

         6.06 Warranties.  3M hereby warrants and represents,  to its knowledge,
as follows:

         (a) 3M has title to the patents,  patent  applications,  design patents
and utility model registrations listed in Schedule 1.04. In addition, such title
is subject to or encumbered by the agreements listed in Schedule 1.06;

         (b)  From  the  time  period  beginning  five  (5)  years  prior to the
execution  of this  Agreement,  neither  3M's  Office of  Intellectual  Property
Counsel nor 3M senior  executive  management  have  received  any claim from any
third party charging 3M with infringement of any intellectual  property right in
connection  with 3M's  conduct of the  Business,  except as provided in Schedule
6.06(b);

         (c)  Schedule  1.04  represents  a  complete  list of  patents,  patent
applications,   design  patents,   registered  trademarks,   and  utility  model
registrations  for which 3M has title that  directly  and  solely  relate to the
Business  as  conducted  on the  Closing  Date,  except for any  patent,  patent
application, design patent and utility model registration for which 3M requested
an outside  counsel or  International  patent firm to abandon  more than six (6)
months before the Closing Date;

         (d)      Schedule 1.06 represents a complete list of IP Agreements; and

         (e)  From  the  time  period  beginning  five  (5)  years  prior to the
execution of this Agreement,  3M's Office of Intellectual  Property  Counsel has
not received  any claim from any third party  claiming 3M is in breach of any IP
Agreement in connection with 3M's conduct of the Business, except as provided in
Schedule 6.06(e).

         6.07 Notice, Correction of Schedules. Buyer will provide 3M with prompt
written notice  identifying any item not listed on Schedule 1.04, 1.06,  6.06(b)
or 6.06(e) that Buyer comes to believe belongs on Schedule 1.04,  1.06,  6.06(b)
or 6.06(e)  along with an  explanation  as to why such  missing  item belongs on
Schedule 1.04,  1.06,  6.06(b) or 6.06(e).  If 3M and Buyer agree that such item
should have been listed,  then 3M will use its best efforts to provide a revised
Schedule  listing  the  missing  item,  subject  to Section  8.03  (Unassignable
Contracts)  to the  extent  Section  8.03 would not  constitute  a breach of any
agreement that belongs on Schedule 6.06(b). At any time before the Closing Date,
3M will have the unilateral right to add items to Schedules 1.04, 1.06,  6.06(b)
or  6.06(e),  although  Buyer will have the right to  terminate  this  Agreement
pursuant to Section 12.01(a) if such addition constitutes a material breach.

         6.08  Disclaimers.  BUYER  ACKNOWLEDGES  THAT 3M HAS DISCLAIMED (i) ANY
REPRESENTATION   OR  WARRANTY  OF   INVENTORSHIP,   TRANSFERABILITY,   VALIDITY,
ORIGINALITY,  ENFORCEABILITY,  RELATIONSHIP TO ANY OTHER  INTELLECTUAL  PROPERTY
(E.G.,  WHETHER  PATENTS ARE  COUNTERPARTS  OR  EQUIVALENTS),  NON-INFRINGEMENT,
RIGHT-TO-PRACTICE,  SCOPE,  STATUS  (PENDING  OR  ISSUED)  OR  PRIORITY  OF  ANY
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHT AND ANY AGREEMENT RELATING TO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY;
(ii) ANY  REPRESENTATION  OR  WARRANTY  WITH  RESPECT TO RIGHT TO  PRACTICE  AND
WHETHER ANY THIRD PARTY INTELLECTUAL  PROPERTY RIGHT IS OR WOULD BE INFRINGED BY
THE BUSINESS,  3M PRODUCTS OR 3M PRODUCT LINE, AND (iii) ANY  REPRESENTATION  OR
WARRANTY  REGARDING  THE STATUS OF ANY IP AGREEMENT  (FOR  EXAMPLE,  WHETHER THE
AGREEMENT IS BEING BREACHED).

         6.09 Assignment Documents. Buyer agrees to deliver to 3M at the Closing
assignment or transfer  documents  consistent with this Agreement and reasonably
acceptable to 3M of patents,  patent applications,  utility model registrations,
design patents, patent licenses assigned in this Article.

         6.10 No Implied IP  Transfers.  It is expressly  understood  and agreed
that, other than the intellectual property expressly identified in Article VI of
this Agreement (and related Schedules thereof), this Agreement does not transfer
to Buyer any interest in any intellectual property rights.

         6.11 Dispute Resolution.  Any dispute regarding the terms or conditions
of this Article or either  party's  performance or alleged breach of any term or
condition of this Article will be subject to the dispute  resolution  provisions
of  section  12.02  except  that  3M's  Intellectual  Property  Counsel  will be
substituted for 3M's General Counsel in section 12.02.

         6.12 Indemnity,  Notice. This Article will be subject to the provisions
of Article XI. In addition,  effective twenty-four (24) months after the Closing
Date,  Buyer  hereby  releases  3M from any  claim  (whether  known or  unknown)
relating to  intellectual  property or this  Article  that is not the subject of
written notice provided to: Chief  Intellectual  Property Counsel,  3M Office of
Intellectual  Property Counsel, P.O. Box. 33427, St. Paul, Minnesota 55133-3427,
before twenty-four (24) months after the Closing Date.

         6.13. Sublicensed Intellectual Property. Effective on the Closing Date,
3M  grants  to  Buyer  a  non-exclusive,  fully  paid-up  sublicense  under  the
Sublicensed  IP  Agreement  with  respect to the 3M  Product  Line to the extent
permitted in the provisions of such  Sublicensed  IP Agreement  relating to 3M's
sale of a product line to a third party.  3M made the payment due under  section
5.b. of the Sublicensed IP Agreement on or before January 15, 1999.

         6.14 Other 3M Patent.  Effective  on the  Closing  Date,  3M agrees and
covenants  not to sue Buyer with  respect to Buyer's  use (if any) of the method
claimed in US Patent No.  4,806,730  in Buyer's  conduct of the  Business.  This
covenant  will also cover  suppliers of Buyer to the extent they  practice  this
method to supply Buyer's needs with respect to the Business.  This covenant will
be transferable by Buyer to any assignee or successor of the Business.

        6.15 Licensed Intellectual  Property.  Effective on the Closing Date, 3M
hereby  grants  to  Linvatec  a  fully-paid   up,   non-cancelable,   worldwide,
non-exclusive  license under Licensed  Intellectual  Property to use such rights
within the field of surgical powered  instruments,  including without limitation
the right to make, have made, use, sell, offer for sale, lease,  import,  export
or otherwise  dispose of products,  and the right to  sublicense to customers or
suppliers  as a part of the  manufacture  or sale of  products,  or assign  such
license to any assignee or successor of the Business.  It is believed that there
are no patents,  patent  applications,  utility model  registrations,  or design
patents within Licensed  Intellectual  Property,  and thus this Section shall be
construed to grant the described license to the extent that the parties discover
that this belief is incorrect. Various products of the Business are manufactured
or assembled at a common site with 3M's  orthopedic  casting  products  business
and/or 3M's  electronic  products  business,  and there may be trade secrets and
know-how within Licensed  Intellectual  Property that apply or are applicable to
the  Business  and  3M's  orthopedic   casting  products  business  and/or  3M's
electronic  products business.  This Section will be construed to allow Linvatec
and 3M to use such trade  secrets and know-how  within their  respective  fields
without  breaching  this  Agreement  or  being  sued  for   misappropriation  or
infringement by the other party.



                                   ARTICLE VII

                              Conditions to Closing

         7.01  Conditions to the Buyer's  Obligations.  The  obligations  of the
Buyer to be performed at the Closing shall be subject to the satisfaction or the
waiver in  writing  by the  Buyer at or prior to the  Closing  of the  following
conditions:

         (a) Each of the  representations and warranties of 3M contained in this
Agreement shall be true in all material respects as of the Closing with the same
effect as though such  representations  and warranties  have been made as of the
Closing,  except for any variations therein resulting from actions  contemplated
or permitted by this Agreement,  and each of the covenants to be performed by 3M
at or before  the  Closing  pursuant  to the terms  hereof  shall have been duly
performed in all material respects.

         (b) No action,  suit or proceeding by any governmental  authority shall
be pending  against the Buyer or 3M which seeks to prevent the  consummation  of
the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement, and no injunction or order for
any court or administrative agency of competent  jurisdiction shall be in effect
which  restricts  or  prohibits  the  consummation  by  the  Buyer  or 3M of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

         (c)  Any  waiting   period  (and  any  extension   thereof)  under  the
Hart-Scott-Rodino  Antitrust  Improvements  Act of 1976,  as  amended  (the "HSR
Act"), applicable to the acquisition of the Purchased Assets contemplated hereby
shall have expired or been terminated.

         (d) 3M and Buyer shall have executed a supply  agreement  containing at
least the terms set forth on Exhibit B ("Supply  Agreement")  to ensure a smooth
transition  during that period  between  the  Closing  and the  commencement  of
manufacturing by Buyer.

         (e) 3M and Buyer  shall have  executed a  transition  and  distribution
services  agreement  containing  at least  the  terms  set  forth on  Exhibit  C
("Transition and Distribution Services Agreement") to ensure a smooth transition
during that period between the Closing and the  commencement of distribution and
service by Buyer.

         (f) 3M and Buyer shall have  executed a lease  agreement  containing at
least the terms set forth on Exhibit D ("Lease and Shared Facilities Agreement")
to ensure a smooth  transition  during that  period  between the Closing and the
commencement of manufacturing by Buyer in Buyer's own facility.

         (g) Buyer shall be reasonably  satisfied  that 3M has complied,  in all
material  respects,  with 3M's  obligations  pursuant to Section 8.13 (providing
names of and  information  relating  to  certain  sales and  technical  services
employees to be considered for employment with Buyer),  8.15(a) (relating to the
transfer  of data in  respect  of sales,  orders  and  customer  service),  8.16
(Transition Assistance in Japan), and 8.17 (Pre-Closing Disclosure).

         (h) Buyer shall have received from 3M:

             (i)   A Bill of Sale in the form of Exhibit E.

             (ii)  Certificate of Good Standing.

             (iii) Certified  copies of 3M's corporate  resolutions  authorizing
                   the  transaction   contemplated  hereby  and  by  the  Supply
                   Agreement.

         (i) 3M shall have delivered to Buyer raw material,  packaging,  factory
supplies,  work in progress and finished  goods  inventory  valued in the amount
specified  in  Section  2.01(b),  with  the  appropriate  mix of  finished-goods
products,  which value  shall be in an amount  consistent  with past  practices,
which  Linvatec  shall  verify at Closing  (the  "Count")  and such value  being
measured according to the cost of manufacturing or purchase by 3M, with Linvatec
to ship the inventory upon  completing  the Count at Closing.  3M shall make its
sites and responsible employees available, as needed, on weekends or holidays to
facilitate the Count.  3M shall have shipped  finished  goods  inventories in an
amount in value not to exceed One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) for receipt by
Linvatec  as  of  August  1,  1999  at  Linvatec's  Belgium  or  Largo,  Florida
facilities, provided Linvatec will designate on July 21, 1999 the products to be
shipped to the respective locations to which they shall be shipped.

         (j) 3M shall have completed Schedule 2.02 (Excluded Assets).  Any items
added by 3M to  Schedule  2.02  between the  signing of this  Agreement  and the
Closing  must be  approved  by  Buyer,  which  will not  withhold  its  approval
unreasonably.

         (k)  Buyer  shall be  reasonably  satisfied  that  there is no  Adverse
Material Change,  respect of sales,  costs of  manufacturing,  the environmental
status of the California facility and the backorder status.

         (l) Buyer  and/or its parent  company  shall  have  received  necessary
consents and  commitments  for financing and shall have received  funds at least
equal to the Purchase Price from its lenders as of the Closing.

         (m) Buyer shall have  received the  environmental  audit  reasonably in
advance of the Closing and such audit shall not  disclose  any adverse  material
condition.

         7.02  Conditions to the  Obligations of 3M. The obligations of 3M to be
performed at the Closing shall be subject to the  satisfaction  or the waiver in
writing by 3M at or prior to the Closing of the following conditions:

         (a) Each of the  representations  and warranties of the Buyer contained
in this Agreement shall be true in all material  respects as of the Closing with
the same effect as though such  representations  and warranties had been made as
of the  Closing,  except  for any  variations  therein  resulting  from  actions
contemplated  or permitted by this  Agreement,  and each of the  covenants to be
performed  by the Buyer at or before the Closing  pursuant  to the terms  hereof
shall have been duly performed in all material respects.

         (b) No action,  suit or proceeding by any governmental  authority shall
be pending  against the Buyer or 3M which seeks to prevent the  consummation  of
the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,  and no injunction or order of
any court or administrative agency of competent  jurisdiction shall be in effect
which  restricts  or  prohibits  the  consummation  by  the  Buyer  of 3M of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.



                                  ARTICLE VIII

                               Certain Agreements

         8.01 Buyer Investigation; No Representations or Warranties; Exclusivity
of Remedies

         (a)  THE  BUYER  HEREBY  ACKNOWLEDGES  THAT  IT HAS  EXPERIENCE  IN THE
OPERATION OF THE BUSINESS,  HAS INDEPENDENTLY  EVALUATED AND CONDUCTED  THOROUGH
DUE DILIGENCE WITH RESPECT TO THE 3M PRODUCT LINE, THE PURCHASED  ASSETS AND THE
BUSINESS  (INCLUDING  THE  OPERATIONS,   FACILITIES,  CONTRACTS,   MANUFACTURING
PROCESS,  INTELLECTUAL  PROPERTY,  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  AND  PROSPECTS OF THE
BUSINESS),  AND HAS BEEN  REPRESENTED  BY, AND HAD THE  ASSISTANCE  OF,  COUNSEL
(INCLUDING  INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COUNSEL) IN THE CONDUCT OF SUCH DUE DILIGENCE,
THE PREPARATION AND NEGOTIATION OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS,
AND THE CONSUMMATION OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

         (b) 3M HAS MADE AVAILABLE TO THE BUYER AND ITS REPRESENTATIVES  CERTAIN
INFORMATION AND RECORDS  RELATING TO THE 3M PRODUCT LINE, THE PURCHASED  ASSETS,
INTELLECTUAL  PROPERTY,  AND THE BUSINESS.  IT IS  UNDERSTOOD  AND AGREED BY THE
PARTIES THAT NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, HAS BEEN MADE BY
3M OR ITS AGENTS  REGARDING THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF ANY SUCH INFORMATION
OR  RECORDS,  EXCEPT  AS  EXPRESSLY  SET FORTH IN THIS  AGREEMENT  OR ANY OF THE
TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS,  AND THAT 3M WILL NOT HAVE OR BE SUBJECT TO ANY LIABILITY
TO THE BUYER OR ANY OTHER PERSON  RESULTING FROM THE  DISTRIBUTION TO THE BUYER,
OR THE BUYER'S  USE, OF ANY SUCH  INFORMATION  OR RECORDS,  EXCEPT AS  EXPRESSLY
PROVIDED IN THIS AGREEMENT.  FURTHERMORE,  THE BUYER AGREES THAT IT IS ACCEPTING
POSSESSION  OF THE  PURCHASED  ASSETS AT THE CLOSING "AS IS,  WHERE IS, WITH ALL
FAULTS",  WITH NO RESULTING RIGHT OF SET-OFF OR REDUCTION IN THE PURCHASE PRICE,
AND  THAT,  EXCEPT  AS  EXPRESSLY  SET  FORTH  IN THIS  AGREEMENT  OR ANY OF THE
TRANSACTION  DOCUMENTS,  THE SALE OF THE PURCHASED  ASSETS IS BEING MADE WITHOUT
REPRESENTATION  OR  WARRANTY  OF ANY KIND,  EXPRESS OR  IMPLIED,  INCLUDING  ANY
WARRANTY OF INCOME POTENTIAL, OPERATION EXPENSE, USE, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS
FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ALL OF WHICH REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES ARE HEREBY
DISCLAIMED AND RENOUNCED BY 3M.

         (c) THE  BUYER  ACKNOWLEDGES  AND  AGREES  THAT,  EXCEPT  AS  OTHERWISE
EXPRESSLY  PROVIDED IN SECTION 12.15, ITS SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY WITH RESPECT
TO ANY  AND  ALL  CLAIMS  RELATING  TO THE  SUBJECT  MATTER  OF  THIS  AGREEMENT
(INCLUDING  CLAIMS FOR BREACHES OF  REPRESENTATIONS,  WARRANTIES  AND  COVENANTS
CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT) SHALL BE PURSUANT TO THE INDEMNIFICATION PROVISIONS
SET FORTH IN ARTICLE XI.

         (d)  WITHOUT  LIMITING  THE  GENERALITY  OF THE  FOREGOING,  NO  CLAIMS
RELATING TO THE  SUBJECT  MATTER OF THIS  AGREEMENT  MAY BE BROUGHT BY THE BUYER
AGAINST  ANY  DIRECTOR,  OFFICER  OR  EMPLOYEE  OF 3M IN HIS  OR HER  INDIVIDUAL
CAPACITY.

         8.02 Conduct of  Business.  Except as  expressly  contemplated  by this
Agreement,  from the date hereof until the Closing, 3M will conduct the Business
in the usual and ordinary  course.  3M specifically  agrees that it will not (i)
enter into any  agreements  with respect to the Business that are less favorable
than  contracts  currently in place,  (ii) enter into new contracts  without the
prior  written  consent  of Buyer,  (iii)  give away any  products  or  services
associated  with the Business  without the prior  written  consent of Buyer (iv)
offer or  provide  its  products  to  customers,  distributors  or others in any
special incentive pricing packages,  including any bundled sales of the Products
with  other  medical  or other  products,  except  as may be  necessary  to meet
competitive  pricing in the markets  for the  Product  being sold as part of the
Business and only then after  receiving  proof of approval  from Buyer;  and (v)
offer discounted  pricing or free products in connection with any effort to sell
other 3M products.  3M may,  however,  reasonably offer prices as needed to meet
competitors' prices for the 3M Products.

         8.03 Unassignable contracts.  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary
stated in this Agreement,  but Subject to Article VI (Intellectual Property), if
any Contract cannot be assigned to or assumed by the Buyer without the approval,
consent or waiver of another party thereto, and such approval, consent or waiver
has not been obtained at or prior to the Closing,  then (i) such Contract  shall
not be assigned to or assumed by the Buyer at the Closing, (ii) 3M and the Buyer
shall,  if such approval,  consent or waiver is obtained  following the Closing,
promptly  thereafter execute all documents  necessary to complete the assignment
and assumption of such Contract (at Buyer's expense), and (iii) unless and until
such approval,  consent or waiver is obtained and such assignment and assumption
occurs, 3M shall hold the benefits and privileges of such Contract arising after
the Closing Date in trust, to the extent permitted,  for the Buyer and the Buyer
will indemnify and hold harmless 3M against and with respect to all  obligations
of 3M payable or performable after the Closing Date under such Contract. Each of
3M and the  Buyer  agrees to use  reasonable  efforts  to  promptly  obtain  all
approvals,  consents and waivers from third parties to the  Contracts  which are
necessary  to permit the  Contracts  to be assigned to and assumed by the Buyer,
provided that neither 3M nor the Buyer shall be obligated to make any payment or
offer or grant any  accommodation  (financial  or otherwise) in exchange for any
such approval, consent or waiver.

         8.04 Bulk Transfer  Laws. 3M and the Buyer  mutually  waive  compliance
with the  provisions of any applicable  state bulk transfer laws,  including any
state  tax  laws  relating  to the  obligations  of  buyers  of  assets  in bulk
transfers.

         8.05 Removal of Assets. The Buyer agrees to assume  responsibility for,
and pay all expenses in connection with,  removing,  transporting and relocating
those  Purchased  Assets  which  at the  Closing  are  located  at  any of  3M's
facilities or service centers.  Such removal shall be completed according to the
dates  listed on a schedule to be completed by Buyer ninety (90) days before any
such removal.  3M agrees to give the Buyer,  its agents and employees  access to
such facilities at reasonable  times and upon reasonable  notice for purposes of
removing  such  Purchased  Assets.  3M shall have no  liability  to the Buyer in
connection  with the  storage  at,  or  removal  from,  such  facilities  of the
Purchased  Assets  after  the  Closing,  and risk of loss with  respect  to such
Purchased  Assets  shall  pass to the  Buyer  at the  Closing.  3M will  provide
assistance and  cooperation,  for example,  in providing  access to buildings on
weekends,  if required,  in  scheduling  the removal of such items,  and will be
responsible for moving its own equipment, and scheduling its own production,  to
the extent  necessary  for the removal of the Purchased  Assets.  Buyer shall be
responsible for any damage caused as a result of its own negligence.

         8.06 Record  Retention.  The Buyer shall retain all business  files and
documents  included in the  Purchased  Assets and so specified in Schedule  8.06
(Record  Retention)  for a period of ten years after the Closing  Date,  and the
Buyer shall make  available to 3M any such records for  inspection  and copying,
upon reasonable notice from 3M.

         8.07  Regulatory  Filings.  (a) The  parties  agree to use  their  best
efforts to  cooperate  with one  another in (i)  determining  which  filings are
required to be made prior to the consummation of the  transactions  contemplated
hereby, and which consents, approvals, permits or authorizations are required to
be obtained prior to the  consummation of the transactions  contemplated  hereby
from  governmental or regulatory  authorities of the United States,  the several
states and foreign  jurisdictions  in connection with the execution and delivery
of this Agreement and the  consummation of the transaction  contemplated  hereby
and (ii) timely  making all such filings and timely  seeking all such  consents,
approvals, permits and authorizations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Buyer will
be solely  responsible  for  obtaining  any said  filings.  The parties shall be
responsible  for their own counsel fees,  with Buyer being  responsible for fees
associated with filings required to transfer regulatory approvals and licenses.

         (b) With  respect to FDA and similar  agencies in other  countries,  3M
will  cooperate with Buyer prior to Closing in  identifying  regulatory  filings
used in the  Business  that  cannot  be  transferred  freely.  Buyer  is  solely
responsible  for  obtaining  such  filings  (including,  but not  limited to the
payment of any fees and expenses).

         (c) 3M will identify all import licenses and product  registrations  or
approvals it holds in foreign countries pursuant to Section 8.17.

         8.08 Further Assurances.  For a period of three (3) years following the
Closing Date, 3M shall  promptly  execute,  acknowledge  and deliver any further
assignments,  conveyances and other instruments of transfer reasonably requested
by the Buyer and necessary to effectuate  the transfer of title to the Purchased
Assets to the Buyer and,  at the  Buyer's  expense,  will take any other  action
consistent  with the terms of this Agreement that may reasonably be requested by
the Buyer for the purpose of assigning,  transferring,  granting, and confirming
ownership in or to the Buyer, or reducing to the Buyer's possession,  any or all
of the  Purchased  Assets.  Such  further  assurances  shall also  extend to any
efforts  reasonably  requested  or required in  connection  with the transfer of
import and regulatory permits, licenses and authorizations,  which efforts shall
include,  by way of  illustration,  acting as an import  agent with Buyer  being
responsible for 3M's costs,  including  import fees,  duties and  administrative
costs but excluding freight and insurance (to be paid by Buyer).

         8.09 No  Adverse  Material  Change.  3M  agrees  that it will  make all
commercially  reasonable  efforts to maintain the Business at its current levels
up to and through Closing,  and that there will be no adverse material change in
the Business prior to and up to the Closing.

         8.10  Non-Competition  Agreement.  (a) For a period  of five (5)  years
following the Closing Date,  neither 3M, nor any of the  affiliates of 3M shall,
directly or  indirectly  (whether as  principal,  agent,  employee,  independent
contractor,  partner or otherwise)  engage in the  manufacture or sale of any 3M
Products or products substantially similar to and competitive to the 3M Products
being  sold in this  Agreement  anywhere  in the  world,  except  to the  extent
permitted   under  the   Transition   and   Distribution   Services   Agreement.
Notwithstanding  anything  to the  contrary  in this  Section  8.10,  3M and its
affiliates  shall not be deemed to have  violated the terms of this Section 8.10
as a result of a)  ownership by 3M or its  affiliates  of less than five percent
(5%) of the  outstanding  shares of capital stock of any publicly traded company
with one or more  classes  of  capital  stock  listed on a  national  securities
exchange or publicly traded market, except that in the case of ownership of such
stock, directly or indirectly,  for purposes of its pension fund no such percent
limit  shall be  applicable;  b) the  purchase  by 3M or its  affiliates  of any
business  where the business to be acquired owns or operates a business  engaged
in the manufacture or sale of 3M Products or products  substantially  similar to
and  competitive  to the 3M Products,  where such  business is incidental to the
acquisition  of a more  significant  business  provided  that such  business  is
divested within one (1) year of the date of acquisition and that 3M offers Buyer
the right of last  refusal  to  purchase  such  divested  business,  such  right
exercisable  by Buyer within  thirty (30) days of written  notice from 3M of the
proposed  sale,  3M's asking price,  terms for sale as set forth in a definitive
agreement (with 3M to provide  Linvatec with such  information as is customarily
provided  for due  diligence,  including  all  information  provided  to or made
available to other prospective purchasers).

         (b) For a period of three (3) years after the Closing Date,  neither 3M
nor any of the  affiliates  of 3M shall,  directly  or  indirectly  (whether  as
principal,  agent,  employee,  independent  contractor,  partner,  or otherwise)
induce or attempt to  persuade  any  employee  or agent of Buyer  engaged in the
Business or customer of the Business to  terminate  such  employment,  agency or
business  relationship in order to enter into any such relationship on behalf of
any other business organization in competition with the Business;

         (c) In the  event  3M or any of its  affiliates  violates  any of their
respective  obligations  under this Section 8.10, and Buyer may proceed  against
such party in law or in equity for such damages or other relief as any court may
deem  appropriate.  3M  acknowledges  that a violation  of this Section 8.10 may
cause Buyer  irreparable  harm which may not be  adequately  compensated  for by
money damages. 3M therefore agrees that in the event of any actual or threatened
violation of this  Section  8.10,  any Buyer shall be  entitled,  in addition to
other  remedies  that it may  have,  to a  temporary  restraining  order  and to
preliminary and final injunctive  relief against 3M to prevent any violations of
this Section 8.10, without the necessity of posting a bond. The prevailing party
in any action  commenced  under this  Section  8.10  shall also be  entitled  to
receive  reasonable  attorneys'  fees  and  court  costs.  If  at  the  time  of
enforcement of this Section 8.10, the court shall hold that the duration,  scope
or area restrictions  stated herein are unreasonable  under  circumstances  then
existing,  the parties  agree that the court may reduce the  duration,  scope or
area,  in a manner  rendering  the  restriction  imposed under this Section 8.10
reasonable in duration,  scope or area,  but in no event in excess of the stated
duration,  scope or  area.  In an  action  in law or in  equity  for  breach  or
enforcement  of  this  Section  8.10  brought  in  any  court  having  competent
jurisdiction  over the parties to such an action,  the prevailing party shall be
entitled to recover  from the other party or parties  its  reasonable  attorneys
fees, costs and expenses associated with prosecuting or defending such an action
to its final disposition  (including final dispositions by summary adjudication,
judge or jury verdict or final appeal)

         8.11 Misdirected  Payments.  The parties  anticipate that certain third
parties,  including customers and vendors,  may misdirect payments or good to 3M
rather than to the Buyer, or to the Buyer rather than 3M. 3M and the Buyer agree
to notify and to forward to the other promptly any such misdirected  payments or
goods.

         8.12  Transition  Assistance.  3M  will  enter  into a  Transition  and
Distribution  Services  Agreement for transition  services requested by Buyer to
permit the Business to be operated  consistent  with past practices  until Buyer
can assume  control of the Business so as to effectively  transfer  ownership of
the Purchased Assets.

         8.13. Sales and Marketing Employees. By July 16, 1999, 3M shall provide
to Buyer the names,  addresses,  phone numbers and employment  information of at
least 10 3M sales persons who are located in Germany and the United  Kingdom and
who are  experienced in selling the 3M Products,  and one product  specialist in
Germany,  as well as the names of employees of 3M's  Japanese  joint venture who
will be  available  for the  Shuko  employment  option  should  Buyer  choose to
exercise such option; provided,  however, that 3M cannot guarantee said Japanese
employees  will  elect the Shuko  arrangement.  3M has the  option,  but not the
obligation,  to provide  such  information  for other 3M  employees in any other
locations,  including  the United  States.  Except as set forth in Section 9.01,
Buyer shall have the option,  but not the  obligation,  to offer  employment  to
those employees it selects.  As to any employees offered employment by Linvatec,
3M agrees to exercise  reasonable  efforts to encourage such employees to accept
such offers of employment.  3M further agrees to exercise  reasonable efforts to
cause the 3M joint venture to enter into such an arrangement.

         8.14.  Retrieval  of Loaners  and Demos.  3M shall be  responsible  for
retrieving, within thirty (30) days of any request, all loaner and demonstration
equipment,  whether located in hospitals,  surgery centers, physician offices or
otherwise,  as  requested  by Linvatec  for up to six (6) months  following  the
Closing.

         8.15.  Data Transfer.  3M shall provide the following  assistance  with
transfer of electronic data:

         (a) Sales,  Order,  Customer  Service  Data.  3M shall  make  available
sufficient  personnel and resources to transfer  electronic  and  non-electronic
data, and shall transfer such data, relating to sales,  customer base, products,
ordering and customer service  functions in the formats  reasonably  selected by
Buyer,  with such transfer to be completed within twenty (20) days following the
signing of this Agreement.

         (b)  Manufacturing  Systems,  Quality System and Other Business Systems
Requirements.  3M shall make  available  sufficient  personnel  and resources to
transfer, and shall transfer, electronic data relating to manufacturing, quality
system requirement  (including  complaint handling,  investigation and response)
and any other  functions  in the formats  reasonably  selected by Buyer within a
reasonable period of time following Closing.

         (c)  Continued  Access  To 3M  Systems:  Until  the  transfer  of  data
contemplated  by  subsection  (b) above  shall  have been  completed  to Buyer's
reasonable  satisfaction,  3M shall  provide  Buyer with access to 3M's computer
systems and provide personnel and resources  sufficient to process the complaint
handling,  investigation  and quality  systems as have been used in the Business
and permit  Buyer to use such 3M computer  systems  and handle  such  complaints
consistent with past practices at the Business.

         8.16  Transition  Assistance in Japan.  To assist in  transferring  the
Business in Japan,  Buyer  shall have the option to employ  those  employees  in
Japan who are employed  with the 3M joint venture and who are most familiar with
the 3M  Products,  under a Shuko  arrangement  to be defined  prior to  Closing;
provided,  however,  that 3M cannot guarantee said Japanese employees will elect
the Shuko arrangement.

         8.17.  Pre-Closing  Disclosure and  Assistance.  To facilitate  Buyer's
taking  control of the  Business as of the Closing,  3M agrees to provide  Buyer
with all of the  information  set forth on Schedule 8.17, by the dates set forth
on Schedule 8.17. 3M shall also promptly  provide other  information  reasonably
requested by Buyer before Closing.

         8.18. Exclusivity. 3M agrees that, between the date of execution of the
Agreement  and the Closing,  it shall not enter into or conduct any  discussions
with any other  prospective  purchaser of the Business.  Moreover,  3M agrees to
deal  exclusively  with  Buyer for the  purchase  of the  Business  between  the
execution of this Agreement and the Closing.

         8.19  Environmental  Audit. 3M shall obtain and deliver to the Buyer an
environmental site audit covering the property in Irvine, California.

         8.20 Warranty Reserve. 3M shall pay to Buyer for 3M Products sold prior
to Closing the warranty amount of Three Hundred Thousand  Dollars  ($300,000.00)
associated  with  3M's  "A"  (new   equipment)  and  "B"  (repaired   equipment)
warranties.



                                   ARTICLE IX

                                    Employees

         9.01 Employment  Offers.  With the exception of no more than 7 customer
service and  warehouse  employees to be  identified by Buyer (no later than June
30, 1999) in Schedule 9.01,  Buyer agrees to offer  employment (at  compensation
levels  comparable  to those being paid by 3M) as of the Closing Date , to those
persons employed in the United States at Irvine,  California by 3M in connection
with the Business purchased. Such persons employed in the United States by 3M in
connection  with the Business  purchased shall be referred to hereinafter as the
"Business Employees".  3M agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to encourage all
Business  Employees who are offered employment by Buyer to accept such offers of
employment.  Those Business  Employees who accept employment with Buyer pursuant
to this  Agreement  shall be referred to as  "Transferred  Employees".  Business
Employees  of 3M who are on  long-term  disability  as of the Closing  Date will
remain employees of 3M. Should any Transferred  Employee who is absent from work
on the Closing Date due to a short-term  disability remain absent long enough to
qualify for benefits under Buyer's long-term disability plan, 3M shall reimburse
Buyer for its cost of providing benefit  coverages to such Transferred  Employee
for as long as such Employee continues to receive long-term  disability benefits
under Buyer's long-term disability plan.

         9.02  Benefits.  From and after the Closing  Date,  Buyer will  provide
coverage and benefits to the  Transferred  Employees  under the same pension and
welfare benefit plans covering its employees, and 3M will have no responsibility
therefor on and after such date.  Except as provided in Section  9.04,  3M shall
remain  responsible  to the  Transferred  Employees  for  all  benefits  accrued
pursuant to 3M benefit  plans prior to the  Closing  Date and payable  under the
provisions of such plans, and Buyer assumes no liability or obligation therefor.

         9.03 Group  Health  Plans.  Buyer will cause its group  health  benefit
plans  to  (i)  waive  any  exclusions  for  pre-existing  conditions  affecting
Transferred  Employees and their eligible family members, and (ii) recognize any
out-of-pocket  medical and dental expenses incurred by Transferred Employees and
their  eligible  family  members during 1999, but prior to the Closing Date, for
purposes of  determining  their  deductibles  and  out-of-pocket  maximums under
Buyer's plans. For a period of two years following the Closing Date, Buyer shall
cause the premiums paid by the  Transferred  Employees for their  coverage under
Buyer's  medical plan to be equal to the  premiums  charged by 3M's medical plan
for similar coverage. 3M will contribute to the cost of such reduced premiums by
paying $50,000 to Buyer at Closing.

         9.04  Vacation   Benefits.   From  and  after  the  Closing  Date,  the
Transferred  Employees  will be covered  by and begin  accruing  benefits  under
Buyer's  vacation plan covering its salaried  employees.  Buyer's  vacation plan
shall recognize all of the Transferred  Employees'  years of service with 3M for
the purpose of determining  their future  vacation  benefits.  On or immediately
following the Closing Date, 3M will pay in cash to the Transferred Employees the
amount of their accrued and unused  vacation  benefits  under 3M's vacation plan
through the Closing  Date.  Within  thirty (30) days after the Closing  Date, 3M
will provide Buyer with a list of  Transferred  Employees and the days of unused
vacation benefits for which such employees  received payment from 3M. During the
remainder of 1999,  Buyer will cause its vacation plan to permit the Transferred
Employees to take unpaid  absences equal in time to the number of days of unused
vacation benefits for which they received payment from 3M.

         9.05 Service Credit.  Buyer shall cause each of its pension and welfare
benefit  plans to recognize  all of the service that the  Transferred  Employees
completed with 3M for purposes of determining  their  eligibility to participate
in, eligibility for benefits under, and vesting in accrued benefits.  Accrual of
benefits under such plans shall commence on the date of Closing.

         9.06  Non-Solicitation.  3M agrees not to seek to hire, or to hire, any
Transferred  Employee,  except as may be permitted  with Buyer's  prior  written
consent or in the event Buyer  terminates  the  employment  of such  Transferred
Employee, for a period of two (2) years following the Closing Date.

         9.07 Severance.  Buyer will provide the following severance benefits to
any Transferred Employee whose employment is either (a) involuntarily terminated
(other than for cause) by Buyer,  or (b) terminated in connection with a sale or
other  disposition  of all or part of the  Business  (unless  such  Employee  is
offered comparable employment with the entity that acquires the Business or such
part  thereof),  within two years after the Closing  Date:  (i) severance pay in
accordance  with  the  severance  policy  of  Buyer  in  effect  at the  time of
termination,  but not less than one and  one-half  weeks of pay for each year of
employment with 3M and Buyer or their affiliates (including periods prior to the
Closing Date);  and (ii) six months of continued  health  benefits  coverage for
such Transferred Employee and his or her eligible family members at no cost.



                                    ARTICLE X

                                     Closing

         10.01  Closing  Date.  The  closing  of the  purchase  and  sale of the
Purchased Assets and the assumption of the Assumed Liabilities  pursuant to this
Agreement (the "Closing") shall take place on August 11, 1999, at the offices of
3M Center, St. Paul, Minnesota,  at 10:00 a.m., or, if the conditions to Closing
set  forth in  Article  VII  shall  not have  been  satisfied  or  waived by the
appropriate  party by such time of day on such date,  at the same time of day on
the  first  business  day to  occur  following  the  date  on  which  all of the
conditions  to Closing  set forth in Article  VII shall have been  satisfied  or
waived as provided therein  (subject to the provisions of Section 12.01),  or at
such other  date,  place or time as the Buyer and 3M may agree upon in  writing.
The date on which the  Closing  shall be  required to occur,  as  determined  in
accordance with this Section 10.01, is herein referred to as the "Closing Date".
The Closing shall be deemed to have become effective as of the close of business
on the Closing Date.

         10.02    Closing Deliveries.

         (a) 3M agrees to deliver to the Buyer at the  Closing (i) such bills of
sale,  assignments  and other  instruments  of transfer,  in form and  substance
reasonably  satisfactory  to the Buyer,  as shall be necessary or appropriate to
effect  the   conveyance  to  the  Buyer  of  the  Purchased   Assets   (without
representation or warranty except as expressly provided in this Agreement), duly
executed by 3M; (ii) the  sublicense  provided  for in Section  6.13,  (iii) the
warranty  reserve amount provided in Section 8.20; and (iv) the payment relating
to the health  insurance  premiums  for  Transferred  Employees  as  provided in
Section 9.03.

         (b) The Buyer  agrees to pay or  deliver,  as the case may be, to 3M at
the Closing the following:

                  (i) an assumption agreement,  in form and substance reasonably
         satisfactory  to 3M,  effecting  the  assumption  by the  Buyer  of the
         Assumed Liabilities, duly executed by the Buyer; and

                  (ii) the Purchase Price paid in the manner provided in Section
         3.01.

         (c) The certificates,  instruments and documents executed and delivered
by the parties at the Closing pursuant to this Agreement are herein collectively
referred to as the "Transaction Documents".

         10.03  Post-Closing  Deliveries.  Each of the Buyer and 3M will, at the
request and sole cost and expense of the other such party,  do,  make,  execute,
acknowledge  and deliver  after the Closing all such other and further  acts and
instruments of conveyance,  assignment,  transfer, consent and assumption as the
Buyer may reasonably  require to confirm conveyance and transfer to the Buyer of
any  of  the  Purchased  Assets  or as 3M  may  reasonably  require  to  confirm
assumption by the Buyer of any of the Assumed Liabilities.



                                   ARTICLE XI

                                    Indemnity

         11.01 Survival.  The representations and warranties of the Buyer and 3M
herein or in any of the Transaction Documents shall survive the Closing, but, as
to any claim,  only for so long as the  indemnification  obligations  under this
Agreement  with  respect to such claim  remain in force as  provided  in Section
11.02(b) or 11.03(b).

         11.02    Indemnity by 3M.

         (a) 3M hereby agrees to indemnify and defend the Buyer against and with
respect  to  any  and  all  claims,  losses,  injuries,  damages,  deficiencies,
liabilities,  obligations, assessments, judgments, costs and expenses, including
(except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) costs and expenses of
litigation and reasonable  attorneys' fees  ("Losses"),  suffered or incurred by
the Buyer to the extent caused proximately by:

                  (i) any material breach of any  representation  or warranty of
         3M contained in this Agreement;

                  (ii) any material non-fulfillment of any covenant or agreement
         of 3M contained in this Agreement;

                  (iii) any  failure  of the  parties,  in  connection  with the
         transactions  contemplated  hereby, to comply fully with the provisions
         of any  applicable  state bulk transfer  laws,  including any state tax
         laws relating to the  obligations of buyers of assets in bulk transfers
         (provided  that in no event shall 3M be required to indemnify the Buyer
         hereunder  with respect to any liability for which the Buyer would have
         been obligated  even had such laws been fully complied with,  including
         any Assumed  Liabilities or any other  liabilities or obligations  that
         the Buyer has expressly agreed to pay or be responsible for pursuant to
         this Agreement); and

                  (iv)  with  respect  to any  claim  of  product  liability  or
         infringement  of third party  intellectual  property rights relating to
         any sales of 3M Products by 3M before the Closing Date

         (b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided elsewhere in this
Agreement,  the  obligations  of 3M under this  Agreement to indemnify the Buyer
with respect to any claim pursuant to clause (i) of Section 11.02(a) shall be of
no force unless the Buyer has given 3M written notice of such claim prior to the
eighteen (18) months after the Closing Date.

         (c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided elsewhere in this
Agreement, in no event shall 3M be liable to the Buyer for amounts payable under
clause  (i) of  Section  11.02(a)  until such  amounts  exceed in the  aggregate
$100,000.00, and then only to the extent of any such excess.

         (d)   Notwithstanding   anything  to  the  contrary  provided  in  this
Agreement, in no event shall 3M be liable to the Buyer for amounts payable under
clause  (i) of  Section  11.02(a)  to the  extent  such  amounts  exceed  in the
aggregate fifty percent (50%) of the Purchase Price.

         11.03    Indemnity by the Buyer.

         (a) The Buyer hereby agrees to indemnify and defend 3M against and with
respect to any and all Losses  suffered or  incurred by 3M to the extent  caused
proximately by:

                  (i) any material breach of any  representation  or warranty of
         the Buyer  contained  in this  Agreement  or in any of the  Transaction
         Documents;

                  (ii) any material non-fulfillment of any covenant or agreement
         of the Buyer  contained in this Agreement or in any of the  Transaction
         Documents;. and

                  (iii) the Assumed Liabilities.

         (b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided elsewhere in this
Agreement,  the  obligations  of the Buyer under this  Agreement to indemnify 3M
with respect to any claim pursuant to clause (i) of Section 11.03(a) shall be of
no force  unless 3M has given the Buyer  written  notice of such claim  prior to
eighteen (18) months after the Closing Date.

         (c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided elsewhere in this
Agreement, in no event shall the Buyer be liable to 3M for amounts payable under
clause  (i) of  Section  11.03(a)  until such  amounts  exceed in the  aggregate
$100,000.00, and then only to the extent of any such excess.

         11.04    Third Party Claims.

         (a)  Notice.  A party  seeking  indemnification  (`Indemnified  Party')
pursuant to this Agreement in respect to, arising out of or involving a claim or
demand made by any third party (a `Third Party Claim') must promptly  provide in
writing to the party  obligated  to provide  indemnification  (the  `Indemnified
Party').

                  1. Notice of the Third Party Claim;

                  2. Tender of its defense against the Third Party Claim; and

                  3. All copies of documents  (including  court papers) relating
         to the Third Party Claim.

Failure of the Indemnifying Party to promptly provide notice,  tender of defense
or copies of documents does not affect the  Indemnifying  Party's  obligation to
provide   indemnification  unless  the  Indemnifying  Party  has  been  actually
prejudiced by the failure.  However,  the Indemnifying  Party will not be liable
for any costs or expenses  (including  any  settlements  or judgments)  incurred
prior to receiving the notice, tender and documents.

         (b)  Assumption of Defense.  The  Indemnifying  Party may, at any time,
assume the  defense  against a Third Party  Claim for which it is  obligated  to
defend the Indemnified Party by giving written notice to the Indemnified  Party.
However,  the  Indemnifying  Party will be responsible for any costs or expenses
(including   reasonable   attorneys  fees)  of  that  defense  incurred  by  the
Indemnified Party after the Indemnified Party provided notice of the Third Party
Claim, but before the Indemnifying Party assumed the defense.  Upon assuming the
defense,  the Indemnifying Party will control the defense and provide counsel of
its  reasonable  choice  to  represent  the  Indemnified  Party;   however,  the
Indemnified  Party may, at its own expense,  participate in the defense with its
own counsel.

         (c) Cooperation.  The Indemnified Party will, at its expense, cooperate
in the defense assumed by the Indemnifying Party.  Cooperation will include, for
example,  the providing records and information and making available  employees,
as reasonably  requested by the Indemnifying  Party. The Indemnifying Party will
only be required to reimburse  the  Indemnified  Party for actual  out-of-pocket
expenses  (for example,  copying  charges and travel  expenses)  incurred by the
Indemnifying Party in cooperating.

         (d)      Settlement.

                  1. By the Indemnifying  Party. The Indemnifying  Party may not
         enter any settlement on behalf of the  Indemnified  Party that requires
         the admission of liability of or permits  injunctive relief against the
         Indemnified Party without the written consent of the Indemnified Party,
         which consent will not be unreasonably withheld.

                  2. By the Indemnified  Party.  The Indemnified  Party will not
         admit any liability with respect to,  settle,  compromise or discharge,
         any Third  Party Claim for which it seeks  indemnification  without the
         written consent of the  Indemnifying  Party,  which consent will not be
         unreasonably withheld.

         11.05 Adjustments.  The amount of any Losses for which  indemnification
is provided  under this  Article XI shall be reduced to take  account of any net
tax benefit  realized by the  Indemnified  Party arising from the  incurrence or
payment of any such Losses. In computing the amount of any such tax benefit, the
Indemnified Party shall be deemed to use all other items of income,  gain, loss,
deduction or credit before using any item arising from the incurrence or payment
of any indemnified Losses.



                                   ARTICLE XII

                                  Miscellaneous

         12.01   Termination.   This   Agreement  may  be  terminated   and  the
transactions contemplated hereby abandoned prior to the Closing:

         (a) by the Buyer giving  written notice to 3M, if 3M shall be in breach
in any material respect of any representation, warranty or covenant contained in
this Agreement  (provided that no such termination  shall occur unless the Buyer
shall have given notice to 3M of such breach,  specifying in  reasonable  detail
the  nature of such  breach,  and such  breach  shall not have been cured in all
material  respects  within  30 days  after  such  notice  is  given),  or if the
conditions  set forth in Section 7.01 shall become  impossible  to fulfill other
than for reasons totally within the control of the Buyer and shall not have been
waived in writing by the Buyer;

         (b) by 3M giving written notice to the Buyer,  if the Buyer shall be in
breach in any  material  respect of any  representation,  warranty  or  covenant
contained  in this  Agreement  (provided  that no such  termination  shall occur
unless 3M shall have given  notice to the Buyer of such  breach,  specifying  in
reasonable detail the nature of such breach, and such breach shall not have been
cured in all material respects within 30 days after such notice is given), or if
the  conditions  set forth in Section  7.02 shall become  impossible  to fulfill
other than for reasons  totally within the control of 3M and shall not have been
waived in writing by 3M;

         (c) by mutual agreement of 3M and the Buyer; and

         (d) by the Buyer or 3M giving  written  notice to the other such party,
if the  purchase  and sale of the  Purchased  Assets and the  assumption  of the
Assumed  Liabilities  contemplated  hereby  shall not have been  consummated  by
August 30, 1999,  unless such  failure  shall be due to the failure of the party
seeking  to  terminate  this  Agreement  to perform  or  observe  any  covenants
contained in this  Agreement  required to be performed or observed by such party
at or before the Closing.

         If this  Agreement  is  terminated  pursuant  to any of the  provisions
hereof,  each of the  parties  hereto  shall  thereupon  be  released  from  all
liabilities  hereunder,  except  (i)  liabilities  for any  default  under  this
Agreement  which  shall  have  occurred  prior  to the  effective  date  of such
termination,  (ii) all confidentiality  obligations pursuant to the Confidential
Disclosure  Agreement  dated March 1, 1999 ("CDA"),  and (iii)  obligations  set
forth in Sections 12.03 and 12.13.

         12.02    Dispute Resolution

         (a) Any  disagreement  or dispute between the parties arising out of or
related to this Agreement or the breach or making hereof (a "Dispute")  shall be
resolved in the manner provided in this Section 12.02.  Should there develop any
Dispute,  either party may, by written  notice to the other party,  request that
such Dispute be referred to the Group Counsel of the Medical Markets Group of 3M
and the Vice  President  - Legal  Affairs of the  Buyer's  parent  company  (the
"Principals"),  who shall  negotiate  in good faith to  attempt  to resolve  the
Dispute.  No settlement  reached under this Section 12.02(a) shall be binding on
the parties  until  reduced to a writing  signed on behalf of the parties by the
Principals.

         (b) Should the  procedure  outlined in Section  12.02(a)  fail to bring
about a resolution  of each  outstanding  Dispute  within 30 days  following the
giving of the notice  referred  to  therein,  then the  parties  shall  promptly
initiate a  voluntary,  non-binding  mediation  conducted  by a  mutually-agreed
mediator.  Should the parties for any reason be unable to agree upon a mediator,
they shall request the clerk of court of the Ramsey County District Court in the
State of  Minnesota  to appoint a capable  mediator  for them.  The Buyer and 3M
shall each bear  one-half of the costs and expenses of the  mediation  and shall
endeavor  in  good  faith  to  resolve  therein  each  outstanding  Dispute.  No
settlement  reached under this Section  12.02(b) shall be binding on the parties
until reduced to a writing signed on behalf of the parties by the Principals.

         (c)  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary provided in this Section
12.02, and without  prejudice to the above  procedures,  either party may at any
time, in connection with any Dispute, apply to a court of competent jurisdiction
for temporary injunctive or other provisional judicial relief if in such party's
sole  judgment  such  action  is  necessary  to avoid  irreparable  damage or to
preserve the status quo until such time as the arbitration  award is rendered or
the Dispute is otherwise resolved in accordance with this Section 12.02.

         12.03 Expenses.  Except as otherwise  expressly  provided herein,  each
party hereto shall pay its own legal,  accounting and other expenses incident to
the preparation of, and consummation of the  transactions  contemplated by, this
Agreement.

         12.04 Titles. The titles of the Articles and Sections of this Agreement
are for convenience of reference only and are not to be considered in construing
this Agreement.

         12.05 Entire  Agreement.  This  Agreement  and the CDA  constitute  the
entire  understanding  between the parties  with  respect to the subject  matter
hereof,   superseding  all  negotiations,   prior  discussions  and  preliminary
agreements.

         12.06  Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may be executed in any number of
counterparts,  each of which shall be  considered  an original  and all of which
shall constitute one and the same instrument.

         12.07 Waivers,  Consents and  Amendments.  Any failure of either of the
parties to comply with any obligation,  covenant,  agreement or condition herein
may be waived by the other  party  only by a written  instrument  signed by such
other party,  but such waiver or failure to insist upon strict  compliance  with
such obligation,  covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver
of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other failure.  Whenever this
Agreement  requires or permits  consent by or on behalf of either party  hereto,
such  consent  shall  be  given  in  writing  in a  manner  consistent  with the
requirements for a waiver of compliance as set forth herein.  This Agreement may
be amended only by an agreement, in writing, signed by the parties hereto.

         12.08  Governing Law. This Agreement  shall be governed in all respects
by, and construed under, the laws of the State of Minnesota.

         12.09 Jurisdiction. Subject to the provisions of Section 12.02, each of
3M and the Buyer (i)  irrevocably  submits to the exclusive  jurisdiction of the
state and federal  courts  sitting in  Minnesota  for the  purposes of any suit,
action or other  proceeding  arising out of this  Agreement or the  transactions
contemplated  hereby (and agrees not to commence any action,  suit or proceeding
relating  hereto  except in any such  court),  (ii) agrees  that  service of any
process,  summons,  notice or document by United States  registered mail to such
party's respective address set forth in Section 12.13 shall be effective service
of process for any action, suit or proceeding in Minnesota with respect to which
it has submitted to jurisdiction as set forth above,  and (iii)  irrevocably and
unconditionally  waives any objection to the laying of venue of any action, suit
or proceeding  arising out of this  Agreement or the  transactions  contemplated
hereby in any state or federal  courts  sitting in  Minnesota  and agrees not to
plead or  claim in any such  court  that  any such  action,  suit or  proceeding
brought  therein has been brought in an inconvenient  forum.  Each of 3M and the
Buyer  acknowledges  that the time and expense required for trial by jury exceed
the time and expense  required for a bench trial and hereby waive, to the extent
permitted by law, trial by jury.

         12.10 SPECIAL DAMAGES. BUYER AND 3M HAVE EACH AGREED TO WAIVE ANY RIGHT
TO RECEIVE PUNITIVE, CONSEQUENTIAL,  SPECIAL OR INDIRECT DAMAGES RELATING IN ANY
WAY TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE  PURCHASE/SALE OF THE BUSINESS AND/OR THE PURCHASED
ASSETS, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE LEGAL THEORY ASSERTED,  INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
PAYMENTS PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 11.02 AND 11.03.

         12.11  Severability  of this  Agreement.  In case any provision of this
Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and
enforceability  of the remaining  provisions shall not in any way be affected or
impaired thereby.

         12.12  Assignment.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the  successors  and assigns of the parties  hereto,  provided that
this  Agreement  may not be assigned by either party  without the prior  written
consent of the other party.  Except as expressly provided herein, this Agreement
is for the sole benefit of the parties  hereto and nothing  herein shall give or
be construed to give to any person other than the parties any legal or equitable
rights under this Agreement.

         12.13 Notices. All notices,  requests, demands and other communications
hereunder  shall be in writing  and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon
delivery in person,  or one day after the same shall have been sent by overnight
messenger  service,  or three  days  after the same  shall  have been  mailed by
registered or certified mail, postage prepaid,  return receipt requested, to the
respective parties at the following addresses:

         If to the Buyer:               Linvatec Corporation
                                        11311 Concept Blvd.
                                        Largo, FL 33773
                                        Attention:  President

         with a copy:                   CONMED Corporation
                                        310 Broad St.
                                        Utica, NY 13501
                                        Attention: President and General Counsel

         If to 3M:                      Minnesota Mining and
                                          Manufacturing Company
                                        Post Office Box 33428
                                        Saint Paul, Minnesota 55133
                                        Attention: John Ursu

         12.14 Public  Announcements.  No press releases or public announcements
regarding the terms of this Agreement  shall be made by either party without the
prior  written  approval  of  the  other  party  (which  approval  shall  not be
unreasonably  withheld),  except as may be necessary,  in the opinion of counsel
for such party, to meet the  requirements of any law or governmental  regulation
or any  applicable  exchange  regulation (in which event the other party will be
notified before, if practical under the  circumstances,  and after any action is
taken thereon).

         12.15 Tax Treatment. It is expressly understood and agreed that none of
3M,  the  Buyer or any of their  respective  officers  or  agents  have made any
warranty or agreement,  express or implied,  as to the tax  consequences  of the
transactions contemplated hereby.

         12.16 Specific Performance. Each of the parties hereto acknowledges and
agrees that the other party would be damaged irreparably in the event any of the
covenants contained in this Agreement are not performed in accordance with their
specific  terms or  otherwise  are  breached.  Accordingly,  each of the parties
hereto  agrees  that the other  party  shall be  entitled  to an  injunction  or
injunctions to prevent breaches of the covenants contained in this Agreement and
to enforce specifically this Agreement and the covenants contained herein in any
action properly instituted,  in addition to any other remedy to which such other
party may be entitled under this Agreement or at law or in equity.

         12.17    Disclosures.

         (a)  Matters  disclosed  by 3M to the  Buyer in this  Agreement  or the
Exhibits hereto are not necessarily  limited to matters required to be disclosed
by this Agreement.  Any such additional  matters are set forth for informational
purposes and do not necessarily include other matters of a similar nature.

         (b) From time to time prior to the Closing, 3M will promptly supplement
or amend the Exhibits hereto with respect to any matter hereafter  arising which
would make any  representation  or warranty set forth in Section 5.01 inaccurate
if  updated as of the  Closing,  or as is  otherwise  necessary  to correct  any
information in such Exhibits or in any  representation or warranty of 3M made in
Section 5.01. For purposes of determining the  satisfaction of the condition set
forth in Section  7.01(b) at or prior to the  Closing  and the  accuracy  of the
representations and warranties contained in Section 5.01 if the Closing does not
occur,  the Exhibits  hereto  shall be deemed to include  only that  information
contained  therein on the date of this  Agreement and shall be deemed to exclude
any  information  contained in any subsequent  supplement or amendment  thereto.
However,  for purposes of  determining  the accuracy of the  representations  or
warranties  of 3M contained in Section 5.01 or the  liability of 3M with respect
thereto under Section  11.02(a)  should the Closing occur,  the Exhibits  hereto
shall  be  deemed  to  include  all  information  contained  in  any  subsequent
supplement or amendment thereto.

         12.18    Interpretation.  In this Agreement:

         (a) words  denoting the singular  include the plural and vice versa and
words denoting any gender include all genders;

         (b) the word "including" shall mean "including without limitation";

         (c) the work "affiliate" shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2
of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended;

         (d)  the  word  "person"  shall  mean  and  include  an  individual,  a
partnership,  a  joint  venture,  a  corporation,  a  trust,  an  unincorporated
organization and a government or any department or agency thereof;

         (e) the word  "business  day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday,
Sunday or a day which is a statutory holiday under the laws of the United States
or the State of Minnesota;

         (f) when calculating the period of time within which or following which
any act is to be done or step  taken,  the date  which is the  reference  day in
calculating such period shall be excluded and, if the last day of such period is
not a business  day,  the  period  shall end on the next day which is a business
day; and

         (g) all dollar amounts are expressed in United States funds.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed as of the day and year first above written.

                                             MINNESOTA MINING AND
                                             MANUFACTURING COMPANY



                                       By:
                                      Its:


                                             LINVATEC CORPORATION


                                       By:

                                             Its:             President

EXHIBITS


A.        Allocation of Purchase Price
          (to be provided within ninety (90) days from Closing)

B.        Supply Agreement

C.        Transition and Distribution
          Services Agreement

D.        Lease and Shared Facilities Agreement

E.        Bill of Sale




SCHEDULES


3M Products

1.04       Patents, Trademarks

IP Agreements

2.01(a)    Purchased Assets

2.01(i)    Loaner and Demo Units

Excluded Assets

5.01(c)    Assets without Clear Title

5.01(d)(i)        Contracts in Excess of
                        $10,000 Per Annum

5.01(d)(ii)       Purchase Orders

5.01(g)    Financials:  December 31, 1998
           Balance Sheet and Contribution by
           Region

5.01(h)    Claims

5.01(i)    Inventory Policy

6.01       Materials and Components
           supplied to Business by 3M

6.06(b)    Claims of Infringement

6.06(e)    Claims relating to IP Agreements

8.06       Record Retention

8.17       Pre-Closing Disclosure

                                 FIRST AMENDMENT
                            ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT
                                  3M - LINVATEC


         THIS AMENDMENT,  made and entered into this 10th day of August, 1999 by
and between Linvatec  Corporation,  a Florida corporation,  having its principal
offices at 11311 Concept Boulevard,  Largo, Florida 33773 (hereinafter  referred
to as "Linvatec") and MINNESOTA  MINING AND  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY,  a Delaware
corporation,  having its  principal  offices at 3M Center,  St. Paul,  Minnesota
55144 (hereinafter referred to as "3M").

                                                    WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS,  3M and LINVATEC have entered into that certain Asset Purchase
Agreement dated the 29th day of June, 1999 (hereinafter called the "Agreement"),
and

         WHEREAS, the parties desire to amend certain terms of said Agreement.

         NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of  the  mutual  covenants  herein
contained and other good and valuable consideration, the parties hereto agree as
follows:

         1.       Section  5.01(g) of the Agreement  shall be amended to read as
                  follows:

                  (g)      Financials.  The financial  statements provided by 3M
                           and attached to the Agreement as Schedule 5.01(g) are
                           true and accurate in all material respects, have been
                           derived  from the books and  records  of 3M that have
                           been  prepared  and  maintained  in  accordance  with
                           generally  accepted  accounting  principles (GAAP) in
                           all  material  respects.   The  financial  statements
                           concerning first quarter 1999 and second quarter 1999
                           provided  by 3M and  attached  to this  Amendment  as
                           Exhibit  A are  true  and  accurate  in all  material
                           respects,  have  been  derived  from  the  books  and
                           records of 3M that have been prepared and  maintained
                           in accordance with GAAP in all material respects

         2.       Section  3.01 of the  Agreement  shall be  amended  to read as
                  follows:

                  3.01     Purchase Price and Payment.  In consideration for the
                           Purchased  Assets,  the  Buyer  agrees  to  pay to 3M
                           Thirty-nine   Million  Dollars   ($39,000,000)   (the
                           "Purchase Price"), subject to being adjusted pursuant
                           to Section 3.04.  The Purchase Price shall be payable
                           in  cash  at  the   Closing  by  wire   transfer   of
                           immediately  available federal funds to 3M at Norwest
                           Bank, Minnesota,  N.A., Minneapolis,  Minnesota,  ABA
                           #091 000 019, credit to 3M General Account #30103.


         3. Except as expressly  provided by this  Amendment,  the Agreement and
all Exhibits and Schedules  thereto shall continue in full force and effect.  In
the event any of the agreements set forth in this Amendment conflict with or are
inconsistent  with  the  provisions  of the  Agreement,  the  provisions  of the
Agreement shall supersede and prevail in interpreting  the rights of the parties
hereto.

         4. Each of the parties to this  Amendment  represent and warrant to the
other  that each has the full  corporate  power and  authority  to  execute  and
deliver this Amendment.

         5.  The  capitalized  terms  herein  have the  same  meaning  as in the
Agreement.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be
executed the day and year first above written.




MINNESOTA MINING AND                LINVATEC CORPORATION
MANUFACTURING COMPANY

By:                                          By:

Name:                                        Name:

Its:                                         Its:
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.2

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

================================================================================


                                  $490,000,000

                      AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                      among

                               CONMED Corporation,
                                   as Borrower

                               The Several Lenders
                        from Time to Time Parties Hereto,

                             CHASE SECURITIES INC.,
          as Sole Book-Manager, Lead Arranger and as Syndication Agent

                           SALOMON SMITH BARNEY, INC.,
                             as Documentation Agent

                                       and

                            THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
                             as Administrative Agent

                           Dated as of August 11, 1999


================================================================================

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

ARTICLE I.  DEFINITIONS.........................................................
         SECTION 1.1 Defined Terms..............................................
         SECTION 1.2 Other Definitional Provisions..............................

ARTICLE II.  AMOUNT AND TERMS OF COMMITMENTS....................................
         SECTION 2.1  Term Loan Commitments.....................................
         SECTION 2.2  Procedure for Term Loan Borrowing.........................
         SECTION 2.3  Repayment of Term Loans...................................
         SECTION 2.4  Revolving Credit Commitments..............................
         SECTION 2.5  Procedure for Revolving Credit Borrowing..................
         SECTION 2.6  Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt......................
         SECTION 2.7  Commitment Fees, etc. ....................................
         SECTION 2.8  Termination or Reduction of Revolving Credit Commitments..
         SECTION 2.9  Optional Prepayments......................................
         SECTION 2.10 Mandatory Prepayments and Commitment Reductions...........
         SECTION 2.11 Conversion and Continuation Options.......................
         SECTION 2.12 Minimum Amounts and Maximum Number of Eurodollar Tranches.
         SECTION 2.13 Interest Rates and Payment Dates..........................
         SECTION 2.14 Computation of Interest and Fees..........................
         SECTION 2.15 Inability to Determine Interest Rate......................
         SECTION 2.16 Pro Rata Treatment and Payments...........................
         SECTION 2.17 Requirements of Law.......................................
         SECTION 2.18 Taxes.....................................................
         SECTION 2.19 Indemnity.................................................
         SECTION 2.20 Illegality................................................
         SECTION 2.21 Change of Lending Office..................................
         SECTION 2.22 Replacement of Lenders under Certain Circumstances........

ARTICLE III.  LETTERS OF CREDIT.................................................
         SECTION 3.1  L/C Commitment............................................
         SECTION 3.2  Procedure for Issuance of Letter of Credit................
         SECTION 3.3  Commissions, Fees and Other Charges.......................
         SECTION 3.4  L/C Participations........................................
         SECTION 3.5  Reimbursement Obligation of the Borrower..................
         SECTION 3.6  Obligations Absolute......................................
         SECTION 3.7  Letter of Credit Payments.................................
         SECTION 3.8  Applications..............................................

ARTICLE IV.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.....................................
         SECTION 4.1  Financial Condition.......................................
         SECTION 4.2  No Change.................................................
         SECTION 4.3  Corporate Existence; Compliance with Law..................
         SECTION 4.4  Corporate Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations...
         SECTION 4.5  No Legal Bar..............................................
         SECTION 4.6  No Material Litigation....................................
         SECTION 4.7  No Default................................................
         SECTION 4.8  Ownership of Property; Liens..............................
         SECTION 4.9  Intellectual Property.....................................
         SECTION 4.10 Taxes.....................................................
         SECTION 4.11 Federal Regulations.......................................
         SECTION 4.12 Labor Matters.............................................
         SECTION 4.13 ERISA.....................................................
         SECTION 4.14 Investment Company Act; Other Regulations.................
         SECTION 4.15 Subsidiaries..............................................
         SECTION 4.16 Use of Proceeds...........................................
         SECTION 4.17 Environmental Matters.....................................
         SECTION 4.18 Accuracy of Information, etc..............................
         SECTION 4.19 Security Documents........................................
         SECTION 4.20 Solvency..................................................

ARTICLE V.  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT................................................
         SECTION 5.1 Conditions to the Effectiveness of this Agreement..........
         SECTION 5.2 Conditions to Each Extension of Credit.....................

ARTICLE VI.  AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS..............................................
         SECTION 6.1  Financial Statements......................................
         SECTION 6.2  Certificates; Other Information...........................
         SECTION 6.3  Payment of Obligations....................................
         SECTION 6.4  Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence, etc. ...
         SECTION 6.5  Maintenance of Property; Insurance........................
         SECTION 6.6  Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions....
         SECTION 6.7  Notices...................................................
         SECTION 6.8  Environmental Laws........................................
         SECTION 6.9  Interest Rate Protection..................................
         SECTION 6.10 Additional Collateral, etc................................
         SECTION 6.11 Senior Debt...............................................
         SECTION 6.12 Additional Covenants Relating to Collateral...............

ARTICLE VII.  NEGATIVE COVENANTS................................................
         SECTION 7.1  Financial Condition Covenants.............................
         SECTION 7.2  Limitation on Indebtedness................................
         SECTION 7.3  Limitation on Liens.......................................
         SECTION 7.4  Limitation on Fundamental Changes.........................
         SECTION 7.5  Limitation on Sale of Assets..............................
         SECTION 7.6  Limitation on Dividends...................................
         SECTION 7.7  Limitation on Capital Expenditures........................
         SECTION 7.8  Limitation on Investments, Loans and Advances.............
         SECTION 7.9  Limitation on Optional Payments and Modifications of Debt
                       Instruments, etc. .......................................
         SECTION 7.10 Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates................
         SECTION 7.11 Limitation on Sales and Leasebacks........................
         SECTION 7.12 Limitation on Changes in Fiscal Periods...................
         SECTION 7.13 Limitation on Negative Pledge Clauses.....................
         SECTION 7.14 Limitation on Restrictions on Subsidiary Distributions....
         SECTION 7.15 Limitation on Lines of Business...........................
         SECTION 7.16 Limitation on Amendments to Acquisition Documentation.....

ARTICLE VIII.  EVENTS OF DEFAULT................................................

ARTICLE IX.  THE AGENTS.........................................................
         SECTION 9.1  Appointment...............................................
         SECTION 9.2  Delegation of Duties......................................
         SECTION 9.3  Exculpatory Provisions....................................
         SECTION 9.4  Reliance by Agents........................................
         SECTION 9.5  Notice of Default.........................................
         SECTION 9.6  Non-Reliance on Agents and Other Lenders..................
         SECTION 9.7  Indemnification...........................................
         SECTION 9.8  Agent in Its Individual Capacity..........................
         SECTION 9.9  Successor Agent...........................................
         SECTION 9.10 Authorization to Release Liens............................
         SECTION 9.11 The Syndication Agent.....................................

ARTICLE X.  MISCELLANEOUS.......................................................
         SECTION 10.1  Amendments and Waivers...................................
         SECTION 10.2  Notices..................................................
         SECTION 10.3  No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies...........................
         SECTION 10.4  Survival of Representations and Warranties...............
         SECTION 10.5  Payment of Expenses......................................
         SECTION 10.6  Successors and Assigns; Participations and Assignments...
         SECTION 10.7  Adjustments; Set-off.....................................
         SECTION 10.8  Counterparts.............................................
         SECTION 10.9  Severability.............................................
         SECTION 10.10 Integration..............................................
         SECTION 10.11 GOVERNING LAW............................................
         SECTION 10.12 Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers......................
         SECTION 10.13 Acknowledgements.........................................
         SECTION 10.14 WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL....................................
         SECTION 10.15 Confidentiality..........................................
         SECTION 10.16 Releases.................................................

ANNEX:

A                       Pricing Grid


SCHEDULES:

1.1A                    Commitments; Lending Offices and Addresses
4.1                     Disposition of Assets
4.1(b)                  Guarantee Obligations of CONMED
4.1(c)                  Guarantee Obligations of the Division
4.4                     Consents, Authorizations, Filings and Notices
4.6                     Litigation
4.9                     Intellectual Property
4.15                    Subsidiaries
4.19                    UCC Filing Jurisdictions
7.2(e)                  Existing Indebtedness
7.3(f)                  Existing Liens


EXHIBITS:

B                       Form of Compliance Certificate
C                       Form of Closing Certificate
D                       Form of Assignment and Acceptance
E-1                     Form of Legal Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell
E-2                     Form of Legal Opinion of General Counsel
F-1                     Form of Term Note
F-2                     Form of Revolving Credit Note
G                       Form of Prepayment Option Notice
H                       Form of Exemption Certificate

                  AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT,  dated as of August 11,
1999, among CONMED  CORPORATION,  a New York corporation (the  "Borrower"),  the
several  banks and other  financial  institutions  or entities from time to time
parties to this Agreement (the  "Lenders"),  CHASE  SECURITIES INC., as arranger
and syndication agent (in such capacity, the "Syndication Agent"), SALOMON SMITH
BARNEY,  INC., as  documentation  agent (in such  capacity,  the  "Documentation
Agent"),  and THE  CHASE  MANHATTAN  BANK,  as  administrative  agent  (in  such
capacity, the "Administrative Agent").


                              W I T N E S S E T H:


                  WHEREAS,  the parties hereto are parties to a credit agreement
that was entered into on December 29, 1997 (the "Existing Credit Agreement").

                  WHEREAS,   Linvatec   Corporation,   a   Florida   corporation
("Linvatec"),  and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Borrower, intends to acquire
certain assets (the "Division") from Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company,
a  Delaware  corporation  ("3M"),  for a cash  purchase  price of  approximately
$40,000,000 (the  "Acquisition").  References herein to the "Acquisition"  shall
include the financings  described herein and all other  transactions  related to
the Acquisition;

                  WHEREAS,  to finance the  Acquisition  and the working capital
needs of the Borrower and its subsidiaries, the Lenders are willing to amend and
restate the original credit  agreement make credit  facilities  available to the
Borrower upon and subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;

                  NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  premises  and the
agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

                             ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS

         SECTION I.1 As used in this Agreement, the terms listed in this Section
1.1 shall have the respective meanings set forth in this Section 1.1.

                  "ABR Loans": Loans the rate of interest applicable to which is
         based upon the Alternate Base Rate.

                  "Acquisition": as defined in the recitals hereto.

                  "Acquisition Agreement":  the Asset Purchase Agreement between
         Linvatec and 3M dated as of June 29, 1999, as amended,  supplemented or
         otherwise modified from time to time.

                  "Acquisition  Documentation":  collectively,  the  Acquisition
         Agreement, and all schedules,  exhibits, annexes and amendments thereto
         and all side  letters and  agreements  affecting  the terms  thereof or
         entered  into in  connection  therewith,  in  each  case,  as  amended,
         supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

                  "Adjustment Date":  as defined in the Pricing Grid.

                  "Administrative Agent":  as defined in the preamble hereto.

                  "Affiliate":  as  to  any  Person,  any  other  Person  which,
         directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under
         common  control  with,  such Person.  For purposes of this  definition,
         "control" of a Person means the power,  directly or indirectly,  either
         to (a) vote 10% or more of the securities  having ordinary voting power
         for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions)
         of such Person or (b) direct or cause the  direction of the  management
         and policies of such Person, whether by contract or otherwise.

                  "Agents":   collectively,  the  Documentation  Agent  and  the
         Administrative Agent.

                  "Aggregate  Exposure":  with respect to any Lender,  an amount
         equal to the sum of (i) the aggregate  unpaid  principal amount of such
         Lender's  Term  Loans and (ii) the  amount of such  Lender's  Revolving
         Credit  Commitment or, if the Revolving  Credit  Commitments  have been
         terminated, the amount of such Lender's Revolving Extensions of Credit.

                  "Aggregate Exposure  Percentage":  with respect to any Lender,
         the  ratio  (expressed  as a  percentage)  of such  Lender's  Aggregate
         Exposure to the Aggregate Exposure of all Lenders.

                  "Agreement":  the Existing  Credit  Agreement,  as amended and
         restated on August 11,  1999,  as amended,  supplemented  or  otherwise
         modified from time to time.

                  "Alternate Base Rate":  for any day, a rate per annum equal to
         the  greatest  of (a) the Prime  Rate in effect on such day and (b) the
         Federal  Funds  Effective  Rate in effect on such day plus 2 of 1%. For
         purposes hereof, "Prime Rate" shall mean the rate of interest per annum
         publicly announced from time to time by the Administrative Agent as its
         prime  rate in  effect  at its  principal  office in New York City (the
         Prime Rate not being intended to be the lowest rate of interest charged
         by the Administrative  Agent in connection with extensions of credit to
         debtors).  Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the
         Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be effective as of
         the  opening of  business  on the  effective  day of such change in the
         Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate, respectively.

                  "Applicable Margin": for each Type of Loan, the rate per annum
         set forth under the relevant column heading below:

                                    Alternate Base Rate        Eurodollar
                                             Loans                 Loans
                                    -------------------        ----------

Revolving Credit Loans                    .50%                    1.75%
Tranche A Term Loans                      .50%                    1.75%
Tranche B Term Loans                     1.00%                    2.25%
Tranche C Term Loans                     1.25%                    2.50%

                  provided, that on and after September 30, 1999, the Applicable
                  Margin with respect to Revolving Credit Loans,  Tranche A Term
                  Loans and Tranche B Term Loans will be determined  pursuant to
                  the Pricing Grid.

                  "Application":  an  application,  in such form as the  Issuing
         Lender may reasonably specify from time to time, requesting the Issuing
         Lender to issue a Letter of Credit.

                  "Asset Sale": any Disposition of Property or series of related
         Dispositions of Property  (excluding any such Disposition  permitted by
         clause (a),  (b),  (c), (d), (e), (g), (h), (i), (j), or (k) of Section
         7.5)  which  yields  net  proceeds  to  the  Borrower  or  any  of  its
         Subsidiaries  (valued at the initial  principal  amount  thereof in the
         case of non-cash proceeds  consisting of notes or other debt securities
         and valued at fair market value in the case of other non-cash proceeds)
         in excess of $50,000.

                  "Assignee":  as defined in Section 10.6(c).

                  "Assignment and Acceptance":  as defined in Section 10.6(c).

                  "Assignor":  as defined in Section 10.6(c).

                  "Available  Revolving Credit Commitment":  as to any Revolving
         Credit  Lender at any time,  an amount equal to the excess,  if any, of
         (a) such Lender's  Revolving  Credit  Commitment over (b) such Lender's
         Revolving Extensions of Credit.

                  "Benefitted Lender":  as defined in Section 10.7(a).

                  "Board":  the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
         of the United States (or any successor).

                  "Borrower":  as defined in the preamble hereto.

                  "Borrowing  Date":  any Business Day specified by the Borrower
         as a date on which the Borrower  requests the relevant  Lenders to make
         Loans hereunder.

                  "Business":  as defined in Section 4.17(b).

                  "Business  Day": (i) for all purposes other than as covered by
         clause (ii) below, a day other than a Saturday,  Sunday or other day on
         which  commercial  banks in New York City are authorized or required by
         law to close and (ii) with respect to all notices and determinations in
         connection with, and payments of principal and interest on,  Eurodollar
         Loans,  any day which is a  Business  Day  described  in clause (i) and
         which is also a day for trading by and between banks in Dollar deposits
         in the London interbank eurodollar market.

                  "Capital  Expenditures":  for any period,  with respect to any
         Person,  the  aggregate  of all  expenditures  by such  Person  and its
         Subsidiaries  for the  acquisition  or leasing  (pursuant  to a capital
         lease) of fixed or capital assets or additions to equipment  (including
         replacements,  capitalized repairs and improvements during such period)
         which should be capitalized under GAAP on a consolidated  balance sheet
         of such Person and its Subsidiaries.

                  "Capital Lease Obligations": as to any Person, the obligations
         of such  Person  to pay rent or other  amounts  under  any lease of (or
         other  arrangement  conveying  the  right  to  use)  real  or  personal
         property,  or a combination thereof,  which obligations are required to
         be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of
         such Person under GAAP,  and, for the purposes of this  Agreement,  the
         amount of such obligations at any time shall be the capitalized  amount
         thereof at such time determined in accordance with GAAP.

                  "Capital Stock": any and all shares, interests, participations
         or  other  equivalents  (however  designated)  of  capital  stock  of a
         corporation,  any and all  equivalent  ownership  interests in a Person
         (other than a corporation) and any and all warrants,  rights or options
         to purchase any of the foregoing.

                  "Cash  Equivalents":  (a) marketable direct obligations issued
         by, or  unconditionally  guaranteed by, the United States Government or
         issued by any agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of
         the United States,  in each case maturing within one year from the date
         of acquisition; (b) certificates of deposit, time deposits,  eurodollar
         time  deposits or overnight  bank  deposits  having  maturities  of six
         months or less from the date of acquisition  issued by any Lender or by
         any commercial  bank  organized  under the laws of the United States or
         any state thereof having combined  capital and surplus of not less than
         $500,000,000;  (c) commercial  paper of an issuer rated at least A-1 by
         Standard & Poor's Ratings Services ("S&P") or P-1 by Moody's  Investors
         Service,  Inc.  ("Moody's"),  or  carrying  an  equivalent  rating by a
         nationally  recognized  rating agency,  if both of the two named rating
         agencies  cease   publishing   ratings  of  commercial   paper  issuers
         generally, and maturing within six months from the date of acquisition;
         (d)  repurchase  obligations  of any Lender or of any  commercial  bank
         satisfying the requirements of clause (b) of this definition,  having a
         term of not more  than 30 days with  respect  to  securities  issued or
         fully  guaranteed  or  insured  by the United  States  government;  (e)
         securities  with  maturities  of one  year or  less  from  the  date of
         acquisition  issued or fully  guaranteed by any state,  commonwealth or
         territory of the United States, by any political  subdivision or taxing
         authority  of any  such  state,  commonwealth  or  territory  or by any
         foreign  government,  the  securities  of  which  state,  commonwealth,
         territory,   political   subdivision,   taxing   authority  or  foreign
         government  (as the  case  may be) are  rated at least A by S&P or A by
         Moody's;  (f) securities with maturities of six months or less from the
         date of acquisition  backed by standby  letters of credit issued by any
         Lender or any commercial bank satisfying the requirements of clause (b)
         of this  definition;  or (g) shares of money  market  mutual or similar
         funds which invest exclusively in assets satisfying the requirements of
         clauses (a) through (f) of this definition.

                  "Chattel  Paper":  as defined in the Guarantee and  Collateral
         Agreement.

                  "Closing Date": the date on which the conditions precedent set
         forth in Section 5.1 shall have been satisfied, which date shall not be
         later than August 31, 1999.

                  "Code":  the Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as amended from
         time to time.

                  "Collateral":  all Property of the Loan Parties,  now owned or
         hereafter acquired, upon which a Lien is purported to be created by any
         Security Document.

                  "Commitment":  as to any Lender, the sum of the Tranche A Term
         Loan Commitment, the Tranche B Term Loan Commitment, the Tranche C Term
         Loan Commitment and the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender.

                  "Commitment Fee Rate": .375% per annum; provided,  that on and
         after  September  30, 1999 the  Commitment  Fee Rate will be determined
         pursuant to the Pricing Grid.

                  "Commonly  Controlled  Entity":  an  entity,  whether  or  not
         incorporated,  which is under common  control with the Borrower  within
         the  meaning  of  Section  4001 of  ERISA  or is part of a group  which
         includes the Borrower and which is treated as a single  employer  under
         Section 414 of the Code.

                  "Compliance  Certificate":  a  certificate  duly executed by a
         Responsible Officer substantially in the form of Exhibit B.

                  "Confidential   Information   Memorandum":   the  Confidential
         Information Memorandum dated July 1999 and furnished to the Lenders.

                  "Consolidated EBITDA": for any period, Consolidated Net Income
         for such period plus,  without  duplication and to the extent reflected
         as a charge in the statement of such  Consolidated  Net Income for such
         period,  the sum of (a)  income  tax  expense,  (b)  interest  expense,
         amortization  or writeoff of debt discount and debt issuance  costs and
         commissions,  discounts  and other  fees and  charges  associated  with
         Indebtedness  (including the Loans),  (c) depreciation and amortization
         expense,  (d) amortization of intangibles  (including,  but not limited
         to, goodwill) and organization costs, (e) any extraordinary, unusual or
         non-recurring  expenses or losses (including the extraordinary facility
         consolidation  charge of  approximately  $2,300,000 for the 1997 fiscal
         year end and, whether or not otherwise includable as a separate item in
         the statement of such  Consolidated Net Income for such period,  losses
         on sales of assets outside of the ordinary  course of business) and (f)
         any other non-cash  charges,  and minus,  to the extent included in the
         statement of such  Consolidated Net Income for such period,  the sum of
         (a) interest income,  (b) any  extraordinary,  unusual or non-recurring
         income or gains  (including,  whether or not otherwise  includable as a
         separate item in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such
         period,  gains on the sales of assets outside of the ordinary course of
         business)  and (c) any other  non-cash  income,  all as determined on a
         consolidated basis.

                  "Consolidated  Fixed Charge Coverage  Ratio":  for any period,
         the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA for such period less the aggregate
         amount  actually  paid by the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  in cash
         during  such  period  on  account  of  Capital   Expenditures   to  (b)
         Consolidated Fixed Charges for such period.

                  "Consolidated Fixed Charges": for any period, the sum (without
         duplication) of (a)  Consolidated  Interest Expense for such period and
         (b) scheduled  payments made during such period on account of principal
         of Funded Debt of the  Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  (including
         scheduled principal payments in respect of the Term Loans and excluding
         any  prepayment as a result of the issuance of the Senior  Subordinated
         Notes).

                  "Consolidated  Interest Coverage Ratio":  for any period,  the
         ratio of (a)  Consolidated  EBITDA for such period to (b)  Consolidated
         Interest Expense for such period.

                  "Consolidated   Interest  Expense":   for  any  period,  total
         interest  expense   (including  that   attributable  to  Capital  Lease
         Obligations) of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries for such period with
         respect  to all  outstanding  Indebtedness  of  the  Borrower  and  its
         Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, all commissions, discounts
         and other fees and charges  owed with  respect to letters of credit and
         bankers'  acceptance  financing and net costs (or gains) under Interest
         Rate Protection  Agreements to the extent such net costs (or gains) are
         allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP).

                  "Consolidated  Leverage  Ratio":  as at  the  last  day of any
         period  of  four  consecutive   fiscal  quarters,   the  ratio  of  (a)
         Consolidated Total Debt on such day to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for such
         period;  provided that for purposes of calculating  Consolidated EBITDA
         of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries  for any period,  the Consolidated
         EBITDA of any  Person  acquired  by the  Borrower  or its  Subsidiaries
         during  such  period  shall be  included  on a pro forma basis for such
         period  (assuming the  consummation  of each such  acquisition  and the
         incurrence or assumption of any  Indebtedness  in connection  therewith
         occurred on the first day of such period) if the  consolidated  balance
         sheet of such acquired Person and its  consolidated  Subsidiaries as at
         the end of the period  preceding the acquisition of such Person and the
         related consolidated  statements of income and stockholders' equity and
         of cash flows for the period in respect of which Consolidated EBITDA is
         to  be   calculated   (i)  have  been   previously   provided   to  the
         Administrative  Agent and the  Lenders  and (ii)  either  (A) have been
         reported  on without a  qualification  arising  out of the scope of the
         audit  by  independent   certified  public  accountants  of  nationally
         recognized   standing  or  (B)  have  been  found   acceptable  by  the
         Administrative Agent.

                  "Consolidated  Net Income":  for any period,  the consolidated
         net income (or loss) of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries,  determined
         on a consolidated  basis in accordance  with GAAP;  provided that there
         shall be excluded  (a) the income (or  deficit)  of any Person  accrued
         prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary  of the Borrower or is merged
         into or consolidated with the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries,  (b)
         the income (or deficit) of any Person  (other than a Subsidiary  of the
         Borrower)  in which  the  Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries  has an
         ownership  interest,  except  to the  extent  that any such  income  is
         actually  received by the  Borrower or such  Subsidiary  in the form of
         dividends or similar  distributions and (c) the undistributed  earnings
         of any Subsidiary of the Borrower to the extent that the declaration or
         payment of dividends or similar  distributions  by such  Subsidiary  is
         prohibited by the terms of any Contractual Obligation (other than under
         any Loan Document) or Requirement of Law applicable to such Subsidiary.

                  "Consolidated  Net  Worth":  at any date,  all  amounts  which
         would, in accordance  with GAAP, be included on a consolidated  balance
         sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries under  stockholders'  equity
         at such  date;  provided  that  any net  non-cash  adjustments  to such
         amounts  after  the  Closing  Date  resulting  from  foreign   currency
         transactions,  unfunded  pension  liabilities  or  unrealized  gains or
         losses in respect of  securities  shall be  included to the extent such
         adjustments exceed $2,000,000 as of the end of any fiscal quarter.

                  "Consolidated   Total  Debt":   at  any  date,  the  aggregate
         principal   amount  of  all  Funded  Debt  of  the   Borrower  and  its
         Subsidiaries  at such  date,  determined  on a  consolidated  basis  in
         accordance with GAAP.

                  "Continuing  Directors":  the directors of the Borrower on the
         Closing  Date,  after giving  effect to the  Acquisition  and the other
         transactions  contemplated hereby, and each other director, if, in each
         case,  such other  director's  nomination  for election to the board of
         directors of the  Borrower is  recommended  by at least  66-2/3% of the
         then Continuing Directors.

                  "Contractual  Obligation":  as to any Person, any provision of
         any security  issued by such Person or of any agreement,  instrument or
         other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any
         of its Property is bound.

                  "Default":  any of  the  events  specified  in  Article  VIII,
         whether or not any requirement  for the giving of notice,  the lapse of
         time, or both, has been satisfied.

                  "Disposition":  with respect to any Property, any sale, lease,
         sale  and  leaseback,   assignment,   conveyance,   transfer  or  other
         disposition  thereof;  and the terms  "Dispose" and "Disposed of" shall
         have correlative meanings.

                  "Division":  as defined in the recitals hereto.

                  "Documentation Agent":  as defined in the preamble hereto.

                  "Dollars"  and "$":  dollars in lawful  currency of the United
         States.

                  "Domestic   Subsidiary":   any   Subsidiary  of  the  Borrower
         organized under the laws of any jurisdiction within the United States.

                  "Environmental  Laws":  any and all foreign,  Federal,  state,
         local  or  municipal  laws,  rules,  orders,   regulations,   statutes,
         ordinances,   codes,  decrees,  legally  binding  requirements  of  any
         Governmental  Authority or other  Requirements of Law (including common
         law)  regulating,  relating to or imposing  liability  or  standards of
         conduct  concerning the protection of human health or the  environment,
         as now or may at any time hereafter be in effect.

                  "Equipment":  as  defined  in  the  Guarantee  and  Collateral
         Agreement.

                  "ERISA":  the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
         as amended from time to time.

                  "Eurocurrency Reserve Requirements": for any day as applied to
         a Eurodollar Loan, the aggregate  (without  duplication) of the maximum
         rates  (expressed  as a decimal  fraction) of reserve  requirements  in
         effect on such day (including, without limitation, basic, supplemental,
         marginal and emergency  reserves under any  regulations of the Board or
         other Governmental  Authority having jurisdiction with respect thereto)
         dealing with reserve  requirements  prescribed for eurocurrency funding
         (currently referred to as "Eurocurrency Liabilities" in Regulation D of
         the Board) maintained by a member bank of the Federal Reserve System.

                  "Eurodollar  Base Rate":  with respect to each day during each
         Interest  Period  pertaining to a Eurodollar  Loan,  the rate per annum
         determined  on the  basis of the rate for  deposits  in  Dollars  for a
         period equal to such  Interest  Period  commencing  on the first day of
         such Interest  Period  appearing on Page 3750 of the Telerate screen as
         of 11:00 A.M., London time, two Business Days prior to the beginning of
         such  Interest  Period.  In the event that such rate does not appear on
         Page 3750 of the Telerate  Service (or otherwise on such service),  the
         "Eurodollar  Base  Rate"  for  purposes  of this  definition  shall  be
         determined  by reference to such other  comparable  publicly  available
         service  for  displaying  eurodollar  rates as may be  selected  by the
         Administrative  Agent  or,  in the  absence  of such  availability,  by
         reference  to the rate at which  the  Administrative  Agent is  offered
         Dollar  deposits  at or about  11:00  A.M.,  New York  City  time,  two
         Business  Days prior to the  beginning of such  Interest  Period in the
         interbank  eurodollar  market where its eurodollar and foreign currency
         and exchange  operations  are then being  conducted for delivery on the
         first day of such  Interest  Period  for the  number of days  comprised
         therein.

                  "Eurodollar  Loans":  Loans the rate of interest applicable to
         which is based upon the Eurodollar Rate.

                  "Eurodollar  Rate":  with  respect  to each  day  during  each
         Interest  Period  pertaining  to a  Eurodollar  Loan,  a rate per annum
         determined  for  such day in  accordance  with  the  following  formula
         (rounded upward to the nearest 1/100th of 1%):

                              Eurodollar Base Rate
                       -----------------------------------
                    1.00 - Eurocurrency Reserve Requirements

                  "Eurodollar  Tranche":  the collective reference to Eurodollar
         Loans the then  current  Interest  Periods with respect to all of which
         begin on the same date and end on the same later date  (whether  or not
         such Loans shall originally have been made on the same day).

                  "Event of  Default":  any of the events  specified  in Article
         VIII, provided that any requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse
         of time, or both, has been satisfied.

                  "Excluded  Foreign  Subsidiaries":  any Foreign  Subsidiary in
         respect of which  either (i) the pledge of all of the Capital  Stock of
         such  Subsidiary  as  Collateral  or  (ii)  the  guaranteeing  by  such
         Subsidiary of the Obligations, would, in the good faith judgment of the
         Borrower, result in adverse tax consequences to the Borrower.

                  "Facility":  each of (a) the  Tranche A Term Loan  Commitments
         and the Tranche A Term Loans made  thereunder (the "Tranche A Term Loan
         Facility"),  (b) the Tranche B Term Loan  Commitments and the Tranche B
         Term Loans made  thereunder (the "Tranche B Term Loan  Facility"),  (c)
         the Tranche C Term Loan  Commitments  and the Tranche C Term Loans made
         thereunder  (the "Tranche C Term Loan  Facility") and (d) the Revolving
         Credit  Commitments  and the extensions of credit made  thereunder (the
         "Revolving Credit Facility").

                  "Federal  Funds  Effective  Rate":  for any day,  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  on the  next  succeeding  Business  Day by the
         Federal  Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published
         for any day which is a Business Day, the average of the  quotations for
         the day of such transactions  received by the Administrative Agent from
         three federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

                  "Foreign  Subsidiary":  any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is
         not a Domestic Subsidiary.

                  "Funded  Debt":  as to any Person,  all  Indebtedness  of such
         Person of the types  described in clauses  (a)-(e) of the definition of
         Indebtedness.

                  "Funding Office":  the office of the Administrative  Agent set
         forth in Section 10.2.

                  "GAAP": generally accepted accounting principles applicable in
         the United States for reporting entities domiciled in the United States
         as in effect  from time to time,  except  that for  purposes of Section
         7.1, GAAP shall be determined on the basis of such principles in effect
         on the date hereof and consistent with those used in the preparation of
         the most recent  audited  financial  statements  delivered  pursuant to
         Section 4.1(b).

                  "Governmental Authority":  any nation or government, any state
         or  other  political  subdivision  thereof  and any  entity  exercising
         executive,   legislative,   judicial,   regulatory  or   administrative
         functions of government (including,  without limitation, any securities
         exchange or self-regulatory organization).

                  "Guarantee  and  Collateral  Agreement":   the  Guarantee  and
         Collateral  Agreement  executed and  delivered by the Borrower and each
         Subsidiary Guarantor on December 31, 1997, substantially in the form of
         Exhibit A, together with the Acknowledgement  and Consent,  dated as of
         the date hereof,  as each of the same may be amended,  supplemented  or
         otherwise modified from time to time.

                  "Guarantee  Obligation":  as to any Person (the  "guaranteeing
         person"),  any obligation of (a) the guaranteeing person or (b) another
         Person  (including,  without  limitation,  any bank under any letter of
         credit) to induce the  creation  of which the  guaranteeing  person has
         issued a  reimbursement,  counterindemnity  or similar  obligation,  in
         either case  guaranteeing or in effect  guaranteeing any  Indebtedness,
         leases,  dividends or other obligations (the "primary  obligations") of
         any other third Person (the "primary  obligor") in any manner,  whether
         directly or indirectly,  including,  without limitation, any obligation
         of the guaranteeing person, whether or not contingent,  (i) to purchase
         any such  primary  obligation  or any Property  constituting  direct or
         indirect security therefor, (ii) to advance or supply funds (1) for the
         purchase or payment of any such primary  obligation  or (2) to maintain
         working  capital or equity capital of the primary  obligor or otherwise
         to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor,  (iii) to
         purchase Property,  securities or services primarily for the purpose of
         assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the
         primary  obligor to make  payment of such  primary  obligation  or (iv)
         otherwise  to assure  or hold  harmless  the owner of any such  primary
         obligation against loss in respect thereof; provided, however, that the
         term Guarantee Obligation shall not include endorsements of instruments
         for deposit or  collection  in the  ordinary  course of  business.  The
         amount of any Guarantee  Obligation of any guaranteeing person shall be
         deemed  to be the  lower  of (a)  an  amount  equal  to the  stated  or
         determinable  amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such
         Guarantee  Obligation is made and (b) the maximum amount for which such
         guaranteeing  person  may  be  liable  pursuant  to  the  terms  of the
         instrument  embodying  such Guarantee  Obligation,  unless such primary
         obligation  and the maximum amount for which such  guaranteeing  person
         may be liable are not stated or determinable,  in which case the amount
         of  such  Guarantee  Obligation  shall  be such  guaranteeing  person's
         maximum  reasonably   anticipated   liability  in  respect  thereof  as
         determined by the Borrower in good faith.

                  "Indebtedness":   of  any   Person   at  any   date,   without
         duplication,  (a) all  indebtedness  of such Person for borrowed money,
         (b) all  obligations of such Person for the deferred  purchase price of
         Property or services (other than current trade payables incurred in the
         ordinary course of such Person's  business,  and overdue trade payables
         incurred in the ordinary course of such Person's business to the extent
         the amount or validity  thereof is  currently  being  contested in good
         faith by appropriate  procedures  and reserves in conformity  with GAAP
         with respect thereto have been provided on the books of the Borrower or
         its  Subsidiaries,  as the case may be),  (c) all  obligations  of such
         Person  evidenced  by  notes,   bonds,   debentures  or  other  similar
         instruments,   (d)  all  indebtedness  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),  (e) all Capital
         Lease  Obligations  of such  Person  (the  amount  of  which  shall  be
         calculated without regard to imputed interest),  (f) all obligations of
         such  Person,  contingent  or  otherwise,  as an  account  party  under
         acceptance, letter of credit or similar facilities, (g) all obligations
         of such Person, contingent or otherwise, to purchase, redeem, retire or
         otherwise acquire for value any Capital Stock (other than common stock)
         of such Person, (h) all Guarantee Obligations of such Person in respect
         of obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above
         to the extent quantified as liabilities, contingent obligations or like
         term in  accordance  with GAAP on the balance  sheet  (including  notes
         thereto) of such Person; (i) all obligations of the kind referred to in
         clauses (a)  through  (h) above  secured by (or for which the holder of
         such obligation has an existing right,  contingent or otherwise,  to be
         secured  by)  any  Lien on  Property  (including,  without  limitation,
         accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, whether or not such
         Person has assumed or become liable for the payment of such  obligation
         (but only to the extent of the fair market value of such Property); (j)
         for purposes of Article 8(e), all obligations of such Person in respect
         of Interest Rate Protection Agreements and (k) the liquidation value of
         any preferred  Capital Stock of such Person or its Subsidiaries held by
         any Person other than such Person and its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries.

                  "Insolvency":  with  respect to any  Multiemployer  Plan,  the
         condition  that such Plan is  insolvent  within the  meaning of Section
         4245 of ERISA.

                  "Insolvent":  pertaining to a condition of Insolvency.

                  "Instrument":  as  defined  in the  Guarantee  and  Collateral
         Agreement.

                  "Intellectual  Property":  the  collective  reference  to  all
         rights,  priorities and privileges  relating to intellectual  property,
         whether arising under United States,  multinational  or foreign laws or
         otherwise,   including,  without  limitation,   copyrights,   copyright
         licenses,  patents,  patent licenses,  trademarks,  trademark licenses,
         technology,  know-how and processes, and all rights to sue at law or in
         equity for any infringement or other impairment thereof,  including the
         right to receive all proceeds and damages therefrom.

                  "Interest  Payment Date": (a) as to any ABR Loan, the last day
         of each March, June, September and December to occur while such Loan is
         outstanding  and the final  maturity  date of such Loan,  (b) as to any
         Eurodollar  Loan having an Interest Period of three months or less, the
         last day of such Interest Period,  (c) as to any Eurodollar Loan having
         an Interest  Period longer than three  months,  each day which is three
         months,  or a whole  multiple  thereof,  after  the  first  day of such
         Interest  Period and the last day of such Interest Period and (d) as to
         any Loan (other than any Revolving Credit Loan that is a ABR Loan), the
         date of any repayment or prepayment made in respect thereof.

                  "Interest  Period":  as to any Eurodollar Loan, (a) initially,
         the period  commencing on the borrowing or conversion date, as the case
         may be, with respect to such Eurodollar Loan and ending one, two, three
         or six months thereafter,  as selected by the Borrower in its notice of
         borrowing  or  notice of  conversion,  as the case may be,  given  with
         respect thereto; and (b) thereafter, each period commencing on the last
         day of the next preceding Interest Period applicable to such Eurodollar
         Loan and ending one, two,  three or six, as selected by the Borrower by
         irrevocable  notice to the  Administrative  Agent  not less than  three
         Business Days prior to the last day of the then current Interest Period
         with respect  thereto;  provided that all of the  foregoing  provisions
         relating to Interest Periods are subject to the following:

                               (i) if any Interest Period would otherwise end on
                  a day that is not a Business Day,  such Interest  Period shall
                  be extended  to the next  succeeding  Business  Day unless the
                  result  of such  extension  would  be to carry  such  Interest
                  Period  into  another  calendar  month  in  which  event  such
                  Interest  Period  shall  end  on  the  immediately   preceding
                  Business Day;

                              (ii) any  Interest  Period  that  would  otherwise
                  extend beyond the Revolving Credit  Termination Date or beyond
                  the date  final  payment is due on the  Tranche A Term  Loans,
                  Tranche B Term Loans or the Tranche C Term Loans,  as the case
                  may be, shall end on the Revolving Credit  Termination Date or
                  such due date, as applicable;

                             (iii) any  Interest  Period that begins on the last
                  Business Day of a calendar  month (or on a day for which there
                  is no numerically  corresponding  day in the calendar month at
                  the  end of  such  Interest  Period)  shall  end  on the  last
                  Business Day of a calendar month; and

                              (iv) the Borrower shall use reasonable  efforts to
                  select  Interest  Periods  so as not to  require a payment  or
                  prepayment of any  Eurodollar  Loan during an Interest  Period
                  for such Loan.

                  "Interest  Rate  Protection  Agreement":   any  interest  rate
         protection  agreement,  interest rate futures  contract,  interest rate
         option, interest rate cap or other interest rate hedge arrangement,  to
         or under which the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries is a party or a
         beneficiary  on the date  hereof or  becomes  a party or a  beneficiary
         after the date hereof.

                  "Inventory":  as  defined  in  the  Guarantee  and  Collateral
         Agreement.

                  "Issuing Lender": The Chase Manhattan Bank, in its capacity as
         issuer of any Letter of Credit.

                  "L/C Commitment": $10,000,000.

                  "L/C Fee  Payment  Date":  the last day of each  March,  June,
         September and December and the Revolving Credit Termination Date.

                  "L/C Obligations":  at any time, an amount equal to the sum of
         (a) the  aggregate  then  undrawn  and  unexpired  amount  of the  then
         outstanding  Letters of Credit and (b) the aggregate amount of drawings
         under Letters of Credit which have not then been reimbursed pursuant to
         Section 3.5.

                  "L/C  Participants":  collectively,  all the Revolving  Credit
         Lenders other than the Issuing Lender.

                  "Lenders":  as defined in the preamble hereto.

                  "Letters of Credit":  as defined in Section 3.1(a).

                  "Lien":  any  mortgage,  pledge,  hypothecation,   assignment,
         deposit arrangement,  encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge or
         other security  interest or any preference,  priority or other security
         agreement or preferential  arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever
         (including,  without  limitation,  any conditional  sale or other title
         retention agreement and any capital lease having substantially the same
         economic effect as any of the foregoing).

                  "Linvatec":  as defined in the recitals hereto.

                  "Loan":   any  loan  made  by  any  Lender  pursuant  to  this
         Agreement.

                  "Loan Documents":  this Agreement, the Security Documents, the
         Applications and the Notes.

                  "Loan  Parties":  the  Borrower  and  each  Subsidiary  of the
         Borrower which is a party to a Loan Document.

                  "Majority Facility Lenders": with respect to any Facility, the
         holders of more than 50% of the aggregate  unpaid  principal  amount of
         the Term Loans or the Total Revolving Extensions of Credit, as the case
         may  be,  outstanding  under  such  Facility  (or,  in the  case of the
         Revolving  Credit  Facility,  prior to any termination of the Revolving
         Credit Commitments, the holders of more than 50% of the Total Revolving
         Credit Commitments).

                  "Majority  Revolving  Credit Facility  Lenders":  the Majority
         Facility Lenders in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility.

                  "Material  Adverse  Effect":  a material adverse effect on (a)
         the business,  results of operations,  assets or financial  position of
         the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (including,  without limitation,  the
         assets acquired in the Acquisition)  taken as a whole, (b) the validity
         or  enforceability of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents
         or the rights or  remedies of the Agents or the  Lenders  hereunder  or
         thereunder  or (c) the  ability of the  Borrower  to perform any of its
         obligations under this Agreement.

                  "Materials  of   Environmental   Concern":   any  gasoline  or
         petroleum  (including  crude oil or any fraction  thereof) or petroleum
         products or any  hazardous  or toxic  substances,  materials or wastes,
         defined or to the extent  regulated as such in or under any  applicable
         Environmental   Law,   including,    without   limitation,    asbestos,
         polychlorinated biphenyls and urea-formaldehyde insulation.

                  "Multiemployer  Plan": a Plan which is a multiemployer plan as
         defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

                  "Net Cash Proceeds":  (a) in connection with any Asset Sale or
         any Recovery Event,  the proceeds  thereof in the form of cash and Cash
         Equivalents  (including  any such proceeds  received by way of deferred
         payment of principal  pursuant to a note or  installment  receivable or
         purchase price adjustment receivable or otherwise, but only as and when
         received) of such Asset Sale or Recovery Event, net of attorneys' fees,
         accountants'  fees,  investment  banking fees,  amounts  required to be
         applied to the repayment of  Indebtedness  secured by a Lien  expressly
         permitted  hereunder  on any asset  which is the  subject of such Asset
         Sale or  Recovery  Event  (other  than any Lien  pursuant to a Security
         Document) and other  customary fees and expenses  actually  incurred in
         connection  therewith and net of taxes paid or reasonably  estimated to
         be payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available
         tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing  arrangements) and (b) in
         connection  with any  issuance  or sale of  equity  securities  or debt
         securities or instruments or the incurrence of loans, the cash proceeds
         received from such  issuance or  incurrence,  net of  attorneys'  fees,
         investment banking fees,  accountants' fees, underwriting discounts and
         commissions and other customary fees and expenses  actually incurred in
         connection therewith.

                  "Non-Excluded Taxes":  as defined in Section 2.18(a).

                  "Non-U.S. Lender":  as defined in Section 2.18(d).

                  "Notes":  collectively, any promissory note evidencing Loans.

                  "Obligations":   the  unpaid  principal  of  and  interest  on
         (including, without limitation, interest accruing after the maturity of
         the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations and interest accruing after the
         filing  of any  petition  in  bankruptcy,  or the  commencement  of any
         insolvency,   reorganization  or  like  proceeding,   relating  to  the
         Borrower,  whether  or not a claim  for  post-filing  or  post-petition
         interest  is  allowed  in such  proceeding)  the  Loans  and all  other
         obligations and liabilities of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent
         or to  any  Lender  (or,  in  the  case  of  Interest  Rate  Protection
         Agreements,  any affiliate of any Lender),  whether direct or indirect,
         absolute  or  contingent,  due or to become  due,  or now  existing  or
         hereafter  incurred,  which may arise under,  out of, or in  connection
         with, this Agreement,  any other Loan Document,  the Letters of Credit,
         any Interest Rate Protection  Agreement entered into with any Lender or
         any affiliate of any Lender or any other  document  made,  delivered or
         given in  connection  herewith  or  therewith,  whether  on  account of
         principal,  interest,  reimbursement  obligations,  fees,  indemnities,
         costs, expenses (including,  without limitation,  all fees, charges and
         disbursements of counsel to the  Administrative  Agent or to any Lender
         that  are  required  to be paid by the  Borrower  pursuant  hereto)  or
         otherwise.

                  "Original Closing Date":  December 29, 1997

                  "Other  Taxes":  any  and  all  present  or  future  stamp  or
         documentary  taxes or any other  excise or property  taxes,  charges or
         similar  levies  arising  from any payment  made  hereunder or from the
         execution,  delivery or  enforcement  of, or otherwise with respect to,
         this Agreement.

                  "Participant":  as defined in Section 10.6(b).

                  "Payment Office":  the office of the Administrative  Agent set
         forth in Section 10.2.

                  "PBGC": the Pension Benefit Guaranty  Corporation  established
         pursuant to Subtitle A of Title IV of ERISA (or any successor).

                  "Permitted  Business  Acquisition":  any acquisition of all or
         substantially  all the assets of, or shares or other  equity  interests
         in,  a Person  or  division  or line of  business  of a Person  (or any
         subsequent  investment made in a previously acquired Permitted Business
         Acquisition) if immediately after giving effect thereto: (a) no Default
         or Event of Default  shall have  occurred  and be  continuing  or would
         result  therefrom,  (b)  all  transactions  related  thereto  shall  be
         consummated  in  accordance   with  applicable  laws  in  all  material
         respects,  (c) any acquired or newly formed  corporation,  partnership,
         association or other business  entity shall be a domestic  Wholly Owned
         Subsidiary and all actions  required to be taken,  if any, with respect
         to such  acquired or newly formed  Subsidiary  under Section 6.10 shall
         have been taken and (d)(i) the Borrower and the  Subsidiaries  shall be
         in  compliance,  on a pro  forma  basis  after  giving  effect  to such
         acquisition or formation,  with the covenants  contained in Section 7.1
         recomputed as at the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter
         of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as if such acquisition and related
         financings or other  transactions had occurred on the first day of each
         relevant period for testing such compliance, and, if the amount of such
         investment or series of related investments exceeds  $10,000,000,  then
         the  Borrower  shall  have  delivered  to the  Administrative  Agent an
         officers'  certificate  to such  effect,  together  with  all  relevant
         financial  information  for such  Subsidiary  or  assets,  and (ii) any
         acquired  or  newly  formed  Subsidiary  shall  not be  liable  for any
         Indebtedness (except for Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.2).

                  "Person":  an individual,  partnership,  corporation,  limited
         liability  company,   business  trust,  joint  stock  company,   trust,
         unincorporated  association,  joint venture,  Governmental Authority or
         other entity of whatever nature.

                  "Plan":  at a particular time, any employee benefit plan which
         is covered by ERISA and in respect of which the  Borrower or a Commonly
         Controlled  Entity is (or, if such plan were  terminated  at such time,
         would under  Section  4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an  "employer"  as
         defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

                  "Prepayment Option Notice":  as defined in Section 2.16(d).

                  "Pricing Grid":  the pricing grid attached hereto as Annex A.

                  "Prime  Rate"  shall  mean  the  rate of  interest  per  annum
         publicly announced from time to time by the Administrative Agent as its
         prime  rate in  effect  at its  principal  office in New York City (the
         Prime Rate not being intended to be the lowest rate of interest charged
         by the Administrative  Agent in connection with extensions of credit to
         debtors).  Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the
         Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be effective as of
         the  opening of  business  on the  effective  day of such change in the
         Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate, respectively.

                  "Pro Forma Balance Sheet":  as defined in Section 4.1(a).

                  "Projections":  as defined in Section 6.2(c).

                  "Properties":  as defined in Section 4.17(a).

                  "Property":  any right or  interest  in or to  property of any
         kind whatsoever,  whether real,  personal or mixed and whether tangible
         or intangible, including, without limitation, Capital Stock.

                  "Recovery  Event":  any settlement of or payment in respect of
         any property or casualty insurance claim or any condemnation proceeding
         relating  to any  asset  of  the  Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries
         (excluding,  for the  avoidance  of doubt,  the  proceeds  of  business
         interruption insurance for lost revenues).

                  "Register":  as defined in Section 10.6(d).

                  "Regulation  G":  Regulation  G of the Board as in effect from
         time to time.

                  "Regulation  U":  Regulation  U of the Board as in effect from
         time to time.

                  "Reimbursement Obligation":  the obligation of the Borrower to
         reimburse the Issuing Lender  pursuant to Section 3.5 for amounts drawn
         under Letters of Credit.

                  "Reinvestment   Deferred   Amount":   with   respect   to  any
         Reinvestment  Event,  the aggregate  Net Cash Proceeds  received by the
         Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries in connection  therewith which are
         not  applied to prepay the Term  Loans or reduce the  Revolving  Credit
         Commitments  pursuant to Section 2.10(b) as a result of the delivery of
         a Reinvestment Notice.

                  "Reinvestment  Event":  any Asset  Sale or  Recovery  Event in
         respect of which the Borrower has delivered a Reinvestment Notice.

                  "Reinvestment   Notice":   a  written  notice  executed  by  a
         Responsible  Officer  stating  that no Default or Event of Default  has
         occurred  and  is  continuing  and  that  the  Borrower   (directly  or
         indirectly through a Subsidiary),  in good faith intends and expects to
         use all or a  specified  portion of the Net Cash  Proceeds  of an Asset
         Sale,  Recovery Event, or an indemnity  payment (subject to the proviso
         in Section 2.10(c)) made pursuant to the Acquisition  Agreement to make
         an investment that is a reasonable substitute for the assets in respect
         of which such Asset Sale,  Recovery Event or indemnity payment occurred
         within  twelve  months  (or six  months  in the  case  of an  indemnity
         payment) from the date of receipt of such Net Cash  Proceeds  (provided
         that if the affected  assets  constituted  Collateral  such  investment
         assets shall also constitute Collateral).

                  "Reinvestment   Prepayment   Amount":   with  respect  to  any
         Reinvestment  Event, the Reinvestment  Deferred Amount relating thereto
         less any amount expended prior to the relevant Reinvestment  Prepayment
         Date to make an  investment  that is a  reasonable  substitute  for the
         assets in respect of which a Recovery Event has occurred.

                  "Reinvestment   Prepayment   Date":   with   respect   to  any
         Reinvestment Event, the earlier of (a) the date occurring twelve months
         after  such  Reinvestment  Event  (or  six  months  in the  case  of an
         indemnity  payment  referred to in Section 2.10(c)) and (b) the date on
         which  the  Borrower  shall  have  determined  not to,  or  shall  have
         otherwise  ceased to, acquire assets useful in the Borrower's  business
         with all or any portion of the relevant Reinvestment Deferred Amount.

                  "Reorganization":  with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, the
         condition  that such plan is in  reorganization  within the  meaning of
         Section 4241 of ERISA.

                  "Reportable  Event":  any of the  events  set forth in Section
         4043(c) of ERISA,  other  than those  events as to which the thirty day
         notice period is waived under regulations promulgated under Title IV of
         ERISA.

                  "Required Lenders": the holders of more than 50% of the sum of
         (i) the aggregate  unpaid  principal  amount of the Term Loans and (ii)
         the Total  Revolving  Credit  Commitments  or, if the Revolving  Credit
         Commitments  have been  terminated,  the Total Revolving  Extensions of
         Credit.

                  "Required Prepayment  Lenders":  the Majority Facility Lenders
         in respect of each Facility.

                  "Requirement  of Law": as to any Person,  the  Certificate  of
         Incorporation   and  By-Laws  or  other   organizational  or  governing
         documents of such Person,  and any law,  treaty,  rule or regulation or
         determination  of  an  arbitrator  or a  court  or  other  Governmental
         Authority,  in each case  applicable  to or binding upon such Person or
         any of its  Property or to which such Person or any of its  Property is
         subject.

                  "Responsible Officer": the chief executive officer, president,
         chief financial officer,  treasurer,  controller or general counsel (or
         other officer satisfactory to the Lenders) of the Borrower,  but in any
         event, with respect to financial matters,  the chief financial officer,
         treasurer, controller (or other officer satisfactory to the Lenders) of
         the Borrower.

                  "Revolving  Credit   Commitment":   as  to  any  Lender,   the
         obligation of such Lender,  if any, to make Revolving  Credit Loans and
         participate in Letters of Credit, in an aggregate principal and/or face
         amount not to exceed the amount set forth under the heading  "Revolving
         Credit  Commitment"  opposite such Lender's name on Schedule 1.1A or in
         the Assignment and Acceptance  pursuant to which such Revolving  Credit
         Lender became a party  hereto,  as the same may be changed from time to
         time  pursuant to the terms  hereof.  The original  amount of the Total
         Revolving Credit Commitments is $100,000,000.

                  "Revolving  Credit  Commitment  Period":  the period  from and
         including the Closing Date to the Revolving Credit Termination Date.

                  "Revolving  Credit Lender":  each Lender which has a Revolving
         Credit Commitment or which has made Revolving Credit Loans.

                  "Revolving Credit Loans":  as defined in Section 2.4(a).

                  "Revolving  Credit  Percentage":  as to any  Revolving  Credit
         Lender at any time, the percentage which such Lender's Revolving Credit
         Commitment then constitutes of the Total Revolving  Credit  Commitments
         (or,  at any time after the  Revolving  Credit  Commitments  shall have
         expired or  terminated,  the percentage  which the aggregate  principal
         amount  of  such  Lender's  Revolving  Credit  Loans  then  outstanding
         constitutes of the aggregate  principal  amount of the Revolving Credit
         Loans then outstanding).

                  "Revolving  Credit  Termination  Date": the earlier of (a) the
         Scheduled  Revolving Credit  Termination Date and (b) the date on which
         the Tranche A Term Loans shall be paid in full.

                  "Revolving  Extensions of Credit":  as to any Revolving Credit
         Lender at any time,  an  amount  equal to the sum of (a) the  aggregate
         principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans made by such Lender then
         outstanding,  and (b) such Lender's  Revolving Credit Percentage of the
         L/C Obligations then outstanding.

                  "Scheduled  Revolving Credit Termination  Date":  December 30,
         2002.

                  "SEC":  the Securities and Exchange  Commission (or successors
         thereto or an analogous Governmental Authority).

                  "Security   Documents":   the  collective   reference  to  the
         Guarantee and  Collateral  Agreement and all other  security  documents
         hereafter delivered to the Administrative  Agent granting a Lien on any
         Property of any Person to secure the obligations and liabilities of any
         Loan Party under any Loan Document.

                  "Senior  Subordinated  Note Indenture":  the Indenture entered
         into in connection with the issuance of the Senior  Subordinated Notes,
         together with all instruments and other agreements  entered into by the
         Borrower or such Subsidiaries in connection therewith,  as the same may
         be amended,  supplemented  or otherwise  modified  from time to time in
         accordance with Section 7.9.

                  "Senior Subordinated Notes":  collectively,  (i) the unsecured
         9% senior  subordinated  notes of the  Borrower  due 2008,  or (ii) any
         refinancing of such Senior  Subordinated Notes of the Borrower on terms
         and  conditions  which either (A) if the same were an amendment to such
         Senior  Subordinated Notes, would be permitted by Section 7.9(b) or (B)
         are otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Required Lenders.

                  "Single  Employer Plan": any Plan which is covered by Title IV
         of ERISA, but which is not a Multiemployer Plan.

                  "Solvent":  when used with respect to any Person,  means that,
         as of any date of  determination,  (a) the amount of the "present  fair
         saleable  value" of the assets of such  Person  will,  as of such date,
         exceed the amount of all  "liabilities  of such Person,  contingent  or
         otherwise",  as of such date,  as such quoted terms are  determined  in
         accordance   with   applicable   federal   and  state  laws   governing
         determinations  of the  insolvency  of debtors,  (b) the  present  fair
         saleable  value of the assets of such Person will,  as of such date, be
         greater  than the amount that will be required to pay the  liability of
         such Person on its debts as such debts become absolute and matured, (c)
         such  Person  will not have,  as of such date,  an  unreasonably  small
         amount of  capital  with which to conduct  its  business,  and (d) such
         Person will be able to pay its debts as they  mature.  For  purposes of
         this  definition,  (i) "debt" means  liability  on a "claim",  and (ii)
         "claim" means any (x) right to payment,  whether or not such a right is
         reduced  to  judgment,  liquidated,  unliquidated,  fixed,  contingent,
         matured, unmatured,  disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured or
         unsecured or (y) right to an equitable remedy for breach of performance
         if such breach  gives rise to a right to  payment,  whether or not such
         right to an equitable remedy is reduced to judgment, fixed, contingent,
         matured or unmatured, disputed, undisputed, secured or unsecured.

                  "Specified  Change of  Control":  a  "Change  of  Control"  as
         defined in the Senior Subordinated Note Indenture.

                  "Subsidiary":  as to any Person,  a corporation,  partnership,
         limited  liability  company or other entity of which shares of stock or
         other  ownership  interests  having  ordinary  voting power (other than
         stock or such  other  ownership  interests  having  such  power only by
         reason of the  happening of a  contingency)  to elect a majority of the
         board of directors or other managers of such  corporation,  partnership
         or other entity are at the time owned,  or the  management  of which is
         otherwise  controlled,  directly  or  indirectly  through  one or  more
         intermediaries,  or both, by such Person.  Unless otherwise  qualified,
         all references to a "Subsidiary" or to "Subsidiaries" in this Agreement
         shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

                  "Subsidiary Guarantor":  each Subsidiary of the Borrower other
         than any Excluded Foreign Subsidiary.

                  "Syndication Agent":  as defined in the preamble hereto.

                  "Term Loan  Lenders":  collectively,  the  Tranche A Term Loan
         Lenders,  the  Tranche B Term Loan  Lenders and the Tranche C Term Loan
         Lenders.

                  "Term Loans": collectively,  the Tranche A Term Loans, Tranche
         B Term Loans and Tranche C Term Loans.

                  "3M": as defined in the Recitals hereto.

                  "Total  Revolving  Credit  Commitments":   at  any  time,  the
         aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments at such time.

                  "Total  Revolving  Extensions  of  Credit":  at any time,  the
         aggregate amount of the Revolving Extensions of Credit of the Revolving
         Credit Lenders at such time.

                  "Tranche A Term Loan": as defined in Section 2.1.

                  "Tranche  A  Term  Loan  Commitment":  as to any  Lender,  the
         obligation of such Lender, if any, to make a Tranche A Term Loan to the
         Borrower  hereunder in a principal  amount not to exceed the amount set
         forth under the heading "Tranche A Term Loan Commitment"  opposite such
         Lender's  name on Schedule  1.1A or in the  Assignment  and  Acceptance
         pursuant  to which  such  Tranche  A Term  Loan  Lender  became a party
         hereto.  The  original  aggregate  amount  of the  Tranche  A Term Loan
         Commitments on the Original Closing Date was $210,000,000.

                  "Tranche A Term Loan Lender":  each Lender which has a Tranche
         A Term Loan Commitment or which has made a Tranche A Term Loan.

                  "Tranche  A Term Loan  Percentage":  as to any  Tranche A Term
         Loan Lender at any time, the percentage  which such Lender's  Tranche A
         Term Loan Commitment then  constitutes of the aggregate  Tranche A Term
         Loan  Commitments  (or,  at  any  time  after  the  Closing  Date,  the
         percentage  which  the  aggregate  principal  amount  of such  Lender's
         Tranche A Term  Loans then  outstanding  constitutes  of the  aggregate
         principal amount of the Tranche A Term Loans then outstanding).

                  "Tranche B Term Loan":  as defined in Section 2.1.

                  "Tranche  B Term Loan  Commitment":  as to Tranche B Term Loan
         Lender, the obligation of such Lender, if any, to make a Tranche B Term
         Loan to the Borrower  hereunder in a principal amount not to exceed the
         amount set forth  under the  heading  "Tranche B Term Loan  Commitment"
         opposite such Lender's name on Schedule 1.1A or in the  Assignment  and
         Acceptance  pursuant to which such Tranche B Term Loan Lender  became a
         party hereto.  The original aggregate amount of the Tranche B Term Loan
         Commitments on the Original Closing Date was $140,000,000.

                  "Tranche B Term Loan Lender":  each Lender which has a Tranche
         B Term Loan Commitment or which has made a Tranche B Term Loan.

                  "Tranche  B Term  Loan  Percentage":  as to any  Lender at any
         time, the percentage which such Lender's Tranche B Term Loan Commitment
         then constitutes of the aggregate  Tranche B Term Loan Commitments (or,
         at any time after the Closing Date, the percentage  which the aggregate
         principal amount of such Lender's Tranche B Term Loans then outstanding
         constitutes  of the  aggregate  principal  amount of the Tranche B Term
         Loans then outstanding).


                  "Tranche C Term Loan":  as defined in Section 2.1.

                  "Tranche  C Term Loan  Commitment":  as to Tranche C Term Loan
         Lender, the obligation of such Lender, if any, to make a Tranche C Term
         Loan to the Borrower  hereunder in a principal amount not to exceed the
         amount set forth  under the  heading  "Tranche C Term Loan  Commitment"
         opposite such Lender's name on Schedule 1.1A or in the  Assignment  and
         Acceptance  pursuant to which such Tranche C Term Loan Lender  became a
         party hereto.  The original aggregate amount of the Tranche C Term Loan
         Commitments is $40,000,000.

                  "Tranche C Term Loan Lender":  each Lender which has a Tranche
         C Term Loan Commitment or which has made a Tranche C Term Loan.

                  "Tranche  C Term  Loan  Percentage":  as to any  Lender at any
         time, the percentage which such Lender's Tranche C Term Loan Commitment
         then constitutes of the aggregate  Tranche C Term Loan Commitments (or,
         at any time after the Closing Date, the percentage  which the aggregate
         principal amount of such Lender's Tranche C Term Loans then outstanding
         constitutes  of the  aggregate  principal  amount of the Tranche C Term
         Loans then outstanding).

                  "Transferee":  as defined in Section 10.15.

                  "Type":  as  to  any  Loan,  its  nature  as a ABR  Loan  or a
         Eurodollar Loan.

                  "Uniform  Customs":  the  Uniform  Customs  and  Practice  for
         Documentary Credits (1993 Revision),  International Chamber of Commerce
         Publication No. 500, as the same may be amended from time to time.

                  "United States":  the United States of America.

                  "Warrant":  the warrant to purchase  shares of the  Borrower=s
         Capital Stock issued to Bristol-Meyers Squibb.

                  "Wholly Owned Foreign Subsidiary": any Foreign Subsidiary that
         is a Wholly Owned Subsidiary.

                  "Wholly Owned Subsidiary":  as to any Person, any other Person
         all of the Capital  Stock of which (other than (i) a nominal  number of
         shares held by foreign nationals to the extent required by local law or
         (ii)  directors'  qualifying  shares  required by law) is owned by such
         Person directly and/or through other Wholly Owned Subsidiaries.

                  "Wholly Owned Subsidiary Guarantor":  any Subsidiary Guarantor
         that is a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower.

                  SECTION I.2 (a) Unless otherwise specified therein,  all terms
defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in the other
Loan Documents or any  certificate or other document made or delivered  pursuant
hereto or thereto.

                  (b) As used  herein and in the other Loan  Documents,  and any
certificate  or other  document  made or delivered  pursuant  hereto or thereto,
accounting  terms relating to the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  not defined in
Section 1.1 and  accounting  terms partly  defined in Section 1.1, to the extent
not defined, shall have the respective meanings given to them under GAAP.

                  (c) The words "hereof",  "herein" and "hereunder" and words of
similar  import when used in this  Agreement  shall refer to this Agreement as a
whole  and not to any  particular  provision  of this  Agreement,  and  Article,
Section,  Schedule and Exhibit references are to this Agreement unless otherwise
specified.

                  (d) The  meanings  given  to  terms  defined  herein  shall be
equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms.

                   ARTICLE II. AMOUNT AND TERMS OF COMMITMENTS

                  SECTION II.1 Term Loan  Commitments.  Pursuant to the Existing
Credit  Agreement,  each Tranche A Term Loan Lender  severally  agreed to make a
term loan (a "Tranche A Term Loan") to the Borrower on the Original Closing Date
in an amount not to exceed the amount of the Tranche A Term Loan  Commitment  of
such Lender and each Tranche B Term Loan Lender  severally agreed to make a term
loan (a "Tranche B Term Loan") to the Borrower on the  Original  Closing Date in
an amount not to exceed the amount of the Tranche B Term Loan Commitment of such
Lender.  Subject to the terms and  conditions  hereof,  each Tranche C Term Loan
Lender  severally  agrees to make a term loan (a  "Tranche C Term  Loan") to the
Borrower  on the  Closing  Date in an  amount  not to exceed  the  amount of the
Tranche C Term Loan  Commitment of such Lender.  The Term Loans may from time to
time be  Eurodollar  Loans or ABR  Loans,  as  determined  by the  Borrower  and
notified to the Administrative Agent in accordance with Sections 2.2 and 2.11.

                  SECTION II.2 Procedure for Term Loan  Borrowing.  The Borrower
shall give the  Administrative  Agent  irrevocable  notice (which notice must be
received by the Administrative Agent prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on
the Closing Date)  requesting  that the Term Loan Lenders make the Term Loans on
the Closing Date and specifying  the amount to be borrowed.  No Term Loan may be
converted  into or continued as a Eurodollar  Loan having an Interest  Period in
excess of one month prior to the date which is 60 days after the  Closing  Date.
Upon receipt of such notice the Administrative  Agent shall promptly notify each
Term Loan Lender thereof.  Not later than 12:00 Noon, New York City time, on the
Closing  Date each Term Loan Lender shall make  available to the  Administrative
Agent at the Funding  Office an amount in immediately  available  funds equal to
the Term Loan or Term Loans to be made by such Lender. The Administrative  Agent
shall make available to the Borrower the aggregate of the amounts made available
to the  Administrative  Agent by the Term Loan Lenders in immediately  available
funds.

                  SECTION II.3 Repayment of Term Loans. (a) The principal amount
of the Tranche A Term Loan of each Tranche A Lender  outstanding  on the Closing
Date  shall  mature in 14  consecutive  quarterly  installments,  commencing  on
September  30, 1999,  each of which shall be in an amount equal to such Lender's
Tranche A Term Loan Percentage multiplied by the amount set forth below opposite
such installment:

Installment                                Principal Amount
- -----------                                ----------------

September 30, 1999                          $5,588,333.33
December 30, 1999                           $5,588,333.33
March 31, 2000                              $7,983,333.33
June 30, 2000                               $7,983,333.33
September 30, 2000                          $7,983,333.33
December 30, 2000                           $7,983,333.33
March 31, 2001                              $8,781,666.67
June 30, 2001                               $8,781,666.67
September 30, 2001                          $8,781,666.67
December 30, 2001                           $8,781,666.67
March 31, 2002                              $9,580,000.00
June 30, 2002                               $9,580,000.00
September 30, 2002                          $9,580,000.00
December 30, 2002                           $9,580,000.00

                  (b) The  principal  amount of the  Tranche B Term Loan of each
Tranche B Lender  outstanding on the Closing Date shall mature in 22 consecutive
quarterly installments, commencing on September 30, 1999, each of which shall be
in an amount equal to such Lender's Tranche B Term Loan Percentage multiplied by
the amount set forth below opposite such installment:

    Installment                          Principal Amount
    -----------                          ----------------

September 30, 1999                           $160,321.43
December 30, 1999                            $160,321.43
March 31, 2000                               $160,321.43
June 30, 2000                                $160,321.43
September 30, 2000                           $160,321.43
December 30, 2000                            $160,321.43
March 31, 2001                               $160,321.43
June 30, 2001                                $160,321.43
September 30, 2001                           $160,321.43
December 30, 2001                            $160,321.43
March 31, 2002                               $160,321.43
June 30, 2002                                $160,321.43
September 30, 2002                           $160,321.43
December 30, 2002                            $160,321.43
March 31, 2003                            $10,420,892.86
June 30, 2003                             $10,420,892.86
September 30, 2003                        $10,420,892.86
December 30, 2003                         $10,420,892.86
March 31, 2004                            $11,222,500.00
June 30, 2004                             $11,222,500.00
September 30, 2004                        $11,222,500.00
December 30, 2004                         $11,222,500.00

                  (c) The  Tranche  C Term Loan of each  Tranche C Lender  shall
mature in 23  consecutive  quarterly  installments,  commencing  on December 30,
1999, each of which shall be in an amount equal to such Lender=s  Tranche C Term
Loan  Percentage  multiplied  by  the  amount  set  forth  below  opposite  such
installment.

    Installment                          Principal Amount
    -----------                          ----------------

December 30, 1999                            $75,000
March 31, 2000                               $75,000
June 30, 2000                                $75,000
September 30, 2000                           $75,000
December 30, 2000                            $75,000
March 31, 2001                               $75,000
June 30, 2001                                $75,000
September 30, 2001                           $75,000
December 30, 2001                            $75,000
March 31, 2002                               $75,000
June 30, 2002                                $75,000
September 30, 2002                           $75,000
December 30, 2002                            $75,000
March 31, 2003                               $75,000
June 30, 2003                                $75,000
September 30, 2003                           $75,000
December 30, 2003                            $75,000
March 31, 2004                               $75,000
June 30, 2004                                $75,000
September 30, 2004                           $75,000
December 30, 2004                            $75,000
March 31, 2005                               $75,000
June 30, 2005                            $38,350,000

                  SECTION II.4 Revolving Credit Commitments.  (a) Subject to the
terms and conditions  hereof,  each Revolving  Credit Lender severally agrees to
make revolving credit loans ("Revolving Credit Loans") to the Borrower from time
to time during the Revolving Credit Commitment Period in an aggregate  principal
amount at any one time outstanding  which, when added to such Lender's Revolving
Credit  Percentage of the L/C Obligations  then  outstanding does not exceed the
amount of such Lender's Revolving Credit Commitment. During the Revolving Credit
Commitment  Period the  Borrower may use the  Revolving  Credit  Commitments  by
borrowing,  prepaying  the  Revolving  Credit  Loans in  whole  or in part,  and
reborrowing,  all in  accordance  with the  terms  and  conditions  hereof.  The
Revolving  Credit Loans may from time to time be Eurodollar  Loans or ABR Loans,
as  determined  by the  Borrower  and  notified to the  Administrative  Agent in
accordance  with Sections 2.5 and 2.11,  provided that no Revolving  Credit Loan
shall be made as a Eurodollar  Loan after the day that is one month prior to the
Revolving Credit Termination Date. The Borrower  acknowledges and agrees that on
the date hereof the aggregate  principal  amount of the  Revolving  Credit Loans
outstanding is $31,000,000 and the aggregate of the L/C Obligations is $0.

                  (b The Borrower shall repay all outstanding  Revolving  Credit
Loans on the Revolving Credit Termination Date.

                  SECTION II.5  Procedure for Revolving  Credit  Borrowing.  The
Borrower may borrow under the Revolving Credit  Commitments during the Revolving
Credit  Commitment  Period on any Business Day, provided that the Borrower shall
give the Administrative  Agent irrevocable notice (which notice must be received
by the  Administrative  Agent (a) prior to 12:00 Noon, New York City time, three
Business Days prior to the requested  Borrowing  Date, in the case of Eurodollar
Loans,  or (b)  prior to  10:00  A.M.,  New York  City  time,  on the  requested
Borrowing Date, in the case of ABR Loans), specifying (i) the amount and Type of
Revolving  Credit Loans to be borrowed,  (ii) the requested  Borrowing  Date and
(iii) in the case of Eurodollar Loans, the length of the initial Interest Period
therefor. Any Revolving Credit Loans made on the Closing Date shall initially be
ABR Loans. Each borrowing under the Revolving Credit  Commitments shall be in an
amount  equal to (x) in the case of ABR Loans,  $1,000,000  or a whole  multiple
thereof (or, if the then aggregate  Available  Revolving Credit  Commitments are
less than  $1,000,000,  such lesser  amount)  and (y) in the case of  Eurodollar
Loans,  $5,000,000 or a whole  multiple of $1,000,000  in excess  thereof.  Upon
receipt of any such notice from the  Borrower,  the  Administrative  Agent shall
promptly  notify each Revolving  Credit Lender  thereof.  Each Revolving  Credit
Lender will make the amount of its pro rata share of each borrowing available to
the  Administrative  Agent for the account of the Borrower at the Funding Office
prior to 12:00 Noon,  New York City time, on the Borrowing Date requested by the
Borrower  in funds  immediately  available  to the  Administrative  Agent.  Such
borrowing  will then be made  available  to the  Borrower by the  Administrative
Agent in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent.

                  SECTION  II.6  Repayment of Loans;  Evidence of Debt.  (a) The
Borrower hereby unconditionally  promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for
the account of the appropriate  Revolving Credit Lender or Term Loan Lender,  as
the case may be, (i) the then unpaid  principal  amount of each Revolving Credit
Loan of such Revolving  Credit Lender on the Revolving  Credit  Termination Date
(or such  earlier  date on which the Loans  become due and  payable  pursuant to
Article VIII) and (ii) the principal  amount of each Term Loan of such Term Loan
Lender in  installments  according  to the  amortization  schedule  set forth in
Section 2.3 (or on such  earlier  date on which the Loans become due and payable
pursuant to Article VIII). The Borrower hereby further agrees to pay interest on
the unpaid  principal amount of the Loans from time to time outstanding from the
date  hereof  until  payment  in full  thereof at the rates per annum and on the
dates set forth in Section 2.13.

                  (b Each Lender  shall  maintain in  accordance  with its usual
practice an account or accounts evidencing  indebtedness of the Borrower to such
Lender resulting from each Loan of such Lender from time to time,  including the
amounts of principal  and interest  payable and paid to such Lender from time to
time under this Agreement.

                  (c The Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Borrower,  shall
maintain the Register pursuant to Section 10.6(d),  and a subaccount therein for
each  Lender,  in which  shall be  recorded  (i) the  amount  of each  Loan made
hereunder and any Note  evidencing such Loan, the Type thereof and each Interest
Period applicable thereto,  (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and
payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender  hereunder
and  (iii)  both the  amount of any sum  received  by the  Administrative  Agent
hereunder from the Borrower and each Lender's share thereof.

                  (d The entries  made in the  Register and the accounts of each
Lender  maintained  pursuant to Section 2.6(b) shall, to the extent permitted by
applicable  law, be prima facie  evidence  of the  existence  and amounts of the
obligations  of the  Borrower  therein  recorded;  provided,  however,  that the
failure of any Lender or the  Administrative  Agent to maintain  the Register or
any such  account,  or any error  therein,  shall not in any  manner  affect the
obligation of the Borrower to repay (with applicable interest) the Loans made to
such Borrower by such Lender in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

                  (e  The  Borrower   agrees  that,  upon  the  request  to  the
Administrative  Agent by any Lender,  the  Borrower  will execute and deliver to
such  Lender a  promissory  note of the  Borrower  evidencing  any Term Loans or
Revolving Credit Loans, as the case may be, of such Lender, substantially in the
forms of Exhibit F-1 or F-2,  respectively,  with  appropriate  insertions as to
date and principal amount.

                  SECTION II.7 Commitment  Fees, etc. (a) The Borrower agrees to
pay to the Administrative  Agent for the account of each Revolving Credit Lender
a commitment  fee for the period from and including the Closing Date to the last
day of the Revolving Credit  Commitment  Period,  computed at the Commitment Fee
Rate on the average daily amount of the Available Revolving Credit Commitment of
such Lender  during the period for which payment is made,  payable  quarterly in
arrears on the last day of each March,  June,  September and December and on the
Revolving  Credit  Termination  Date,  commencing  on the first of such dates to
occur after the date hereof.

                  (b The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative  Agent the
fees in the  amounts  and on the dates  previously  agreed to in  writing by the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

                  SECTION II.8  Termination  or  Reduction  of Revolving  Credit
Commitments.  The  Borrower  shall  have the  right,  upon not less  than  three
Business Days' notice to the  Administrative  Agent,  to terminate the Revolving
Credit  Commitments or, from time to time, to reduce the amount of the Revolving
Credit Commitments;  provided that no such termination or reduction of Revolving
Credit Commitments shall be permitted if, after giving effect thereto and to any
prepayments  of the Revolving  Credit Loans made on the effective  date thereof,
the Total Revolving Extensions of Credit would exceed the Total Revolving Credit
Commitments.  Any such reduction shall be in an amount equal to $5,000,000, or a
whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, and shall reduce permanently the
Revolving Credit Commitments then in effect.

                  SECTION  II.9  Optional  Prepayments.  The Borrower may at any
time  and from  time to time  prepay  the  Loans,  in whole or in part,  without
premium or penalty,  upon  irrevocable  notice  delivered to the  Administrative
Agent at least three Business Days prior thereto in the case of Eurodollar Loans
and at least one  Business  Day prior  thereto in the case of ABR  Loans,  which
notice  shall  specify  the  date and  amount  of  prepayment  and  whether  the
prepayment  is of Eurodollar  Loans or ABR Loans;  provided that if a Eurodollar
Loan is  prepaid  on any day  other  than the last  day of the  Interest  Period
applicable  thereto,  the Borrower  shall also pay any amounts owing pursuant to
Section  2.19.  Upon receipt of any such notice the  Administrative  Agent shall
promptly notify each relevant Lender thereof.  If any such notice is given,  the
amount  specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date  specified
therein,  together with (except in the case of Revolving  Credit Loans which are
ABR  Loans)  accrued  interest  to such  date  on the  amount  prepaid.  Partial
prepayments  of Term Loans and  Revolving  Credit Loans shall be in an aggregate
principal  amount of  $5,000,000  or a whole  multiple of  $1,000,000  in excess
thereof.

                  SECTION II.10 Mandatory Prepayments and Commitment Reductions.
(a)  Unless the  Required  Prepayment  Lenders  shall  otherwise  agree with the
Borrower not to require such a prepayment of the Term Loans and the reduction of
the Revolving  Credit  Commitments,  if any Capital Stock shall be issued (other
than (i) the  issuance  of Capital  Stock  pursuant  to the Warrant and (ii) the
issuance  by the  Borrower  of Capital  Stock to outside  directors,  members of
management or employees of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course
of business the Net Cash  Proceeds of which shall not exceed  $5,000,000  in any
fiscal  year),  or  Indebtedness  incurred,  by  the  Borrower  or  any  of  its
Subsidiaries  (excluding any  Indebtedness  incurred in accordance  with Section
7.2) an amount equal to 100% of the Net Cash  Proceeds  thereof shall be applied
on the date of such  issuance or  incurrence  toward the  prepayment of the Term
Loans and the  reduction of the  Revolving  Credit  Commitments  as set forth in
Section 2.10(d).

                  (b Unless the  Required  Prepayment  Lenders  shall  otherwise
agree with the Borrower  not to require such a prepayment  of the Term Loans and
the reduction of the Revolving Credit  Commitments,  if on any date the Borrower
or any of its  Subsidiaries  shall receive Net Cash Proceeds from any Asset Sale
or Recovery  Event then,  unless a  Reinvestment  Notice  shall be  delivered in
respect thereof, such Net Cash Proceeds shall be applied on such date toward the
prepayment  of  the  Term  Loans  and  the  reduction  of the  Revolving  Credit
Commitments as set forth in Section 2.10(d); provided that,  notwithstanding the
foregoing,  (i) the  aggregate  Net Cash  Proceeds  of Asset  Sales  that may be
excluded from the foregoing requirements pursuant to a Reinvestment Notice shall
not  exceed  $5,000,000  in any  fiscal  year of the  Borrower  and (ii) on each
Reinvestment  Prepayment  Date, an amount equal to the  Reinvestment  Prepayment
Amount with respect to the relevant  Reinvestment  Event shall be applied toward
the  prepayment  of the Term Loans and the  reduction  of the  Revolving  Credit
Commitments as set forth in Section 2.10(d).

                  (c Unless the  Required  Prepayment  Lenders  shall  otherwise
agree with the Borrower  not to require such a prepayment  of the Term Loans and
the reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitments, if the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries  shall,  receive  an  indemnity  payment  in excess  of  $1,000,000
pursuant to the  Acquisition  Agreement,  unless a Reinvestment  Notice shall be
delivered in respect  thereof,  such  indemnity  payment shall be applied on the
date of receipt toward the prepayment of the Term Loans and the reduction of the
Revolving Credit Commitments as set forth in Section 2.10(d) provided,  that (i)
the Borrower shall not be required to apply towards prepayment of the Term Loans
and reduction of the Revolving  Credit  Commitments any portion of any indemnity
payment that reimburses the Borrower or its  Subsidiaries  for a cost or expense
that has been previously paid and (ii) on the  Reinvestment  Prepayment Date, an
amount equal to the Reinvestment  Prepayment Amount with respect to such payment
shall be applied  toward the  prepayment  of the Term Loans and the reduction of
the Revolving Credit Commitments as set forth in Section 2.10(d).

                  (d Amounts to be applied in connection  with  prepayments  and
Commitment  reductions  made  pursuant  to this  Section  2.10 shall be applied,
first, to the prepayment of the Term Loans and,  second,  to reduce  permanently
the Revolving  Credit  Commitments.  Any such reduction of the Revolving  Credit
Commitments  shall be accompanied by prepayment of the Revolving Credit Loans to
the extent,  if any,  that the Total  Revolving  Extensions of Credit exceed the
amount of the Total Revolving Credit Commitments as so reduced, provided that if
the aggregate  principal  amount of Revolving  Credit Loans then  outstanding is
less than the  amount of such  excess  (because  L/C  Obligations  constitute  a
portion  thereof),  the  Borrower  shall,  to the extent of the  balance of such
excess,  replace  outstanding Letters of Credit and/or deposit an amount in cash
in a cash collateral account  established with the Administrative  Agent for the
benefit  of  the   Lenders  on  terms  and   conditions   satisfactory   to  the
Administrative Agent. The application of any prepayment pursuant to Section 2.10
shall be made,  first,  to ABR Loans and,  second,  to  Eurodollar  Loans.  Each
prepayment  of the Loans under  Section  2.10  (except in the case of  Revolving
Credit Loans that are ABR Loans) shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the
date of such prepayment on the amount prepaid.

                  SECTION II.11  Conversion and  Continuation  Options.  (a) The
Borrower may elect from time to time to convert Eurodollar Loans to ABR Loans by
giving the  Administrative  Agent at least two Business Days' prior  irrevocable
notice of such election,  provided that any such conversion of Eurodollar  Loans
may only be made on the last day of an Interest Period with respect thereto. The
Borrower may elect from time to time to convert ABR Loans to Eurodollar Loans by
giving the Administrative  Agent at least three Business Days' prior irrevocable
notice of such  election  (which  notice shall specify the length of the initial
Interest Period therefor), provided that no ABR Loan under a particular Facility
may be  converted  into a  Eurodollar  Loan (i) when any  Event of  Default  has
occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent or the Majority Facility
Lenders  in  respect  of such  Facility  have  determined  in its or their  sole
discretion  not to permit  such  conversions  or (ii) after the date that is one
month  prior  to the  final  scheduled  termination  or  maturity  date  of such
Facility.  Upon  receipt of any such  notice,  the  Administrative  Agent  shall
promptly notify each relevant Lender thereof.

                  (b Any  Eurodollar  Loan  may be  continued  as such  upon the
expiration  of the then  current  Interest  Period with  respect  thereto by the
Borrower giving irrevocable  notice to the  Administrative  Agent, in accordance
with the  applicable  provisions  of the term  "Interest  Period"  set  forth in
Section 1.1, of the length of the next Interest  Period to be applicable to such
Loans,  provided  that no  Eurodollar  Loan under a  particular  Facility may be
continued as such (i) when any Event of Default has  occurred and is  continuing
and the Administrative  Agent has or the Majority Facility Lenders in respect of
such Facility have determined in its or their sole discretion not to permit such
continuations  or (ii)  after  the date  that is one  month  prior to the  final
scheduled termination or maturity date of such Facility, and provided,  further,
that if the Borrower shall fail to give any required  notice as described  above
in this  paragraph  or if such  continuation  is not  permitted  pursuant to the
preceding  proviso such Loans shall be  automatically  converted to ABR Loans on
the last day of such then  expiring  Interest  Period.  Upon receipt of any such
notice,  the  Administrative  Agent shall promptly  notify each relevant  Lender
thereof.

                  SECTION II.12 Minimum Amounts and Maximum Number of Eurodollar
Tranches.  Notwithstanding  anything  to the  contrary  in this  Agreement,  all
borrowings,  conversions,  continuations and optional  prepayments of Eurodollar
Loans  hereunder and all selections of Interest  Periods  hereunder  shall be in
such amounts and be made  pursuant to such  elections so that,  (a) after giving
effect  thereto,   the  aggregate  principal  amount  of  the  Eurodollar  Loans
comprising  each  Eurodollar  Tranche  shall be equal to  $5,000,000  or a whole
multiple of  $1,000,000  in excess  thereof and (b) no more than ten  Eurodollar
Tranches shall be outstanding at any one time.

                  SECTION  II.13  Interest  Rates and  Payment  Dates.  (a) Each
Eurodollar  Loan shall bear  interest for each day during each  Interest  Period
with respect thereto at a rate per annum equal to the Eurodollar Rate determined
for such day plus the Applicable Margin.

                             (b Each ABR Loan shall bear  interest at a rate per
annum equal to the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin.

                  (c (i) If all or a portion of the principal amount of any Loan
or  Reimbursement  Obligation  shall not be paid when due (whether at the stated
maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), all outstanding Loans and Reimbursement
Obligations  (whether or not  overdue)  shall bear  interest at a rate per annum
which is equal to (x) in the case of the Loans, the rate that would otherwise be
applicable  thereto  pursuant to the  foregoing  provisions of this Section 2.13
plus 2% or (y) in the case of Reimbursement Obligations,  the rate applicable to
ABR Loans  under the  Revolving  Credit  Facility  plus 2%, and (ii) if all or a
portion of any interest payable on any Loan or  Reimbursement  Obligation or any
commitment  fee or other  amount  payable  hereunder  shall not be paid when due
(whether at the stated  maturity,  by acceleration  or otherwise),  such overdue
amount shall bear  interest at a rate per annum equal to the rate  applicable to
ABR Loans under the relevant Facility plus 2% (or, in the case of any such other
amounts that do not relate to a particular  Facility,  the  Alternate  Base Rate
plus 4%), in each case,  with  respect to clauses  (i) and (ii) above,  from the
date of such  non-payment  until  such  amount is paid in full (as well after as
before judgment).

                  (d  Interest  shall be payable  in  arrears  on each  Interest
Payment Date,  provided that interest accruing pursuant to paragraph (c) of this
Section 2.13 shall be payable from time to time on demand.

                  SECTION II.14  Computation of Interest and Fees. (a) Interest,
fees and commissions payable pursuant hereto shall be calculated on the basis of
a 360-day year for the actual days  elapsed,  except  that,  with respect to ABR
Loans  the rate of  interest  on which is  calculated  on the basis of the Prime
Rate, the interest  thereon shall be calculated on the basis of a 365- (or 366-,
as the case may be) day year for the actual  days  elapsed.  The  Administrative
Agent shall as soon as practicable  notify the Borrower and the relevant Lenders
of each determination of a Eurodollar Rate. Any change in the interest rate on a
Loan  resulting  from a change in the  Alternate  Base Rate or the  Eurocurrency
Reserve Requirements shall become effective as of the opening of business on the
day on which such change becomes effective.  The  Administrative  Agent shall as
soon as  practicable  notify  the  Borrower  and  the  relevant  Lenders  of the
effective date and the amount of each such change in interest rate.

                  (b   Each   determination   of  an   interest   rate   by  the
Administrative  Agent  pursuant  to any  provision  of this  Agreement  shall be
conclusive  and  binding  on the  Borrower  and the  Lenders  in the  absence of
manifest error. The Administrative  Agent shall, at the request of the Borrower,
deliver  to  the  Borrower  a  statement  showing  the  quotations  used  by the
Administrative  Agent in  determining  any  interest  rate  pursuant  to Section
2.13(a) and the calculation of any Eurocurrency Reserve Requirements.

                  SECTION II.15  Inability to Determine  Interest Rate. If prior
to the first day of any Interest Period:

                  (a the  Administrative  Agent  shall  have  determined  (which
determination shall be conclusive and binding upon the Borrower) that, by reason
of circumstances affecting the relevant market, adequate and reasonable means do
not exist for ascertaining the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period, or

                  (b the  Administrative  Agent shall have received  notice from
the  Majority  Facility  Lenders in respect of the  relevant  Facility  that the
Eurodollar Rate determined or to be determined for such Interest Period will not
adequately  and  fairly  reflect  the  cost to  such  Lenders  (as  conclusively
certified by such Lenders) of making or maintaining  their affected Loans during
such Interest Period, the Administrative Agent shall give telecopy or telephonic
notice  thereof to the Borrower and the relevant  Lenders as soon as practicable
thereafter.  If such notice is given (x) any Eurodollar Loans under the relevant
Facility  requested to be made on the first day of such Interest Period shall be
made as ABR Loans,  (y) any Loans under the relevant  Facility that were to have
been  converted on the first day of such  Interest  Period to  Eurodollar  Loans
shall be continued as ABR Loans and (z) any outstanding  Eurodollar  Loans under
the relevant  Facility  shall be converted,  on the last day of the then current
Interest  Period,  to ABR Loans.  Until such  notice has been  withdrawn  by the
Administrative  Agent, no further  Eurodollar Loans under the relevant  Facility
shall be made or  continued as such,  nor shall the  Borrower  have the right to
convert Loans under the relevant Facility to Eurodollar Loans.

                  SECTION  II.16  Pro  Rata  Treatment  and  Payments.  (a) Each
borrowing  by the  Borrower  from the  Lenders  hereunder,  each  payment by the
Borrower on account of any commitment  fee and any reduction of the  Commitments
of the Lenders shall be made pro rata according to the respective Tranche A Term
Loan  Percentages,  Tranche  B  Term  Loan  Percentages,  Tranche  C  Term  Loan
Percentages or Revolving Credit Percentages, as the case may be, of the relevant
Lenders.

                  (b Each payment (including each prepayment) by the Borrower on
account of  principal  of and  interest on the Term Loans shall be made pro rata
according to the respective outstanding principal amounts of the Term Loans then
held by the Term Loan Lenders (except as otherwise provided in Section 2.16(d)).
The amount of each  principal  prepayment  of the Term Loans shall be applied to
reduce the then remaining  installments  of the Tranche A Term Loans,  Tranche B
Term Loans or Tranche C Term Loans,  as the case may be, pro rata based upon the
then remaining principal amount thereof.  Amounts prepaid on account of the Term
Loans may not be reborrowed.

                  (c Each payment (including each prepayment) by the Borrower on
account of principal of and interest on the Revolving Credit Loans shall be made
pro rata  according  to the  respective  outstanding  principal  amounts  of the
Revolving Credit Loans then held by the Revolving Credit Lenders.

                  (d  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary in Sections 2.9,
2.10  or  2.16,  so long as and to the  extent  any  Tranche  A Term  Loans  are
outstanding, each Tranche B Term Loan Lender and each Tranche C Term Loan Lender
may, at its option, decline up to 100% of the portion of any optional prepayment
or mandatory  payment  applicable  to the Tranche B Term Loans or Tranche C Term
Loans,  as the case may be, of such  Lender;  accordingly,  with  respect to the
amount  of any  optional  prepayment  described  in  Section  2.9  or  mandatory
prepayment  described in Section 2.10, that is allocated to Tranche B Term Loans
or Tranche C Term  Loans,  as the case may be,  (such  amount,  the  "Prepayment
Amount"), at any time when Tranche A Term Loans remain outstanding, the Borrower
will, (i) in the case of any optional  prepayment  which the Borrower intends to
make,  not later than 20 Business  Days prior to the date on which the  Borrower
intends to make such optional prepayment,  and (ii) in the case of any mandatory
prepayment  required to be made  pursuant to Section  2.10,  in lieu of applying
such amount to the  prepayment  of Tranche B Term Loans or Tranche C Term Loans,
as the case may be,  as  provided  in  paragraph  Section  2.10(d),  on the date
specified in Section 2.10 for such  prepayment,  give the  Administrative  Agent
telephonic   notice  (promptly   confirmed  in  writing)   requesting  that  the
Administrative  Agent  prepare  and  provide  to each  Tranche B Lender and each
Tranche C Term Loan Lender a notice  (each,  a  "Prepayment  Option  Notice") as
described below. As promptly as practicable after receiving such notice from the
Borrower,  the Administrative Agent will send to each Tranche B Term Loan Lender
or each  Tranche C Term Loan  Lender,  as the case may be, a  Prepayment  Option
Notice,  which shall be in the form of Exhibit G, and shall  include an offer by
the  Borrower  to  prepay  on the date  (each a  "Prepayment  Date")  that is 10
Business Days after the date of the Prepayment Option Notice,  the relevant Term
Loans of such Lender by an amount equal to the portion of the Prepayment  Amount
indicated in such Lender's  Prepayment Option Notice as being applicable to such
Lender's  Tranche B Term Loans or Tranche C Term  Loans,  as the case may be. On
the Prepayment Date, (i) the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative  Agent the
aggregate  amount  necessary to prepay that portion of the outstanding  relevant
Term Loans in respect of which  Tranche B Term Loan  Lenders  and Tranche C Term
Loan Lenders have accepted  prepayment  as described  above (such  Lenders,  the
"Accepting Lenders"),  and such amount shall be applied to reduce the Prepayment
Amount,  as  applicable,  with  respect  to each  Accepting  Lender and (ii) the
Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to the portion of
the  Prepayment  Amount not accepted by the Accepting  Lenders,  and such amount
shall be applied to the prepayment of the Tranche A Term Loans.

                  (e All  payments  (including  prepayments)  to be  made by the
Borrower  hereunder,  whether  on  account  of  principal,   interest,  fees  or
otherwise,  shall be made without setoff or counterclaim and shall be made prior
to 12:00 Noon, New York City time, on the due date thereof to the Administrative
Agent, for the account of the Lenders,  at the Payment Office, in Dollars and in
immediately  available  funds.  The  Administrative  Agent shall distribute such
payments to the Lenders promptly upon receipt in like funds as received.  If any
payment  hereunder (other than payments on the Eurodollar Loans) becomes due and
payable on a day other than a Business  Day,  such payment  shall be extended to
the next  succeeding  Business Day. If any payment on a Eurodollar  Loan becomes
due and payable on a day other than a Business  Day, the maturity  thereof shall
be  extended  to the next  succeeding  Business  Day  unless  the result of such
extension would be to extend such payment into another  calendar month, in which
event such payment shall be made on the immediately  preceding  Business Day. In
the case of any extension of any payment of principal  pursuant to the preceding
two sentences,  interest  thereon shall be payable at the then  applicable  rate
during such extension.

                  (f Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified in
writing by any Lender  prior to a  borrowing  that such Lender will not make the
amount  that  would  constitute  its share of such  borrowing  available  to the
Administrative  Agent, the  Administrative  Agent may assume that such Lender is
making such amount available to the Administrative Agent, and the Administrative
Agent may, in reliance upon such  assumption,  make  available to the Borrower a
corresponding amount. If such amount is not made available to the Administrative
Agent by the required time on the Borrowing Date therefor, such Lender shall pay
to the Administrative  Agent, on demand,  such amount with interest thereon at a
rate equal to the daily  average  Federal  Funds  Effective  Rate for the period
until such Lender makes such amount immediately  available to the Administrative
Agent. A certificate of the  Administrative  Agent  submitted to any Lender with
respect to any amounts  owing under this Section  2.16(f) shall be conclusive in
the absence of manifest  error.  If such Lender's share of such borrowing is not
made available to the Administrative  Agent by such Lender within three Business
Days of such Borrowing Date, the Administrative  Agent shall also be entitled to
recover such amount with  interest  thereon at the rate per annum  applicable to
ABR Loans under the relevant Facility, on demand, from the Borrower,  and, if so
recovered, such amount shall no longer be deemed outstanding hereunder.

                  (g Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified in
writing by the Borrower  prior to the date of any payment  being made  hereunder
that the Borrower will not make such payment to the  Administrative  Agent,  the
Administrative  Agent may assume that the Borrower is making such  payment,  and
the  Administrative  Agent may, but shall not be required  to, in reliance  upon
such assumption,  make available to the Lenders their respective pro rata shares
of a  corresponding  amount.  If such payment is not made to the  Administrative
Agent by the Borrower  within three  Business  Days of such required  date,  the
Administrative  Agent shall be entitled to recover,  on demand, from each Lender
to which any amount which was made available pursuant to the preceding sentence,
such  amount  with  interest  thereon  at the rate per annum  equal to the daily
average Federal Funds  Effective  Rate.  Nothing herein shall be deemed to limit
the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender against the Borrower.

                  SECTION II.17  Requirements  of Law. (a) If the adoption of or
any change in any  Requirement  of Law or in the  interpretation  or application
thereof or  compliance  by any Lender with any request or directive  (whether or
not  having  the  force of law)  from  any  central  bank or other  Governmental
Authority made subsequent to the date hereof:

                  (i) shall  impose,  modify  or hold  applicable  any  reserve,
special deposit,  compulsory loan or similar requirement against assets held by,
deposits or other liabilities in or for the account of, advances, loans or other
extensions  of credit  by, or any other  acquisition  of funds by, any office of
such  Lender  which  is  not  otherwise  included  in the  determination  of the
Eurodollar Rate hereunder; or

                  (ii) shall impose on such Lender any other condition;

and the result of any of the  foregoing  is to increase the cost to such Lender,
by an amount which such Lender deems to be material, of making, converting into,
continuing  or  maintaining  Eurodollar  Loans or  issuing or  participating  in
Letters of  Credit,  or to reduce any  amount  receivable  hereunder  in respect
thereof,  then, in any such case,  the Borrower  shall promptly pay such Lender,
upon its demand,  any additional amounts necessary to compensate such Lender for
such increased cost or reduced amount receivable. If any Lender becomes entitled
to claim any additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.17, it shall promptly
notify the Borrower  (with a copy to the  Administrative  Agent) of the event by
reason of which it has become so entitled (and any related calculations).

                  (b If any Lender shall have determined that the adoption of or
any  change in any  Requirement  of Law  regarding  capital  adequacy  or in the
interpretation  or  application  thereof  or  compliance  by such  Lender or any
corporation  controlling  such Lender with any  request or  directive  regarding
capital adequacy  (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental
Authority  made  subsequent to the date hereof shall have the effect of reducing
the  rate  of  return  on  such  Lender's  or such  corporation's  capital  as a
consequence  of its  obligations to lend hereunder or under or in respect of any
Letter of Credit to a level  below that which  such  Lender or such  corporation
could have achieved but for such  adoption,  change or  compliance  (taking into
consideration  such  Lender's or such  corporation's  policies  with  respect to
capital  adequacy) by an amount deemed by such Lender to be material,  then from
time to time,  after  submission by such Lender to the Borrower  (with a copy to
the Administrative Agent) of a written request therefor,  the Borrower shall pay
to such Lender such additional  amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender
for  such  reduction  provided  that  the  Borrower  shall  not be  required  to
compensate a Lender  pursuant to this  paragraph  for any amounts  incurred more
than twelve  months prior to the date that such Lender  notifies the Borrower of
such Lender's  intention to claim  compensation  therefor;  and provided further
that, if the circumstances  giving rise to such claim have a retroactive effect,
then such  twelve-month  period  shall be extended to include the period of such
retroactive effect.

                  (c A certificate as to any additional amounts payable pursuant
to this Section 2.17 submitted by any Lender to the Borrower (with a copy to the
Administrative  Agent) shall contain reasonable  supporting  calculations and an
explanation  in  connection  therewith and shall be conclusive in the absence of
manifest error.  The  obligations of the Borrower  pursuant to this Section 2.17
shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and
all other  amounts  payable  hereunder,  except to the  extent  provided  for in
Section 2.17(b).

                  SECTION  II.18 Taxes.  (a) All  payments  made by the Borrower
under this Agreement  shall be made free and clear of, and without  deduction or
withholding  for or on account of, any present or future income,  stamp or other
taxes, levies, imposts,  duties, charges, fees, deductions or withholdings,  now
or  hereafter  imposed,   levied,   collected,   withheld  or  assessed  by  any
Governmental Authority,  excluding net income taxes and franchise taxes (imposed
in  lieu  of net  income  taxes)  imposed  on any  Agent  or any  Lender  by any
jurisdiction  under the laws of which the Agent or the Lender is organized or in
which its  principal  office is located or, in the case of any Lender,  in which
its  applicable  lending  office is  located.  If any such  non-excluded  taxes,
levies,   imposts,   duties,   charges,   fees,   deductions   or   withholdings
("Non-Excluded  Taxes") or Other  Taxes are  required  to be  withheld  from any
amounts payable to any Agent or any Lender hereunder,  the amounts so payable to
such Agent or such Lender shall be increased to the extent necessary to yield to
such Agent or such Lender  (after  payment of all  Non-Excluded  Taxes and Other
Taxes) interest or any such other amounts  payable  hereunder at the rates or in
the amounts specified in this Agreement,  provided,  however,  that the Borrower
shall not be required to increase  any such  amounts  payable to any Lender with
respect to any  Non-Excluded  Taxes (i) that are  attributable  to such Lender's
failure to comply with the requirements of paragraph (d) or (e) of this Section,
(ii) that are United States  withholding  taxes that would be imposed on amounts
payable to such Lender at the time the Lender becomes a party to this Agreement,
except to the extent that such Lender's  assignor (if any) was entitled,  at the
time of assignment, to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect
to such Non-Excluded Taxes pursuant to Section 2.18(a) or (iii) that are imposed
as a result of an action taken by the Lender.

                  (b In addition,  the Borrower shall pay any Other Taxes to the
relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

                  (c Whenever any Non-Excluded  Taxes or Other Taxes are payable
by the Borrower,  as promptly as possible  thereafter the Borrower shall send to
the Administrative Agent for the account of the relevant Agent or Lender, as the
case may be, a certified copy of an original  official  receipt  received by the
Borrower showing payment thereof.  If the Borrower fails to pay any Non-Excluded
Taxes or Other Taxes when due to the  appropriate  taxing  authority or fails to
remit  to the  Agents  the  required  receipts  or  other  required  documentary
evidence,  the Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
for any incremental taxes,  interest or penalties that may become payable by any
Agent or any  Lender as a result of any such  failure.  The  agreements  in this
Section 2.18 shall survive the  termination of this Agreement and the payment of
the Loans and all other amounts payable  hereunder for a period of twelve months
after the date hereof.

                  (d  Each  Lender  (or  Transferee)  that is not a  citizen  or
resident  of the United  States,  a  corporation,  partnership  or other  entity
created  or  organized  in or  under  the  laws  of the  United  States  (or any
jurisdiction  thereof), or any estate or trust that is subject to federal income
taxation  regardless  of the source of its income (a  "Non-U.S.  Lender")  shall
deliver to the  Borrower  and the  Administrative  Agent  (or,  in the case of a
Participant,  to the Lender from which the related participation shall have been
purchased) two copies of either U.S.  Internal Revenue Service Form 1001 or Form
4224, or, in the case of a Non-U.S.  Lender claiming exemption from U.S. federal
withholding  tax under  Section  871(h) or  881(c) of the Code with  respect  to
payments  of  "portfolio  interest"  a  statement  substantially  in the form of
Exhibit H and a Form W-8,  or any  subsequent  versions  thereof  or  successors
thereto  properly  completed and duly executed by such Non-U.S.  Lender claiming
complete  exemption  from U.S.  federal  withholding  tax on all payments by the
Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.  Such forms shall be
delivered  by each  Non-U.S.  Lender on or before the date it becomes a party to
this Agreement (or, in the case of any  Participant,  on or before the date such
Participant  purchases the related  participation).  In addition,  each Non-U.S.
Lender shall deliver such forms promptly upon the  obsolescence or invalidity of
any form  previously  delivered by such Non-U.S.  Lender.  Each Non-U.S.  Lender
shall  promptly  notify the  Borrower  at any time it  determines  that it is no
longer in a position  to provide any  previously  delivered  certificate  to the
Borrower  (or any  other  form  of  certification  adopted  by the  U.S.  taxing
authorities  for such  purpose).  Notwithstanding  any other  provision  of this
Section  2.18(d),  a Non-U.S.  Lender  shall not be required to deliver any form
pursuant to this Section  2.18(d) that such Non-U.S.  Lender is not legally able
to deliver.

                  (e A Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction
of  non-U.S.  withholding  tax  under the law of the  jurisdiction  in which the
Borrower is located,  or any treaty to which such  jurisdiction is a party, with
respect to payments under this  Agreement  shall deliver to the Borrower (with a
copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable
law or  reasonably  requested  by the  Borrower,  such  properly  completed  and
executed documentation prescribed by applicable law as will permit such payments
to be made without  withholding or at a reduced rate,  provided that such Lender
is legally entitled to complete,  execute and deliver such  documentation and in
such Lender's reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would
not materially prejudice the legal position of such Lender.

                  SECTION II.19 Indemnity. The Borrower agrees to indemnify each
Lender and to hold each  Lender  harmless  from any loss or  expense  which such
Lender may sustain or incur as a  consequence  of (a) default by the Borrower in
making a borrowing of, conversion into or continuation of Eurodollar Loans after
the  Borrower  has given a notice  requesting  the same in  accordance  with the
provisions  of  this  Agreement   (except  as  a  result  of  a  notice  by  the
Administrative  Agent pursuant to Section 2.15),  (b) default by the Borrower in
making  any  prepayment  after  the  Borrower  has  given a  notice  thereof  in
accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this  Agreement  or (c) the  making  of a
prepayment of Eurodollar Loans on a day which is not the last day of an Interest
Period with respect thereto. Such indemnification may include an amount equal to
the excess,  if any, of (i) the amount of interest  which would have  accrued on
the amount so prepaid,  or not so  borrowed,  converted  or  continued,  for the
period from the date of such prepayment or of such failure to borrow, convert or
continue to the last day of such  Interest  Period (or, in the case of a failure
to borrow, convert or continue, the Interest Period that would have commenced on
the date of such  failure) in each case at the  applicable  rate of interest for
such Loans  provided  for herein  (excluding,  however,  the  Applicable  Margin
included  therein,  if any) over  (ii) the  amount of  interest  (as  reasonably
determined  by such  Lender)  which  would have  accrued to such  Lender on such
amount by placing  such amount on deposit for a  comparable  period with leading
banks in the  interbank  eurodollar  market.  A  certificate  as to any  amounts
payable  pursuant to this Section  2.19  submitted to the Borrower by any Lender
shall be  conclusive  in the  absence of manifest  error.  This  covenant  shall
survive the  termination  of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all
other amounts payable hereunder.

                  SECTION II.20 Illegality.  Notwithstanding any other provision
herein,  if the  adoption of or any change in any  Requirement  of Law or in the
interpretation  or application  thereof shall make it unlawful for any Lender to
make or maintain  Eurodollar  Loans as contemplated  by this Agreement,  (a) the
commitment  of  such  Lender  hereunder  to  make  Eurodollar  Loans,   continue
Eurodollar  Loans as such  and  convert  ABR  Loans to  Eurodollar  Loans  shall
forthwith  be  cancelled  and  (b)  such  Lender's  Loans  then  outstanding  as
Eurodollar  Loans, if any, shall be converted  automatically to ABR Loans on the
respective last days of the then current  Interest  Periods with respect to such
Loans or within such earlier  period as required by law. If any such  conversion
of a  Eurodollar  Loan  occurs  on a day  which  is not the last day of the then
current  Interest  Period with respect  thereto,  the Borrower shall pay to such
Lender such amounts, if any, as may be required pursuant to Section 2.19.

                  SECTION  II.21 Change of Lending  Office.  Each Lender  agrees
that,  upon the  occurrence of any event giving rise to the operation of Section
2.17 or 2.18(a)  with  respect to such  Lender,  it will,  if  requested  by the
Borrower,  use reasonable  efforts (subject to overall policy  considerations of
such Lender) to designate  another lending office for any Loans affected by such
event with the object of avoiding the consequences of such event;  provided that
such  designation  is made on terms that,  in the sole  judgment of such Lender,
cause such  Lender and its lending  office(s)  to suffer no  economic,  legal or
regulatory  disadvantage,  and provided,  further,  that nothing in this Section
2.21 shall  affect or postpone  any of the  obligations  of any  Borrower or the
rights of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17 or 2.18(a).

                  SECTION   II.22   Replacement   of   Lenders   under   Certain
Circumstances.  The Borrower  shall be permitted to replace any Lender which (a)
requests reimbursement for amounts owing pursuant to Section 2.17 or 2.18 or (b)
defaults in its obligation to make Loans hereunder, with a replacement financial
institution;  provided  that (i) such  replacement  does not  conflict  with any
Requirement  of Law,  (ii) no  Event  of  Default  shall  have  occurred  and be
continuing at the time of such replacement, (iii) prior to any such replacement,
such Lender shall have taken no action under Section 2.21 so as to eliminate the
continued  need for payment of amounts  owing  pursuant to Section 2.17 or 2.18,
(iv) the replacement financial institution shall purchase, at par, all Loans and
other  amounts  owing  to  such  replaced  Lender  on or  prior  to the  date of
replacement,  (v) the  Borrower  shall be liable to such  replaced  Lender under
Section  2.19 if any  Eurodollar  Loan owing to such  replaced  Lender  shall be
purchased other than on the last day of the Interest  Period  relating  thereto,
(vi) the replacement  financial  institution,  if not already a Lender, shall be
reasonably  satisfactory to the Administrative  Agent, (vii) the replaced Lender
shall be obligated to make such replacement in accordance with the provisions of
Section  10.6  (provided  that  the  Borrower  shall  be  obligated  to pay  the
registration and processing fee referred to therein),  (viii) until such time as
such  replacement  shall be  consummated,  the Borrower shall pay all additional
amounts (if any) required  pursuant to Section 2.17 or 2.18, as the case may be,
and (ix) any such  replacement  shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any rights
which the  Borrower,  the  Administrative  Agent or any other  Lender shall have
against the replaced Lender.

                         ARTICLE III. LETTERS OF CREDIT

                  SECTION  III.1 L/C  Commitment.  (a)  Subject to the terms and
conditions  hereof,  the Issuing  Lender,  in reliance on the  agreements of the
other  Revolving  Credit  Lenders set forth in Section  3.4(a),  agrees to issue
letters of credit  ("Letters  of Credit") for the account of the Borrower on any
Business Day during the Revolving Credit  Commitment  Period in such form as may
be approved from time to time by the Issuing  Lender;  provided that the Issuing
Lender shall have no  obligation  to issue any Letter of Credit if, after giving
effect to such issuance, (i) the L/C Obligations would exceed the L/C Commitment
or (ii) the aggregate amount of the Available Revolving Credit Commitments would
be less than zero. Each Letter of Credit shall (i) be denominated in Dollars and
(ii) expire no later than the earlier of (x) the first  anniversary  of its date
of issuance and (y) the date which is five  Business Days prior to the Scheduled
Revolving  Credit  Termination  Date,  provided that any Letter of Credit with a
one-year  term may  provide  for the renewal  thereof  for  additional  one-year
periods  (which shall in no event extend  beyond the date  referred to in clause
(y) above).

                  (b Each  Letter  of Credit  shall be  subject  to the  Uniform
Customs and, to the extent not inconsistent therewith,  the laws of the State of
New York.

                  (c The Issuing  Lender  shall not at any time be  obligated to
issue any Letter of Credit  hereunder if such issuance  would  conflict with, or
cause the Issuing Lender or any L/C Participant to exceed any limits imposed by,
any  applicable  Requirement  of Law.

                  SECTION III.2 Procedure for Issuance of Letter of Credit.  The
Borrower may from time to time request that the Issuing Lender issue a Letter of
Credit by delivering to the Issuing Lender at its address for notices  specified
herein an Application  therefor,  completed to the  satisfaction  of the Issuing
Lender, and such other certificates,  documents and other papers and information
as the Issuing Lender may reasonably  request.  Upon receipt of any Application,
the Issuing Lender will process such Application and the certificates, documents
and other  papers and  information  delivered to it in  connection  therewith in
accordance with its customary  procedures and shall promptly issue the Letter of
Credit  requested  thereby (but in no event shall the Issuing Lender be required
to issue any Letter of Credit earlier than three Business Days after its receipt
of the Application therefor and all such other certificates, documents and other
papers and information  relating thereto) by issuing the original of such Letter
of Credit to the  beneficiary  thereof or as  otherwise  may be agreed to by the
Issuing Lender and the Borrower. The Issuing Lender shall furnish a copy of such
Letter of Credit to the Borrower promptly  following the issuance  thereof.  The
Issuing Lender shall promptly furnish to the  Administrative  Agent, which shall
in turn promptly  furnish to the Lenders,  notice of the issuance of each Letter
of Credit (including the amount thereof).

                  SECTION III.3  Commissions,  Fees and Other  Charges.  (a) The
Borrower will pay a commission on all undrawn and unpaid  Letters of Credit at a
per annum rate equal to the  Applicable  Margin then in effect  with  respect to
Eurodollar Loans under the Revolving  Credit Facility,  shared ratably among the
Revolving  Credit  Lenders  and  payable  quarterly  in  arrears on each L/C Fee
Payment Date after the issuance date. In addition, the Borrower shall pay to the
Issuing  Lender for its own account a fronting fee of 1/4 of 1% per annum of the
undrawn  and  unexpired  amount of the Letter of Credit,  payable  quarterly  in
arrears on each L/C Fee Payment Date after the Issuance Date.

                  (b) In addition to the  foregoing  fees and  commissions,  the
Borrower shall pay or reimburse the Issuing Lender for such normal and customary
costs and expenses as are incurred or charged by the Issuing  Lender in issuing,
negotiating,  effecting payment under,  amending or otherwise  administering any
Letter of Credit.

                  SECTION  III.4  L/C  Participations.  (a) The  Issuing  Lender
irrevocably  agrees to grant and hereby grants to each L/C Participant,  and, to
induce  the  Issuing  Lender  to issue  Letters  of Credit  hereunder,  each L/C
Participant  irrevocably  agrees to accept and purchase  and hereby  accepts and
purchases  from the  Issuing  Lender,  on the terms and  conditions  hereinafter
stated,  for such L/C Participant's  own account and risk an undivided  interest
equal to such L/C  Participant's  Revolving  Credit  Percentage  in the  Issuing
Lender's obligations and rights under each Letter of Credit issued hereunder and
the  amount  of each  draft  paid by the  Issuing  Lender  thereunder.  Each L/C
Participant unconditionally and irrevocably agrees with the Issuing Lender that,
if a draft is paid under any Letter of Credit  for which the  Issuing  Lender is
not  reimbursed  in full by the  Borrower in  accordance  with the terms of this
Agreement,  such L/C Participant  shall pay to the Issuing Lender upon demand at
the Issuing  Lender's  address for notices  specified  herein an amount equal to
such L/C Participant's  Revolving Credit Percentage of the amount of such draft,
or any part thereof, which is not so reimbursed.

                  (b) If any amount  required to be paid by any L/C  Participant
to the Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 3.4(a) in respect of any  unreimbursed
portion of any payment made by the Issuing  Lender under any Letter of Credit is
paid to the  Issuing  Lender  within  three  Business  Days  after the date such
payment is due, such L/C  Participant  shall pay to the Issuing Lender on demand
an amount equal to the product of (i) such amount,  times (ii) the daily average
Federal Funds  Effective Rate during the period from and including the date such
payment is required to the date on which such payment is  immediately  available
to the Issuing  Lender,  times (iii) a fraction  the  numerator  of which is the
number of days that elapse  during such period and the  denominator  of which is
360. If any such amount required to be paid by any L/C  Participant  pursuant to
Section  3.4(a)  is not  made  available  to the  Issuing  Lender  by  such  L/C
Participant  within three  Business Days after the date such payment is due, the
Issuing  Lender  shall be  entitled  to recover  from such L/C  Participant,  on
demand,  such amount with interest thereon  calculated from such due date at the
rate per annum applicable to ABR Loans under the Revolving  Credit  Facility.  A
certificate of the Issuing Lender  submitted to any L/C Participant with respect
to any amounts  owing under this Article  shall be  conclusive in the absence of
manifest error.

                  (c)  Whenever,  at any time after the Issuing  Lender has made
payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any L/C Participant its
pro rata share of such payment in accordance  with Section  3.4(a),  the Issuing
Lender receives any payment  related to such Letter of Credit (whether  directly
from the Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of collateral applied thereto
by the Issuing  Lender),  or any payment of  interest  on account  thereof,  the
Issuing  Lender  will  distribute  to such L/C  Participant  its pro rata  share
thereof;  provided  that in the  event  that any such  payment  received  by the
Issuing Lender shall be required to be returned by the Issuing Lender,  such L/C
Participant  shall return to the Issuing Lender the portion  thereof  previously
distributed by the Issuing Lender to it.

                  SECTION III.5  Reimbursement  Obligation of the Borrower.  The
Borrower  agrees  to  reimburse  the  Issuing  Lender  on each date on which the
Issuing Lender notifies the Borrower of the date and amount of a draft presented
under any Letter of Credit and paid by the Issuing  Lender for the amount of (a)
such draft so paid and (b) any taxes,  fees,  charges or other costs or expenses
incurred by the Issuing Lender in connection with such payment; provided that if
the Issuing  Lender does not notify the Borrower as provided  for above  earlier
than 9:30 A.M.  (New  York City  time) on the date such  draft is paid then such
reimbursement payment may be made the Business Day immediately subsequent to the
date such draft is paid.  Each such payment shall be made to the Issuing  Lender
at its address for notices specified herein in lawful money of the United States
and in  immediately  available  funds.  Interest shall be payable on any and all
amounts  remaining  unpaid by the Borrower under this Article from the date such
amounts  become  payable  (whether  at  stated  maturity,   by  acceleration  or
otherwise)  until  payment  in full at the rate set  forth in  Section  2.13(c);
provided that if the Issuing Lender does not notify the Borrower as provided for
above  earlier  than 9:30 A.M.  (New York City  time) on the date such  draft is
paid, then for such day (and until the next Business Day) all amounts  remaining
unpaid in  respect of such  notice  shall  bear  interest  the rate set forth in
Section 2.13(b).  Each drawing under any Letter of Credit shall (unless an event
of the type  described in clause (i) or (ii) of Section 8(f) shall have occurred
and be  continuing  with respect to the Borrower,  in which case the  procedures
specified in Section 3.4 for funding by L/C Participants shall apply) constitute
a request by the Borrower to the  Administrative  Agent for a borrowing pursuant
to Section 2.5 of ABR Loans in the amount of such drawing.  The  Borrowing  Date
with respect to such borrowing shall be the date of such drawing.

                  SECTION III.6 Obligations Absolute. The Borrower's obligations
under  this  Article 3 shall be  absolute  and  unconditional  under any and all
circumstances and irrespective of any setoff, counterclaim or defense to payment
which  the  Borrower  may have or have  had  against  the  Issuing  Lender,  any
beneficiary of a Letter of Credit or any other Person.  The Borrower also agrees
with the Issuing Lender that the Issuing  Lender shall not be  responsible  for,
and the  Borrower's  Reimbursement  Obligations  under  Section 3.5 shall not be
affected by, among other things,  the validity or genuineness of documents or of
any endorsements  thereon,  even though such documents shall in fact prove to be
invalid,  fraudulent or forged, or any dispute between or among the Borrower and
any  beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any other party to which such Letter
of Credit may be  transferred or any claims  whatsoever of the Borrower  against
any  beneficiary  of such Letter of Credit or any such  transferee.  The Issuing
Lender  shall not be liable for any error,  omission,  interruption  or delay in
transmission,   dispatch  or   delivery  of  any  message  or  advice,   however
transmitted,  in  connection  with any  Letter of  Credit,  except for errors or
omissions  found by a final and  nonappealable  decision of a court of competent
jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of
the Issuing Lender.  The Borrower agrees that any action taken or omitted by the
Issuing  Lender under or in connection  with any Letter of Credit or the related
drafts or  documents,  if done in the  absence  of gross  negligence  or willful
misconduct and in accordance with the standards or care specified in the Uniform
Commercial  Code of the State of New York,  shall be binding on the Borrower and
shall not result in any liability of the Issuing Lender to the Borrower.

                  SECTION III.7 Letter of Credit Payments. If any draft shall be
presented  for  payment  under any Letter of Credit,  the Issuing  Lender  shall
promptly notify the Borrower of the date and amount thereof.  The responsibility
of the Issuing Lender to the Borrower in connection with any draft presented for
payment under any Letter of Credit shall, in addition to any payment  obligation
expressly  provided for in such Letter of Credit, be limited to determining that
the documents  (including  each draft)  delivered under such Letter of Credit in
connection with such presentment are in conformity with such Letter of Credit.

                  SECTION III.8  Applications.  To the extent that any provision
of any  Application  related  to any Letter of Credit is  inconsistent  with the
provisions of this Article 3, the provisions of this Article 3 shall apply.

                   ARTICLE IV. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

                             To induce the Agents and the  Lenders to enter into
this  Agreement and to make the Loans and issue or participate in the Letters of
Credit,  the  Borrower  hereby  represents  and  warrants to each Agent and each
Lender that:

                  SECTION IV.1 Financial Condition.  (a) The unaudited pro forma
consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated  Subsidiaries as
at March 31, 1999 (including the notes thereto) (the "Pro Forma Balance Sheet"),
copies of which have heretofore been furnished to each Lender, has been prepared
giving  effect  (as if  such  events  had  occurred  on  such  date)  to (i) the
consummation  of the  Acquisition,  (ii) the Tranche C Term Loans to be made and
the use of  proceeds  thereof  and (iii) the  payment  of fees and  expenses  in
connection  with the  foregoing.  The Pro Forma  Balance Sheet has been prepared
based  on the  best  information  available  to the  Borrower  as of the date of
delivery  thereof,  and  presents  fairly  on a pro forma  basis  the  estimated
financial position of Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at March 31,
1999,  assuming that the events specified in the preceding sentence had actually
occurred at such date.

                  (b) The audited consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower as
at December  31,  1996,  December 31, 1997 and December 31, 1998 and the related
consolidated  statements  of income and of cash flows for the fiscal years ended
on such dates,  reported on by and  accompanied  by an  unqualified  report from
PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP, present fairly the consolidated  financial position
of the Borrower as at such date, and the consolidated  results of its operations
and its consolidated  cash flows for the respective fiscal years then ended. The
unaudited  consolidated  balance sheet of the Borrower as at March 31, 1999, and
the related unaudited  consolidated  statements of income and cash flows for the
three-month period ended on such date, present fairly the consolidated financial
position of the Borrower as at such date,  and the  consolidated  results of its
operations and its consolidated cash flows for the three-month period then ended
(subject to normal year-end audit adjustments).  All such financial  statements,
including the related schedules and any notes thereto (except in the case of any
notes to the  financial  statements  dated  as of March  31,  1999),  have  been
prepared in accordance  with GAAP applied  consistently  throughout  the periods
involved  (except as  approved by the  aforementioned  firm of  accountants  and
disclosed  therein).  As of the date of the  most  recent  financial  statements
referred to in this  paragraph  (b), the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  did not
have any material Guarantee Obligations,  contingent liabilities and liabilities
for taxes, or any long-term leases or unusual forward or long-term  commitments,
including,  without  limitation,  any interest rate or foreign  currency swap or
exchange  transaction or other  obligation in respect of derivatives,  that were
not  reflected  in such  financial  statements,  except as set forth on Schedule
4.1(b).  During the period  from  December  31, 1998 to and  including  the date
hereof,  there has been no  Disposition  by the Borrower of any material part of
its business or Property, except as set forth on Schedule 4.1.

                  (c)  The  Division  does  not  have  any  material   Guarantee
Obligations,  contingent liabilities and liabilities for taxes, or any long-term
leases  or  unusual  forward  or  long-term  commitments,   including,   without
limitation,  any interest rate or foreign currency swap or exchange  transaction
or other  obligation in respect of derivatives,  except as set forth on Schedule
4.1(c).  SECTION IV.2 No Change.  Since  December  31,  1998,  there has been no
development  or event  which has had or could  reasonably  be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.

                  SECTION IV.3 Corporate Existence; Compliance with Law. Each of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (a) is duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the  jurisdiction of its  organization,  (b) has
the corporate  power and authority,  and the legal right, to own and operate its
Property,  to lease the  Property  it  operates  as lessee  and to  conduct  the
business in which it is currently  engaged,  (c) is duly  qualified as a foreign
corporation and in good standing under the laws of each  jurisdiction  where its
ownership,  lease or  operation  of  Property  or the  conduct  of its  business
requires such  qualification  and (d) is in compliance with all  Requirements of
Law except in the case of clauses  (c) and (d) to the extent that the failure to
so qualify and be in good standing or to so comply could not, in the  aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  SECTION  IV.4  Corporate  Power;  Authorization;   Enforceable
Obligations.  Each Loan Party has the  corporate  power and  authority,  and the
legal right,  to make,  deliver and perform the Loan  Documents to which it is a
party and, in the case of the Borrower, to borrow hereunder. Each Loan Party has
taken all necessary  corporate  action to authorize the execution,  delivery and
performance of the Loan Documents to which it is a party and, in the case of the
Borrower,  to  authorize  the  borrowings  on the terms and  conditions  of this
Agreement.  No consent or authorization  of, filing with, notice to or other act
by or in respect of, any Governmental  Authority or any other Person is required
in connection  with the  Acquisition  and the  borrowings  hereunder or with the
execution, delivery,  performance,  validity or enforceability of this Agreement
or any of the Loan Documents, except (i) consents,  authorizations,  filings and
notices  described in Schedule  4.4 and (ii) the filings  referred to in Section
4.19.  Each Loan Document has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of each
Loan Party  thereto.  This Agreement  constitutes,  and each other Loan Document
upon execution will constitute,  a legal,  valid and binding  obligation of each
Loan Party party thereto, enforceable against each such Loan Party in accordance
with  its  terms,   except  as  enforceability  may  be  limited  by  applicable
bankruptcy,  insolvency,  fraudulent  transfer,  reorganization,  moratorium and
similar laws relating to or affecting the  enforcement of creditors'  rights and
to general equity  principles  (whether  enforcement is sought by proceedings in
equity or at law).

                  SECTION  IV.5  No  Legal  Bar.  The  execution,  delivery  and
performance  of this  Agreement  and the other Loan  Documents,  the issuance of
Letters of Credit, the borrowings  hereunder and the use of the proceeds thereof
will not violate any  Requirement  of Law or any  Contractual  Obligation of the
Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries in any material respect and will not result
in,  or  require,  the  creation  or  imposition  of any  Lien  on any of  their
respective properties or revenues pursuant to any Requirement of Law or any such
Contractual Obligation (other than the Liens created by the Security Documents).
No Requirement of Law (excluding  compliance in the ordinary  course of business
with  the laws and  regulations  enforced  by the  United  States  Food and Drug
Administration   and  any   compliance   with   comparable   health  and  safety
requirements) or Contractual Obligation applicable to the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  SECTION  IV.6 No Material  Litigation.  Except as set forth on
Schedule  4.6,  no  litigation,  investigation  or  proceeding  of or before any
arbitrator  or  Governmental  Authority  is pending or, to the  knowledge of the
Borrower,  threatened by or against the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  or
against any of their  respective  properties or revenues (a) with respect to any
of the Loan Documents or any of the transactions  contemplated hereby or thereby
or (b) which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  SECTION  IV.7 No Default.  Neither the Borrower nor any of its
Subsidiaries  is in  default  under or with  respect  to any of its  Contractual
Obligations in any respect which could reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect. No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

                  SECTION  IV.8  Ownership  of  Property;  Liens.  Each  of  the
Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  has title in fee simple to, or a valid leasehold
interest in, all its real property,  and sufficient  title to enjoy the benefits
of, or a valid leasehold  interest in, all its other Property,  and none of such
Property is subject to any Lien except as permitted by Section 7.3.

                  SECTION  IV.9  Intellectual  Property.  Except as set forth on
Schedule 4.9, (a) the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries owns, or is licensed
to use or otherwise possess a legally enforceable right to use, all Intellectual
Property necessary for the conduct of its business as currently  conducted;  (b)
no material claim has been asserted and is pending by any Person  challenging or
questioning   the  use  of  any   Intellectual   Property  or  the  validity  or
effectiveness  of any Intellectual  Property,  nor does the Borrower know of any
valid  basis for any such claim;  and (c) to  Borrower's  knowledge,  the use of
Intellectual  Property by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries does not infringe on
the rights of any Person in any material respect.

                  SECTION  IV.10  Taxes.  Each of the  Borrower  and each of its
Subsidiaries  has  filed or  caused  to be filed  all  Federal,  state and other
material tax returns which are required to be filed and has paid all taxes shown
to be due and payable on said returns or on any  assessments  made against it or
any of its Property and all other taxes,  fees or other charges imposed on it or
any of its Property by any Governmental  Authority (other than any the amount or
validity of which are  currently  being  contested in good faith by  appropriate
procedures or with respect to which  reserves in conformity  with GAAP have been
provided on the books of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries,  as the case may be);
no tax Lien has been filed,  and, to the knowledge of the Borrower,  no material
claim is being asserted, with respect to any such tax, fee or other charge.

                  SECTION IV.11 Federal Regulations.  No part of the proceeds of
any Loans will be used for  "purchasing" or "carrying" any "margin stock" within
the  respective  meanings  of each of the quoted  terms  under  Regulation  G or
Regulation  U as now and from time to time  hereafter  in effect  without  prior
written notice to the Administrative Agent or for any purpose which violates the
provisions of the  Regulations  of the Board.  If requested by any Lender or the
Administrative  Agent, the Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and
each  Lender  a  statement  to the  foregoing  effect  in  conformity  with  the
requirements  of FR Form  G-3 or FR Form  U-1  referred  to in  Regulation  G or
Regulation U, as the case may be.

                  SECTION  IV.12  Labor  Matters.  There are no strikes or other
labor disputes  against the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  pending or, to
the  knowledge  of  the  Borrower,  threatened  that  (individually  or  in  the
aggregate) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Hours
worked by and payment made to  employees  of the  Borrower and its  Subsidiaries
have  not  been in  violation  of the  Fair  Labor  Standards  Act or any  other
applicable Requirement of Law dealing with such matters that (individually or in
the aggregate)  could  reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
All  payments  due from the  Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  on account of
employee health and welfare  insurance that  (individually  or in the aggregate)
could  reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect if not paid have
been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of the Borrower or the relevant
Subsidiary.

                  SECTION  IV.13  ERISA.  Neither  a  Reportable  Event  nor  an
"accumulated  funding deficiency" (within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code
or Section 302 of ERISA) has occurred  during the five-year  period prior to the
date on which this  representation  is made or deemed  made with  respect to any
Plan,  and each Plan has complied in all material  respects with the  applicable
provisions of ERISA and the Code. No termination  of a Single  Employer Plan has
occurred,  and no Lien in favor of the PBGC or a Plan has  arisen,  during  such
five-year  period.  The present value of all accrued  benefits under each Single
Employer Plan (based on those  assumptions  used to fund such Plans) did not, as
of the last annual valuation date prior to the date on which this representation
is made or deemed made, exceed the value of the assets of such Plan allocable to
such  accrued  benefits  by a material  amount.  Neither  the  Borrower  nor any
Commonly  Controlled  Entity has had a complete or partial  withdrawal  from any
Multiemployer  Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result
in a material  liability under ERISA,  and neither the Borrower nor any Commonly
Controlled Entity would become subject to any material  liability under ERISA if
the Borrower or any such Commonly  Controlled Entity were to withdraw completely
from all Multiemployer Plans as of the valuation date most closely preceding the
date on which this  representation is made or deemed made. No such Multiemployer
Plan is in Reorganization or Insolvent.

                  SECTION IV.14 Investment  Company Act; Other  Regulations.  No
Loan  Party  is  an  "investment  company",  or a  company  "controlled"  by  an
"investment company",  within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended.  No Loan Party is subject to regulation under any Requirement of Law
(other  than  Regulation  X of the  Board)  which  limits  its  ability to incur
Indebtedness.

                  SECTION IV.15 Subsidiaries. (a) Schedule 4.15 sets forth as of
the Closing Date the name and  jurisdiction of  incorporation of each Subsidiary
and, as to each such  Subsidiary,  the percentage of each class of Capital Stock
owned by any Loan Party.

                  (b) There are no outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants,
calls,  rights or other  agreements  or  commitments  (other than stock  options
granted to employees  or  directors  and  directors'  qualifying  shares) of any
nature relating to any Capital Stock of the Borrower or any  Subsidiary,  except
under the Loan Documents and the Warrant.

                  SECTION  IV.16 Use of Proceeds.  The proceeds of the Tranche C
Term Loans shall be used to finance the Acquisition.  The Revolving Credit Loans
shall be used in respect of working capital in the ordinary course of business.

                  SECTION IV.17 Environmental Matters. Except as individually or
in the  aggregate  could not  reasonably  be  expected  to result in a  Material
Adverse Effect:

                  (a) The facilities and properties owned, leased or operated by
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (the  "Properties") do not contain,  and
have not previously contained, any Materials of Environmental Concern in amounts
or concentrations or under  circumstances  which (i) constitute or constituted a
violation  of, or (ii)  could  reasonably  be  expected  to have given rise to a
release or a threat of release, as regulated or defined, under any Environmental
Law.

                  (b) The Properties and all operations at the Properties are in
material  compliance,  and  have  in  the  last  five  years  been  in  material
compliance,   with  all   applicable   Environmental   Laws,  and  there  is  no
contamination   at,  under  or  about  the   Properties   or  violation  of  any
Environmental Law with respect to the Properties or the business operated by the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (the  "Business").  Neither the Borrower nor
any of its  Subsidiaries  has  contractually  assumed any liability of any other
Person under Environmental Laws other than in the ordinary course of business.

                  (c)  Neither  the  Borrower  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has
received  or  is  aware  of  any  notice  of   violation,   alleged   violation,
non-compliance,   liability  or  potential  liability,  judicial  proceeding  or
governmental  or  administrative  action or consent  decrees  or other  decrees,
consent orders,  administrative orders or other orders,  regarding environmental
matters  or  compliance  with  Environmental  Laws  with  regard  to  any of the
Properties  or the Business,  nor does the Borrower have  knowledge or reason to
believe that any such notice will be received or is being threatened.

                  (d)   Materials  of   Environmental   Concern  have  not  been
transported  or disposed of from the  Properties in violation of, or in a manner
or to a location  which could  reasonably  be expected to give rise to liability
under, any  Environmental  Law, nor have any Materials of Environmental  Concern
been  generated,  treated,  stored  or  disposed  of at,  on or under any of the
Properties in violation of, or in a manner that could  reasonably be expected to
give rise to liability under, any applicable Environmental Law.

                  (e)  There  has  been no  release  or  threat  of  release  of
Materials of Environmental Concern at or from the properties previously owned or
operated by the Borrower or any Subsidiary (the "Former Properties") during such
period of ownership or operation,  or arising from or related to the  operations
of the Borrower or any  Subsidiary in connection  with the Former  Properties or
otherwise in connection with the Business, in violation of or in amounts or in a
manner  that  could  reasonably  be  expected  to give rise to  liability  under
Environmental Laws.

                  SECTION IV.18  Accuracy of  Information,  etc. No statement or
information  contained  in  this  Agreement,   any  other  Loan  Document,   the
Confidential  Information  Memorandum  or any  other  document,  certificate  or
statement  furnished to the Administrative  Agent or the Lenders or any of them,
by or on behalf of any Loan Party for use in  connection  with the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents,  contained as of the
date such statement,  information, document or certificate was so furnished (or,
in the case of the Confidential  Information Memorandum,  as of the date of this
Agreement),  any  untrue  statement  of a  material  fact or  omitted to state a
material  fact  necessary in order to make the  statements  contained  herein or
therein not misleading.  The  projections  and pro forma  financial  information
contained in the materials  referenced above are based upon good faith estimates
and  assumptions  believed by management of the Borrower to be reasonable at the
time made, it being recognized by the Lenders that such financial information as
it relates to future events is not to be viewed as fact and that actual  results
during the period or periods  covered by such financial  information  may differ
from the  projected  results set forth therein by a material  amount.  As of the
date hereof, to the best of the Borrower=s  knowledge,  the  representations and
warranties  contained in the  Acquisition  Agreement are true and correct in all
material  respects.  There  is no  fact  known  to any  Loan  Party  that  could
reasonably  be  expected  to have a Material  Adverse  Effect  that has not been
expressly  disclosed  herein,  in the other Loan Documents,  in the Confidential
Information  Memorandum or in any other  documents,  certificates and statements
furnished to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders for use in connection with
the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents.

                  SECTION IV.19 Security Documents. The Guarantee and Collateral
Agreement is effective to create in favor of the  Administrative  Agent, for the
benefit of the Lenders, a legal, valid and enforceable  security interest in the
Collateral  described therein and proceeds  thereof.  In the case of the Pledged
Stock  described  in  the  Guarantee  and  Collateral   Agreement,   when  stock
certificates representing such Pledged Stock are delivered to the Administrative
Agent,  and in the case of the other  Collateral  described in the Guarantee and
Collateral Agreement, when financing statements in appropriate form are filed in
the offices  specified on Schedule  4.19 and such other filings as are specified
on Schedule 3 to the  Guarantee  and  Collateral  Agreement,  the  Guarantee and
Collateral  Agreement  shall  constitute a fully perfected Lien on, and security
interest  in,  all  right,  title  and  interest  of the  Loan  Parties  in such
Collateral and the proceeds thereof, as security for the Obligations (as defined
in the Guarantee and Collateral  Agreement),  in each case prior and superior in
right to any other Person (except,  in the case of Collateral other than Pledged
Stock, Liens permitted by Section 7.3).

                  SECTION IV.20  Solvency.  Each Loan Party is, and after giving
effect to the Acquisition and the incurrence of all Indebtedness and obligations
being incurred in connection herewith and therewith will be and will continue to
be, Solvent.

                         ARTICLE V. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

                  SECTION V.1 Conditions to the Effectiveness of this Agreement.
The agreement of each Tranche C Term Loan Lenders to make the initial  extension
of credit requested to be made by it is subject to the satisfaction, prior to or
concurrently with the making of such extension of credit on the Closing Date, of
the following conditions precedent:

                             (a) Loan Documents.  The Administrative Agent shall
               have  received (i) this  Agreement,  executed and  delivered by a
               duly authorized officer of the Borrower, the Required Lenders and
               each of the Tranche C Term Loan Lenders,  (ii) an  acknowledgment
               and consent to the Guarantee and Collateral  Agreement,  executed
               and  delivered by a duly  authorized  officer of the Borrower and
               each  Subsidiary  Guarantor,  and (iii) for the  account  of each
               requesting  Tranche C Term Loan Lender,  a Note conforming to the
               requirements   hereof  and  executed  and  delivered  by  a  duly
               authorized officer of the Borrower.

                           (b)  Acquisition.  The  Acquisition  shall  have been
                  consummated in accordance with applicable law, and no material
                  provision  of the  Acquisition  Documentation  shall have been
                  waived,  amended,  supplemented  or otherwise  modified in any
                  material  respect.  The  capitalization  and structure of each
                  Loan Party after the Acquisition and the borrowings  hereunder
                  on the  Closing  Date  shall not have a material  and  adverse
                  effect  on  the  financial  position  or  projected  financial
                  results of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries (as presented in
                  the Confidential Information Memorandum).

                             (c) Pro Forma Balance Sheet;  Financial Statements.
               The Lenders shall have received (i) the Pro Forma Balance  Sheet,
               (ii) audited  consolidated  financial  statements of the Borrower
               for its 1996, 1997 and 1998 fiscal years and unaudited  financial
               statements of the Division for the 1997 and 1998 fiscal years and
               (iii) unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of each
               of the Borrower and the  Division for each fiscal  quarter  ended
               subsequent  to  the  date  of  the  latest  applicable  financial
               statements delivered pursuant to clause (ii) of this paragraph as
               to  which  such  financial  statements  are  available,  and such
               financial statements shall not, in the reasonable judgment of the
               Lenders,  reflect any material adverse change in the consolidated
               financial  condition of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries or the
               Division, as reflected in the financial statements or projections
               contained in the Confidential Information Memorandum.

                             (d) Approvals.  All material governmental approvals
               required to consummate the Acquisition, the continuing operations
               of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries and the Division shall have
               been  obtained  on  satisfactory  terms and be in full  force and
               effect,  and all  applicable  waiting  periods shall have expired
               without any action  being taken or  threatened  by any  competent
               authority  which would prevent the  Acquisition  or the financing
               contemplated hereby;  provided that if any competent Governmental
               Authority  shall impose adverse  conditions on all or part of the
               Acquisition or the financing thereof,  the  Administrative  Agent
               and the Borrower shall negotiate in a reasonable manner to adjust
               the terms and amounts of the Facilities accordingly.

                           (e)  Related  Agreements.  The  Administrative  Agent
                  shall have received in a form reasonably satisfactory,  with a
                  copy for each Lender, true and correct copies, certified as to
                  authenticity by the Borrower, of the Acquisition Documentation
                  and such other  documents or  instruments as may be reasonably
                  requested  by the  Administrative  Agent,  including,  without
                  limitation, a copy of any debt instrument,  security agreement
                  or other material  contract to which the Loan Parties may be a
                  party.

                           (f) Fees.  The  Lenders  and the  Agents  shall  have
                  received  all fees  required to be paid,  and all expenses for
                  which  invoices  have  been  presented,   including,   without
                  limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel,
                  on or before the Closing Date.

                           (g) Business  Plan. The Lenders shall have received a
                  satisfactory  business  plan for fiscal years  1999-2005 and a
                  satisfactory written analysis of the business and prospects of
                  the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  for the period  from the
                  Closing  Date  through  the final  maturity of the Term Loans.

                           (h) Budget.  The Lenders shall have received a budget
                  for the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  for the 1999  fiscal
                  year.

                           (i) Lien  Searches.  The  Administrative  Agent shall
                  have  received  the results of a recent lien search in each of
                  the  jurisdictions  where  assets of the Division are located,
                  and such search  shall reveal no liens on any of the assets of
                  the  Division  except for liens  permitted  by Section  7.3 or
                  discharged  on or  prior  to  the  Closing  Date  pursuant  to
                  documentation satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

                           (j) Environmental Due Diligence.  The  Administrative
                  Agent and the Documentation  Agent shall be satisfied with the
                  environmental  condition of the real property  owned or leased
                  by the Division.

                           (k)  Expenses.  The  Administrative  Agent shall have
                  received  satisfactory  evidence that the fees and expenses to
                  be  incurred  in  connection  with  the  Acquisition  and  the
                  Facilities shall not exceed $2,000,000.

                           (l) Closing  Certificate.  The  Administrative  Agent
                  shall have  received a certificate  of each Loan Party,  dated
                  the Closing Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit C, with
                  appropriate insertions and attachments.

                           (m) Legal Opinions.  The  Administrative  Agent shall
                  have received the following executed legal opinions:

                                    (i)  the  legal   opinion   of   Sullivan  &
                           Cromwell,   counsel   to   the   Borrower   and   its
                           Subsidiaries,  substantially  in the form of  Exhibit
                           E-1;

                                    (ii) the legal  opinion of Daniel S.  Jonas,
                           general counsel of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries,
                           substantially in the form of Exhibit E-2;

                             (n) Filings,  Registrations  and  Recordings.  Each
               document (including,  without limitation,  any Uniform Commercial
               Code   financing   statements   filed  in  connection   with  the
               Acquisition of the Division)  required by the Security  Documents
               or under law or reasonably  requested by the Administrative Agent
               to be filed,  registered  or recorded in order to create in favor
               of the  Administrative  Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders,  a
               perfected Lien on the  Collateral  described  therein,  prior and
               superior in right to any other Person (other than with respect to
               Liens  expressly  permitted by Section  7.3),  shall be in proper
               form for filing, registration or recordation.

                           (o) Insurance.  The  Administrative  Agent shall have
                  received insurance certificates satisfying the requirements of
                  Section 6.5 and the Borrower  shall have obtained  certain key
                  man life  insurance  on certain  officers  of the  Borrower as
                  heretofore determined by the Administrative Agent.

                           (p) The Administrative  Agent shall be satisfied with
                  all labor, pension, regulatory, health and safety, litigation,
                  accounting  and tax  matters  relating  to the  Borrower,  its
                  Subsidiaries and the Division.

                             (q) The Borrower  shall be in  compliance  with the
               financial  covenants  in  Section  7.1  as of the  most  recently
               completed fiscal quarter for which financial statements have been
               delivered to the Lenders on a pro forma basis  assuming  that the
               Acquisition  and the  financing  thereof had been effected on the
               first day of the most recently completed four fiscal quarters for
               which financial statements have been delivered to the Lenders, no
               Default or Event of Default shall occur or be continuing  and the
               Borrower shall have provided a certificate to the  Administrative
               Agent in reasonable detail to the effect of the foregoing.

                  SECTION  V.2  Conditions  to Each  Extension  of  Credit.  The
agreement of each Lender to make any extension of credit requested to be made by
it on any date (including,  without limitation, its initial extension of credit)
is  subject  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  following   conditions   precedent:

                           (a)  Representations  and  Warranties.  Each  of  the
                  representations  and  warranties  made by any Loan Party in or
                  pursuant  to the Loan  Documents  shall be true and correct on
                  and as of such date as if made on and as of such date.

                           (b) No Default.  No Default or Event of Default shall
                  have  occurred and be  continuing on such date or after giving
                  effect to the  extensions  of credit  requested  to be made on
                  such date.

Each  borrowing  by and issuance of a Letter of Credit on behalf of the Borrower
hereunder shall constitute a  representation  and warranty by the Borrower as of
the date of such  extension  of credit  that the  conditions  contained  in this
Section 5.2 have been satisfied.

                        ARTICLE VI. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

                             The Borrower  hereby  agrees  that,  so long as the
Commitments  remain in effect,  any Letter of Credit remains  outstanding or any
Loan or other amount is owing to any Lender or any Agent hereunder, the Borrower
shall and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to:

                             SECTION VI.1 Financial Statements.  Furnish to each
Agent and each Lender:

                             (a) as soon as  available,  but in any event within
               90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a copy
               of the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its
               Subsidiaries  as at the end of such year and the related  audited
               consolidated  statements  of  income  and of cash  flows for such
               year,  setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures
               for the previous year,  reported on without a "going  concern" or
               like qualification or exception,  or qualification arising out of
               the scope of the audit,  by  PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP or other
               independent certified public accountants of nationally recognized
               standing; and

                             (b) as  soon as  available,  but in any  event  not
               later  than 45 days  after  the  end of each of the  first  three
               quarterly  periods  of  each  fiscal  year of the  Borrower,  the
               unaudited  consolidated  balance  sheet of the  Borrower  and its
               Subsidiaries  as at the  end of  such  quarter  and  the  related
               unaudited consolidated statements of income and of cash flows for
               such  quarter and the portion of the fiscal year  through the end
               of such quarter,  setting forth in each case in comparative  form
               the figures for the previous  year,  certified  by a  Responsible
               Officer as being fairly stated in all material  respects (subject
               to normal year-end audit adjustments);

all such  financial  statements  shall be complete  and correct in all  material
respects and shall be prepared in reasonable  detail and in accordance with GAAP
applied  consistently  throughout the periods  reflected  therein and with prior
periods (except as approved by such accountants or officer,  as the case may be,
and disclosed therein, and provided that the financial statements referred to in
Section 6.1(b) need not contain footnotes).

                  SECTION VI.2 Certificates;  Other Information. Furnish to each
Agent and each  Lender,  or, in the case of clause  (g),  to the  Administrative
Agent for the relevant Lender:

                           (a)  concurrently  with the delivery of the financial
                  statements referred to in Section 6.1(a), a certificate of the
                  independent  certified  public  accountants  reporting on such
                  financial  statements  stating that in making the  examination
                  necessary therefor no knowledge was obtained of any Default or
                  Event of Default, except as specified in such certificate;

                           (b)  concurrently  with the delivery of any financial
                  statements  pursuant to Section  6.1, (i) a  certificate  of a
                  Responsible  Officer  stating  that,  to the best of each such
                  Responsible  Officer's knowledge,  each Loan Party during such
                  period has  observed or  performed  all of its  covenants  and
                  other agreements, and satisfied every condition,  contained in
                  this  Agreement and the other Loan  Documents to which it is a
                  party to be  observed,  performed or satisfied by it, and that
                  such  Responsible  Officer has  obtained no  knowledge  of any
                  Default  or Event  of  Default  except  as  specified  in such
                  certificate  and  (ii) in the  case  of  quarterly  or  annual
                  financial statements,  (x) a Compliance Certificate containing
                  all  information  and  calculations  necessary for determining
                  compliance  by the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  with  the
                  provisions  of this  Agreement  referred  to therein as of the
                  last day of the fiscal quarter or fiscal year of the Borrower,
                  as the  case  may be,  and (y) to the  extent  not  previously
                  disclosed to the Administrative Agent, a listing of any county
                  or state  within the United  States where any Loan Party keeps
                  inventory  or  equipment  and  of  any  Intellectual  Property
                  acquired  by any Loan Party  since the date of the most recent
                  list delivered pursuant to this clause (y) (or, in the case of
                  the first such list so delivered, since the Closing Date);

                             (c) as soon as available, and in any event no later
               than 45 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a
               detailed  consolidated  budget  for  the  following  fiscal  year
               (including a projected consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower
               and its  Subsidiaries as of the end of the following fiscal year,
               and the related  consolidated  statements of projected cash flow,
               projected  changes in financial  position and projected  income),
               and, as soon as available, significant revisions, if any, of such
               budget  and   projections   with  respect  to  such  fiscal  year
               (collectively,  the  "Projections"),  which  Projections shall in
               each  case  be  accompanied  by a  certificate  of a  Responsible
               Officer  stating that such  Projections  are based on  reasonable
               estimates,  information and assumptions and that such Responsible
               Officer  has no  reason to  believe  that  such  Projections  are
               incorrect or misleading in any material respect;

                             (d)  within 45 days (and 90 days in the case of the
               end of a fiscal year) after the end of each fiscal quarter of the
               Borrower, either (i) a Form 10-Q or 10-K for the Borrower and its
               Subsidiaries for such fiscal quarter,  which contains a narrative
               discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of
               operations of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  for such fiscal
               quarter and for the period from the beginning of the then current
               fiscal year to the end of such fiscal quarter, as compared to the
               portion  of the  Projections  covering  such  periods  and to the
               comparable  periods of the previous  year, or (ii) such narrative
               discussion and analysis;

                           (e)  no  later  than 5  Business  Days  prior  to the
                  effectiveness  thereof,  copies  of  any  proposed  amendment,
                  supplement,  waiver or other  modification with respect to the
                  Senior   Subordinated   Note  Indenture  or  the   Acquisition
                  Agreement;

                           (f) within five days after the same are sent,  copies
                  of all  financial  statements  and reports  which the Borrower
                  sends to the  holders of any class of its debt  securities  or
                  public equity  securities  and within five days after the same
                  are filed,  copies of all  financial  statements  and  reports
                  which the Borrower may make to, or file with, the SEC; and

                           (g)  promptly,  such  additional  financial and other
                  information  as any  Lender  may from time to time  reasonably
                  request through the Administrative Agent.

                  SECTION VI.3  Payment of  Obligations.  (a) Pay,  discharge or
otherwise satisfy at or before maturity or before they become delinquent, as the
case may be, all its material  obligations of whatever nature,  except where the
amount or  validity  thereof  is  currently  being  contested  in good  faith by
appropriate  procedures or reserves in conformity with GAAP with respect thereto
have been provided on the books of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, as the case
may be.

                           (b) Each of the Loan Parties  will pay and  discharge
                  or  otherwise  satisfy at or before  maturity  or before  they
                  become  delinquent,  as the case may be, all  material  taxes,
                  assessments  and  governmental  charges or levies imposed upon
                  the  Collateral or in respect of income or profits  therefrom,
                  as  well  as  all  claims  of  any  kind  (including,  without
                  limitation,  claims for labor, materials and supplies) against
                  or with respect to the Collateral,  except that no such charge
                  need be paid if the amount or  validity  thereof is  currently
                  being  contested in good faith by  appropriate  procedures  or
                  reserves in  conformity  with GAAP with  respect  thereto have
                  been  provided  on the  books  of such  Loan  Party  and  such
                  proceedings  could not reasonably be expected to result in the
                  sale,  forfeiture  or  loss  of any  material  portion  of the
                  Collateral or any interest therein.

                  SECTION VI.4 Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence,
etc.  (a) (i)  Preserve,  renew and keep in full force and effect its  corporate
existence and (ii) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges
and  franchises  necessary or desirable in the normal  conduct of its  business,
except,  in each case, as otherwise  permitted by Section 7.4 and except, in the
case of  clause  (ii)  above,  to the  extent  that  failure  to do so could not
reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect;  and (b) comply with
all Contractual  Obligations  and  Requirements of Law except to the extent that
failure to comply therewith could not, in the aggregate,  reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  SECTION VI.5 Maintenance of Property;  Insurance. (a) Keep all
Property  useful  and  necessary  in its  business  in good  working  order  and
condition,  ordinary wear and tear excepted; (b) maintain with financially sound
and reputable insurance companies insurance on all its Property in at least such
amounts  and  against at least such risks  (but  including  in any event  public
liability,  product liability and business  interruption) as are usually insured
against in the same general  area by companies  engaged in the same or a similar
business;  (c)  maintain,   with  financially  sound  and  reputable  companies,
insurance  policies (i) insuring the  Inventory  and  Equipment  against loss by
fire,  explosion,   theft  and  such  other  casualties  as  may  be  reasonably
satisfactory  to the  Administrative  Agent and (ii)  insuring  such Loan  Party
against  liability  for  personal  injury and property  damage  relating to such
Inventory and Equipment, such policies to be in such form and amounts and having
such coverage as may be reasonably  satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and
the Lenders (all such insurance shall (A) provide that no cancellation, material
reduction in amount or material  change in coverage  thereof  shall be effective
until at least 30 days  after  receipt  by the  Administrative  Agent of written
notice  thereof,  (B) name the  Administrative  Agent as loss payee,  and (C) be
reasonably  satisfactory in all other respects to the Administrative Agent); and
(d) the Borrower  shall  deliver to the  Administrative  Agent and the Lenders a
report of a reputable insurance broker with respect to such insurance during the
month of November  in each  calendar  year and such  supplemental  reports  with
respect  thereto as the  Administrative  Agent may from time to time  reasonably
request.

                  SECTION  VI.6  Inspection  of  Property;  Books  and  Records;
Discussions.  (a) Keep proper  books of records and account in which full,  true
and correct entries in conformity with GAAP and all Requirements of Law shall be
made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities
and (b) permit  representatives  of any Lender to visit and  inspect  any of its
properties  and examine and make  abstracts from any of its books and records at
any reasonable time and as often as may reasonably be desired and to discuss the
business,  operations,  properties  and  financial  and other  condition  of the
Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  with  officers and employees of the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries and with its independent certified public accountants.

                  SECTION   VI.7   Notices.   Promptly   give   notice   to  the
Administrative Agent and each Lender of:

                           (a)  the  occurrence  of  any  Default  or  Event  of
                  Default;

                           (b) any (i)  default  or event of  default  under any
                  material Contractual  Obligation of the Borrower or any of its
                  Subsidiaries or (ii)  litigation,  investigation or proceeding
                  which may exist at any time between the Borrower or any of its
                  Subsidiaries and any Governmental  Authority,  which in either
                  case, if not cured or if adversely determined, as the case may
                  be, could  reasonably  be expected to have a Material  Adverse
                  Effect;

                           (c) any litigation or proceeding  directly  affecting
                  the  Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  in which the amount
                  sought from the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is $1,000,000 or
                  more and not covered by  insurance or in which  injunctive  or
                  similar  relief is sought as to which the  Borrower  or any of
                  its  Subsidiaries  has  knowledge  or  reasonably  should have
                  knowledge;

                           (d) the following  events, as soon as possible and in
                  any event  within  30 days  after  the  Borrower  knows or has
                  reason to know thereof:  (i) the  occurrence of any Reportable
                  Event with respect to any Single  Employer  Plan, a failure to
                  make  any  required  contribution  to  a  Single  Employer  or
                  Multiemployer  Plan,  the creation of any Lien in favor of the
                  PBGC or a Plan or any  withdrawal  from,  or the  termination,
                  Reorganization  or Insolvency  of, any  Multiemployer  Plan or
                  (ii) the institution of proceedings or the taking of any other
                  action by the PBGC or the Borrower or any Commonly  Controlled
                  Entity  or  any   Multiemployer   Plan  with  respect  to  the
                  withdrawal  from,  or  the  termination,   Reorganization   or
                  Insolvency of, any Plan; and

                           (e) any  development  or event which has had or could
                  reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Each notice  pursuant to this Section 6.7 shall be accompanied by a statement of
a  Responsible  Officer  setting  forth  details of the  occurrence  referred to
therein and stating what action the Borrower or the relevant Subsidiary proposes
to take with respect thereto.

                  SECTION VI.8  Environmental  Laws.  (a) Comply in all material
respects  with,  and make all  reasonable  efforts to ensure  compliance  in all
material  respects by all tenants and  subtenants,  if any, with, all applicable
Environmental  Laws,  and obtain and comply in all  material  respects  with and
maintain,  and make all  reasonable  efforts  to  ensure  that all  tenants  and
subtenants obtain and comply in all material respects with and maintain, any and
all licenses,  approvals,  notifications,  registrations  or permits required by
applicable Environmental Laws.

                           (b) Conduct and complete all investigations, studies,
                  sampling  and  testing,  and all  remedial,  removal and other
                  actions required under  Environmental Laws and promptly comply
                  in all material respects with all lawful orders and directives
                  of all Governmental Authorities regarding Environmental Laws.

                  SECTION  VI.9  Interest  Rate  Protection.  In the case of the
Borrower,  within 180 days after the  Closing  Date,  enter into  Interest  Rate
Protection Agreements with respect to floating rate obligations in respect of an
aggregate  principal  amount of Term Loans, and at market rates and on terms and
conditions, reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

                  SECTION VI.10 Additional Collateral,  etc. (a) With respect to
any  Property  acquired  after the  Closing  Date by the  Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries  (other than an Excluded  Foreign  Subsidiary)  (other than (x) any
Property  described  in  paragraph  (b),  (c) or (d) below and (y) any  Property
subject to a Lien expressly permitted by Section 7.3(g) or (m) (if such Lien was
granted in a transaction  comparable to that permitted by Section  7.3(g)) as to
which the Administrative  Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, does not have a
perfected  Lien,  promptly (i) execute and deliver to the  Administrative  Agent
such  amendments  to the  Guarantee  and  Collateral  Agreement  or  such  other
documents as the  Administrative  Agent deems necessary or advisable in order to
grant to the  Administrative  Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders,  a security
interest in such  Property  and (ii) take all actions  necessary  or  reasonably
advisable to grant to the Administrative  Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders,
a perfected  first priority  security  interest in such Property,  subject to no
Liens  except as permitted by Section 7.3,  including  without  limitation,  the
filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing  statements in such jurisdictions as
may be required by the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or by law or as may be
requested by the Administrative Agent.

                  (b) With  respect  to any fee  interest  in any real  property
having  a  purchase  price  (together  with  improvements  thereof)  of at least
$5,000,000  acquired  after  the  Closing  Date  by the  Borrower  or any of its
Subsidiaries  (other than any such real  property  owned by an Excluded  Foreign
Subsidiary or subject to a Lien expressly permitted by Section 7.3(g)), promptly
(i)  execute  and  deliver  a  first  priority  mortgage  in a  form  reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative  Agent in favor of the Administrative  Agent,
for the benefit of the Lenders, covering such real property, subject to no Liens
except as  permitted by Section  7.3,  (ii) if  requested by the  Administrative
Agent,  provide  the  Lenders  with (x) title and  extended  coverage  insurance
covering  such real  property in an amount equal to the  purchase  price of such
real estate as well as a current ALTA survey thereof, together with a surveyor's
certificate  and (y) any consents or estoppels  reasonably  deemed  necessary or
advisable by the  Administrative  Agent in connection with such mortgage or deed
of trust, each of the foregoing in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
the  Administrative  Agent and (iii) if requested by the  Administrative  Agent,
deliver  to  the   Administrative   Agent  a  legal  opinion   relating  to  the
enforceability  of such mortgage  which opinion shall be in form and  substance,
and from counsel, reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

                  (c) With respect to any new Subsidiary (other than an Excluded
Foreign  Subsidiary)  created or acquired after the Closing Date by the Borrower
(which,  for the  purposes of this  paragraph  (c),  shall  include any existing
Subsidiary  that  ceases to be an  Excluded  Foreign  Subsidiary)  or any of its
Subsidiaries,  promptly (i) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent such
amendments to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement as the Administrative Agent
deems necessary or reasonably  advisable in order to grant to the Administrative
Agent,  for the benefit of the  Lenders,  a perfected  first  priority  security
interest  in the  Capital  Stock  of such new  Subsidiary  which is owned by the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries,  (ii) deliver to the  Administrative  Agent
the certificates  representing  such Capital Stock,  together with undated stock
powers,  in blank,  executed and delivered by a duly  authorized  officer of the
Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, (iii) cause such new Subsidiary
(A) to become a party to the Guarantee and Collateral  Agreement and (B) to take
such actions  necessary or reasonably  advisable to grant to the  Administrative
Agent  for the  benefit  of the  Lenders a  perfected  first  priority  security
interest in the Collateral  described in the Guarantee and Collateral  Agreement
with respect to such new Subsidiary,  subject to no Liens except as permitted by
Section 7.3,  including,  without  limitation,  the filing of Uniform Commercial
Code  financing  statements  in such  jurisdictions  as may be  required  by the
Guarantee  and  Collateral  Agreement  or by law or as may be  requested  by the
Administrative Agent, and (iv) if requested by the Administrative Agent, deliver
to the  Administrative  Agent legal opinions  relating to the matters  described
above,  which  opinions  shall  be in form  and  substance,  and  from  counsel,
reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

                  (d)  With  respect  to any  new  Excluded  Foreign  Subsidiary
created  or  acquired  after  the  Closing  Date by the  Borrower  or any of its
Subsidiaries,  promptly (i) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent such
amendments to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement as the Administrative Agent
deems necessary or reasonably  advisable in order to grant to the Administrative
Agent,  for the benefit of the  Lenders,  a perfected  first  priority  security
interest  in the  Capital  Stock  of such new  Subsidiary  which is owned by the
Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  (provided that in no event shall more than
65% of the  total  outstanding  Capital  Stock  of any such  new  Subsidiary  be
required  to be so  pledged),  (ii)  deliver  to the  Administrative  Agent  the
certificates   representing  such  Capital  Stock,  if  such  Capital  Stock  is
certificated,  together  with  undated  stock  powers,  in blank,  executed  and
delivered by a duly authorized  officer of the Borrower or such  Subsidiary,  as
the case may be,  and take  such  other  action as may be  necessary  or, in the
opinion  of the  Administrative  Agent,  desirable  to  perfect  the Lien of the
Administrative  Agent  thereon,  and (iii) if  requested  by the  Administrative
Agent,  deliver to the  Administrative  Agent  legal  opinions  relating  to the
matters described above, which opinions shall be in form and substance, and from
counsel, reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

                  SECTION  VI.11  Senior Debt.  Insure that all the  Obligations
(including  the Tranche C Term Loans)  constitute  "Senior Debt" of the Borrower
under  and as  defined  in the  Senior  Subordinated  Note  Indenture,  and  the
obligations  of each  Subsidiary  Guarantor  under the Guarantee and  Collateral
Agreement  constitute  "Senior Debt" of such  Subsidiary  Guarantor under and as
defined  in  the  Senior   Subordinated  Note  Indenture.   The  parties  hereto
acknowledge  and  agree  that  the  borrowing  of the  Tranche  C Term  Loans is
permitted  under the Senior  Subordinated  Note Indenture by virtue of the first
paragraph of Section 4.09 of the Senior Subordinated Note Indenture.

                  SECTION VI.12 Additional Covenants Relating to Collateral. (a)
If any amount in excess of $200,000  payable under or in connection  with any of
the Collateral  shall be or become evidenced by any Instrument or Chattel Paper,
deliver such  Instrument  or Chattel  Paper  immediately  to the  Administrative
Agent, duly indorsed in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, to be
held as Collateral pursuant to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

                  (b) Not,  except  upon 15 days'  prior  written  notice to the
Administrative  Agent  and  delivery  to the  Administrative  Agent  of (i)  all
additional  executed  financing   statements  and  other  documents   reasonably
requested by the Administrative  Agent to maintain the validity,  perfection and
priority of the security  interests provided for in the Guarantee and Collateral
Agreement,  and (ii) if  applicable,  a written  supplement to Schedule 5 to the
Guarantee and  Collateral  Agreement  showing any  additional  location at which
Inventory or Equipment shall be kept:

                           (i) permit any of the  Inventory  or  Equipment to be
                  kept at a location  other than those  listed on  Schedule 5 to
                  the  Guarantee  and  Collateral  Agreement  (other than mobile
                  goods and Inventory and Equipment located temporarily in a UCC
                  financing  statement  filing  jurisdiction  the aggregate fair
                  market value of which is less than $50,000);

                           (ii)  change  the  location  of its  chief  executive
                  office or sole  place of  business  from that  referred  to in
                  Section 4.4 of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement; or

                           (iii)   change  its  name,   identity  or   corporate
                  structure to such an extent that any financing statement filed
                  by the  Administrative  Agent in connection with the Guarantee
                  and Collateral Agreement would become misleading.

                  (c) Advise the Administrative  Agent and the Lenders promptly,
in reasonable detail, of:

                           (i) any Lien (other than security  interests  created
                  hereby or Liens  permitted  under Section 7.3) on any material
                  portion of the  Collateral  which would  adversely  affect the
                  ability of the  Administrative  Agent to  exercise  any of its
                  remedies hereunder in any material respect; and

                           (ii) the  occurrence  of any other  event which could
                  reasonably  be expected to have a material  adverse  effect on
                  the  aggregate  value  of the  Collateral  or on the  security
                  interests created hereby.

                         ARTICLE VII. NEGATIVE COVENANTS

                             The Borrower  hereby  agrees  that,  so long as the
Commitments  remain in effect,  any Letter of Credit remains  outstanding or any
Loan or other amount is owing to any Lender or any Agent hereunder, the Borrower
shall  not,  and  shall not  permit  any of its  Subsidiaries  to,  directly  or
indirectly:

                  SECTION VII.1 Financial Condition Covenants.

                  (a)  Consolidated  Leverage  Ratio.  Permit  the  Consolidated
Leverage  Ratio as at the  last day of any  period  of four  consecutive  fiscal
quarters  of the  Borrower  (or,  if less,  the number of full  fiscal  quarters
subsequent to the Closing  Date) ending with any fiscal  quarter set forth below
to exceed the ratio set forth below opposite such fiscal quarter:

                                                           Consolidated
Fiscal Quarter                                             Leverage Ratio
- --------------                                             --------------

March 31, 1999                                             4.50 to 1.00
June 30, 1999                                              4.25 to 1.00
September 30, 1999                                         4.75 to 1.00
December 31, 1999                                          4.75 to 1.00
March 31, 2000                                             4.75 to 1.00
June 30, 2000                                              4.50 to 1.00
September 30, 2000                                         4.50 to 1.00
December 31, 2000                                          4.25 to 1.00
March 31, 2001                                             4.25 to 1.00
June 30, 2001                                              4.00 to 1.00
September 30, 2001                                         4.00 to 1.00
December 31, 2001                                          3.75 to 1.00
March 31, 2002                                             3.75 to 1.00
June 30, 2002                                              3.75 to 1.00
September 30, 2002                                         3.75 to 1.00
December 31, 2002                                          3.50 to 1.00
March 31, 2003                                             3.50 to 1.00
June 30, 2003                                              3.50 to 1.00
September 30, 2003                                         3.50 to 1.00
December 31, 2003                                          3.25 to 1.00
March 31, 2004                                             3.25 to 1.00
June 30, 2004                                              3.25 to 1.00
September 30, 2004                                         3.25 to 1.00
December 31, 2004                                          3.00 to 1.00
Thereafter                                                 3.00 to 1.00


                  (b)   Consolidated   Interest   Coverage  Ratio.   Permit  the
Consolidated  Interest Coverage Ratio for any period of four consecutive  fiscal
quarters  of the  Borrower  (or,  if less,  the number of full  fiscal  quarters
subsequent to the Closing  Date) ending with any fiscal  quarter set forth below
to be less than the ratio set forth below opposite such fiscal quarter:

                                                           Consolidated Interest
Fiscal Quarter                                             Coverage Ratio
- --------------                                             --------------

March 31, 1999                                             2.75 to 1.00
June 30, 1999                                              2.75 to 1.00
September 30, 1999                                         2.40 to 1.00
December 31, 1999                                          2.40 to 1.00
March 31, 2000                                             2.40 to 1.00
June 30, 2000                                              2.40 to 1.00
September 30, 2000                                         2.40 to 1.00
December 31, 2000                                          2.60 to 1.00
March 31, 2001                                             2.60 to 1.00
June 30, 2001                                              2.60 to 1.00
September 30, 2001                                         2.60 to 1.00
December 31, 2001                                          3.00 to 1.00
Thereafter                                                 3.00 to 1.00


                  (c)  Consolidated  Fixed  Charge  Coverage  Ratio.  Permit the
Consolidated  Fixed  Charge  Coverage  Ratio for any period of four  consecutive
fiscal quarters of the Borrower (or, if less, the number of full fiscal quarters
subsequent to the Closing  Date) ending with any fiscal  quarter set forth below
to be less than the ratio set forth below opposite such fiscal quarter:

                                                   Consolidated Fixed Charge
Fiscal Quarter                                     Coverage Ratio
- --------------                                     --------------

March 31, 1999                                     1.35 to 1.00
June 30, 1999                                      1.35 to 1.00
September 30, 1999                                 1.20 to 1.00
December 31, 1999                                  1.20 to 1.00
March 31, 2000                                     1.20 to 1.00
June 30, 2000                                      1.20 to 1.00
September 30, 2000                                 1.20 to 1.00
December 31, 2000                                  1.20 to 1.00
March 31, 2001                                     1.20 to 1.00
June 30, 2001                                      1.20 to 1.00
September 30, 2001                                 1.20 to 1.00
December 31, 2001                                  1.25 to 1.00
March 31, 2002                                     1.25 to 1.00
June 30, 2002                                      1.25 to 1.00
September 30, 2002                                 1.25 to 1.00
December 31, 2002                                  1.30 to 1.00
March 31, 2003                                     1.30 to 1.00
June 30, 2003                                      1.30 to 1.00
September 30, 2003                                 1.30 to 1.00
December 31, 2003                                  1.35 to 1.00
March 31, 2004                                     1.35 to 1.00
June 30, 2004                                      1.35 to 1.00
September 30, 2004                                 1.35 to 1.00
Thereafter                                         1.40 to 1.00

                  (d) Maintenance of Net Worth. Permit Consolidated Net Worth as
of the end of any fiscal  quarter  during any fiscal year of the  Borrower to be
less than the sum of (i)  Consolidated  Net Worth on December 31, 1997 plus (ii)
75% of  Consolidated  Net Income  since  December  31,  1997 plus (iii) Net Cash
Proceeds  from the sale of Capital  Stock of the Borrower on a cumulative  basis
since the Original Closing Date.

                             SECTION VII.2 Limitation on  Indebtedness.  Create,
incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

                           (a)  Indebtedness  of any Loan Party  pursuant to any
Loan Document;

                           (b)  Indebtedness  of the Borrower to any  Subsidiary
and of any  Wholly  Owned  Subsidiary  Guarantor  to the  Borrower  or any other
Subsidiary;

                           (c)  Indebtedness   secured  by  Liens  permitted  by
Section 7.3(g) in an aggregate  principal amount not to exceed $7,500,000 at any
one time outstanding;

                           (d)  Capital  Lease   Obligations   in  an  aggregate
principal amount not to exceed $5,000,000 at any one time outstanding;

                           (e)  Indebtedness  outstanding on the date hereof and
listed  on  Schedule  7.2(e)  and  any  refinancings,  refundings,  renewals  or
extensions thereof (without any increase in the principal amount thereof);

                           (f)  guarantees   made  in  the  ordinary  course  of
business by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of obligations of any Wholly
Owned Subsidiary Guarantor;

                           (g) (i)  Indebtedness  of the  Borrower in respect of
the Senior  Subordinated Notes and (ii) Guarantee  Obligations of any Subsidiary
Guarantor  in  respect  of  such  Indebtedness;  provided  that  such  Guarantee
Obligations  are  subordinated  to the same  extent  as the  obligations  of the
Borrower in respect of the Senior Subordinated Notes;

                           (h) Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not
to exceed  $900,000  owed to the Empire  State  Development  Authority,  and any
refinancings,  refundings,  renewals or extensions thereof (without any increase
in the principal amount thereof);

                           (i)  Indebtedness of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries
on account of industrial  revenue bonds in an aggregate  principal amount not to
exceed $10,000,000 at any one time outstanding;

                           (j)  guarantees   made  in  the  ordinary  course  of
business by the  Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  of lease  obligations  of
their  customers  in respect of  equipment  sold by the  Borrower  or any of its
Subsidiaries  to a third party and then leased to such  customer in an aggregate
amount outstanding at any time not to exceed $5,000,000;

                           (k)  Indebtedness  in  respect  of  letters of credit
outstanding  in the ordinary  course of business in an aggregate face amount not
to exceed $3,000,000;

                           (l)   Indebtedness   of  any  Wholly  Owned   Foreign
Subsidiary  to the  Borrower or any other  Subsidiary  (so long as no Default or
Event of  Default  shall  have  occurred  and be  continuing  at the time of the
incurrence of such Indebtedness),  provided that (x) the requirements of Section
6.10 are satisfied and (y) the aggregate  principal amount of such  Indebtedness
at any time  outstanding  shall not exceed  $10,000,000  less the sum of (A) the
aggregate  fair  market  value of any  Property  Disposed  of to a Wholly  Owned
Foreign  Subsidiary  pursuant to Section 7.5(e) and (B) the aggregate  amount of
all investments made in such Foreign Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 7.8(i);

                           (m) additional Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of
its  Subsidiaries  in an  aggregate  principal  amount (for the Borrower and all
Subsidiaries) not to exceed $10,000,000 at any one time outstanding.

                  SECTION VII.3 Limitation on Liens.  Create,  incur,  assume or
suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its Property or revenues, whether now owned
or hereafter acquired, except for:

                           (a) Liens for taxes,  assessments  or charges not yet
due or which  are  being  contested  in good  faith by  appropriate  procedures,
provided that adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books
of the  Borrower or its  Subsidiaries,  as the case may be, in  conformity  with
GAAP;

                           (b)    carriers',     warehousemen's,     mechanics',
materialmen's,  repairmen's,  supplier's  or other  like  Liens  arising  in the
ordinary  course of business  which are not overdue for a period of more than 30
days or which are being  contested in good faith by appropriate  proceedings and
Liens  securing  judgments  to the extent not  constituting  an Event of Default
pursuant to Section 8(h);

                           (c) pledges or deposits in  connection  with workers'
compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation;

                           (d) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade
contracts (other than for borrowed money), leases, statutory obligations, surety
and appeal  bonds,  performance  bonds and other  obligations  of a like  nature
incurred in the ordinary course of business;

                           (e) easements, rights-of-way,  restrictions and other
similar  encumbrances  incurred in the ordinary course of business which, in the
aggregate, are not substantial in amount and which do not in any case materially
detract from the value of the Property  subject thereto or materially  interfere
with  the  ordinary  conduct  of  the  business  of the  Borrower  or any of its
Subsidiaries;

                           (f) Liens in existence  on the date hereof  listed on
Schedule  7.3(f)  (and  any  replacements  or  extensions   thereof),   securing
Indebtedness  permitted by Section 7.2(e),  provided that no such Lien is spread
to cover any  additional  Property after the Closing Date and that the amount of
Indebtedness secured thereby is not increased;

                           (g) Liens upon real and/or tangible personal Property
acquired after the date hereof (by purchase,  construction  or otherwise) by the
Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries,  each of which Liens either (i) existed on
such  Property  before  the  time of its  acquisition  and was  not  created  in
anticipation  thereof or (ii) was  created  solely for the  purpose of  securing
Indebtedness representing, or incurred to finance, refinance or refund, the cost
(including the cost of  construction)  of such Property and permitted by Section
7.2; provided that (A) no such Lien shall extend to or cover any Property of the
Borrower or such Subsidiary other than the Property so acquired or financed, and
(B) the principal  amount of  Indebtedness  secured by any such Lien shall at no
time  exceed  80% of the fair  market  value (as  determined  in good faith by a
Responsible  Officer  of the  Borrower)  of  such  Property  at the  time it was
acquired (by purchase, construction or otherwise);

                           (h) Liens created pursuant to the Security Documents;

                           (i) any interest or title of a lessor under any lease
entered into by the Borrower or any other  Subsidiary in the ordinary  course of
its business and covering only the assets so leased;

                           (j) Liens securing Indebtedness  permitted by Section
7.2(h) in respect of a leasehold interest of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in
a facility located in Rome, New York;

                           (k) Liens  arising from  precautionary  UCC financing
statement filings regarding operating leases or consignment arrangements entered
into by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

                           (l)   Liens   in  favor   of   banking   institutions
encumbering  the deposits  (including  the right of setoff) held by such banking
institutions in the ordinary course of business and which are within the general
parameters customary in the banking industry;

                           (m) Liens on the property or assets of a  corporation
which becomes a Subsidiary after the date hereof securing Indebtedness permitted
by  Section  7.2,  provided  that  (i)  such  Liens  existed  at the  time  such
corporation  became a Subsidiary and were not created in  anticipation  thereof,
(ii) any such Lien is not spread to cover any  additional  property or assets of
such corporation after the time such corporation becomes a Subsidiary, and (iii)
the amount of Indebtedness secured thereby is not increased; and

                           (n) Liens not otherwise permitted by this Section 7.3
so long as  neither  (i)  the  aggregate  outstanding  principal  amount  of the
obligations secured thereby nor (ii) the aggregate fair market value (determined
as of the date such Lien is incurred) of the assets subject  thereto exceeds (as
to the Borrower and all Subsidiaries) $5,000,000 at any one time.

                  SECTION VII.4  Limitation on Fundamental  Changes.  Enter into
any merger,  consolidation  or amalgamation,  or liquidate,  wind up or dissolve
itself  (or  suffer  any  liquidation  or  dissolution),  or Dispose of all or a
substantial part of its Property or business except:

                           (a) any  Subsidiary  of the Borrower may be merged or
consolidated with or into the Borrower  (provided that the Borrower shall be the
continuing or surviving corporation) or with or into any Wholly Owned Subsidiary
Guarantor  (provided  that the Wholly Owned  Subsidiary  Guarantor  shall be the
continuing or surviving corporation);

                           (b) any Subsidiary of the Borrower may Dispose of any
or all of its assets (upon  voluntary  liquidation or otherwise) to the Borrower
or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary Guarantor;

                           (c) any Foreign  Subsidiary  of the  Borrower  may be
merged or consolidated with or into any other Foreign Subsidiary;

                           (d)  any  Foreign  Subsidiary  of  the  Borrower  may
dispose of any or all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to
any other Foreign Subsidiary of the Borrower; and

                           (e) to the extent permitted by Section 7.5.

                  SECTION VII.5 Limitation on Sale of Assets.  Dispose of any of
its  Property  or  business  (including,  without  limitation,  receivables  and
leasehold interests),  whether now owned or hereafter acquired,  or, in the case
of any Subsidiary,  issue or sell any shares of such Subsidiary's  Capital Stock
to any Person, except:

                           (a) the  Disposition of obsolete or worn out property
                  in the ordinary course of business;

                           (b) the sale or other Disposition of inventory in the
                  ordinary course of business;

                           (c)  Dispositions  permitted  by  Section  7.4(b) and
                  7.4(d);

                           (d) the sale or issuance of any Subsidiary's  Capital
                  Stock  to  the  Borrower  or  any  Wholly   Owned   Subsidiary
                  Guarantor;

                           (e) so long as no Default  or Event of Default  shall
                  have occurred and be continuing, Dispositions of Property from
                  the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  Guarantor to any Wholly Owned
                  Foreign  Subsidiary,  provided  that (x) the  requirements  of
                  Section 6.10 are satisfied  and (y) the aggregate  fair market
                  value of such  Property  since the Original  Closing Date does
                  not  exceed  (I)  $10,000,000  minus  (II)  the sum of (A) the
                  aggregate  principal amount of any Indebtedness of any Foreign
                  Subsidiary at any time  outstanding in accordance with Section
                  7.2(l) and (B) the aggregate  amount of all investments in any
                  Foreign Subsidiary made pursuant to Section 7.8(i);

                           (f) any Asset Sale  (including any sale and leaseback
                  transactions  permitted by Section  7.11 ) or Recovery  Event,
                  provided that the requirements of Section 2.10(b) are complied
                  with in connection therewith;

                           (g) monetary  payments made in the ordinary course of
                  business;

                           (h) the sale or discount without recourse of accounts
                  receivable  arising in the ordinary  course of business of the
                  Borrower  and  its   Subsidiaries   in  connection   with  the
                  compromise or collection thereof;

                           (i) the sale of inventory  located outside the United
                  States  to an  affiliate  of  BMS  pursuant  to  the  Linvatec
                  acquisition documentation;

                           (j) the sale or issuance  of a minimal  number of any
                  Foreign  Subsidiary's  Capital Stock to a foreign  national to
                  the extent required by local law in a jurisdiction outside the
                  United States; and

                           (k) any  Disposition of Property or series of related
                  Dispositions  of  Property  which  yields net  proceeds to the
                  Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries  (valued at the  initial
                  principal  amount  thereof  in the case of  non-cash  proceeds
                  consisting  of notes or other  debt  securities  and valued at
                  fair market value in the case of other  non-cash  proceeds) of
                  less than $200,000.

Any Collateral which is sold, transferred or otherwise conveyed pursuant to this
Section 7.5 to a Person other than the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall, upon
the consummation of such sale in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and
the other Loan  Documents,  be released from the Liens  granted  pursuant to the
Security   Documents  and  each  Lender  hereby  authorizes  and  instructs  the
Administrative  Agent to take such action as the Borrower reasonably may request
to evidence such release.

                  SECTION  VII.6  Limitation  on  Dividends.  Declare or pay any
dividend  (other than  dividends  payable solely in Capital Stock) of the Person
making such dividend) on, or make any payment on account of, or set apart assets
for a sinking or other analogous fund for, the purchase, redemption, defeasance,
retirement or other  acquisition of, any shares of any class of Capital Stock of
the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  or any warrants or options to purchase any such
Capital  Stock,  whether  now  or  hereafter  outstanding,  or  make  any  other
distribution in respect thereof, either directly or indirectly,  whether in cash
or property or in obligations  of the Borrower or any Subsidiary  (collectively,
"Restricted Payments"), except

                           (i) that any Subsidiary may make Restricted  Payments
                  to the Borrower or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary Guarantor;

                           (ii) (A)  repurchases  of Capital Stock made in order
                  to fulfill the  obligations  of the Borrower or any Subsidiary
                  under an employee or director  stock  purchase plan or similar
                  plan covering  employees of the Borrower or any  Subsidiary as
                  from time to time in effect and (B) cash payments made in lieu
                  of issuing  fractional shares of Borrower's  Capital Stock, in
                  an aggregate amount for purposes of clauses (A) and (B) not to
                  exceed $2,250,000 per year; and

                           (iii) (A)  redemptions of Capital Stock in connection
                  with a rights plan  adopted by the Board of  Directors  of the
                  Borrower,  or  (B)  Restricted  Payments  in  respect  of  the
                  Warrant,  in an aggregate amount in respect of clauses (A) and
                  (B) equal to $5,000,000 since the Original Closing Date.

                  SECTION  VII.7  Limitation  on Capital  Expenditures.  Make or
commit  to  make  (by  way of the  acquisition  of  securities  of a  Person  or
otherwise)  any  Capital  Expenditure,  except (a) Capital  Expenditures  of the
Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  in the ordinary course of business not exceeding
$20,000,000  per annum;  provided  that (i) up to  $5,000,000 of any such amount
referred  to  above,  if not so  expended  in the  fiscal  year for  which it is
permitted,  may be carried over for  expenditure in the next  succeeding  fiscal
year and (ii) Capital  Expenditures  made pursuant to this clause (a) during any
fiscal year shall be deemed made, first, in respect of amounts carried over from
the prior fiscal year pursuant to subclause (i) above and, second, in respect of
amounts  permitted  for such  fiscal  year as  provided  above  and (b)  Capital
Expenditures made with the proceeds of any Reinvestment Deferred Amount.

                  SECTION VII.8  Limitation on Investments,  Loans and Advances.
Make any advance, loan, extension of credit (by way of guaranty or otherwise) or
capital  contribution  to, or purchase any stock,  bonds,  notes,  debentures or
other  securities  of or any assets  constituting  all or a  material  part of a
business unit of, or make any other investment in, any Person, except:

                           (a) extensions of trade credit in the ordinary course
                  of business;

                           (b) investments in Cash Equivalents;

                           (c) Guarantee Obligations permitted by Section 7.2;

                           (d) loans and  advances to  employees or directors of
                  the Borrower or its  Subsidiaries  in the  ordinary  course of
                  business   (including,   without   limitation,   for   travel,
                  entertainment and relocation  expenses) in an aggregate amount
                  for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries not to exceed $1,000,000
                  at any one  time  outstanding,  provided,  however  that  this
                  provision shall not limit key man insurance;

                           (e) the Acquisition;

                           (f)  investments  made by the  Borrower or any of its
                  Subsidiaries  with the proceeds of any  Reinvestment  Deferred
                  Amount;

                           (g)  investments  by  the  Borrower  or  any  of  its
                  Subsidiaries  in the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  Guarantor in
                  the ordinary course of business;

                           (h)  investments   (including  debt  obligations  and
                  Capital Stock) by the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  received
                  in  connection  with  the  bankruptcy  or   reorganization  of
                  suppliers  and  customers  and  in  settlement  of  delinquent
                  obligations  of,  and  other  disputes  with,   customers  and
                  suppliers arising in the ordinary course of business;

                           (i) so long as no Default  or Event of Default  shall
                  have  occurred  and  be  continuing,   the  Borrower  and  any
                  Subsidiary   may  make   investments   in,  or   create,   any
                  Wholly-Owned   Foreign   Subsidiary   (by   way   of   capital
                  contribution or otherwise), provided that (x) the requirements
                  of Section 6.10 are satisfied and (y) the aggregate  amount of
                  all investments in such Foreign  Subsidiaries shall not exceed
                  (I) $10,000,000 since the Original Closing Date minus (II) the
                  sum of (A) the aggregate  principal amount of any Indebtedness
                  of any  Foreign  Subsidiary  at any such time  outstanding  in
                  accordance  with  Section  7.2(l) and (B) the  aggregate  fair
                  market value of any Dispositions of Property from the Borrower
                  or any  Subsidiary  Guarantor  to any  Foreign  Subsidiary  in
                  accordance with Section 7.5(e);

                           (j) in addition to  investments  otherwise  expressly
                  permitted  by this Section 7.8, so long as no Default or Event
                  of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,  investments
                  by the  Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  in an  aggregate
                  amount  (valued at cost) not to exceed  $15,000,000  since the
                  Original Closing Date; and

                           (k) other investments constituting Permitted Business
                  Acquisitions  for  aggregate   consideration   not  to  exceed
                  $50,000,000  since  the  Original  Closing  Date,  unless  the
                  Borrower shall have obtained the prior written  consent of the
                  Required Lenders.

                  SECTION   VII.9   Limitation   on   Optional    Payments   and
Modifications of Debt  Instruments,  etc. (a) Make or offer to make any payment,
prepayment,  repurchase or redemption of or otherwise defease or segregate funds
with respect to the Senior  Subordinated  Notes (other than  scheduled  interest
payments  required to be made in cash or pursuant to the  Exchange  Offer or any
refinancing of the Senior  Subordinated Notes permitted  hereunder),  (b) amend,
modify,  waive or  otherwise  change,  or  consent  or  agree to any  amendment,
modification,  waiver  or  other  change  to,  any of the  terms  of the  Senior
Subordinated  Notes (i) which  amends or modifies the  subordination  provisions
contained therein; (ii) which shortens the fixed maturity, or increases the rate
or  shortens  the time of payment of  interest  on, or  increases  the amount or
shortens  the time of payment of any  principal  or premium  payable  whether at
maturity, at a date fixed for prepayment or by acceleration or otherwise of such
Indebtedness, or increases the amount of, or accelerates the time of payment of,
any fees payable in connection therewith; (iii) which relates to the affirmative
or negative  covenants,  events of default or remedies  under the  documents  or
instruments  evidencing such  Indebtedness and the effect of which is to subject
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, to any more onerous or more restrictive
provisions;  or (iv) which  otherwise  adversely  affects the  interests  of the
Lenders as senior creditors or the interests of the Lenders under this Agreement
or any other Loan Document in any respect, (c) designate any Indebtedness (other
than the Obligations) as "Designated  Senior  Indebtedness"  (or similar defined
term) for the purposes of the Senior  Subordinated  Note  Indenture or (d) amend
its  certificate of  incorporation  in any manner adverse to the Lenders without
the prior written consent of the Required Lenders.

                  SECTION VII.10  Limitation on  Transactions  with  Affiliates.
Enter into any transaction,  including,  without limitation, any purchase, sale,
lease or exchange of  Property,  the  rendering of any service or the payment of
any  management,  advisory or similar fees,  with any Affiliate  (other than the
Borrower or any Wholly Owned  Subsidiary  Guarantor)  unless such transaction is
(a) otherwise  permitted  under this  Agreement,  (b) in the ordinary  course of
business of the  Borrower or such  Subsidiary,  as the case may be, and (c) upon
fair and reasonable  terms no less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary,
as the  case  may  be,  than  it  would  obtain  in a  comparable  arm's  length
transaction with a Person which is not an Affiliate.

                  SECTION VII.11 Limitation on Sales and Leasebacks.  Enter into
any arrangement with any Person providing for the leasing by the Borrower or any
Subsidiary  of real or  personal  property  which  has  been or is to be sold or
transferred  by the Borrower or such  Subsidiary  to such Person or to any other
Person to whom  funds  have  been or are to be  advanced  by such  Person on the
security  of  such  property  or  rental  obligations  of the  Borrower  or such
Subsidiary, except in respect of assets the aggregate fair market value of which
does not exceed $10,000,000 since the Original Closing Date.

                  SECTION VII.12 Limitation on Changes in Fiscal Periods. Change
the Borrower's method of determining fiscal quarters or fiscal years.

                  SECTION VII.13  Limitation on Negative Pledge  Clauses.  Enter
into or suffer to exist or become  effective  any agreement  which  prohibits or
limits the ability of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to create,  incur,
assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its Property or revenues, whether
now owned or hereafter  acquired,  to secure the  Obligations or, in the case of
any guarantor,  its  obligations  under the Guarantee and Collateral  Agreement,
other  than (a) this  Agreement  and the other  Loan  Documents,  (b) the Senior
Subordinated  Note  Indenture,  (c) any agreements  governing any purchase money
Liens,  Capital Lease Obligations  otherwise permitted hereby or Liens permitted
by Sections  7.3(f) or (m) (in which case, any  prohibition or limitation  shall
only be effective against the assets financed thereby).

                  SECTION  VII.14   Limitation  on  Restrictions  on  Subsidiary
Distributions.  Enter into or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual
encumbrance  or  restriction on the ability of any Subsidiary of the Borrower to
(a) pay  dividends  or make any other  distributions  in respect of any  Capital
Stock of such Subsidiary held by, or pay any Indebtedness  owed to, the Borrower
or any other  Subsidiary  of the  Borrower,  (b) make loans or  advances  to the
Borrower or any other  Subsidiary  of the  Borrower or (c)  transfer  any of its
assets to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower,  except for such
encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of (i) any restrictions
existing under the Loan Documents or the Senior  Subordinated Note Indenture and
(ii) any  restrictions  with  respect to a  Subsidiary  imposed  pursuant  to an
agreement  which has been entered into in connection with the Disposition of all
or substantially all of the Capital Stock or assets of such Subsidiary.

                  SECTION VII.15 Limitation on Lines of Business. Enter into any
business, either directly or through any Subsidiary, except for those businesses
in which the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries is engaged on the date of this
Agreement or which are reasonably related thereto.

                  SECTION   VII.16   Limitation  on  Amendments  to  Acquisition
Documentation.  (a) Amend,  supplement or otherwise modify (pursuant to a waiver
or otherwise) the terms and conditions of the indemnities and licenses furnished
to  the  Borrower  or  any  of its  Subsidiaries  pursuant  to  the  Acquisition
Documentation such that after giving effect thereto such indemnities or licenses
shall be materially  less  favorable to the interests of the Loan Parties or the
Lenders with respect  thereto or (b)  otherwise  amend,  supplement or otherwise
modify the terms and conditions of the Acquisition  Documentation  except to the
extent that any such amendment,  supplement or modification could not reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                         ARTICLE VIII. EVENTS OF DEFAULT

                  If any of the following events shall occur and be continuing:

                           (a) The Borrower  shall fail to pay any  principal of
                  any Loan or  Reimbursement  Obligation  when due in accordance
                  with the terms hereof;  or the Borrower  shall fail to pay any
                  interest on any Loan or Reimbursement  Obligation or any other
                  amount  payable  hereunder  or under any other  Loan  Document
                  within  five days  after  any such  interest  or other  amount
                  becomes due in accordance with the terms hereof; or

                           (b) Any  representation  or  warranty  made or deemed
                  made by any Loan Party herein or in any other Loan Document or
                  which is contained in any  certificate,  document or financial
                  or other  statement  furnished  by it at any time  under or in
                  connection with this Agreement or any such other Loan Document
                  shall prove to have been inaccurate in any material respect on
                  or as of the date made or deemed made; or

                           (c) Any Loan Party shall default in the observance or
                  performance  of  any  agreement  contained  in  clause  (i) of
                  Section  6.4(a) (with respect to the Borrower  only),  Section
                  6.7(a), Section 6.13(b) or Article 7; or

                           (d) Any Loan Party shall default in the observance or
                  performance of any other agreement contained in this Agreement
                  or  any  other  Loan  Document  (other  than  as  provided  in
                  paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Section),  and such default
                  shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days; or

                           (e) The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall (i)
                  default  in  making  any  payment  of  any  principal  of  any
                  Indebtedness  (including,  without  limitation,  any Guarantee
                  Obligation,  but  excluding  the  Loans) on the  scheduled  or
                  original  due date with  respect  thereto;  or (ii) default in
                  making any payment of any  interest  on any such  Indebtedness
                  beyond the  period of grace  (not to exceed 31 days),  if any,
                  provided  in the  instrument  or  agreement  under  which such
                  Indebtedness  was created;  or (iii) default in the observance
                  or performance of any other agreement or condition relating to
                  any  such  Indebtedness  or  contained  in any  instrument  or
                  agreement  evidencing,  securing or relating  thereto,  or any
                  other  event  shall occur or  condition  exist,  the effect of
                  which  default or other event or condition is to cause,  or to
                  permit the holder or  beneficiary of such  Indebtedness  (or a
                  trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or  beneficiary)  to
                  cause,   with  the   giving  of  notice  if   required,   such
                  Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity or (in
                  the case of any such  Indebtedness  constituting  a  Guarantee
                  Obligation) to become payable;  provided that a default, event
                  or condition  described  in clause (i),  (ii) or (iii) of this
                  paragraph  (e)  shall not at any time  constitute  an Event of
                  Default unless, at such time, one or more defaults,  events or
                  conditions  of the type  described  in clauses  (i),  (ii) and
                  (iii)  of  this  paragraph  (e)  shall  have  occurred  and be
                  continuing  with  respect  to  Indebtedness   the  outstanding
                  principal amount of which exceeds in the aggregate $5,000,000;
                  or

                           (f) (i) The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall
                  commence  any case,  proceeding  or other action (A) under any
                  existing  or  future  law of  any  jurisdiction,  domestic  or
                  foreign, relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or
                  relief of debtors, seeking to have an order for relief entered
                  with respect to it, or seeking to  adjudicate it a bankrupt or
                  insolvent, or seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment,
                  winding-up,  liquidation,  dissolution,  composition  or other
                  relief  with  respect  to it or  its  debts,  or  (B)  seeking
                  appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian,  conservator or
                  other  similar  official for it or for all or any  substantial
                  part of its assets, or the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
                  shall  make  a  general  assignment  for  the  benefit  of its
                  creditors;  or (ii)  there  shall  be  commenced  against  the
                  Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  any case,  proceeding or
                  other action of a nature referred to in clause (i) above which
                  (A)  results  in the entry of an order for  relief or any such
                  adjudication  or  appointment  or  (B)  remains   undismissed,
                  undischarged  or  unbonded  for a period of 60 days;  or (iii)
                  there shall be  commenced  against the  Borrower or any of its
                  Subsidiaries  any case,  proceeding  or other  action  seeking
                  issuance of a warrant of attachment,  execution,  distraint or
                  similar  process  against all or any  substantial  part of its
                  assets  which  results  in the  entry of an order for any such
                  relief  which  shall not have  been  vacated,  discharged,  or
                  stayed or bonded  pending appeal within 60 days from the entry
                  thereof; or (iv) the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall
                  take any action in  furtherance  of, or indicating its consent
                  to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any of the acts set forth
                  in clause (i),  (ii),  or (iii) above;  or (v) the Borrower or
                  any of its  Subsidiaries  shall  generally  not,  or  shall be
                  unable to, or shall admit in writing its inability to, pay its
                  debts as they become due; or

                           (g) (i) Any Person  shall  engage in any  "prohibited
                  transaction"  (as  defined in Section  406 of ERISA or Section
                  4975 of the Code)  involving any Plan,  (ii) any  "accumulated
                  funding  deficiency"  (as  defined in  Section  302 of ERISA),
                  whether or not waived, shall exist with respect to any Plan or
                  any Lien in favor  of the  PBGC or a Plan  shall  arise on the
                  assets of the  Borrower  or any  Commonly  Controlled  Entity,
                  (iii) a  Reportable  Event  shall  occur with  respect  to, or
                  proceedings shall commence to have a trustee  appointed,  or a
                  trustee shall be appointed, to administer or to terminate, any
                  Single Employer Plan,  which  Reportable Event or commencement
                  of  proceedings  or  appointment  of  a  trustee  is,  in  the
                  reasonable  opinion of the Required Lenders,  likely to result
                  in the  termination  of such Plan for  purposes of Title IV of
                  ERISA,  (iv) any  Single  Employer  Plan shall  terminate  for
                  purposes  of  Title  IV of  ERISA,  (v)  the  Borrower  or any
                  Commonly Controlled Entity shall, or in the reasonable opinion
                  of the Required  Lenders is likely to, incur any  liability in
                  connection  with  a  withdrawal  from,  or the  Insolvency  or
                  Reorganization  of, a  Multiemployer  Plan or (vi)  any  other
                  similar event or condition which is not in the ordinary course
                  shall occur or exist with respect to a Plan;  and in each case
                  in clauses (i) through  (vi) above,  such event or  condition,
                  together  with all other such  events or  conditions,  if any,
                  could,   in  the  sole  judgment  of  the  Required   Lenders,
                  reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

                           (h) One or more judgments or decrees shall be entered
                  against the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  involving in
                  the  aggregate a liability  (not fully covered by insurance as
                  to which  the  relevant  insurance  company  has  acknowledged
                  coverage) of  $5,000,000  or more,  and all such  judgments or
                  decrees shall not have been paid, vacated, discharged,  stayed
                  or  bonded  pending  appeal  within  60 days  from  the  entry
                  thereof; or

                           (i) Any of the Security  Documents  shall cease,  for
                  any reason,  to be in full force and effect, or any Loan Party
                  or any  Affiliate  of any Loan Party  shall so assert,  or any
                  Lien  created by any of the  Security  Documents in respect of
                  material  assets shall cease to be enforceable and of the same
                  effect and priority purported to be created thereby; or

                           (j)  The  guarantee  contained  in  Section  2 of the
                  Guarantee  and  Collateral  Agreement  shall  cease,  for  any
                  reason,  to be in full  force and  effect or any Loan Party or
                  any Affiliate of any Loan Party shall so assert; or

                           (k) (i) Any  "person"  or "group"  (as such terms are
                  used in Sections  13(d) and 14(d) of the  Securities  Exchange
                  Act of 1934,  as  amended  (the  "Exchange  Act")),  (A) shall
                  become,  or  obtain  rights  (whether  by means  or  warrants,
                  options or otherwise) to become,  the  "beneficial  owner" (as
                  defined in Rules 13(d)-3 and 13(d)-5 under the Exchange  Act),
                  directly or  indirectly,  of more than 15% of the  outstanding
                  common  stock of the  Borrower  or (B) shall  obtain the power
                  (whether  or  not  exercised)  to  elect  a  majority  of  the
                  Borrower's  directors;  (ii)  the  board of  directors  of the
                  Borrower  shall cease to consist of a majority  of  Continuing
                  Directors; or (iii) a Specified Change of Control shall occur;
                  or

                           (l) The Senior  Subordinated  Notes or the guarantees
                  thereof   shall   cease,   for  any  reason,   to  be  validly
                  subordinated  to the  Obligations  or the  obligations  of the
                  Subsidiary  Guarantors  under  the  Guarantee  and  Collateral
                  Agreement,  as the  case may be,  as  provided  in the  Senior
                  Subordinated Note Indenture,  or any Loan Party, any Affiliate
                  of any Loan  Party,  the  trustee  in  respect  of the  Senior
                  Subordinated Notes or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate
                  principal  amount of the Senior  Subordinated  Notes  shall so
                  assert;

then, and in any such event, (A) if such event is an Event of Default  specified
in clause  (i) or (ii) of  paragraph  (f) above with  respect  to the  Borrower,
automatically  the  Commitments  shall  immediately   terminate  and  the  Loans
hereunder (with accrued interest thereon) and all other amounts owing under this
Agreement  and the other Loan  Documents  (including,  without  limitation,  all
amounts  of L/C  Obligations,  whether  or not  the  beneficiaries  of the  then
outstanding  Letters  of Credit  shall have  presented  the  documents  required
thereunder) shall immediately  become due and payable,  and (B) if such event is
any other  Event of  Default,  either or both of the  following  actions  may be
taken: (i) with the consent of the Majority  Revolving Credit Facility  Lenders,
the  Administrative  Agent may,  or upon the request of the  Majority  Revolving
Credit  Facility  Lenders,  the  Administrative  Agent  shall,  by notice to the
Borrower  declare the Revolving Credit  Commitments to be terminated  forthwith,
whereupon the Revolving Credit Commitments shall immediately terminate; and (ii)
with the consent of the Required Lenders,  the Administrative Agent may, or upon
the request of the Required Lenders,  the Administrative  Agent shall, by notice
to the Borrower, declare the Loans hereunder (with accrued interest thereon) and
all other  amounts  owing  under this  Agreement  and the other  Loan  Documents
(including,  without limitation, all amounts of L/C Obligations,  whether or not
the beneficiaries of the then outstanding Letters of Credit shall have presented
the documents required  thereunder) to be due and payable  forthwith,  whereupon
the same shall immediately  become due and payable.  With respect to all Letters
of Credit with respect to which presentment for honor shall not have occurred at
the time of an acceleration  pursuant to this  paragraph,  the Borrower shall at
such time  deposit in a cash  collateral  account  opened by the  Administrative
Agent an amount equal to the aggregate then undrawn and unexpired amount of such
Letters of Credit. Amounts held in such cash collateral account shall be applied
by the Administrative Agent to the payment of drafts drawn under such Letters of
Credit,  and the unused  portion  thereof after all such Letters of Credit shall
have expired or been fully drawn upon,  if any,  shall be applied to repay other
obligations of the Borrower hereunder and under the other Loan Documents.  After
all such  Letters of Credit  shall have  expired or been fully drawn  upon,  all
Reimbursement Obligations shall have been satisfied and all other obligations of
the Borrower  hereunder and under the other Loan Documents  shall have been paid
in full, the balance,  if any, in such cash collateral account shall be returned
to the Borrower (or such other Person as may be lawfully entitled thereto).

                             ARTICLE IX. THE AGENTS

                  SECTION  IX.1  Appointment.  Each  Lender  hereby  irrevocably
designates  and  appoints  the  Agents as the agents of such  Lender  under this
Agreement  and the  other  Loan  Documents,  and each  such  Lender  irrevocably
authorizes each Agent, in such capacity, to take such action on its behalf under
the  provisions of this  Agreement and the other Loan  Documents and to exercise
such powers and perform such duties as are  expressly  delegated to the Agent by
the terms of this  Agreement  and the other Loan  Documents,  together with such
other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Notwithstanding any provision
to the contrary  elsewhere in this Agreement,  no Agent shall have any duties or
responsibilities,  except those  expressly  set forth  herein,  or any fiduciary
relationship   with  any   Lender,   and  no   implied   covenants,   functions,
responsibilities,  duties,  obligations or  liabilities  shall be read into this
Agreement or any other Loan Document or otherwise exist against any Agent.

                  SECTION IX.2 Delegation of Duties.  Each Agent may execute any
of its duties under this  Agreement  and the other Loan  Documents by or through
agents  or  attorneys-in-fact  and  shall  be  entitled  to  advice  of  counsel
concerning all matters  pertaining to such duties. No Agent shall be responsible
for the negligence or misconduct of any agents or attorneys  in-fact selected by
it with reasonable care.

                  SECTION IX.3 Exculpatory Provisions. Neither any Agent nor any
of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or
affiliates  shall be (i) liable for any action  lawfully  taken or omitted to be
taken by it or such Person  under or in  connection  with this  Agreement or any
other Loan Document (except to the extent that any of the foregoing are found by
a final and nonappealable  decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have
resulted from its or such Person's own gross  negligence or willful  misconduct)
or (ii)  responsible  in any  manner  to any of the  Lenders  for any  recitals,
statements,  representations or warranties made by any Loan Party or any officer
thereof  contained  in this  Agreement  or any  other  Loan  Document  or in any
certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in,
or received by the Agents under or in  connection  with,  this  Agreement or any
other Loan  Document  or for the value,  validity,  effectiveness,  genuineness,
enforceability  or  sufficiency  of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or
for any  failure of any Loan Party a party  thereto to perform  its  obligations
hereunder or  thereunder.  The Agents shall not be under any  obligation  to any
Lender to ascertain or to inquire as to the  observance or performance of any of
the agreements  contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement or any other Loan
Document, or to inspect the properties, books or records of any Loan Party.

                  SECTION IX.4 Reliance by Agents.  Each Agent shall be entitled
to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any instrument,  writing,
resolution, notice, consent, certificate,  affidavit, letter, telecopy, telex or
teletype message, statement, order or other document or conversation believed by
it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper
Person or Persons and upon advice and  statements of legal  counsel  (including,
without limitation,  counsel to the Loan Parties),  independent  accountants and
other  experts  selected by the  Administrative  Agent.  The Agents may deem and
treat the  payee of any Note as the  owner  thereof  for all  purposes  unless a
written  notice of assignment,  negotiation or transfer  thereof shall have been
filed with the  Administrative  Agent.  Each Agent shall be fully  justified  in
failing or refusing to take any action  under this  Agreement  or any other Loan
Document  unless  it shall  first  receive  such  advice or  concurrence  of the
Required  Lenders  (or, if so specified  by this  Agreement,  all Lenders) as it
deems  appropriate or it shall first be indemnified to its  satisfaction  by the
Lenders against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by
reason of taking or continuing to take any such action.  Each Agent shall in all
cases be fully  protected in acting,  or in refraining  from acting,  under this
Agreement  and the other  Loan  Documents  in  accordance  with a request of the
Required Lenders (or, if so specified by this Agreement,  all Lenders), and such
request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding
upon all the Lenders and all future holders of the Loans.

                  SECTION  IX.5 Notice of  Default.  No Agent shall be deemed to
have  knowledge or notice of the  occurrence  of any Default or Event of Default
hereunder  unless such Agent has  received  notice from a Lender or the Borrower
referring  to this  Agreement,  describing  such Default or Event of Default and
stating  that such  notice  is a  "notice  of  default".  In the event  that the
Administrative Agent receives such a notice, the Administrative Agent shall give
notice thereof to the Lenders.  The Administrative  Agent shall take such action
with respect to such Default or Event of Default as shall be reasonably directed
by the Required  Lenders (or, if so specified by this  Agreement,  all Lenders);
provided that unless and until the Administrative Agent shall have received such
directions,  the  Administrative  Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take
such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Default or
Event of  Default  as it shall  deem  advisable  in the  best  interests  of the
Lenders.

                  SECTION IX.6  Non-Reliance  on Agents and Other Lenders.  Each
Lender  expressly  acknowledges  that  neither  the  Agents  nor  any  of  their
respective  officers,   directors,   employees,  agents,   attorneys-in-fact  or
affiliates have made any  representations or warranties to it and that no act by
any Agent hereinafter taken, including any review of the affairs of a Loan Party
or  any  affiliate  of  a  Loan  Party,   shall  be  deemed  to  constitute  any
representation or warranty by any Agent to any Lender. Each Lender represents to
the Agents that it has, independently and without reliance upon any Agent or any
other  Lender,  and based on such  documents  and  information  as it has deemed
appropriate,  made its own  appraisal of and  investigation  into the  business,
operations,  property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the
Loan  Parties and their  affiliates  and made its own decision to make its Loans
hereunder and enter into this  Agreement.  Each Lender also  represents  that it
will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent or any other Lender, and
based on such  documents and  information  as it shall deem  appropriate  at the
time,  continue to make its own credit  analysis,  appraisals  and  decisions in
taking or not taking action under this  Agreement and the other Loan  Documents,
and to make such  investigation as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the
business,   operations,    property,   financial   and   other   condition   and
creditworthiness  of the Loan Parties and their affiliates.  Except for notices,
reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by
the   Administrative   Agent  hereunder,   no  Agent  shall  have  any  duty  or
responsibility  to  provide  any  Lender  with any  credit or other  information
concerning  the  business,   operations,   property,   condition  (financial  or
otherwise),  prospects or creditworthiness of any Loan Party or any affiliate of
a Loan  Party  which may come into the  possession  of such  Agent or any of its
officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates.

                  SECTION IX.7  Indemnification.  The Lenders agree to indemnify
each Agent in its capacity as such (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower
and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), ratably according
to their  respective  Aggregate  Exposure  Percentages  in effect on the date on
which  indemnification  is sought under this Section 9.7 (or, if indemnification
is sought after the date upon which the  Commitments  shall have  terminated and
the  Loans  shall  have  been  paid in full,  ratably  in  accordance  with such
Aggregate Exposure Percentages immediately prior to such date), from and against
any and all  liabilities,  obligations,  losses,  damages,  penalties,  actions,
judgments,  suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind whatsoever which
may at any  time  (including,  without  limitation,  at any time  following  the
payment of the Loans) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted  against such Agent
in any way relating to or arising out of, the Commitments,  this Agreement,  any
of the other Loan  Documents  or any  documents  contemplated  by or referred to
herein or  therein  or the  transactions  contemplated  hereby or thereby or any
action  taken or omitted by such Agent  under or in  connection  with any of the
foregoing;  provided  that no Lender  shall be  liable  for the  payment  of any
portion of such liabilities,  obligations,  losses, damages, penalties, actions,
judgments,  suits,  costs,  expenses or disbursements which are found by a final
and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted
from such Agent's gross negligence or willful misconduct. The agreements in this
Section 9.7 shall survive the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable
hereunder.

                  SECTION IX.8 Agent in Its Individual Capacity.  Each Agent and
its affiliates may make loans to, accept  deposits from and generally  engage in
any kind of business  with any Loan Party as though such Agent was not an Agent.
With  respect to its Loans made or renewed by it and with  respect to any Letter
of Credit issued or participated in by it, each Agent shall have the same rights
and powers under this  Agreement and the other Loan  Documents as any Lender and
may exercise the same as though it were not an Agent, and the terms "Lender" and
"Lenders" shall include each Agent in its individual capacity.

                  SECTION IX.9 Successor Agents.  The  Administrative  Agent may
resign as  Administrative  Agent  upon 10 days'  notice to the  Lenders  and the
Borrower. If the Administrative Agent shall resign as Administrative Agent under
this  Agreement and the other Loan  Documents,  then the Required  Lenders shall
appoint  from  among  the  Lenders a  successor  agent  for the  Lenders,  which
successor  agent shall (unless an Event of Default under Section 8(a) or Section
8(f) with respect to the Borrower  shall have  occurred  and be  continuing)  be
subject to approval by the Borrower  (which  approval shall not be  unreasonably
withheld or  delayed),  whereupon  such  successor  agent  shall  succeed to the
rights,   powers  and  duties  of  the   Administrative   Agent,  and  the  term
"Administrative  Agent"  shall mean such  successor  agent  effective  upon such
appointment and approval,  and the former Administrative  Agent's rights, powers
and duties as  Administrative  Agent shall be  terminated,  without any other or
further  act or deed on the part of such former  Administrative  Agent or any of
the parties to this Agreement or any holders of the Loans. If no successor agent
has accepted  appointment  as  Administrative  Agent by the date that is 10 days
following a retiring Administrative Agent's notice of resignation,  the retiring
Administrative   Agent's   resignation  shall   nevertheless   thereupon  become
effective,  and the  Lenders  shall  assume and perform all of the duties of the
Administrative  Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders
appoint a successor agent as provided for above. The Documentation Agent may, at
any time,  by notice to the  Lenders  and the  Administrative  Agent,  resign as
Documentation  Agent hereunder,  whereupon the duties,  rights,  obligations and
responsibilities  hereunder shall  automatically be assumed by, and inure to the
benefit  of,  the  Administrative   Agent,   without  any  further  act  by  the
Documentation  Agent, the Administrative Agent or any Lender. After any retiring
Agent's  resignation  as Agent,  the provisions of this Article 9 shall inure to
its  benefit as to any  actions  taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was
Agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

                  SECTION   IX.10    Authorization   to   Release   Liens.   The
Administrative Agent is hereby irrevocably  authorized by each of the Lenders to
release  any  Lien  covering  any  Property  of  the  Borrower  or  any  of  its
Subsidiaries  that is the subject of a  Disposition  which is  permitted by this
Agreement,  which has been  consented to in  accordance  with Section 10.1 or in
accordance with Section 10.16.

                  SECTION IX.11 The Syndication Agent. The Syndication Agent, in
its capacity as such, shall have no duties or responsibilities,  and shall incur
no liability, under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

                            ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS

                  SECTION X.1  Amendments and Waivers.  Neither this  Agreement,
any other  Loan  Document,  nor any  terms  hereof or  thereof  may be  amended,
supplemented  or  modified  except in  accordance  with the  provisions  of this
Section  10.1.  The  Required  Lenders and each Loan Party party to the relevant
Loan  Document  may, or (with the written  consent of the Required  Lenders) the
Administrative  Agent and each Loan Party party to the  relevant  Loan  Document
may,  from time to time,  (a) enter  into  written  amendments,  supplements  or
modifications  hereto and to the other Loan  Documents for the purpose of adding
any  provisions to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or changing in any
manner the rights of the Lenders or of the Loan Parties  hereunder or thereunder
or (b) waive,  on such terms and  conditions  as the  Required  Lenders,  or the
Administrative Agent, as the case may be, may specify in such instrument, any of
the requirements of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or any Default or
Event of Default and its consequences;  provided that no such waiver and no such
amendment,  supplement or modification shall (i) forgive the principal amount or
extend the final  scheduled  date of maturity of any Loan,  extend the scheduled
date of any amortization  payment in respect of any Term Loan, reduce the stated
rate of any interest,  fee or letter of credit  commission  payable hereunder or
extend the  scheduled  date of any payment  thereof,  or increase  the amount or
extend the expiration date of any Lender's Commitment,  in each case without the
consent of each Lender directly  affected thereby;  (ii) amend,  modify or waive
any  provision of this Section  10.1 or reduce any  percentage  specified in the
definition of Required Lenders or Required  Prepayment  Lenders,  consent to the
assignment  or  transfer by the  Borrower  of any of its rights and  obligations
under  this  Agreement  and  the  other  Loan  Documents,   or  release  all  or
substantially all of the Collateral,  release a significant Subsidiary Guarantor
from their  obligations  under the Guarantee and Collateral  Agreement,  in each
case  without the written  consent of all Lenders;  (iii) reduce the  percentage
specified in the  definition of Majority  Facility  Lenders  without the written
consent of all Lenders under each affected Facility; (iv) amend, modify or waive
any provision of Article 9 without the written consent of the applicable Agents;
(v)  amend,  modify or waive any  provision  of  Article 3 without  the  written
consent of the  Issuing  Lender or (vi) if this  Amendment  and  Restatement  is
executed by each Lender,  amend,  modify or waive any  provision of Section 2.10
and 2.16 without the written  consent of the Required  Prepayment  Lenders . Any
such  waiver and any such  amendment,  supplement  or  modification  shall apply
equally to each of the Lenders and shall be binding upon the Loan  Parties,  the
Lenders,  the  Agents and all  future  holders of the Loans.  In the case of any
waiver, the Loan Parties,  the Lenders and the Agents shall be restored to their
former position and rights hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, and any
Default  or  Event  of  Default  waived  shall be  deemed  to be  cured  and not
continuing;  but no such waiver shall extend to any  subsequent or other Default
or Event of Default, or impair any right consequent thereon.

                  SECTION X.2 Notices.  All notices,  requests and demands to or
upon  the  respective  parties  hereto  to be  effective  shall  be  in  writing
(including by telecopy),  and, unless otherwise expressly provided herein, shall
be deemed to have been duly given or made when delivered, or three Business Days
after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid,  or, in the case of telecopy
notice, when received,  addressed as follows in the case of the Borrower and the
Administrative  Agent,  and  as set  forth  in an  administrative  questionnaire
delivered to the  Administrative  Agent in the case of the  Lenders,  or to such
other address as may be hereafter notified by the respective parties hereto:

The Borrower:                  CONMED Corporation
                               310 Broad Street
                               Utica, New York  13501
                               Attention:  Dan Jonas, General Counsel

                               Robert Shallish, Chief Financial Officer

                               Telecopy:   (315) 797-0321
                               Telephone:  (315) 797-8375

The Administrative             The Chase Manhattan Bank,
  Agent:                       Loan & Agency Services

                               One Chase Manhattan Plaza
                               New York, New York  10005
                               Attention:  Janet Belden
                               Telecopy:   (212) 552-5650
                               Telephone:  (212) 552-7277

with a copy to:                The Chase Manhattan Bank
                               Bridgewater Place
                               500 Plum Street
                               Syracuse, New York  13204
                               Attention:  Frederick K. Miller
                               Telecopy:   (315) 478-7466
                               Telephone:  (315) 448-1425


provided  that any notice,  request or demand to or upon the either Agent or the
Lenders shall not be effective until received.

                  SECTION  X.3 No  Waiver;  Cumulative  Remedies.  No failure to
exercise  and no delay in  exercising,  on the part of the  either  Agent or any
Lender, any right,  remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under the other Loan
Documents  shall  operate as a waiver  thereof;  nor shall any single or partial
exercise of any right,  remedy,  power or privilege hereunder preclude any other
or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or
privilege.  The rights,  remedies,  powers and  privileges  herein  provided are
cumulative  and not  exclusive of any rights,  remedies,  powers and  privileges
provided by law.

                  SECTION X.4 Survival of  Representations  and Warranties.  All
representations  and warranties made hereunder,  in the other Loan Documents and
in any  document,  certificate  or  statement  delivered  pursuant  hereto or in
connection  herewith  shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement
and the making of the Loans hereunder.

                  SECTION X.5 Payment of Expenses.  The  Borrower  agrees (a) to
pay or reimburse the Agents and the Syndication  Agent for all their  reasonable
out-of-pocket  costs and expenses  incurred in connection with the  development,
preparation and execution of, and any amendment,  supplement or modification to,
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any other documents  prepared in
connection herewith or therewith, and the consummation and administration of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including, without limitation, the
reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent, (b) to
pay or  reimburse  each  Lender and the  Agents  for all its costs and  expenses
incurred in connection  with the enforcement or preservation of any rights under
this  Agreement,  the  other  Loan  Documents  and  any  such  other  documents,
including,  without limitation, the fees and disbursements of counsel (including
the  allocated  fees and  expenses  of  in-house  counsel) to each Lender and of
counsel  to the  Administrative  Agent,  (c) to pay,  indemnify,  and hold  each
Lender,  the  Agents  and  the  Syndication  Agent  harmless  from,  any and all
recording and filing fees or any amendment,  supplement or  modification  of, or
any waiver or consent  under or in respect  of, this  Agreement,  the other Loan
Documents and any such other documents, and (d) to pay, indemnify, and hold each
Lender,  the Agents and the  Syndication  Agent and their  respective  officers,
directors,  trustees,  employees,  affiliates,  agents and  controlling  persons
(each, an "indemnitee") harmless from and against any and all other liabilities,
obligations,  losses,  damages,  penalties,  actions,  judgments,  suits, costs,
expenses or disbursements  of any kind or nature  whatsoever with respect to the
execution,  delivery,  enforcement,   performance  and  administration  of  this
Agreement,  the other Loan  Documents and any such other  documents,  including,
without limitation,  any of the foregoing relating to the use of proceeds of the
Loans  or  the  violation  of,   noncompliance  with  or  liability  under,  any
Environmental  Law  applicable to the  operations  of the  Borrower,  any of its
Subsidiaries  or any of the Properties  and the reasonable  fees and expenses of
legal  counsel  in  connection  with  claims,  actions  or  proceedings  by  any
indemnitee against the Borrower hereunder (all the foregoing in this clause (d),
collectively, the "indemnified liabilities"),  provided, that the Borrower shall
have no  obligation  hereunder to any  indemnitee  with  respect to  indemnified
liabilities to the extent such indemnified  liabilities are found by a final and
nonappealable  decision of a court of competent  jurisdiction  to have  resulted
from the gross  negligence  or willful  misconduct of such  indemnitee.  Without
limiting  the  foregoing,  and to the extent  permitted by  applicable  law, the
Borrower agrees not to assert and to cause its Subsidiaries  not to assert,  and
hereby waives and agrees to cause its  Subsidiaries to so waive,  all rights for
contribution  or any other  rights  of  recovery  with  respect  to all  claims,
demands, penalties, fines, liabilities, settlements, damages, costs and expenses
of whatever kind or nature,  under or related to Environmental Laws, that any of
them might have by statute or otherwise  against any indemnitee.  The agreements
in this  Article  shall  survive  repayment  of the Loans and all other  amounts
payable hereunder.

                  SECTION  X.6  Successors  and  Assigns;   Participations   and
Assignments.  (a) This Agreement  shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit
of the Borrower,  the Lenders,  the Agents,  all future holders of the Loans and
their respective successors and assigns, except that the Borrower may not assign
or transfer any of its rights or obligations  under this  Agreement  without the
prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender.

                  (b) Any Lender may,  without the consent of the  Borrower,  in
accordance with applicable law, at any time sell to one or more banks, financial
institutions or other entities (each, a "Participant")  participating  interests
in any Loan owing to such  Lender,  any  Commitment  of such Lender or any other
interest of such Lender  hereunder  and under the other Loan  Documents.  In the
event of any such sale by a Lender of a participating interest to a Participant,
such  Lender's  obligations  under this  Agreement to the other  parties to this
Agreement shall remain  unchanged,  such Lender shall remain solely  responsible
for the  performance  thereof,  such Lender  shall remain the holder of any such
Loan for all purposes under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and the
Borrower  and the Agents shall  continue to deal solely and  directly  with such
Lender in  connection  with such  Lender's  rights  and  obligations  under this
Agreement  and the other Loan  Documents.  In no event shall any Lender grant to
any Participant under any such  participation any right to approve any amendment
or waiver of any provision of any Loan Document, or any consent to any departure
by any Loan Party therefrom, except to the extent that such amendment, waiver or
consent  would  reduce the  principal  of, or interest on, the Loans or any fees
payable  hereunder,  or postpone the date of the final maturity of the Loans, in
each case to the extent subject to such participation.  The Borrower agrees that
if amounts  outstanding under this Agreement and the Loans are due or unpaid, or
shall  have  been  declared  or  shall  have  become  due and  payable  upon the
occurrence of an Event of Default, each Participant shall, to the maximum extent
permitted by applicable law, be deemed to have the right of setoff in respect of
its  participating  interest in amounts  owing under this  Agreement to the same
extent as if the amount of its participating  interest were owing directly to it
as  a  Lender  under  this   Agreement,   provided  that,  in  purchasing   such
participating interest, such Participant shall be deemed to have agreed to share
with the Lenders the proceeds thereof as provided in Section 10.7(a) as fully as
if it were a Lender  hereunder.  The Borrower also agrees that each  Participant
shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections  2.17,  2.18 and 2.19 with respect
to its  participation in the Commitments and the Loans  outstanding from time to
time as if it was a Lender;  provided  that, in the case of Section  2.18,  such
Participant  shall have  complied  with the  requirements  of said  Section  and
provided,  further, that no Participant shall be entitled to receive any greater
amount  pursuant to any such Section than the transferor  Lender would have been
entitled to receive in respect of the amount of the participation transferred by
such transferor Lender to such Participant had no such transfer occurred.

                  (c)  Any  Lender  (an  "Assignor")  may,  in  accordance  with
applicable  law,  at any time and from time to time  assign to any Lender or any
affiliate thereof or, with the consent of the Borrower,  and the  Administrative
Agent (which, in each case, shall not be unreasonably  withheld or delayed),  to
an additional bank, financial institution or other entity (an "Assignee") all or
any part of its  rights and  obligations  under this  Agreement  pursuant  to an
Assignment and Acceptance (an " Assignment and  Acceptance"),  substantially  in
the  form of  Exhibit  D,  executed  by such  Assignee,  such  Assignor  and the
Administrative  Agent  (and,  where the  consent  of the  Borrower  is  required
pursuant to the  foregoing  provisions,  by the  Borrower)  and delivered to the
Administrative Agent for its acceptance and recording in the Register;  provided
that no such  assignment to an Assignee  (other than any Lender or any affiliate
thereof)  shall be in an  aggregate  principal  amount of less  than  $5,000,000
(other than in the case of an  assignment of all of a Lender's  interests  under
this Agreement),  unless otherwise agreed by the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent.  Any such assignment  need not be ratable as among the  Facilities.  Upon
such execution, delivery, acceptance and recording, from and after the effective
date determined  pursuant to such  Assignment and  Acceptance,  (x) the Assignee
thereunder  shall  be a  party  hereto  and,  to the  extent  provided  in  such
Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender hereunder
with a  Commitment  and/or  Loans as set  forth  therein,  and (y) the  Assignor
thereunder  shall, to the extent provided in such Assignment and Acceptance,  be
released  from its  obligations  under this  Agreement  (and,  in the case of an
Assignment and Acceptance  covering all of an Assignor's  rights and obligations
under this Agreement,  such assigning  Lender shall cease to be a party hereto).
Notwithstanding  any provision of this Section 10.6, the consent of the Borrower
shall not be required for any assignment which occurs at any time when any Event
of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

                  (d) The  Administrative  Agent  shall  maintain at its address
referred to in Section 10.2 a copy of each  Assignment and Acceptance  delivered
to it and a  register  (the  "Register")  for the  recordation  of the names and
addresses  of the Lenders and the  Commitment  of, and  principal  amount of the
Loans  owing to, each  Lender  from time to time and any Notes  evidencing  such
Loans.  The  entries in the  Register  shall be  conclusive,  in the  absence of
manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall
treat each Person  whose name is  recorded  in the  Register as the owner of the
Loan and any Note evidencing such Loan recorded therein for all purposes of this
Agreement.  Any  assignment of any Loan whether or not evidenced by a Note shall
be effective only upon  appropriate  entries with respect  thereto being made in
the  Register  (and each Note shall  expressly so provide).  Any  assignment  or
transfer of all or part of a Loan evidenced by a Note shall be registered on the
Register only upon surrender for  registration  of assignment or transfer of the
Note  evidencing  such  Loan,  accompanied  by a duly  executed  Assignment  and
Acceptance,  and thereupon one or more new Notes in the same aggregate principal
amount  shall be issued to the  designated  Assignee  and the old Notes shall be
returned by the  Administrative  Agent to the Borrower marked  "cancelled".  The
Register  shall be available for inspection by the Borrower or any Lender at any
reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

                  (e) Upon its receipt of an Assignment and Acceptance  executed
by an assigning  Lender and an Assignee (and, in the case of an Assignee that is
not then a Lender or an affiliate thereof by the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent) together with payment to the  Administrative  Agent of a registration and
processing  fee of $3,500 (except that no such  registration  and processing fee
shall be payable in the case of an  Assignee  which is already a Lender or is an
affiliate of a Lender),  the Administrative Agent shall (i) promptly accept such
Assignment and Acceptance  and (ii) on the effective  date  determined  pursuant
thereto record the information contained therein in the Register and give notice
of such acceptance and recordation to the Lenders and the Borrower.  On or prior
to such effective date, the Borrower,  at its own expense,  upon request,  shall
execute and deliver to the  Administrative  Agent (in exchange for the Revolving
Credit Note and/or Term Notes,  as the case may be, of the  assigning  Lender) a
new Revolving Credit Note and/or Term Notes, as the case may be, to the order of
such  Assignee in an amount  equal to the  Revolving  Credit  Commitment  and/or
applicable Term Loans, as the case may be, assumed or acquired by it pursuant to
such  Assignment  and  Acceptance  and, if the  assigning  Lender has retained a
Revolving Credit Commitment and/or Term Loans, as the case may be, upon request,
a new Revolving  Credit Note and/or Term Notes, as the case may be, to the order
of the assigning  Lender in an amount equal to the Revolving  Credit  Commitment
and/or applicable Term Loans, as the case may be, retained by it hereunder. Such
new Notes shall be dated the Closing Date and shall  otherwise be in the form of
the Note replaced thereby.

                  (f) For  avoidance  of doubt,  the  parties to this  Agreement
acknowledge that the provisions of this Article concerning  assignments of Loans
and Notes relate only to absolute  assignments  and that such  provisions do not
prohibit assignments creating security interests, including, without limitation,
any pledge or assignment by a Lender of any Loan or Note to any Federal  Reserve
Bank in accordance  with  applicable  law;  provided  that, for the avoidance of
doubt,  it is understood that this Section 10.6(f) does not reduce the rights of
the  Borrower  pursuant to Sections  10.6(b) and (c) which must be  satisfied in
order for a Person to become a Lender.

                  SECTION  X.7  Adjustments;  Set-off.  (a) Except to the extent
that this Agreement provides for payments to be allocated to the Lenders under a
particular  Facility,  if any Lender (a  "Benefitted  Lender") shall at any time
receive any payment of all or part of its Loans or the Reimbursement Obligations
owing to it, or interest  thereon,  or receive any collateral in respect thereof
(whether  voluntarily  or  involuntarily,  by  set-off,  pursuant  to  events or
proceedings  of the nature  referred to in Section  8(f),  or  otherwise),  in a
greater proportion than any such payment to or collateral  received by any other
Lender,  if any, in respect of such other  Lender's  Loans or the  Reimbursement
Obligations  owing to such other Lender,  or interest  thereon,  such Benefitted
Lender shall purchase for cash from the other Lenders a  participating  interest
in such  portion of each such other  Lender's  Loan and/or of the  Reimbursement
Obligations owing to each such other Lender, or shall provide such other Lenders
with the benefits of any such collateral,  or the proceeds thereof,  as shall be
necessary  to cause  such  Benefitted  Lender to share  the  excess  payment  or
benefits  of such  collateral  or  proceeds  ratably  with each of the  Lenders;
provided, however, that if all or any portion of such excess payment or benefits
is thereafter  recovered  from such  Benefitted  Lender,  such purchase shall be
rescinded,  and the purchase price and benefits returned,  to the extent of such
recovery, but without interest.

                  (b) In  addition  to any rights and  remedies  of the  Lenders
provided by law,  each Lender shall have the right,  without prior notice to the
Borrower,  any such notice being expressly  waived by the Borrower to the extent
permitted by  applicable  law,  upon any amount  becoming due and payable by the
Borrower  hereunder  (whether  at  the  stated  maturity,   by  acceleration  or
otherwise) to set off and  appropriate and apply against such amount any and all
deposits  (general or special,  time or demand,  provisional  or final),  in any
currency,  and any other credits,  indebtedness or claims,  in any currency,  in
each case  whether  direct or  indirect,  absolute  or  contingent,  matured  or
unmatured,  at any time  held or owing by such  Lender  or any  branch or agency
thereof to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower.  Each Lender agrees
promptly  to notify the  Borrower  and the  Administrative  Agent after any such
setoff and  application  made by such Lender,  provided that the failure to give
such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

                  SECTION X.8  Counterparts.  This  Agreement may be executed by
one or  more  of the  parties  to  this  Agreement  on any  number  of  separate
counterparts  (including  by  telecopy),  and  all of  said  counterparts  taken
together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. A set of the
copies of this  Agreement  signed by all the  parties  shall be lodged  with the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

                  SECTION X.9  Severability.  Any  provision  of this  Agreement
which is prohibited  or  unenforceable  in any  jurisdiction  shall,  as to such
jurisdiction,   be   ineffective   to  the   extent  of  such   prohibition   or
unenforceability  without  invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any
such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or
render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

                  SECTION X.10  Integration.  This  Agreement and the other Loan
Documents  represent the  agreement of the Borrower,  the Agents and the Lenders
with  respect  to  the  subject  matter  hereof,  and  there  are  no  promises,
undertakings, representations or warranties by the Agents or any Lender relative
to subject matter hereof not expressly set forth or referred to herein or in the
other Loan Documents.

                  SECTION X.11  GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND
OBLIGATIONS  OF THE  PARTIES  UNDER THIS  AGREEMENT  SHALL BE  GOVERNED  BY, AND
CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

                  SECTION X.12 Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers. The Borrower
hereby irrevocably and unconditionally:

                  (a) submits for itself and its Property in any legal action or
proceeding  relating to this  Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it
is a party,  or for  recognition  and  enforcement  of any  judgment  in respect
thereof, to the non-exclusive general jurisdiction of the Courts of the State of
New York, the courts of the United States for the Southern District of New York,
and appellate courts from any thereof;

                  (b) consents that any such action or proceeding may be brought
in such courts and waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the
venue of any such action or  proceeding in any such court or that such action or
proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or claim
the same;

                  (c) agrees  that  service  of  process  in any such  action or
proceeding  may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified
mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid at its address
set forth in Section 10.2 or at such other  address of which the  Administrative
Agent shall have been notified pursuant thereto;

                  (d)  agrees  that  nothing  herein  shall  affect the right to
effect  service of process in any other  manner  permitted by law or shall limit
the right to sue in any other jurisdiction; and

                  (e) waives,  to the maximum  extent not prohibited by law, any
right it may have to claim or recover in any legal action or proceeding referred
to in this  Section  10.12 any  special,  exemplary,  punitive or  consequential
damages.

                  SECTION   X.13    Acknowledgements.    The   Borrower   hereby
acknowledges that:

                  (a)  it has  been  advised  by  counsel  in  the  negotiation,
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;

                  (b)   neither   Agent  nor  any  Lender   has  any   fiduciary
relationship  with or duty to the Borrower  arising out of or in connection with
this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents,  and the relationship between
Agents  and  Lenders,  on one hand,  and the  Borrower,  on the other  hand,  in
connection herewith or therewith is solely that of debtor and creditor; and

                  (c) no joint  venture is  created  hereby or by the other Loan
Documents or otherwise exists by virtue of the transactions  contemplated hereby
among the Lenders or among the Borrower and the Lenders.

                  SECTION X.14 WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL.  THE BORROWER,  THE AGENTS
AND THE LENDERS HEREBY  IRREVOCABLY AND  UNCONDITIONALLY  WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN
ANY LEGAL  ACTION OR  PROCEEDING  RELATING TO THIS  AGREEMENT  OR ANY OTHER LOAN
DOCUMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.

                  SECTION  X.15  Confidentiality.  Each of the  Agents  and each
Lender agrees to keep confidential all non-public  information provided to it by
any Loan Party  pursuant to this Agreement that is designated by such Loan Party
as  confidential;  provided  that nothing  herein shall prevent any Agent or any
Lender from disclosing any such information (a) to the Administrative Agent, any
other Lender or any  affiliate of any Lender in each case which is bound by this
Section 10.15,  (b) to any  Participant or Assignee  (each, a  "Transferee")  or
prospective  Transferee  which  agrees to  comply  with the  provisions  of this
Section, (c) to the employees,  directors,  agents,  attorneys,  accountants and
other  professional  advisors  of such  Lender or its  affiliates,  (d) upon the
request or demand of any  Governmental  Authority having  jurisdiction  over the
such Agent or such  Lender,  (e) in  response to any order of any court or other
Governmental  Authority  or  as  may  otherwise  be  required  pursuant  to  any
Requirement of Law, (f) if required to do so under  applicable law in connection
with any  litigation  or similar  proceeding  or in  litigation  to enforce this
Agreement,  (g) which has been publicly  disclosed  other than in breach of this
Section 10.15, (h) to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any
similar  organization or any nationally  recognized  rating agency that requires
access to information about a Lender's  investment  portfolio in connection with
ratings  issued  with  respect to such  Lender,  or (i) in  connection  with the
exercise  of any remedy  hereunder  or under any other Loan  Document;  provided
that, if reasonably requested by the Borrower,  the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders shall make commercially reasonable efforts to determine,  and inform the
Borrower of, the Persons who received such non-public  information designated as
confidential.

                  SECTION  X.16  Releases.  At  such  time  as  the  Loans,  the
Reimbursement  Obligations  and the other  Obligations  shall  have been paid in
full,  the  Commitments  have been  terminated and no Letters of Credit shall be
outstanding,  the  Collateral  shall be released  from the Liens  created by the
Security  Documents,  and the Security Documents and all obligations (other than
those expressly stated to survive such termination) of the Administrative  Agent
and each Borrower or Subsidiary thereunder shall terminate, all without delivery
of any instrument or performance of any act by any party,  and all rights to the
Collateral  shall revert to the Borrower  and  Subsidiaries.  At the request and
sole expense of any Borrower or Subsidiary  following any such termination,  the
Administrative Agent shall deliver to such Borrower or Subsidiary any Collateral
held by the  Administrative  Agent  thereunder,  and execute and deliver to such
Borrower or  Subsidiary  such  documents as such  Borrower or  Subsidiary  shall
reasonably request to evidence such termination.

                             IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the parties hereto have caused
this  Agreement  to be duly  executed  and  delivered  by their  proper and duly
authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

     CONMED CORPORATION

     By:___________________________________
            Name:
            Title:

     THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as

     Administrative Agent and as a Lender

     By:___________________________________
            Name:
            Title:

     SALOMON SMITH BARNEY, INC, as Documentation Agent and as a Lender

     By:___________________________________
            Name:
            Title:

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.3

                           ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND CONSENT


                  Reference  is made  to (i) the  Amended  and  Restated  Credit
Agreement, dated as of August 11, 1999 (as the same may be amended, supplemented
or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Amended Credit Agreement"),  among
the CONMED  Corporation,  a New York corporation,  the several banks,  financial
institutions  and  other  entities  from  time  to  time  parties  thereto  (the
"Lenders"),  Chase Securities Inc., as sole  book-manager,  lead arranger and as
syndication agent,  Salomon Smith Barney,  Inc., as documentation  agent and The
Chase Manhattan Bank, as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity,
the "Agent"),  (ii) the Existing Credit Agreement  referred to therein and (iii)
the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement made by CONMED Corporation and certain of
its Subsidiaries in favor of The Chase Manhattan Bank, as administrative  agent,
dated as of December 31, 1997. Unless otherwise defined herein,  terms which are
defined  in the  Amended  CreditAgreement  and  used  herein  are so  used as so
defined.

                  Each of the  undersigned  confirms that it has received a copy
of the  Amended  CreditAgreement  and that it  approves  of and  consents to the
amendment  and  restatement  of the Existing  Credit  Agreement  pursuant to the
Amended Credit  Agreement.  Each of the undersigned  further confirms and agrees
that (a) each of the Loan  Documents  to which it is a party will remain in full
force  and  effect  in  accordance  with its terms  after  giving  effect to the
amendment  and  restatement  of the Existing  Credit  Agreement  pursuant to the
Amended Credit Agreement, (b) the Liens granted by it and the guarantees made by
it  pursuant  to the Loan  Documents  will  remain in full  force and  effect in
accordance with their  respective terms after giving effect to the amendment and
restatement  of the Existing  Credit  Agreement  pursuant to the Amended  Credit
Agreement and will secure and guarantee the Obligations in accordance with their
respective terms and (c) without  limiting the foregoing,  all references to the
"Credit  Agreement"  in the Loan  Documents  (as defined in the Existing  Credit
Agreement)  shall refer to the Existing Credit Agreement as amended and restated
pursuant to the Amended Credit Agreement and as the same may be further amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

                  THIS  CONSENT   SHALL  BE  GOVERNED  BY,  AND   CONSTRUED  AND
INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

                  Each of the  undersigned,  at its own  expense and at any time
from time to time,  upon the  written  request of the Agent or any  Lender  will
promptly and duly execute and deliver such further instruments and documents and
take such  further  actions as such other party  reasonably  may request for the
purposes of obtaining or preserving the full benefits of this Acknowledgment and
Consent.

                  IN  WITNESS   WHEREOF,   the  undersigned   have  caused  this
Acknowledgment  and Consent to be duly  executed and delivered as of the day and
year first above written.


                                   CONMED CORPORATION


                                   By:
                                            Title:


                                   ASPEN LABORATORIES, INC.



                                   By:
                                            Title:


                                   CONMED ANDOVER MEDICAL, INC.


                                   By:
                                            Title:


                                   BIRTCHER MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.


                                   By:
                                            Title:


                                   NDM, INC.


                                   By:
                                            Title:

CONSOLIDATED MEDICAL EQUIPMENT INTERNATIONAL, INC.


By:
         Title:


LINVATEC CORPORATION


By:
         Title:

ENVISION MEDICAL CORPORATION


By:
         Title:

EXHIBIT 11 Computation of weighted average number of shares of common stock For the three For the six months ended June months ended June ----------------- ----------------- 1998 1999 1998 1999 ------ ------ ------ ------ Shares outstanding at beginning of period (net of 25,000 shares held in treasury)......... 15,043 15,177 15,037 15,158 Weighted average shares issued ................... 14 58 10 46 ------ ------ ------ ------ Shares used in the calculation of Basic EPS (weighted average shares outstanding) .................................. 15,057 15,235 15,047 15,204 Effect of dilutive securities .................... 269 377 239 371 ------ ------ ------ ------ Shares used in the calculation of Diluted EPS .................................... 15,326 15,612 15,286 15,575 ====== ====== ====== ======
 

5 1,000 6-MOS DEC-31-1999 JUN-30-1999 2,519 0 72,602 (2,087) 87,920 167,908 89,886 (33,406) 628,430 69,930 369,263 0 0 153 196,575 628,430 90,483 90,483 42,825 42,825 0 0 7,814 10,452 3,762 6,690 0 0 0 6,690 .44 .43