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EX-10.12 NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

Note Purchase Agreement

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Title: EX-10.12 NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT
Governing Law: New York     Date: 3/15/2005
Industry: Insurance (Miscellaneous)     Sector: Financial

EX-10.12 NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT, Parties: crawford &, co
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                                                                   Exhibit 10.12

 

                                                               Execution Version

 

                               CRAWFORD & COMPANY

                     CRAWFORD & COMPANY INTERNATIONAL, INC.

 

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

 

                             NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

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

 

                         DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2003

 

         $50,000,000 6.08% SENIOR GUARANTIED NOTES DUE OCTOBER 10, 2010

 

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                                 TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

<TABLE>

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                                                                                    PAGE

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1.     AUTHORIZATION OF NOTES....................................................      1

 

2.     SALE AND PURCHASE OF NOTES................................................      1

 

3.     CLOSING...................................................................      2

 

4.     CONDITIONS TO CLOSING.....................................................      2

 

   4.1.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.........................................      2

   4.2.   PERFORMANCE; NO DEFAULT................................................      2

   4.3.   COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES................................................      3

   4.4.   OPINIONS OF COUNSEL....................................................       3

   4.5.   PURCHASE PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ETC..............................      3

   4.6.   SALE OF OTHER NOTES....................................................      4

   4.7.   PAYMENT OF SPECIAL COUNSEL FEES........................................      4

   4.8.   PRIVATE PLACEMENT NUMBER...............................................      4

   4.9.   CHANGES IN CORPORATE STRUCTURE.........................................      4

   4.10.     SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY AGREEMENT.......................................      4

   4.11.     PLEDGE AGREEMENT....................................................      5

   4.12.     BANK CREDIT AGREEMENT...............................................      5

   4.13.     SHARING AGREEMENT...................................................      5

   4.14.     PROCEEDINGS AND DOCUMENTS...........................................      5

   4.15.     OFFEREE LETTER......................................................      5

 

5.     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE ISSUERS.............................      5

 

   5.1.   ORGANIZATION; POWER AND AUTHORITY......................................      6

   5.2.   AUTHORIZATION, ETC.....................................................      6

   5.3.   DISCLOSURE.............................................................      6

   5.4.   ORGANIZATION AND OWNERSHIP OF SHARES OF SUBSIDIARIES; AFFILIATES.......      7

   5.5.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS...................................................      8

   5.6.   COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS, OTHER INSTRUMENTS, ETC...........................      8

   5.7.   GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATIONS, ETC.......................................      9

   5.8.   LITIGATION; OBSERVANCE OF AGREEMENTS, STATUTES AND ORDERS..............      9

   5.9.   TAXES..................................................................      9

   5.10.     TITLE TO PROPERTY; LEASES...........................................     10

   5.11.     LICENSES, PERMITS, ETC..............................................     10

   5.12.     COMPLIANCE WITH ERISA...............................................     10

   5.13.     PRIVATE OFFERING BY THE ISSUERS.....................................     11

   5.14.     USE OF PROCEEDS; MARGIN REGULATIONS.................................     11

   5.15.     EXISTING INDEBTEDNESS; FUTURE LIENS.................................     12

   5.16.     FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL REGULATIONS, ETC.............................     12

   5.17.     STATUS UNDER CERTAIN STATUTES.......................................     13

   5.18.     ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS...............................................     13

   5.19.     PARI PASSU RANKING..................................................     13

</TABLE>

 

                                        i

 

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<S>                                                                                   <C>

   5.20.     NOT SUBJECT TO IMMUNITY.............................................     13

   5.21.     DORMANT COMPANIES...................................................     14

   5.22.     BANK CREDIT AGREEMENT REPRESENTATIONS...............................     14

 

6.     REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PURCHASERS.........................................     14

 

   6.1.   PURCHASE FOR INVESTMENT................................................     14

   6.2.   SOURCE OF FUNDS........................................................     14

   6.3.   PURCHASER ACTION.......................................................     16

 

7.     INFORMATION AS TO ISSUERS.................................................     16

 

   7.1.   FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS INFORMATION.....................................     16

   7.2.   OFFICER'S CERTIFICATES.................................................     19

   7.3.   INSPECTION.............................................................     20

 

8.     PREPAYMENT OF THE NOTES...................................................     21

 

   8.1.   REQUIRED PREPAYMENTS...................................................     21

   8.2.   OPTIONAL PREPAYMENTS WITH MAKE-WHOLE AMOUNT............................     21

   8.3.   ALLOCATION OF PARTIAL PREPAYMENTS......................................     22

   8.4.   MATURITY; SURRENDER, ETC...............................................     22

   8.5.   PURCHASE OF NOTES......................................................     22

   8.6.   MAKE-WHOLE AMOUNT......................................................     22

 

9.     AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.....................................................     24

 

   9.1.   COMPLIANCE WITH LAW....................................................     24

   9.2.   INSURANCE..............................................................     24

   9.3.   MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTIES..............................................     25

   9.4.   PAYMENT OF TAXES AND CLAIMS............................................     25

   9.5.   CORPORATE EXISTENCE, ETC...............................................     25

   9.6.   NEW SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR; ADDITIONAL PLEDGED STOCK.....................     26

   9.7.   PARI PASSU RANKING.....................................................     26

   9.8.   MOST FAVORED LENDER PROVISIONS.........................................     27

   9.9.   COVENANT TO SECURE NOTES EQUALLY.......................................     28

   9.10.     POST-CLOSING REQUIREMENTS...........................................     29

   9.11.     DORMANT COMPANIES...................................................     29

 

10.    NEGATIVE COVENANTS........................................................     30

 

   10.1.     TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES; DORMANT COMPANIES.....................     31

   10.2.     MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, ETC..........................................     31

   10.3.     LIMITATION ON LIENS.................................................     32

   10.4.     SALE OF ASSETS, ETC.................................................     35

   10.5.     LEVERAGE RATIO......................................................     35

   10.6.     FIXED CHARGES COVERAGE RATIO........................................     36

   10.7.     CONSOLIDATED NET WORTH..............................................     36

   10.8.     PRIORITY DEBT.......................................................     37

   10.9.     LINE OF BUSINESS....................................................     37

   10.10.    RESTRICTED PAYMENTS AND RESTRICTED INVESTMENTS; ACQUISITIONS........     37

   10.11.    LIMITATIONS ON CERTAIN SUBSIDIARY ACTIONS...........................     39

</TABLE>

 

                                       ii

 

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<TABLE>

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   10.12.    HEDGING ARRANGEMENTS.........................................................        40

   10.13.    ACCOUNTING CHANGES; CHANGE OF FISCAL YEAR....................................        40

   10.14.    MINIMUM CASH.................................................................        40

   10.15.    LITIGATION...................................................................        40

   10.16.    AMENDMENTS TO ORGANIZATIONAL DOCUMENTS.......................................        41

   10.17.    NO LIMITATION ON PREPAYMENTS OR AMENDMENTS TO CERTAIN FINANCING DOCUMENTS....        41

 

11.    EVENTS OF DEFAULT...................................................................       41

 

12.    REMEDIES ON DEFAULT, ETC............................................................       44

 

   12.1.     ACCELERATION..................................................................       44

   12.2.     OTHER REMEDIES................................................................        45

   12.3.     RESCISSION....................................................................       45

   12.4.     NO WAIVERS OR ELECTION OF REMEDIES, EXPENSES, ETC.............................       45

 

13.    REGISTRATION; EXCHANGE; SUBSTITUTION OF NOTES.......................................       46

 

   13.1.     REGISTRATION OF NOTES.........................................................       46

   13.2.     TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE OF NOTES................................................       46

   13.3.     REPLACEMENT OF NOTES..........................................................       47

 

14.    PAYMENTS ON NOTES...................................................................       48

 

   14.1.     PLACE OF PAYMENT..............................................................       48

   14.2.     HOME OFFICE PAYMENT...........................................................       48

 

15.    EXPENSES, ETC.......................................................................       48

 

   15.1.     TRANSACTION EXPENSES..........................................................       48

   15.2.     SURVIVAL......................................................................       49

 

16.    SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; ENTIRE AGREEMENT........................       49

 

17.    AMENDMENT AND WAIVER................................................................       50

 

   17.1.     REQUIREMENTS..................................................................       50

   17.2.     SOLICITATION OF HOLDERS OF NOTES..............................................       50

   17.3.     BINDING EFFECT, ETC...........................................................       51

   17.4.     NOTES HELD BY THE ISSUERS, ETC................................................        51

 

18.    NOTICES.............................................................................       51

 

19.    REPRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS...........................................................       52

 

20.    CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION............................................................       52

 

21.    SUBSTITUTION OF PURCHASER...........................................................       53

 

22.    MISCELLANEOUS.......................................................................       54

</TABLE>

 

                                      iii

 

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22.1.     SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS........................................................       54

22.2.     PAYMENTS DUE ON NON-BUSINESS DAYS.............................................       54

22.3.     SEVERABILITY..................................................................       54

22.4.     CONSTRUCTION..................................................................       54

22.5.     COUNTERPARTS..................................................................       55

22.6.     JURISDICTION; SERVICE OF PROCESS..............................................       55

22.7.     GOVERNING LAW.................................................................       56

22.8.     WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY.......................................................       56

</TABLE>

 

SCHEDULE A      --   Information Relating to Purchasers

 

SCHEDULE B      --   Defined Terms

 

SCHEDULE C      --   Investment Guidelines

 

SCHEDULE 4.9    --   Changes in Corporate Structure

 

SCHEDULE 5.3    --   Disclosure Materials

 

SCHEDULE 5.4    --   Subsidiaries of the Company and Ownership of Subsidiary Stock

 

SCHEDULE 5.5    --   Financial Statements

 

SCHEDULE 5.8    --   Certain Litigation

 

SCHEDULE 5.14   --   Use of Proceeds

 

SCHEDULE 5.15   --   Existing Indebtedness

 

SCHEDULE 5.18   --   Environmental Matters

 

SCHEDULE 5.21   --   Assets of Dormant Companies

 

SCHEDULE 10.3   --   Existing Liens

 

SCHEDULE 10.10 --   Existing Investments

 

SCHEDULE 10.11 --   Existing Restrictive Agreements

 

EXHIBIT 1       --   Form of 6.08% Senior Guarantied Note due October 10,2010

 

                                       iv

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EXHIBIT 4.3(a) --   Form of Officer's Certificate for Company

 

EXHIBIT 4.3(b) --   Form of Officer's Certificate for Co-Issuer

 

EXHIBIT 4.3(c) --   Form of Secretary's Certificate for each Issuer and

                   each Initial Guarantor

 

EXHIBIT 4.4(a) --   Form of Opinion of Special Counsel for the Obligors

 

EXHIBIT 4.4(b) --   Form of Opinion of Special Counsel for the Purchasers

 

EXHIBIT 4.10    --   Form of Guaranty Agreement

 

EXHIBIT 4.11    --   Form of Pledge Agreement

 

EXHIBIT 4.13    --   Form of Sharing Agreement

 

                                        v

 

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                               CRAWFORD & COMPANY

                     CRAWFORD & COMPANY INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                           5620 GLENRIDGE DRIVE, N.E.

                                ATLANTA, GA 30342

 

         $50,000,000 6.08% SENIOR GUARANTIED NOTES DUE OCTOBER 10, 2010

 

                                                              September 30, 2003

 

To Each of the Persons Listed in

the Attached Schedule A (the "PURCHASERS"):

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

      Crawford & Company, a Georgia corporation (together with its successors

and assigns, the "COMPANY"), and Crawford & Company International, Inc., a

Georgia corporation (together with its successors and assigns, the "CO-ISSUER"

and together with the Company, the "ISSUERS"), jointly and severally agree with

each Purchaser as follows:

 

1.     AUTHORIZATION OF NOTES.

 

      The Issuers will authorize the joint and several issue and sale of

$50,000,000 aggregate principal amount of their joint and several 6.08% Senior

Guarantied Notes due October 10, 2010 (the "NOTES", such term to include any

such notes issued in substitution therefor pursuant to Section 13 of this

Agreement). The Notes shall be substantially in the form set out in Exhibit 1,

with such changes therefrom, if any, as may be approved by the Purchasers and

the Issuers. Certain capitalized terms used in this Agreement are defined in

Schedule B; references to a "Schedule" or an "Exhibit" are, unless otherwise

specified, references to a Schedule or an Exhibit attached to this Agreement;

references to Sections are, unless otherwise specified, references to Sections

of this Agreement.

 

2.     SALE AND PURCHASE OF NOTES.

 

      Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Issuers will

issue and sell to each Purchaser and each Purchaser will purchase from the

Issuers, at the Closing provided for in Section 3, Notes in the principal amount

specified

 

<PAGE>

 

opposite each Purchaser's name in Schedule A at the purchase price of 100% of

the principal amount thereof. The obligations of the Purchasers hereunder are

several and not joint and no Purchaser shall have any liability to any Person

for the performance or non-performance by any other Purchaser hereunder.

 

3.     CLOSING.

 

      The sale and purchase of the Notes to be purchased by each of the

Purchasers shall occur at the offices of Bingham McCutchen LLP, One State

Street, Hartford, CT 06103, at 10:00 a.m., local time, at a closing (the

"CLOSING") on October 10, 2003 or on such other Business Day thereafter on or

prior to October 31, 2003 as may be agreed upon by the Issuers and the

Purchasers. At the Closing the Issuers will deliver to each Purchaser the Notes

to be purchased by it in the form of a single Note (or such greater number of

Notes in denominations of at least $100,000 as each such Purchaser may request)

dated the date of the Closing and registered in such Purchaser's name (or in the

name of its nominee), against delivery by such Purchaser to the Issuers or their

order of immediately available funds in the amount of the purchase price

therefor by wire transfer of immediately available funds for the account of the

Issuers to account number ___________ at SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, GA, ____

________________________________ for the benefit of Crawford & Company. If at

the Closing either Issuer shall fail to tender such Notes to any Purchaser as

provided above in this Section 3, or any of the conditions specified in Section

4 shall not have been fulfilled to each Purchaser's satisfaction, such Purchaser

shall, at its election, be relieved of all further obligations under this

Agreement, without thereby waiving any rights each such Purchaser may have by

reason of such failure or such nonfulfillment.

 

4.     CONDITIONS TO CLOSING.

 

      Each Purchaser's obligation to purchase and pay for the Notes to be sold

to it at the Closing is subject to the fulfillment to each such Purchaser's

satisfaction, prior to or at the Closing, of the following conditions:

 

      4.1.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

 

      The representations and warranties of each Obligor contained in the

Financing Documents shall be correct when made and at the time of the Closing.

 

      4.2.   PERFORMANCE; NO DEFAULT.

 

      Each Obligor shall have performed and complied with all agreements and

conditions contained in the Financing Documents required to be performed or

complied with by it prior to or at the Closing and after giving effect to the

issuance and sale of the Notes (and the application of the proceeds thereof as

contemplated

 

                                       -2-

 

<PAGE>

 

by Schedule 5.14) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be

continuing. Neither of the Issuers nor any Subsidiary shall have entered into

any transaction since the date of the Memorandum that would have been prohibited

by Sections 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.8, 10.10, 10.11, 10.12, 10.13 or 10.15

hereof had such Sections applied since such date.

 

      4.3.   COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES.

 

            (a)    Officer's Certificate. The Company shall have delivered to

                  each Purchaser an Officer's Certificate, dated the date of the

                  Closing, certifying that the conditions specified in Sections

                  4.1, 4.2 and 4.9 have been fulfilled, substantially in the

                   form of Exhibit 4.3(a) hereto.

 

            (b)    Officer's Certificate. The Co-Issuer shall have delivered to

                  each Purchaser an Officer's Certificate, dated the date of the

                  Closing, certifying that the conditions specified in Sections

                  4.1, 4.2 and 4.9 have been fulfilled, substantially in the

                  form of Exhibit 4.3(b) hereto.

 

            (c)    Secretary's Certificates. Each Issuer and each Initial

                  Guarantor shall have delivered to each Purchaser a certificate

                  of its secretary or its assistant secretary (or, in the case

                  of certain Initial Guarantors, a certificate of the secretary

                  of its sole shareholder or general partner, as the case may

                  be) dated the date of the Closing certifying as to the

                  resolutions attached thereto and other corporate proceedings

                  relating to the authorization, execution and delivery of the

                   Financing Documents to which such Person is a party,

                  substantially in the form of Exhibit 4.3(c) hereto.

 

      4.4.   OPINIONS OF COUNSEL.

 

      Each Purchaser shall have received opinions in form and substance

satisfactory to it, dated the date of the Closing (a) from King & Spalding LLP

counsel for the Obligors, covering the matters set forth in Exhibit 4.4(a) and

covering such other matters incident to the transactions contemplated hereby as

such Purchaser or its counsel may reasonably request (and the Issuers hereby

instruct their counsel to deliver such opinion to each Purchaser) and (b) from

Bingham McCutchen LLP, the Purchasers' special counsel in connection with such

transactions, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit 4.4(b) and covering

such other matters incident to such transactions as any Purchaser may reasonably

request.

 

      4.5.   PURCHASE PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ETC.

 

      On the date of the Closing, each Purchaser's purchase of Notes shall (a)

be permitted by the laws and regulations of each jurisdiction to which it is

subject,

 

                                      -3-

 

<PAGE>

 

without recourse to provisions (such as section 1405(a)(8) of the New York

Insurance Law) permitting limited investments by insurance companies without

restriction as to the character of the particular investment, (b) not violate

any applicable law or regulation (including, without limitation, Regulation T, U

or X of the Board of Governors of the United States Federal Reserve System) and

(c) not subject any Purchaser to any tax, penalty or liability under or pursuant

to any applicable law or regulation, which law or regulation was not in effect

on the date hereof. If requested by any Purchaser, such Purchaser shall have

received an Officer's Certificate certifying as to such matters of fact as such

Purchaser may reasonably specify to enable such Purchaser to determine whether

such purchase is so permitted.

 

      4.6.   SALE OF OTHER NOTES.

 

      Contemporaneously with the Closing the Issuers shall sell to each

Purchaser and each such Purchaser shall purchase the Notes to be purchased by it

at the Closing as specified in Schedule A.

 

      4.7.   PAYMENT OF SPECIAL COUNSEL FEES.

 

      Without limiting the provisions of Section 15.1, the Issuers shall have

paid on or before the Closing the fees, charges and disbursements of the

Purchasers' special counsel referred to in Section 4.4(b) to the extent

reflected in a statement of such counsel rendered to the Issuers at least one

Business Day prior to the Closing.

 

      4.8.   PRIVATE PLACEMENT NUMBER.

 

      A Private Placement number issued by the CUSIP Service Bureau of Standard

& Poor's, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (in cooperation with the

Securities Valuation Office of the National Association of Insurance

Commissioners (the "SVO")) shall have been obtained for the Notes.

 

      4.9.   CHANGES IN CORPORATE STRUCTURE.

 

      Except as specified in Schedule 4.9, neither Issuer shall have changed its

jurisdiction of incorporation or been a party to any merger or consolidation and

shall not have succeeded to all or any substantial part of the liabilities of

any other entity, at any time following the date of the most recent financial

statements referred to in Schedule 5.5.

 

      4.10. SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY AGREEMENT.

 

         Each Initial Guarantor shall have executed and delivered to the

Purchasers a guaranty agreement (as may be amended, restated or modified from

time to time, the "GUARANTY AGREEMENT"), substantially in the form of Exhibit

4.10.

 

                                      -4-

 

<PAGE>

 

      4.11. PLEDGE AGREEMENT.

 

      The Company shall have executed and delivered to the Purchasers a pledge

agreement (as may be amended, restated or modified from time to time, the

"PLEDGE AGREEMENT"), substantially in the form of Exhibit 4.11.

 

      4.12. BANK CREDIT AGREEMENT.

 

      The Issuers shall have delivered to each Purchaser true and correct copies

of each of the documents constituting the Bank Credit Agreement as in effect on

the date of the Closing, certified as true and correct by a Senior Financial

Officer.

 

      4.13. SHARING AGREEMENT.

 

      The Agent, on behalf of itself and the other lenders under the Bank Credit

Agreement and as collateral agent for the holders of Notes, shall have entered

into a collateral sharing agreement with the Purchasers, in form and substance

satisfactory to each of the Purchasers, substantially in the form of Exhibit

4.13 (as may be amended, restated or modified from time to time, the "SHARING

AGREEMENT").

 

      4.14. PROCEEDINGS AND DOCUMENTS.

 

      All corporate and other proceedings in connection with the transactions

contemplated by this Agreement, the other Financing Documents and all documents

and instruments incident to such transactions shall be satisfactory to each

Purchaser and its special counsel, and each Purchaser and its special counsel

shall have received all such counterpart originals or certified or other copies

of such documents as such Purchaser or its counsel may reasonably request.

 

      4.15. OFFEREE LETTER.

 

         Sun Trust Capital Markets, Inc. shall have delivered to the Issuers,

their counsel, each of the Purchasers and the Purchasers' special counsel an

offeree letter, in form and substance satisfactory to each Purchaser, confirming

the manner of the offering of the Notes by Sun Trust Capital Markets, Inc.

 

5.     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE ISSUERS.

 

      Each of the Issuers represents and warrants, as of the date hereof and as

of the date of the Closing, to each Purchaser that:

 

                                      -5-

 

<PAGE>

 

      5.1.   ORGANIZATION; POWER AND AUTHORITY.

 

      The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good

standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, and is duly

qualified as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction

in which such qualification is required by law, other than those jurisdictions

as to which the failure to be so qualified or in good standing could not,

individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material

Adverse Effect. The Company has the corporate power and authority to own or hold

under lease the properties it purports to own or hold under lease, to transact

the business it transacts and proposes to transact, to execute and deliver the

Financing Documents to which it is a party and to perform the provisions hereof

and thereof.

 

      5.2.   AUTHORIZATION, ETC.

 

            (a) This Agreement, the Notes and the other Financing Documents to

      which either Issuer is a party have been duly authorized by all necessary

      corporate action on the part of such Issuer, and the Financing Documents

      to which such Issuer is a party constitute, and upon execution and

       delivery thereof each Note will constitute, a legal, valid and binding

      obligation of such Issuer enforceable against such Issuer in accordance

      with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i)

      applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other

      similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and

      (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such

      enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

            (b) The Guaranty Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary

      corporate action on the part of each Initial Guarantor, and the Guaranty

      Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of each

      Initial Guarantor enforceable against each Initial Guarantor in accordance

      with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i)

      applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other

      similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and

      (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such

      enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

      5.3.   DISCLOSURE.

 

      The Issuers, through their agent, SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc. have

delivered to each Purchaser a copy of a Confidential Private Placement

Memorandum, dated July 2003 (the "MEMORANDUM"), relating to the transactions

contemplated hereby. The Memorandum fairly describes, in all material respects,

the general nature of the business and principal properties of the Issuers and

their Subsidiaries. Except as disclosed in Schedule 5.3, this Agreement, the

 

                                      -6-

 

<PAGE>

 

Memorandum, the documents, certificates or other writings delivered to each

Purchaser by or on behalf of the Obligors in connection with the transactions

contemplated hereby and the financial statements listed in Schedule 5.5, taken

as a whole, do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to

state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading

in light of the circumstances under which they were made. Except as disclosed in

the Memorandum or as expressly described in Schedule 5.3, or in one of the

documents, certificates or other writings identified therein, or in the

financial statements listed in Schedule 5.5, since December 31, 2002, there has

been no change in the financial condition, operations, business, properties or

prospects of either of the Issuers or any Subsidiary except changes that

individually or in the aggregate could not reasonably be expected to have a

Material Adverse Effect. There is no fact known to the Issuers that could

reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect that has not been set

forth herein or in the Memorandum or in the other documents, certificates and

other writings delivered to each Purchaser by or on behalf of the Issuers

specifically for use in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

      5.4.   ORGANIZATION AND OWNERSHIP OF SHARES OF SUBSIDIARIES; AFFILIATES.

 

            (a) Schedule 5.4 contains (except as noted therein) complete and

      correct lists (i) of the Company's Subsidiaries, showing, as to each

      Subsidiary, the correct name thereof, the jurisdiction of its

      organization, the percentage of shares of each class of its capital stock

      or similar equity interests outstanding owned by the Company and each

      other Subsidiary and whether or not such Subsidiary is a Dormant Company,

      (ii) of the Company's Affiliates, other than Subsidiaries, and (iii) of

      each of the Issuer's directors and senior officers.

 

            (b) All of the outstanding shares of capital stock or similar equity

      interests of each Subsidiary shown in Schedule 5.4 as being owned by the

      Company and the Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and

      nonassessable and are owned by the Company or another Subsidiary free and

      clear of any Lien in the case of the capital stock of the Co-Issuer, and

      in the case of the capital stock or other equity interests of all other

      Subsidiaries, free and clear of any Lien except Liens that would be

      permitted by Section 10.3 or as otherwise disclosed in Schedule 5.4).

 

            (c) Each Subsidiary identified in Schedule 5.4 other than any

      Dormant Company is a corporation or other legal entity duly organized,

      validly existing and (to the extent such concept is recognized in such

      jurisdiction) in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of

      organization, and (to the extent such concepts are recognized in such

      jurisdictions) is duly qualified as a foreign corporation or other legal

      entity

 

                                       -7-

 

<PAGE>

 

      and (to the extent such concept is recognized in such jurisdictions) is in

      good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required

      by law, other than those jurisdictions as to which the failure to be so

      qualified or in good standing could not, individually or in the aggregate,

      reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each such

      Subsidiary has the corporate or other power and authority to own or hold

      under lease the properties it purports to own or hold under lease and to

      transact the business it transacts and proposes to transact, to execute

      and deliver the Financing Documents to which such Subsidiary is a party

      and to perform the provisions thereof.

 

            (d) No Subsidiary is a party to, or otherwise subject to any legal

      restriction or any agreement (other than this Agreement, the agreements

      listed on Schedule 5.4 and customary limitations imposed by corporate law

      statutes) restricting the ability of such Subsidiary to pay dividends out

      of profits or make any other similar distributions of profits to the

      Company or any Subsidiary that owns outstanding shares of capital stock or

      similar equity interests of such Subsidiary.

 

      5.5.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

      The Company has delivered to each Purchaser copies of the financial

statements of the Company and the Subsidiaries listed on Schedule 5.5. All of

said financial statements (including in each case the related schedules and

notes) fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial

position of the Company and the Subsidiaries as of the respective dates

specified in such Schedule and the consolidated results of their operations and

cash flows for the respective periods so specified and have been prepared in

accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods involved except

as set forth in the notes thereto (subject, in the case of any interim financial

statements, to normal year-end adjustments) and additional information set forth

in year-end financial statements.

 

      5.6.   COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS, OTHER INSTRUMENTS, ETC.

 

      The execution, delivery and performance by each Obligor of the Financing

Documents to which such Obligor is a party will not (a) contravene, result in

any breach of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation of any

Lien in respect of any property of the Company or any Subsidiary under, any

indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan, purchase or credit agreement, lease,

memorandum or articles of association, corporate charter or by-laws, or any

other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any Subsidiary is bound or

by which the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties may

be bound or affected, (b) conflict with or result in a breach of any of the

terms, conditions or provisions of any order, judgment, decree, or ruling of any

court, arbitrator or

 

                                      -8-

 

<PAGE>

 

Governmental Authority applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary or (c)

violate any provision of any statute or other rule or regulation of any

Governmental Authority applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

      5.7.   GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATIONS, ETC.

 

       No consent, approval or authorization of, or registration, filing or

declaration with, any Governmental Authority is required in connection with the

execution, delivery or performance by (a) each of the Issuers of the Financing

Documents to which such Issuer is a party and (b) each Initial Guarantor of the

Guaranty Agreement.

 

      5.8.   LITIGATION; OBSERVANCE OF AGREEMENTS, STATUTES AND ORDERS.

 

            (a) Except as disclosed in Schedule 5.8, there are no actions, suits

      or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of either Issuer, threatened

      against or affecting either of the Issuers or any Subsidiary or any

      property of either of the Issuers or any Subsidiary in any court or before

      any arbitrator of any kind or before or by any Governmental Authority

      that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to

      have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

            (b) Neither of the Issuers nor any Subsidiary is in default under

      any term of any agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which

      it is bound, or any order, judgment, decree or ruling of any court,

      arbitrator or Governmental Authority or is in violation of any applicable

      law, ordinance, rule or regulation (including without limitation

      Environmental Laws) of any Governmental Authority, which default or

      violation, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected

      to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

      5.9.   TAXES.

 

            (a) Each of the Issuers and the Subsidiaries have filed all tax

      returns that are required to have been filed in any jurisdiction except

      for any such returns that may be required to be filed in jurisdictions

      other than the United States and political subdivisions thereof, which

      returns, in the aggregate, would not reflect an amount of Taxes owing that

      would be Material. Each of the Issuers and the Subsidiaries has paid all

      Taxes required to have been paid on all returns that have been filed and

      all other Taxes levied upon them or their properties, assets, income or

      franchises, to the extent such Taxes have become due and payable and

      before they have become delinquent, except for any Taxes (i) the amount of

      which is not individually or in the aggregate Material or (ii) the amount,

      applicability or validity of which is currently being contested in good

      faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which such Issuer or

      a Subsidiary, as the

 

                                      -9-

 

<PAGE>

 

      case may be, has established adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP.

      Neither Issuer knows of any basis for any other Tax that could reasonably

      be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

            (b) The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Issuers

      and their Subsidiaries in respect of all Taxes for all fiscal periods are

      adequate. The Federal income tax liabilities of the Company and the

      Subsidiaries have been determined by the Internal Revenue Service and paid

      for all fiscal years up to and including the fiscal year ended December

      31, 1999.

 

      5.10. TITLE TO PROPERTY; LEASES.

 

      Each of the Issuers and the Subsidiaries (other than any Dormant Company)

has good and sufficient title to their respective properties that individually

or in the aggregate are Material, including all such properties reflected in the

most recent audited balance sheet referred to in Section 5.5 or purported to

have been acquired by either of the Issuers or any Subsidiary after said date

(except as sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business), in

each case free and clear of Liens prohibited by this Agreement. All leases that

individually or in the aggregate are Material are valid and subsisting and are

in full force and effect in all material respects.

 

      5.11. LICENSES, PERMITS, ETC.

 

      Each of the Issuers and the Subsidiaries owns, or is licensed, or

otherwise has the right, to use, all patents, trademarks, service marks,

tradenames, copyrights and other intellectual property Material to its business,

and the use thereof by the Issuers and the Subsidiaries does not infringe on the

rights of any other Person, except for any such infringements that, individually

or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

      5.12. COMPLIANCE WITH ERISA.

 

            (a) The Company and each ERISA Affiliate have operated and

      administered each US Plan in compliance with all applicable laws except

      for such instances of noncompliance as have not resulted in and could not

      reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the

      Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability pursuant to

      Title I or IV of ERISA or the penalty or excise tax provisions of the US

      Tax Code relating to employee pension benefit plans (as defined in section

      3 of ERISA), and no event, transaction or condition has occurred or exists

       that could reasonably be expected to result in the incurrence of any such

      liability by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate, or in the imposition of

      any Lien on any

 

                                      -10-

 

<PAGE>

 

      of the rights, properties or assets of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate,

      in either case pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or to such penalty or

      excise tax provisions or to section 401(a)(29) or 412 of the US Tax Code,

      other than such liabilities or Liens as would not be individually or in

      the aggregate Material.

 

            (b) As determined by the Company's actuary, the present value of the

      aggregate projected benefit obligation of all underfunded US Plans

      determined as of January 1, 2003 (based on the assumptions used for

      purposes of Statement of Financial Standards No. 87) did not exceed the

      aggregate fair value of the assets of all such underfunded US Plans by

      more than $67,000,000 as of such date.

 

            (c) The Company and its ERISA Affiliates have not incurred

      withdrawal liabilities (and are not subject to contingent withdrawal

      liabilities) under section 4201 or 4204 of ERISA in respect of

      Multiemployer Plans that individually or in the aggregate are Material.

 

            (d) The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the issuance

      and sale of the Notes to each Purchaser hereunder will not involve any

      transaction that is subject to the prohibitions of section

      406(a)(1)(A)-(E) of ERISA or in connection with which a tax could be

      imposed by sections 4975(a) and (b) of the US Tax Code by reason of

      section 4975(c)(1)(A)-(D) of the US Tax Code. The representation by the

      Company in the first sentence of this Section 5.12(d) is made in reliance

      upon and subject to the accuracy of the representation in Section 6.2 from

      each Purchaser and each transferee of a Note as to the sources of the

      funds used to pay the purchase price of the Notes to be purchased by such

      Purchaser or acquired by such transferee.

 

      5.13. PRIVATE OFFERING BY THE ISSUERS.

 

      Neither the Issuers nor anyone acting on their behalf has offered the

Notes or any similar securities for sale to, or solicited any offer to buy any

of the same from, or otherwise approached or negotiated in respect thereof with,

in each case within one year of the date of the Closing, any Person other than

the Purchasers, each of whom has been offered the Notes at a private sale for

investment. Neither the Issuers nor anyone acting on their behalf has taken, or

will take, any action that would subject the issuance or sale of the Notes to

the registration requirements of section 5 of the Securities Act or to the

provisions of any securities or Blue Sky law of any applicable jurisdiction.

 

      5.14. USE OF PROCEEDS; MARGIN REGULATIONS.

 

      The Issuers will apply the proceeds of the sale of the Notes as set forth

in Schedule 5.14 and none of the proceeds will be used to make any loan or other

 

                                      -11-

 

<PAGE>

 

Investment in any Dormant Company. No part of the proceeds from the sale of the

Notes hereunder will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of buying

or carrying any margin stock within the meaning of Regulation U of the Board of

Governors of the United States Federal Reserve System (12 CFR 221), or for the

purpose of buying or carrying or trading in any securities under such

circumstances as to involve the Issuers in a violation of Regulation X of said

Board (12 CFR 224) or to involve any broker or dealer in a violation of

Regulation T of said Board (12 CFR 220). Margin stock does not constitute more

than 5% of the value of the consolidated assets of the Issuers and their

Subsidiaries and neither Issuer has any present intention that margin stock will

constitute more than 5% of the value of such assets. As used in this Section,

the terms "MARGIN STOCK" and "PURPOSE OF BUYING OR CARRYING" shall have the

meanings assigned to them in said Regulation U.

 

      5.15. EXISTING INDEBTEDNESS; FUTURE LIENS.

 

            (a) Except as described therein, Schedule 5.15 sets forth a complete

      and correct list of all outstanding Indebtedness of the Issuers and their

      Subsidiaries as of August 31, 2003, since which date there has been no

      Material change in the amounts, interest rates, sinking funds, installment

      payments or maturities of the Indebtedness of either of the Issuers or any

      Subsidiary. Neither of the Issuers nor any Subsidiary is in default and no

      waiver of default is currently in effect, in the payment of any principal

      or interest on any Indebtedness of either of the Issuers or any Subsidiary

      and no event or condition exists with respect to any Indebtedness of

      either of the Issuers or any Subsidiary that would permit (or that with

      notice or the lapse of time, or both, would permit) one or more Persons to

      cause such Indebtedness to become due and payable before its stated

      maturity or before its regularly scheduled dates of payment.

 

            (b) Except as disclosed in Schedule 5.15, neither of the Issuers nor

      any Subsidiary has agreed or consented to cause or permit in the future

      (upon the happening of a contingency or otherwise) any of its property,

      whether now owned or hereafter acquired, to be subject to a Lien that

      would not be permitted by Section 10.3.

 

      5.16. FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL REGULATIONS, ETC.

 

      Neither the sale of the Notes by the Issuers hereunder nor their use of

the proceeds thereof will violate the Trading with the Enemy Act of the United

States of America, as amended, or any of the foreign assets control regulations

of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as

amended) or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto.

 

                                      -12-

 

<PAGE>

 

      5.17. STATUS UNDER CERTAIN STATUTES.

 

      Neither of the Issuers nor any Subsidiary:

 

            (a) is subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act of

      1940 of the United States of America, as amended, the Public Utility

      Holding Company Act of 1935 of the United States of America, as amended,

      or the Federal Power Act of 1920 of the United States of America, as

      amended;

 

            (b) is or will become a Person or entity described by section 1 of

      Executive Order 13224 of September 24, 2001 Blocking Property and

      Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten To Commit, or

      Support Terrorism, 31 CFR Part 595 et seq., and, to the best knowledge and

      belief of each Issuer, neither of the Issuers nor any Subsidiary does or

      will engage in any dealings or transactions, or be otherwise associated,

       with any such Persons or entities; or

 

            (c) is in violation of the USA Patriot Act.

 

      5.18. ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.

 

      Except as disclosed in Schedule 5.18 and except for matters which could

not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, neither of the

Issuers nor any Subsidiary (a) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law

or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval

required under any Environmental Law, (b) has become subject to any

Environmental Liability, (c) has received notice of any claim with respect to

any Environmental Liability or (d) knows of any basis for any Environmental

Liability in each case.

 

      5.19. PARI PASSU RANKING.

 

      Each of the Issuer's obligations under the Notes and this Agreement do and

will, upon issuance of the Notes, rank at least pari passu, without preference

or priority, with all of its other outstanding unsecured and unsubordinated

obligations, except for those obligations that are mandatorily preferred by law

and not by reason of contract (other than as provided in the Sharing Agreement).

 

      5.20. NOT SUBJECT TO IMMUNITY.

 

      Each of the Issuers represents and warrants that neither it nor any other

Obligor is entitled to immunity from judicial proceedings and agrees that, if

judicial proceedings are brought by any holder of Notes to enforce any right or

remedy under any Financing Documents, no immunity from such proceedings will be

claimed by or on behalf of any Obligor or with respect to it or its respective

properties.

 

                                      -13-

 

<PAGE>

 

      5.21. DORMANT COMPANIES.

 

      Except as set forth in Schedule 5.21, no Dormant Company owns any Material

assets or has any outstanding Indebtedness or other Material liabilities. The

aggregate revenues and assets of the Dormant Companies are less than 1% of the

aggregate revenue and assets of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries.

 

      5.22. BANK CREDIT AGREEMENT REPRESENTATIONS.

 

      Each of the representations and warranties set forth in section 4 of the

Bank Credit Agreement is true and correct in all Material respects on and as of

the date of the Closing.

 

6.     REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PURCHASERS.

 

      6.1.   PURCHASE FOR INVESTMENT.

 

      Each Purchaser represents that (a) it is a Qualified Institutional Buyer

and (b) it is purchasing the Notes for its own account or for one or more

separate accounts or investment funds maintained or managed by such Purchaser or

for the account of one or more pension or trust funds and not with a view to the

distribution thereof, provided that the disposition of such Purchaser's property

shall at all times be within such Purchaser's control. Each Purchaser

understands that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and

may be resold only if registered pursuant to the provisions of the Securities

Act or if an exemption from registration is available, except under

circumstances where neither such registration nor such an exemption is required

by law, and that the Issuers are not required to register the Notes.

 

      6.2.   SOURCE OF FUNDS.

 

      Each Purchaser represents that at least one of the following statements is

an accurate representation as to each source of funds (a "SOURCE") to be used by

such Purchaser to pay the purchase price of the Notes to be purchased by it

hereunder:

 

            (a) the Source is an "insurance company general account" (as the

      term is defined in the United States Department of Labor's Prohibited

      Transaction Exemption ("PTE") 95-60 (issued July 12, 1995) in respect of

      which the reserves and liabilities (as defined by the annual statement for

      life insurance companies approved by the National Association of Insurance

      Commissioners (the "NAIC ANNUAL STATEMENT")) for the general account

      contract(s) held by or on behalf of any employee benefit plan together

      with the amount of the reserves and liabilities for the general account

      contract(s)

 

                                      -14-

 

<PAGE>

 

      held by or on behalf of any other employee benefit plans maintained by the

      same employer (or affiliate thereof as defined in PTE 95-60) or by the

      same employee organization in the general account do not exceed 10% of the

       total reserves and liabilities of the general account (exclusive of

      separate account liabilities) plus surplus as set forth in the NAIC Annual

      Statement filed with such Purchaser's state of domicile; or

 

            (b) the Source is a separate account that is maintained solely in

      connection with such Purchaser's fixed contractual obligations under which

      the amounts payable, or credited, to any employee benefit plan (or its

      related trust) that has any interest in such separate account (or to any

      participant or beneficiary of such plan (including any annuitant)) are not

      affected in any manner by the investment performance of the separate

      account; or

 

            (c) the Source is either (i) an insurance company pooled separate

      account, within the meaning of PTE 90-1 (issued January 29, 1990), or (ii)

      a bank collective investment fund, within the meaning of PTE 91-38 (issued

      July 1, 1991, as corrected November 25, 1991) and, except as disclosed by

      such Purchaser to the Issuers in writing prior to the Closing (or, in the

      case of a transferee of Notes, prior to its acquisition of such Notes)

      pursuant to this clause (c), no employee benefit plan or group of plans

      maintained by the same employer or employee organization beneficially owns

      more than 10% of all assets allocated to such pooled separate account or

      collective investment fund; or

 

            (d) the Source constitutes assets of an "investment fund" (within

      the meaning of Part V of PTE 84-14 (issued March 13, 1984, as corrected

      October 10, 1985) (the "QPAM EXEMPTION")) managed by a "qualified

      professional asset manager" or "QPAM" (within the meaning of Part V of the

      QPAM Exemption), no employee benefit plan's assets that are included in

      such investment fund, when combined with the assets of all other employee

      benefit plans established or maintained by the same employer or by an

      affiliate (within the meaning of section V(c)(1) of the QPAM Exemption) of

      such employer or by the same employee organization and managed by such

      QPAM, exceed 20% of the total client assets managed by such QPAM and the

      conditions of Part I(c) and (g) of the QPAM Exemption are satisfied,

      neither the QPAM nor a person controlling or controlled by the QPAM

      (applying the definition of "control" in section V(e) of the QPAM

      Exemption) owns a 5% or more interest in either Issuer and (i) the

      identity of such QPAM and (ii) the names of all employee benefit plans

      whose assets are included in such investment fund have been disclosed to

      the Issuers in writing pursuant to this clause (d); or

 

                                      -15-

 

<PAGE>

 

             (e) the Source constitutes assets of a "plan(s)" (within the meaning

      of Section IV of PTE 96-23 (issued April 10, 1996) (the "INHAM

      EXEMPTION")) managed by an "in-house asset manager" or "INHAM" (within the

      meaning of Part IV of the INHAM exemption), the conditions of Part I(a),

      (g) and (h) of the INHAM Exemption are satisfied, neither the INHAM nor a

      person controlling or controlled by the INHAM (applying the definition of

      "control" in Section IV(h) of the INHAM Exemption) owns a 5% or more

      interest in either Issuer and (i) the identity of such INHAM and (ii) the

      name(s) of the employee benefit plan(s) whose assets constitute the Source

      have been disclosed to the Issuers in writing pursuant to this clause (e);

      or

 

            (f) the Source is a governmental plan and the purchase of the Notes

      is not otherwise restricted by applicable law; or

 

            (g) the Source is one or more employee benefit plans, or a separate

      account or trust fund comprised of one or more employee benefit plans,

      each of which has been identified to the Issuers in writing prior to the

      Closing (or, in the case of a transferee of Notes, prior to its

      acquisition of such Notes) pursuant to this clause (g); or

 

            (h) the Source does not include assets of any employee benefit plan,

      other than a plan exempt from the coverage of ERISA.

 

As used in this Section 6.2, the terms "EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN," "GOVERNMENTAL

PLAN," AND "SEPARATE ACCOUNT" shall have the respective meanings assigned to

such terms in section 3 of ERISA.

 

      6.3.   PURCHASER ACTION.

 

      No Purchaser has taken or will take any action that would subject the

issuance or sale of the Notes to the registration requirements of section 5 of

the Securities Act or to the provisions of any securities or Blue Sky law of any

applicable jurisdiction.

 

7.     INFORMATION AS TO ISSUERS.

 

      7.1.   FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS INFORMATION.

 

      The Company shall deliver to each holder of Notes that is an Institutional

Investor:

 

            (a) Quarterly Statements -- within 45 days after the end of each

      quarterly fiscal period in each Fiscal Year (other than the last quarterly

      fiscal period of each such Fiscal Year), duplicate copies of,

 

                                      -16-

 

<PAGE>

 

            (i) an unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and the

      Subsidiaries as at the end of such quarter, and

 

            (ii) unaudited consolidated statements of income, changes in

      shareholders' equity and cash flows of the Company and its Consolidated

      Subsidiaries, for such quarter and (in the case of the second and third

      quarters) for the portion of the fiscal year ending with such quarter,

 

setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding

periods in the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, prepared in

accordance with GAAP applicable to quarterly financial statements generally, and

certified by a Senior Financial Officer as fairly presenting, in all material

respects, the financial position of the companies being reported on and their

results of operations and cash flows, subject to changes resulting from year-end

adjustments, provided that delivery within the time period specified above of

copies of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q prepared in compliance

with the requirements therefor and filed with the Securities and Exchange

Commission shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this Section 7.1(a);

 

      (b) Annual Statements -- within 90 days after the end of each Fiscal Year,

duplicate copies of,

 

            (i) a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and the

      Subsidiaries, as at the end of such year, and

 

            (ii) consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders'

      equity and cash flows of the Company and the Subsidiaries, for such year,

 

setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous

fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, prepared in accordance with GAAP, and

accompanied by an opinion thereon of independent certified public accountants of

recognized national standing, which opinion shall state that such financial

statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of

the companies being reported upon and their results of operations and cash flows

and have been prepared in conformity with GAAP, and that the examination of such

accountants in connection with such financial statements has been made in

accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, and that such audit

provides a reasonable basis for such opinion in the circumstances (without a

"going concern" or like qualification, exception or explanation and without any

qualification or exception as to scope of such audit), and provided that the

delivery within the time period

 

                                      -17-

 

<PAGE>

 

      specified above of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for such

      Fiscal Year (together with the Company's annual report to shareholders, if

      any, prepared pursuant to Rule 14a-3 under the Exchange Act) prepared in

      accordance with the requirements therefor and filed with the Securities

      and Exchange Commission shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of

      this Section 7.1(b);

 

            (c) SEC and Other Reports -- promptly upon their becoming available,

      one copy of (i) each financial statement, report, notice, proxy statement

      or circular sent by the Company to public securities holders generally or

      its creditors generally (or any class thereof generally), and (ii) each

      regular or periodic report, each registration statement (without exhibits

      except as expressly requested by such holder), and each prospectus and all

      amendments thereto filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange

      Commission;

 

            (d) Notice of Default or Event of Default -- promptly, and in any

      event within five Business Days after a Responsible Officer becoming aware

      of the existence of any Default or Event of Default or that any Person has

      given any notice or taken any action with respect to a claimed default

      hereunder or that any Person has given any notice or taken any action with

      respect to a claimed default of the type referred to in Section 11(f), a

      written notice specifying the nature and period of existence thereof and

      what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect

      thereto;

 

            (e) ERISA Matters - promptly, and in any event within fifteen days

      after a Responsible Officer becoming aware of any of the following, a

      written notice setting forth the nature thereof and the action, if any,

      that the Company or an ERISA Affiliate proposes to take with respect

      thereto:

 

                  (i) with respect to any US Plan, any reportable event, as

            defined in section 4043(b) of ERISA and the regulations thereunder,

            for which notice thereof has not been waived; or

 

                  (ii) the taking by the PBGC of steps to institute, or the

            threatening by the PBGC of the institution of, proceedings under

            section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of

             a trustee to administer, any US Plan, or the receipt by the Company

            or any ERISA Affiliate of a notice from a Multiemployer Plan that

            such action has been taken by the PBGC with respect to such

            Multiemployer Plan; or

 

                  (iii) any event, transaction or condition that could result in

            the incurrence of any liability by the Company or any ERISA

            Affiliate

 

                                      -18-

 

<PAGE>

 

            pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or the penalty or excise tax

            provisions of the US Tax Code relating to employee pension benefit

            plans, or in the imposition of any Lien on any of the rights,

            properties or assets of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate pursuant

            to Title I or IV of ERISA or such penalty or excise tax provisions,

            if such liability or Lien, taken together with any other such

            liabilities or Liens then existing, could reasonably be expected to

            have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

            (f) Notices from Governmental Authority -- promptly, and in any

      event within 30 days of receipt thereof, copies of any notice to either of

      the Issuers or any Subsidiary from any Governmental Authority relating to

      any order, ruling, statute or other law or regulation that could

      reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

            (g) Rule 144A - promptly after any holder of Notes so requests, such

      information regarding the Issuers required to satisfy the requirements of

      17 C.F.R. Section 230.144A, as amended from time to time, in connection

      with any contemplated transfer of the Notes, provided that the delivery of

      the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K pursuant to Section 7.1(b) for

      the most recent Fiscal Year shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of

      this Section 7.1(g);

 

            (h) Bank Credit Agreement -- to the extent not provided above in

      this Section 7.1, all reports, statements, certificates, notices or other

      writings required to be delivered pursuant to section 5.2 of the Bank

      Credit Agreement only so long as the Bank Credit Agreement (or any

      equivalent provision following any amendment or refinancing of the

      original Bank Credit Agreement) remains operative within the times

      required therein; and

 

            (i) Requested Information -- with reasonable promptness, such other

      data and information relating to the business, operations, affairs,

      financial condition, assets or properties of either of the Issuers or any

      Subsidiary or relating to the ability of any Obligor to perform its

      obligations hereunder and under the Financing Documents to which such

      Obligor is a party, as from time to time may be reasonably requested by

      any such holder of Notes.

 

      7.2.   OFFICER'S CERTIFICATES.

 

      Each set of financial statements delivered to a holder of Notes pursuant

to Section 7.1(a) or Section 7.1(b) hereof shall be accompanied by a certificate

of a Senior Financial Officer of the Company setting forth:

 

                                      -19-

<PAGE>

 

            (a) Covenant Compliance -- the information (including detailed

      calculations) required in order to establish whether the Issuers were in

      compliance with the requirements of Section 10.3 through Section 10.8,

      inclusive, Section 10.10 and Section 10.14 hereof, during the quarterly or

      annual period covered by the statements then being furnished (including

      with respect to each such Section, where applicable, the calculations of

      the maximum or minimum amount, ratio or percentage, as the case may be,

      permissible under the terms of such Sections, and the calculation of the

      amount, ratio or percentage then in existence); and

 

            (b) Event of Default -- a statement that such officer has reviewed

      the relevant terms hereof and has made, or caused to be made, under his or

      her supervision, a review of the transactions and conditions of the

      Issuers and their Subsidiaries from the beginning of the quarterly or

      annual period covered by the statements then being furnished to the date

      of the certificate and that such review shall not have disclosed the

      existence during such period of any condition or event that constitutes a

      Default or an Event of Default or, if any such condition or event existed

      or exists (including, without limitation, any such event or condition

      resulting from the failure of either of the Issuers or any Subsidiary to

      comply with any Environmental Law), specifying the nature and period of

      existence thereof and what action the Company shall have taken or proposes

       to take with respect thereto.

 

      7.3. INSPECTION.

 

      Each of the Issuers shall permit the representatives of each holder of

Notes that is an Institutional Investor:

 

            (a) No Default -- if no Default or Event of Default then exists, at

      the expense of such holder and upon reasonable prior notice to the

      applicable Issuer, to visit the principal executive office of such Issuer,

      to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of such Issuer and its

      Subsidiaries with such Issuer's officers, and (with the consent of such

      Issuer, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld) its independent

      public accountants, and (with the consent of such Issuer, which consent

      will not be unreasonably withheld) to visit the other offices and

      properties of such Issuer and each Subsidiary, all at such reasonable

      times and as often as may be reasonably requested in writing; and

 

            (b) Default -- if a Default or Event of Default then exists, at the

       expense of the Issuers to visit and inspect any of the offices or

      properties of either of the Issuers or any Subsidiary, to examine all

      their respective books of account, records, reports and other papers, to

      make copies and extracts therefrom, and to discuss their respective

      affairs, finances and accounts with

 

                                      -20-

<PAGE>

 

      their respective officers and independent public accountants (and by this

      provision each of the Issuers authorizes said accountants to discuss the

      affairs, finances and accounts of such Issuer and its Subsidiaries), all

      at such times and as often as may be requested.

 

8. PREPAYMENT OF THE NOTES.

 

      8.1. REQUIRED PREPAYMENTS.

 

      On October 10, 2006 and on April 10, 2007 and each October 10 and April 10

thereafter to and including April 10, 2010, the Issuers will prepay

$5,555,555.56 principal amount (or such lesser principal amount as shall then be

outstanding) of the Notes at par and without payment of the Make-Whole Amount or

any premium, provided that upon any partial prepayment of the Notes pursuant to

Section 8.2 the principal amount of each required prepayment of the Notes

becoming due under this Section 8.1 on and after the date of such prepayment or

any purchase thereof pursuant to Section 8.5 shall be reduced in the same

proportion as the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Notes is reduced as a

result of such prepayment or purchase. Subject to Section 12.1, any remaining

principal of, and the interest then accrued and unpaid on, the Notes shall be

due and payable on October 10, 2010.

 

      8.2. OPTIONAL PREPAYMENTS WITH MAKE-WHOLE AMOUNT.

 

      The Issuers may, at their option, upon notice as provided below, prepay at

any time all, or from time to time any part of, the Notes, in an aggregate

principal amount of not less than $1,000,000 in the case of a partial

prepayment, at 100% of the principal amount so prepaid, plus the Make-Whole

Amount determined for the prepayment date with respect to such principal amount.

The Issuers will give each holder of Notes written notice of each optional

prepayment under this Section 8.2 not less than 30 days and not more than 60

days prior to the date fixed for such prepayment. Each such notice shall specify

such date, the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be prepaid on such

date, the principal amount of each Note held by such holder to be prepaid

(determined in accordance with Section 8.3), and the interest to be paid on the

prepayment date with respect to such principal amount being prepaid, and shall

be accompanied by a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer as to the

estimated Make-Whole Amount due in connection with such prepayment (calculated

as if the date of such notice were the date of the prepayment), setting forth

the details of such computation. Two Business Days prior to such prepayment, the

Issuers shall deliver to each holder of Notes a certificate of a Senior

Financial Officer specifying the calculation of such Make-Whole Amount as of the

specified prepayment date.

 

                                      -21-

<PAGE>

 

      8.3. ALLOCATION OF PARTIAL PREPAYMENTS.

 

      In the case of each partial prepayment of the Notes pursuant to Section

8.2 and each purchase of Notes pursuant to Section 8.5, the principal amount of

the Notes to be prepaid shall be allocated among all of the Notes at the time

outstanding in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the respective unpaid

principal amounts thereof not theretofore called for prepayment.

 

      8.4. MATURITY; SURRENDER, ETC.

 

      In the case of each prepayment of Notes pursuant to this Section 8, the

principal amount of each Note to be prepaid shall mature and become due and

payable on the date fixed for such prepayment, together with interest on such

principal amount accrued to such date and the applicable Make-Whole Amount, if

any. From and after such date, unless the Issuers shall fail to pay such

principal amount when so due and payable, together with the interest and

Make-Whole Amount, if any, as aforesaid, interest on such principal amount shall

cease to accrue. Any Note paid or prepaid in full shall be surrendered to the

Issuers and cancelled and shall not be reissued, and no Note shall be issued in

lieu of any prepaid principal amount of any Note.

 

      8.5. PURCHASE OF NOTES.

 

      Neither Issuer will, and neither Issuer will permit any Affiliate to,

purchase, redeem, prepay or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any of

the outstanding Notes except (a) upon the payment or prepayment of the Notes in

accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Notes or (b) pursuant to an

offer to purchase made by the Issuers or an Affiliate pro rata to the holders of

all Notes at the time outstanding upon the same terms and conditions. Any such

offer shall provide each holder with sufficient information to enable it to make

an informed decision with respect to such offer, and shall remain open for at

least 30 days. If the holders of more than 50% of the principal amount of the

Notes then outstanding accept such offer, the Issuers shall promptly notify the

remaining holders of such fact and the expiration date for the acceptance by

holders of Notes of such offer shall be extended by the number of days necessary

to give each such remaining holder at least five (5) Business Days from its

receipt of such notice to accept such offer. The Issuers will promptly cancel

all Notes acquired by it or any Affiliate pursuant to any payment, prepayment or

purchase of Notes pursuant to any provision of this Agreement and no Notes may

be issued in substitution or exchange for any such Notes.

 

      8.6. MAKE-WHOLE AMOUNT.

 

      The term "MAKE-WHOLE AMOUNT" means, with respect to any Note, an amount

equal to the excess, if any, of the Discounted Value of the Remaining

 

                                      -22-

<PAGE>

 

Scheduled Payments with respect to the Called Principal of such Note over the

amount of such Called Principal, provided that the Make-Whole Amount may in no

event be less than zero. For the purposes of determining the Make-Whole Amount,

the following terms have the following meanings:

 

            "CALLED PRINCIPAL" means, with respect to any Note, the principal of

      such Note that is to be prepaid pursuant to Section 8.2 or has become or

      is declared to be immediately due and payable pursuant to Section 12.1, as

      the context requires.

 

            "DISCOUNTED VALUE" means, with respect to the Called Principal of

      any Note, the amount obtained by discounting all Remaining Scheduled

      Payments with respect to such Called Principal from their respective

      scheduled due dates to the Settlement Date with respect to such Called

      Principal, in accordance with accepted financial practice and at a

      discount factor (applied on the same periodic basis as that on which

      interest on such Note is payable) equal to the Reinvestment Yield with

      respect to such Called Principal.

 

            "REINVESTMENT YIELD" means, with respect to the Called Principal of

      any Note, 0.50% over the yield to maturity implied by (a) the yields

      reported, as of 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the second Business Day

      preceding the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal on the

      display designated as "Page 678" on the Moneyline Telerate Service (or

      such other display as may replace Page 678 on the Moneyline Telerate

      Service) for actively traded on the run US Treasury securities having a

      maturity equal to the Remaining Average Life of such Called Principal as

      of such Settlement Date, or (b) if such yields are not reported as of such

      time or the yields reported as of such time are not ascertainable, the

      Treasury Constant Maturity Series Yields reported, for the latest day for

      which such yields have been so reported as of the second Business Day

      preceding the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, in

      Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (or any comparable

      successor publication) for actively traded US Treasury securities having a

      constant maturity equal to the Remaining Average Life of such Called

      Principal as of such Settlement Date. Such implied yield will be

      determined, if necessary, by (i) converting US Treasury bill quotations to

      bond-equivalent yields in accordance with accepted financial practice and

      (ii) interpolating linearly between (x) the actively traded US Treasury

      Security with the maturity closest to and greater than the Remaining

      Average Life and (y) the actively traded US Treasury Security with the

      maturity closest to and less than the Remaining Average Life.

 

            "REMAINING AVERAGE LIFE" means, with respect to the Called Principal

      of any Note, the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-

 

                                      -23-

<PAGE>

 

      twelfth year) obtained by dividing (a) such Called Principal into (b) the

      sum of the products obtained by multiplying (i) the principal component of

      each Remaining Scheduled Payment with respect to such Called Principal by

      (ii) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth year) that

      will elapse between the Settlement Date with respect to such Called

       Principal and the scheduled due date of such Remaining Scheduled Payment.

 

            "REMAINING SCHEDULED PAYMENTS" means, with respect to the Called

      Principal of any Note, all payments of such Called Principal and interest

      thereon that would be due after the Settlement Date with respect to such

      Called Principal if no payment of such Called Principal were made prior to

      its scheduled due date, provided that if such Settlement Date is not a

      date on which interest payments are due to be made under the terms of such

      Note, then the amount of the next succeeding scheduled interest payment

      will be reduced by the amount of interest accrued to such Settlement Date

      and required to be paid on such Settlement Date pursuant to Section 8.2 or

      Section 12.1.

 

            "SETTLEMENT DATE" means, with respect to the Called Principal of any

      Note, the date on which such Called Principal is to be prepaid pursuant to

      Section 8.2 or has become or is declared to be immediately due and payable

      pursuant to Section 12.1, as the context requires.

 

9. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.

 

      Each of the Issuers covenants that so long as any of the Notes are

outstanding:

 

      9.1. COMPLIANCE WITH LAW.

 

      Each of the Issuers will and will cause each Subsidiary to comply with all

laws, ordinances or governmental rules or regulations to which each of them is

subject, including, without limitation, ERISA and Environmental Laws, and will

obtain and maintain in effect all licenses, certificates, permits, franchises

and other governmental authorizations necessary to the ownership of their

respective properties or to the conduct of their respective businesses, in each

case to the extent necessary to ensure that non-compliance with such laws,

ordinances or governmental rules or regulations or failures to obtain or

maintain in effect such licenses, certificates, permits, franchises and other

governmental authorizations could not, individually or in the aggregate,

reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

      9.2. INSURANCE.

 

                                      -24-

<PAGE>

 

      Each of the Issuers will and will cause each Subsidiary to maintain, with

financially sound and reputable insurers, insurance with respect to their

respective properties and businesses against such casualties and contingencies,

of such types, on such terms and in such amounts (including deductibles,

co-insurance and self-insurance, if adequate reserves are maintained with

respect thereto) as is customary in the case of entities of established

reputations engaged in the same or a similar business and similarly situated.

 

      9.3. MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTIES.

 

      Each of the Issuers will and will cause each Subsidiary other than any

Dormant Company to maintain and keep, or cause to be maintained and kept, their

respective properties in good repair, working order and condition (other than

ordinary wear and tear), so that the business carried on in connection therewith

may be properly conducted at all times, provided that this Section shall not

prevent either of the Issuers or any Subsidiary from discontinuing the operation

and the maintenance of any of its properties if such discontinuance is desirable

in the conduct of its business and such Issuer has concluded that such

discontinuance could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be

expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

      9.4. PAYMENT OF TAXES AND CLAIMS.

 

      Each of the Issuers will and will cause each Subsidiary to file all tax

returns required to be filed in any jurisdiction and to pay and discharge all

taxes required to be paid on such returns and all other taxes, assessments,

governmental charges, or levies imposed on them or any of their properties,

assets, income or franchises, to the extent such taxes and assessments have

become due and payable and before they have become delinquent and all claims for

which sums have become due and payable that have or might become a Lien on

properties or assets of either of the Issuers or any Subsidiary, provided that

neither of the Issuers nor any Subsidiary need pay any such tax or assessment or

claims if (a) the amount, applicability or validity thereof is contested by such

Issuer or such Subsidiary on a timely basis in good faith and in appropriate

proceedings, and such Issuer or a Subsidiary has established adequate reserves

therefor in accordance with GAAP on the books of such Issuer or such Subsidiary

or (b) the nonpayment of all such taxes and assessments in the aggregate could

not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

      9.5. CORPORATE EXISTENCE, ETC.

 

      Each of the Issuers will at all times preserve and keep in full force and

effect its corporate existence. Subject to Sections 9.3, 10.2 and 10.4, each of

the Issuers will at all times preserve and keep in full force and effect the

corporate existence of

 

                                      -25-

<PAGE>

 

each Subsidiary other than any Dormant Company (unless merged into an Issuer or

a Subsidiary (other than a Dormant Company)) and all rights and franchises of

such Issuer and its Subsidiaries (other than a Dormant Company) unless, in the

good faith judgment of such Issuer, the termination of or failure to preserve

and keep in full force and effect such corporate existence, right or franchise

could not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

      9.6. NEW SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR; ADDITIONAL PLEDGED STOCK.

 

            (a) The Issuers will (i) cause each Person that, after the date of

      the Closing, becomes a Domestic Subsidiary that is a "significant

      subsidiary" within the meaning of Regulation S-X of the Exchange Act, and

      each Subsidiary that ceases to be a Dormant Company pursuant to Section

      9.11, to become, promptly and in any event within fifteen (15) Business

      Days of becoming a Domestic Subsidiary or ceasing to be a Dormant Company,

      as the case may be, an additional guarantor pursuant to the terms of the

      Guaranty Agreement and (ii) deliver to each of the holders of Notes, to

      the extent reasonably requested by the Required Holders, copies of

      authorizing resolutions, bylaws and other constitutive documents and

      financial information of such Person, as well as an opinion of independent

      counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Required Holders, as to the due

      execution, delivery and enforceability of such Person's obligations as a

      Guarantor, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Required

       Holders.

 

            (b) The Company will promptly, and in any event within fifteen (15)

      Business Days of any Person becoming (i) a Foreign Subsidiary of the

      Company or (ii) a Foreign Subsidiary that is not a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary

      of either Issuer that, in each case, is a "significant subsidiary" within

      the meaning of Regulation S-X of the Exchange Act, after the date of the

      Closing, (A) pledge, or cause to be pledged, the Applicable Pledge Amount

      of any equity interests of such Foreign Subsidiary pursuant to the Pledge

      Agreement, and (B) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Agent, on

      behalf of the holders of Notes, the original stock or membership

      certificate(s) evidencing such equity interests and undated stock powers

      executed in blank.

 

      9.7. PARI PASSU RANKING.

 

      Each of the Issuers shall ensure that its payment obligations under this

Agreement and the Notes rank and will at all times rank at least pari passu in

all respects with the claims of all of its other unsecured and unsubordinated

creditors, respectively, except as may be otherwise provided for in the Sharing

Agreement with respect to the Debt under the Bank Credit Agreement, save those

whose claims are preferred by any bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation,

administration or other similar laws of general application.

 

                                      -26-

<PAGE>

 

      9.8. MOST FAVORED LENDER PROVISIONS.

 

            (a) NEW AND AMENDED COVENANTS. If at any time and from time to time

      on or after the date of the Closing either of the Issuers or any

      Subsidiary enters into, assumes or otherwise becomes bound or obligated

      under, or agrees to any new agreement with the lenders under the Bank

      Credit Agreement or, without derogating from any of the restrictions

      contained herein, any amendment, modification of or supplement to the Bank

      Credit Agreement or any agreement which relates to the Bank Credit

      Agreement in any manner the effect of which would be (i) to create, amend

      or add covenants or obligations of the Issuers and the Subsidiaries which

      are in addition to those contained in the Bank Credit Agreement (as in

      effect on the date of the Closing) or (ii) more restrictive on the Issuers

      or any Subsidiary than are the equivalent covenants (other than the

      Specified Financial Covenants) contained herein (the "NEW/AMENDED COVENANT

      PROVISIONS"), then this Agreement shall, without any further action on the

      part of either Issuer, any Subsidiary or any holder of Notes, be deemed to

      be amended automatically to include each such New/Amended Covenant

      Provision, effective as of the effective date of such New/Amended Covenant

      Provision; provided, that the Required Holders and the Issuers may agree

      in writing not to so amend this Agreement. For the purposes of clause (ii)

      above, in the event that (A) any such amendment, modification or

      supplement reduces a sum certain dollar amount in the Bank Credit

      Agreement, which reduction has the effect of making a covenant in the Bank

      Credit Agreement more restrictive than a covenant contained herein and (B)

      the corresponding covenant contained herein is a percentage rather than a

      sum certain dollar amount, then such percentage contained herein shall be

      reduced and shall thereafter be equal to the product (expressed as a

      percentage) of (x) such percentage herein immediately before giving effect

       to such amendment, modification or supplement, multiplied by (y) a

      fraction, the numerator of which is the sum certain dollar amount in the

      Bank Credit Agreement immediately after giving effect to such amendment,

      modification or supplement and the denominator of which is the sum certain

      dollar amount stated in the Bank Credit Agreement immediately prior to

      giving effect to such amendment, modification or supplement. By way of

      example, if the definition of the "Permitted Acquisition Basket" in the

      Bank Credit Agreement were amended to reduce the sum certain dollar amount

      from $15,000,000 to $9,000,000 (a 40% reduction), then the percentage in

      the definition of Permitted Acquisition herein would be reduced to 6% from

      10% (a 40% reduction).

 

            (b) SPECIFIED FINANCIAL COVENANTS. If at any time and from time to

      time after the date of the Closing, either Issuer or any Subsidiary enters

 

                                      -27-

<PAGE>

 

       into, assumes or otherwise becomes bound or obligated under, or agrees to,

      any modification of or amendment or supplement to the Bank Credit

      Agreement in respect of or that contains provisions (the "SPECIFIED

      PROVISIONS") that are the same as or similar to the covenants set forth in

      Sections 10.5, 10.6 or 10.7 (as in effect from time to time after giving

      effect to this Section 9.8, the "SPECIFIED FINANCIAL COVENANTS"), and one

      or more of such Specified Provisions is more restrictive on the Issuers or

      any Subsidiary than the equivalent Specified Financial Covenants, then

      such equivalent Specified Financial Covenants shall, without any further

      action on the part of either Issuer, any Subsidiary or any holder of

      Notes, be deemed to be amended automatically to be as restrictive as the

      relevant Specified Provision as of the effective date of such Specified

      Provision; provided, however, that at all times subsequent to the date of

      the DOJ Settlement Payment, the required ratios of Consolidated Funded

      Debt to Consolidated EBITDA set forth in Section 10.5 shall each have a

      numerator that is the lesser of (i) the relevant numerator set forth in

      such section (as of the date of the Closing) or (ii) a numerator that is

      0.25 higher than that specified in the Bank Credit Agreement (after giving

      effect to any applicable Specified Provision) for the relevant time period

      (after converting, if necessary, the ratios in the Bank Credit Agreement

      to the method of presentation in Section 10.5).

 

            (c) WRITTEN AMENDMENT; SUCCESSIVE CHANGES. Each of the Issuers

      further covenants to promptly, and in any event within 30 days, execute

      and deliver at its expense (including, without limitation, the fees and

      expenses of counsel for the holders of the Notes) a document which amends

      this Agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Required Holders

      to reflect any change to this Agreement made effective by this Section

      9.8, provided that the execution and delivery of such document shall not

      be a precondition to the effectiveness of such amendment, waiver or

      termination. The provisions of this Section 9.8 shall apply successively

      to each New/Amended Covenant Provision and each change in a Specified

      Provision.

 

      9.9. COVENANT TO SECURE NOTES EQUALLY.

 

      Each Issuer covenants that, if it or any Subsidiary shall create or assume

any Lien to secure the Debt under the Bank Credit Agreement upon any of its

property or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, it will make or

cause to be made effective provision whereby the Notes will be secured by such

Lien equally and ratably with any and all Debt under the Bank Credit Agreement

thereby secured so long as any such other Debt shall be so secured.

 

                                      -28-

<PAGE>

 

      9.10. POST-CLOSING REQUIREMENTS.

 

      No later than 60 days following the date of the Closing, the Issuers will

deliver or cause to be delivered to the holders of Notes (a) certificates of

good standing from the office of the Secretary of State from each jurisdiction

where the ownership of property or the conduct of its business requires the

Company to be qualified to transact business as a foreign corporation and (b)

certificates of good standing from the office of the Secretary of State of the

jurisdiction of incorporation of Qirra Custom Software, Inc. and the

jurisdiction where such Subsidiary maintains its principal place of business. No

later than 75 days following the date of the Closing, the Issuers will cause the

following Subsidiaries to be dissolved and shall provide the Required Holders

with reasonably satisfactory evidence of such dissolution: (i) Brocklehursts,

Inc., (ii) Brocklehurst Holdings, Inc. and (iii) Graham Miller, Inc. No later

than 30 days following the date of the Closing, the Issuers will cause all Liens

in favor of the Royal Bank of Canada set forth on Schedule 10.3 to be terminated

and released of record, and will promptly provide each holder of Note written

evidence of such termination and release. The Issuers will, within 30 days

following a request therefore by the Required Holders, cause the documents and

instruments described on Schedule 10.11 as item 1, to be terminated, or

otherwise cause the restrictive agreements or arrangements therein requiring

such items to be disclosed pursuant to Section 10.11 to be terminated and

released, and will promptly provide the holders of Notes written evidence of

such termination and release.

 

      9.11. DORMANT COMPANIES.

 

            (a) If, at any time after the date of the Closing, the Company

      decides that any Subsidiary that is a Dormant Company at such time shall

       cease being a Dormant Company, such Subsidiary shall cease to be a Dormant

      Company for all purposes of this Agreement and the other Financing

      Documents upon the satisfaction of the following conditions:

 

                  (i) the Company shall notify the holders of Notes of the

            proposed change in the status of such Subsidiary, which notice shall

            contain a certification by a Responsible Officer to the effect that

            (A) such Subsidiary is in full compliance with all provisions of

            this Agreement applicable to it as a Subsidiary that is not a

            Dormant Company, (B) each of the representations and warranties set

            forth in S


 
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