EXHIBIT 4.2

                           LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

                                  by and among

                                 HANDY & HARMAN

                        OLYMPIC MANUFACTURING GROUP, INC.

                          CONTINENTAL INDUSTRIES, INC.

                          MARYLAND SPECIALTY WIRE, INC.

                        HANDY & HARMAN TUBE COMPANY, INC.

                            CAMDEL METALS CORPORATION

                       CANFIELD METAL COATING CORPORATION

                          MICRO-TUBE FABRICATORS, INC.

                            INDIANA TUBE CORPORATION

                              LUCAS-MILHAUPT, INC.

                 HANDY & HARMAN ELECTRONIC MATERIALS CORPORATION

                                   SUMCO INC.

                                  as Borrowers

                                       and

                        HANDY & HARMAN OF CANADA, LIMITED

                                 ELE CORPORATION

                             ALLOY RING SERVICE INC.

                           DANIEL RADIATOR CORPORATION

                              H&H PRODUCTIONS, INC.

                      HANDY & HARMAN AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.

                       HANDY & HARMAN INTERNATIONAL, LTD.

                            HANDY & HARMAN PERU, INC.

                               KJ-VMI REALTY, INC.

                              PAL-RATH REALTY, INC.

                           PLATINA LABORATORIES, INC.

                          SHEFFIELD STREET CORPORATION

                                    SWM, INC.

                           WILLING B WIRE CORPORATION

                                  as Guarantors

                         CONGRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION

                                    as Agent

                                       and

                   THE LENDERS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO

                                   as Lenders


                              Dated: March 31, 2004

                                       i




                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                                                            Page

SECTION  1. DEFINITIONS .......................................................2


SECTION  2. CREDIT FACILITIES ................................................34

    2.1     Loans. ...........................................................34

    2.2     Letter of Credit Accommodations...................................35

    2.3     Term Loan ........................................................39

    2.4     Mandatory Prepayments.............................................40

    2.5     Commitments.......................................................42

    2.6     Joint and Several Liability.......................................42


SECTION  3. INTEREST AND FEES ................................................43

    3.1     Interest. ........................................................43

    3.2     Fees.       ......................................................46

    3.3     Changes in Laws and Increased Costs of Loans......................46


SECTION  4. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT .............................................48

    4.1     Conditions Precedent to Initial Loans and
            Letter of Credit Accommodations...................................48

    4.2     Conditions Precedent to All Loans and
            Letter of Credit Accommodations...................................51


SECTION  5. GRANT AND PERFECTION OF SECURITY INTEREST.........................52

    5.1     Grant of Security Interest........................................52

    5.2     Perfection of Security Interests..................................53


                                        i



SECTION  6. COLLECTION AND ADMINISTRATION.....................................57

    6.1     Borrowers' Loan Accounts..........................................57

    6.2     Statements. ......................................................58

    6.3     Collection of Accounts............................................58

    6.4     Payments .........................................................59

    6.5     Authorization to Make Loans.......................................61

    6.6     Use of Proceeds...................................................61

    6.7     Appointment of Administrative Borrower as Agent
            for Requesting Loans and Receipts of
            Loans and Statements..............................................62

    6.8     Pro Rata Treatment................................................62

    6.9     Sharing of Payments, Etc..........................................63

    6.10    Settlement Procedures.............................................64

    6.11    Obligations Several; Independent Nature of Lenders' Rights........66


SECTION  7. COLLATERAL REPORTING AND COVENANTS................................66

    7.1     Collateral Reporting..............................................66

    7.2     Accounts Covenants................................................68

    7.3     Inventory Covenants...............................................69

    7.4     Equipment and Real Property Covenants.............................70

    7.5     Power of Attorney.................................................70

    7.6     Right to Cure.....................................................71

    7.7     Access to Premises................................................72


SECTION  8. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES....................................72

    8.1     Corporate Existence, Power and Authority..........................72

    8.2     Name; State of Organization; Chief Executive Office;
            Collateral Locations..............................................72

    8.3     Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Change..................73

    8.4     Priority of Liens; Title to Properties............................73

    8.5     Tax Returns.......................................................74

    8.6     Litigation. ......................................................74

    8.7     Compliance with Other Agreements and Applicable Laws..............74

                                       ii



    8.8     Environmental Compliance..........................................75

    8.9     Employee Benefits.................................................75

    8.10    Bank Accounts.....................................................77

    8.11    Intellectual Property.............................................77

    8.12    Subsidiaries; Affiliates; Capitalization; Solvency................77

    8.13    Labor Disputes....................................................78

    8.14    Restrictions on Subsidiaries......................................78

    8.15    Material Contracts................................................79

    8.16    Payable Practices.................................................79

    8.17    Interrelated Businesses...........................................79

    8.18    Accuracy and Completeness of Information..........................79

    8.19    Survival of Warranties; Cumulative................................79


SECTION  9. AFFIRMATIVE AND NEGATIVE COVENANTS................................80

    9.1     Maintenance of Existence..........................................80

    9.2     New Collateral Locations..........................................80

    9.3     Compliance with Laws, Regulations, Etc............................80

    9.4     Payment of Taxes and Claims.......................................82

    9.5     Insurance. .......................................................82

    9.6     Financial Statements and Other Information........................83

    9.7     Sale of Assets, Consolidation, Merger, Dissolution, Etc...........84

    9.8     Encumbrances......................................................87

    9.9     Indebtedness......................................................89

    9.10    Loans, Investments, Etc...........................................94

    9.11    Dividends and Redemptions.........................................96

    9.12    Transactions with Affiliates......................................97

    9.13    Compliance with ERISA.............................................98

    9.14    End of Fiscal Years; Fiscal Quarters..............................99

    9.15    Change in Business................................................99

    9.16    Limitation of Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries.................99

    9.17    Financial Covenants...............................................99

                                      iii



    9.18    Additional Guaranties and Collateral Security....................101

    9.19    License Agreements...............................................102

    9.20    After Acquired Real Property.....................................103

    9.21    Applications under Insolvency Statutes...........................104

    9.22    Costs and Expenses...............................................104

    9.23    Further Assurances...............................................105


SECTION  10.EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES...................................105

    10.1    Events of Default................................................105

    10.2    Remedies. .......................................................108


SECTION  11.JURY TRIAL WAIVER; OTHER WAIVERS ................................112

    11.1    Governing Law; Choice of Forum; Service of Process;
            Jury Trial Waiver................................................112

    11.2    Waiver of Notices................................................113

    11.3    Amendments and Waivers...........................................114

    11.4    Waiver of Counterclaims..........................................115

    11.5    Indemnification..................................................116

    11.6    Currency Indemnity...............................................116


SECTION 12. THE AGENT........................................................117

    12.1    Appointment, Powers and Immunities...............................117

    12.2    Reliance by Agent................................................117

    12.3    Events of Default................................................118

    12.4    Congress in its Individual Capacity..............................118

    12.5    Indemnification..................................................118

    12.6    Non-Reliance on Agent and Other Lenders..........................119

    12.7    Failure to Act...................................................119

    12.8    Additional Loans.................................................119

    12.9    Concerning the Collateral and the Related Financing Agreements...120

    12.10   Field Audit, Examination Reports and other Information;
            Disclaimer by Lenders............................................120

                                       iv



    12.11   Collateral Matters...............................................121

    12.12   Agency for Perfection............................................123

    12.13   Successor Agent..................................................123


SECTION 13. TERM OF AGREEMENT; MISCELLANEOUS.................................124

    13.1    Term.............................................................124

    13.2    Interpretative Provisions........................................125

    13.3    Notices. ........................................................127

    13.4    Partial Invalidity...............................................128

    13.5    Confidentiality..................................................128

    13.6    Successors. .....................................................129

    13.7    Assignments; Participations......................................130

    13.8    Entire Agreement.................................................132

    13.9    Counterparts, Etc................................................132

                                       v



                                    INDEX TO

                             EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES
                             ----------------------



Exhibit A              Form of Assignment and Acceptance

Exhibit B              Information Certificate

Exhibit C              Form of Compliance Certificate

Exhibit D              Borrowing Base Certificate

Schedule 1.32          Historical EBITDA

Schedule 1.34          Locations of Eligible Consigned Precious Metals Inventory

Schedule 1.50          Existing Lenders

Schedule 1.51          Existing Letters of Credit

Schedule 1.94          Permitted Holders





                           LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
                           ---------------------------

          This Loan and Security Agreement dated March 31, 2004 is entered into
by and among Handy & Harman, a New York corporation ("Parent"), Olympic
Manufacturing Group, Inc., Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Olympic"), Continental
Industries Inc., an Oklahoma corporation ("Continental"), Maryland Specialty
Wire, Inc. a Delaware corporation ("Maryland Wire"), Handy & Harman Tube
Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("H&H Tube"), Camdel Metals Corporation, a
Delaware corporation ("Camdel"), Canfield Metal Coating Corporation, a Delaware
corporation ("Canfield"), Micro-Tube Fabricators, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Micro-Tube"), Indiana Tube Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Indiana
Tube"), Lucas-Milhaupt, Inc., a Wisconsin corporation ("Lucas"), Handy & Harman
Electronic Materials Corporation, a Florida corporation ("H&H Electronic"),
Sumco Inc., an Indiana corporation ("Sumco", and together with Parent, Olympic,
Continental, Maryland Wire, H&H Tube, Camdel, Canfield, Micro-Tube, Indiana
Tube, Lucas and H&H Electronic, each individually a "Borrower" and collectively,
"Borrowers"), Handy & Harman of Canada, Limited, an Ontario corporation ("H&H
Canada"), ele Corporation, a California corporation ("ele"), Alloy Ring Service
Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Alloy"), Daniel Radiator Corporation, a Texas
corporation ("Daniel"), H&H Productions, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("H&H
Productions"), Handy & Harman Automotive Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("H&H Auto"), Handy & Harman International, Ltd., a Delaware corporation ("H&H
International"), Handy & Harman Peru, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("H&H Peru"),
KJ-VMI Realty, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("KVR"), Pal-Rath Realty, Inc., a
Delaware corporation ("Pal-Rath"), Platina Laboratories, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("Platina"), Sheffield Street Corporation, a Connecticut corporation
("Sheffield"), SWM, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("SWM") and Willing B Wire
Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Willing" and together with each of H&H
Canada, ele, Alloy, Daniel, H&H Productions, H&H Auto, H&H International, H&H
Peru, KVR, Pal-Rath, Platina, Sheffield and SWM, each individually, a
"Guarantor" and collectively, "Guarantors"), the parties hereto from time to
time as lenders, whether by execution of this Agreement or an Assignment and
Acceptance (each individually, a "Lender" and collectively, "Lenders") and
Congress Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation, in its capacity as agent
for Lenders (in such capacity, "Agent").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:
                              --------------------

          WHEREAS, Borrowers and Guarantors have requested that Agent and
Lenders enter into financing arrangements with Borrowers pursuant to which
Lenders may make loans and provide other financial accommodations to Borrowers;
and

          WHEREAS, each Lender is willing to agree (severally and not jointly)
to make such loans and provide such financial accommodations to Borrowers on a
PRO RATA basis according to its Commitment (as defined below) on the terms and
conditions set forth herein and Agent is willing to act as agent for Lenders on
the terms and conditions set forth herein and the other Financing Agreements;




          NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual conditions and
agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto
agree as follows:

SECTION  1. DEFINITIONS
            -----------

          For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
respective meanings given to them below:


          1.1 "Accounts" shall mean, as to each Borrower and Guarantor, all
present and future rights of such Borrower and Guarantor to payment of a
monetary obligation, whether or not earned by performance, which is not
evidenced by chattel paper or an instrument, (a) for property that has been or
is to be sold, leased, licensed, assigned, or otherwise disposed of, (b) for
services rendered or to be rendered, (c) for a secondary obligation incurred or
to be incurred, or (d) arising out of the use of a credit or charge card or
information contained on or for use with the card.

          1.2 "Acquisition" shall mean the acquisition of all of the Capital
Stock of any Person or all or substantially all of the assets of any Person.

          1.3 "Adjusted Eurodollar Rate" shall mean, with respect to each
Interest Period for any Eurodollar Rate Loan, the rate per annum (rounded
upwards, if necessary, to the next one-thousandth (1/1000) of one (1%) percent)
determined by dividing (a) the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period by (b) a
percentage equal to: (i) one (1) minus (ii) the Reserve Percentage. For purposes
hereof, "Reserve Percentage" shall mean the reserve percentage, expressed as a
decimal, prescribed by any United States or foreign banking authority for
determining the reserve requirement which is or would be applicable to deposits
of United States dollars in a non-United States or an international banking
office of Reference Bank used to fund a Eurodollar Rate Loan or any Eurodollar
Rate Loan made with the proceeds of such deposit, whether or not the Reference
Bank actually holds or has made any such deposits or loans. The Adjusted
Eurodollar Rate shall be adjusted on and as of the effective day of any change
in the Reserve Percentage.

          1.4 "Administrative Borrower" shall mean Handy & Harman, a New York
corporation in its capacity as Administrative Borrower on behalf of itself and
the other Borrowers pursuant to Section 6.7 hereof and it successors and assigns
in such capacity.

          1.5 "Affiliate" shall mean, with respect to a specified Person, any
other Person which directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries,
controls or is controlled by or is under common control with such Person, and
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes (a) any Person which
beneficially owns or holds ten (10%) percent or more of any class of Voting
Stock of such Person or other equity interests in such Person, (b) any Person of
which such Person beneficially owns or holds ten (10%) percent or more of any
class of Voting Stock or in which such Person beneficially owns or holds ten
(10%) percent or more of the equity interests and (c) any director or executive

                                       2



officer of such Person. For the purposes of this definition, the term "control"
(including with correlative meanings, the terms "controlled by" and "under
common control with"), as used with respect to any Person, means the possession,
directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the
management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of Voting
Stock, by agreement or otherwise.

          1.6 "Agent" shall mean Congress Financial Corporation, in its capacity
as agent on behalf of Lenders pursuant to the terms hereof and any replacement
or successor agent hereunder.

          1.7 "Agent Payment Account" shall mean account no. 5000000030279 of
Agent at Wachovia Bank, National Association, or such other account of Agent as
Agent may from time to time designate to Administrative Borrower as the Agent
Payment Account for purposes of this Agreement and the other Financing
Agreements.

          1.8 "Applicable Margin" shall mean, at any time, as to the Interest
Rate for Prime Rate Loans and the Interest Rate for Eurodollar Rate Loans, the
applicable percentage (on a per annum basis) set forth below if the Quarterly
Average Excess Availability for the immediately preceding fiscal quarter is at
or within the amounts indicated for such percentage:


                                                           Applicable Prime   Applicable Eurodollar
                                                             Rate Margin          Rate Margin
                                                             -----------          -----------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Revolving    Term     Revolving     Term
            Excess Availability                            Loans      Loans      Loans      Loans
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a)    $12,500,000 or more                                 .50%       1.00%      2.25%      2.75%

(b)   Equal to or greater than $10,000,000 but less        .75%       1.25%      2.50%      3.00%
      than $12,500,000

(c)   Equal to or greater than $7,500,000 but less         1.00%      1.50%      2.75%      3.25%
      than $10,000,000

(d)    less than $7,500,000                                1.25%      1.75%      3.00%      3.50%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PROVIDED, THAT, the Applicable Margin shall be calculated and established once
each fiscal quarter (commencing with the fiscal quarter beginning October 1,
2004).

          1.9 "Assignment and Acceptance" shall mean an Assignment and
Acceptance substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (with blanks
appropriately completed) delivered to Agent in connection with an assignment of
a Lender's interest hereunder in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.7
hereof.

                                       3



          1.10 "Blocked Accounts" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
6.3 hereof.

          1.11 "Borrowing Base" shall mean, at any time, the amount equal to:

             (a) the lesser of:

          (i) the amount equal to: (A) eighty-five (85%) percent of the Eligible
Accounts, PLUS (B) the lesser of:

          (1) $30,000,000 and

          (2) the sum of (x) the lesser of (i) sixty (60%) percent multiplied by
the Value of the Eligible Inventory (other than Precious Metals Inventory) of
the Non-Precious Metals Borrowing Base Parties or (ii) eighty (80%) percent of
the Net Recovery Percentage multiplied by the Value of such Eligible Inventory
of the Non-Precious Metals Borrowing Base Parties, plus (y) the lesser of (i)
the sum of (A) sixty (60%) percent multiplied by the Value of the Eligible
Inventory (other than Precious Metals Inventory) of the Precious Metals
Borrowing Base Parties and (B) eighty (80%) percent multiplied by the Value of
the Eligible Inventory consisting of Precious Metals Inventory and Eligible
Consigned Precious Metals Inventory of Parent and the Precious Metals Borrowing
Base Parties or (ii) eighty-five (85%) percent of the Net Recovery Percentage
multiplied by the Value of such Eligible Inventory and Eligible Consigned
Precious Metals Inventory of Parent and the Precious Metals Borrowing Base
Parties, or

          (ii) the Revolving Loan Limit,

                  minus
                  -----

          (b) Reserves.

For purposes only of applying the Inventory sublimits above, Agent may treat the
then undrawn amounts of outstanding Letter of Credit Accommodations for the
purpose of purchasing Eligible Inventory or Eligible Consigned Precious Metals
Inventory as Revolving Loans to the extent Agent is in effect basing the
issuance of the Letter of Credit Accommodations on the Value of the Eligible
Inventory or Eligible Consigned Precious Metals Inventory being purchased with
such Letter of Credit Accommodations. In determining the actual amounts of such
Letter of Credit Accommodations to be so treated for purposes of each sublimit,
the outstanding Revolving Loans and Reserves shall be attributed first to any
components of the lending formulas set forth above that are not subject to such
sublimit, before being attributed to the components of the lending formulas
subject to such sublimit. The amounts of Eligible Inventory and Eligible
Consigned Precious Metals Inventory of any Borrower shall, at Agent's option, be
determined based on the lesser of the amount of Inventory set forth in the
general ledger of such Borrower or the perpetual inventory record maintained by
such Borrower.

          1.12 "Borrowing Base Certificate" shall mean a certificate
substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto, as such form may from time to

                                       4



time be modified by Agent, which is duly completed (including all schedules
thereto) and executed by the chief financial officer of Administrative Borrower
and delivered to Agent.

          1.13 "Borrowing Base Parties" shall mean Borrowers and H&H Canada;
each sometimes individually referred to herein as a "Borrowing Base Party".

          1.14 "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday,
or other day on which commercial banks are authorized or required to close under
the laws of the State of New York or the State of North Carolina, and a day on
which Agent is open for the transaction of business, except that if a
determination of a Business Day shall relate to any Eurodollar Rate Loans, the
term Business Day shall also exclude any day on which banks are closed for
dealings in dollar deposits in the London interbank market or other applicable
Eurodollar Rate market.

          1.15 "Canadian Pension Plan" shall mean any plan, program or
arrangement that is a pension plan for the purposes of any applicable pension
benefits legislation or any tax laws of Canada or a Province thereof, whether or
not registered under any such laws, which is maintained or contributed to by, or
to which there is or may be an obligation to contribute by, any Borrower or
Guarantor in respect of any Person's employment in Canada with such Borrower or
Guarantor.

          1.16 "Capital Expenditures" shall mean all expenditures for any fixed
or capital assets (including, but not limited to, tooling) or improvements, or
for replacements, substitutions or additions thereto, which have a useful life
of more than one (1) year, including, but not limited to, the direct or indirect
acquisition of such assets by way of offset items or otherwise and shall include
the principal amount of Capitalized Lease payments.

          1.17 "Capital Leases" shall mean, as applied to any Person, any lease
of (or any agreement conveying the right to use) any property (whether real,
personal or mixed) by such Person as lessee which in accordance with GAAP, is
required to be reflected as a liability on the balance sheet of such Person.

          1.18 "Capital Stock" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any and
all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated)
of such Person's capital stock or partnership, limited liability company or
other equity interests at any time outstanding, and any and all rights, warrants
or options exchangeable for or convertible into such capital stock or other
interests (but excluding any debt security that is exchangeable for or
convertible into such capital stock).

          1.19 "Cash Equivalents" shall mean, at any time, (a) any evidence of
Indebtedness with a maturity date of ninety (90) days or less issued or directly
and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States of America or any agency or
instrumentality thereof; provided, that, the full faith and credit of the United
States of America is pledged in support thereof; (b) certificates of deposit or
bankers' acceptances with a maturity of ninety (90) days or less of any
financial institution that is a member of the Federal Reserve System having
combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than

                                       5



$1,000,000,000; (c) commercial paper (including variable rate demand notes) with
a maturity of ninety (90) days or less issued by a corporation (except an
Affiliate of any Borrower or Guarantor) organized under the laws of any State of
the United States of America or the District of Columbia and rated at least A-1
by Standard & Poor's Ratings Service, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies,
Inc. or at least P-1 by Moody's Investors Service, Inc.; (d) repurchase
obligations with a term of not more than thirty (30) days for underlying
securities of the types described in clause (a) above entered into with any
financial institution having combined capital and surplus and undivided profits
of not less than $1,000,000,000; (e) repurchase agreements and reverse
repurchase agreements relating to marketable direct obligations issued or
unconditionally guaranteed by the United States of America or issued by any
governmental agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the
United States of America, in each case maturing within ninety (90) days or less
from the date of acquisition; provided, that, the terms of such agreements
comply with the guidelines set forth in the Federal Financial Agreements of
Depository Institutions with Securities Dealers and Others, as adopted by the
Comptroller of the Currency on October 31, 1985; and (f) investments in money
market funds and mutual funds which invest substantially all of their assets in
securities of the types described in clauses (a) through (e) above.

          1.20 "Change of Control" shall mean (a) the transfer (in one
transaction or a series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the
assets of any Borrower or Guarantor to any Person or group (as such term is used
in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than as permitted in Section 9.7
hereof; (b) the liquidation or dissolution of any Borrower or Guarantor or the
adoption of a plan by the stockholders of any Borrower or Guarantor relating to
the dissolution or liquidation of such Borrower or Guarantor, other than as
permitted in Section 9.7 hereof; (c) the acquisition by any Person or group (as
such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), except for one or
more Permitted Holders, of beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, of a
majority of the voting power of the total outstanding Voting Stock of any
Borrower or Guarantor or the Board of Directors of any Borrower or Guarantor;
(d) during any period of two (2) consecutive years, individuals who at the
beginning of such period constituted the Board of Directors of any Borrower or
Guarantor (together with any new directors who have been appointed by any
Permitted Holder, or whose nomination for election by the stockholders of such
Borrower or Guarantor, as the case may be, was approved by a vote of at least a
majority of the directors then still in office who were either directors at the
beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for election was
previously so approved) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the
Board of Directors of any Borrower or Guarantor then still in office; (e) the
failure of the Permitted Holders to own directly or indirectly one hundred
(100%) percent of the voting power of the total outstanding Voting Stock of
Parent; or (f) the failure of Parent to own directly or indirectly one hundred
(100%) percent of the voting power of the total outstanding Voting Stock of any
other Borrower or Guarantor.

          1.21 "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as the same
now exists or may from time to time hereafter be amended, modified, recodified
or supplemented, together with all rules, regulations and interpretations
thereunder or related thereto.

                                       6



          1.22 "Collateral" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5
hereof.

          1.23 "Collateral Access Agreement" shall mean an agreement in writing,
in form and substance satisfactory to Agent, from any lessor of premises to any
Borrower or Guarantor, or any other person to whom any Collateral is consigned
or who has custody, control or possession of any such Collateral or is otherwise
the owner or operator of any premises on which any of such Collateral is
located, in favor of Agent with respect to the Collateral at such premises or
otherwise in the custody, control or possession of such lessor, consignee or
other person.

          1.24 "Commitment" shall mean, at any time, as to each Lender, the
principal amount set forth below such Lender's signature on the signatures pages
hereto designated as the Commitment or on Schedule 1 to the Assignment and
Acceptance Agreement pursuant to which such Lender became a Lender hereunder in
accordance with the provisions of Section 13.7 hereof, as the same may be
adjusted from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof; sometimes being
collectively referred to herein as "Commitments".

          1.25 "Congress" shall mean Congress Financial Corporation, a Delaware
corporation, in its individual capacity, and its successors and assigns.

          1.26 "Consolidated Net Income" shall mean, with respect to any Person
for any period, the aggregate of the net income (loss) of such Person and its
Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, for such period (excluding to the extent
included therein any extraordinary or non recurring gains and extraordinary non
cash charges to property, plant and equipment or goodwill) after deducting all
charges which should be deducted before arriving at the net income (loss) for
such period and after deducting the Provision for Taxes for such period, all as
determined in accordance with GAAP; provided, that, (a) the net income of any
Person that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the
equity method of accounting shall be included only to the extent of the amount
of dividends or distributions paid or payable to such Person or a wholly owned
Subsidiary of such Person; (b) except to the extent included pursuant to the
foregoing clause, the net income of any Person accrued prior to the date it
becomes a wholly owned Subsidiary of such Person or is merged into or
consolidated with such Person or any of its wholly owned Subsidiaries or the
date that Person's assets are acquired by such Person or by any of its wholly
owned Subsidiaries shall be excluded; and (c) the net income (if positive) of
any wholly owned Subsidiary to the extent that the declaration or payment of
dividends or similar distributions by such wholly owned Subsidiary to such
Person or to any other wholly owned Subsidiary of such Person is not at the time
permitted by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument,
judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to
such wholly owned Subsidiary shall be excluded. For the purposes of this
definition, net income excludes any gain and any non cash loss (but not any cash
loss) together with any related Provision for Taxes for such gain and non cash
loss (but not any cash loss) realized upon the sale or other disposition of any
assets that are not sold in the ordinary course of business (including, without
limitation, dispositions pursuant to sale and leaseback transactions) or of any
Capital Stock of such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person and any net income
or loss realized as a result of changes in accounting principles or the
application thereof to such Person.

                                       7



          1.27 "Continuing Reserve" shall mean a continuing Reserve in the
amount of $5,000,000, which shall remain in effect at all times.

          1.28 "Credit Facility" shall mean the Loans and Letter of Credit
Accommodations provided to or for the benefit of any Borrower pursuant to
Sections 2.1 and 2.2 hereof.

          1.29 "Default" shall mean an act, condition or event which with notice
or passage of time or both would constitute an Event of Default.

          1.30 "Defaulting Lender" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
6.10 hereof.

          1.31 "Deposit Account Control Agreement" shall mean an agreement in
writing, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent, by and among Agent, the
Borrower or Guarantor with a deposit account at any bank and the bank at which
such deposit account is at any time maintained which provides that such bank
will comply with instructions originated by Agent directing disposition of the
funds in the deposit account without further consent by such Borrower or
Guarantor and has such other terms and conditions as Agent may require.

          1.32 "EBITDA" shall mean, as to any Person, with respect to any
period, an amount equal to: (a) the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for
such period, plus (b) depreciation and amortization for such period (to the
extent deducted in the computation of Consolidated Net Income of such Person),
all in accordance with GAAP, plus (c) Interest Expense for such period (to the
extent deducted in the computation of Consolidated Net Income of such Person),
plus (d) the Provision for Taxes for such period (to the extent deducted in the
computation of Consolidated Net Income of such Person), PROVIDED, THAT, EBITDA
of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, for the fiscal
quarters ending March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31, 2003 shall
equal the applicable amounts set forth on Schedule 1.32 corresponding to such
period.

          1.33 "Eligible Accounts" shall mean Accounts created by a Borrowing
Base Party which are and continue to be acceptable to Agent in good faith based
on the criteria set forth below. In general, Accounts shall be Eligible Accounts
if:

            (a) such Accounts arise from the actual and BONA FIDE sale and
delivery of goods by such Borrowing Base Party or rendition of services by such
Borrowing Base Party in the ordinary course of its business which transactions
are completed in accordance with the terms and provisions contained in any
documents related thereto;

            (b) such Accounts are not unpaid more than ninety (90) days after
the date of the original invoice for them of more than sixty (60) days after the
original due date for them;

            (c) such Accounts comply with the terms and conditions contained in
Section 7.2(b) of this Agreement;

                                       8



            (d) such Accounts do not arise from sales on consignment, guaranteed
sale, sale and return, sale on approval, or other terms under which payment by
the account debtor may be conditional or contingent;

            (e) the chief executive office of the account debtor with respect to
such Accounts is located in the United States of America or Canada (PROVIDED,
THAT, at any time promptly upon Agent's request, such Borrowing Base Party shall
execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such other
agreements, documents and instruments as may be required by Agent to perfect the
security interests of Agent in those Accounts of an account debtor with its
chief executive office or principal place of business in Canada in accordance
with the applicable laws of the Province of Canada in which such chief executive
office or principal place of business is located and take or cause to be taken
such other and further actions as Agent may request to enable Agent as secured
party with respect thereto to collect such Accounts under the applicable Federal
or Provincial laws of Canada) or, at Agent's option, if the chief executive
office and principal place of business of the account debtor with respect to
such Accounts is located other than in the United States of America or Canada,
then if either: (i) the account debtor has delivered to such Borrowing Base
Party an irrevocable letter of credit issued or confirmed by a bank satisfactory
to Agent and payable only in the United States of America and in U.S. dollars,
sufficient to cover such Account, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent
and if required by Agent, the original of such letter of credit has been
delivered to Agent or Agent's agent and the issuer thereof, and such Borrowing
Base Party has complied with the terms of Section 5.2(f) hereof with respect to
the assignment of the proceeds of such letter of credit to Agent or naming Agent
as transferee beneficiary thereunder, as Agent may specify, or (ii) such Account
is subject to credit insurance payable to Agent issued by an insurer and on
terms and in an amount acceptable to Agent, or (iii) such Account is otherwise
acceptable in all respects to Agent (subject to such lending formula with
respect thereto as Agent may determine);

            (f) such Accounts do not consist of progress billings (such that the
obligation of the account debtors with respect to such Accounts is conditioned
upon such Borrowing Base Party's satisfactory completion of any further
performance under the agreement giving rise thereto), bill and hold invoices or
retainage invoices, except as to bill and hold invoices, if Agent shall have
received an agreement in writing from the account debtor, in form and substance
satisfactory to Agent, confirming the unconditional obligation of the account
debtor to take the goods related thereto and pay such invoice;

            (g) the account debtor with respect to such Accounts has not
asserted a counterclaim, defense or dispute and is not owed or does not claim to
be owed any amounts that may give rise to any right of setoff or recoupment
against such Accounts (but the portion of the Accounts of such account debtor in
excess of the amount at any time and from time to time owed by such Borrowing
Base Party to such account debtor or claimed owed by such account debtor may be
deemed Eligible Accounts);

                                       9



            (h) there are no facts, events or occurrences which, to the
knowledge of Agent or any Borrowing Base Party, would impair the validity,
enforceability or collectability of such Accounts or reduce the amount payable
or delay payment thereunder;

            (i) such Accounts are subject to the first priority, valid and
perfected security interest of Agent and any goods giving rise thereto are not,
and were not at the time of the sale thereof, subject to any liens except those
permitted in this Agreement that are subject to an intercreditor agreement in
form and substance satisfactory to Agent between the holder of such security
interest or lien and Agent;

            (j) neither the account debtor nor any officer or employee of the
account debtor with respect to such Accounts is an officer, employee, agent or
other Affiliate of any Borrower or Guarantor;

            (k) the account debtors with respect to such Accounts are not any
foreign government, the United States of America, Canada, any State, Province,
political subdivision, department, agency or instrumentality thereof, unless,
(i) if the account debtor is the United States of America, any State, political
subdivision, department, agency or instrumentality thereof, upon Agent's
request, the Federal Assignment of Claims Act of 1940, as amended or any similar
State or local law, if applicable, has been complied with in a manner
satisfactory to Agent or (ii) if the account debtor is Her Majesty in right of
Canada or any Provincial or local Governmental Authority, or any Ministry
thereof, such Borrowing Base Party has assigned its rights to payment of such
Account to Agent pursuant to, and in accordance with the Financial
Administration Act, R.S.C. 185, C.F.-11, as amended, or any similar applicable
provincial or local law regulation or requirement if applicable, has been
coupled with in a manner satisfactory to Agent.

            (l) there are no proceedings or actions which are threatened or
pending against the account debtors with respect to such Accounts which could be
reasonably expected to result in any material adverse change in any such account
debtor's financial condition (including, without limitation, any bankruptcy,
dissolution, liquidation, reorganization or similar proceeding);

            (m) the aggregate amount of such Accounts owing by a single account
debtor (other than a Specified Account Debtor) of any Borrowing Base Party does
not constitute more than fifteen (15%) percent of the aggregate amount of all
otherwise Eligible Accounts of such Borrowing Base Party and such Accounts of
any Borrowing Base Party owing by any Specified Account Debtor do not constitute
more than the Specified Concentration Limit Percentage for such Specified
Account Debtor of the aggregate amount of all otherwise Eligible Accounts of
such Borrowing Base Party (but the portion of the Accounts not in excess of the
applicable percentages may be deemed Eligible Accounts);

            (n) such Accounts are not owed by an account debtor who has Accounts
unpaid more than ninety (90) days after the original invoice date for them of
more than sixty (60) days after the original due date for them which constitute
more than fifty (50%) percent of the total Accounts of such account debtor;

                                       10


            (o) the account debtor is not located in a state requiring the
filing of a Notice of Business Activities Report or similar report in order to
permit such Borrowing Base Party to seek judicial enforcement in such State of
payment of such Account, unless such Borrowing Base Party has qualified to do
business in such state or has filed a Notice of Business Activities Report or
equivalent report for the then current year or such failure to file and
inability to seek judicial enforcement is capable of being remedied without any
material delay or material cost;

            (p) such Accounts are owed by account debtors whose total
indebtedness to such Borrowing Base Party does not exceed the credit limit with
respect to such account debtors as determined by such Borrowing Base Party from
time to time, to the extent such credit limit as to any account debtor is
established consistent with the current practices of such Borrowing Base Party
as of the date hereof and such credit limit is acceptable to Agent (but the
portion of the Accounts not in excess of such credit limit may be deemed
Eligible Accounts); and

            (q) such Accounts are owed by account debtors deemed creditworthy at
all times by Agent in good faith.

The criteria for Eligible Accounts set forth above may only be changed and any
new criteria for Eligible Accounts may only be established by Agent in good
faith based on either: (i) an event, condition or other circumstance arising
after the date hereof, or (ii) an event, condition or other circumstance
existing on the date hereof to the extent Agent has no written notice thereof
from a Borrowing Base Party prior to the date hereof, in either case under
clause (i) or (ii) which adversely affects or could reasonably be expected to
adversely affect the Accounts in the good faith determination of Agent. Any
Accounts that are not Eligible Accounts shall nevertheless be part of the
Collateral.

          1.34 "Eligible Consigned Precious Metals Inventory" shall mean
Precious Metals Inventory owned by the Precious Metals Consignor which is on
consignment to Parent pursuant to the Precious Metals Consignment Agreement and
with respect to which the Precious Metals Consignor has not requested the return
thereof from Parent, in each case which is acceptable to Agent in good faith;
PROVIDED, THAT, no Precious Metals Inventory shall be Eligible Consigned
Precious Metals Inventory until all of the Eligible Consignment Conditions have
been satisfied as determined by Agent in good faith. In general, Eligible
Consigned Precious Metals Inventory shall not include (a) Eligible Inventory;
(b) Precious Metals Inventory located at Premises other than those locations
owned and operated by a Borrower which are listed on Schedule 1.34 hereto; (c)
Precious Metals Inventory subject to a security interest or lien in favor of any
Person, other than Agent (subject to the security interest or lien of the
Precious Metals Consignor); or (d) Precious Metals Inventory that is not subject
to the first priority, valid and perfected security interest of Agent (subject
to the security interest or lien of the Precious Metals Consignor). The criteria
for Eligible Consigned Precious Metals Inventory set forth above may only be
changed and any new criteria for Eligible Inventory may only be established by
Agent in good faith based on either: (i) an event, condition or other
circumstance arising after the date hereof, or (ii) an event, condition or other
circumstance existing on the date hereof to the extent Agent has no written
notice thereof from a Borrowing Base Party prior to the date hereof, in either
case under clause (i) or (ii) which adversely affects or could reasonably be

                                       11



expected to adversely affect the Precious Metals Inventory in the good faith
determination of Agent. Any Precious Metals Inventory that is not Eligible
Consigned Precious Metals Inventory shall nevertheless be part of the
Collateral.

          1.35 "Eligible Consignment Conditions" shall mean (a) the receipt by
Agent all of the Precious Metals Consignment Documents, which shall be in form
and substance satisfactory to Agent, duly authorized, executed and delivered by
the parties thereto, (b) the receipt by Agent of the Precious Metals Creditor
Agreement, which shall be in form and substance satisfactory to Agent, duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto, (c) any Indebtedness
arising from or evidenced by the Precious Metals Consignment Documents shall be
permitted by Section 9.9(i) hereof, (d) Agent shall have issued (or cause to be
issued) a Precious Metals Consignor Letter of Credit Accommodation and (e) the
receipt by Agent of such other agreements, instruments and documents related to
the foregoing as Agent shall require in good faith.

          1.36 "Eligible Inventory" shall mean, as to each Borrowing Base Party,
Inventory of such Borrowing Base Party consisting of finished goods held for
resale in the ordinary course of the business of such Borrowing Base Party, raw
materials for such finished goods and work-in-process for such finished goods
(in each case, excluding Eligible Consigned Precious Metals Inventory), in each
case that are acceptable to Agent based on the criteria set forth below. In
general, Eligible Inventory shall not include (a) components which are not part
of finished goods; (b) spare parts for equipment; (c) packaging and shipping
materials; (d) supplies used or consumed in such Borrowing Base Party's
business; (e) Inventory at premises other than those owned or leased and
controlled by any Borrowing Base Party provided, that, (i)as to locations which
are leased by a Borrowing Base Party, if Agent shall not have received a
Collateral Access Agreement from the owner and lessor with respect to such
location, duly authorized, executed and delivered by such owner and lessor (or
Agent shall determine to accept a Collateral Access Agreement that does not
include all required provisions or provisions in the form otherwise required by
Agent), Agent may, at its option, establish such Reserves in respect of amounts
at any time due or to become due to the owner and lessor thereof as Agent shall
determine in good faith, and (ii) as to locations owned and operated by a third
person, if Agent shall not have received a Collateral Access Agreement from the
owner and operator with respect to such location, duly authorized, executed and
delivered by such owner and operator (or Agent shall determine to accept a
Collateral Access Agreement that does not include all required provisions or
provisions in the form otherwise required by Agent), Agent may, at its option,
establish such Reserves in respect of amounts at any time due or to become due
to the owner and operator thereof as Agent shall determine in good faith,
provided, further, that, in addition, if required by Agent, in order for such
Inventory at locations owned and operated by a third person to be Eligible
Inventory, Agent shall have received: (A) UCC financing statements or, to the
extent applicable, PPSA financing statements, between the owner and operator, as
consignee or bailee and such Borrowing Base Party, as consignor or bailor, in
form and substance satisfactory to Agent, which are duly assigned to Agent and
(B) a written notice to any lender to the owner and operator of the first
priority security interest in such Inventory of Agent; (f) Inventory subject to

                                       12



a security interest or lien in favor of any Person other than Agent except those
permitted in this Agreement that are subject to an intercreditor agreement in
form and substance satisfactory to Agent between the holder of such security
interest or lien and Agent; (g) bill and hold goods; (h) unserviceable, obsolete
or slow moving Inventory; (i) Inventory that is not subject to the first
priority, valid and perfected security interest of Agent; (j) returned, damaged
and/or defective Inventory; (k) Inventory purchased or sold on consignment; (l)
Inventory which may become subject to the claims of a supplier pursuant to
Section 81.1 of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada), R.S.C. 1985, c. B-3,
as amended, or any applicable provincial laws granting revendication or similar
rights to unpaid suppliers to the extent of such claims; and (m) Inventory
located outside the United States of America (in the case of Borrowers) or
outside of Canada (in the case of H&H Canada). The criteria for Eligible
Inventory set forth above may only be changed and any new criteria for Eligible
Inventory may only be established by Agent in good faith based on either: (i) an
event, condition or other circumstance arising after the date hereof, or (ii) an
event, condition or other circumstance existing on the date hereof to the extent
Agent has no written notice thereof from a Borrowing Base Party prior to the
date hereof, in either case under clause (i) or (ii) which adversely affects or
could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the Inventory in the good faith
determination of Agent. Any Inventory that is not Eligible Inventory shall
nevertheless be part of the Collateral.

          1.37 "Eligible Transferee" shall mean (a) any Lender; (b) the parent
company of any Lender and/or any Affiliate of such Lender which is at least
fifty (50%) percent owned by such Lender or its parent company; (c) any person
(whether a corporation, partnership, trust or otherwise) that is engaged in the
business of making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in bank loans and
similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and is
administered or managed by a Lender or with respect to any Lender that is a fund
which invests in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit, any other
fund that invests in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit and is
managed by the same investment advisor as such Lender or by an Affiliate of such
investment advisor, and in each case is approved by Agent; and (d) any other
commercial bank, financial institution or "accredited investor" (as defined in
Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933) approved by Agent, provided,
that, (i) neither any Borrower nor any Guarantor or any Affiliate of any
Borrower or Guarantor shall qualify as an Eligible Transferee and (ii) no Person
to whom any Indebtedness which is in any way subordinated in right of payment to
any other Indebtedness of any Borrower or Guarantor shall qualify as an Eligible
Transferee, except as Agent may otherwise specifically agree.

          1.38 "Environmental Laws" shall mean all foreign, Federal, State and
local laws (including common law), legislation, rules, codes, licenses, permits
(including any conditions imposed therein), authorizations, judicial or
administrative decisions, injunctions or agreements between any Borrower or
Guarantor and any Governmental Authority, (a) relating to pollution and the
protection, preservation or restoration of the environment (including air, water
vapor, surface water, ground water, drinking water, drinking water supply,
surface land, subsurface land, plant and animal life or any other natural
resource), or to human health or safety, (b) relating to the exposure to, or the
use, storage, recycling, treatment, generation, manufacture, processing,
distribution, transportation, handling, labeling, production, release or
disposal, or threatened release, of Hazardous Materials, or (c) relating to all

                                       13



laws with regard to recordkeeping, notification, disclosure and reporting
requirements respecting Hazardous Materials. The term "Environmental Laws"
includes (i) the Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and
Liability Act of 1980, the Federal Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act,
the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, the Federal Clean Water Act,
the Federal Clean Air Act, the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of
1976 (including the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments thereto), the Federal
Solid Waste Disposal and the Federal Toxic Substances Control Act, the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act
of 1974, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, the Canadian Environmental
Protection Act, the Environmental Assessment Act (Ontario) and the Environmental
Protection Act (Ontario), (ii) applicable state or provincial counterparts to
such laws and (iii) any common law or equitable doctrine that may impose
liability or obligations for injuries or damages due to, or threatened as a
result of, the presence of or exposure to any Hazardous Materials.

          1.39 "Equipment" shall mean, as to each Borrower and Guarantor, all of
such Borrower's and Guarantor's now owned and hereafter acquired equipment,
wherever located, including machinery, data processing and computer equipment
(whether owned or licensed and including embedded software), vehicles, tools,
furniture, fixtures, all attachments, accessions and property now or hereafter
affixed thereto or used in connection therewith, and substitutions and
replacements thereof, wherever located.

          1.40 "ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, together with all rules, regulations and interpretations thereunder or
related thereto.

          1.41 "ERISA Affiliate" shall mean any person required to be aggregated
with any Borrower, any Guarantor or any of its or their respective Subsidiaries
under Sections 414(b), 414(c), 414(m) or 414(o) of the Code.

          1.42 "ERISA Event" shall mean (a) any "reportable event", as defined
in Section 4043(c) of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder, with respect
to a Plan; (b) the adoption of any amendment to a Plan that would require the
provision of security pursuant to Section 401(a)(29) of the Code or Section 307
of ERISA; (c) the existence with respect to any Plan of an "accumulated funding
deficiency" (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA),
whether or not waived; (d) the filing pursuant to Section 412 of the Code or
Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding
standard with respect to any Plan; (e) the occurrence of a "prohibited
transaction" with respect to which any Borrower, Guarantor or any of its or
their respective Subsidiaries is a "disqualified person" (within the meaning of
Section 4975 of the Code) or with respect to which any Borrower, Guarantor or
any of its or their respective Subsidiaries could otherwise be liable; (f) a
complete or partial withdrawal by any Borrower, Guarantor or any ERISA Affiliate
from a Multiemployer Plan or a cessation of operations which is treated as such
a withdrawal or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (g)
the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Plan amendment
as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of

                                       14



proceedings by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation to terminate a Plan; (h)
an event or condition which might reasonably be expected to constitute grounds
under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a
trustee to administer, any Plan; (i) the imposition of any liability under Title
IV of ERISA, other than the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation premiums due
but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon any Borrower, Guarantor or
any ERISA Affiliate in excess of $500,000 and (j) any other event or condition
with respect to a Plan including any Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA
maintained, or contributed to, by any ERISA Affiliate that could reasonably be
expected to result in liability of any Borrower in excess of $500,000.

          1.43 "Eurodollar Rate" shall mean with respect to the Interest Period
for a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the interest rate per annum equal to the arithmetic
average of the rates of interest per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to
the next one-thousandth (1/1000th) of one (1%) percent) at which Reference Bank
is offered deposits of United States dollars in the London interbank market (or
other Eurodollar Rate market selected by a Borrower or Administrative Borrower
on behalf of such Borrower and approved by Agent) on or about 9:00 a.m. (New
York time) two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest
Period in amounts substantially equal to the principal amount of the Eurodollar
Rate Loans requested by and available to such Borrower in accordance with this
Agreement, with a maturity of comparable duration to the Interest Period
selected by or on behalf of a Borrower.

          1.44 "Eurodollar Rate Loans" shall mean any Loans or portion thereof
on which interest is payable based on the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate in accordance
with the terms hereof.

          1.45 "Event of Default" shall mean the occurrence or existence of any
event or condition described in Section 10.1 hereof.

          1.46 "Excess Availability" shall mean the amount, as determined by
Agent, calculated at any date, equal to: (a) the lesser of: (i) the Borrowing
Base and (ii) the Revolving Loan Limit (in each case under (i) or (ii) after
giving effect to any Reserves other than any Reserves in respect of Letter of
Credit Accommodations), minus (b) the sum of: (i) the amount of all then
outstanding and unpaid Obligations (but not including for this purpose the then
outstanding aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans or any outstanding
Letter of Credit Accommodations), plus (ii) the amount of all Reserves then
established in respect of Letter of Credit Accommodations, plus (iii) the
aggregate amount of all then outstanding and unpaid trade payables and other
obligations of Borrowing Base Parties which are outstanding more than sixty (60)
days past due as of such time (other than trade payables or other obligations
being contested or disputed by Borrowing Base Parties in good faith), plus (iv)
without duplication, the amount of checks issued by Borrowing Base Parties to
pay trade payables and other obligations which are more than sixty (60) days
past due as of such time (other than trade payables or other obligations being
contested or disputed by Borrowing Base Parties in good faith), but not yet
sent.

          1.47 "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
together with all rules, regulations and interpretations thereunder or related
thereto.

                                       15



          1.48 "Exchange Rate" shall mean the prevailing spot rate of exchange
of Reference Bank (or, if such rate is not available from Reference Bank, such
other bank as Agent may reasonably select) for the purpose of conversion of one
currency to another, at or around 11:00 a.m. New York City time, on the date on
which any such conversion of currency is to be made under this Agreement.

          1.49 "Excluded Taxes" shall mean, with respect to Agent or any Lender,
any income, branch profits or franchise taxes imposed on or measured by its net
income (other than any such Tax imposed solely as a result of a Borrower's
activities in a jurisdiction).

          1.50 "Existing Lenders" shall mean the lenders to Borrowers listed on
Schedule 1.50 hereto (and including Citicorp USA, Inc. in its capacity as agent
acting for such lenders) and their respective predecessors, successors and
assigns.

          1.51 "Existing Letters of Credit" shall mean, collectively, the
letters of credit issued for the account of a Borrower or Guarantor or for which
such Borrower or Guarantor is otherwise liable listed on Schedule 1.51 hereto,
as the same now exist or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented,
extended, renewed, restated or replaced.

          1.52 "Extraordinary Receipts" means any cash received by a Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries not in the ordinary course of business (and not
consisting of proceeds from the sale of Inventory), including, without
limitation, (i) proceeds of insurance, (ii) condemnation awards (and payments in
lieu thereof), (iii) indemnity payments, (iv) foreign, United States, state or
local tax refunds, (v) pension plan reversions and (vi) judgments, proceeds of
settlements or other consideration of any kind in connection with any cause of
action.

          1.53 "Fairfield Property" shall mean the Real Property of Parent
located in Fairfield, Connecticut.

          1.54 "Fee Letter" shall mean the letter agreement, dated of even date
herewith, by and among Borrowers and Agent, setting forth certain fees payable
by Borrowers to Agent for the benefit of itself and Lenders, as the same now
exists or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed,
restated or replaced.

          1.55 "Financing Agreements" shall mean, collectively, this Agreement
and all notes, guarantees, security agreements, deposit account control
agreements, investment property control agreements, intercreditor agreements and
all other agreements, documents and instruments now or at any time hereafter
executed and/or delivered by any Borrower or Obligor in connection with this
Agreement.

          1.56 "Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" shall mean, as to any applicable
period, with respect to Parent and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis,
the ratio of (a) EBITDA of Parent and its Subsidiaries for such period MINUS all
Capital Expenditures of Parent and its Subsidiaries during such period to (b)
Fixed Charges of Parent and its Subsidiaries for such period.

                                       16



          1.57 "Fixed Charges" shall mean, as to any Person and its Subsidiaries
with respect to any period, the sum of, without duplication, (a) all cash
Interest Expense, provided that any annual fees paid to the Tranche B Term Loan
Lenders or Tranche B Term Loan Agent will be considered to be a cash Interest
Expense when such amounts are recognized as an expense in the income statement
of any Borrower or Guarantor, (b) all regularly scheduled (as determined at the
beginning of the respective period) principal payments of Indebtedness for
borrowed money (including, without limitation, all regularly scheduled payments
of principal in respect of the Term Loans) and Indebtedness with respect to
Capitalized Leases (and without duplicating amounts in item (a) of this
definition, the interest component with respect to Indebtedness under
Capitalized Leases), (c) all cash income taxes (including, without limitation,
payments made pursuant to Section 9.12(b)(iii)), (d) cash dividends, repurchases
or redemptions paid by such Person and its Subsidiaries (other than to such
Person or such Person's Subsidiaries) in respect of Capital Stock, (e)
management fees paid in cash (in each case as to such Person and its
Subsidiaries) and (f) all cash payments for pension expenses paid by such Person
and its Subsidiaries during such period to the extent such payments are not
deducted from the determination of Consolidated Net Income.

          1.58 "GAAP" shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States of America as in effect from time to time as set forth in the
opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the statements and pronouncements
of the Financial Accounting Standards Board which are applicable to the
circumstances as of the date of determination consistently applied, except that,
for purposes of Sections 9.17 and 9.18 hereof, GAAP shall be determined on the
basis of such principles in effect on the date hereof and consistent with those
used in the preparation of the most recent audited financial statements
delivered to Agent prior to the date hereof.

          1.59 "Governmental Authority" shall mean any nation or government, any
state, province, or other political subdivision thereof, any central bank (or
similar monetary or regulatory authority) thereof, and any entity exercising
executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or
pertaining to government.

          1.60 "Guarantors" shall mean, collectively, the following (together
with their respective successors and assigns): (a) Handy & Harman of Canada,
Limited, an Ontario corporation; (b) ele Corporation, a California corporation;
(c) Alloy Ring Service Inc., a Delaware corporation; (d) Daniel Radiator
Corporation, a Texas corporation; (e) H&H Productions, Inc., a Delaware
corporation; (f) Handy & Harman Automotive Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation;
(g) Handy & Harman International, Ltd., a Delaware corporation; (h) Handy &
Harman Peru, Inc., a Delaware corporation; (i) KJ-VMI Realty, Inc., a Delaware
corporation; (j) Pal-Rath Realty, Inc., a Delaware corporation; (k) Platina
Laboratories, Inc., a Delaware corporation; (l) Sheffield Street Corporation, a
Connecticut corporation; (m) SWM, Inc., a Delaware corporation and (n) Willing B
Wire Corporation, a Delaware corporation; each sometimes being referred to
herein individually as a "Guarantor".

          1.61 "Hazardous Materials" shall mean any hazardous, toxic or
dangerous substances, materials and wastes, including hydrocarbons (including

                                       17


naturally occurring or man-made petroleum and hydrocarbons), flammable
explosives, friable asbestos, urea formaldehyde insulation, radioactive
materials, biological substances, polychlorinated biphenyls, pesticides,
herbicides and any other kind and/or type of pollutants or contaminants
(including materials which include hazardous constituents), sewage, sludge,
industrial slag, solvents and/or any other similar substances, materials, or
wastes and including any other substances, materials or wastes that are or
become regulated under any Environmental Law (including any that are or become
classified as hazardous or toxic under any Environmental Law).

          1.62 "Indebtedness" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any
liability, whether or not contingent, (a) in respect of borrowed money (whether
or not the recourse of the lender is to the whole of the assets of such Person
or only to a portion thereof) or evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or
similar instruments; (b) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the
purchase price of any property or services (except any such balance that
constitutes an account payable to a trade creditor (whether or not an Affiliate)
created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed by such Person in the ordinary course
of business of such Person in connection with obtaining goods, materials or
services that is not overdue by more than ninety (90) days, unless the trade
payable is being contested in good faith); (c) all obligations as lessee under
leases which have been, or should be, in accordance with GAAP recorded as
Capital Leases; (d) any contractual obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such
Person to pay or be liable for the payment of any indebtedness described in this
definition of another Person, including, without limitation, any such
indebtedness, directly or indirectly guaranteed, or any agreement to purchase,
repurchase, or otherwise acquire such indebtedness, obligation or liability or
any security therefor, or to provide funds for the payment or discharge thereof,
or to maintain solvency, assets, level of income, or other financial condition;
(e) all obligations with respect to redeemable stock and redemption or
repurchase obligations under any Capital Stock or other equity securities issued
by such Person; (f) all reimbursement obligations and other liabilities of such
Person with respect to surety bonds (whether bid, performance or otherwise),
letters of credit, banker's acceptances, drafts or similar documents or
instruments issued for such Person's account; (g) all indebtedness of such
Person in respect of indebtedness of another Person for borrowed money or
indebtedness of another Person otherwise described in this definition which is
secured by any consensual lien, security interest, collateral assignment,
conditional sale, mortgage, deed of trust, or other encumbrance on any asset of
such Person, whether or not such obligations, liabilities or indebtedness are
assumed by or are a personal liability of such Person, all as of such time; (h)
all obligations, liabilities and indebtedness of such Person (marked to market)
arising under swap agreements, cap agreements and collar agreements and other
agreements or arrangements designed to protect such person against fluctuations
in interest rates or currency or commodity values; (i) all obligations owed by
such Person under License Agreements with respect to non-refundable, advance or
minimum guarantee royalty payments; and (j) the principal and interest portions
of all rental obligations of such Person under any synthetic lease or similar
off-balance sheet financing where such transaction is considered to be borrowed
money for tax purposes but is classified as an operating lease in accordance
with GAAP.

          1.63 "Indemnified Taxes" shall mean Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

                                       18




          1.64 "Information Certificate" shall mean the Information Certificate
of Borrowers and Guarantors constituting Exhibit B hereto containing material
information with respect to Borrowers and Guarantors, their respective
businesses and assets provided by or on behalf of Borrowers and Guarantors to
Agent in connection with the preparation of this Agreement and the other
Financing Agreements and the financing arrangements provided for herein.

          1.65 "Intellectual Property" shall mean, as to each Borrower and
Guarantor, such Borrower's and Guarantor's now owned and hereafter arising or
acquired: patents, patent rights, patent applications, copyrights, works which
are the subject matter of copyrights, copyright applications, copyright
registrations, trademarks, trade names, trade styles, trademark and service mark
applications, and licenses and rights to use any of the foregoing; all
extensions, renewals, reissues, divisions, continuations, and
continuations-in-part of any of the foregoing; all rights to sue for past,
present and future infringement of any of the foregoing; inventions, trade
secrets, formulae, processes, compounds, drawings, designs, blueprints, surveys,
reports, manuals, and operating standards; goodwill (including any goodwill
associated with any trademark or the license of any trademark); customer and
other lists in whatever form maintained; trade secret rights, copyright rights,
rights in works of authorship, domain names and domain name registration;
software and contract rights relating to computer software programs, in whatever
form created or maintained.

          1.66 "Intercreditor Agreement" shall mean the Intercreditor Agreement,
dated of even date herewith, by and between Agent and Tranche B Term Loan Agent,
as acknowledged and agreed to by Borrowers and Guarantors, as the same now
exists or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed,
restated or replaced.

          1.67 "Interest Expense" shall mean, for any period, as to any Person,
as determined in accordance with GAAP, the total interest expense of such
Person, whether paid or accrued during such period (including the interest
component of Capitalized Leases for such period), including, without limitation,
discounts in connection with the sale of any Accounts, but excluding interest
paid in property other than cash and any other interest expense not payable in
cash.

          1.68 "Interest Period" shall mean for any Eurodollar Rate Loan, a
period of approximately one (1), two (2), or three (3) months duration as any
Borrower (or Administrative Borrower on behalf of such Borrower) may elect, the
exact duration to be determined in accordance with the customary practice in the
applicable Eurodollar Rate market; provided, that, such Borrower (or
Administrative Borrower on behalf of such Borrower) may not elect an Interest
Period which will end after the last day of the then-current term of this
Agreement.

          1.69 "Interest Rate" shall mean,

            (a) Subject to clauses (b) and (c) of this definition below:

              (i) as to Revolving Loans which are Prime Rate Loans, a rate equal
to one (1%) percent per annum in excess of the Prime Rate,

                                       19



              (ii) as to Revolving Loans which are Eurodollar Rate Loans, a rate
equal to two and three-quarters (2.75%) percent per annum in excess of the
Adjusted Eurodollar Rate (in each case, based on the Eurodollar Rate applicable
for the Interest Period selected by a Borrower, or by Administrative Borrower on
behalf of such Borrower, as in effect three (3) Business Days after the date of
receipt by Agent of the request of or on behalf of such Borrower for such
Eurodollar Rate Loans in accordance with the terms hereof, whether such rate is
higher or lower than any rate previously quoted to any Borrower or Guarantor).

              (iii) as to Term Loans which are Prime Rate Loans, a rate equal to
one and one-half (1.50%) percent per annum in excess of the Prime Rate,

              (iv) as to Term Loans which are Eurodollar Rate Loans, a rate
equal to three and one-quarter (3.25%) percent per annum in excess of the
Adjusted Eurodollar Rate (in each case, based on the Eurodollar Rate applicable
for the Interest Period selected by a Borrower, or by Administrative Borrower on
behalf of such Borrower, as in effect three (3) Business Days after the date of
receipt by Agent of the request of or on behalf of such Borrower for such
Eurodollar Rate Loans in accordance with the terms hereof, whether such rate is
higher or lower than any rate previously quoted to any Borrower or Guarantor).

            (b) Subject to clause (c) of this definition below, effective as of
the first (1st) day of the second (2nd) month of each fiscal quarter (commencing
with the fiscal quarter ending on or about September 30, 2004), the Interest
Rate payable by Borrowers with respect to Revolving Loans shall be increased or
decreased, as the case may be, (i) as to Revolving Loans which are Prime Rate
Loans, to the rate equal to the Applicable Margin on a per annum basis in excess
of the Prime Rate, (ii) as to Revolving Loans which are Eurodollar Rate Loans,
to the rate equal to the Applicable Margin on a per annum basis in excess of the
Adjusted Eurodollar Rate, (iii) as to Term Loans which are Prime Rate Loans, to
the Rate equal to the Applicable Margin on a per annum basis in excess of the
Prime Rate and (iv) as to Term Loans which are Eurodollar Rate Loans, to the
rate equal to the Applicable Margin on a per annum basis in excess of the
Adjusted Eurodollar Rate.

            (c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the
Interest Rate determined in accordance with clause (a) above shall mean the
rates set forth in clause (a) above plus (in each case) two (2%) percent per
annum and the Applicable Margin otherwise used to calculate the Interest Rate
for Loans in accordance with clause (b) above shall be the highest percentage
set forth in the definition of the term Applicable Margin for each category of
such Loans (without regard to the amount of Quarterly Average Excess
Availability) plus two (2%) percent per annum, at Agent's option, without notice
(i) either (A) for the period on and after the effective date of termination or
non-renewal hereof until such time as all Obligations are indefeasibly paid and
satisfied in full in immediately available funds or (B) for the period from and
after the date of the occurrence of any Event of Default, and for so long as
such Event of Default is continuing as determined by Agent in its reasonable
discretion and (ii) on the Revolving Loans at any time outstanding in excess of
the amounts available to Borrower under Section 2 (whether or not such

                                       20



excess(es) arise or are made with or without Agent's or any Lender's knowledge
or consent and whether made before or after an Event of Default).

          1.70 "Inventory" shall mean, as to each Borrower and Guarantor, all of
such Borrower's and Guarantor's now owned and hereafter existing or acquired
goods, wherever located, which (a) are leased by such Borrower or Guarantor as
lessor; (b) are held by such Borrower for sale or lease or to be furnished under
a contract of service; (c) are furnished by such Borrower or Guarantor under a
contract of service; or (d) consist of raw materials, work in process, finished
goods or materials used or consumed in its business.

          1.71 "Investment Property Control Agreement" shall mean an agreement
in writing, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent, by and among Agent, any
Borrower or Guarantor (as the case may be) and any securities intermediary,
commodity intermediary or other person who has custody, control or possession of
any investment property of such Borrower or Guarantor acknowledging that such
securities intermediary, commodity intermediary or other person has custody,
control or possession of such investment property on behalf of Agent, that it
will comply with entitlement orders originated by Agent with respect to such
investment property, or other instructions of Agent, and has such other terms
and conditions as Agent may require.

          1.72 "Judgment Currency" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11.6 hereof.

          1.73 "Laredo Property" shall mean the Real Property of Daniel located
in Laredo, Texas.

          1.74 "Lenders" shall mean the financial institutions who are
signatories hereto as Lenders and other persons made a party to this Agreement
as a Lender in accordance with Section 13.7 hereof, and their respective
successors and assigns; each sometimes being referred to herein individually as
a "Lender".

          1.75 "Letter of Credit Accommodations" shall mean, collectively, the
letters of credit, merchandise purchase or other guaranties which are from time
to time either (a) issued or opened by Agent or any Lender for the account of
any Borrower or Obligor or (b) with respect to which Agent or Lenders have
agreed to indemnify the issuer or guaranteed to the issuer the performance by
any Borrower or Obligor of its obligations to such issuer; sometimes being
referred to herein individually as "Letter of Credit Accommodation".

          1.76 "Leverage Ratio" shall mean, as of any date, the ratio of (a) (i)
the aggregate principal amount of the Loans outstanding on such date plus the
aggregate principal amount of all other Indebtedness (including the amount of
all contingent liabilities in respect of undrawn Letter of Credit Accommodations
and other letters of credit) of the Parent and its Subsidiaries on such date,
minus (ii) the aggregate amount of cash collateral held by Tranche B Term Loan
Agent under the Cash Collateral Agreement (as defined in the Tranche B Term Loan
Agreement as in effect on the date hereof); to (b) EBITDA of the Parent and its
Subsidiaries for the period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters ended on
such date.

                                       21



          1.77 "License Agreements" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
8.11 hereof.

          1.78 "Loan Limit" shall mean, as to each Borrower, at any time, the
amount equal to the Maximum Credit minus the then outstanding principal amount
of the Loans and the Letter of Credit Accommodations provided to the other
Borrowers.

          1.79 "Loans" shall mean, collectively, the Revolving Loans and the
Term Loans.

          1.80 "Material Adverse Effect" shall mean a material adverse effect on
(a) the financial condition, business, operations or condition (financial or
otherwise) of Borrowers (taken as a whole); (b) the legality, validity or
enforceability of this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements; (c)
the legality, validity, enforceability, perfection or priority of the security
interests and liens of Agent upon the Collateral; (d) the Collateral or its
value; (e) the ability of Borrowers to repay the Obligations or perform their
obligations under this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements as and
when to be performed; or (f) the ability of Agent or any Lender to enforce the
Obligations or realize upon the Collateral or otherwise with respect to the
rights and remedies of Agent and Lenders under this Agreement or any of the
other Financing Agreements.

          1.81 "Material Contract" shall mean (a) any contract or other
agreement (other than the Financing Agreements), written or oral, of any
Borrower or Guarantor involving monetary liability of or to any Person in an
amount in excess of $500,000 in any fiscal year and (b) any other contract or
other agreement (other than the Financing Agreements), whether written or oral,
to which any Borrower or Guarantor is a party as to which the breach,
nonperformance, cancellation or failure to renew by any party thereto would have
a Material Adverse Effect.

          1.82 "Maximum Credit" shall mean the amount of $92,150,000.

          1.83 "Mortgages" shall mean, individually and collectively, each of
the following (as the same now exist or may hereafter be amended, modified,
supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced): (a) the Mortgage,
Assignment of Leases and Rents, Security Agreement and Fixture Filing, dated of
even date herewith, by Sumco in favor of Agent with respect to the Real Property
and related assets of such Borrower located in Indianapolis, Indiana, (b) the
Open-End Mortgage, Assignment of Leases and Rents, Security Agreement and
Fixture Filing, dated of even date herewith, by H&H Electronic in favor of Agent
with respect to the Real Property and related assets of such Borrower located in
Providence, Rhode Island, (c) the Mortgage, Assignment of Leases and Rents,
Security Agreement and Fixture Filing, dated of even date herewith, by Camdel in
favor of Agent with respect to the Real Property and related assets of such
Borrower located in Camden, Delaware, (d) the Mortgage, Assignment of Leases and
Rents, Security Agreement and Fixture Filing, dated of even date herewith, by
Indiana Tube in favor of Agent with respect to the Real Property and related
assets of such Borrower located in Evansville, Indiana, (e) the Open-End
Mortgage Deed, Assignment of Leases and Rents, Security Agreement and Fixture
Filing, dated of even date herewith, by Parent in favor of Agent with respect to
the Real Property and related assets of such Borrower located in Fairfield
Connecticut, (f) the Deed of Trust, Assignment of Leases and Rents, Security
Agreement and Fixture Filing, dated of even date herewith, by Maryland Wire in

                                       22



favor of Agent with respect to the Real Property and related assets of such
Borrower located in Cockeysville, Maryland, (g) the Open-End Mortgage,
Assignment of Leases and Rents, Security Agreement and Fixture Filing, dated of
even date herewith, by Canfield in favor of Agent with respect to the Real
Property and related assets of Canfield located in Canfield, Ohio, (h) the
Mortgage, Assignment of Leases and Rents, Security Agreement and Fixture Filing,
dated of even date herewith, by such Borrower in favor of Agent with respect to
the Real Property and related assets of such Borrower located in Tulsa and
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, (i) the Mortgage, Assignment of Leases and Rents,
Security Agreement and Fixture Filing, dated of even date herewith, by Maryland
Wire in favor of Agent with respect to the Real Property and related assets of
such Borrower located in Oriskany, New York, (j) the Mortgage, Assignment of
Leases and Rents, Security Agreement and Fixture Filing, dated of even date
herewith, by Lucas in favor of Agent with respect to the Real Property and
related assets of such Borrower located in Cudahy, Wisconsin, (k) the Mortgage,
Assignment of Leases and Rents, Security Agreement and Fixture Filing, dated of
even date herewith, by Olympic in favor of Agent with respect to the Real
Property and related assets of such Borrower located in Agawam, Massachusetts,
(l) the Charge, dated of even date herewith, by H&H Canada in favor of Agent
with respect to the Real Property and related assets of H&H Canada located in
Rexdale, Ontario, Canada, (m) the Open End Mortgage, Assignment of Leases and
Rents, Security Agreement and Fixture Filing, dated of even date herewith, by
Daniel in favor of Agent with respect to the Real Property and related assets of
such Guarantor located in Cleveland, Ohio, (n) the Mortgage, Assignment of
Leases and Rents, Security Agreement and Fixture Filing, dated of even date
herewith, by Daniel in favor of Agent with respect to the Real Property and
related assets of such Guarantor located in Maquoketa, Iowa, (o) the Open-End
Mortgage Deed, Assignment of Leases and Rents, Security Agreement and Fixture
Filing, dated of even date herewith, by Daniel in favor of Agent with respect to
the Real Property and related assets of such Guarantor located in Waterbury
Connecticut, and (p) the Mortgage, Assignment of Leases and Rents, Security
Agreement and Fixture Filing, dated of even date herewith, by Parent in favor of
Agent with respect to the Real Property and related assets of such Borrower
located in North Attleboro, Massachusetts.

          1.84 "Multiemployer Plan" shall mean a "multi-employer plan" as
defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA which is or was at any time during the
current year or the immediately preceding six (6) years contributed to by any
Borrower, Guarantor or any ERISA Affiliate.

          1.85 "Net Cash Proceeds" shall mean, with respect to any sale, lease,
transfer or other disposition of any asset or the sale or issuance of any
Indebtedness by any Person, the aggregate amount of cash received from time to
time (whether as initial consideration or through payment or disposition of
deferred consideration) by or on behalf of such Person in connection with such
transaction after deducting therefrom only (without duplication) (a) reasonable
and customary brokerage commissions, underwriting fees and discounts, legal
fees, accountant's fees, investment banking fees, finder's fees, other similar
fees and commissions and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, (b) the amount of
taxes reasonably estimated by such Person to be actually and reasonably
attributable to such transaction, and (c) the amount of any Indebtedness secured
by a security interest, lien or other encumbrance (other than a security
interest, lien or other encumbrance created under any Financing Agreements) on

                                       23



such asset that, by the terms of such transaction, is required to be repaid upon
such disposition, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that the
amounts so deducted are actually paid to a Person that, except in the case of
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, is not an Affiliate of such Person or any
Affiliate of any Borrower and, in each case, are properly attributable to such
transaction or to the asset that is the subject thereof.

          1.86 "Net Recovery Percentage" shall mean the fraction, expressed as a
percentage, (a) the numerator of which is the amount equal to the amount of the
recovery in respect of the Inventory at such time on a "net orderly liquidation
value" basis as set forth in the most recent acceptable appraisal of Inventory
received by Agent in accordance with Section 7.3, net of operating expenses,
liquidation expenses and commissions, and (b) the denominator of which is the
applicable original cost or derived cost of the aggregate amount of the
Inventory subject to such appraisal.

          1.87 "Non-Precious Metals Borrowing Base Parties" shall mean,
collectively, the Borrowing Base Parties other than the Precious Metals
Borrowing Base Parties; sometimes each individually referred to herein as a
"Non-Precious Metals Borrowing Base Party".

          1.88 "North Attleboro Property" shall meant the Real Property of
Parent located in North Attleboro, Massachusetts.

          1.89 "Obligations" shall mean any and all Loans, Letter of Credit
Accommodations and all other obligations, liabilities and indebtedness of every
kind, nature and description owing by any or all of Borrowers to Agent or any
Lender and/or any of their Affiliates, including principal, interest, charges,
fees, costs and expenses, however evidenced, whether as principal, surety,
endorser, guarantor or otherwise, arising under this Agreement or any of the
other Financing Agreements, whether now existing or hereafter arising, whether
arising before, during or after the initial or any renewal term of this
Agreement or after the commencement of any case with respect to such Borrower
under the United States Bankruptcy Code, the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act
(Canada), the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada) or any similar
statute (including the payment of interest and other amounts which would accrue
and become due but for the commencement of such case, whether or not such
amounts are allowed or allowable in whole or in part in such case), whether
direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, joint or several, due or not due,
primary or secondary, liquidated or unliquidated, or secured or unsecured.

          1.90 "Obligor" shall mean any guarantor, endorser, acceptor, surety or
other person liable on or with respect to the Obligations or who is the owner of
any property which is security for the Obligations (including, without
limitation, Guarantors), other than Borrowers.

          1.91 "Parent" shall mean Handy & Harman, a New York corporation, and
its successors and assigns.

          1.92 "Participant" shall mean any financial institution that acquires
and holds a participation in the interest of any Lender in any of the

                                       24



Loans and Letter of Credit Accommodations in conformity with the provisions of
Section 13.7 of this Agreement governing participations.

          1.93 "Permitted Acquisition" shall mean any Acquisition by a Borrower
or any Subsidiary of a Borrower to the extent that each of the following
conditions shall have been satisfied:

            (a) the Borrowers shall have furnished to the Agent at least 10
Business Days prior to the consummation of such Acquisition (i) an executed term
sheet and/or commitment letter (setting forth in reasonable detail the terms and
conditions of such Acquisition) and, at the request of the Agent, such other
information and documents that the Agent may request, including, without
limitation, executed counterparts of the respective agreements, instruments or
other documents pursuant to which such Acquisition is to be consummated
(including, without limitation, any related management, non-compete, employment,
option or other material agreements), any schedules to such agreements,
instruments or other documents and all other material ancillary agreements,
instruments or other documents to be executed or delivered in connection
therewith, (ii) pro forma financial statements of the Parent and its
Subsidiaries after the consummation of such Acquisition, which shall be in form
and substance satisfactory to Agent, (iii) a certificate of the chief financial
officer of the Parent, demonstrating on a pro forma basis compliance with all
covenants set forth in Section 9.17 hereof as if the consummation of such
Acquisition occurred on the first day of the test period for each of the
covenants set forth in Section 9.17, which shall be in form and substance
satisfactory to Agent, and (iv) copies of such other agreements, instruments or
other documents as the Agent shall reasonably request;

            (b) the agreements, instruments and other documents referred to in
paragraph (a) above shall provide that (i) neither the Borrowers nor any of
their Subsidiaries shall, in connection with such Acquisition, assume or remain
liable in respect of any Indebtedness of the Seller or Sellers, or other
obligation of the Seller or Sellers (except for obligations incurred in the
ordinary course of business in operating the property so acquired and necessary
and desirable to the continued operation of such property and except for
Indebtedness that the Agent otherwise expressly consents to in writing after its
review of the terms of the proposed Acquisition), and (ii) all property to be so
acquired in connection with such Acquisition shall be free and clear of any and
all Liens, except for Liens permitted under Section 9.8 hereof (and if any such
property is subject to any Lien not permitted by this clause (ii) then
concurrently with such Acquisition such Lien shall be released);

            (c) the Subsidiary to be acquired or formed as a result of such
Acquisition shall be engaged in the same general lines of business as the
Borrowers and such Subsidiary will be a direct wholly-owned Subsidiary of a
Borrower;

            (d) such Acquisition shall be effected in such a manner so that the
acquired Capital Stock or assets are owned either by a Borrower or a Subsidiary
of a Borrower and, if effected by merger or consolidation involving a Borrower,
such Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person;

                                       25



            (e) any such Subsidiary (and its equityholders) shall execute and
deliver the agreements, instruments and other documents required by Agent
pursuant to Section 9.18 to grant Agent a valid and perfected Lien on the assets
and Capital Stock of such Subsidiary, which Lien shall be prior to all other
Liens;

            (f) the maximum aggregate amount of cash consideration paid by the
Borrowers for all such Acquisitions effected after the date hereof shall not
exceed $5,000,000;

            (g) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing immediately before or after giving effect to such Acquisition;

            (h) Excess Availability shall be not less than $5,000,000
immediately after giving effect to such Acquisition;

            (i) any cash consideration paid by a Borrower for any such
Acquisition effected after the date hereof shall be deemed to be a Capital
Expenditure for purposes of this Agreement; and

            (j) in no event shall any Accounts or Inventory acquired pursuant to
an Acquisition be deemed to be Eligible Accounts or Eligible Inventory until
Agent shall have conducted due diligence with respect thereto that is
satisfactory to Agent and then only to the extent that the criteria for Eligible
Accounts and Eligible Inventory are satisfied with respect thereto.

          1.94 "Permitted Holders" shall mean the persons listed on Schedule
1.94 hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

          1.95 "Person" or "person" shall mean any individual, sole
proprietorship, partnership, corporation (including any corporation which elects
subchapter S status under the Code), limited liability company, limited
liability partnership, business trust, unincorporated association, joint stock
corporation, trust, joint venture or other entity or any government or any
agency or instrumentality or political subdivision thereof.

          1.96 "Plan" means an employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3)
of ERISA) which any Borrower or Guarantor sponsors, maintains, or to which it
makes, is making, or is obligated to make contributions, or in the case of a
Multiemployer Plan has made contributions at any time during the immediately
preceding six (6) plan years.

          1.97 "PPSA" shall mean the Personal Property Security Act (Ontario),
the Civil Code of Quebec or any other applicable Canadian Federal or Provincial
statute pertaining to the granting, perfecting, priority or ranking of security
interests, liens, hypothecs on personal property, and any successor statutes,
together with any regulations thereunder, in each case as in effect from time to
time. References to sections of the PPSA shall be construed to also refer to any
successor sections.

          1.98 "Precious Metals Borrowing Base Parties" shall mean,
collectively, Lucas, H&H Electronic, Sumco and H&H Canada; sometimes each
individually referred to herein as a "Precious Metals Borrowing Base Party".

                                       26



          1.99 "Precious Metals Consignment Agreement" shall mean the agreement
by and between Parent and the Precious Metals Consignor which provides for the
consignment of Precious Metals Inventory from Precious Metals Consignor to
Parent, as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed,
restated or replaced.

          1.100 "Precious Metals Consignment Documents" shall mean,
collectively, the following (as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented,
extended, renewed, restated or replaced): (a) the Precious Metals Consignment
Agreement; and (b) all other agreements, documents and instruments at any time
executed and/or delivered by any Borrower or Guarantor with, to or in favor of
the Precious Metals Consignor in connection therewith or related thereto;
sometimes being referred to herein individually as a "Precious Metals Consignor
Document".

          1.101 "Precious Metals Consignor" shall mean any precious metals
consignor reasonably acceptable to Agent, together with its successors and
assigns.

          1.102 "Precious Metals Consignor Letter of Credit Accommodation" shall
mean any Letter of Credit Accommodations issued for the benefit of the Precious
Metals Consignor, as the same may be amended, supplemented, modified, extended,
renewed, restated or replaced.

          1.103 "Precious Metals Creditor Agreement" shall mean an intercreditor
agreement, by and between Agent and the Precious Metals Consignor, as
acknowledged and agreed to by Parent, as the same may be amended, modified,
supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced.

          1.104 "Precious Metals Inventory" shall mean Inventory of the
Borrowing Base Parties consisting of gold, silver, palladium or platinum.

          1.105 "Prime Rate" shall mean the rate from time to time publicly
announced by Wachovia Bank, National Association, or its successors, as its
prime rate, whether or not such announced rate is the best rate available at
such bank.

          1.106 "Prime Rate Loans" shall mean any Loans or portion thereof on
which interest is payable based on the Prime Rate in accordance with the terms
thereof.

          1.107 "Priority Payables" shall mean, as to any Borrower or Guarantor
at any time, (a) the full amount of the liabilities of such Borrower or
Guarantor at such time which (i) have a trust imposed to provide for payment or
a security interest, pledge, lien or charge ranking or capable of ranking senior
to or pari passu with security interests, liens or charges securing the
Obligations under Federal, Provincial, State, county, district, municipal, or
local law in Canada or (ii) have a right imposed to provide for payment ranking
or capable of ranking senior to or pari passu with the Obligations under local
or national law, regulation or directive, including, but not limited to, claims
for unremitted and/or accelerated rents, taxes, wages, withholding taxes, VAT
and other amounts payable to an insolvency administrator, employee withholdings
or deductions and vacation pay, workers' compensation obligations, government

                                       27



royalties or pension fund obligations in each case to the extent such trust, or
security interest, lien or charge has been or may be imposed and (b) the amount
equal to the percentage applicable to Inventory in the calculation of the
Borrowing Base multiplied by the aggregate Value of the Eligible Inventory which
Agent, in good faith, considers is or may be subject to retention of title by a
supplier or a right of a supplier to recover possession thereof, where such
supplier's right has priority over the security interests, liens or charges
securing the Obligations, including, without limitation, Eligible Inventory
subject to a right of a supplier to repossess goods pursuant to Section 81.1 of
the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada) or any applicable laws granting
revendication or similar rights to unpaid suppliers or any similar laws of
Canada or any other applicable jurisdiction (provided, that, to the extent such
Inventory has been identified and has been excluded from Eligible Inventory, the
amount owing to the supplier shall not be considered a Priority Payable).

          1.108 "Pro Rata Share" shall mean as to any Lender, the fraction
(expressed as a percentage) the numerator of which is such Lender's Commitment
and the denominator of which is the aggregate amount of all of the Commitments
of Lenders, as adjusted from time to time in accordance with the provisions of
Section 13.7 hereof; provided, that, if the Commitments have been terminated,
the numerator shall be the unpaid amount of such Lender's Loans and its interest
in the Letter of Credit Accommodations and the denominator shall be the
aggregate amount of all unpaid Loans and Letter of Credit Accommodations.

          1.109 "Provision for Taxes" shall mean an amount equal to all taxes
imposed on or measured by net income, whether Federal, State, Provincial, county
or local, and whether foreign or domestic, that are paid or payable by any
Person in respect of any period in accordance with GAAP.

          1.110 "Purchase Price" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
the Precious Metals Creditor Agreement.

          1.111 "Quarterly Average Excess Availability" shall mean, at any time,
the daily average Excess Availability for the immediately preceding fiscal
quarter as calculated by Agent.

          1.112 "Real Property" shall mean all now owned and hereafter acquired
real property of each Borrower and Guarantor, including leasehold interests,
together with all buildings, structures, and other improvements located thereon
and all licenses, easements and appurtenances relating thereto, wherever
located, including the real property and related assets more particularly
described in the Mortgages.

          1.113 "Receivables" shall mean all of the following now owned or
hereafter arising or acquired property of each Borrower and Guarantor: (a) all
Accounts; (b) all interest, fees, late charges, penalties, collection fees and
other amounts due or to become due or otherwise payable in connection with any
Account; (c) all payment intangibles of such Borrower or Guarantor; (d) letters
of credit, indemnities, guarantees, security or other deposits and proceeds
thereof issued payable to any Borrower or Guarantor or otherwise in favor of or

                                       28



delivered to any Borrower or Guarantor in connection with any Account; or (e)
all other accounts, contract rights, chattel paper, instruments, notes, general
intangibles and other forms of obligations owing to any Borrower or Guarantor,
whether from the sale and lease of goods or other property, licensing of any
property (including Intellectual Property or other general intangibles),
rendition of services or from loans or advances by any Borrower or Guarantor or
to or for the benefit of any third person (including loans or advances to any
Affiliates or Subsidiaries of any Borrower or Guarantor) or otherwise associated
with any Accounts, Inventory or general intangibles of any Borrower or Guarantor
(including, without limitation, choses in action, causes of action, tax refunds,
tax refund claims, any funds which may become payable to any Borrower or
Guarantor in connection with the termination of any Plan or other employee
benefit plan and any other amounts payable to any Borrower or Guarantor from any
Plan or other employee benefit plan, rights and claims against carriers and
shippers, rights to indemnification, business interruption insurance and
proceeds thereof, casualty or any similar types of insurance and any proceeds
thereof and proceeds of insurance covering the lives of employees on which any
Borrower or Guarantor is a beneficiary).

          1.114 "Records" shall mean, as to each Borrower and Guarantor, all of
such Borrower's and Guarantor's present and future books of account of every
kind or nature, purchase and sale agreements, invoices, ledger cards, bills of
lading and other shipping evidence, statements, correspondence, memoranda,
credit files and other data relating to the Collateral or any account debtor,
together with the tapes, disks, diskettes and other data and software storage
media and devices, file cabinets or containers in or on which the foregoing are
stored (including any rights of any Borrower or Guarantor with respect to the
foregoing maintained with or by any other person).

          1.115 "Reference Bank" shall mean Wachovia Bank, National Association,
or such other bank as Agent may from time to time designate.

          1.116 "Refinancing Indebtedness" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 9.9(g) hereof.

          1.117 "Register" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13.7
hereof.

          1.118 "Required Lenders" shall mean, at any time, those Lenders whose
Pro Rata Shares aggregate sixty-six and two-thirds (66 2/3%) percent or more of
the aggregate of the Commitments of all Lenders, or if the Commitments shall
have been terminated, Lenders to whom at least sixty-six and two-thirds (66
2/3%) percent of the then outstanding Obligations are owing.

          1.119 "Reserves" shall mean as of any date of determination, such
amounts as Agent may from time to time establish and revise in good faith
reducing the amount of Revolving Loans and Letter of Credit Accommodations which
would otherwise be available to any Borrower under the lending formula(s)
provided for herein: (a) to reflect events, conditions, contingencies or risks
which, as determined by Agent in good faith, adversely affect, or would have a
reasonable likelihood of adversely affecting, either (i) the Collateral or any
other property which is security for the Obligations, its value or the amount

                                       29



that might be received by Agent from the sale or other disposition or
realization upon such Collateral, or (ii) the assets, business or condition
(financial or otherwise) of any Borrower or Obligor or (iii) the security
interests and other rights of Agent or any Lender in the Collateral (including
the enforceability, perfection and priority thereof) or (b) to reflect Agent's
good faith belief that any collateral report or financial information furnished
by or on behalf of any Borrower or Obligor to Agent is or may have been
incomplete, inaccurate or misleading in any material respect or (c) to reflect
outstanding Letter of Credit Accommodations as provided in Section 2.2 hereof or
(d) in respect of any state of facts which Agent determines in good faith
constitutes a Default or an Event of Default or (e) to reflect the amounts of
Priority Payables or (f) to reflect Agent's good faith estimate of the amount
necessary to reflect changes in applicable currency exchange rates or currency
exchange markets or (g) to reflect the Continuing Reserve or (h) to reflect the
mandatory prepayments of the Revolving Loans to the extent provided in Section
2.4 hereof. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Reserves may, at
Agent's option, be established to reflect: dilution with respect to the Accounts
(based on the ratio of the aggregate amount of non-cash reductions in Accounts
for any period to the aggregate dollar amount of the sales of such Borrower for
such period) as calculated by Agent for any period is or is reasonably
anticipated to be greater than five (5%) percent; or to reflect that the orderly
liquidation value of the Equipment or fair market value of any of the Real
Property as set forth in the most recent acceptable appraisals received by Agent
with respect thereto has declined so that the then outstanding principal amount
of the Term Loans is greater than such percentage with respect to such appraised
values as Agent used in establishing the original principal amount of the Term
Loans multiplied by such appraised values; or returns, discounts, claims,
credits and allowances of any nature that are not paid pursuant to the reduction
of Accounts; or sales, excise or similar taxes included in the amount of any
Accounts reported to Agent; or a change in the turnover, age or mix of the
categories of Inventory that adversely affects the aggregate value of all
Inventory; or amounts due or to become due to owners and lessors of premises
where any Collateral is located, other than for those locations where Agent has
received a Collateral Access Agreement that Agent has accepted in writing. The
amount of any Reserve established by Agent shall have a reasonable relationship
to the event, condition or other matter which is the basis for such reserve as
determined by Agent in good faith.

          1.120 "Revolving Loan Limit" shall mean the amount equal to
$70,000,000.

          1.121 "Revolving Loans" shall mean the loans now or hereafter made by
or on behalf of any Lender or by Agent for the account of any Lender on a
revolving basis pursuant to the Credit Facility (involving advances, repayments
and readvances) as set forth in Section 2.1 hereof.

          1.122 "Seller" shall mean any Person that sells Capital Stock or other
property or assets to a Borrower or a Subsidiary of a Borrower in a Permitted
Acquisition.

          1.123 "Solvent" shall mean, at any time with respect to any Person,
that at such time such Person (a) is able to pay its debts as they mature and
has (and has a reasonable basis to believe it will continue to have) sufficient

                                       30



capital (and not unreasonably small capital) to carry on its business consistent
with its practices as of the date hereof, and (b) the assets and properties of
such Person at a fair valuation (and including as assets for this purpose at a
fair valuation all rights of subrogation, contribution or indemnification
arising pursuant to any guarantees given by such Person) are greater than the
Indebtedness of such Person, and including subordinated and contingent
liabilities computed at the amount which, such person has a reasonable basis to
believe, represents an amount which can reasonably be expected to become an
actual or matured liability (and including as to contingent liabilities arising
pursuant to any guarantee the face amount of such liability as reduced to
reflect the probability of it becoming a matured liability).

          1.124 "Special Agent Advances" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 12.11 hereof.

          1.125 "Specified Account Debtors" shall mean, collectively, (a)
Carlysle Syntec, (b) Dietrich Industries, (c) Therma-Tru Corp., (d) US Gypsum,
(e) General Electric Corporation, (f) Whirlpool Corporation, (g) Delphi
Automotive, (h) Teradyne Corp., (i) Olin Corp., (j) AJ Oster Company, (k)
Electrolux Corporation, (l) Maytag Corporation, (m) Kyphon, Inc., (n) US
Surgical and (o) Agilent Technologies; each individually sometimes hereafter
referred to as a "Specified Account Debtor".

          1.126 "Specified Concentration Limit Percentage" shall mean, for any
Specified Account Debtor (a) twenty (20%) percent for each of Carysle Syntec,
Therma-Tru Corp., US Gypsum, General Electric Corporation, AJ Oster Company,
Electrolux Corporation and Maytag Corporation, (b) twenty-five (25%) percent for
each of Agilent Technologies and Dietrich Industries, (c) thirty (30%) percent
for each of US Surgical and Teradyne Corp., (d) thirty-five (35%) percent for
Kyphon, Inc., (e) forty (40%) percent for Whirlpool Corporation, and (f)
forty-five (45%) percent for each of Delphi Automotive and Olin Corp.

          1.127 "Specified Properties" shall mean, collectively, the Fairfield
Property, the Laredo Property and the North Attleboro Property; sometimes each
individually referred to herein as a "Specified Property".

          1.128 "Subsidiary" or "subsidiary" shall mean, with respect to any
Person, any corporation, limited liability company, limited liability
partnership or other limited or general partnership, trust, association or other
business entity of which an aggregate of at least a majority of the outstanding
Capital Stock or other interests entitled to vote in the election of the board
of directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether, at the time, Capital
Stock of any other class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have
voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency), managers, trustees
or other controlling persons, or an equivalent controlling interest therein, of
such Person is, at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by such Person and/or
one or more subsidiaries of such Person.

          1.129 "Taxes" shall mean any and all present or future taxes, levies,
imposts, deductions and other governmental charges or withholdings, and all
interest, penalties and other liabilities with respect thereto, imposed by any
jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof).

                                       31



          1.130 "Termination Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
13.1 hereof.

          1.131 "Term Loans" shall mean, collectively, the term loans made by or
on behalf of Lenders to Borrowers as provided for in Section 2.3 hereof; each
sometimes being referred to herein individually as a "Term Loan".

          1.132 "Term Promissory Notes" shall mean, collectively, the separate
promissory notes, each dated on or about the date hereof, made by a Borrower in
favor of Agent for the benefit of Lenders in connection with the Term Loans made
pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof, as the same now exists, or may hereafter be
amended, modified, supplemented, extended, reviewed, restated or replaced; each
sometimes being referred to herein individually as a "Term Promissory Note".

          1.133 "Tranche B Loan" shall have the meaning assigned to the term
"Loan" as defined in the Tranche B Term Loan Agreement as in effect on the date
hereof.

          1.134 "Tranche B Term Loan Agent" shall mean Ableco Finance LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company, in its capacity as agent acting for and on
behalf of the Tranche B Term Loan Lenders pursuant to the Tranche B Term Loan
Agreement, and its successors and assigns (including any replacement or
successor agent or additional agent acting for and on behalf of the Tranche B
Term Loan Lenders).

          1.135 "Tranche B Term Loan Agreement" shall mean the Loan and Security
Agreement, dated of even date herewith, by and among Tranche B Term Loan Agent,
Tranche B Term Loan Lenders, Borrowers and Guarantors, as the same now exists or
may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or
replaced, including any agreements with respect to Refinancing Indebtedness.

          1.136 "Tranche B Term Loan Debt" shall mean all obligations,
liabilities and indebtedness of every kind, nature and description owing by any
Borrower or Guarantor to Tranche B Term Loan Agent or any Tranche B Term Loan
Lender, including principal, interest, charges, fees, premiums, indemnities,
costs and expenses, however evidenced, whether as principal, surety, endorser,
guarantor or otherwise, arising under the Tranche B Term Loan Lender Agreements.

          1.137 "Tranche B Term Loan Lender Agreements" shall mean,
collectively, the following (as the same now exist or may hereafter be amended,
modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced): (a) the
Tranche B Term Loan Agreement; and (b) all other agreements, documents and
instruments at any time executed and/or delivered by any Borrower or Guarantor
with, to or in favor of Tranche B Term Loan Agent or any Tranche B Term Loan
Lender in connection therewith or related thereto; sometimes being referred to
herein individually as a "Tranche B Term Loan Lender Agreement".

          1.138 "Tranche B Term Loan Lenders" shall mean, collectively, Ableco
Finance LLC in its individual capacity and the other lenders who are from time
to time parties to the Tranche B Term Loan Agreement as lenders, and their
respective successors and assigns; each sometimes being referred to herein

                                       32



individually as a "Tranche B Term Loan Lender ".

          1.139 "UCC" shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the
State of New York, and any successor statute, as in effect from time to time
(except that terms used herein which are defined in the Uniform Commercial Code
as in effect in the State of New York on the date hereof shall continue to have
the same meaning notwithstanding any replacement or amendment of such statute
except as Agent may otherwise determine).

          1.140 "UK Collection Account" shall mean the bank accounts of Olympic
maintained at BankBoston, bearing account numbers 1805761 and 1805770.

          1.141 US Dollar Equivalent" shall mean at any time (a) as to any
amount denominated in US Dollars, the amount thereof at such time, and (b) as to
any amount denominated in any other currency, the equivalent amount in US
Dollars calculated by Agent in good faith at such time using the Exchange Rate
in effect on the Business Day of determination.

          1.142 "US Dollars", "US$" and "$" shall each mean lawful currency of
the United States of America.

          1.143 "Value" shall mean, as determined by Agent in good faith, with
respect to Inventory, the lower of (a) cost computed on a first-in first-out
basis in accordance with GAAP or (b) market value, provided, that, for purposes
of the calculation of the Borrowing Base, (i) the Value of the Inventory shall
not include: (A) the portion of the value of Inventory equal to the profit
earned by any Affiliate on the sale thereof to any Borrower or (B) write-ups or
write-downs in value with respect to currency exchange rates and (ii)
notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the cost of the
Inventory shall be computed in the same manner and consistent with the most
recent appraisal of the Inventory received and accepted by Agent prior to the
date hereof, if any.

          1.144 "VAT" shall mean Value Added Tax imposed in Canada or any other
jurisdiction and any equivalent tax applicable in any jurisdiction (including
Goods and Services Tax, Harmonized Sales Tax and Quebec Sales Tax).

          1.145 "Voting Stock" shall mean with respect to any Person, (a) one
(1) or more classes of Capital Stock of such Person having general voting powers
to elect at least a majority of the board of directors, managers or trustees of
such Person, irrespective of whether at the time Capital Stock of any other
class or classes have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of
any contingency, and (b) any Capital Stock of such Person convertible or
exchangeable without restriction at the option of the holder thereof into
Capital Stock of such Person described in clause (a) of this definition.

          1.146 "Weighted Average Life to Maturity" shall mean when applied to
any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing (a) the
then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness into (b) the product
obtained by multiplying (i) the amount of each then outstanding installment,
sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including

                                       33



payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (ii) the number of years
(calculated to the nearest one twelfth) that will elapse between such date and
the making of such payment.

          1.147 "WHX" shall mean WHX Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

          1.148 "WHX Subordinated Note" shall mean the Subordinated Promissory
Note, dated on or about the date hereof, by Parent in favor of WHX, as the same
now exists or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended,
renewed, restated or replaced.

          1.149 "WHX Subordination Agreement" shall mean that certain
Subordination Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, between WHX and the Agent,
as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time.

SECTION  2. CREDIT FACILITIES

          2.1 LOANS.

            (a) Subject to and upon the terms and conditions contained herein,
each Lender severally (and not jointly) agrees to make its Pro Rata Share of
Revolving Loans to each Borrower from time to time in amounts requested by such
Borrower (or Administrative Borrower on behalf of such Borrower) up to the
amount outstanding at any time equal to the lesser of: (i) the Borrowing Base at
such time or (ii) the Revolving Loan Limit at such time.

            (b) Except in Agent's discretion, with the consent of all Lenders,
or as otherwise provided herein, (i) the aggregate amount of the Loans and the
Letter of Credit Accommodations outstanding at any time shall not exceed the
Maximum Credit, (ii) the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Loans and
Letter of Credit Accommodations outstanding at any time shall not exceed the
lesser of the Borrowing Base or the Revolving Loan Limit, (iii) the aggregate
principal amount of the Loans and Letter of Credit Accommodations outstanding at
any time to a Borrower shall not exceed the Loan Limit of such Borrower, (iv)
the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Loans and Letter of Credit
Accommodations outstanding at any time based on Eligible Inventory consisting of
Precious Metals Inventory and/or Eligible Consigned Precious Metals Inventory
shall not exceed $15,000,000, (v) the aggregate principal amount of the
Revolving Loans and Letter of Credit Accommodations outstanding at any time
based on Eligible Inventory and/or Eligible Consigned Precious Metals Inventory
shall not exceed $30,000,000 and (vi) the aggregate principal of the Revolving
Loans and Letter of Credit Accommodations outstanding at any time based on
Eligible Inventory included in the "Trap-Ease" product line shall not exceed
$600,000 until Agent shall have received evidence reasonably satisfactory to it
that the pending litigation by Phillips Screw Company against Olympic has been
dismissed with prejudice or otherwise resolved in a manner reasonably acceptable
to Agent.

            (c) In the event that the aggregate outstanding principal amount of
the Revolving Loans and Letter of Credit Accommodations exceeds the Borrowing

                                       34



Base or the Revolving Loan Limit, or the aggregate principal amount of Revolving
Loans and Letter of Credit Accommodations based on Eligible Inventory and/or
Eligible Consigned Precious Metals Inventory exceeds the sublimit set forth
above, or the aggregate amount of the outstanding Letter of Credit
Accommodations exceed the sublimit for Letter of Credit Accommodations set forth
in Section 2.2(e), or the aggregate amount of the Loans and Letter of Credit
Accommodations exceed the Maximum Credit, such event shall not limit, waive or
otherwise affect any rights of Agent or Lenders in such circumstances or on any
future occasions and Borrowers shall, upon demand by Agent, which may be made at
any time or from time to time, immediately repay to Agent the entire amount of
any such excess(es) for which payment is demanded.

            2.2 LETTER OF CREDIT ACCOMMODATIONS.

            (a) Subject to and upon the terms and conditions contained herein,
at the request of a Borrower (or Administrative Borrower on behalf of such
Borrower), Agent agrees, for the ratable risk of each Lender according to its
Pro Rata Share, to provide or arrange for Letter of Credit Accommodations for
the account of such Borrower containing terms and conditions acceptable to Agent
and the issuer thereof. Any payments made by or on behalf of Agent or any Lender
to any issuer thereof and/or related parties in connection with the Letter of
Credit Accommodations provided to or for the benefit of a Borrower shall
constitute additional Revolving Loans to such Borrower pursuant to this Section
2 (or Special Agent Advances as the case may be).

            (b) In addition to any charges, fees or expenses charged by any bank
or issuer in connection with the Letter of Credit Accommodations, Borrowers
shall pay to Agent, for the benefit of Lenders, a letter of credit fee at a per
annum rate equal to the Applicable Margin for Revolving Loans which are
Eurodollar Rate Loans, on the daily outstanding balance of the Letter of Credit
Accommodations for the immediately preceding month (or part thereof), payable in
arrears as of the first day of each succeeding month, except that Agent may, and
upon the written direction of Required Lenders shall, require Borrowers to pay
to Agent for the benefit of Lenders such letter of credit fee, at a per annum
rate equal to the rate set forth in this clause (b) above plus two (2%) percent
on such daily outstanding balance for: (i) the period from and after the date of
termination hereof until Agent and Lenders have received full and final payment
of all Obligations (notwithstanding entry of a judgment against any Borrower)
and (ii) the period from and after the date of the occurrence of an Event of
Default for so long as such Event of Default is continuing as determined by
Agent. Such letter of credit fee shall be calculated on the basis of a three
hundred sixty (360) day year and actual days elapsed and the obligation of
Borrowers to pay such fee shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

            (c) The Borrower requesting such Letter of Credit Accommodation (or
Administrative Borrower on behalf of such Borrower) shall give Agent two (2)
Business Days' prior written notice of such Borrower's request for the issuance
of a Letter of Credit Accommodation. Such notice shall be irrevocable and shall
specify the original face amount of the Letter of Credit Accommodation
requested, the effective date (which date shall be a Business Day and in no
event shall be a date less than ten (10) days prior to the end of the then
current term of this Agreement) of issuance of such requested Letter of Credit

                                       35



Accommodation, whether such Letter of Credit Accommodations may be drawn in a
single or in partial draws, the date on which such requested Letter of Credit
Accommodation is to expire (which date shall be a Business Day), the purpose for
which such Letter of Credit Accommodation is to be issued, and the beneficiary
of the requested Letter of Credit Accommodation. The Borrower requesting the
Letter of Credit Accommodation (or Administrative Borrower on behalf of such
Borrower) shall attach to such notice the proposed terms of the Letter of Credit
Accommodation.

            (d) In addition to being subject to the satisfaction of the
applicable conditions precedent contained in Section 4 hereof and the other
terms and conditions contained herein, no Letter of Credit Accommodations shall
be available unless each of the following conditions precedent have been
satisfied in a manner satisfactory to Agent: (i) the Borrower requesting such
Letter of Credit Accommodation (or Administrative Borrower on behalf of such
Borrower) shall have delivered to the proposed issuer of such Letter of Credit
Accommodation at such times and in such manner as such proposed issuer may
require, an application, in form and substance satisfactory to such proposed
issuer and Agent, for the issuance of the Letter of Credit Accommodation and
such other documents as may be required pursuant to the terms thereof, and the
form and terms of the proposed Letter of Credit Accommodation shall be
satisfactory to Agent and such proposed issuer, (ii) as of the date of issuance,
no order of any court, arbitrator or other Governmental Authority shall purport
by its terms to enjoin or restrain money center banks generally from issuing
letters of credit of the type and in the amount of the proposed Letter of Credit
Accommodation, and no law, rule or regulation applicable to money center banks
generally and no request or directive (whether or not having the force of law)
from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over money center banks
generally shall prohibit, or request that the proposed issuer of such Letter of
Credit Accommodation refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally
or the issuance of such Letters of Credit Accommodation; and (iii) the Excess
Availability, prior to giving effect to any Reserves with respect to such Letter
of Credit Accommodations, on the date of the proposed issuance of any Letter of
Credit Accommodations, shall be equal to or greater than: (A) if the proposed
Letter of Credit Accommodation (other than a Precious Metals Consignor Letter of
Credit Accommodation) is for the purpose of purchasing Eligible Inventory and
the documents of title with respect thereto are consigned to the issuer, the sum
of (1) the percentage equal to one hundred (100%) percent minus the then
applicable percentage with respect to Eligible Inventory or Eligible Consigned
Precious Metals Inventory set forth in the definition of the term Borrowing Base
multiplied by the Value of such Eligible Inventory or Eligible Consigned
Precious Metals Inventory, as the case may be, plus (2) freight, taxes, duty and
other amounts which Agent estimates must be paid in connection with such
Inventory upon arrival and for delivery to a Borrowing Base Party's location for
Eligible Inventory or Eligible Consigned Precious Metals Inventory within the
United States of America (in the case of a Borrower) or Canada (in the case of
H&H Canada) and (B) if the proposed Letter of Credit Accommodation is for any
other purpose or the documents of title are not consigned to the issuer in
connection with a Letter of Credit Accommodation for the purpose of purchasing
Inventory or if the proposed Letter of Credit Accommodation is a Precious Metals
Consignor Letter of Credit Accommodation, an amount equal to one hundred (100%)
percent of the face amount thereof and all other commitments and obligations

                                       36



made or incurred by Agent with respect thereto. Effective on the issuance of
each Letter of Credit Accommodation, a Reserve shall be established in the
applicable amount set forth in Section 2.2(d)(iii)(A) or Section 2.2(d)(iii)(B).

            (e) Except in Agent's discretion, with the consent of all Lenders,
the amount of all outstanding Letter of Credit Accommodations and all other
commitments and obligations made or incurred by Agent or any Lender in
connection therewith shall not at any time exceed $30,000,000.

            (f) Borrowers and Guarantors shall indemnify and hold Agent and
Lenders harmless from and against any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities, costs and expenses which Agent or any Lender may suffer or incur in
connection with any Letter of Credit Accommodations and any documents, drafts or
acceptances relating thereto, including any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities, costs and expenses due to any action taken by any issuer or
correspondent with respect to any Letter of Credit Accommodation, except for
such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs or expenses that are a direct
result of the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of Agent or any Lender as
determined pursuant to a final non-appealable order of a court of competent
jurisdiction. Each Borrower and Guarantor assumes all risks with respect to the
acts or omissions of the drawer under or beneficiary of any Letter of Credit
Accommodation and for such purposes the drawer or beneficiary shall be deemed
such Borrower's agent. Each Borrower and Guarantor assumes all risks for, and
agrees to pay, all foreign, Federal, State and local taxes, duties and levies
relating to any goods subject to any Letter of Credit Accommodations or any
documents, drafts or acceptances thereunder. Each Borrower and Guarantor hereby
releases and holds Agent and Lenders harmless from and against any acts,
waivers, errors, delays or omissions, whether caused by any Borrower, Guarantor,
by any issuer or correspondent or otherwise with respect to or relating to any
Letter of Credit Accommodation, except for the gross negligence or wilful
misconduct of Agent or any Lender as determined pursuant to a final,
non-appealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction. The provisions of
this Section 2.2(f) shall survive the payment of Obligations and the termination
of this Agreement.

            (g) In connection with Inventory purchased pursuant to Letter of
Credit Accommodations, Borrowers and Guarantors shall, at Agent's request,
instruct all suppliers, carriers, forwarders, customs brokers, warehouses or
others receiving or holding cash, checks, Inventory, documents or instruments in
which Agent holds a security interest to deliver them to Agent and/or subject to
Agent's order, and if they shall come into such Borrower's or Guarantor's
possession, to deliver them, upon Agent's request, to Agent in their original
form. Borrowers and Guarantors shall also, at Agent's request, designate Agent
as the consignee on all bills of lading and other negotiable and non-negotiable
documents.

            (h) Each Borrower and Guarantor hereby irrevocably authorizes and
directs any issuer of a Letter of Credit Accommodation to name such Borrower or
Guarantor as the account party therein and to deliver to Agent all instruments,
documents and other writings and property received by issuer pursuant to the
Letter of Credit Accommodations and to accept and rely upon Agent's instructions
and agreements with respect to all matters arising in connection with the Letter

                                       37



of Credit Accommodations or the applications therefor. Nothing contained herein
shall be deemed or construed to grant any Borrower or Guarantor any right or
authority to pledge the credit of Agent or any Lender in any manner. Agent and
Lenders shall have no liability of any kind with respect to any Letter of Credit
Accommodation provided by an issuer other than Agent or any Lender unless Agent
has duly executed and delivered to such issuer the application or a guarantee or
indemnification in writing with respect to such Letter of Credit Accommodation.
Borrowers and Guarantors shall be bound by any reasonable interpretation made in
good faith by Agent, or any other issuer or correspondent under or in connection
with any Letter of Credit Accommodation or any documents, drafts or acceptances
thereunder, notwithstanding that such interpretation may be inconsistent with
any instructions of any Borrower or Guarantor.

            (i) So long as no Event of Default exists or has occurred and is
continuing, a Borrower may (i) approve or resolve any questions of
non-compliance of documents, (ii) give any instructions as to acceptance or
rejection of any documents or goods, (iii) execute any and all applications for
steamship or airway guaranties, indemnities or delivery orders, and (iv) with
Agent's consent, grant any extensions of the maturity of, time of payment for,
or time of presentation of, any drafts, acceptances, or documents, and agree to
any amendments, renewals, extensions, modifications, changes or cancellations of
any of the terms or conditions of any of the applications, Letter of Credit
Accommodations, or documents, drafts or acceptances thereunder or any letters of
credit included in the Collateral.

            (j) At any time an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is
continuing, Agent shall have the right and authority to, and Borrowers shall
not, without the prior written consent of Agent, (i) approve or resolve any
questions of non-compliance of documents, (ii) give any instructions as to
acceptance or rejection of any documents or goods, (iii) execute any and all
applications for steamship or airway guaranties, indemnities or delivery orders,
(iv) grant any extensions of the maturity of, time of payments for, or time of
presentation of, any drafts, acceptances, or documents, and (v) agree to any
amendments, renewals, extensions, modifications, changes or cancellations of any
of the terms or conditions of any of the applications, Letter of Credit
Accommodations, or documents, drafts or acceptances thereunder or any letters of
credit included in the Collateral. Agent may take such actions either in its own
name or in any Borrower's name.

            (k) Any rights, remedies, duties or obligations granted or
undertaken by any Borrower or Guarantor to any issuer or correspondent in any
application for any Letter of Credit Accommodation, or any other agreement in
favor of any issuer or correspondent relating to any Letter of Credit
Accommodation, shall be deemed to have been granted or undertaken by such
Borrower or Guarantor to Agent for the ratable benefit of Lenders. Any duties or
obligations undertaken by Agent to any issuer or correspondent in any
application for any Letter of Credit Accommodation, or any other agreement by
Agent in favor of any issuer or correspondent to the extent relating to any
Letter of Credit Accommodation, shall be deemed to have been undertaken by
Borrowers and Guarantors to Agent for the ratable benefit of Lenders and to
apply in all respects to Borrowers and Guarantors.

                                       38



            (l) Immediately upon the issuance or amendment of any Letter of
Credit Accommodation, each Lender shall be deemed to have irrevocably and
unconditionally purchased and received, without recourse or warranty, an
undivided interest and participation to the extent of such Lender's Pro Rata
Share of the liability with respect to such Letter of Credit Accommodation
(including, without limitation, all Obligations with respect thereto).

            (m) Each Borrower is irrevocably and unconditionally obligated,
without presentment, demand or protest, to pay to Agent any amounts paid by an
issuer of a Letter of Credit Accommodation with respect to such Letter of Credit
Accommodation (whether through the borrowing of Loans in accordance with Section
2.2(a) or otherwise). In the event that any Borrower fails to pay Agent on the
date of any payment under a Letter of Credit Accommodation in an amount equal to
the amount of such payment, Agent (to the extent it has actual notice thereof)
shall promptly notify each Lender of the unreimbursed amount of such payment and
each Lender agrees, upon one (1) Business Day's notice, to fund to Agent the
purchase of its participation in such Letter of Credit Accommodation in an
amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the unpaid amount. The obligation of each
Lender to deliver to Agent an amount equal to its respective participation
pursuant to the foregoing sentence is absolute and unconditional and such
remittance shall be made notwithstanding the occurrence or continuance of any
Event of Default, the failure to satisfy any other condition set forth in
Section 4 or any other event or circumstance. If such amount is not made
available by a Lender when due, Agent shall be entitled to recover such amount
on demand from such Lender with interest thereon, for each day from the date
such amount was due until the date such amount is paid to Agent at the interest
rate then payable by any Borrower in respect of Loans that are Prime Rate Loans
as set forth in Section 3.1(a) hereof.

            2.3 TERM LOAN.

            (a) Subject to and upon the terms and conditions contained herein,
each Lender severally (and not jointly) agrees to fund its Pro Rata Share of the
Term Loans to (i) Olympic in the original principal amount of $5,073,365, (ii)
Continental in the original principal amount of $1,707,688, (iii) Maryland Wire
in the original principal amount of $4,170,038, (iv) H&H Tube in the original
principal amount of $542,487, (v) Camdel in the original principal amount of
$1,641,676, (vi) Canfield in the original principal amount of $993,037, (vii)
Indiana Tube in the original principal amount of $2,156,190, (viii) Lucas in the
original principal amount of $1,441,017, (ix) H&H Electronic in the original
principal amount of $2,250,951 and (x) Sumco in the original principal amount of
$2,173,551.

            (b) Each of the Term Loans is (i) evidenced by a Term Promissory
Note in such original principal amount duly executed and delivered by the
applicable Borrower to Agent concurrently herewith; (ii) to be repaid, together
with interest and other amounts, in accordance with this Agreement, such Term
Promissory Note and the other Financing Agreements and (iii) secured by all of
the Collateral. The principal amount of each of the Term Loans shall be repaid
in seventy four (74) consecutive monthly installments (or earlier as provided
herein) payable on the first day of each month commencing May 1, 2004, which
installments shall each be (a) in the amount of $68,559 (in the case of Term

                                       39



Loan to Olympic), (b) in the amount of $23,077 (in the case of Term Loan to
Continental), (c) in the amount of $56,352 (in the case of the Term Loan to
Maryland Wire), (d) in the amount of $7,331 (in the case of the Term Loan to H&H
Tube), (e) in the amount of $13,419 (in the case of the Term Loan to Canfield),
(f) in the amount of $22,185 (in the case of Camdel), (g) in the amount of
$29,138 (in the case of the Term Loan to Indiana Tube), (h) in the amount of
$19,473 (in the case of the Term Loan to Lucas), (i) in the amount of $30,418
(in the case of the Term Loan to H&H Electronic) and (j) in the amount of
$29,372 (in the case of the Term Loan to Sumco); PROVIDED, THAT, the entire
unpaid principal amount of each Term Loan and all accrued and unpaid interest
thereon shall be due and payable on the effective date of termination or
non-renewal of the Financing Agreements.

            2.4 MANDATORY PREPAYMENTS. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section
6.4 hereof, so long as no Event of Default exists or has occurred and is
continuing:

            (a) Upon the receipt by any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of
any Extraordinary Receipts, Borrowers shall immediately prepay the Tranche B
Term Loan Debt and the Obligations as set forth below, in an amount equal to
100% of such Extraordinary Receipts, net of any reasonable expenses incurred in
collecting such Extraordinary Receipts;

              (i) if such Extraordinary Receipts are the proceeds of Inventory
or Accounts, then such proceeds shall be applied, first, to the outstanding
principal amount of the Revolving Loans, second, to the outstanding principal
amount of the Term Loans, and third, to the outstanding principal amount of the
Tranche B Loan; and

              (ii) if such Extraordinary Receipts are the proceeds of any
Collateral (other than Inventory or Accounts), then such proceeds shall be
applied, FIRST, to the outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans, and
SECOND, at Borrowers' option to either (A) the outstanding principal amount of
the Tranche B Loan or (B) the outstanding principal amount of the Revolving
Loans so long as (in the case of this clause (B) only) Agent establishes and
maintains a permanent Reserve in an amount equal to the amount of such Net
Proceeds that are so applied by the prepayment of the Revolving Loans;

PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT (A) so long as no Default or an Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing, on the date such Person receives Extraordinary
Receipts consisting of insurance proceeds from one or more policies covering, or
proceeds from any judgment, settlement, condemnation or other cause of action in
respect of, the loss, damage, taking or theft of any property or assets, such
Extraordinary Receipts received by the Borrowers may, at the option of the
Borrowers, be applied to repair, refurbish or replace such property or assets or
acquire replacement property or assets for the property or assets so lost,
damaged or stolen or other property or assets used or useful in the business of
any Borrower for the property or assets so disposed, provided, that (x) the
Agent for the benefit of the Lenders has a first-priority Lien on such
replacement (or repaired or restored) property or assets, (y) the Borrowers
deliver a certificate to the Agent within 10 days after the date of receipt of
such Extraordinary Receipts stating that such Extraordinary Receipts shall be
used to repair or refurbish such property or assets or to acquire such
replacement property or assets for the property or assets so lost, damaged or

                                       40



stolen or such other property or assets used or useful in the business of any
Borrower within 120 days after the date of receipt of such Extraordinary
Receipts (which certificate shall set forth an estimate of the Extraordinary
Receipts to be so expended), and (z) if such Extraordinary Receipts are the
proceeds of Real Property and aggregate $1,000,000 or more, the Borrowers shall
obtain the prior written consent of the Agent and (B) if all or any portion of
such Extraordinary Receipts are not so used within the 120-day period, such
unused Extraordinary Receipts shall be applied to prepay the Tranche B Term Loan
Debt and the Obligations in accordance with this Section 2.4(a). Pending such
reinvestment, the Extraordinary Receipts shall be applied as a prepayment of
Revolving Loans. Any Extraordinary Receipts applied to repair, refurbish or
replace Collateral pursuant to and in accordance with this Section 2.4(a) shall
not be deemed Capital Expenditures for purposes of this Agreement.

            (b) Upon the issuance or sale by any Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries of Capital Stock of such Borrower or Subsidiary as permitted in
Sections 9.7(b)(iii) and (iv) hereof, or the issuance or incurrence by any
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of any Indebtedness of the type described in
Section 9.9(e), Borrowers shall immediately prepay the Tranche B Term Loan Debt
and the Obligations, in an amount equal to 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds
received by such Person in connection therewith as follows: FIRST, to the
outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans, and SECOND, at Borrowers' option
to either (A) the outstanding principal amount of the Tranche B Loan or (B) the
outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Loans so long as (in the case of
this clause (B) only) Agent establishes and maintains a permanent Reserve in an
amount equal to the amount of such Net Cash Proceeds that are so applied by the
prepayment of the Revolving Loans. The provisions of this subsection (b) shall
not be deemed to be implied consent to any such issuance, incurrence or sale
otherwise prohibited by the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

            (c) Upon the sale or disposition of any Collateral by any Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries as permitted in Section 9.7(b)(ii) or (vi) or upon
the sale or disposition of any Collateral of any Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries not otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement but
consented to by the Required Lenders, Borrowers shall immediately prepay the
Tranche B Term Loan Debt and the Obligations as set forth below, in an amount
equal to 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds received by such Person in connection
with such sale or disposition:

              (i) if such sale or disposition is of Inventory or Accounts, then
such Net Cash Proceeds shall be applied, first, to the outstanding principal
amount of the Revolving Loans, second, to the outstanding principal amount of
the Term Loans, and third, to the outstanding principal amount of the Tranche B
Loan;

              (ii) if such sale or disposition is of any Collateral (other than
Inventory or Accounts or Specified Properties), then such Net Cash Proceeds
shall be applied, FIRST, to the outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans,
and SECOND, at Borrower's option to either (A) the outstanding principal amount
of the Tranche B Loan or (B) outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Loans
so long as (in the case of this clause (B) only) Agent establishes and maintains

                                       41



a permanent Reserve in an amount equal to the amount of such Net Cash Proceeds
that are so applied by the prepayment of the Revolving Loans.

              (iii) if such sale or disposition is of any Specified Properties,
then fifty (50%) percent of such Net Cash Proceeds shall be applied to the
outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans and fifty (50%) percent of such
Net Cash Proceeds shall be applied to the outstanding principal amount of the
Tranche B Term Loan until the aggregate amount of such Net Cash Proceeds so
applied equals $2,000,000, and thereafter any such additional Net Cash Proceeds
shall be applied, FIRST, to the outstanding principal amount of the Tranche B
Loan, SECOND, to the outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans and third,
to the outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Loans.

            (d) All prepayments of the Term Loans and the Tranche B Loan under
this Section 2.4 shall be applied against the remaining installments (if any) of
principal due on the Term Loans or the Tranche B Loan, as applicable, in the
inverse order of maturity. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Section 2.4, all prepayments of principal under this Section 2.4 shall be made
together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of such
prepayment.

            2.5 COMMITMENTS. The aggregate amount of each Lender's Pro Rata Share
of the Loans and Letter of Credit Accommodations shall not exceed the amount of
such Lender's Commitment, as the same may from time to time be amended in
accordance with the provisions hereof.

            2.6 JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITY. Each Borrower shall be jointly and
severally liable for all amounts due to Agent and Lenders under this Agreement
and the other Financing Agreements, regardless of which Borrower actually
receives the Loans or Letter of Credit Accommodations hereunder or the amount of
such Loans received or the manner in which Agent or any Lender accounts for such
Loans, Letter of Credit Accommodations or other extensions of credit on its
books and records. All references herein or in any of the other Financing
Agreements to any of the obligations of Borrowers to make any payment hereunder
or thereunder shall constitute joint and several obligations of Borrowers. The
Obligations with respect to Loans made to a Borrower, and the Obligations
arising as a result of the joint and several liability of a Borrower hereunder,
with respect to Loans made to the other Borrower, shall be separate and distinct
obligations, but all such other Obligations shall be primary obligations of all
Borrowers. The Obligations arising as a result of the joint and several
liability of a Borrower hereunder with respect to Loans, Letter of Credit
Accommodations or other extensions of credit made to the other Borrower shall,
to the fullest extent permitted by law, be unconditional irrespective of (a) the
validity or enforceability, avoidance or subordination of the Obligations of the
other Borrower or of any promissory note or other document evidencing all or any
part of the Obligations of the other Borrower, (b) the absence of any attempt to
collect the Obligations from the other Borrower, any Obligor or any other
security therefor, or the absence of any other action to enforce the same, (c)
the waiver, consent, extension, forbearance or granting of any indulgence by
Agent or any Lender with respect to any provisions of any instrument evidencing
the Obligations of the other Borrower, or any part thereof, or any other

                                       42



agreement now or hereafter executed by the other Borrower and delivered to Agent
or any Lender, (d) the failure by Agent or any Lender to take any steps to
perfect and maintain its security interest in, or to preserve its rights and
maintain its security or collateral for the Obligations of the other Borrower,
(e) the election of Agent and Lenders in any proceeding instituted under the
Bankruptcy Code, of the application of Section 1111(b)(2) of the Bankruptcy
Code, (f) the disallowance of all or any portion of the claim(s) of Agent or any
Lender for the repayment of the Obligations of the other Borrower under Section
502 of the Bankruptcy Code, or (g) any other circumstances which might
constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of an Obligor or of the
other Borrower. With respect to the Obligations arising as a result of the joint
and several liability of a Borrower hereunder with respect to Loans, Letter of
Credit Accommodations or other extensions of credit made to the other Borrower
hereunder, each Borrower waives, until the Obligations shall have been paid in
full and this Agreement shall have been terminated, any right to enforce any
right of subrogation or any remedy which Agent or any Lender now has or may
hereafter have against any Borrower or Obligor and any benefit of, and any right
to participate in, any security or collateral given to Agent or any Lender. At
any time an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing, Agent may
proceed directly and at once, without notice, against any Borrower to collect
and recover the full amount, or any portion of the Obligations, without first
proceeding against the other Borrower or any other Person, or against any
security or collateral for the Obligations. Each Borrower consents and agrees
that Agent and Lenders shall be under no obligation to marshall any assets in
favor of any Borrower or against or in payment of any or all of the Obligations.

SECTION  3. INTEREST AND FEES

            3.1 INTEREST.

            (a) Borrowers shall pay to Agent, for the benefit of Lenders,
interest on the outstanding principal amount of the Loans at the Interest Rate.
All interest accruing hereunder on and after the date of any Event of Default or
termination hereof shall be payable on demand.

            (b) Each Borrower (or Administrative Borrower on behalf of such
Borrower) may from time to time request Eurodollar Rate Loans or may request
that Prime Rate Loans be converted to Eurodollar Rate Loans or that any existing
Eurodollar Rate Loans continue for an additional Interest Period. Such request
from a Borrower (or Administrative Borrower on behalf of such Borrower) shall
specify the amount of the Eurodollar Rate Loans or the amount of the Prime Rate
Loans to be converted to Eurodollar Rate Loans or the amount of the Eurodollar
Rate Loans to be continued (subject to the limits set forth below) and the
Interest Period to be applicable to such Eurodollar Rate Loans. Subject to the
terms and conditions contained herein, three (3) Business Days after receipt by
Agent of such a request from a Borrower (or Administrative Borrower on behalf of
such Borrower), such Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made or Prime Rate Loans
shall be converted to Eurodollar Rate Loans or such Eurodollar Rate Loans shall
continue, as the case may be, provided, that, (i) no Default or Event of Default
shall exist or have occurred and be continuing, (ii) no party hereto shall have
sent any notice of termination of this Agreement, such Borrower (or
Administrative Borrower on behalf of such Borrower) shall have complied with

                                       43



such customary procedures as are established by Agent and specified by Agent to
Administrative Borrower from time to time for requests by Borrowers for
Eurodollar Rate Loans, (iii) no more than four (4) Interest Periods may be in
effect at any one time, (iv) the aggregate amount of the Eurodollar Rate Loans
must be in an amount not less than $5,000,000 or an integral multiple of
$1,000,000 in excess thereof, (v) the maximum amount of the Eurodollar Rate
Loans in the aggregate at any time requested by Borrowers shall not exceed the
amount equal to (A) eighty (80%) percent of the lowest aggregate principal
amount of the Term Loans which it is anticipated will be outstanding as of the
last day of the applicable Interest Period plus (B) eighty (80%) percent of the
lowest principal amount of the Revolving Loans which it is anticipated will be
outstanding during the applicable Interest Period, in each case as determined by
Agent in good faith (but with no obligation of Agent or Lenders to make such
Loans), and (vi) Agent and each Lender shall have determined that the Interest
Period or Adjusted Eurodollar Rate is available to Agent and such Lender and can
be readily determined as of the date of the request for such Eurodollar Rate
Loan by such Borrower. Any request by or on behalf of a Borrower for Eurodollar
Rate Loans or to convert Prime Rate Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans or to
continue any existing Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be irrevocable.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Agent and Lenders
shall not be required to purchase United States Dollar deposits in the London
interbank market or other applicable Eurodollar Rate market to fund any
Eurodollar Rate Loans, but the provisions hereof shall be deemed to apply as if
Agent and Lenders had purchased such deposits to fund the Eurodollar Rate Loans.

            (c) Any Eurodollar Rate Loans shall automatically convert to Prime
Rate Loans upon the last day of the applicable Interest Period, unless Agent has
received and approved a request to continue such Eurodollar Rate Loan at least
three (3) Business Days prior to such last day in accordance with the terms
hereof. Any Eurodollar Rate Loans shall, at Agent's option, upon notice by Agent
to Administrative Borrower, be subsequently converted to Prime Rate Loans in the
event that this Agreement shall terminate or not be renewed. Borrowers shall pay
to Agent, for the benefit of Lenders, upon demand by Agent (or Agent may, at its
option, charge any loan account of any Borrower) any amounts required to
compensate any Lender or Participant for any loss (including loss of anticipated
profits), cost or expense incurred by such person, as a result of the conversion
of Eurodollar Rate Loans to Prime Rate Loans pursuant to any of the foregoing.

            (d) Interest shall be payable by Borrowers to Agent, for the account
of Lenders, monthly in arrears not later than the first day of each calendar
month and shall be calculated on the basis of a three hundred sixty (360) day
year and actual days elapsed. The interest rate on non-contingent Obligations
(other than Eurodollar Rate Loans) shall increase or decrease by an amount equal
to each increase or decrease in the Prime Rate effective on the first day of the
month after any change in such Prime Rate is announced based on the Prime Rate
in effect on the last day of the month in which any such change occurs. In no
event shall charges constituting interest payable by Borrowers to Agent and
Lenders exceed the maximum amount or the rate permitted under any applicable law
or regulation, and if any such part or provision of this Agreement is in
contravention of any such law or regulation, such part or provision shall be
deemed amended to conform thereto.

                                       44



            (e) For purposes of disclosure under the Interest Act (Canada),
where interest is calculated pursuant thereto at a rate based upon a year of
360, 365 or 366 days, as the case may be (the "First Rate"), the rate or
percentage of interest on a yearly basis is equivalent to such First Rate
multiplied by the actual number of days in the year divided by 360, 365 or 366,
as the case may be.


            (f) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 3 or any other
provision of this Agreement in no event shall the aggregate "interest" (as that
term is defined in Section 347 of the Criminal Code (Canada)) with respect to
any Loans by or on behalf of any Lender result in the receipt by such Lender of
interest with respect of the Obligations at a "criminal rate" (as such term is
construed under the Criminal Code (Canada)). The effective annual rate of
interest for such purpose shall be determined in accordance with generally
accepted actuarial practices and principles over the term of the applicable Loan
by or on behalf of any Lender, and in the event of a dispute, a certificate of a
Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries appointed by Agent will be
conclusive for the purposes of such determination.

            (g) A certificate of an authorized signing officer of Agent as to
each rate of interest payable hereunder from time to time absent manifest error
shall be conclusive evidence of such rate.

            (h) For greater certainty, unless otherwise specified in this
Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements, as applicable, whenever any
amount is payable under this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements
by Borrowers as interest or as a fee which requires the calculation of an amount
using a percentage per annum, each party to this Agreement acknowledges and
agrees that such amount shall be calculated as of the date payment is due
without application of the "deemed reinvestment principle" or the "effective
yield method." As an example, when interest is calculated and payable monthly
the rate of interest payable per month is one twelfth (1/12) of the stated rate
of interest per annum.

            3.2 FEES.

            (a) Borrowers shall pay to Agent, for the account of Lenders,
monthly an unused line fee at a rate equal to three-eighths of one (.375%)
percent per annum calculated upon the amount by which the Revolving Loan Limit
exceeds the average daily principal balance of the outstanding Revolving Loans
and Letter of Credit Accommodations during the immediately preceding month (or
part thereof) while this Agreement is in effect and for so long thereafter as
any of the Obligations are outstanding, which fee shall be payable on the first
day of each month in arrears.

            (b) Borrowers agree to pay to Agent the other fees and amounts set
forth in the Fee Letter in the amounts and at the times specified therein.


                                       45


            3.3 CHANGES IN LAWS AND INCREASED COSTS OF LOANS.

            (a) If after the date hereof, either (i) any change in, or in the
interpretation of, any law or regulation is introduced, including, without
limitation, with respect to reserve requirements, applicable to Lender or any
banking or financial institution from whom any Lender borrows funds or obtains
credit (a "Funding Bank"), or (ii) a Funding Bank or any Lender complies with
any future guideline or request from any central bank or other Governmental
Authority or (iii) a Funding Bank or any Lender determines that the adoption of
any applicable law, rule or regulation regarding capital adequacy, or any change
therein, or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any
Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the
interpretation or administration thereof has or would have the effect described
below, or a Funding Bank or any Lender complies with any request or directive
regarding capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) of any such
authority, central bank or comparable agency, and in the case of any event set
forth in this clause (iii), such adoption, change or compliance has or would
have the direct or indirect effect of reducing the rate of return on any
Lender's capital as a consequence of its obligations hereunder to a level below
that which Lender could have achieved but for such adoption, change or
compliance (taking into consideration the Funding Bank's or Lender's policies
with respect to capital adequacy) by an amount deemed by such Lender to be
material, and the result of any of the foregoing events described in clauses
(i), (ii) or (iii) is or results in an increase in the cost to any Lender of
funding or maintaining the Loans, the Letter of Credit Accommodations or its
Commitment, then Borrowers and Guarantors shall from time to time upon demand by
Agent pay to Agent additional amounts sufficient to indemnify Lenders against
such increased cost on an after-tax basis (after taking into account applicable
deductions and credits in respect of the amount indemnified). A certificate as
to the amount of such increased cost shall be submitted to Administrative
Borrower by Agent and shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

            (b) If prior to the first day of any Interest Period, (i) Agent
shall have determined in good faith (which determination shall be conclusive and
binding upon Borrowers and Guarantors) that, by reason of circumstances
affecting the relevant market, adequate and reasonable means do not exist for
ascertaining the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period, (ii) Agent has
received notice from the Required Lenders that the Eurodollar Rate determined or
to be determined for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect
the cost to Lenders of making or maintaining Eurodollar Rate Loans during such
Interest Period, or (iii) Dollar deposits in the principal amounts of the
Eurodollar Rate Loans to which such Interest Period is to be applicable are not
generally available in the London interbank market, Agent shall give telecopy or
telephonic notice thereof to Administrative Borrower as soon as practicable
thereafter, and will also give prompt written notice to Administrative Borrower
when such conditions no longer exist. If such notice is given (A) any Eurodollar
Rate Loans requested to be made on the first day of such Interest Period shall
be made as Prime Rate Loans, (B) any Loans that were to have been converted on
the first day of such Interest Period to or continued as Eurodollar Rate Loans
shall be converted to or continued as Prime Rate Loans and (C) each outstanding
Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be converted, on the last day of the then-current
Interest Period thereof, to Prime Rate Loans. Until such notice has been
withdrawn by Agent, no further Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made or continued
as such, nor shall any Borrower (or Administrative Borrower on behalf of any

                                       46



Borrower) have the right to convert Prime Rate Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans.

            (c) Notwithstanding any other provision herein, if the adoption of
or any change in any law, treaty, rule or regulation or final, non-appealable
determination of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority or in
the interpretation or application thereof occurring after the date hereof shall
make it unlawful for Agent or any Lender to make or maintain Eurodollar Rate
Loans as contemplated by this Agreement, (i) Agent or such Lender shall promptly
give written notice of such circumstances to Administrative Borrower (which
notice shall be withdrawn whenever such circumstances no longer exist), (ii) the
commitment of such Lender hereunder to make Eurodollar Rate Loans, continue
Eurodollar Rate Loans as such and convert Prime Rate Loans to Eurodollar Rate
Loans shall forthwith be canceled and, until such time as it shall no longer be
unlawful for such Lender to make or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans, such Lender
shall then have a commitment only to make a Prime Rate Loan when a Eurodollar
Rate Loan is requested and (iii) such Lender's Loans then outstanding as
Eurodollar Rate Loans, if any, shall be converted automatically to Prime Rate
Loans on the respective last days of the then current Interest Periods with
respect to such Loans or within such earlier period as required by law. If any
such conversion of a Eurodollar Rate Loan occurs on a day which is not the last
day of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto, Borrowers and
Guarantors shall pay to such Lender such amounts, if any, as may be required
pursuant to Section 3.3(d) below.

            (d) Borrowers and Guarantors shall indemnify Agent and each Lender
and to hold Agent and each Lender harmless from any loss or expense which Agent
or such Lender may sustain or incur as a consequence of (i) default by Borrower
in making a borrowing of, conversion into or extension of Eurodollar Rate Loans
after such Borrower (or Administrative Borrower on behalf of such Borrower) has
given a notice requesting the same in accordance with the provisions of this
Loan Agreement, (ii) default by any Borrower in making any prepayment of a
Eurodollar Rate Loan after such Borrower has given a notice thereof in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, and (iii) the making of a
prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans on a day which is not the last day of an
Interest Period with respect thereto. With respect to Eurodollar Rate Loans,
such indemnification may include an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (A)
the amount of interest which would have accrued on the amount so prepaid, or not
so borrowed, converted or extended, for the period from the date of such
prepayment or of such failure to borrow, convert or extend to the last day of
the applicable Interest Period (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert
or extend, the Interest Period that would have commenced on the date of such
failure) in each case at the applicable rate of interest for such Eurodollar
Rate Loans provided for herein over (B) the amount of interest (as determined by
such Agent or such Lender) which would have accrued to Agent or such Lender on
such amount by placing such amount on deposit for a comparable period with
leading banks in the interbank Eurodollar market. This covenant shall survive
the termination or non-renewal of this Loan Agreement and the payment of the
Obligations.

                                       47




SECTION  4. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

          4.1 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO INITIAL LOANS AND LETTER OF CREDIT
ACCOMMODATIONS. Each of the following is a condition precedent to Agent and
Lenders making the initial Loans and providing the initial Letter of Credit
Accommodations hereunder:

            (a) Agent shall have received, in form and substance satisfactory to
Agent, (i) all releases, terminations and such other documents as Agent may
request to evidence and effectuate the termination by the Existing Lenders of
their respective financing arrangements with Borrowers and Guarantors, the
termination by Fleet Precious Metals Inc. of its precious metals consignment
arrangements with Borrowers and Guarantors and the termination and release by it
or them, as the case may be, of any interest in and to any assets and properties
of each Borrower and Guarantor, duly authorized, executed and delivered by it or
each of them, including, but not limited to, (A) UCC termination statements for
all UCC financing statements previously filed by it or any of them or their
predecessors, as secured party and any Borrower or Guarantor, as debtor; (B)
PPSA terminations or discharges for all PPSA financing statements previously
filed by it or any of them or their predecessors as secured party and any
Borrower or Guarantor, as debtor; and (C) satisfactions and discharges of any
mortgages, deeds of trust or deeds to secure debt by any Borrower or Guarantor
in favor of it or any of them, in form acceptable for recording with the
appropriate Governmental Authority , and (ii) evidence that one or more of the
Borrowers has acquired good and marketable title to the precious metals included
in the collateral reports previously delivered to Agent, free and clear of all
liens and encumbrances (except those in favor of Agent).;

            (b) all requisite corporate action and proceedings in connection
with this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements shall be satisfactory in
form and substance to Agent, and Agent shall have received all information and
copies of all documents, including records of requisite corporate action and
proceedings which Agent may have requested in connection therewith, such
documents where requested by Agent or its counsel to be certified by appropriate
corporate officers or Governmental Authority (and including a copy of the
certificate of incorporation of each Borrower and Guarantor certified by the
Secretary of State (or equivalent Governmental Authority) which shall set forth
the same complete corporate name of such Borrower or Guarantor as is set forth
herein and such document as shall set forth the organizational identification
number of each Borrower or Guarantor, if one is issued in its jurisdiction of
incorporation);

            (c) no material adverse change shall have occurred in the assets,
business or financial condition (financial or otherwise) of Borrowers since the
date of Agent's latest field examination (not including for this purpose the
field review referred to in clause (d) below) and no change or event shall have
occurred which would impair the ability of any Borrower or Obligor to perform
its obligations hereunder or under any of the other Financing Agreements to
which it is a party or of Agent or any Lender to enforce the Obligations or
realize upon the Collateral;

            (d) Agent shall have completed a field review of the Records and
such other information with respect to the Collateral as Agent may require to
determine the amount of Loans available to Borrowers (including, without
limitation, current perpetual inventory records and/or roll-forwards of Accounts

                                       48



and Inventory through the date of closing and test counts of the Inventory in a
manner satisfactory to Agent, together with such supporting documentation as may
be necessary or appropriate, and other documents and information that will
enable Agent to accurately identify and verify the Collateral), the results of
which in each case shall be satisfactory to Agent, not more than three (3)
Business Days prior to the date hereof;

            (e) Agent shall have received, in form and substance satisfactory to
Agent, all consents, waivers, acknowledgments and other agreements from third
persons which Agent may deem necessary or desirable in order to permit, protect
and perfect its security interests in and liens upon the Collateral or to
effectuate the provisions or purposes of this Agreement and the other Financing
Agreements, including, without limitation, Collateral Access Agreements;

            (f) the Excess Availability as determined by Agent, as of the date
hereof, shall be not less than $5,000,000 after giving effect to the initial
Loans made or to be made and Letter of Credit Accommodations issued or to be
issued in connection with the initial transactions hereunder;

            (g) Agent shall have received, in form and substance satisfactory to
Agent, Deposit Account Control Agreements by and among Agent, each Borrower and
Guarantor, as the case may be and each bank where such Borrower (or Guarantor)
has a deposit account, in each case, duly authorized, executed and delivered by
such bank and Borrower or Guarantor, as the case may be (or Agent shall be the
bank's customer with respect to such deposit account as Agent may specify);

            (h) Agent shall have received (i) the Intercreditor Agreement, in
form and substance satisfactory to Agent, duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the parties thereto, and (ii) the WHX Subordination Agreement, in
form and substance satisfactory to Agent, duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the parties thereto;

            (i) Agent shall have received evidence, in form and substance
satisfactory to Agent, that Agent has a valid perfected first priority security
interest in all of the Collateral, subject (as to priority) to the liens
expressly permitted under Section 9.8(b) through (g) hereof;

            (j) Agent shall have received and reviewed lien and judgment search
results for the jurisdiction of organization of each Borrower and Guarantor, the
jurisdiction of the chief executive office of each Borrower and Guarantor and
all jurisdictions in which assets of Borrowers and Guarantors are located, which
search results shall be in form and substance satisfactory to Agent;

            (k) Agent shall have received environmental audits of the Real
Property to be subject to the Mortgages conducted by an independent
environmental engineering firm acceptable to Agent, and in form, scope and
methodology satisfactory to Agent, confirming that (i) each Borrower and
Guarantor is in compliance with all material applicable Environmental Laws and
(ii) the absence of any material potential or actual liabilities of Borrowers or
Guarantors with respect to remediation of such Real Property and the absence of

                                       49



any material environmental problems;

            (l) Agent shall have received, in form and substance satisfactory to
Agent, a valid and effective title insurance policy issued by a company and
agent acceptable to Agent: (i) insuring the priority, amount and sufficiency of
the Mortgages, (ii) insuring against matters that would be disclosed by surveys
and (iii) containing any legally available endorsements, assurances or
affirmative coverage requested by Agent for protection of its interests;

            (m) Agent shall have received, in form and substance satisfactory to
Agent, a certificate, dated of even date herewith, of the chief financial
officer of Parent, stating that immediately after giving effect to the
transactions contemplated to occur under this Agreement and the Tranche B Term
Loan Agreement on the date hereof, each Borrower and H&H Canada (on a
stand-alone basis) is Solvent;

            (n) Agent shall have received evidence, in form and substance
satisfactory to Agent, that Borrowers shall have used approximately $71,000,000
of the proceeds from the loans made by Tranche B Term Loan Lenders pursuant to
the Tranche B Term Loan Agreement to pay an equal amount of the obligations of
Borrowers under the Existing Lenders' financing arrangements with Borrowers;

            (o) Agent shall have received (i) true, correct and complete copies
of the Tranche B Term Loan Lender Agreements as duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the parties thereto, which shall each be on terms and conditions
acceptable to Agent and (ii) evidence that the transactions contemplated under
the Tranche B Term Loan Agreement have been consummated prior to or
contemporaneously with the execution of this Agreement;

            (p) Agent shall have received the WHX Subordinated Note and all
other agreements, instruments and documents related thereto, which shall be in
form and substance satisfactory to Agent, duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the parties thereto;

            (q) Agent shall have received evidence satisfactory to it that
Parent shall have received, in immediately available funds $43,449,000 from WHX,
representing the proceeds of the Indebtedness evidenced by the WHX Subordinated
Note, which funds shall be used to repay amounts owing to the Existing Lenders;

            (r) Agent shall have received originals of the shares of the stock
certificates representing all of the issued and outstanding shares of the
Capital Stock of each Borrower and Guarantor (other than Parent) and owned by
any Borrower or Guarantor, in each case together with stock powers duly executed
in blank with respect thereto;

            (s) Agent shall have received evidence of insurance and loss payee
endorsements required hereunder and under the other Financing Agreements, in
form and substance satisfactory to Agent, and certificates of insurance policies
and/or endorsements naming Agent as additional insured or loss payee, as
applicable;

                                       50



            (t) Agent shall have received a Borrowing Base Certificate setting
forth the Revolving Loans available to Borrowers, on or about the date hereof,
as completed in a manner satisfactory to Agent and duly authorized, executed and
delivered on behalf of Borrowers;

            (u) Agent shall have received, in form and substance satisfactory to
Agent, such opinion letters of United States and Canadian counsel to Borrowers
and Guarantors with respect to the Financing Agreements and such other matters
as Agent may request; and

            (v) the other Financing Agreements and all instruments and documents
hereunder and thereunder shall have been duly executed and delivered to Agent,
in form and substance satisfactory to Agent.

            4.2 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO ALL LOANS AND LETTER OF CREDIT
ACCOMMODATIONS. Each of the following is an additional condition precedent to
the Loans and/or providing Letter of Credit Accommodations to Borrowers,
including the initial Loans and Letter of Credit Accommodations and any future
Loans and Letter of Credit Accommodations:

            (a) all representations and warranties contained herein and in the
other Financing Agreements shall be true and correct in all material respects
with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made
on and as of the date of the making of each such Loan or providing each such
Letter of Credit Accommodation and after giving effect thereto, except to the
extent that such representations and warranties expressly relate solely to an
earlier date (in which case such representations and warranties shall have been
true and accurate on and as of such earlier date);

            (b) no law, regulation, order, judgment or decree of any
Governmental Authority shall exist, and no action, suit, investigation,
litigation or proceeding shall be pending or threatened in any court or before
any arbitrator or Governmental Authority, which (i) purports to enjoin,
prohibit, restrain or otherwise affect (A) the making of the Loans or providing
the Letter of Credit Accommodations, or (B) the consummation of the transactions
contemplated pursuant to the terms hereof or the other Financing Agreements or
(ii) has or has a reasonable likelihood of having a Material Adverse Effect; and

            (c) no Default or Event of Default shall exist or have occurred and
be continuing on and as of the date of the making of such Loan or providing each
such Letter of Credit Accommodation and after giving effect thereto.

SECTION  5. GRANT AND PERFECTION OF SECURITY INTEREST

            5.1 GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST. To secure payment and performance of
all Obligations, each Borrower and Guarantor hereby grants to Agent, for itself
and the benefit of Lenders, a continuing security interest in, a lien upon, and
a right of set off against, and hereby assigns to Agent, for itself and the
benefit of Lenders, as security, all personal and real property and fixtures,
and interests in property and fixtures, of each Borrower and Guarantor, whether
now owned or hereafter acquired or existing, and wherever located (together with
all other collateral security for the Obligations at any time granted to or held

                                       51



or acquired by Agent or any Lender, collectively, the "Collateral"), including:

            (a) all Accounts;

            (b) all general intangibles, including, without limitation, all
Intellectual Property;

            (c) all goods, including, without limitation, Inventory and
Equipment;

            (d) all Real Property and fixtures;

            (e) all chattel paper, including, without limitation, all tangible
and electronic chattel paper;

            (f) all instruments, including, without limitation, all promissory
notes;

            (g) all documents;

            (h) all deposit accounts;

            (i) all letters of credit, banker's acceptances and similar
instruments and including all letter-of-credit rights;

            (j) all supporting obligations and all present and future liens,
security interests, rights, remedies, title and interest in, to and in respect
of Receivables and other Collateral, including (i) rights and remedies under or
relating to guaranties, contracts of suretyship, letters of credit and credit
and other insurance related to the Collateral, (ii) rights of stoppage in
transit, replevin, repossession, reclamation and other rights and remedies of an
unpaid vendor, lienor or secured party, (iii) goods described in invoices,
documents, contracts or instruments with respect to, or otherwise representing
or evidencing, Receivables or other Collateral, including returned, repossessed
and reclaimed goods, and (iv) deposits by and property of account debtors or
other persons securing the obligations of account debtors;

            (k) all (i) investment property (including securities, whether
certificated or uncertificated, securities accounts, security entitlements,
commodity contracts or commodity accounts) and (ii) monies, credit balances,
deposits and other property of any Borrower or Guarantor now or hereafter held
or received by or in transit to Agent, any Lender or its Affiliates or at any
other depository or other institution from or for the account of any Borrower or
Guarantor, whether for safekeeping, pledge, custody, transmission, collection or
otherwise;

            (l) all commercial tort claims, including, without limitation, those
identified in the Information Certificate;

            (m) to the extent not otherwise described above, all Receivables;

            (n) all Records; and

                                       52



            (o) all products and proceeds of the foregoing, in any form,
including insurance proceeds and all claims against third parties for loss or
damage to or destruction of or other involuntary conversion of any kind or
nature of any or all of the other Collateral.

            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section
5.1 above, the types of Collateral described above shall not include the last
day of the term of any lease agreement to which H&H Canada is a party, but upon
enforcement by Agent of remedies hereunder, Agent shall stand possessed of such
last day in trust to assign the same to any Person acquiring the term of the
lease agreement therefor.

            5.2 PERFECTION OF SECURITY INTERESTS.

            (a) Each Borrower and Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally
authorizes Agent (or its agent) to file at any time and from time to time such
financing statements with respect to the Collateral naming Agent or its designee
as the secured party and such Borrower or Guarantor as debtor, as Agent may
require, and including any other information with respect to such Borrower or
Guarantor or otherwise required by part 5 of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial
Code or under the PPSA of such jurisdiction as Agent may determine, together
with any amendment and continuations with respect thereto, which authorization
shall apply to all financing statements filed on, prior to or after the date
hereof. Each Borrower and Guarantor hereby ratifies and approves all financing
statements naming Agent or its designee as secured party and such Borrower or
Guarantor, as the case may be, as debtor with respect to the Collateral (and any
amendments with respect to such financing statements) filed by or on behalf of
Agent prior to the date hereof and ratifies and confirms the authorization of
Agent to file such financing statements (and amendments, if any). Each Borrower
and Guarantor hereby authorizes Agent to adopt on behalf of such Borrower and
Guarantor any symbol required for authenticating any electronic filing. In the
event that the description of the collateral in any financing statement naming
Agent or its designee as the secured party and any Borrower or Guarantor as
debtor includes assets and properties of such Borrower or Guarantor that do not
at any time constitute Collateral, whether hereunder, under any of the other
Financing Agreements or otherwise, the filing of such financing statement shall
nonetheless be deemed authorized by such Borrower or Guarantor to the extent of
the Collateral included in such description and it shall not render the
financing statement ineffective as to any of the Collateral or otherwise affect
the financing statement as it applies to any of the Collateral. In no event
shall any Borrower or Guarantor at any time file, or permit or cause to be
filed, any correction statement or termination statement with respect to any
financing statement (or amendment or continuation with respect thereto) naming
Agent or its designee as secured party and such Borrower or Guarantor as debtor,
without the prior written consent of Agent.

            (b) Each Borrower and Guarantor does not have any chattel paper
(whether tangible or electronic) or instruments as of the date hereof, except as
set forth in the Information Certificate. In the event that any Borrower or
Guarantor shall be entitled to or shall receive any chattel paper or instrument
after the date hereof, Borrowers and Guarantors shall promptly notify Agent
thereof in writing. Promptly upon the receipt thereof by or on behalf of any
Borrower or Guarantor (including by any agent or representative), such Borrower

                                       53



or Guarantor shall deliver, or cause to be delivered to Agent, all tangible
chattel paper and instruments that such Borrower or Guarantor has or may at any
time acquire, accompanied by such instruments of transfer or assignment duly
executed in blank as Agent may from time to time specify, in each case except as
Agent may otherwise agree. At Agent's option, each Borrower and Guarantor shall,
or Agent may at any time on behalf of any Borrower or Guarantor, cause the
original of any such instrument or chattel paper to be conspicuously marked in a
form and manner acceptable to Agent with the following legend referring to
chattel paper or instruments as applicable: "This [chattel paper][instrument] is
subject to the security interest of Congress Financial Corporation and any sale,
transfer, assignment or encumbrance of this [chattel paper][instrument] violates
the rights of such secured party."

            (c) In the event that any Borrower or Guarantor shall at any time
hold or acquire an interest in any electronic chattel paper or any "transferable
record" (as such term is defined in Section 201 of the Federal Electronic
Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act or in Section 16 of the Uniform
Electronic Transactions Act as in effect in any relevant jurisdiction), such
Borrower or Guarantor shall promptly notify Agent thereof in writing. Promptly
upon Agent's request, such Borrower or Guarantor shall take, or cause to be
taken, such actions as Agent may request to give Agent control of such
electronic chattel paper under Section 9-105 of the UCC and control of such
transferable record under Section 201 of the Federal Electronic Signatures in
Global and National Commerce Act or, as the case may be, Section 16 of the
Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, as in effect in such jurisdiction.

            (d) Each Borrower and Guarantor does not have any deposit accounts
as of the date hereof, except as set forth in the Information Certificate.
Borrowers and Guarantors shall not, directly or indirectly, after the date
hereof open, establish or maintain any deposit account unless each of the
following conditions is satisfied: (i) Agent shall have received not less than
five (5) Business Days prior written notice of the intention of any Borrower or
Guarantor to open or establish such account which notice shall specify in
reasonable detail and specificity acceptable to Agent the name of the account,
the owner of the account, the name and address of the bank at which such account
is to be opened or established, the individual at such bank with whom such
Borrower or Guarantor is dealing and the purpose of the account, (ii) the bank
where such account is opened or maintained shall be acceptable to Agent, and
(iii) on or before the opening of such deposit account, such Borrower or
Guarantor shall as Agent may specify either (A) deliver to Agent a Deposit
Account Control Agreement with respect to such deposit account duly authorized,
executed and delivered by such Borrower or Guarantor and the bank at which such
deposit account is opened and maintained or (B) arrange for Agent to become the
customer of the bank with respect to the deposit account on terms and conditions
acceptable to Agent. The terms of this subsection (d) shall not apply to deposit
accounts specifically and exclusively used for payroll, payroll taxes and other
employee wage and benefit payments to or for the benefit of any Borrower's or
Guarantor's salaried employees.

            (e) No Borrower or Guarantor owns or holds, directly or indirectly,
beneficially or as record owner or both, any investment property, as of the date

                                       54


hereof, or have any investment account, securities account, commodity account or
other similar account with any bank or other financial institution or other
securities intermediary or commodity intermediary as of the date hereof, in each
case except as set forth in the Information Certificate.

              (i) In the event that any Borrower or Guarantor shall be entitled
to or shall at any time after the date hereof hold or acquire any certificated
securities, such Borrower or Guarantor shall promptly endorse, assign and
deliver the same to Agent, accompanied by such instruments of transfer or
assignment duly executed in blank as Agent may from time to time specify. If any
securities, now or hereafter acquired by any Borrower or Guarantor are
uncertificated and are issued to such Borrower or Guarantor or its nominee
directly by the issuer thereof, such Borrower or Guarantor shall immediately
notify Agent thereof and shall as Agent may specify, either (A) cause the issuer
to agree to comply with instructions from Agent as to such securities, without
further consent of any Borrower or Guarantor or such nominee, or (B) arrange for
Agent to become the registered owner of the securities.

              (ii) Borrowers and Guarantors shall not, directly or indirectly,
after the date hereof open, establish or maintain any investment account,
securities account, commodity account or any other similar account (other than a
deposit account) with any securities intermediary or commodity intermediary
unless each of the following conditions is satisfied: (A) Agent shall have
received not less than five (5) Business Days prior written notice of the
intention of such Borrower or Guarantor to open or establish such account which
notice shall specify in reasonable detail and specificity acceptable to Agent
the name of the account, the owner of the account, the name and address of the
securities intermediary or commodity intermediary at which such account is to be
opened or established, the individual at such intermediary with whom such
Borrower or Guarantor is dealing and the purpose of the account, (B) the
securities intermediary or commodity intermediary (as the case may be) where
such account is opened or maintained shall be acceptable to Agent, and (C) on or
before the opening of such investment account, securities account or other
similar account with a securities intermediary or commodity intermediary, such
Borrower or Guarantor shall as Agent may specify either (i) execute and deliver,
and cause to be executed and delivered to Agent, an Investment Property Control
Agreement with respect thereto duly authorized, executed and delivered by such
Borrower or Guarantor and such securities intermediary or commodity intermediary
or (ii) arrange for Agent to become the entitlement holder with respect to such
investment property on terms and conditions acceptable to Agent.

            (f) Borrowers and Guarantors are not the beneficiary or otherwise
entitled to any right to payment under any letter of credit, banker's acceptance
or similar instrument as of the date hereof, except as set forth in the
Information Certificate. In the event that any Borrower or Guarantor shall be
entitled to or shall receive any right to payment under any letter of credit,
banker's acceptance or any similar instrument, whether as beneficiary thereof or
otherwise after the date hereof, such Borrower or Guarantor shall promptly
notify Agent thereof in writing. Such Borrower or Guarantor shall immediately,
as Agent may specify, either (i) deliver, or cause to be delivered to Agent,
with respect to any such letter of credit, banker's acceptance or similar
instrument, the written agreement of the issuer and any other nominated person
obligated to make any payment in respect thereof (including any confirming or

                                       55



negotiating bank), in form and substance satisfactory to Agent, consenting to
the assignment of the proceeds of the letter of credit to Agent by such Borrower
or Guarantor and agreeing to make all payments thereon directly to Agent or as
Agent may otherwise direct or (ii) cause Agent to become, at Borrowers' expense,
the transferee beneficiary of the letter of credit, banker's acceptance or
similar instrument (as the case may be).

            (g) Borrowers and Guarantors do not have any commercial tort claims
against third parties as of the date hereof, except as set forth in the
Information Certificate. In the event that any Borrower or Guarantor shall at
any time after the date hereof have any commercial tort claims, such Borrower or
Guarantor shall promptly notify Agent thereof in writing, which notice shall (i)
set forth in reasonable detail the basis for and nature of such commercial tort
claim and (ii) include the express grant by such Borrower or Guarantor to Agent
of a security interest in such commercial tort claim (and the proceeds thereof).
In the event that such notice does not include such grant of a security
interest, the sending thereof by such Borrower or Guarantor to Agent shall be
deemed to constitute such grant to Agent. Upon the sending of such notice, any
commercial tort claim described therein shall constitute part of the Collateral
and shall be deemed included therein. Without limiting the authorization of
Agent provided in Section 5.2(a) hereof or otherwise arising by the execution by
such Borrower or Guarantor of this Agreement or any of the other Financing
Agreements, Agent is hereby irrevocably authorized from time to time and at any
time to file such financing statements naming Agent or its designee as secured
party and such Borrower or Guarantor as debtor, or any amendments to any
financing statements, covering any such commercial tort claim as Collateral. In
addition, each Borrower and Guarantor shall promptly upon Agent's request,
execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, to Agent such other
agreements, documents and instruments as Agent may require in connection with
such commercial tort claim.

            (h) Borrowers and Guarantors do not have any goods, documents of
title or other Collateral in the custody, control or possession of a third party
as of the date hereof, except as set forth in the Information Certificate and
except for goods located in Canada (in the case of H&H Canada) or the United
States (in the case of all other Borrowers and Guarantors) in transit to a
location of a Borrower or Guarantor permitted herein in the ordinary course of
business of such Borrower or Guarantor in the possession of the carrier
transporting such goods. In the event that any goods, documents of title or
other Collateral are at any time after the date hereof in the custody, control
or possession of any other person not referred to in the Information Certificate
or such carriers, Borrowers and Guarantors shall promptly notify Agent thereof
in writing. Promptly upon Agent's request, Borrowers and Guarantors shall
deliver to Agent a Collateral Access Agreement duly authorized, executed and
delivered by such person and the Borrower or Guarantor that is the owner of such
Collateral.

            (i) Borrowers and Guarantors shall take any other actions reasonably
requested by Agent from time to time to cause the attachment, perfection and
first priority (subject to the liens expressly permitted under Sections 9.8(b)
through (g) hereof) of, and the ability of Agent to enforce, the security
interest of Agent in any and all of the Collateral, including, without

                                       56



limitation, (i) executing, delivering and, where appropriate, filing financing
statements and amendments relating thereto under the UCC, the PPSA or other
applicable law, to the extent, if any, that any Borrower's or Guarantor's
signature thereon is required therefor, (ii) causing Agent's name to be noted as
secured party on any certificate of title for a titled good if such notation is
a condition to attachment, perfection or priority of, or ability of Agent to
enforce, the security interest of Agent in such Collateral, (iii) complying with
any provision of any statute, regulation or treaty of the United States or
Canada as to any Collateral if compliance with such provision is a condition to
attachment, perfection or priority of, or ability of Agent to enforce, the
security interest of Agent in such Collateral, (iv) obtaining the consents and
approvals of any Governmental Authority or third party, including, without
limitation, any consent of any licensor, lessor or other person obligated on
Collateral, and taking all actions required by any earlier versions of the UCC
or the PPSA or by other law, as applicable in any relevant jurisdiction.

SECTION  6. COLLECTION AND ADMINISTRATION

            6.1 BORROWERS' LOAN ACCOUNTS. Agent shall maintain one or more loan
account(s) on its books in which shall be recorded (a) all Loans, Letter of
Credit Accommodations and other Obligations and the Collateral, (b) all payments
made by or on behalf of any Borrower or Guarantor and (c) all other appropriate
debits and credits as provided in this Agreement, including fees, charges,
costs, expenses and interest. All entries in the loan account(s) shall be made
in accordance with Agent's customary practices as in effect from time to time.

            6.2 STATEMENTS. Agent shall render to Administrative Borrower each
month a statement setting forth the balance in the Borrowers' loan account(s)
maintained by Agent for Borrowers pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement,
including principal, interest, fees, costs and expenses. Each such statement
shall be subject to subsequent adjustment by Agent but shall, absent manifest
errors or omissions, be considered correct and deemed accepted by Borrowers and
Guarantors and conclusively binding upon Borrowers and Guarantors as an account
stated except to the extent that Agent receives a written notice from
Administrative Borrower of any specific exceptions of Administrative Borrower
thereto within thirty (30) days after the date such statement has been received
by Administrative Borrower. Until such time as Agent shall have rendered to
Administrative Borrower a written statement as provided above, the balance in
any Borrower's loan account(s) shall be presumptive evidence of the amounts due
and owing to Agent and Lenders by Borrowers and Guarantors.

            6.3 COLLECTION OF ACCOUNTS.

            (a) Borrowing Base Parties shall establish and maintain, at their
expense, blocked accounts or lockboxes and related blocked accounts (in either
case, "Blocked Accounts"), as Agent may specify, with such banks as are
acceptable to Agent into which Borrowing Base Parties shall promptly deposit and
direct their respective account debtors to directly remit all payments on
Receivables and all payments constituting proceeds of Inventory or other
Collateral in the identical form in which such payments are made, whether by
cash, check or other manner. Borrowing Base Parties shall deliver, or cause to
be delivered to Agent a Deposit Account Control Agreement duly authorized,

                                       57



executed and delivered by each bank where a Blocked Account is maintained as
provided in Section 5.2 hereof or at any time and from time to time Agent may
become the bank's customer with respect to any of the Blocked Accounts and
promptly upon Agent's request, Borrowing Base Parties shall execute and deliver
such agreements and documents as Agent may require in connection therewith. Each
Borrower and Guarantor agrees that all payments made to such Blocked Accounts or
other funds received and collected by Agent or any Lender, whether in respect of
the Receivables, as proceeds of Inventory or other Collateral or otherwise shall
be treated as payments to Agent and Lenders in respect of the Obligations and
therefore shall constitute the property of Agent and Lenders to the extent of
the then outstanding Obligations. With respect to the disbursement accounts of
Borrowing Base Parties (but not the Blocked Accounts or any collection
accounts), Agent will only instruct the depository banks at which such
disbursement accounts are maintained to transfer funds deposited into the
disbursement accounts to the Agent Payment Account at any time that an Event of
Default shall exist or have occurred and be continuing.

            (b) For purposes of calculating the amount of the Loans available to
each Borrower, such payments will be applied (conditional upon final collection)
to the Obligations on the Business Day of receipt by Agent of immediately
available funds in the Agent Payment Account provided such payments and notice
thereof are received in accordance with Agent's usual and customary practices as
in effect from time to time and within sufficient time to credit such Borrower's
loan account on such day, and if not, then on the next Business Day. For the
purposes of calculating interest on the Obligations, such payments or other
funds received will be applied (conditional upon final collection) to the
Obligations one (1) Business Day following the date of receipt of immediately
available funds by Agent in the Agent Payment Account provided such payments or
other funds and notice thereof are received in accordance with Agent's usual and
customary practices as in effect from time to time and within sufficient time to
credit such Borrower's loan account on such day, and if not, then on the next
Business Day. In the event that at any time or from time to time there are no
Revolving Loans outstanding, Agent shall be entitled to an administrative fee in
an amount calculated based on the Interest Rate for Revolving Loans that are
Prime Rate Loans (on a per annum basis) multiplied by the amount of the funds
received in the Blocked Account for such day as calculated by Agent in
accordance with its customary practice. The economic benefit of the timing in
the application of payments (and the administrative charge with respect thereto,
if applicable) shall be for the sole benefit of Agent.

            (c) Each Borrower and Guarantor and their respective shareholders,
directors, employees, agents, Subsidiaries or other Affiliates shall, acting as
trustee for Agent, receive, as the property of Agent, any monies, checks, notes,
drafts or any other payment relating to and/or proceeds of Accounts or other
Collateral which come into their possession or under their control and
immediately upon receipt thereof, shall deposit or cause the same to be
deposited in the Blocked Accounts, or remit the same or cause the same to be
remitted, in kind, to Agent. In no event shall the same be commingled with any
Borrower's or Guarantor's own funds. Borrowers agree to reimburse Agent on
demand for any amounts owed or paid to any bank or other financial institution
at which a Blocked Account or any other deposit account or investment account is

                                       58


established or any other bank, financial institution or other person involved in
the transfer of funds to or from the Blocked Accounts arising out of Agent's
payments to or indemnification of such bank, financial institution or other
person. The obligations of Borrowers to reimburse Agent for such amounts
pursuant to this Section 6.3 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

            6.4 PAYMENTS.

            (a) All Obligations shall be payable to the Agent Payment Account as
provided in Section 6.3 or such other place as Agent may designate from time to
time. Subject to the other terms and conditions contained herein, Agent shall
apply payments received or collected from any Borrower or Guarantor or for the
account of any Borrower or Guarantor (including the monetary proceeds of
collections or of realization upon any Collateral) as follows: FIRST, to pay any
fees, indemnities or expense reimbursements then due to Agent and Lenders from
any Borrower or Guarantor; SECOND, to pay interest due in respect of any Loans
(and including any Special Agent Advances); THIRD, to pay or prepay principal in
respect of Special Agent Advances; FOURTH, to pay principal due in respect of
the Loans; FIFTH, to pay or prepay any other Obligations whether or not then
due, in such order and manner as Agent determines. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary contained in this Agreement, (i) unless so directed by
Administrative Borrower, or unless a Default or an Event of Default shall exist
or have occurred and be continuing, Agent shall not apply any payments which it
receives to any Eurodollar Rate Loans, except (A) on the expiration date of the
Interest Period applicable to any such Eurodollar Rate Loans or (B) in the event
that there are no outstanding Prime Rate Loans and (ii) to the extent any
Borrower uses any proceeds of the Loans or Letter of Credit Accommodations to
acquire rights in or the use of any Collateral or to repay any Indebtedness used
to acquire rights in or the use of any Collateral, payments in respect of the
Obligations shall be deemed applied first to the Obligations arising from Loans
and Letter of Credit Accommodations that were not used for such purposes and
second to the Obligations arising from Loans and Letter of Credit Accommodations
the proceeds of which were used to acquire rights in or the use of any
Collateral in the chronological order in which such Borrower acquired such
rights in or the use of such Collateral.

            (b) At Agent's option, all principal, interest, fees, costs,
expenses and other charges provided for in this Agreement or the other Financing
Agreements may be charged directly to the loan account(s) of any Borrower
maintained by Agent. Except as otherwise required by law, Borrowers and
Guarantors shall make all payments to Agent and Lenders on the Obligations free
and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for or on account of, any
setoff, counterclaim, defense, Taxes, restrictions or conditions of any kind. If
any Borrower or Guarantor shall be required by law to deduct or withhold in
respect of any Indemnified Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder
to Agent or any Lender, then:

              (i) the sum payable shall be increased by such additional amount
(the "Additional Amount") as necessary so that after making all required
deductions and withholdings (including deductions and withholdings applicable to
such Additional Amount) Agent or such Lender receives an amount equal to the sum

                                       59



it would have received had no such deductions or withholdings been made;

              (ii) such Borrower or Guarantor shall make the appropriate
deductions or withholdings and shall pay the full amount deducted or withheld to
the relevant taxing authority or other authority in accordance with applicable
law;

              (iii) within thirty (30) days after the date of such payment, upon
Agent's request, such Borrower or Guarantor shall furnish to Agent the original
or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof, or other evidence
of payment reasonably satisfactory to Agent;

              (iv) if such Borrower or Guarantor fails to pay amounts in
accordance with Section 6.4(b)(ii) above, such Borrower or Guarantor shall
indemnify Agent or such Lender for any incremental Indemnified Taxes that is
paid by Agent or such Lender as a result of the failure;

              (v) Borrowers will indemnify Agent or such Lender for the full
amount of any Taxes imposed by any jurisdiction and paid by Agent or such Lender
with respect to any Additional Amount payable pursuant to Section 6.4(b)(i)
above and any liability (including penalties, interest and expenses) arising
therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes are correctly
asserted; and

              (vi) the indemnification contemplated in Section 6.4(b)(iv) or (v)
above shall be made within 30 days from the date Agent or such Lender makes
written demand therefor (which demand shall identify the nature and amount of
Taxes for which indemnification is being sought).

If after receipt of any payment of, or proceeds of Collateral applied to the
payment of, any of the Obligations, Agent or any Lender is required to surrender
or return such payment or proceeds to any Person for any reason, then the
Obligations intended to be satisfied by such payment or proceeds shall be
reinstated and continue and this Agreement shall continue in full force and
effect as if such payment or proceeds had not been received by Agent or such
Lender. Borrowers and Guarantors shall be liable to pay to Agent, and do hereby
indemnify and hold Agent and Lenders harmless for the amount of any payments or
proceeds surrendered or returned. This Section 6.4(b) shall remain effective
notwithstanding any contrary action which may be taken by Agent or any Lender in
reliance upon such payment or proceeds. This Section 6.4 shall survive the
payment of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

          6.5 AUTHORIZATION TO MAKE LOANS. Agent and Lenders are authorized to
make the Loans and provide the Letter of Credit Accommodations based upon
telephonic or other instructions received from anyone purporting to be an
officer of Administrative Borrower or any Borrower or other authorized person
or, at the discretion of Agent, if such Loans are necessary to satisfy any
Obligations. All requests for Loans or Letter of Credit Accommodations hereunder
shall specify the date on which the requested advance is to be made or Letter of
Credit Accommodations established (which day shall be a Business Day) and the
amount of the requested Loan. Requests received after 11:00 a.m. New York time

                                       60



on any day shall be deemed to have been made as of the opening of business on
the immediately following Business Day. All Loans and Letter of Credit
Accommodations under this Agreement shall be conclusively presumed to have been
made to, and at the request of and for the benefit of, any Borrower or Guarantor
when deposited to the credit of any Borrower or Guarantor or otherwise disbursed
or established in accordance with the instructions of any Borrower or Guarantor
or in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

          6.6 USE OF PROCEEDS. Borrowers shall use the initial proceeds of the
Loans provided by Agent to Borrowers hereunder only for: (a) payments to the
Existing Lenders and each of the other persons listed in the disbursement
direction letter furnished by Borrowers to Agent on or about the date hereof and
(b) costs, expenses and fees in connection with the preparation, negotiation,
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements. All
other Loans made or Letter of Credit Accommodations provided to or for the
benefit of any Borrower pursuant to the provisions hereof shall be used by such
Borrower only for general operating, working capital and other proper corporate
purposes of such Borrower not otherwise prohibited by the terms hereof. None of
the proceeds will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of purchasing
or carrying any margin security or for the purposes of reducing or retiring any
indebtedness which was originally incurred to purchase or carry any margin
security or for any other purpose which might cause any of the Loans to be
considered a "purpose credit" within the meaning of Regulation U of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as amended.

          6.7 APPOINTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE BORROWER AS AGENT FOR REQUESTING
LOANS AND RECEIPTS OF LOANS AND STATEMENTS.

            (a) Each Borrower hereby irrevocably appoints and constitutes
Administrative Borrower as its agent to request and receive Loans and Letter of
Credit Accommodations pursuant to this Agreement and the other Financing
Agreements from Agent or any Lender in the name or on behalf of such Borrower.
Agent and Lenders may disburse the Loans to such bank account of Administrative
Borrower or a Borrower or otherwise make such Loans to a Borrower and provide
such Letter of Credit Accommodations to a Borrower as Administrative Borrower
may designate or direct, without notice to any other Borrower or Obligor.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Agent may at any time
and from time to time require that Loans to or for the account of any Borrower
be disbursed directly to an operating account of such Borrower.

            (b) Administrative Borrower hereby accepts the appointment by
Borrowers to act as the agent of Borrowers pursuant to this Section 6.7.
Administrative Borrower shall ensure that the disbursement of any Loans to each
Borrower requested by or paid to or for the account of Administrative Borrower,
or the issuance of any Letter of Credit Accommodations for a Borrower hereunder,
shall be paid to or for the account of such Borrower.

            (c) Each Borrower and other Guarantor hereby irrevocably appoints
and constitutes Administrative Borrower as its agent to receive statements on
account and all other notices from Agent and Lenders with respect to the

                                       61



Obligations or otherwise under or in connection with this Agreement and the
other Financing Agreements.

            (d) Any notice, election, representation, warranty, agreement or
undertaking by or on behalf of any other Borrower or any Guarantor by
Administrative Borrower shall be deemed for all purposes to have been made by
such Borrower or Guarantor, as the case may be, and shall be binding upon and
enforceable against such Borrower or Guarantor to the same extent as if made
directly by such Borrower of Guarantor.

            (e) No purported termination of the appointment of Administrative
Borrower as agent as aforesaid shall be effective, except after ten (10) days'
prior written notice to Agent.

          6.8 PRO RATA TREATMENT. Except to the extent otherwise provided in
this Agreement: (a) the making and conversion of Loans shall be made among the
Lenders based on their respective Pro Rata Shares as to the Loans and (b) each
payment on account of any Obligations to or for the account of one or more of
Lenders in respect of any Obligations due on a particular day shall be allocated
among the Lenders entitled to such payments based on their respective Pro Rata
Shares and shall be distributed accordingly.

          6.9 SHARING OF PAYMENTS, ETC.

            (a) Each Borrower and Guarantor agrees that, in addition to (and
without limitation of) any right of setoff, banker's lien or counterclaim Agent
or any Lender may otherwise have, each Lender shall be entitled, at its option
(but subject, as among Agent and Lenders, to the provisions of Section 12.3(b)
hereof), to offset balances held by it for the account of such Borrower or
Guarantor at any of its offices, in dollars or in any other currency, against
any principal of or interest on any Loans owed to such Lender or any other
amount payable to such Lender hereunder, that is not paid when due (regardless
of whether such balances are then due to such Borrower or Guarantor), in which
case it shall promptly notify Administrative Borrower and Agent thereof;
PROVIDED, THAT, such Lender's failure to give such notice shall not affect the
validity thereof.

            (b) If any Lender (including Agent) shall obtain from any Borrower
or Guarantor payment of any principal of or interest on any Loan owing to it or
payment of any other amount under this Agreement or any of the other Financing
Agreements through the exercise of any right of setoff, banker's lien or
counterclaim or similar right or otherwise (other than from Agent as provided
herein), and, as a result of such payment, such Lender shall have received more
than its Pro Rata Share of the principal of the Loans or more than its share of
such other amounts then due hereunder or thereunder by any Borrower or Guarantor
to such Lender than the percentage thereof received by any other Lender, it
shall promptly pay to Agent, for the benefit of Lenders, the amount of such
excess and simultaneously purchase from such other Lenders a participation in
the Loans or such other amounts, respectively, owing to such other Lenders (or
such interest due thereon, as the case may be) in such amounts, and make such
other adjustments from time to time as shall be equitable, to the end that all
Lenders shall share the benefit of such excess payment (net of any expenses that
may be incurred by such Lender in obtaining or preserving such excess payment)

                                       62



in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares or as otherwise agreed by
Lenders. To such end all Lenders shall make appropriate adjustments among
themselves (by the resale of participation sold or otherwise) if such payment is
rescinded or must otherwise be restored.

            (c) Each Borrower and Guarantor agrees that any Lender purchasing a
participation (or direct interest) as provided in this Section may exercise, in
a manner consistent with this Section, all rights of setoff, banker's lien,
counterclaim or similar rights with respect to such participation as fully as if
such Lender were a direct holder of Loans or other amounts (as the case may be)
owing to such Lender in the amount of such participation.

            (d) Nothing contained herein shall require any Lender to exercise
any right of setoff, banker's lien, counterclaims or similar rights or shall
affect the right of any Lender to exercise, and retain the benefits of
exercising, any such right with respect to any other Indebtedness or obligation
of any Borrower or Guarantor. If, under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or
other similar law, any Lender receives a secured claim in lieu of a setoff to
which this Section applies, such Lender shall, to the extent practicable, assign
such rights to Agent for the benefit of Lenders and, in any event, exercise its
rights in respect of such secured claim in a manner consistent with the rights
of Lenders entitled under this Section to share in the benefits of any recovery
on such secured claim.

            6.10 SETTLEMENT PROCEDURES.

            (a) In order to administer the Credit Facility in an efficient
manner and to minimize the transfer of funds between Agent and Lenders, Agent
may, at its option, subject to the terms of this Section, make available, on
behalf of Lenders, the full amount of the Loans requested or charged to any
Borrower's loan account(s) or otherwise to be advanced by Lenders pursuant to
the terms hereof, without requirement of prior notice to Lenders of the proposed
Loans.

            (b) With respect to all Loans made by Agent on behalf of Lenders as
provided in this Section, the amount of each Lender's Pro Rata Share of the
outstanding Loans shall be computed weekly, and shall be adjusted upward or
downward on the basis of the amount of the outstanding Loans as of 5:00 p.m. New
York time on the Business Day immediately preceding the date of each settlement
computation; provided, that, Agent retains the absolute right at any time or
from time to time to make the above described adjustments at intervals more
frequent than weekly, but in no event more than twice in any week. Agent shall
deliver to each of the Lenders after the end of each week, or at such lesser
period or periods as Agent shall determine, a summary statement of the amount of
outstanding Loans for such period (such week or lesser period or periods being
hereinafter referred to as a "Settlement Period"). If the summary statement is
sent by Agent and received by a Lender prior to 12:00 p.m. New York time, then
such Lender shall make the settlement transfer described in this Section by no
later than 3:00 p.m. New York time on the same Business Day and if received by a
Lender after 12:00 p.m. New York time, then such Lender shall make the
settlement transfer by not later than 3:00 p.m. New York time on the next
Business Day following the date of receipt. If, as of the end of any Settlement
Period, the amount of a Lender's Pro Rata Share of the outstanding Loans is more
than such Lender's Pro Rata Share of the outstanding Loans as of the end of the

                                       63



previous Settlement Period, then such Lender shall forthwith (but in no event
later than the time set forth in the preceding sentence) transfer to Agent by
wire transfer in immediately available funds the amount of the increase.
Alternatively, if the amount of a Lender's Pro Rata Share of the outstanding
Loans in any Settlement Period is less than the amount of such Lender's Pro Rata
Share of the outstanding Loans for the previous Settlement Period, Agent shall
forthwith transfer to such Lender by wire transfer in immediately available
funds the amount of the decrease. The obligation of each of the Lenders to
transfer such funds and effect such settlement shall be irrevocable and
unconditional and without recourse to or warranty by Agent. Agent and each
Lender agrees to mark its books and records at the end of each Settlement Period
to show at all times the dollar amount of its Pro Rata Share of the outstanding
Loans and Letter of Credit Accommodations. Each Lender shall only be entitled to
receive interest on its Pro Rata Share of the Loans to the extent such Loans
have been funded by such Lender. Because the Agent on behalf of Lenders may be
advancing and/or may be repaid Loans prior to the time when Lenders will
actually advance and/or be repaid such Loans, interest with respect to Loans
shall be allocated by Agent in accordance with the amount of Loans actually
advanced by and repaid to each Lender and the Agent and shall accrue from and
including the date such Loans are so advanced to but excluding the date such
Loans are either repaid by Borrowers or actually settled with the applicable
Lender as described in this Section.

            (c) To the extent that Agent has made any such amounts available and
the settlement described above shall not yet have occurred, upon repayment of
any Loans by a Borrower, Agent may apply such amounts repaid directly to any
amounts made available by Agent pursuant to this Section. In lieu of weekly or
more frequent settlements, Agent may, at its option, at any time require each
Lender to provide Agent with immediately available funds representing its Pro
Rata Share of each Loan, prior to Agent's disbursement of such Loan to Borrower.
In such event, all Loans under this Agreement shall be made by the Lenders
simultaneously and proportionately to their Pro Rata Shares. No Lender shall be
responsible for any default by any other Lender in the other Lender's obligation
to make a Loan requested hereunder nor shall the Commitment of any Lender be
increased or decreased as a result of the default by any other Lender in the
other Lender's obligation to make a Loan hereunder.

            (d) If Agent is not funding a particular Loan to a Borrower (or
Administrative Borrower for the benefit of such Borrower) pursuant to Sections
6.10(a) and 6.10(b) above on any day, but is requiring each Lender to provide
Agent with immediately available funds on the date of such Loan as provided in
Section 6.10(c) above, Agent may assume that each Lender will make available to
Agent such Lender's Pro Rata Share of the Loan requested or otherwise made on
such day and Agent may, in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, cause
a corresponding amount to be made available to or for the benefit of such
Borrower on such day. If Agent makes such corresponding amount available to a
Borrower and such corresponding amount is not in fact made available to Agent by
such Lender, Agent shall be entitled to recover such corresponding amount on
demand from such Lender together with interest thereon for each day from the
date such payment was due until the date such amount is paid to Agent at the
Federal Funds Rate for each day during such period (as published by the Federal
Reserve Bank of New York or at Agent's option based on the arithmetic mean

                                       64



determined by Agent of the rates for the last transaction in overnight Federal
funds arranged prior to 9:00 a.m. (New York City time) on that day by each of
the three leading brokers of Federal funds transactions in New York City
selected by Agent) and if such amounts are not paid within three (3) days of
Agent's demand, at the highest Interest Rate provided for in Section 3.1 hereof
applicable to Prime Rate Loans. During the period in which such Lender has not
paid such corresponding amount to Agent, notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements,
the amount so advanced by Agent to or for the benefit of any Borrower shall, for
all purposes hereof, be a Loan made by Agent for its own account. Upon any such
failure by a Lender to pay Agent, Agent shall promptly thereafter notify
Administrative Borrower of such failure and Borrowers shall pay such
corresponding amount to Agent for its own account within five (5) Business Days
of Administrative Borrower's receipt of such notice. A Lender who fails to pay
Agent its Pro Rata Share of any Loans made available by the Agent on such
Lender's behalf, or any Lender who fails to pay any other amount owing by it to
Agent, is a "Defaulting Lender". Agent shall not be obligated to transfer to a
Defaulting Lender any payments received by Agent for the Defaulting Lender's
benefit, nor shall a Defaulting Lender be entitled to the sharing of any
payments hereunder (including any principal, interest or fees). Amounts payable
to a Defaulting Lender shall instead be paid to or retained by Agent. Agent may
hold and, in its discretion, relend to a Borrower the amount of all such
payments received or retained by it for the account of such Defaulting Lender.
For purposes of voting or consenting to matters with respect to this Agreement
and the other Financing Agreements and determining Pro Rata Shares, such
Defaulting Lender shall be deemed not to be a "Lender" and such Lender's
Commitment shall be deemed to be zero (0). This Section shall remain effective
with respect to a Defaulting Lender until such default is cured. The operation
of this Section shall not be construed to increase or otherwise affect the
Commitment of any Lender, or relieve or excuse the performance by any Borrower
or Obligor of their duties and obligations hereunder.

            (e) Nothing in this Section or elsewhere in this Agreement or the
other Financing Agreements shall be deemed to require Agent to advance funds on
behalf of any Lender or to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its
Commitment hereunder or to prejudice any rights that any Borrower may have
against any Lender as a result of any default by any Lender hereunder in
fulfilling its Commitment.

            6.11 OBLIGATIONS SEVERAL; INDEPENDENT NATURE OF LENDERS' RIGHTS. The
obligation of each Lender hereunder is several, and no Lender shall be
responsible for the obligation or commitment of any other Lender hereunder.
Nothing contained in this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements and
no action taken by the Lenders pursuant hereto or thereto shall be deemed to
constitute the Lenders to be a partnership, an association, a joint venture or
any other kind of entity. The amounts payable at any time hereunder to each
Lender shall be a separate and independent debt, and subject to Section 12.3
hereof, each Lender shall be entitled to protect and enforce its rights arising
out of this Agreement and it shall not be necessary for any other Lender to be
joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.

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SECTION  7. COLLATERAL REPORTING AND COVENANTS

            7.1 COLLATERAL REPORTING.

            (a) Borrowing Base Parties shall provide Agent with the following
documents in a form satisfactory to Agent as determined by Agent in good faith:

              (i) on each Business Day, schedules of sales made, credits issued
and cash received;

              (ii) on a weekly basis or more frequently as Agent may request in
good faith, precious metal inventory reports (broken down by Precious Metals
Inventory that is owned and Precious Metals Inventory that is on consignment) by
location, type and category (and including the amounts of such Inventory and the
value thereof at any leased locations and at premises of warehouses, processors
or other third parties);

              (iii) as soon as possible after the end of each month (but in any
event within ten (10) Business Days after the end thereof), on a monthly basis
or more frequently as Agent may request, (A) perpetual inventory reports, (B)
inventory reports (excluding Precious Metals Inventory) by location, type and
category (and including the amounts of such Inventory and the value thereof at
any leased locations and at premises of warehouses, processors or other third
parties), which shall also break down such reports between the inventory of H&H
Tube, Camdel, Micro-Tube, the Strandflex division of Maryland Wire and all other
inventory of Maryland Wire; (C) agings of accounts receivable (together with a
reconciliation to the previous month's aging and general ledger), (D) agings of
accounts payable (and including information indicating the amounts owing to
owners and lessors of leased premises, warehouses, processors and other third
parties from time to time in possession of any Collateral), (E) a Borrowing Base
Certificate setting forth the calculation of the Borrowing Base as of the last
Business Day of the immediately preceding week as to the Accounts and Precious
Metals Inventory and as of the last Business Day of the immediately preceding
month as to Inventory (other than Precious Metals Inventory), duly completed and
executed by the chief financial officer of Administrative Borrower, together
with all schedules required pursuant to the terms of the Borrowing Base
Certificate duly completed (including a schedule of all Accounts of each
Borrowing Base Party created, collections received and credit memos issued on a
daily basis); and (F) reports of the composition of alloys and(G) a report of
all inventory consigned to any Borrowing Base Party or otherwise owned by a
third party which is in the possession or control of a Borrowing Base Party;

              (iv) upon Agent's request in good faith, (A) copies of customer
statements, purchase orders, sales invoices, credit memos, remittance advices
and reports, and copies of deposit slips and bank statements, (B) copies of
shipping and delivery documents, and (C) copies of purchase orders, invoices and
delivery documents for Inventory and Equipment acquired by any Borrower or
Guarantor;

              (v) such other reports as to the Collateral as Agent shall in good
faith request from time to time.

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            (b) If any Borrower's or Guarantor's records or reports of the
Collateral are prepared or maintained by an accounting service, contractor,
shipper or other agent, such Borrower and Guarantor hereby irrevocably
authorizes such service, contractor, shipper or agent to deliver such records,
reports, and related documents to Agent and to follow Agent's instructions with
respect to further services at any time that an Event of Default exists or has
occurred and is continuing.

            (c) All of the documents, reports and schedules provided by or on
behalf of any Borrower or Guarantor to Agent hereunder for Receivables payable
in any currency other than US Dollars and Inventory located outside the United
States of America shall set forth the US Dollar Equivalent for the amount of the
Receivables and Value of the Inventory included in any such documents, reports
or schedules. For purposes hereof, Agent may, at its option, provide to
Administrative Borrower, at least five (5) Business Day prior to the date any
such documents, reports or schedules are required to be provided by Borrowers or
Guarantors to Agent hereunder, the Exchange Rates required to set forth the US
Dollar Equivalent in such documents, reports and schedules and in the event
Agent does not do so, Borrowers shall use such rates of exchange with respect to
the applicable currencies as Borrowers and Guarantors use for such purpose in
the ordinary course of business consistent with current practices as of the date
hereof and shall identify such rates of exchange in any such documents, reports
and schedules.

            (d) Nothing contained in any Borrowing Base Certificate shall be
deemed to limit, impair or otherwise affect the rights of Agent or any Lender
contained herein and in the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the
calculation of a Borrowing Base as set forth in any Borrowing Base Certificate
and as determined by Agent in good faith, the good faith determination of Agent
shall govern and be conclusive and binding upon Borrowers and Guarantors, absent
manifest error. Without limiting the foregoing, Borrowing Base Parties shall
furnish to Agent any information which Agent may reasonably request regarding
the determination and calculation of any of the amounts set forth in any
Borrowing Base Certificate.

            7.2 ACCOUNTS COVENANTS.

            (a) Borrowers shall notify Agent promptly of: (i) any material delay
in any Borrower's performance of any of its material obligations to any material
account debtor or the assertion of any material claims, offsets, defenses or
counterclaims by any material account debtor, or any material disputes with
account debtors, or any settlement, adjustment or compromise thereof, (ii) all
material adverse information known to any Borrower or Guarantor relating to the
financial condition of any material account debtor and (iii) any event or
circumstance which, to the best of any Borrower's or Guarantor's knowledge,
would cause Agent to consider any then existing Accounts as no longer
constituting Eligible Accounts. No credit, discount, allowance or extension or
agreement for any of the foregoing shall be granted to any account debtor
without Agent's consent, except in the ordinary course of a Borrower's or
Guarantor's business in accordance with practices and policies previously
disclosed in writing to Agent and except as set forth in the schedules delivered
to Agent pursuant to Section 7.1(a) above. So long as no Event of Default exists
or has occurred and is continuing, Borrowers and Guarantors may settle, adjust
or compromise any claim, offset, counterclaim or dispute with any account

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debtor. At any time that an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is
continuing, Agent shall, at its option, have the exclusive right to settle,
adjust or compromise any claim, offset, counterclaim or dispute with account
debtors or grant any credits, discounts or allowances.

            (b) With respect to each Account: (i) the amounts shown on any
invoice delivered to Agent or schedule thereof delivered to Agent shall be true
and complete, (ii) no payments shall be made thereon except payments immediately
delivered to Agent pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, (iii) no credit,
discount, allowance or extension or agreement for any of the foregoing shall be
granted to any account debtor except as reported to Agent in accordance with
this Agreement and except for credits, discounts, allowances or extensions made
or given in the ordinary course of each Borrower's business in accordance with
practices and policies previously disclosed to Agent, (iv) there shall be no
setoffs, deductions, contras, defenses, counterclaims or disputes existing or
asserted with respect thereto except as reported to Agent in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement, (v) none of the transactions giving rise thereto will
violate any applicable foreign, Federal, State, Provincial or local laws or
regulations, all documentation relating thereto will be legally sufficient under
such laws and regulations and all such documentation will be legally enforceable
in accordance with its terms.

            (c) Agent shall have the right at any time or times, in Agent's name
or in the name of a nominee of Agent, to verify the validity, amount or any
other matter relating to any Receivables or other Collateral, by mail,
telephone, facsimile transmission or otherwise.

            7.3 INVENTORY COVENANTS. With respect to the Inventory: (a) each
Borrower and Guarantor shall at all times maintain inventory records reasonably
satisfactory to Agent, keeping correct and accurate records itemizing and
describing the kind, type, quality and quantity of Inventory, such Borrower's or
Guarantor's cost therefor and daily withdrawals therefrom and additions thereto;
(b) Borrowers and Guarantors (other than Sumco and H&H Electronic) shall conduct
a physical count of their Inventory at least once each year, and Sumco and H&H
Electronic shall conduct a physical count of their Inventory at least once each
month, but (in any case) at any time or times as Agent may request on or after
an Event of Default, and promptly following such physical inventory shall supply
Agent with a report in the form and with such specificity as may be satisfactory
to Agent concerning such physical count; (c) Borrowers and Guarantors shall not
remove any Inventory from the locations set forth or permitted herein, without
the prior written consent of Agent, except for sales of Inventory in the
ordinary course of its business and except to move Inventory directly from one
location set forth or permitted herein to another such location and except for
Inventory shipped from the manufacturer thereof to such Borrower or Guarantor
which is in transit to the locations set forth or permitted herein; (d) upon
Agent's request, Borrowers shall, at their expense, no more than two (2) times
in any twelve (12) month period, but at any time or times as Agent may request

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on or after an Event of Default, deliver or cause to be delivered to Agent
written appraisals as to the Inventory in form, scope and methodology acceptable
to Agent and by an appraiser acceptable to Agent, addressed to Agent and Lenders
and upon which Agent and Lenders are expressly permitted to rely; (e) upon
Agent's request, Borrowers shall, at their expense, no more than two (2) times
in any twelve (12) month period, but at any time or times as Agent may request
on or after an Event of Default, deliver or cause to be delivered to Agent a
written assayer's report as to the Precious Metals Inventory in form, scope and
methodology acceptable to Agent and by an assayer acceptable to Agent, addressed
to Agent and Lenders and upon which Agent and Lenders are expressly permitted to
rely; (f) Borrowers and Guarantors shall produce, use, store and maintain the
Inventory with all reasonable care and caution and in accordance with applicable
standards of any insurance and in conformity with applicable laws (including the
requirements of the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended and all
rules, regulations and orders related thereto); (g) none of the Inventory or
other Collateral constitutes farm products or the proceeds thereof; (h) each
Borrower and Guarantor assumes all responsibility and liability arising from or
relating to the production, use, sale or other disposition of the Inventory; (i)
Borrowers and Guarantors shall not sell Inventory to any customer on approval,
or any other basis which entitles the customer to return or may obligate any
Borrower or Guarantor to repurchase such Inventory; (j) Borrowers and Guarantors
shall keep the Inventory in good and marketable condition; and (k) Borrowers and
Guarantors shall not, without prior written notice to Agent or the specific
identification of such Inventory in a report with respect thereto provided by
Administrative Borrower to Agent pursuant to Section 7.1(a) hereof, acquire or
accept any Inventory on consignment or approval.

            7.4 EQUIPMENT AND REAL PROPERTY COVENANTS. With respect to the
Equipment and Real Property: (a) upon Agent's request, Borrowers and Guarantors
shall, at their expense, no more than two (2) times in any twelve (12) month
period, but at any time or times as Agent may request on or after an Event of
Default, deliver or cause to be delivered to Agent written appraisals as to the
Equipment and/or the Real Property in form, scope and methodology acceptable to
Agent and by an appraiser acceptable to Agent, addressed to Agent and upon which
Agent is expressly permitted to rely; (b) Borrowers and Guarantors shall keep
the Equipment in good order, repair, running and marketable condition (ordinary
wear and tear excepted); (c) Borrowers and Guarantors shall use the Equipment
and Real Property with reasonable care and caution and in accordance with
applicable standards of any insurance and in conformity in all material respects
with all applicable laws; (d) the Equipment is and shall be used in the business
of Borrowers and Guarantors and not for personal, family, household or farming
use; (e) Borrowers and Guarantors shall not remove any Equipment from the
locations set forth or permitted herein, except for the sale or other
disposition of Equipment in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and
except to the extent necessary to have any Equipment repaired or maintained in
the ordinary course of its business or to move Equipment directly from one
location set forth or permitted herein to another such location and except for
the movement of motor vehicles used by or for the benefit of such Borrower or
Guarantor in the ordinary course of business; (f) the Equipment is now and shall
remain personal property and Borrowers and Guarantors shall not permit any of
the Equipment to be or become a part of or affixed to real property; and (g)
each Borrower and Guarantor assumes all responsibility and liability arising
from the use of the Equipment and Real Property, except that no Borrower or
Guarantor shall be liable for losses or claims directly resulting from acts of
Agent or any Lender with respect to a parcel of Real Property while Agent or
such Lender is the owner or operator of such parcel of Real Property.

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            7.5 POWER OF ATTORNEY. Each Borrower and Guarantor hereby
irrevocably designates and appoints Agent (and all persons designated by Agent)
as such Borrower's and Guarantor's true and lawful attorney-in-fact, and
authorizes Agent, in such Borrower's, Guarantor's or Agent's name, to: (a) at
any time an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing (i) demand
payment on Receivables or other Collateral, (ii) enforce payment of Receivables
by legal proceedings or otherwise, (iii) exercise all of such Borrower's or
Guarantor's rights and remedies to collect any Receivable or other Collateral,
(iv) sell or assign any Receivable upon such terms, for such amount and at such
time or times as the Agent deems advisable, (v) settle, adjust, compromise,
extend or renew an Account, (vi) discharge and release any Receivable, (vii)
prepare, file and sign such Borrower's or Guarantor's name on any proof of claim
in bankruptcy or other similar document against an account debtor or other
obligor in respect of any Receivables or other Collateral, (viii) notify the
post office authorities to change the address for delivery of remittances from
account debtors or other obligors in respect of Receivables or other proceeds of
Collateral to an address designated by Agent, and open and dispose of all mail
addressed to such Borrower or Guarantor and handle and store all mail relating
to the Collateral; and (ix) do all acts and things which are necessary, in
Agent's determination, to fulfill such Borrower's or Guarantor's obligations
under this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements and (b) at any time to
(i) take control in any manner of any item of payment in respect of Receivables
or constituting Collateral or otherwise received in or for deposit in the
Blocked Accounts or otherwise received by Agent or any Lender, (ii) have access
to any lockbox or postal box into which remittances from account debtors or
other obligors in respect of Receivables or other proceeds of Collateral are
sent or received, (iii) endorse such Borrower's or Guarantor's name upon any
items of payment in respect of Receivables or constituting Collateral or
otherwise received by Agent and any Lender and deposit the same in Agent's
account for application to the Obligations, (iv) endorse such Borrower's or
Guarantor's name upon any chattel paper, document, instrument, invoice, or
similar document or agreement relating to any Receivable or any goods pertaining
thereto or any other Collateral, including any warehouse or other receipts, or
bills of lading and other negotiable or non-negotiable documents, (v) clear
Inventory the purchase of which was financed with Letter of Credit
Accommodations through U.S. Customs, Canadian Customs or foreign export control
authorities in such Borrower's or Guarantor's name, Agent's name or the name of
Agent's designee, and to sign and deliver to customs officials powers of
attorney in such Borrower's or Guarantor's name for such purpose, and to
complete in such Borrower's or Guarantor's or Agent's name, any order, sale or
transaction, obtain the necessary documents in connection therewith and collect
the proceeds thereof, and (vi) sign such Borrower's or Guarantor's name on any
verification of Receivables and notices thereof to account debtors or any
secondary obligors or other obligors in respect thereof. Each Borrower and
Guarantor hereby releases Agent and Lenders and their respective officers,
employees and designees from any liabilities arising from any act or acts under
this power of attorney and in furtherance thereof, whether of omission or
commission, except as a result of Agent's or any Lender's own gross negligence
or wilful misconduct as determined pursuant to a final non-appealable order of a
court of competent jurisdiction.

            7.6 RIGHT TO CURE. Agent may, at its option, upon notice to
Administrative Borrower, (a) cure any default by any Borrower or Guarantor under
any material agreement with a third party that affects the Collateral, its value

                                       70



or the ability of Agent to collect, sell or otherwise dispose of the Collateral
or the rights and remedies of Agent or any Lender therein or the ability of any
Borrower or Guarantor to perform its obligations hereunder or under any of the
other Financing Agreements, (b) pay or bond on appeal any judgment entered
against any Borrower or Guarantor, (c) discharge delinquent taxes, liens,
security interests or other encumbrances at any time levied on or existing with
respect to the Collateral and pay any amount, incur any expense or perform any
act which, in Agent's judgment, is necessary or appropriate to preserve,
protect, insure or maintain the Collateral and the rights of Agent and Lenders
with respect thereto. Agent may add any amounts so expended to the Obligations
and charge any Borrower's account therefor, such amounts to be repayable by
Borrowers on demand. Agent and Lenders shall be under no obligation to effect
such cure, payment or bonding and shall not, by doing so, be deemed to have
assumed any obligation or liability of any Borrower or Guarantor. Any payment
made or other action taken by Agent or any Lender under this Section shall be
without prejudice to any right to assert an Event of Default hereunder and to
proceed accordingly.

            7.7 ACCESS TO PREMISES. From time to time as requested by Agent, at
the cost and expense of Borrowers, (a) Agent or its designee shall have complete
access to all of each Borrower's and Guarantor's premises during normal business
hours and after notice to Administrative Borrower, or at any time and without
notice to Administrative Borrower if an Event of Default exists or has occurred
and is continuing, for the purposes of inspecting, verifying and auditing the
Collateral and all of each Borrower's and Guarantor's books and records,
including the Records, and (b) each Borrower and Guarantor (or Administrative
Borrower on behalf of each Borrower and Guarantor) shall promptly furnish to
Agent such copies of such books and records or extracts therefrom as Agent may
request, and Agent or any Lender or Agent's designee may, after reasonable
notice to Administrative Borrower (unless an Event of Default exists), use
during normal business hours such of any Borrower's and Guarantor's personnel,
equipment, supplies and premises as may be reasonably necessary for the
foregoing and if an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing
for the collection of Receivables and realization of other Collateral.

SECTION  8. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

            Each Borrower and Guarantor hereby represents and warrants to Agent
and Lenders the following (which shall survive the execution and delivery of
this Agreement), the truth and accuracy of which are a continuing condition of
the making of Loans and providing Letter of Credit Accommodations to Borrowers:

            8.1 CORPORATE EXISTENCE, POWER AND AUTHORITY. Each Borrower and
Guarantor is a corporation duly organized and in good standing under the laws of
its jurisdiction of incorporation and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation
and in good standing in all states, provinces or other jurisdictions where the
nature and extent of the business transacted by it or the ownership of assets
makes such qualification necessary, except for those jurisdictions in which the
failure to so qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement, the other Financing Agreements and

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the transactions contemplated hereunder and thereunder (a) are all within each
Borrower's and Guarantor's corporate powers, (b) have been duly authorized, (c)
are not in contravention of law or the terms of any Borrower's or Guarantor's
certificate of incorporation, by-laws, or other organizational documentation, or
any indenture, agreement or undertaking to which any Borrower or Guarantor is a
party or by which any Borrower or Guarantor or its property are bound and (d)
will not result in the creation or imposition of, or require or give rise to any
obligation to grant, any lien, security interest, charge or other encumbrance
upon any property of any Borrower or Guarantor, except for liens in favor of
Agent and Tranche B Term Loan Agent. This Agreement and the other Financing
Agreements to which any Borrower or Guarantor is a party constitute legal, valid
and binding obligations of such Borrower and Guarantor enforceable in accordance
with their respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors' rights
generally and by general equitable principles.

            8.2 NAME; STATE OF ORGANIZATION; CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICE; COLLATERAL
LOCATIONS.

            (a) The exact legal name of each Borrower and Guarantor as of the
date hereof is as set forth on the signature page of this Agreement and in the
Information Certificate. No Borrower or Guarantor has, during the five years
prior to the date of this Agreement, been known by or used any other corporate
or fictitious name or been a party to any merger or consolidation, or acquired
all or substantially all of the assets of any Person, or acquired any of its
property or assets out of the ordinary course of business, in each case except
as set forth in the Information Certificate.

            (b) Each Borrower and Guarantor is an organization of the type and
organized in the jurisdiction set forth in the Information Certificate. The
Information Certificate accurately sets forth the organizational identification
number of each Borrower and Guarantor or accurately states that such Borrower or
Guarantor has none and accurately sets forth the federal employer identification
number of each Borrower and Guarantor.

            (c) As of the date hereof, the chief executive office and mailing
address of each Borrower and Guarantor and each Borrower's and Guarantor's
Records concerning Accounts are located only at the address identified as such
in Schedule 8.2 to the Information Certificate and its only other places of
business and the only other locations of Collateral, if any, are the addresses
set forth in Schedule 8.2 to the Information Certificate, subject to the rights
of any Borrower or Guarantor to establish new locations in accordance with
Section 9.2 below. The Information Certificate correctly identifies any of such
locations which are not owned by a Borrower or Guarantor and sets forth the
owners and/or operators thereof.

            8.3 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS; NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE. All financial
statements relating to any Borrower or Guarantor which have been or may
hereafter be delivered by any Borrower or Guarantor (or Administrative Borrower
on behalf of any Borrower or Guarantor) to Agent and Lenders have been prepared
in accordance with GAAP (except as to any interim financial statements, to the
extent such statements are subject to normal year-end adjustments and do not

                                       72



include any notes) and fairly present in all material respects the financial
condition and the results of operation of such Borrower and Guarantor as at the
dates and for the periods set forth therein. Except as disclosed in any interim
financial statements furnished by Borrowers and Guarantors to Agent prior to the
date of this Agreement, there has been no act, condition or event which has had
or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect since the date of the
most recent audited financial statements of any Borrower or Guarantor furnished
by any Borrower or Guarantor to Agent prior to the date of this Agreement. All
of the obligations and liabilities of Borrowers and Guarantors to Fleet Precious
Metals, Inc. have been paid and satisfied in full, the Consignment Agreement,
dated December 21, 2000, between Parent and Fleet Precious Metals, Inc. has been
cancelled and is of no further force and effect, and all security interests and
liens of Fleet Precious Metals, Inc. on any assets or properties of any Borrower
or Guarantor have been terminated and released.

            8.4 PRIORITY OF LIENS; TITLE TO PROPERTIES. The security interests
and liens granted to Agent under this Agreement and the other Financing
Agreements constitute valid and perfected first priority liens and security
interests in and upon the Collateral subject only to the liens indicated on
Schedule 8.4 to the Information Certificate and the other liens permitted under
Section 9.8 hereof. Each Borrower and Guarantor has good and marketable fee
simple title to or valid leasehold interests in all of its Real Property and
good, valid and merchantable title to all of its other properties and assets
subject to no liens, mortgages, pledges, security interests, encumbrances or
charges of any kind, except those granted to Agent and such others as are
specifically listed on Schedule 8.4 to the Information Certificate or permitted
under Section 9.8 hereof.

            8.5 TAX RETURNS. Each Borrower and Guarantor has filed, or caused to
be filed, in a timely manner all tax returns, reports and declarations which are
required to be filed by it. All information in such tax returns, reports and
declarations is complete and accurate in all material respects. Each Borrower
and Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all taxes due and payable or claimed
due and payable in any assessment received by it, except taxes the validity of
which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently
pursued and available to such Borrower or Guarantor and with respect to which
adequate reserves have been set aside on its books. Adequate provision has been
made for the payment of all accrued and unpaid Federal, State, Provincial,
county, local, foreign and other taxes whether or not yet due and payable and
whether or not disputed.

            8.6 LITIGATION. Except as set forth on Schedule 8.6 to the
Information Certificate, (a) there is no investigation by any Governmental
Authority pending, or to the best of any Borrower's or Guarantor's knowledge
threatened, against or affecting any Borrower or Guarantor, its or their assets
or business and (b) there is no action, suit, proceeding or claim by any Person
pending, or to the best of any Borrower's or Guarantor's knowledge threatened,
against any Borrower or Guarantor or its or their assets or goodwill, or against
or affecting any transactions contemplated by this Agreement, in each case,
which if adversely determined against such Borrower or Guarantor has or could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                                       73



            8.7 COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER AGREEMENTS AND APPLICABLE LAWS.

            (a) Borrowers and Guarantors are not in default in any material
respect under, or in violation in any material respect of the terms of, any
material agreement, contract, instrument, lease or other commitment to which it
is a party or by which it or any of its assets are bound. Borrowers and
Guarantors are in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of
all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority
relating to their respective businesses, including, without limitation, those
set forth in or promulgated pursuant to the Occupational Safety and Health Act
of 1970, as amended, the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, ERISA,
the Code, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, and all
Environmental Laws.

            (b) Borrowers and Guarantors have obtained all material permits,
licenses, approvals, consents, certificates, orders or authorizations of any
Governmental Authority required for the lawful conduct of its business (the
"Permits"). All of the Permits are valid and subsisting and in full force and
effect. There are no actions, claims or proceedings pending or to the best of
any Borrower's or Guarantor's knowledge, threatened that seek the revocation,
cancellation, suspension or modification of any of the Permits.

            8.8 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE.

            (a) Except as set forth on Schedule 8.8 to the Information
Certificate, Borrowers, Guarantors and any Subsidiary of any Borrower or
Guarantor have not generated, used, stored, treated, transported, manufactured,
handled, produced or disposed of any Hazardous Materials, on or off its premises
(whether or not owned by it) in any manner which at any time violates in any
respect any applicable Environmental Law or Permit, except where such violation
has not had and could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect, and the operations of Borrowers, Guarantors and any Subsidiary of any
Borrower or Guarantor complies in all respects with all Environmental Laws and
all Permits, except where the failure to so comply has not had and could not be
reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

            (b) Except as set forth on Schedule 8.8 to the Information
Certificate, there has been no investigation by any Governmental Authority or
any proceeding, complaint, order, directive, claim, citation or notice by any
Governmental Authority or any other person nor is any pending or to the best of
any Borrower's or Guarantor's knowledge threatened, with respect to any
non-compliance with or violation of the requirements of any Environmental Law by
any Borrower or Guarantor and any Subsidiary of any Borrower or Guarantor or the
release, spill or discharge, threatened or actual, of any Hazardous Material or
the generation, use, storage, treatment, transportation, manufacture, handling,
production or disposal of any Hazardous Materials or any other environmental,
health or safety matter in each case which has had or could be reasonably
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

            (c) Except as set forth on Schedule 8.8 to the Information
Certificate, Borrowers, Guarantors and their Subsidiaries have no liability
(contingent or otherwise) in connection with a release, spill or discharge,
threatened or actual, of any Hazardous Materials or the generation, use,

                                       74



storage, treatment, transportation, manufacture, handling, production or
disposal of any Hazardous Materials which liability has had or could be
reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

            (d) Borrowers, Guarantors and their Subsidiaries have all Permits
required to be obtained or filed in connection with the operations of Borrowers
and Guarantors under any Environmental Law and all of such licenses,
certificates, approvals or similar authorizations and other Permits are valid
and in full force and effect.

            8.9 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.


            (a) Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the
applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other Federal or State law. Each
Plan which is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code has received
a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service and to the
best of any Borrower's or Guarantor's knowledge, nothing has occurred which
would cause the loss of such qualification. Each Borrower and its ERISA
Affiliates have made all required contributions to any Plan subject to Section
412 of the Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any
amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has been made with
respect to any Plan.

            (b) There are no pending, or to the best of any Borrower's or
Guarantor's knowledge, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any
Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan. To the best knowledge of any
Borrower or Guarantor, there has been no prohibited transaction or violation of
the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan.

            (c) (i) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to
occur; (ii) the current value of each Plan's assets (determined in accordance
with the assumptions used for funding such Plan pursuant to Section 412 of the
Code) are not less than such Plan's liabilities under Section 4001(a)(16) of
ERISA; (iii) each Borrower and Guarantor, and their ERISA Affiliates, have not
incurred and do not reasonably expect to incur, any liability under Title IV of
ERISA with respect to any Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under
Section 4007 of ERISA); (iv) each Borrower and Guarantor, and their ERISA
Affiliates, have not incurred and do not reasonably expect to incur, any
liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under
Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Section 4201 or
4243 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan; and (v) each Borrower and
Guarantor, and their ERISA Affiliates, have not engaged in a transaction that
would be subject to Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.

            (d) With respect to any Canadian Pension Plan, to the best of the
knowledge of each Borrower and Guarantor, (i) the Canadian Pension Plans are
duly registered under all applicable Federal and Provincial pension benefits
legislation, (ii) all statutory obligations of any Borrower or Guarantor
required to be performed in connection with the Canadian Pension Plans or the
funding agreements therefor have been performed in a timely fashion and there
are no outstanding disputes concerning the assets held pursuant to any such
funding agreement, (iii) all contributions or premiums required to be made by
any Borrower or Guarantor to the Canadian Pension Plans have been made in a

                                       75



timely fashion in accordance with the terms of the Canadian Pension Plans and
applicable laws and regulations, (iv) all employee contributions to the Canadian
Pension Plans required to be made by way of authorized payroll deduction have
been properly withheld by any Borrower or Guarantor and fully paid into the
Canadian Pension Plans in a timely fashion, (v) all reports and disclosures
relating to the Canadian Pension Plans required by any applicable laws or
regulations have been filed or distributed in a timely fashion, (vi) there have
been no improper withdrawals, or applications of, the assets of any of the
Pension Plans, (vii) no amount is owing by any of the Canadian Pension Plans
under the Income Tax Act (Canada) or any provincial taxation statute, (viii) the
Canadian Pension Plans are fully funded in accordance with applicable law both
on an ongoing basis and on a solvency basis (using actuarial assumptions and
methods which are consistent with the valuations last filed with the applicable
governmental authorities and which are consistent with generally accepted
actuarial principles), and (ix) none of the Canadian Pension Plans is the
subject of an investigation, proceeding, action or claim and there exists no
state of facts which after notice or lapse of time or both could reasonably be
expected to give rise to any such proceeding, action or claim.

            8.10 BANK ACCOUNTS. As of the date hereof, all of the deposit
accounts, investment accounts or other accounts in the name of or used by any
Borrower or Guarantor maintained at any bank or other financial institution are
set forth on Schedule 8.10 to the Information Certificate, subject to the right
of each Borrower and Guarantor to establish new accounts in accordance with
Section 5.2 hereof.

            8.11 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. Each Borrower and Guarantor owns or
licenses or otherwise has the right to use all Intellectual Property necessary
for the operation of its business as presently conducted or proposed to be
conducted. As of the date hereof, Borrowers and Guarantors do not have any
Intellectual Property registered, or subject to pending applications, in the
United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Intellectual Property
Office or any similar office or agency in the United States or Canada, any State
or Province thereof, any political subdivision thereof or in any other country,
other than those described in Schedule 8.11 to the Information Certificate and
has not granted any licenses with respect thereto other than as set forth in
Schedule 8.11 to the Information Certificate. No event has occurred which
permits or would permit after notice or passage of time or both, the revocation,
suspension or termination of such rights. To the best of any Borrower's and
Guarantor's knowledge, (a) no slogan or other advertising device, product,
process, method, substance or other Intellectual Property or goods bearing or
using any Intellectual Property presently contemplated to be sold by or employed
by any Borrower or Guarantor infringes any patent, trademark, servicemark,
tradename, copyright, license or other Intellectual Property owned by any other
Person presently and (b) no claim or litigation is pending or threatened against
or affecting any Borrower or Guarantor contesting its right to sell or use any
such Intellectual Property. Schedule 8.11 to the Information Certificate sets
forth all of the agreements or other arrangements of each Borrower and Guarantor
pursuant to which such Borrower or Guarantor has a license or other right to use
any trademarks, logos, designs, representations or other Intellectual Property
owned by another person as in effect on the date hereof and the dates of the
expiration of such agreements or other arrangements of such Borrower or
Guarantor as in effect on the date hereof (collectively, together with such

                                       76



agreements or other arrangements as may be entered into by any Borrower or
Guarantor after the date hereof, collectively, the "License Agreements" and
individually, a "License Agreement"). No trademark, servicemark, copyright or
other Intellectual Property at any time used by any Borrower or Guarantor which
is owned by another person, or owned by such Borrower or Guarantor subject to
any security interest, lien, collateral assignment, pledge or other encumbrance
in favor of any person other than Agent, is affixed to any Eligible Inventory,
except (i) to the extent permitted under the term of the license agreements
listed on Schedule 8.11 to the Information Certificate and (ii) to the extent
the sale of Inventory to which such Intellectual Property is affixed is
permitted to be sold by such Borrower or Guarantor under applicable law
(including the United States Copyright Act of 1976).

            8.12 SUBSIDIARIES; AFFILIATES; CAPITALIZATION; SOLVENCY.

            (a) As of the date hereof, each Borrower and Guarantor does not have
any direct or indirect Subsidiaries or Affiliates and is not engaged in any
joint venture or partnership except as set forth in Schedule 8.12 to the
Information Certificate.

            (b) As of the date hereof, each Borrower and Guarantor is the record
and beneficial owner of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Capital
Stock of each of the Subsidiaries listed on Schedule 8.12 to the Information
Certificate as being owned by such Borrower or Guarantor and there are no
proxies, irrevocable or otherwise, with respect to such shares and no equity
securities of any of the Subsidiaries are or may become required to be issued by
reason of any options, warrants, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of
any kind or nature and there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or
arrangements by which any Subsidiary is or may become bound to issue additional
shares of it Capital Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for
such shares.

            (c) The issued and outstanding shares of Capital Stock of each
Borrower and Guarantor are directly and beneficially owned and held by the
persons indicated in the Information Certificate, and in each case all of such
shares have been duly authorized and are fully paid and non-assessable, free and
clear of all claims, liens, pledges and encumbrances of any kind, except as
disclosed in writing to Agent prior to the date hereof.

            (d) Each Borrower and Guarantor is Solvent and will continue to be
Solvent after the creation of the Obligations and the obligations under the
Tranche B Term Loan Lender Agreements, the security interests of Agent and the
Tranche B Term Loan Agent and the other transaction contemplated hereunder and
under the Tranche B Term Loan Lender Agreements.

            8.13 LABOR DISPUTES.

            (a) Set forth on Schedule 8.13 to the Information Certificate is a
list (including dates of termination) of all collective bargaining or similar
agreements between or applicable to each Borrower and Guarantor and any union,
labor organization or other bargaining agent in respect of the employees of any
Borrower or Guarantor on the date hereof.

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            (b) Except as set forth on Schedule 8.13 to the Information
Certificate, there is (i) no significant unfair labor practice complaint pending
against any Borrower or Guarantor or, to the best of any Borrower's or
Guarantor's knowledge, threatened against it, before the National Labor
Relations Board, and no significant grievance or significant arbitration
proceeding arising out of or under any collective bargaining agreement is
pending on the date hereof against any Borrower or Guarantor or, to best of any
Borrower's or Guarantor's knowledge, threatened against it, and (ii) no
significant strike, labor dispute, slowdown or stoppage is pending against any
Borrower or Guarantor or, to the best of any Borrower's or Guarantor's
knowledge, threatened against any Borrower or Guarantor.

            8.14 RESTRICTIONS ON SUBSIDIARIES. Except for restrictions contained
in this Agreement or any other agreement with respect to Indebtedness of any
Borrower or Guarantor permitted hereunder as in effect on the date hereof, there
are no contractual or consensual restrictions on any Borrower or Guarantor or
any of its Subsidiaries which prohibit or otherwise restrict (a) the transfer of
cash or other assets (i) between any Borrower or Guarantor and any of its or
their Subsidiaries or (ii) between any Subsidiaries of any Borrower or Guarantor
or (b) the ability of any Borrower or Guarantor or any of its or their
Subsidiaries to incur Indebtedness or grant security interests to Agent or any
Lender in the Collateral.

            8.15 MATERIAL CONTRACTS. Schedule 8.15 to the Information
Certificate sets forth all Material Contracts to which any Borrower or Guarantor
is a party or is bound as of the date hereof. Borrowers and Guarantors have
delivered true, correct and complete copies of such Material Contracts to Agent
on or before the date hereof. Borrowers and Guarantors are not in breach or in
default in any material respect of or under any Material Contract and have not
received any notice of the intention of any other party thereto to terminate any
Material Contract.

            8.16 PAYABLE PRACTICES. Each Borrower and Guarantor have not made
any material change in the historical accounts payable practices from those in
effect immediately prior to the date hereof.

            8.17 INTERRELATED BUSINESSES. Borrowers make up a related
organization of various entities constituting a single economic and business
enterprise so that Borrowers share an identity of interests such that any
benefit received by any one of them benefits the others. Borrowers render
services to or for the benefit of the other Borrowers, purchase or sell and
supply goods to or from or for the benefit of the others, make loans, advances
and provide other financial accommodations to or for the benefit of the other
Borrowers (including inter alia, the payment by Borrowers of creditors of the
other Borrowers and guarantees by Borrowers of indebtedness of the other
Borrowers and provide administrative, marketing, payroll and management services
to or for the benefit of the other Borrowers). Borrowers have the same chief
executive office, centralized accounting and legal services, certain common
officers and directors and generally do not provide consolidating financial
statements to creditors.

            8.18 ACCURACY AND COMPLETENESS OF INFORMATION. All information
furnished by or on behalf of any Borrower or Guarantor in writing to Agent or
any Lender in connection with this Agreement or any of the other Financing
Agreements or any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby, including all

                                       78



information on the Information Certificate is true and correct in all material
respects on the date as of which such information is dated or certified and does
not omit any material fact necessary in order to make such information not
misleading. No event or circumstance has occurred which has had or could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Affect, which has not been
fully and accurately disclosed to Agent in writing prior to the date hereof.

            8.19 SURVIVAL OF WARRANTIES; CUMULATIVE. All representations and
warranties contained in this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements
shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and shall be deemed
to have been made again to Agent and Lenders on the date of each additional
borrowing or other credit accommodation hereunder and shall be conclusively
presumed to have been relied on by Agent and Lenders regardless of any
investigation made or information possessed by Agent or any Lender. The
representations and warranties set forth herein shall be cumulative and in
addition to any other representations or warranties which any Borrower or
Guarantor shall now or hereafter give, or cause to be given, to Agent or any
Lender.

SECTION  9. AFFIRMATIVE AND NEGATIVE COVENANTS

            9.1 MAINTENANCE OF EXISTENCE.

            (a) Each Borrower and Guarantor shall at all times preserve, renew
and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and rights and
franchises with respect thereto and maintain in full force and effect all
licenses, trademarks, tradenames, approvals, authorizations, leases, contracts
and Permits necessary to carry on in all material respects the business as
presently or proposed to be conducted, except as to any Guarantor other than
Parent as permitted in Section 9.7 hereto.

            (b) No Borrower or Guarantor shall change its name unless each of
the following conditions is satisfied: (i) Agent shall have received not less
than ten (10) days prior written notice from Administrative Borrower of such
proposed change in its corporate name, which notice shall accurately set forth
the new name; and (ii) Agent shall have received a copy of the amendment to the
Certificate of Incorporation (or other organizational documents) of such
Borrower or Guarantor providing for the name change certified by the Secretary
of State (or similar official) of the jurisdiction of incorporation or
organization of such Borrower or Guarantor as soon as it is available.

            (c) No Borrower or Guarantor shall change its chief executive office
or its mailing address or organizational identification number (or if it does
not have one, shall not acquire one) unless Agent shall have received not less
than ten (10) days' prior written notice from Administrative Borrower of such
proposed change, which notice shall set forth such information with respect
thereto as Agent may require and Agent shall have received such agreements as
Agent may reasonably require in connection therewith. No Borrower or Guarantor
shall change its type of organization, jurisdiction of organization or other
legal structure.

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            9.2 NEW COLLATERAL LOCATIONS. Each Borrower and Guarantor may only
open any new location within Canada (in the case of H&H Canada) or the
continental United States (in the case of all other Borrowers and Guarantors)
provided such Borrower or Guarantor (a) gives Agent thirty (30) days prior
written notice of the intended opening of any such new location (or such shorter
period as Agent may agree) and (b) executes and delivers, or causes to be
executed and delivered, to Agent such agreements, documents, and instruments as
Agent may deem reasonably necessary or desirable to protect its interests in the
Collateral at such location.

            9.3 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS, REGULATIONS, ETC.

            (a) Each Borrower and Guarantor shall, and shall cause any
Subsidiary to, at all times, comply in all material respects with all laws,
rules, regulations, licenses, approvals, orders and other Permits applicable to
it and duly observe in all material respects all requirements of any foreign,
Federal, State or local Governmental Authority.

            (b) Borrowers and Guarantors shall give written notice to Agent
promptly upon any Borrower's or Guarantor's receipt of any written notice of, or
any Borrower's or Guarantor's otherwise obtaining knowledge of, (i) the
occurrence of any event involving the material release, spill or discharge,
threatened or actual, of any Hazardous Material in violation of Environmental
Laws or (ii) any investigation, proceeding, complaint, order, directive, claims,
citation or notice with respect to: (A) any non-compliance with or violation of
any Environmental Law by any Borrower or Guarantor or (B) the release, spill or
discharge, threatened or actual, of any Hazardous Material other than in the
ordinary course of business and other than as permitted under any applicable
Environmental Law. Copies of all environmental surveys, audits, assessments,
feasibility studies and results of remedial investigations relating to any Real
Property shall be furnished, or caused to be furnished, by such Borrower or
Guarantor to Agent promptly upon such Borrower's or Guarantor's receipt thereof.
Each Borrower and Guarantor shall take prompt action to respond to any material
non-compliance with any of the Environmental Laws and shall regularly report to
Agent on such response.

            (c) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, whenever Agent
reasonably determines that there is material non-compliance, or any condition
which requires any action by or on behalf of any Borrower or Guarantor in order
to avoid any material non-compliance, with any Environmental Law, Borrowers
shall, at Agent's request and Borrowers' expense: (i) cause an independent
environmental engineer reasonably acceptable to Agent to conduct such tests of
the site where material non-compliance or alleged material non-compliance with
such Environmental Laws has occurred as to such material non-compliance and
prepare and deliver to Agent a report as to such material non-compliance setting
forth the results of such tests, a proposed plan for responding to any
environmental problems described therein, and an estimate of the costs thereof
and (ii) provide to Agent a supplemental report of such engineer whenever the
scope of such material non-compliance, or such Borrower's or Guarantor's
response thereto or the estimated costs thereof, shall change in any material
respect.

            (d) Each Borrower and Guarantor shall indemnify and hold harmless
Agent and Lenders and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents,
invitees, representatives, successors and assigns, from and against any and all

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losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable
attorneys' fees and expenses) directly or indirectly arising out of or
attributable to the use, generation, manufacture, reproduction, storage,
release, threatened release, spill, discharge, disposal or presence of a
Hazardous Material, including the costs of any required or necessary repair,
cleanup or other remedial work with respect to any property of any Borrower or
Guarantor and the preparation and implementation of any closure, remedial or
other required plans; provided, that, Borrowers and Guarantors shall not be
required to indemnify for any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs
or expenses directly resulting from acts of Agent or any Lender with respect to
a parcel of Real Property while Agent or such Lender is the owner or operator of
such parcel of Real Property. All representations, warranties, covenants and
indemnifications in this Section 9.3 shall survive the payment of the
Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

            9.4 PAYMENT OF TAXES AND CLAIMS. Each Borrower and Guarantor shall,
and shall cause any Subsidiary to, duly pay and discharge when due all taxes,
assessments, contributions and governmental charges upon or against it or its
properties or assets, except for taxes the validity of which are being contested
in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently pursued and available to
such Borrower, Guarantor or Subsidiary, as the case may be, and with respect to
which adequate reserves have been set aside on its books. Each Borrower and
Guarantor shall be liable for any tax or penalties imposed on Agent or any
Lender as a result of the financing arrangements provided for herein and each
Borrower and Guarantor agrees to indemnify and hold Agent harmless with respect
to the foregoing, and to repay to Agent, for the benefit of Lenders, on demand
the amount thereof, and until paid by such Borrower or Guarantor such amount
shall be added and deemed part of the Loans, provided, that, nothing contained
herein shall be construed to require any Borrower or Guarantor to pay any income
or franchise taxes attributable to the income of Lenders from any amounts
charged or paid hereunder to Lenders. The foregoing indemnity shall survive the
payment of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

            9.5 INSURANCE. Each Borrower and Guarantor shall, and shall cause
any Subsidiary to, at all times, maintain with financially sound and reputable
insurers insurance with respect to the Collateral against loss or damage and all
other insurance of the kinds and in the amounts customarily insured against or
carried by corporations of established reputation engaged in the same or similar
businesses and similarly situated. Said policies of insurance shall be
reasonably satisfactory to Agent as to form, amount and insurer. Borrowers and
Guarantors shall furnish certificates, policies or endorsements to Agent as
Agent shall reasonably require as proof of such insurance, and, if any Borrower
or Guarantor fails to do so, Agent is authorized, but not required, to obtain
such insurance at the expense of Borrowers. All policies shall provide for at
least thirty (30) days prior written notice to Agent of any cancellation or
reduction of coverage and that Agent may act as attorney for each Borrower and
Guarantor in obtaining, and at any time an Event of Default exists or has
occurred and is continuing, adjusting, settling, amending and canceling such
insurance. Borrowers and Guarantors shall cause Agent to be named as a loss
payee and an additional insured (but without any liability for any premiums)
under such insurance policies and Borrowers and Guarantors shall obtain
non-contributory lender's loss payable endorsements to all insurance policies in

                                       81



form and substance satisfactory to Agent. Such lender's loss payable
endorsements shall specify that the proceeds of such insurance shall be payable
to Agent as its interests may appear and further specify that Agent and Lenders
shall be paid regardless of any act or omission by any Borrower, Guarantor or
any of its or their Affiliates. Without limiting any other rights of Agent or
Lenders, any insurance proceeds received by Agent at any time may be applied to
payment of the Obligations, whether or not then due, in any order and in such
manner as Agent may determine. Upon application of such proceeds to the
Revolving Loans, Revolving Loans may be available subject and pursuant to the
terms hereof to be used for the costs of repair or replacement of the Collateral
lost or damages resulting in the payment of such insurance proceeds.

            9.6 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND OTHER INFORMATION.

            (a) Each Borrower and Guarantor shall, and shall cause any
Subsidiary to, keep proper books and records in which true and accurate entries
shall be made of all dealings or transactions of or in relation to the
Collateral and the business of such Borrower, Guarantor and its Subsidiaries in
accordance with GAAP. Borrowers and Guarantors shall promptly furnish to Agent
and Lenders all such financial and other information as Agent shall reasonably
request relating to the Collateral and the assets, business and operations of
Borrowers and Guarantors, and Borrower shall notify the auditors and accountants
of Borrowers and Guarantors that Agent is authorized to obtain such information
directly from them. Without limiting the foregoing, Borrowers and Guarantors
shall furnish or cause to be furnished to Agent, the following: (i) within
thirty (30) days after the end of each fiscal month, monthly unaudited
consolidated financial statements (including balance sheets, statements of
income and loss), statements of cash flow, and statements of shareholders'
equity) and monthly unaudited consolidating financial statements (including
balance sheets and statements of income and loss, all in reasonable detail,
fairly presenting in all material respects the financial position and the
results of the operations of Parent and its Subsidiaries as of the end of and
through such fiscal month, certified to be correct by the chief financial
officer of Parent, subject to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of
footnotes and accompanied by a compliance certificate substantially in the form
of Exhibit C hereto, along with a schedule in a form satisfactory to Agent of
the calculations used in determining, as of the end of such month, whether
Borrowers and Guarantors are in compliance with the covenants set forth in
Sections 9.17 and 9.18 of this Agreement for such month, (ii) within forty five
(45) days after the end of each fiscal quarter, quarterly unaudited consolidated
financial statements, (including balance sheets, statements of income and loss,
statements of cash flow, and statements of shareholders' equity) and quarterly
unaudited consolidating financial statements (including balance sheets and
statements of income and loss), all in reasonable detail, fairly presenting in
all material respects the financial position and the results of the operations
of Parent and its Subsidiaries as of the end of and through such fiscal quarter,
certified to be correct by the chief financial officer of Parent, subject to
normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes and (iii) within one
hundred five (105) days after the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 and within
ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year thereafter, audited
consolidated financial statements (including balance sheets, statements of
income, statements of cash flow and statements of shareholders' equity) and
unaudited consolidating financial statements of Parent and its Subsidiaries

                                       82



(including balance sheets, and statements of income and loss), and the
accompanying notes thereto, all in reasonable detail, fairly presenting in all
material respects the financial position and the results of the operations of
Parent and its Subsidiaries as of the end of and for such fiscal year, together
with the unqualified opinion of independent certified public accountants with
respect to the audited consolidated financial statements, which accountants
shall be an independent accounting firm selected by Borrowers and acceptable to
Agent, that such audited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in
accordance with GAAP, and present fairly in all material respects the results of
operations and financial condition of Parent and its Subsidiaries as of the end
of and for the fiscal year then ended; PROVIDED, THAT, if the initial Loans
hereunder are not made on or before March 31, 2004, the opinion of the
independent certified public accountants with respect to the audited financial
statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 may contain a going
concern qualification but solely to the extent such qualification reflects the
fact that the liabilities owing to the Existing Lenders will be classified as
current liabilities on or after April 1, 2004.

            (b) Borrowers and Guarantors shall promptly notify Agent in writing
of the details of (i) any loss, damage, investigation, action, suit, proceeding
or claim relating to Collateral having a value of more than $250,000 or which if
adversely determined would result in any material adverse change in any
Borrower's or Guarantor's business, properties, assets, goodwill or condition,
financial or otherwise, (ii) any Material Contract being terminated or amended
or any new Material Contract entered into (in which event Borrowers and
Guarantors shall provide Agent with a copy of such Material Contract), (iii) any
order, judgment or decree in excess of $250,000 shall have been entered against
any Borrower or Guarantor any of its or their properties or assets, (iv) any
notification of a material violation of laws or regulations received by any
Borrower or Guarantor, (v) any ERISA Event, and (vi) the occurrence of any
Default or Event of Default.

            (c) Borrowers and Guarantors shall promptly after the sending or
filing thereof furnish or cause to be furnished to Agent copies of all reports
which any Borrower or Guarantor sends to its stockholders generally and copies
of all reports and registration statements which any Borrower or Guarantor files
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, any national securities exchange or
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

            (d) Borrowers and Guarantors shall furnish or cause to be furnished
to Agent such budgets, forecasts, projections and other information respecting
the Collateral and the business of Borrowers and Guarantors, as Agent may, from
time to time, reasonably request. Agent is hereby authorized to deliver a copy
of any financial statement or any other information relating to the business of
Borrowers and Guarantors to any court or other Governmental Authority or to any
Lender or Participant or prospective Lender or Participant or any Affiliate of
any Lender or Participant. Each Borrower and Guarantor hereby irrevocably
authorizes and directs all accountants or auditors to deliver to Agent, at
Borrowers' expense, copies of the financial statements of any Borrower and
Guarantor and any reports or management letters prepared by such accountants or
auditors on behalf of any Borrower or Guarantor and to disclose to Agent and
Lenders such information as they may have regarding the business of any Borrower

                                       83



and Guarantor. Any documents, schedules, invoices or other papers delivered to
Agent or any Lender may be destroyed or otherwise disposed of by Agent or such
Lender one (1) year after the same are delivered to Agent or such Lender, except
as otherwise designated by Administrative Borrower to Agent or such Lender in
writing.

            9.7 SALE OF ASSETS, CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, DISSOLUTION, ETC. Each
Borrower and Guarantor shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to,
directly or indirectly,

            (a) merge into or with or consolidate or amalgamate with any other
Person or permit any other Person to merge into or with or consolidate with it
except that any wholly-owned Subsidiary of Parent may merge with and into or
consolidate with any other wholly-owned Subsidiary of Parent, PROVIDED, THAT,
each of the following conditions is satisfied as determined by Agent in good
faith: (i) Agent shall have received not less than ten (10) Business Days' prior
written notice of the intention of such Subsidiaries to so merge or consolidate,
which notice shall set forth in reasonable detail satisfactory to Agent, the
persons that are merging or consolidating, which person will be the surviving
entity, the locations of the assets of the persons that are merging or
consolidating, and the material agreements and documents relating to such merger
or consolidation, (ii) Agent shall have received such other information with
respect to such merger or consolidation as Agent may reasonably request, (iii)
as of the effective date of the merger or consolidation and after giving effect
thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall exist or have occurred, (iv) Agent
shall have received, true, correct and complete copies of all agreements,
documents and instruments relating to such merger or consolidation, including,
but not limited to, the certificate or certificates of merger to be filed with
each appropriate Secretary of State (with a copy as filed promptly after such
filing), (v) the surviving corporation shall expressly confirm, ratify and
assume the Obligations and the Financing Agreements to which it is a party in
writing, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent, and Borrowers and
Guarantors shall execute and deliver such other agreements, documents and
instruments as Agent may request in connection therewith, (vi) in any merger,
consolidation or amalgamation involving a Borrower, the surviving entity of such
merger, consolidation or amalgamation shall be a Borrower and (vii) in no event
shall any Accounts or Inventory acquired by a Borrower pursuant to a merger,
consolidation or amalgamation be deemed to be Eligible Accounts or Eligible
Inventory until Agent shall have conducted due diligence with respect thereto
that is satisfactory to Agent and then only to the extent that the criteria for
Eligible Accounts and Eligible Inventory are satisfied with respect thereto;

            (b) sell, issue, assign, lease, license, transfer, abandon or
otherwise dispose of any Capital Stock or Indebtedness to any other Person or
any of its assets to any other Person, except for

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

              (ii) the sale or other disposition of Equipment (including
worn-out or obsolete Equipment or Equipment no longer used or useful in the
business of any Borrower or Guarantor) and obsolete Inventory which does not
consist of Eligible Inventory or Eligible Consigned Precious Metals Inventory so
long as such sales or other dispositions do not involve Equipment and Inventory

                                       84



having an aggregate fair market value in excess of $350,000 for all such
Equipment and Inventory disposed of in any fiscal year of Borrowers or as Agent
may otherwise agree, and

              (iii) the issuance and sale by any Borrower or Guarantor of
Capital Stock of such Borrower or Guarantor after the date hereof; PROVIDED,
THAT, (A) Agent shall have received not less than ten (10) Business Days' prior
written notice of such issuance and sale by such Borrower or Guarantor, which
notice shall specify the parties to whom such shares are to be sold, the terms
of such sale, the total amount which it is anticipated will be realized from the
issuance and sale of such stock and the net cash proceeds which it is
anticipated will be received by such Borrower or Guarantor from such sale, (B)
such Borrower or Guarantor shall not be required to pay any cash dividends or
repurchase or redeem such Capital Stock or make any other payments in respect
thereof, except as otherwise permitted in Section 9.11 hereof, (C) the terms of
such Capital Stock, and the terms and conditions of the purchase and sale
thereof, shall not include any terms that include any limitation on the right of
any Borrower to request or receive Loans or Letter of Credit Accommodations or
the right of any Borrower and Guarantor to amend or modify any of the terms and
conditions of this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements or
otherwise in any way relate to or affect the arrangements of Borrowers and
Guarantors with Agent and Lenders or are more restrictive or burdensome to any
Borrower or Guarantor than the terms of any Capital Stock in effect on the date
hereof, (D) except as Agent may otherwise agree in writing, all of the Net Cash
Proceeds of the sale and issuance of such Capital Stock shall be paid in
accordance with the terms of Sections 2.4 and 6.4 hereof and (E) as of the date
of such issuance and sale and after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event
of Default shall exist or have occurred,

              (iv) the issuance of Capital Stock of any Borrower or Guarantor
consisting of common stock pursuant to an employee stock option or grant or
similar equity plan or 401(k) plans of such Borrower or Guarantor for the
benefit of its employees, directors and consultants, PROVIDED, THAT, in no event
shall such Borrower or Guarantor be required to issue, or shall such Borrower or
Guarantor issue, Capital Stock pursuant to such stock plans or 401(k) plans
which would result in a Change of Control or other Event of Default,

              (v) the sale or other disposition by Parent to WHX of all of the
issued and outstanding shares of Capital Stock in Indiana Tube Danmark A/S, a
corporation organized under the laws of Denmark; PROVIDED, THAT, (A) as of the
date of such sale or disposition and after giving effect thereto, no Event of
Default shall exist or have occurred and be continuing and (B) the Net Cash
Proceeds (if any) from such sale or disposition shall promptly be remitted to
Agent for application to the Revolving Loans,

              (vi) the sale or other disposition of the Fairfield Property, the
Laredo Property and the North Attleboro Property; PROVIDED, THAT, (A) as of the
date of such sale or disposition and after giving effect thereto, no Event of
Default shall exist or have occurred and be continuing, (B) such sale or
disposition shall be on commercially reasonable terms in a BONA FIDE arm's
length transaction with a Person that is not an Affiliate of a Borrower, (C)
Administrative Borrower shall furnish Agent with prior written notice of such

                                       85



sale or disposition (together with such information relating thereto as Agent
shall reasonably request), and (D) on the closing date of such sale or
disposition, the applicable Borrower shall receive Net Cash Proceeds of not less
than $1,500,000 in the case of the Fairfield Property, $400,000 in the case of
the Laredo Property and $1,000,000 in the case of the North Attleboro Property;

            (c) wind up, liquidate or dissolve except that any Guarantor may
wind up, liquidate and dissolve, provided, that, each of the following
conditions is satisfied, (i) the winding up, liquidation and dissolution of such
Guarantor shall not violate any law or any order or decree of any court or other
Governmental Authority in any material respect and shall not conflict with or
result in the breach of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage,
deed of trust, or any other agreement or instrument to which any Borrower or
Guarantor is a party or may be bound, (ii) such winding up, liquidation or
dissolution shall be done in accordance with the requirements of all applicable
laws and regulations, (iii) effective upon such winding up, liquidation or
dissolution, all of the assets and properties of such Guarantor shall be duly
and validly transferred and assigned to a Borrower or another Guarantor, free
and clear of any liens, restrictions or encumbrances other than the security
interest and liens of Agent (and Agent shall have received such evidence thereof
as Agent may require) and Agent shall have received such deeds, assignments or
other agreements as Agent may request to evidence and confirm the transfer of
such assets to of such Guarantor to a Borrower, (iv) Agent shall have received
all documents and agreements that any Borrower or Guarantor has filed with any
Governmental Authority or as are otherwise required to effectuate such winding
up, liquidation or dissolution, (v) no Borrower or Guarantor shall assume any
Indebtedness, obligations or liabilities as a result of such winding up,
liquidation or dissolution, or otherwise become liable in respect of any
obligations or liabilities of the entity that is winding up, liquidating or
dissolving, unless such Indebtedness is otherwise expressly permitted hereunder,
(vi) Agent shall have received not less than ten (10) Business Days prior
written notice of the intention of such Guarantor to wind up, liquidate or
dissolve, and (vii) as of the date of such winding up, liquidation or
dissolution and after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default
shall exist or have occurred; or

            (d) agree to do any of the foregoing.

            9.8 ENCUMBRANCES. Each Borrower and Guarantor shall not, and shall
not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any
security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, charge or other encumbrance of any
nature whatsoever on any of its assets or properties, including the Collateral,
or file or permit the filing of, or permit to remain in effect, any financing
statement or other similar notice of any security interest or lien with respect
to any such assets or properties, except:

            (a) the security interests and liens of Agent for itself and the
benefit of Lenders;

            (b) liens securing the payment of taxes, assessments or other
governmental charges or levies either not yet overdue or the validity of which
are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently pursued
and available to such Borrower, or Guarantor or Subsidiary, as the case may be

                                       86



and with respect to which adequate reserves have been set aside on its books;

            (c) non-consensual statutory liens (other than liens securing the
payment of taxes) arising in the ordinary course of such Borrower's, Guarantor's
or Subsidiary's business to the extent: (i) such liens secure Indebtedness which
is not overdue or (ii) such liens secure Indebtedness relating to claims or
liabilities which are fully insured and being defended at the sole cost and
expense and at the sole risk of the insurer or being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings diligently pursued and available to such Borrower,
Guarantor or such Subsidiary, in each case prior to the commencement of
foreclosure or other similar proceedings and with respect to which adequate
reserves have been set aside on its books;

            (d) zoning restrictions (including, without limitation, airport
zoning regulations relating to the Real Property of H&H Canada in Rexdale,
Ontario), easements (including unregistered easements), licenses, agreements
with municipalities, covenants and other restrictions affecting the use of Real
Property (including, in the case of the Real Property of H&H Canada located in
Rexdale, Ontario, (i) any rights of expropriation, access of use, or other
rights conferred by any statute of Canada or the Province of Ontario and (ii)
the reservations contained in the original grant from Canada) which do not
interfere in any material respect with the use of such Real Property or ordinary
conduct of the business of such Borrower, Guarantor or such Subsidiary as
presently conducted thereon or materially impair the value of the Real Property
(or, in the case of leasehold interests, the value of such Borrower's,
Guarantor's or such Subsidiary's interest in the Real Property) which may be
subject thereto;

            (e) purchase money security interests in Equipment (including
Capital Leases) and purchase money mortgages on Real Property to secure
Indebtedness permitted under Section 9.9(b) hereof;

            (f) pledges and deposits of cash by any Borrower or Guarantor after
the date hereof in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers'
compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security benefits
consistent with the current practices of such Borrower or Guarantor as of the
date hereof;

            (g) pledges and deposits of cash by any Borrower or Guarantor after
the date hereof to secure the performance of tenders, bids, leases, trade
contracts (other than for the repayment of Indebtedness), statutory obligations
and other similar obligations in each case in the ordinary course of business
consistent with the current practices of such Borrower or Guarantor as of the
date hereof; PROVIDED, THAT, in connection with any performance bonds issued by
a surety or other person, the issuer of such bond shall have waived in writing
any rights in or to, or other interest in, any of the Collateral in an
agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent;

            (h) liens arising from (i) operating leases and the precautionary
UCC or PPSA, as applicable, financing statement filings in respect thereof and
(ii) equipment or other materials which are not owned by any Borrower or
Guarantor located on the premises of such Borrower or Guarantor (but not in
connection with, or as part of, the financing thereof) from time to time in the

                                       87



ordinary course of business and consistent with current practices of such
Borrower or Guarantor and the precautionary UCC or PPSA, as applicable,
financing statement filings in respect thereof;

            (i) judgments and other similar liens arising in connection with
court proceedings that do not constitute an Event of Default, PROVIDED, THAT,
(i) such liens are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings
diligently pursued, (ii) adequate reserves or other appropriate provision, if
any, as are required by GAAP have been made therefor, (iii) a stay of
enforcement of any such liens is in effect and (iv) Agent may establish a
Reserve with respect thereto;

            (j) the security interests in and liens upon the Collateral in favor
of Tranche B Term Loan Agent to secure the Tranche B Term Loan Debt, provided,
that, the security interests in and liens upon the Collateral in favor of
Tranche B Term Loan Agent are and shall at all times be subject and subordinate
to the security interests and liens therein of Agent pursuant to the terms of
the Intercreditor Agreement;

            (k) the security interests in liens upon the Collateral in favor of
the holder of the Refinancing Indebtedness (or the agent or trustee on behalf of
the holder or holders of the Refinancing Indebtedness) to secure the Refinancing
Indebtedness; provided, that, the security interests and liens upon the
Collateral in favor of such Person are and shall at all times be subject and
subordinate to the security interests and liens therein of Agent pursuant to the
terms of an intercreditor agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Agent;

            (l) the security interests in and liens upon Precious Metals
Inventory owned by the Precious Metals Consignor and consigned by the Precious
Metals Consignor to Parent, to secure the Indebtedness permitted under Section
9.9(i) hereof; provided, that, such security interests and liens are subject to
the terms of the Precious Metals Creditor Agreement; and

            (m) the security interests and liens not otherwise expressly
permitted under this Section 9.8 and set forth on Schedule 8.4 to the
Information Certificate.

            9.9 INDEBTEDNESS. Each Borrower and Guarantor shall not, and shall
not permit any Subsidiary to, incur, create, assume, become or be liable in any
manner with respect to, or permit to exist, any Indebtedness, or guarantee,
assume, endorse, or otherwise become responsible for (directly or indirectly),
the Indebtedness, performance, obligations or dividends of any other Person,
except:

            (a) the Obligations;

            (b) purchase money Indebtedness (including Capital Leases) arising
after the date hereof to the extent secured by purchase money security interests
in Equipment (including Capital Leases) and purchase money mortgages on Real
Property not to exceed $500,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding so long
as such security interests and mortgages do not apply to any property of such
Borrower, Guarantor or Subsidiary other than the Equipment or Real Property so

                                       88


acquired, and the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost of the
Equipment or Real Property so acquired, as the case may be;

            (c) guarantees by any Borrower or Guarantor of the Obligations of
the other Borrowers or Guarantors in favor of Agent for the benefit of Lenders;

            (d) the Indebtedness of any Borrower or Guarantor to any other
Borrower or Guarantor arising after the date hereof pursuant to loans by any
Borrower or Guarantor permitted under Section 9.10(g) hereof;

            (e) unsecured Indebtedness of any Borrower or Guarantor arising
after the date hereof to any third person (but not to any other Borrower or
Guarantor), provided, that, each of the following conditions is satisfied as
determined by Agent: (i) such Indebtedness shall be on terms and conditions
acceptable to Agent and shall be subject and subordinate in right of payment to
the right of Agent and Lenders to receive the prior indefeasible payment and
satisfaction in full payment of all of the Obligations pursuant to the terms of
an intercreditor agreement between Agent and such third party, in form and
substance satisfactory to Agent, (ii) Agent shall have received not less than
ten (10) days prior written notice of the intention of such Borrower or
Guarantor to incur such Indebtedness, which notice shall set forth in reasonable
detail satisfactory to Agent the amount of such Indebtedness, the person or
persons to whom such Indebtedness will be owed, the interest rate, the schedule
of repayments and maturity date with respect thereto and such other information
as Agent may request with respect thereto, (iii) Agent shall have received true,
correct and complete copies of all agreements, documents and instruments
evidencing or otherwise related to such Indebtedness, (iv) except as Agent may
otherwise agree in writing, all of the proceeds of the loans or other
accommodations giving rise to such Indebtedness shall be paid to Agent for
application to the Obligations in such order and manner as Agent may determine
or at Agent's option, to be held as cash collateral for the Obligations, (v) in
no event shall the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness incurred
during the term of this Agreement exceed $5,000,000, (vi) as of the date of
incurring such Indebtedness and after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event
of Default shall exist or have occurred, (vii) such Borrower and Guarantor shall
not, directly or indirectly, (A) amend, modify, alter or change the terms of
such Indebtedness or any agreement, document or instrument related thereto,
except, that, such Borrower or Guarantor may, after prior written notice to
Agent, amend, modify, alter or change the terms thereof so as to extend the
maturity thereof, or defer the timing of any payments in respect thereof, or to
forgive or cancel any portion of such Indebtedness (other than pursuant to
payments thereof), or to reduce the interest rate or any fees in connection
therewith, or (B) redeem, retire, defease, purchase or otherwise acquire such
Indebtedness (except pursuant to regularly scheduled payments permitted herein),
or set aside or otherwise deposit or invest any sums for such purpose, and
(viii) Borrowers and Guarantors shall furnish to Agent all notices or demands in
connection with such Indebtedness either received by any Borrower or Guarantor
or on its behalf promptly after the receipt thereof, or sent by any Borrower or
Guarantor or on its behalf concurrently with the sending thereof, as the case
may be;

                                       89



            (f) Indebtedness of Borrowers and Guarantors to the Tranche B Term
Loan Lenders evidenced by or arising under the Tranche B Term Loan Agreement and
the other Tranche B Term Loan Lender Agreements (as in effect on the date
hereof), PROVIDED, THAT:

              (i) the principal amount of such Indebtedness shall not exceed
$71,000,000, less the aggregate amount of all repayments, repurchases or
redemptions thereof, whether optional or mandatory, plus interest thereon at the
rate provided in the Tranche B Term Loan Lender Agreements as in effect on the
date hereof,

              (ii) Agent shall have received true, correct and complete copies
of all of the Tranche B Term Loan Lender Agreements, as duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the parties thereto,

              (iii) Borrowers and Guarantors shall not, directly or indirectly,
make, or be required to make, any payments in respect of such Indebtedness,
except, that, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and Section
2.4 hereof, Borrowers and Guarantors may make mandatory prepayments (as set
forth in Section 2.3 of the Tranche B Term Loan Agreement as in effect on the
date hereof) of principal and payments of interest, fees, expenses and
indemnities in respect of the Tranche B Term Loan Debt in accordance with the
terms of the Tranche B Term Loan Lender Agreements as in effect on the date
hereof; PROVIDED, THAT, Borrowers and Guarantors shall not make any prepayment
pursuant to Section 2.3(d) of the Tranche B Term Loan Agreement unless as of the
date of any such prepayment and after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default
shall exist or have occurred and be continuing (it being understood that, for
the avoidance of doubt, Borrowers and Guarantors shall not make any voluntary
prepayments of principal in respect of the Tranche B Term Loan Debt except with
the proceeds of Refinancing Indebtedness permitted under Section 9.9(g));

              (iv) Borrowers and Guarantors shall not, directly or indirectly,
redeem, retire, defease, purchase or otherwise acquire such Indebtedness, or set
aside or otherwise deposit or invest any sums for such purpose, except as
permitted in clause (iii) above, and

              (v) Borrowers and Guarantors shall furnish to Agent all notices of
default or demands for payment in connection with such Indebtedness either
received by such Borrower or Guarantor or on its behalf promptly after the
receipt thereof, and all such notices or demands sent by any Borrower or
Guarantor or on its behalf concurrently with the sending thereof, as the case
may be;

            (g) Indebtedness of Borrowers and Guarantors arising after the date
hereof issued in exchange for, or the proceeds of which are used to refinance,
replace or substitute for, Indebtedness permitted under Section 9.9(f) hereof
(the "Refinancing Indebtedness"); PROVIDED, THAT, as to any such Refinancing
Indebtedness, each of the following conditions is satisfied: (i) Agent shall
have received not less than ten (10) Business Days' prior written notice of the
intention to incur such Indebtedness, which notice shall set forth in detail
reasonably satisfactory to Agent, the amount of such Indebtedness, the schedule
of repayments and maturity date with respect thereto and such other information
with respect thereto as Agent may request, (ii) promptly upon Agent's request,

                                       90



Agent shall have received true, correct and complete copies of all agreements,
documents and instruments evidencing or otherwise related to such Indebtedness,
as duly executed and delivered by the parties thereto, (iii) the holder or
holders of the Refinancing Indebtedness (or the agent on behalf of such holder
or holders) shall execute and deliver an agreement identical to the
Intercreditor Agreement (subject to changing names of parties, documents and
addresses, as appropriate); (iv) Borrowers and Guarantors may only make
mandatory prepayments of principal and payments of interest, fees, expenses and
indemnities, if any, in respect of such Indebtedness as permitted in Section
9.9(f)(iii) hereof, (v) Borrowers and Guarantors shall not, directly or
indirectly, (A) redeem, retire, defease, purchase or otherwise acquire such
Refinancing Indebtedness, or set aside or otherwise deposit or invest any sums
for such purpose except as permitted in Section 9.9(f)(iii) hereof (other than
with Refinancing Indebtedness to the extent permitted herein and to the extent
permitted with respect to the Indebtedness so exchanged, refinanced, replaced or
substituted for), (vi) Borrowers and Guarantors shall furnish to Agent all
notices of default or demands for payment in connection with such Indebtedness
either by such Borrower or Guarantor or on its behalf promptly after the receipt
thereof, and all such notices or demands sent by any Borrower or Guarantor or on
its behalf concurrently with the sending thereof, as the case may be;

            (h) Indebtedness of Borrowers and Guarantors under interest rate
swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements, interest rate collar agreements,
interest rate exchange agreements or similar contractual arrangements intended
to protect such Person against fluctuations in interest rates and currency swap
agreements, forward currency purchase agreements or similar contractual
arrangements intended to protect such Person against fluctuations in currency
exchange rates and commodity swap agreements or similar contractual arrangements
intended to protect such Person against fluctuations in precious metal prices;
PROVIDED, THAT, (i) such arrangements are with banks or other financial
institutions that have combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not
less than $250,000,000 and are not for speculative purposes and (ii) such
Indebtedness shall be unsecured;

            (i) Indebtedness of Parent to the Precious Metals Consignor
evidenced by or arising under the Precious Metals Consignment Agreement and the
other Precious Metals Consignment Documents, PROVIDED, THAT:

              (i) Agent shall have received true, correct and complete copies of
all of the Precious Metals Consignment Documents as duly authorized, executed
and delivered by the parties thereto, which shall be in form and substance
satisfactory to Agent,

              (ii) the outstanding amount of such Indebtedness shall not exceed
$15,000,000, plus fees thereon at the rate provided in the Precious Metals
Consignment Documents as in effect on the date hereof,

              (iii) such Indebtedness shall be subject to the terms of the
Precious Metals Creditor Agreement and shall not be secured by any assets of any
Borrower or Guarantor, except for Precious Metals Inventory consigned to Parent
by the Precious Metals Consignor for which the Precious Metals Consignor has not
been paid;

                                       91



              (iv) Borrowers and Guarantors shall not, directly or indirectly,
amend, modify, alter or change in any material respect any of the terms of such
Indebtedness or any of the Precious Metals Consignment Documents, except, that,
Borrowers and Guarantors may, after prior written notice to Agent, amend,
modify, alter or change the terms thereof so as to extend the maturity thereof
or defer the timing of any payments in respect thereof, or to forgive or cancel
any portion of such Indebtedness other than pursuant to payments thereof, or to
reduce the interest rate or any fees in connection therewith, or to release any
liens on or security interests in any assets or properties of Borrowers, and

              (v) Borrowers and Guarantors shall furnish to Agent all notices of
default or demands for payment in connection with such Indebtedness either
received by such Borrower or Guarantor or on its behalf promptly after the
receipt thereof, and all such notices or demands sent by any Borrower or
Guarantor or on its behalf concurrently with the sending thereof, as the case
may be;

            (j) Indebtedness of Parent to WHX evidenced by or arising under the
WHX Subordinated Note (as in effect on the date hereof), PROVIDED, THAT:

              (i) the principal amount of such Indebtedness shall not exceed
$43,449,000, plus interest thereon (which may increase the principal amount to
the extent payable in kind) at the rate provided in the WHX Subordinated Note as
in effect on the date hereof,

              (ii) Agent shall have received true, correct and complete copies
of the WHX Subordinated Note and all other documents, instruments and agreements
related thereto, as duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties
thereto, which shall be in form and substance satisfactory to Agent;

              (iii) such Indebtedness shall be unsecured and shall be subject
and subordinate in right of payment to the right of Agent and Lenders to receive
the prior indefeasible payment and satisfaction in full of all Obligations
pursuant to the WHX Subordination Agreement,

              (iv) except as Agent may otherwise agree in writing, all of the
proceeds of such Indebtedness shall be paid over to Agent for application, on
the date hereof, to repay amounts owing to the Existing Lenders,

              (v) Borrowers and Guarantors shall not, directly or indirectly,
make, or be required to make, any payments in respect of such Indebtedness,
except, that, Parent may make regularly scheduled non-cash capitalized interest
payments in respect of such Indebtedness in accordance with the terms of the WHX
Subordinated Note as in effect as the date hereof, in the form of additional
indebtedness having substantially the same terms,

              (vi) Borrowers and Guarantors shall not, directly or indirectly,
(A) amend, modify, alter or change in any material respect any of the terms of
such Indebtedness or the WHX Subordinated Note or any documents, instruments or
agreements related thereto as in effect on the date hereof, except, that, Parent
may, after prior written notice to Agent, amend, modify, alter of change the

                                       92



terms thereof so as to extend the maturity thereof or defer the timing of any
payments in respect thereof, or to forgive or cancel any portion of such
Indebtedness other than pursuant to payments thereof, or to reduce the interest
rate or any fees in connection therewith, or to release any liens on or security
interests in any assets or properties of Borrowers, or (B) redeem, retire,
defease, purchase or otherwise acquire such Indebtedness, or set aside or
otherwise deposit or invest any sums for such purpose,

              (vii) Borrowers and Guarantors shall furnish to Agent all notices
of default or demands for payment in connection with such Indebtedness either
received by such Borrower or Guarantor or on its behalf promptly after the
receipt thereof, and all such notices or demands sent by any Borrower or
Guarantor or on its behalf concurrently with the sending thereof, as the case
may be; and

          (k) the Indebtedness not otherwise expressly permitted under this
Section 9.9 and set forth on Schedule 9.9 to the Information Certificate;
provided, that, (i) Borrowers and Guarantors may only make regularly scheduled
payments of principal and interest in respect of such Indebtedness in accordance
with the terms of the agreement or instrument evidencing or giving rise to such
Indebtedness as in effect on the date hereof, (ii) Borrowers and Guarantors
shall not, directly or indirectly, (A) amend, modify, alter or change the terms
of such Indebtedness or any agreement, document or instrument related thereto as
in effect on the date hereof except, that, Borrowers and Guarantors may, after
prior written notice to Agent, amend, modify, alter or change the terms thereof
so as to extend the maturity thereof, or defer the timing of any payments in
respect thereof, or to forgive or cancel any portion of such Indebtedness (other
than pursuant to payments thereof), or to reduce the interest rate or any fees
in connection therewith, or (B) redeem, retire, defease, purchase or otherwise
acquire such Indebtedness, or set aside or otherwise deposit or invest any sums
for such purpose (except for regularly scheduled sinking fund payments required
by the agreements governing such Indebtedness as in effect on the date hereof),
and (iii) Borrowers and Guarantors shall furnish to Agent all notices or demands
in connection with such Indebtedness either received by any Borrower or
Guarantor or on its behalf, promptly after the receipt thereof, or sent by any
Borrower or Guarantor or on its behalf, concurrently with the sending thereof,
as the case may be.

          9.10 LOANS, INVESTMENTS, ETC. Each Borrower and Guarantor shall not,
and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, make any loans
or advance money or property to any person, or invest in (by capital
contribution, dividend or otherwise) or purchase or repurchase the Capital Stock
or Indebtedness or all or a substantial part of the assets or property of any
person, or form or acquire any Subsidiaries, or agree to do any of the
foregoing, except:

          (a) the endorsement of instruments for collection or deposit in the
ordinary course of business;

          (b) investments in cash or Cash Equivalents, provided, that, (i) no
Loans are then outstanding and (ii) the terms and conditions of Section 5.2
hereof shall have been satisfied with respect to the deposit account, investment
account or other account in which such cash or Cash Equivalents are held;

                                       93



          (c) the existing equity investments of each Borrower and Guarantor as
of the date hereof in its Subsidiaries, PROVIDED, THAT, no Borrower or Guarantor
shall have any further obligations or liabilities to make any capital
contributions or other additional investments or other payments to or in or for
the benefit of any of such Subsidiaries;

          (d) loans and advances by any Borrower or Guarantor to employees of
such Borrower or Guarantor not to exceed the principal amount of $100,000 in the
aggregate at any time outstanding for: (i) reasonably and necessary work-related
travel or other ordinary business expenses to be incurred by such employee in
connection with their work for such Borrower or Guarantor and (ii) reasonable
and necessary relocation expenses of such employees (including home mortgage
financing for relocated employees);

          (e) stock or obligations issued to any Borrower or Guarantor by any
Person (or the representative of such Person) in respect of Indebtedness of such
Person owing to such Borrower or Guarantor in connection with the insolvency,
bankruptcy, receivership or reorganization of such Person or a composition or
readjustment of the debts of such Person; provided, that, the original of any
such stock or instrument evidencing such obligations shall be promptly delivered
to Agent, upon Agent's request, together with such stock power, assignment or
endorsement by such Borrower or Guarantor as Agent may request;

          (f) obligations of account debtors to any Borrower or Guarantor
arising from Accounts which are past due evidenced by a promissory note made by
such account debtor payable to such Borrower or Guarantor; provided, that,
promptly upon the receipt of the original of any such promissory note by such
Borrower or Guarantor, such promissory note shall be endorsed to the order of
Agent by such Borrower or Guarantor and promptly delivered to Agent as so
endorsed;

          (g) loans by a Borrower or Guarantor to another Borrower or Guarantor
after the date hereof, provided, that,

              (i) as to all of such loans, (A) within thirty (30) days after the
end of each fiscal month, Borrowers shall provide to Agent a report in form and
substance satisfactory to Agent of the outstanding amount of such loans as of
the last day of the immediately preceding month and indicating any loans made
and payments received during the immediately preceding month, (B) the
Indebtedness arising pursuant to any such loan shall not be evidenced by a
promissory note or other instrument, unless the single original of such note or
other instrument is promptly delivered to Agent upon its request to hold as part
of the Collateral, with such endorsement and/or assignment by the payee of such
note or other instrument as Agent may require, (C) as of the date of any such
loan and after giving effect thereto, the Borrower or Guarantor making such loan
shall be Solvent, and (D) as of the date of any such loan and after giving
effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall exist or have occurred and
be continuing,

              (ii) as to loans by a Guarantor to a Borrower, (A) the
Indebtedness arising pursuant to such loan shall be subject to, and subordinate
in right of payment to, the right of Agent and Lenders to receive the prior

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final payment and satisfaction in full of all of the Obligations on terms and
conditions acceptable to Agent, (B) promptly upon Agent's request, Agent shall
have received a subordination agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to
Agent, providing for the terms of the subordination in right of payment of such
Indebtedness of such Borrower to the prior final payment and satisfaction in
full of all of the Obligations, duly authorized, executed and delivered by such
Guarantor and such Borrower, and (C) such Borrower shall not, directly or
indirectly make, or be required to make, any payments in respect of such
Indebtedness prior to the end of the then current term of this Agreement;

              (iii) as to loans by a Borrower to a Guarantor, as of the date of
any such loan and after giving effect thereto, (A) no Event of Default shall
exist or have occurred and be continuing, and (B) the aggregate outstanding
amount of all loans by Borrowers to Guarantors shall not exceed $250,000 at any
time;

            (h) the loans and advances set forth on Schedule 9.10 to the
Information Certificate; PROVIDED, THAT, as to such loans and advances,
Borrowers and Guarantors shall not, directly or indirectly, amend, modify, alter
or change the terms of such loans and advances or any agreement, document or
instrument related thereto and Borrowers and Guarantors shall furnish to Agent
all notices or demands in connection with such loans and advances either
received by any Borrower or Guarantor or on its behalf, promptly after the
receipt thereof, or sent by any Borrower or Guarantor or on its behalf,
concurrently with the sending thereof, as the case may be; and

            (i) Permitted Acquisitions.

            9.11 DIVIDENDS AND REDEMPTIONS. Each Borrower and Guarantor shall
not, directly or indirectly, declare or pay any dividends on account of any
shares of class of any Capital Stock of such Borrower or Guarantor now or
hereafter outstanding, or set aside or otherwise deposit or invest any sums for
such purpose, or redeem, retire, defease, purchase or otherwise acquire any
shares of any class of Capital Stock (or set aside or otherwise deposit or
invest any sums for such purpose) for any consideration or apply or set apart
any sum, or make any other distribution (by reduction of capital or otherwise)
in respect of any such shares or agree to do any of the foregoing, except that:

            (a) any Borrower or Guarantor may declare and pay such dividends or
redeem, retire, defease, purchase or otherwise acquire any shares of any class
of Capital Stock for consideration in the form of shares of common stock (so
long as after giving effect thereto no Change of Control or other Default or
Event of Default shall exist or occur);

            (b) Borrowers and Guarantors may pay dividends to the extent
permitted in Section 9.12 below;

            (c) any Subsidiary of a Borrower or Guarantor may pay dividends to a
Borrower;

                                       95



            (d) Borrowers and Guarantors may repurchase Capital Stock consisting
of common stock held by employees pursuant to any employee stock ownership plan
thereof upon the termination, retirement or death of any such employee in
accordance with the provisions of such plan, provided, that, as to any such
repurchase, each of the following conditions is satisfied: (i) as of the date of
the payment for such repurchase and after giving effect thereto, no Default or
Event of Default shall exist or have occurred and be continuing, (ii) such
repurchase shall be paid with funds legally available therefor, (iii) such
repurchase shall not violate any law or regulation or the terms of any
indenture, agreement or undertaking to which such Borrower or Guarantor is a
party or by which such Borrower or Guarantor or its or their property are bound,
and (iv) the aggregate amount of all payments for such repurchases in any
calendar year shall not exceed $250,000.

            9.12 TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES. Each Borrower and Guarantor shall
not, directly or indirectly:

            (a) purchase, acquire or lease any property from, or sell, transfer
or lease any property to, any officer, director or other Affiliate of such
Borrower or Guarantor, except in the ordinary course of and pursuant to the
reasonable requirements of such Borrower's or Guarantor's business (as the case
may be) and upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to such Borrower or
Guarantor than such Borrower or Guarantor would obtain in a comparable arm's
length transaction with an unaffiliated person, except that Parent may sell or
otherwise dispose of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Capital Stock
in Indiana Tube Danmark A/S to WHX in accordance with the terms of Section
9.7(b)(v); or

            (b) make any payments (whether by dividend, loan or otherwise) of
management, consulting or other fees for management or similar services, or of
any Indebtedness owing to any officer, employee, shareholder, director or any
other Affiliate of such Borrower or Guarantor, EXCEPT:

              (i) reasonable compensation to officers, employees and directors
for services rendered to such Borrower or Guarantor in the ordinary course of
business,

              (ii) payments by any such Borrower or Guarantor to Parent for
actual and necessary reasonable out-of-pocket legal and accounting, insurance,
marketing, payroll and similar types of services paid for by Parent on behalf of
such Borrower or Guarantor, in the ordinary course of their respective
businesses or as the same may be directly attributable to such Borrower or
Guarantor and for the payment of taxes by or on behalf of Parent, and

              (iii) payments by Parent to WHX for the payment of taxes by WHX
that are attributable to the Parent and its Subsidiaries, provided, that, (A)
the aggregate amount of all such payments in any fiscal year shall not exceed
the amount of taxes that Parent would have been obligated to pay during such
fiscal year if Parent was a stand-alone tax payer (on behalf of itself and its
consolidated Subsidiaries), (B) as of the date of any such payment and after
giving effect thereto, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, (C) as of the date of any such payment and after giving effect
thereto, the Excess Availability shall not be less than $5,000,000, and (D)

                                       96



Agent shall have received a certificate from Parent (together with supporting
calculations in reasonable detail), in form and substance satisfactory to Agent,
which demonstrates that Parent and its Subsidiaries would have been in pro forma
compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 9.17 for the most recently
ended test periods thereunder, computed as if such payment was paid on the first
day of any such test periods.

              9.13 COMPLIANCE WITH ERISA.

              (a) Each Borrower and Guarantor shall, and shall cause each of its
ERISA Affiliates, to: (i) maintain each Plan in compliance in all material
respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other Federal and
State law; (ii) cause each Plan which is qualified under Section 401(a) of the
Code to maintain such qualification; (iii) not terminate any of such Plans so as
to incur any material liability to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation;
(iv) not allow or suffer to exist any prohibited transaction involving any of
such Plans or any trust created thereunder which would subject such Borrower,
Guarantor or such ERISA Affiliate to a material tax or penalty or other
liability on prohibited transactions imposed under Section 4975 of the Code or
ERISA; (v) make all required contributions to any Plan which it is obligated to
pay under Section 302 of ERISA, Section 412 of the Code or the terms of such
Plan; (vi) not allow or suffer to exist any accumulated funding deficiency,
whether or not waived, with respect to any such Plan; or (vii) allow or suffer
to exist any occurrence of a reportable event or any other event or condition
which presents a material risk of termination by the Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation of any such Plan that is a single employer plan, which termination
could result in any material liability to the Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation.

              (b) Each Borrower and Guarantor shall (i) cause the Canadian
Pension Plans to be administered in accordance with the requirements of the
applicable pension plan texts, funding agreements, the Income Tax Act (Canada)
and applicable provincial pension benefits legislation, (ii) deliver to Agent an
undertaking of the funding agent for such Canadian Pension Plan stating that the
funding agent will notify Agent within seven (7) days of the failure of any
Borrower or US Guarantor to make any required contribution to each Canadian
Pension Plan, (iii) not accept payment of any amount from any Canadian Pension
Plan (other than amounts on account of expenses reasonably incurred in
connection with the operations of such Canadian Pension Plan) without the prior
written consent of Agent, (iv) not terminate, or cause to be terminated, any
Canadian Pension Plan, if such plan would have a solvency deficiency on
termination, (v) shall promptly provide Agent with any documentation relating to
the Canadian Pension Plans as Agent may reasonably request, and (vi) shall
notify Agent within thirty (30) days of (A) a material increase in the
liabilities of any Canadian Pension Plan, (B) the establishment of a new
registered pension plan or (C) the commencement of payments of contributions to
any Canadian Pension Plan to which any Borrower or Guarantor had not previously
been paying or contributing.

              9.14 END OF FISCAL YEARS; FISCAL QUARTERS. Each Borrower and
Guarantor shall, for financial reporting purposes, cause its, and each of its
Subsidiaries' (a) fiscal years to end on December 31 of each year and (b) fiscal

                                       97



quarters to end on or about March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of
each year.

              9.15 CHANGE IN BUSINESS. Each Borrower and Guarantor shall not
engage in any business other than the business of such Borrower or Guarantor on
the date hereof and any business reasonably related, ancillary or complimentary
to the business in which such Borrower or Guarantor is engaged on the date
hereof.

              9.16 LIMITATION OF RESTRICTIONS AFFECTING SUBSIDIARIES. Each
Borrower and Guarantor shall not, directly, or indirectly, create or otherwise
cause or suffer to exist any encumbrance or restriction which prohibits or
limits the ability of any Subsidiary of such Borrower or Guarantor to (a) pay
dividends or make other distributions or pay any Indebtedness owed to such
Borrower or Guarantor or any Subsidiary of such Borrower or Guarantor; (b) make
loans or advances to such Borrower or Guarantor or any Subsidiary of such
Borrower or Guarantor, (c) transfer any of its properties or assets to such
Borrower or Guarantor or any Subsidiary of such Borrower or Guarantor; or (d)
create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any lien upon any of its property,
assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than
encumbrances and restrictions arising under (i) applicable law, (ii) this
Agreement or the Tranche B Term Loan Agreement, (iii) customary provisions
restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest
of such Borrower or Guarantor or any Subsidiary of such Borrower or Guarantor,
(iv) customary restrictions on dispositions of real property interests found in
reciprocal easement agreements of such Borrower or Guarantor or any Subsidiary
of such Borrower or Guarantor, (v) any agreement relating to permitted
Indebtedness incurred by a Subsidiary of such Borrower or Guarantor prior to the
date on which such Subsidiary was acquired by such Borrower or such Guarantor
and outstanding on such acquisition date, and (vi) the extension or continuation
of contractual obligations in existence on the date hereof; provided, that, any
such encumbrances or restrictions contained in such extension or continuation
are no less favorable to Agent and Lenders than those encumbrances and
restrictions under or pursuant to the contractual obligations so extended or
continued.

              9.17 FINANCIAL COVENANTS.

              (a) EBITDA. Parent and its Subsidiaries shall not permit EBITDA of
Parent and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, for the four (4)
consecutive fiscal quarters ending on the last day of the fiscal quarter set
forth below to be less than the applicable amount set forth below:

                                                   Minimum
                     Fiscal Quarter End            EBITDA
                     ------------------            ------

            March 31, 2004                         $25,784,000

            June 30, 2004                          $25,879,000

            September 30, 2004                     $27,658,000

                                       98



            December 31, 2004                      $30,202,000

            March 31, 2005                         $32,494,000

            June 30, 2005                          $35,473,000

            September 30, 2005                     $38,099,000

            December 31, 2005                      $39,734,000

            March 31, 2006                         $41,000,000

            June 30, 2006                          $42,500,000

            September 30, 2006                     $44,000,000

            December 31, 2006 and each fiscal      $46,661,000
            quarter ending hereafter


            (b) FIXED CHARGE COVERAGE RATIO. Parent and its Subsidiaries shall
not permit the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the applicable period set forth
below to be less than the ratio set forth opposite such period:

                                                            Minimum Fixed
                     Fiscal Quarter End                  Charge Coverage Ratio
                     ------------------                  ---------------------

            For the 3 months ending June 30, 2004            0.75 to 1

            For the 6 months ending September 30, 2004       0.90 to 1

            For the 9 months ending December 31, 2004        1 to 1

            For the 12 months ending March 31, 2005          1.1 to 1

            For the 12 months ending June 30, 2005           1.25 to 1

            For the four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters     1.50 to 1
            ending on the last day of each fiscal quarter
            thereafter


            (c) MAXIMUM CAPITAL EXPENDITURES. Parent and its Subsidiaries shall
not, directly or indirectly, make or commit to make (whether through purchase,
capital lease or otherwise) Capital Expenditures in the applicable fiscal year
set forth below in excess of the amount corresponding to such fiscal year:


                                                           Maximum Capital
                      Fiscal Year                           Expenditures
                      -----------                           ------------

                        2004                                $16,000,000

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                                                           Maximum Capital
                      Fiscal Year                           Expenditures
                      -----------                           ------------

                        2005                                $16,900,000

                        2006                                $15,500,000


            (d) Leverage Ratio. Parent and its Subsidiaries shall not permit the
Leverage Ratio of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, as
of the last day of the fiscal quarter set forth below to be greater than the
applicable ratio set forth below:

                                                              Maximum Leverage
                      Fiscal Quarter End                          Ratio
                      ------------------                          -----

               June 30, 2004                                     4.30 to 1
               September 30, 2004                                4.20 to 1
               December 31, 2004                                 3.73 to 1
               March 31, 2005                                    3.70 to 1
               June 30, 2005                                     3.41 to 1
               September 30, 2005                                3.19 to 1
               December 31, 2005                                 3.07 to 1
               March 31, 2006                                    3.00 to 1
               June 30, 2006                                     3.00 to 1
               September 30, 2006                                2.75 to 1
               December 31, 2006 and each fiscal
               quarter ending thereafter                         2.63 to 1


            9.18 ADDITIONAL GUARANTIES AND COLLATERAL SECURITY. Each Borrower
shall cause:

            (a) each Subsidiary of any Borrower not in existence on the date
hereof, to execute and deliver to Agent promptly and in any event within three
(3) days after the formation, acquisition or change in status thereof (i) a
guaranty guaranteeing the Obligations, (ii) a security agreement, (iii) if such
Subsidiary has any Subsidiaries, a pledge agreement together with (x)
certificates evidencing all of the Capital Stock of any Person owned by such
Subsidiary, (y) undated stock powers executed in blank with signature
guaranteed, and (z) such opinion of counsel and such approving certificate of
such Subsidiary as Agent may reasonably request in respect of complying with any
legend on any such certificate or any other matter relating to such shares, (iv)
one or more Mortgages creating on the Real Property of such Subsidiary a
perfected, first priority lien on such Real Property, a title insurance policy

                                      100



covering such Real Property, a current ALTA survey thereof and a surveyor's
certificate, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Agent,
together with such other agreements, instruments and documents as the Agent may
reasonably require, and (v) such other agreements, instruments, approvals, legal
opinions or other documents reasonably requested by the Agent in order to
create, perfect, establish the first priority of or otherwise protect any lien
purported to be covered by any such security agreement, pledge agreement or
Mortgage or otherwise to effect the intent that such Subsidiary shall become
bound by all of the terms, covenants and agreements contained in the Financing
Agreements and that all property and assets of such Subsidiary shall become
Collateral for the Obligations; and

            (b) each owner of the Capital Stock of any such Subsidiary to
execute and deliver promptly and in any event within three (3) days after the
formation or acquisition of such Subsidiary a pledge agreement, together with
(i) certificates evidencing all of the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary, (ii)
undated stock powers or other appropriate instruments of assignment executed in
blank with signature guaranteed, (iii) such opinion of counsel and such
approving certificate of such Subsidiary as Agent may reasonably request in
respect of complying with any legend on any such certificate or any other matter
relating to such shares and (iv) such other agreements, instruments, approvals,
legal opinions or other documents reasonably requested by Agent.

            9.19 LICENSE AGREEMENTS.

            (a) Each Borrower and Guarantor shall (i) promptly and faithfully
observe and perform all of the material terms, covenants, conditions and
provisions of the material License Agreements to which it is a party to be
observed and performed by it, at the times set forth therein, if any, (ii) not
do, permit, suffer or refrain from doing anything that could reasonably be
expected to result in a default under or breach of any of the terms of any
material License Agreement, (iii) not cancel, surrender, modify, amend, waive or
release any material License Agreement in any material respect or any term,
provision or right of the licensee thereunder in any material respect, or
consent to or permit to occur any of the foregoing; EXCEPT, THAT, subject to
Section 9.19(b) below, such Borrower or Guarantor may cancel, surrender or
release any material License Agreement in the ordinary course of the business of
such Borrower or Guarantor; PROVIDED, THAT, such Borrower or Guarantor (as the
case may be) shall give Agent not less than thirty (30) days prior written
notice of its intention to so cancel, surrender and release any such material
License Agreement, (iv) give Agent prompt written notice of any material License
Agreement entered into by such Borrower or Guarantor after the date hereof,
together with a true, correct and complete copy thereof and such other
information with respect thereto as Agent may request, (v) give Agent prompt
written notice of any material breach of any obligation, or any default, by any
party under any material License Agreement, and deliver to Agent (promptly upon
the receipt thereof by such Borrower or Guarantor in the case of a notice to
such Borrower or Guarantor and concurrently with the sending thereof in the case
of a notice from such Borrower or Guarantor) a copy of each notice of default
and every other notice and other communication received or delivered by such
Borrower or Guarantor in connection with any material License Agreement which

                                      101



relates to the right of such Borrower or Guarantor to continue to use the
property subject to such License Agreement, and (vi) furnish to Agent, promptly
upon the request of Agent, such information and evidence as Agent may reasonably
require from time to time concerning the observance, performance and compliance
by such Borrower or Guarantor or the other party or parties thereto with the
material terms, covenants or provisions of any material License Agreement.

            (b) Each Borrower and Guarantor will either exercise any option to
renew or extend the term of each material License Agreement to which it is a
party in such manner as will cause the term of such material License Agreement
to be effectively renewed or extended for the period provided by such option and
give prompt written notice thereof to Agent or give Agent prior written notice
that such Borrower or Guarantor does not intend to renew or extend the term of
any such material License Agreement or that the term thereof shall otherwise be
expiring, not less than sixty (60) days prior to the date of any such
non-renewal or expiration. In the event of the failure of such Borrower or
Guarantor to extend or renew any material License Agreement to which it is a
party, Agent shall have, and is hereby granted, the irrevocable right and
authority, at its option, to renew or extend the term of such material License
Agreement, whether in its own name and behalf, or in the name and behalf of a
designee or nominee of Agent or in the name and behalf of such Borrower or
Guarantor, as Agent shall determine at any time that an Event of Default shall
exist or have occurred and be continuing. Agent may, but shall not be required
to, perform any or all of such obligations of such Borrower or Guarantor under
any of the License Agreements, including, but not limited to, the payment of any
or all sums due from such Borrower or Guarantor thereunder. Any sums so paid by
Agent shall constitute part of the Obligations.

            9.20 AFTER ACQUIRED REAL PROPERTY. If any Borrower or Guarantor
hereafter acquires any Real Property, fixtures or any other property that is of
the kind or nature described in the Mortgages and such Real Property, fixtures
or other property is adjacent to, contiguous with or necessary or related to or
used in connection with any Real Property then subject to a Mortgage, or if such
Real Property is not adjacent to, contiguous with or related to or used in
connection with such Real Property, then if such Real Property, fixtures or
other property at any location (or series of adjacent, contiguous or related
locations, and regardless of the number of parcels) has a fair market value in
an amount equal to or greater than $250,000 (or if a Default or Event of Default
exists, then regardless of the fair market value of such assets), without
limiting any other rights of Agent or any Lender, or duties or obligations of
any Borrower or Guarantor, promptly upon Agent's request, such Borrower or
Guarantor shall execute and deliver to Agent a mortgage, deed of trust or deed
to secure debt, as Agent may determine, in form and substance substantially
similar to the Mortgages and as to any provisions relating to specific state
laws satisfactory to Agent and in form appropriate for recording in the real
estate records of the jurisdiction in which such Real Property or other property
is located granting to Agent a first and only lien and mortgage on and security
interest in such Real Property, fixtures or other property (except as such
Borrower or Guarantor would otherwise be permitted to incur hereunder or under
the Mortgages or as otherwise consented to in writing by Agent) and such other
agreements, documents and instruments as Agent may require in connection
therewith.

                                      102



            9.21 APPLICATIONS UNDER INSOLVENCY STATUTES. Each Borrower and
Guarantor acknowledges that its business and financial relationships with Agent
and Lenders are unique from its relationship with any other of its creditors,
and agrees that it shall not file any plan of arrangement under the Companies'
Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada) or make any proposal under the Bankruptcy and
Insolvency Act (Canada) which provides for, or would permit directly or
indirectly, Agent or any Lender to be classified with any other creditor as an
"affected" creditor for purposes of such plan or proposal or otherwise.

            9.22 COSTS AND EXPENSES. Borrowers and Guarantors shall pay to Agent
on demand all costs, expenses, filing fees and taxes paid or payable in
connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery, recording,
syndication, administration, collection, liquidation, enforcement and defense of
the Obligations, Agent's rights in the Collateral, this Agreement, the other
Financing Agreements and all other documents related hereto or thereto,
including any amendments, supplements or consents which may hereafter be
contemplated (whether or not executed) or entered into in respect hereof and
thereof, including: (a) all costs and expenses of filing or recording (including
Uniform Commercial Code or PPSA financing statement filing taxes and fees,
documentary taxes, intangibles taxes and mortgage recording taxes and fees, if
applicable); (b) costs and expenses and fees for insurance premiums,
environmental audits, title insurance premiums, surveys, assessments,
engineering reports and inspections, appraisal and assayer fees and search fees,
costs and expenses of remitting loan proceeds, collecting checks and other items
of payment, and establishing and maintaining the Blocked Accounts, together with
Agent's customary charges and fees with respect thereto; (c) charges, fees or
expenses charged by any bank or issuer in connection with the Letter of Credit
Accommodations; (d) costs and expenses of preserving and protecting the
Collateral; (e) costs and expenses paid or incurred in connection with obtaining
payment of the Obligations, enforcing the security interests and liens of Agent,
selling or otherwise realizing upon the Collateral, and otherwise enforcing the
provisions of this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements or defending any
claims made or threatened against Agent or any Lender arising out of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including preparations for and
consultations concerning any such matters); (f) all out-of-pocket expenses and
costs heretofore and from time to time hereafter incurred by Agent during the
course of periodic field examinations of the Collateral and such Borrower's or
Guarantor's operations, plus a per diem charge at Agent's then standard rate for
Agent's examiners in the field and office (which rate as of the date hereof is
$850 per person per day); (g) any VAT incurred by Agent or any Lender and (h)
the fees and disbursements of counsel (including legal assistants) to Agent in
connection with any of the foregoing.

            9.23 FURTHER ASSURANCES. At the request of Agent at any time and
from time to time, Borrowers and Guarantors shall, at their expense, duly
execute and deliver, or cause to be duly executed and delivered, such further
agreements, documents and instruments, and do or cause to be done such further
acts as may be necessary or proper to evidence, perfect, maintain and enforce
the security interests and the priority thereof in the Collateral and to
otherwise effectuate the provisions or purposes of this Agreement or any of the
other Financing Agreements. Agent may at any time and from time to time request
a certificate from an officer of any Borrower or Guarantor representing that all
conditions precedent to the making of Loans and providing Letter of Credit

                                      103



Accommodations contained herein are satisfied. In the event of such request by
Agent, Agent and Lenders may, at Agent's option, cease to make any further Loans
or provide any further Letter of Credit Accommodations until Agent has received
such certificate and, in addition, Agent has determined that such conditions are
satisfied.

SECTION  10.  EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

          10.1 EVENTS OF DEFAULT. The occurrence or existence of any one or more
of the following events are referred to herein individually as an "Event of
Default", and collectively as "Events of Default":

            (a) (i) any Borrower fails to pay any of the Obligations when due or
(ii) any Borrower or Obligor fails to perform any of the covenants contained in
Sections 9.3, 9.4, 9.13, 9.14, 9.15, and 9.16 of this Agreement and such failure
shall continue for ten (10) days; PROVIDED, THAT, such ten (10) day period shall
not apply in the case of: (A) any failure to observe any such covenant which is
not capable of being cured at all or within such ten (10) day period or which
has been the subject of a prior failure within a six (6) month period or (B) an
intentional breach by any Borrower or Obligor of any such covenant or (iii) any
Borrower or Obligor fails to perform any of the terms, covenants, conditions or
provisions contained in this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements
other than those described in Sections 10.1(a)(i) and 10.1(a)(ii) above;

            (b) any representation, warranty or statement of fact made by any
Borrower or Guarantor to Agent in this Agreement, the other Financing Agreements
or any other written agreement, schedule, confirmatory assignment or otherwise
shall when made or deemed made be false or misleading in any material respect;

            (c) any Obligor revokes or terminates or purports to revoke or
terminate or fails to perform any of the terms, covenants, conditions or
provisions of any guarantee, endorsement or other agreement of such party in
favor of Agent or any Lender;

            (d) any judgment for the payment of money is rendered against any
Borrower or Obligor in excess of $500,000 in any one case or in excess of
$500,000 in the aggregate (to the extent not covered by insurance where the
insurer has assumed responsibility in writing for such judgment) and shall
remain undischarged or unvacated for a period in excess of thirty (30) days or
execution shall at any time not be effectively stayed, or any judgment other
than for the payment of money, or injunction, attachment, garnishment or
execution is rendered against any Borrower or Obligor or any of the Collateral
having a value in excess of $500,000;

            (e) any Obligor (being a natural person or a general partner of an
Obligor which is a partnership) dies or any Borrower or Obligor, which is a
partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership or a
corporation, dissolves or suspends or discontinues doing business;

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            (f) any Borrower or Obligor makes an assignment for the benefit of
creditors, makes or sends notice of a bulk transfer or calls a meeting of its
creditors or principal creditors in connection with a moratorium or adjustment
of the Indebtedness due to them;

            (g) a case or proceeding under the bankruptcy laws of the United
States of America now or hereafter in effect or a petition, case, application or
proceeding under any bankruptcy or insolvency laws of Canada (including the
Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada) and the Companies' Creditors Arrangement
Act (Canada)) or under any insolvency, reorganization, receivership,
readjustment of debt, dissolution or liquidation law or statute of any
jurisdiction now or hereafter in effect (whether at law or in equity) is filed
against any Borrower or Obligor or all or any part of its properties and such
petition, case, application or proceeding is not dismissed within thirty (30)
days after the date of its filing or any Borrower or Obligor shall file any
answer admitting or not contesting such petition, case, application or
proceeding or indicates its consent to, acquiescence in or approval of, any such
action or proceeding or the relief requested is granted sooner;

            (h) (i) a case or proceeding under the bankruptcy laws of the United
States of America now or hereafter in effect or under any insolvency,
reorganization, receivership, readjustment of debt, dissolution or liquidation
law or statute of any jurisdiction now or hereafter in effect (whether at a law
or equity) is filed by any Borrower or Obligor or for all or any part of its
property or (ii) a petition, case, application or proceeding under any
bankruptcy or insolvency laws of Canada (including the Bankruptcy and Insolvency
Act (Canada) and the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada)), or any
similar law now or hereafter in effect in any jurisdiction or under any
insolvency, arrangement, reorganization, moratorium, administration,
receivership, readjustment of debt, dissolution or liquidation law or statute of
any jurisdiction now or hereafter in effect (whether at a law or equity) is
filed, taken or commenced after the date hereof by any Borrower or Obligor or
for all or any part of its property, including, without limitation, if any
Borrower or Obligor shall: (A) apply for, request or consent to the appointment
of a receiver, administrative receiver, receiver and manager, examiner, judicial
custodian, trustee, liquidator, official manager, administrator, controller or
any other similar official of it or of all or a substantial part of its property
and assets, (B) be generally unable, or admit in writing its inability, to pay
its debts as they become due, (C) make a general assignment for the benefit of
creditors, (D) file a voluntary petition or assignment in bankruptcy or a
proposal seeking a reorganization, compromise, moratorium or arrangement with
its creditors, (E) take advantage of any insolvency or other similar law
pertaining to arrangements, moratoriums, compromises or reorganizations, or
admit the material allegations of a petition or application filed in respect of
it in any bankruptcy, reorganization or insolvency proceeding, or (F) take any
corporate action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;

            (i) any default in respect of the Tranche B Term Loan Debt, which
default continues for more than the applicable cure period, if any, with respect
thereto, any default in respect of any other Indebtedness of any Borrower or
Obligor (other than Indebtedness owing to Agent and Lenders hereunder), in any
case in an amount in excess of $500,000, which default continues for more than
the applicable cure period, if any, with respect thereto or any default by any
Borrower or Obligor under any Material Contract, which default continues for

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more than the applicable cure period, if any, with respect thereto and/or is not
waived in writing by the other parties thereto;

            (j) any material provision hereof or of any of the other Financing
Agreements shall for any reason cease to be valid, binding and enforceable with
respect to any party hereto or thereto (other than Agent) in accordance with its
terms, or any such party shall challenge the enforceability hereof or thereof,
or shall assert in writing, or take any action or fail to take any action based
on the assertion that any provision hereof or of any of the other Financing
Agreements has ceased to be or is otherwise not valid, binding or enforceable in
accordance with its terms, or any security interest provided for herein or in
any of the other Financing Agreements shall cease to be a valid and perfected
first priority security interest in any of the Collateral purported to be
subject thereto (except as otherwise permitted herein or therein);

            (k) an ERISA Event shall occur which results in or could reasonably
be expected to result in liability of any Borrower in an aggregate amount in
excess of $500,000;

            (l) any Change of Control;

            (m) the indictment by any Governmental Authority, or as Agent may
reasonably and in good faith determine, the threatened indictment by any
Governmental Authority of any Borrower or Obligor of which any Borrower, Obligor
or Agent receives notice, in either case, as to which there is a reasonable
possibility of an adverse determination, in the good faith determination of
Agent, under any criminal statute, or commencement or threatened commencement of
criminal or civil proceedings against such Borrower or Obligor, pursuant to
which statute or proceedings the penalties or remedies sought or available
include forfeiture of (i) any of the Collateral having a value in excess of
$500,000 or (ii) any other property of any Borrower or Guarantor which is
necessary or material to the conduct of its business;

            (n) there shall have occurred any event, circumstance or condition
which has had a Material Adverse Effect;

            (o) a requirement from the Minister of National Revenue for payment
pursuant to Section 224 or any successor section of the Income Tax Act (Canada)
or Section 317, or any successor section in respect of any Borrower or Obligor
of the Excise Tax Act (Canada) or any comparable provision of similar
legislation shall have been received by Agent or any Lender or any other Person
in respect of any Borrower or Obligor or otherwise issued in respect of any
Borrower or Obligor involving an amount in excess of the US Dollar Equivalent of
$500,000; or

            (p) there shall be an event of default under any of the other
Financing Agreements.

            10.2 REMEDIES.

            (a) At any time an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is
continuing, Agent and Lenders shall have all rights and remedies provided in
this Agreement, the other Financing Agreements, the UCC, the PPSA and other

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applicable law, all of which rights and remedies may be exercised without notice
to or consent by any Borrower or Obligor, except as such notice or consent is
expressly provided for hereunder or required by applicable law. All rights,
remedies and powers granted to Agent and Lenders hereunder, under any of the
other Financing Agreements, the UCC, the PPSA or other applicable law, are
cumulative, not exclusive and enforceable, in Agent's discretion, alternatively,
successively, or concurrently on any one or more occasions, and shall include,
without limitation, the right to apply to a court of equity for an injunction to
restrain a breach or threatened breach by any Borrower or Obligor of this
Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements. Subject to Section 12
hereof, Agent may, and at the direction of the Required Lenders shall, at any
time or times, proceed directly against any Borrower or Obligor to collect the
Obligations without prior recourse to the Collateral.

            (b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, at any time an
Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing, Agent may, at its
option and shall upon the direction of the Required Lenders, (i) upon notice to
Administrative Borrower, accelerate the payment of all Obligations and demand
immediate payment thereof to Agent for itself and the benefit of Lenders
(provided, that, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default described in
Sections 10.1(g) and 10.1(h), all Obligations shall automatically become
immediately due and payable), and (ii) terminate the Commitments and this
Agreement (provided, that, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default described
in Sections 10.1(g) and 10.1(h), the Commitments and any other obligation of the
Agent or a Lender hereunder shall automatically terminate).

            (c) Without limiting the foregoing, at any time an Event of Default
exists or has occurred and is continuing, Agent may, in its discretion (i) with
or without judicial process or the aid or assistance of others, enter upon any
premises on or in which any of the Collateral may be located and take possession
of the Collateral or complete processing, manufacturing and repair of all or any
portion of the Collateral, (ii) require any Borrower or Obligor, at Borrowers'
expense, to assemble and make available to Agent any part or all of the
Collateral at any place and time designated by Agent, (iii) collect, foreclose,
receive, appropriate, setoff and realize upon any and all Collateral, (iv)
remove any or all of the Collateral from any premises on or in which the same
may be located for the purpose of effecting the sale, foreclosure or other
disposition thereof or for any other purpose, (v) sell, lease, transfer, assign,
deliver or otherwise dispose of any and all Collateral (including entering into
contracts with respect thereto, public or private sales at any exchange,
broker's board, at any office of Agent or elsewhere) at such prices or terms as
Agent may deem reasonable, for cash, upon credit or for future delivery, with
the Agent having the right to purchase the whole or any part of the Collateral
at any such public sale, all of the foregoing being free from any right or
equity of redemption of any Borrower or Obligor, which right or equity of
redemption is hereby expressly waived and released by Borrowers and Obligors
and/or (vi) terminate this Agreement. If any of the Collateral is sold or leased
by Agent upon credit terms or for future delivery, the Obligations shall not be
reduced as a result thereof until payment therefor is finally collected by
Agent. If notice of disposition of Collateral is required by law, ten (10) days
prior notice by Agent to Administrative Borrower designating the time and place
of any public sale or the time after which any private sale or other intended
disposition of Collateral is to be made, shall be deemed to be reasonable notice
thereof and Borrowers and Obligors waive any other notice. In the event Agent

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institutes an action to recover any Collateral or seeks recovery of any
Collateral by way of prejudgment remedy, each Borrower and Obligor waives the
posting of any bond which might otherwise be required. At any time an Event of
Default exists or has occurred and is continuing, upon Agent's request,
Borrowers will either, as Agent shall specify, furnish cash collateral to the
issuer to be used to secure and fund Agent's reimbursement obligations to the
issuer in connection with any Letter of Credit Accommodations or furnish cash
collateral to Agent for the Letter of Credit Accommodations. Such cash
collateral shall be in the amount equal to one hundred five (105%) percent of
the amount of the Letter of Credit Accommodations plus the amount of any fees
and expenses payable in connection therewith through the end of the latest
expiration date of such Letter of Credit Accommodations.

            (d) At any time or times that an Event of Default exists or has
occurred and is continuing, Agent may, in its discretion, enforce the rights of
any Borrower or Obligor against any account debtor, secondary obligor or other
obligor in respect of any of the Accounts or other Receivables. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, Agent may, in its discretion, at such time or
times (i) notify any or all account debtors, secondary obligors or other
obligors in respect thereof that the Receivables have been assigned to Agent and
that Agent has a security interest therein and Agent may direct any or all
accounts debtors, secondary obligors and other obligors to make payment of
Receivables directly to Agent, (ii) extend the time of payment of, compromise,
settle or adjust for cash, credit, return of merchandise or otherwise, and upon
any terms or conditions, any and all Receivables or other obligations included
in the Collateral and thereby discharge or release the account debtor or any
secondary obligors or other obligors in respect thereof without affecting any of
the Obligations, (iii) demand, collect or enforce payment of any Receivables or
such other obligations, but without any duty to do so, and Agent and Lenders
shall not be liable for any failure to collect or enforce the payment thereof
nor for the negligence of its agents or attorneys with respect thereto and (iv)
take whatever other action Agent may deem necessary or desirable for the
protection of its interests and the interests of Lenders. At any time that an
Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing, at Agent's request,
all invoices and statements sent to any account debtor shall state that the
Accounts and such other obligations have been assigned to Agent and are payable
directly and only to Agent and Borrowers and Obligors shall deliver to Agent
such originals of documents evidencing the sale and delivery of goods or the
performance of services giving rise to any Accounts as Agent may require. In the
event any account debtor returns Inventory when an Event of Default exists or
has occurred and is continuing, Borrowers shall, upon Agent's request, hold the
returned Inventory in trust for Agent, segregate all returned Inventory from all
of its other property, dispose of the returned Inventory solely according to
Agent's instructions, and not issue any credits, discounts or allowances with
respect thereto without Agent's prior written consent.

            (e) To the extent that applicable law imposes duties on Agent or any
Lender to exercise remedies in a commercially reasonable manner (which duties
cannot be waived under such law), each Borrower and Guarantor acknowledges and
agrees that it is not commercially unreasonable for Agent or any Lender (i) to
fail to incur expenses reasonably deemed significant by Agent or any Lender to

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prepare Collateral for disposition or otherwise to complete raw material or work
in process into finished goods or other finished products for disposition, (ii)
to fail to obtain third party consents for access to Collateral to be disposed
of, or to obtain or, if not required by other law, to fail to obtain consents of
any Governmental Authority or other third party for the collection or
disposition of Collateral to be collected or disposed of, (iii) to fail to
exercise collection remedies against account debtors, secondary obligors or
other persons obligated on Collateral or to remove liens or encumbrances on or
any adverse claims against Collateral, (iv) to exercise collection remedies
against account debtors and other persons obligated on Collateral directly or
through the use of collection agencies and other collection specialists, (v) to
advertise dispositions of Collateral through publications or media of general
circulation, whether or not the Collateral is of a specialized nature, (vi) to
contact other persons, whether or not in the same business as any Borrower or
Guarantor, for expressions of interest in acquiring all or any portion of the
Collateral, (vii) to hire one or more professional auctioneers to assist in the
disposition of Collateral, whether or not the collateral is of a specialized
nature, (viii) to dispose of Collateral by utilizing Internet sites that provide
for the auction of assets of the types included in the Collateral or that have
the reasonable capability of doing so, or that match buyers and sellers of
assets, (ix) to dispose of assets in wholesale rather than retail markets, (x)
to disclaim disposition warranties, (xi) to purchase insurance or credit
enhancements to insure Agent or Lenders against risks of loss, collection or
disposition of Collateral or to provide to Agent or Lenders a guaranteed return
from the collection or disposition of Collateral, or (xii) to the extent deemed
appropriate by Agent, to obtain the services of other brokers, investment
bankers, consultants and other professionals to assist Agent in the collection
or disposition of any of the Collateral. Each Borrower and Guarantor
acknowledges that the purpose of this Section is to provide non-exhaustive
indications of what actions or omissions by Agent or any Lender would not be
commercially unreasonable in the exercise by Agent or any Lender of remedies
against the Collateral and that other actions or omissions by Agent or any
Lender shall not be deemed commercially unreasonable solely on account of not
being indicated in this Section. Without limitation of the foregoing, nothing
contained in this Section shall be construed to grant any rights to any Borrower
or Guarantor or to impose any duties on Agent or Lenders that would not have
been granted or imposed by this Agreement or by applicable law in the absence of
this Section.

            (f) For the purpose of enabling Agent to exercise the rights and
remedies hereunder, each Borrower and Obligor hereby grants to Agent, to the
extent assignable, an irrevocable, non-exclusive license (exercisable at any
time an Event of Default shall exist or have occurred and for so long as the
same is continuing) without payment of royalty or other compensation to any
Borrower or Obligor, to use, assign, license or sublicense any of the
trademarks, service-marks, trade names, business names, trade styles, designs,
logos and other source of business identifiers and other Intellectual Property
and general intangibles now owned or hereafter acquired by any Borrower or
Obligor, wherever the same maybe located, including in such license reasonable
access to all media in which any of the licensed items may be recorded or stored
and to all computer programs used for the compilation or printout thereof.

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            (g) At any time an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is
continuing, Agent may apply the cash proceeds of Collateral actually received by
Agent from any sale, lease, foreclosure or other disposition of the Collateral
to payment of the Obligations, in whole or in part and in accordance with the
terms hereof, whether or not then due or may hold such proceeds as cash
collateral for the Obligations. Borrowers and Guarantors shall remain liable to
Agent and Lenders for the payment of any deficiency with interest at the highest
rate provided for herein and all costs and expenses of collection or
enforcement, including attorneys' fees and expenses.

            (h) Without limiting the foregoing, upon the occurrence of a Default
or an Event of Default, (i) Agent and Lenders may, at Agent's option, and upon
the occurrence of an Event of Default at the direction of the Required Lenders,
Agent and Lenders shall, without notice, (A) cease making Loans or arranging for
Letter of Credit Accommodations or reduce the lending formulas or amounts of
Loans and Letter of Credit Accommodations available to Borrowers and/or (B)
terminate any provision of this Agreement providing for any future Loans or
Letter of Credit Accommodations to be made by Agent and Lenders to Borrowers and
(ii) Agent may, at its option, establish such Reserves as Agent determines,
without limitation or restriction, notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein.

            (i) Without limiting the foregoing, at any time that an Event of
Default shall exist or have occurred and be continuing, Agent may appoint or
reappoint by instrument in writing, any person or persons, whether an officer or
officers or any employee or employees of Agent or not, to be a receiver or
receivers (hereinafter called a "Receiver", which term when used herein shall
include a receiver and manager) of any Collateral of any Borrower or Guarantor
(including any interest, income or profits therefrom) and may remove any
Receiver so appointed and appoint another in his/her stead. Any such Receiver
shall, so far as concerns responsibility for his/her acts, be deemed the agent
of the applicable Borrower or Guarantor and not Agent, and Agent shall not be in
any way responsible for any misconduct, negligence or non-feasance on the part
of any such Receiver, his/her servants, agents or employees. Subject to the
provisions of the instrument appointing him/her, any such Receiver shall have
power to take possession of Collateral, to preserve Collateral or its value, to
carry on or concur in carrying on all or any part of the business of the
applicable Borrower or Guarantor and to sell, lease, license or otherwise
dispose of or concur in selling, leasing, licensing or otherwise disposing of
Collateral. To facilitate the foregoing powers, any such Receiver may, to the
exclusion of all others, including the Agent, enter upon, use and occupy all
premises owned or occupied by the applicable Borrower or Guarantor wherein
Collateral may be located, maintain Collateral upon such premises, borrow money
on a secured or unsecured basis and use Collateral directly in carrying on the
applicable Borrower's or Guarantor's business or as security for loans or
advances to enable the Receiver to carry on the applicable Borrower's or
Guarantor's business or otherwise, as such Receiver shall, in its discretion,
determine. Except as may be otherwise directed by Agent, all proceeds of
Collateral received from time to time by such Receiver in carrying out his/her
appointment shall be received in trust for and paid over to Agent. Every such
Receiver may, in the discretion of the Agent be vested with all or any of the
rights and powers of the Agent. Agent may, either directly or through its agents

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or nominees, exercise any or all powers and rights given to a Receiver by virtue
of the foregoing provisions of this paragraph.

SECTION  11. JURY TRIAL WAIVER; OTHER WAIVERS
             AND CONSENTS; GOVERNING LAW

            11.1 GOVERNING LAW; CHOICE OF FORUM; SERVICE OF PROCESS; JURY TRIAL
WAIVER.

            (a) The validity, interpretation and enforcement of this Agreement
and the other Financing Agreements (except as otherwise provided therein) and
any dispute arising out of the relationship between the parties hereto, whether
in contract, tort, equity or otherwise, shall be governed by the internal laws
of the State of New York but excluding any principles of conflicts of law or
other rule of law that would cause the application of the law of any
jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of New York.

            (b) Borrowers, Guarantors, Agent and Lenders irrevocably consent and
submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of
New York and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New
York, and, in addition H&H Canada irrevocably consents and submits to the
non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, in each
case, whichever Agent may elect, and waive any objection based on venue or forum
non conveniens with respect to any action instituted therein arising under this
Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements or in any way connected with
or related or incidental to the dealings of the parties hereto in respect of
this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements or the transactions
related hereto or thereto, in each case whether now existing or hereafter
arising, and whether in contract, tort, equity or otherwise, and agree that any
dispute with respect to any such matters shall be heard only in the courts
described above (except that Agent and Lenders shall have the right to bring any
action or proceeding against any Borrower or Guarantor or its or their property
in the courts of any other jurisdiction which Agent deems necessary or
appropriate in order to realize on the Collateral or to otherwise enforce its
rights against any Borrower or Guarantor or its or their property).

            (c) Each Borrower and Guarantor hereby waives personal service of
any and all process upon it and consents that all such service of process may be
made by certified mail (return receipt requested) directed to its address set
forth herein and service so made shall be deemed to be completed five (5) days
after the same shall have been so deposited in the U.S. mails, or, at Agent's
option, by service upon any Borrower or Guarantor (or Administrative Borrower on
behalf of such Borrower or Guarantor) in any other manner provided under the
rules of any such courts. Within thirty (30) days after such service, such
Borrower or Guarantor shall appear in answer to such process, failing which such
Borrower or Guarantor shall be deemed in default and judgment may be entered by
Agent against such Borrower or Guarantor for the amount of the claim and other
relief requested.

            (d) BORROWERS, GUARANTORS, AGENT AND LENDERS EACH HEREBY WAIVES ANY
RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING
UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER FINANCING AGREEMENTS OR IN ANY WAY

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CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO IN
RESPECT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER FINANCING AGREEMENTS OR THE
TRANSACTIONS RELATED HERETO OR THERETO IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR
HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, EQUITY OR OTHERWISE.
BORROWERS, GUARANTORS, AGENT AND LENDERS EACH HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT
ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT
TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY AND THAT ANY BORROWER, ANY GUARANTOR, AGENT OR ANY LENDER
MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OF A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT WITH ANY COURT AS
WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR
RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

            (e) Agent and Lenders shall not have any liability to any Borrower
or Guarantor (whether in tort, contract, equity or otherwise) for losses
suffered by such Borrower or Guarantor in connection with, arising out of, or in
any way related to the transactions or relationships contemplated by this
Agreement, or any act, omission or event occurring in connection herewith,
unless it is determined by a final and non-appealable judgment or court order
binding on Agent and such Lender, that the losses were the result of acts or
omissions constituting gross negligence or willful misconduct. In any such
litigation, Agent and Lenders shall be entitled to the benefit of the rebuttable
presumption that it acted in good faith and with the exercise of ordinary care
in the performance by it of the terms of this Agreement. Each Borrower and
Guarantor: (i) certifies that neither Agent, any Lender nor any representative,
agent or attorney acting for or on behalf of Agent or any Lender has
represented, expressly or otherwise, that Agent and Lenders would not, in the
event of litigation, seek to enforce any of the waivers provided for in this
Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements and (ii) acknowledges that in
entering into this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements, Agent and
Lenders are relying upon, among other things, the waivers and certifications set
forth in this Section 11.1 and elsewhere herein and therein.

            11.2 WAIVER OF NOTICES. Each Borrower and Guarantor hereby expressly
waives demand, presentment, protest and notice of protest and notice of dishonor
with respect to any and all instruments and chattel paper, included in or
evidencing any of the Obligations or the Collateral, and any and all other
demands and notices of any kind or nature whatsoever with respect to the
Obligations, the Collateral and this Agreement, except such as are expressly
provided for herein. No notice to or demand on any Borrower or Guarantor which
Agent or any Lender may elect to give shall entitle such Borrower or Guarantor
to any other or further notice or demand in the same, similar or other
circumstances.

            11.3 AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS.

            (a) Neither this Agreement nor any other Financing Agreement nor any
terms hereof or thereof may be amended, waived, discharged or terminated unless
such amendment, waiver, discharge or termination is in writing signed by Agent
and the Required Lenders or at Agent's option, by Agent with the authorization

                                      112



of the Required Lenders, and as to amendments to any of the Financing Agreements
(other than with respect to any provision of Section 12 hereof), by any
Borrower; except, that, no such amendment, waiver, discharge or termination
shall:

              (i) reduce the interest rate or any fees or extend the time of
payment of principal, interest or any fees or reduce the principal amount of any
Loan or Letter of Credit Accommodations, in each case without the consent of
each Lender directly affected thereby,

              (ii) increase the Commitment of any Lender over the amount thereof
then in effect or provided hereunder, in each case without the consent of the
Lender directly affected thereby,

              (iii) release any Collateral (except as expressly required
hereunder or under any of the other Financing Agreements or applicable law and
except as permitted under Section 12.11(b) hereof), without the consent of Agent
and all of Lenders,

              (iv) reduce any percentage specified in the definition of Required
Lenders, without the consent of Agent and all of Lenders,

              (v) consent to the assignment or transfer by any Borrower or
Guarantor of any of their rights and obligations under this Agreement, without
the consent of Agent and all of Lenders,

              (vi) amend, modify or waive any terms of this Section 11.3 hereof,
without the consent of Agent and all of Lenders, or

              (vii) increase the advance rates constituting part of the
Borrowing Base or increase the sublimits with respect to Revolving Loans based
on Eligible Inventory and/or Eligible Consigned Precious Metals Inventory or for
Letter of Credit Accommodations, without the consent of Agent and all of
Lenders.

            (b) Agent and Lenders shall not, by any act, delay, omission or
otherwise be deemed to have expressly or impliedly waived any of its or their
rights, powers and/or remedies unless such waiver shall be in writing and signed
as provided herein. Any such waiver shall be enforceable only to the extent
specifically set forth therein. A waiver by Agent or any Lender of any right,
power and/or remedy on any one occasion shall not be construed as a bar to or
waiver of any such right, power and/or remedy which Agent or any Lender would
otherwise have on any future occasion, whether similar in kind or otherwise.

            (c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section
11.3(a) above, in connection with any amendment, waiver, discharge or
termination, in the event that any Lender whose consent thereto is required
shall fail to consent or fail to consent in a timely manner (such Lender being
referred to herein as a "Non-Consenting Lender"), but the consent of any other
Lenders to such amendment, waiver, discharge or termination that is required are
obtained, if any, then Congress shall have the right, but not the obligation, at
any time thereafter, and upon the exercise by Congress of such right, such

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Non-Consenting Lender shall have the obligation, to sell, assign and transfer to
Congress or such Eligible Transferee as Congress may specify, the Commitment of
such Non-Consenting Lender and all rights and interests of such Non-Consenting
Lender pursuant thereto. Congress shall provide the Non-Consenting Lender with
prior written notice of its intent to exercise its right under this Section,
which notice shall specify on date on which such purchase and sale shall occur.
Such purchase and sale shall be pursuant to the terms of an Assignment and
Acceptance (whether or not executed by the Non-Consenting Lender), except that
on the date of such purchase and sale, Congress, or such Eligible Transferee
specified by Congress, shall pay to the Non-Consenting Lender (except as
Congress and such Non-Consenting Lender may otherwise agree) the amount equal
to: (i) the principal balance of the Loans held by the Non-Consenting Lender
outstanding as of the close of business on the business day immediately
preceding the effective date of such purchase and sale, plus (ii) amounts
accrued and unpaid in respect of interest and fees payable to the Non-Consenting
Lender to the effective date of the purchase (but in no event shall the
Non-Consenting Lender be deemed entitled to any early termination fee), minus
(iii) the amount of the closing fee received by the Non-Consenting Lender
pursuant to the terms hereof or of any of the other Financing Agreements
multiplied by the fraction, the numerator of which is the number of months
remaining in the then current term of the Credit Facility and the denominator of
which is the number of months in the then current term thereof. Such purchase
and sale shall be effective on the date of the payment of such amount to the
Non-Consenting Lender and the Commitment of the Non-Consenting Lender shall
terminate on such date.

            (d) The consent of Agent shall be required for any amendment, waiver
or consent affecting the rights or duties of Agent hereunder or under any of the
other Financing Agreements, in addition to the consent of the Lenders otherwise
required by this Section and the exercise by Agent of any of its rights
hereunder with respect to Reserves or Eligible Accounts or Eligible Inventory or
Eligible Consigned Precious Metals Inventory shall not be deemed an amendment to
the advance rates provided for in this Section 11.3.

            11.4 WAIVER OF COUNTERCLAIMS. Each Borrower and Guarantor waives all
rights to interpose any claims, deductions, setoffs or counterclaims of any
nature (other then compulsory counterclaims) in any action or proceeding with
respect to this Agreement, the Obligations, the Collateral or any matter arising
therefrom or relating hereto or thereto.

            11.5 INDEMNIFICATION. Each Borrower and Guarantor shall, jointly and
severally, indemnify and hold Agent and each Lender, and its officers,
directors, agents, employees, advisors and counsel and their respective
Affiliates (each such person being an "Indemnitee"), harmless from and against
any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs or expenses (including
attorneys' fees and expenses) imposed on, incurred by or asserted against any of
them in connection with any litigation, investigation, claim or proceeding
commenced or threatened related to the negotiation, preparation, execution,
delivery, enforcement, performance or administration of this Agreement, any
other Financing Agreements, or any undertaking or proceeding related to any of
the transactions contemplated hereby or any act, omission, event or transaction
related or attendant thereto, including amounts paid in settlement, court costs,
and the fees and expenses of counsel except that Borrowers and Guarantors shall

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not have any obligation under this Section 11.5 to indemnify an Indemnitee with
respect to a matter covered hereby resulting from the gross negligence or wilful
misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined pursuant to a final, non-appealable
order of a court of competent jurisdiction (but without limiting the obligations
of Borrowers or Guarantors as to any other Indemnitee). To the extent that the
undertaking to indemnify, pay and hold harmless set forth in this Section may be
unenforceable because it violates any law or public policy, Borrowers and
Guarantors shall pay the maximum portion which it is permitted to pay under
applicable law to Agent and Lenders in satisfaction of indemnified matters under
this Section. To the extent permitted by applicable law, no Borrower or
Guarantor shall assert, and each Borrower and Guarantor hereby waives, any claim
against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect,
consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages)
arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any of
the other Financing Agreements or any undertaking or transaction contemplated
hereby. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable upon demand. The
foregoing indemnity shall survive the payment of the Obligations and the
termination or non-renewal of this Agreement.

            11.6 CURRENCY INDEMNITY. If, for the purposes of obtaining judgment
in any court in any jurisdiction with respect to this Agreement or any of the
other Financing Agreements, it becomes necessary to convert into the currency of
such jurisdiction (the "Judgment Currency") any amount due under this Agreement
or under any of the other Financing Agreements in any currency other than the
Judgment Currency (the "Currency Due"), then conversion shall be made at the
Exchange Rate at which Agent is able, on the relevant date, to purchase the
Currency Due with the Judgment Currency prevailing on the Business Day before
the day on which judgment is given. In the event that there is a change in the
rate of Exchange Rate prevailing between the Business Day before the day on
which the judgment is given and the date of receipt by Agent of the amount due,
Borrowers will, on the date of receipt by Agent, pay such additional amounts, if
any, or be entitled to receive reimbursement of such amount, if any, as may be
necessary to ensure that the amount received by Agent on such date is the amount
in the Judgment Currency which when converted at the rate of exchange prevailing
on the date of receipt by Agent is the amount then due under this Agreement or
such other of the Financing Agreements in the Currency Due. If the amount of the
Currency Due which Agent is able to purchase is less than the amount of the
Currency Due originally due to it, Borrowers shall indemnify and save Agent
harmless from and against loss or damage arising as a result of such deficiency.
The indemnity contained herein shall constitute an obligation separate and
independent from the other obligations contained in this Agreement and the other
Financing Agreements, shall give rise to a separate and independent cause of
action, shall apply irrespective of any indulgence granted by Agent from time to
time and shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any judgment or
order for a liquidated sum in respect of an amount due under this Agreement or
any of the other Financing Agreements or under any judgment or order.


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SECTION  12.  THE AGENT

            12.1 APPOINTMENT, POWERS AND IMMUNITIES. Each Lender irrevocably
designates, appoints and authorizes Congress to act as Agent hereunder and under
the other Financing Agreements with such powers as are specifically delegated to
Agent by the terms of this Agreement and of the other Financing Agreements,
together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Agent (a)
shall have no duties or responsibilities except those expressly set forth in
this Agreement and in the other Financing Agreements, and shall not by reason of
this Agreement or any other Financing Agreement be a trustee or fiduciary for
any Lender; (b) shall not be responsible to Lenders for any recitals,
statements, representations or warranties contained in this Agreement or in any
of the other Financing Agreements, or in any certificate or other document
referred to or provided for in, or received by any of them under, this Agreement
or any other Financing Agreement, or for the value, validity, effectiveness,
genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other
Financing Agreement or any other document referred to or provided for herein or
therein or for any failure by any Borrower or any Obligor or any other Person to
perform any of its obligations hereunder or thereunder; and (c) shall not be
responsible to Lenders for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it
hereunder or under any other Financing Agreement or under any other document or
instrument referred to or provided for herein or therein or in connection
herewith or therewith, except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct
as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent
jurisdiction. Agent may employ agents and attorneys-in-fact and shall not be
responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any such agents or
attorneys-in-fact selected by it in good faith. Agent may deem and treat the
payee of any note as the holder thereof for all purposes hereof unless and until
the assignment thereof pursuant to an agreement (if and to the extent permitted
herein) in form and substance satisfactory to Agent shall have been delivered to
and acknowledged by Agent.

            12.2 RELIANCE BY AGENT. Agent shall be entitled to rely upon any
certification, notice or other communication (including any thereof by
telephone, telecopy, telex, telegram or cable) believed by it to be genuine and
correct and to have been signed or sent by or on behalf of the proper Person or
Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel, independent
accountants and other experts selected by Agent. As to any matters not expressly
provided for by this Agreement or any other Financing Agreement, Agent shall in
all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, hereunder
or thereunder in accordance with instructions given by the Required Lenders or
all of Lenders as is required in such circumstance, and such instructions of
such Agents and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be
binding on all Lenders.

            12.3 EVENTS OF DEFAULT.

            (a) Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the
occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default or other failure of a condition
precedent to the Loans and Letter of Credit Accommodations hereunder, unless and
until Agent has received written notice from a Lender, or a Borrower specifying
such Event of Default or any unfulfilled condition precedent, and stating that
such notice is a "Notice of Default or Failure of Condition". In the event that
Agent receives such a Notice of Default or Failure of Condition, Agent shall
give prompt notice thereof to the Lenders. Agent shall (subject to Section 12.7)

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take such action with respect to any such Event of Default or failure of
condition precedent as shall be directed by the Required Lenders to the extent
provided for herein; provided, that, unless and until Agent shall have received
such directions, Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or
refrain from taking such action, with respect to or by reason of such Event of
Default or failure of condition precedent, as it shall deem advisable in the
best interest of Lenders. Without limiting the foregoing, and notwithstanding
the existence or occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default or any other
failure to satisfy any of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4 of
this Agreement to the contrary, unless and until otherwise directed by the
Required Lenders, Agent may, but shall have no obligation to, continue to make
Loans and issue or cause to be issued Letter of Credit Accommodations for the
ratable account and risk of Lenders from time to time if Agent believes making
such Loans or issuing or causing to be issued such Letter of Credit
Accommodations is in the best interests of Lenders.

            (b) Except with the prior written consent of Agent, no Lender may
assert or exercise any enforcement right or remedy in respect of the Loans,
Letter of Credit Accommodations or other Obligations, as against any Borrower or
Obligor or any of the Collateral or other property of any Borrower or Obligor.

            12.4 CONGRESS IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY. With respect to its
Commitment and the Loans made and Letter of Credit Accommodations issued or
caused to be issued by it (and any successor acting as Agent), so long as
Congress shall be a Lender hereunder, it shall have the same rights and powers
hereunder as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not
acting as Agent, and the term "Lender" or "Lenders" shall, unless the context
otherwise indicates, include Congress in its individual capacity as Lender
hereunder. Congress (and any successor acting as Agent) and its Affiliates may
(without having to account therefor to any Lender) lend money to, make
investments in and generally engage in any kind of business with Borrowers (and
any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates) as if it were not acting as Agent, and
Congress and its Affiliates may accept fees and other consideration from any
Borrower or Guarantor and any of its Subsidiaries and Affiliates for services in
connection with this Agreement or otherwise without having to account for the
same to Lenders.

            12.5 INDEMNIFICATION. Lenders agree to indemnify Agent (to the
extent not reimbursed by Borrowers hereunder and without limiting any
obligations of Borrowers hereunder) ratably, in accordance with their Pro Rata
Shares, for any and all claims of any kind and nature whatsoever that may be
imposed on, incurred by or asserted against Agent (including by any Lender)
arising out of or by reason of any investigation in or in any way relating to or
arising out of this Agreement or any other Financing Agreement or any other
documents contemplated by or referred to herein or therein or the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby (including the costs and expenses that Agent is
obligated to pay hereunder) or the enforcement of any of the terms hereof or
thereof or of any such other documents, provided, that, no Lender shall be
liable for any of the foregoing to the extent it arises from the gross
negligence or willful misconduct of the party to be indemnified as determined by
a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. The

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foregoing indemnity shall survive the payment of the Obligations and the
termination or non-renewal of this Agreement.

            12.6 NON-RELIANCE ON AGENT AND OTHER LENDERS. Each Lender agrees
that it has, independently and without reliance on Agent or other Lender, and
based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its
own credit analysis of Borrowers and Obligors and has made its own decision to
enter into this Agreement and that it will, independently and without reliance
upon Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as
it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own analysis and
decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement or any of the
other Financing Agreements. Agent shall not be required to keep itself informed
as to the performance or observance by any Borrower or Obligor of any term or
provision of this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements or any
other document referred to or provided for herein or therein or to inspect the
properties or books of any Borrower or Obligor. Agent will use reasonable
efforts to provide Lenders with any information received by Agent from any
Borrower or Obligor which is required to be provided to Lenders or deemed to be
requested by Lenders hereunder and with a copy of any Notice of Default or
Failure of Condition received by Agent from any Borrower or any Lender;
provided, that, Agent shall not be liable to any Lender for any failure to do
so, except to the extent that such failure is attributable to Agent's own gross
negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final non-appealable
judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. Except for notices, reports and
other documents expressly required to be furnished to Lenders by Agent or deemed
requested by Lenders hereunder, Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility
to provide any Lender with any other credit or other information concerning the
affairs, financial condition or business of any Borrower or Obligor that may
come into the possession of Agent.

            12.7 FAILURE TO ACT. Except for action expressly required of Agent
hereunder and under the other Financing Agreements, Agent shall in all cases be
fully justified in failing or refusing to act hereunder and thereunder unless it
shall receive further assurances to its satisfaction from Lenders of their
indemnification obligations under Section 12.5 hereof against any and all
liability and expense that may be incurred by it by reason of taking or
continuing to take any such action.

            12.8 ADDITIONAL LOANS. Agent shall not make any Revolving Loans or
provide any Letter of Credit Accommodations to any Borrower on behalf of Lenders
intentionally and with actual knowledge that such Revolving Loans or Letter of
Credit Accommodations would cause the aggregate amount of the total outstanding
Revolving Loans and Letter of Credit Accommodations to such Borrower to exceed
the Borrowing Base of such Borrower, without the prior consent of all Lenders,
except, that, Agent may make such additional Revolving Loans or provide such
additional Letter of Credit Accommodations on behalf of Lenders, intentionally
and with actual knowledge that such Revolving Loans or Letter of Credit
Accommodations will cause the total outstanding Revolving Loans and Letter of
Credit Accommodations to such Borrower to exceed the Borrowing Base of such
Borrower, as Agent may deem necessary or advisable in its discretion, provided,
that: (a) the total principal amount of the additional Revolving Loans or

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additional Letter of Credit Accommodations to any Borrower which Agent may make
or provide after obtaining such actual knowledge that the aggregate principal
amount of the Revolving Loans equal or exceed the Borrowing Bases of Borrowers,
plus the amount of Special Agent Advances made pursuant to Section 12.11(a)(ii)
hereof then outstanding, shall not exceed the aggregate amount equal to ten
(10%) of the Maximum Credit and shall not cause the total principal amount of
the Loans and Letter of Credit Accommodations to exceed the Maximum Credit and
(b) no such additional Revolving Loan or Letter of Credit Accommodation shall be
outstanding more than ninety (90) days after the date such additional Revolving
Loan or Letter of Credit Accommodation is made or issued (as the case may be),
except as the Required Lenders may otherwise agree. Each Lender shall be
obligated to pay Agent the amount of its Pro Rata Share of any such additional
Revolving Loans or Letter of Credit Accommodations.

            12.9 CONCERNING THE COLLATERAL AND THE RELATED FINANCING AGREEMENTS.
Each Lender authorizes and directs Agent to enter into this Agreement and the
other Financing Agreements. Each Lender agrees that any action taken by Agent or
Required Lenders in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or the other
Financing Agreements and the exercise by Agent or Required Lenders of their
respective powers set forth therein or herein, together with such other powers
that are reasonably incidental thereto, shall be binding upon all of the
Lenders.

            12.10 FIELD AUDIT, EXAMINATION REPORTS AND OTHER INFORMATION;
DISCLAIMER BY LENDERS. By signing this Agreement, each Lender:


            (a) is deemed to have requested that Agent furnish such Lender,
promptly after it becomes available, a copy of each field audit or examination
report and report with respect to the Borrowing Base prepared or received by
Agent (each field audit or examination report and report with respect to the
Borrowing Base being referred to herein as a "Report" and collectively,
"Reports"), appraisals with respect to the Collateral and financial statements
with respect to Parent and its Subsidiaries received by Agent;

            (b) expressly agrees and acknowledges that Agent (i) does not make
any representation or warranty as to the accuracy of any Report, appraisal or
financial statement or (ii) shall not be liable for any information contained in
any Report, appraisal or financial statement;

            (c) expressly agrees and acknowledges that the Reports are not
comprehensive audits or examinations, that Agent or any other party performing
any audit or examination will inspect only specific information regarding
Borrowers and Guarantors and will rely significantly upon Borrowers' and
Guarantors' books and records, as well as on representations of Borrowers' and
Guarantors' personnel; and

            (d) agrees to keep all Reports confidential and strictly for its
internal use in accordance with the terms of Section 13.5 hereof, and not to
distribute or use any Report in any other manner.

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            12.11 COLLATERAL MATTERS.

            (a) Agent may, at its option, from time to time, at any time on or
after an Event of Default and for so long as the same is continuing or upon any
other failure of a condition precedent to the Loans and Letter of Credit
Accommodations hereunder, make such disbursements and advances ("Special Agent
Advances") which Agent, in its sole discretion, (i) deems necessary or desirable
either to preserve or protect the Collateral or any portion thereof or (ii) to
enhance the likelihood or maximize the amount of repayment by Borrowers and
Guarantors of the Loans and other Obligations, provided, that, the aggregate
principal amount of the Special Agent Advances pursuant to this clause (ii),
plus the then outstanding principal amount of the additional Loans and Letter of
Credit Accommodations which Agent may make or provide as set forth in Section
12.8 hereof, shall not exceed the aggregate amount of ten (10%) percent of the
Maximum Credit or (iii) to pay any other amount chargeable to any Borrower or
Guarantor pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any of the other Financing
Agreements consisting of (A) costs, fees and expenses and (B) payments to any
issuer of Letter of Credit Accommodations. Special Agent Advances shall be
repayable on demand and together with all interest thereon shall constitute
Obligations secured by the Collateral. Special Agent Advances shall not
constitute Loans but shall otherwise constitute Obligations hereunder. Interest
on Special Agent Advances shall be payable at the Interest Rate then applicable
to Prime Rate Loans and shall be payable on demand. Without limitation of its
obligations pursuant to Section 6.10, each Lender agrees that it shall make
available to Agent, upon Agent's demand, in immediately available funds, the
amount equal to such Lender's Pro Rata Share of each such Special Agent Advance.
If such funds are not made available to Agent by such Lender, such Lender shall
be deemed a Defaulting Lender and Agent shall be entitled to recover such funds,
on demand from such Lender together with interest thereon for each day from the
date such payment was due until the date such amount is paid to Agent at the
Federal Funds Rate for each day during such period (as published by the Federal
Reserve Bank of New York or at Agent's option based on the arithmetic mean
determined by Agent of the rates for the last transaction in overnight Federal
funds arranged prior to 9:00 a.m. (New York City time) on that day by each of
the three leading brokers of Federal funds transactions in New York City
selected by Agent) and if such amounts are not paid within three (3) days of
Agent's demand, at the highest Interest Rate provided for in Section 3.1 hereof
applicable to Prime Rate Loans.

            (b) Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize Agent, at its option and in
its discretion to release any security interest in, mortgage or lien upon, any
of the Collateral (i) upon termination of the Commitments and payment and
satisfaction of all of the Obligations and delivery of cash collateral to the
extent required under Section 13.1 below, or (ii) constituting property being
sold or disposed of if Administrative Borrower or any Borrower or Guarantor
certifies to Agent that the sale or disposition is made in compliance with
Section 9.7 hereof (and Agent may rely conclusively on any such certificate,
without further inquiry), or (iii) constituting property in which any Borrower
or Guarantor did not own an interest at the time the security interest, mortgage
or lien was granted or at any time thereafter, or (iv) having a value in the
aggregate in any twelve (12) month period of less than $1,000,000 , and to the
extent Agent may release its security interest in and lien upon any such
Collateral pursuant to the sale or other disposition thereof, such sale or other
disposition shall be deemed consented to by Lenders, or (v) if required or
permitted under the terms of any of the other Financing Agreements, including
any intercreditor agreement, or (vi) approved, authorized or ratified in writing

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by all of Lenders. Except as provided above, Agent will not release any security
interest in, mortgage or lien upon, any of the Collateral without the prior
written authorization of all of Lenders. Upon request by Agent at any time,
Lenders will promptly confirm in writing Agent's authority to release particular
types or items of Collateral pursuant to this Section.

            (c) Without any manner limiting Agent's authority to act without any
specific or further authorization or consent by the Required Lenders, each
Lender agrees to confirm in writing, upon request by Agent, the authority to
release Collateral conferred upon Agent under this Section. Agent shall (and is
hereby irrevocably authorized by Lenders to) execute such documents as may be
necessary to evidence the release of the security interest, mortgage or liens
granted to Agent upon any Collateral to the extent set forth above; provided,
that, (i) Agent shall not be required to execute any such document on terms
which, in Agent's opinion, would expose Agent to liability or create any
obligations or entail any consequence other than the release of such security
interest, mortgage or liens without recourse or warranty and (ii) such release
shall not in any manner discharge, affect or impair the Obligations or any
security interest, mortgage or lien upon (or obligations of any Borrower or
Guarantor in respect of) the Collateral retained by such Borrower or Guarantor.

            (d) Agent shall have no obligation whatsoever to any Lender or any
other Person to investigate, confirm or assure that the Collateral exists or is
owned by any Borrower or Guarantor or is cared for, protected or insured or has
been encumbered, or that any particular items of Collateral meet the eligibility
criteria applicable in respect of the Loans or Letter of Credit Accommodations
hereunder, or whether any particular reserves are appropriate, or that the liens
and security interests granted to Agent pursuant hereto or any of the Financing
Agreements or otherwise have been properly or sufficiently or lawfully created,
perfected, protected or enforced or are entitled to any particular priority, or
to exercise at all or in any particular manner or under any duty of care,
disclosure or fidelity, or to continue exercising, any of the rights,
authorities and powers granted or available to Agent in this Agreement or in any
of the other Financing Agreements, it being understood and agreed that in
respect of the Collateral, or any act, omission or event related thereto,
subject to the other terms and conditions contained herein, Agent may act in any
manner it may deem appropriate, in its discretion, given Agent's own interest in
the Collateral as a Lender and that Agent shall have no duty or liability
whatsoever to any other Lender.

            (e) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Lender
(i) authorizes Agent to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement, the WHX
Subordination Agreement and the Precious Metals Creditor Agreement on behalf of
such Lender and (ii) agrees that it will be bound (as a Lender) by the terms and
conditions of the Intercreditor Agreement, the WHX Subordination Agreement and
the Precious Metals Creditor Agreement, whether or not such Lender executes any
such agreement.

            (f) If Agent is obligated to pay the Purchase Price to the Precious
Metals Consignor in accordance with the terms of the Precious Metals Creditor
Agreement, then Borrowers (automatically and without any further action) shall

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be deemed to have requested a Revolving Loan (which is a Prime Rate Loan) on the
date of such payment in an amount equal to the Purchase Price and the proceeds
of such Revolving Loan shall be applied to pay the Purchase Price. The
obligation of each Lender to deliver to Agent an amount equal to its Pro Rata
Share of such Revolving Loan is absolute and unconditional notwithstanding the
occurrence of any Event of Default, the failure to satisfy any other condition
set forth in Section 4 or any other event of circumstance.

            12.12 AGENCY FOR PERFECTION. Each Lender hereby appoints Agent and
each other Lender as agent and bailee for the purpose of perfecting the security
interests in and liens upon the Collateral of Agent in assets which, in
accordance with Article 9 of the UCC can be perfected only by possession (or
where the security interest of a secured party with possession has priority over
the security interest of another secured party) and Agent and each Lender hereby
acknowledges that it holds possession of any such Collateral for the benefit of
Agent as secured party. Should any Lender obtain possession of any such
Collateral, such Lender shall notify Agent thereof, and, promptly upon Agent's
request therefor shall deliver such Collateral to Agent or in accordance with
Agent's instructions.

            12.13 SUCCESSOR AGENT. Agent may resign as Agent upon thirty (30)
days' notice to Lenders and Administrative Borrower. If Agent resigns under this
Agreement, the Required Lenders shall appoint from among the Lenders a successor
agent for Lenders. If no successor agent is appointed prior to the effective
date of the resignation of Agent, Agent may appoint, after consulting with
Lenders and Administrative Borrower, a successor agent from among Lenders. Upon
the acceptance by the Lender so selected of its appointment as successor agent
hereunder, such successor agent shall succeed to all of the rights, powers and
duties of the retiring Agent and the term "Agent" as used herein and in the
other Financing Agreements shall mean such successor agent and the retiring
Agent's appointment, powers and duties as Agent shall be terminated. After any
retiring Agent's resignation hereunder as Agent, the provisions of this Section
12 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted by it while it
was Agent under this Agreement. If no successor agent has accepted appointment
as Agent by the date which is thirty (30) days after the date of a retiring
Agent's notice of resignation, the retiring Agent's resignation shall
nonetheless thereupon become effective and Lenders shall perform all of the
duties of Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders
appoint a successor agent as provided for above.

            SECTION 13. TERM OF AGREEMENT; MISCELLANEOUS

            13.1 TERM.

            (a) This Agreement and the other Financing Agreements shall become
effective as of the date set forth on the first page hereof and shall continue
in full force and effect for a term ending on the date three (3) years from the
date hereof (the "Termination Date"), unless sooner terminated pursuant to the
terms hereof. In addition, Borrowers may terminate this Agreement at any time
upon ten (10) days prior written notice to Agent (which notice shall be
irrevocable) and Agent may, at its option, and shall at the direction of
Required Lenders, terminate this Agreement at any time on or after an Event of

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Default. Upon the Termination Date or any other effective date of termination of
the Financing Agreements, Borrowers shall pay to Agent all outstanding and
unpaid Obligations and shall furnish cash collateral to Agent (or at Agent's
option, a letter of credit issued for the account of Borrowers and at Borrowers'
expense, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent, by an issuer acceptable to
Agent and payable to Agent as beneficiary) in such amounts as Agent determines
are reasonably necessary to secure Agent and Lenders from loss, cost, damage or
expense, including attorneys' fees and expenses, in connection with any
contingent Obligations, including issued and outstanding Letter of Credit
Accommodations and checks or other payments provisionally credited to the
Obligations and/or as to which Agent or any Lender has not yet received final
and indefeasible payment and any continuing obligations of Agent or any Lender
pursuant to any Deposit Account Control Agreement. The amount of such cash
collateral (or letter of credit, as Agent may determine) as to any Letter of
Credit Accommodations shall be in the amount equal to one hundred five (105%)
percent of the amount of the Letter of Credit Accommodations plus the amount of
any fees and expenses payable in connection therewith through the end of the
latest expiration date of such Letter of Credit Accommodations. Such payments in
respect of the Obligations and cash collateral shall be remitted by wire
transfer in Federal funds to the Agent Payment Account or such other bank
account of Agent, as Agent may, in its discretion, designate in writing to
Administrative Borrower for such purpose. Interest shall be due until and
including the next Business Day, if the amounts so paid by Borrowers to the
Agent Payment Account or other bank account designated by Agent are received in
such bank account later than 12:00 noon, New York time.

            (b) No termination of this Agreement or the other Financing
Agreements shall relieve or discharge any Borrower or Guarantor of its
respective duties, obligations and covenants under this Agreement or the other
Financing Agreements until all Obligations have been fully and finally
discharged and paid, and Agent's continuing security interest in the Collateral
and the rights and remedies of Agent and Lenders hereunder, under the other
Financing Agreements and applicable law, shall remain in effect until all such
Obligations have been fully and finally discharged and paid. Accordingly, each
Borrower and Guarantor waives any rights it may have under the UCC to demand the
filing of termination statements with respect to the Collateral and Agent shall
not be required to send such termination statements to Borrowers or Guarantors,
or to file them with any filing office, unless and until this Agreement shall
have been terminated in accordance with its terms and all Obligations paid and
satisfied in full in immediately available funds.

            (c) If for any reason this Agreement is terminated prior to the
Termination Date, in view of the impracticality and extreme difficulty of
ascertaining actual damages and by mutual agreement of the parties as to a
reasonable calculation of Agent's and each Lender's lost profits as a result
thereof, Borrowers agree to pay to Agent, for the benefit of Lenders, upon the
effective date of such termination, an early termination fee in the amount equal
to

                                      123



             Amount                                      Period
             ------                                      ------
   (i) 3% of Maximum Credit                From the date hereof to and excluding
                                           the first anniversary of the date
                                           hereof

   (ii) 2% of Maximum Credit               From and after the first anniversary
                                           of the date hereof to and excluding
                                           the second anniversary of the date
                                           hereof

   (iii) 1% of Maximum Credit              From and after the second anniversary
                                           of the date hereof to but excluding
                                           the third anniversary of the date
                                           hereof.

Such early termination fee shall be presumed to be the amount of damages
sustained by Agent and Lenders as a result of such early termination and
Borrowers and Guarantors agree that it is reasonable under the circumstances
currently existing. In addition, Agent and Lenders shall be entitled to such
early termination fee upon the occurrence of any Event of Default described in
Sections 10.1(g) and 10.1(h) hereof, even if Agent and Lenders do not exercise
the right to terminate this Agreement, but elect, at their option, to provide
financing to any Borrower or permit the use of cash collateral under the United
States Bankruptcy Code. The early termination fee provided for in this Section
13.1 shall be deemed included in the Obligations.

            (d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section
13.1(c) hereof, in the event of the termination by Borrowers prior to the
Termination Date of this Agreement and the full and final repayment of all of
the Obligations and the receipt by Agent of cash collateral all as provided in
Section 13.1(a) hereof (or a letter of credit, at Agent's option, as provided
herein) with the proceeds of initial loans and advances to Borrowers pursuant to
a credit facility provided by Wachovia Bank, National Association or its
Affiliates to Borrowers to replace the financing arrangements provided for
herein, Borrowers shall not be required to pay the early termination fees
provided for in Section 13.1(c) above. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties
acknowledge and agree that the repayment or prepayment of the Term Loans and/or
the Revolving Loans shall not (in and of itself) trigger the obligation of
Borrowers to pay the early termination fee provided for in Section 13.1(c)
above.

            13.2 Interpretative Provisions.

            (a) All terms used herein which are defined in Article 1, Article 8
or Article 9 of the UCC shall have the meanings given therein unless otherwise
defined in this Agreement.

            (b) All references to the plural herein shall also mean the singular
and to the singular shall also mean the plural unless the context otherwise
requires.

            (c) All references to any Borrower, Guarantor, Agent and Lenders
pursuant to the definitions set forth in the recitals hereto, or to any other
person herein, shall include their respective successors and assigns.

                                      124



            (d) The words "hereof", "herein", "hereunder", "this Agreement" and
words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this
Agreement as a whole and not any particular provision of this Agreement and as
this Agreement now exists or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented,
extended, renewed, restated or replaced.

            (e) The word "including" when used in this Agreement shall mean
"including, without limitation" and the word "will" when used in this Agreement
shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word "shall".

            (f) An Event of Default shall exist or continue or be continuing
until such Event of Default is waived in accordance with Section 11.3 or is
cured in a manner satisfactory to Agent, if such Event of Default is capable of
being cured as determined by Agent.

            (g) All references to the term "good faith" used herein when
applicable to Agent or any Lender shall mean, notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained herein or in the UCC, honesty in fact in the conduct or
transaction concerned. Borrowers and Guarantors shall have the burden of proving
any lack of good faith on the part of Agent or any Lender alleged by any
Borrower or Guarantor at any time.

            (h) Any accounting term used in this Agreement shall have, unless
otherwise specifically provided herein, the meaning customarily given in
accordance with GAAP, and all financial computations hereunder shall be computed
unless otherwise specifically provided herein, in accordance with GAAP as
consistently applied and using the same method for inventory valuation as used
in the preparation of the financial statements of Parent most recently received
by Agent prior to the date hereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained in GAAP or any interpretations or other pronouncements by the
Financial Accounting Standards Board or otherwise, the term "unqualified
opinion" as used herein to refer to opinions or reports provided by accountants
shall mean an opinion or report that is not only unqualified but also does not
include any explanation, supplemental comment or other comment concerning the
ability of the applicable person to continue as a going concern or the scope of
the audit.

            (i) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a
later specified date, the word "from" means "from and including", the words "to"
and "until" each mean "to but excluding" and the word "through" means "to and
including".

            (j) Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (i) references
herein to any agreement, document or instrument shall be deemed to include all
subsequent amendments, modifications, supplements, extensions, renewals,
restatements or replacements with respect thereto, but only to the extent the
same are not prohibited by the terms hereof or of any other Financing Agreement,
and (ii) references to any statute or regulation are to be construed as
including all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending,
replacing, recodifying, supplementing or interpreting the statute or regulation.

            (k) The captions and headings of this Agreement are for convenience
of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.

                                      125



            (l) This Agreement and other Financing Agreements may use several
different limitations, tests or measurements to regulate the same or similar
matters. All such limitations, tests and measurements are cumulative and shall
each be performed in accordance with their terms.

            (m) This Agreement and the other Financing Agreements are the result
of negotiations among and have been reviewed by counsel to Agent and the other
parties, and are the products of all parties. Accordingly, this Agreement and
the other Financing Agreements shall not be construed against Agent or Lenders
merely because of Agent's or any Lender's involvement in their preparation.

          13.3 NOTICES. All notices, requests and demands hereunder shall be in
writing and deemed to have been given or made: if delivered in person,
immediately upon delivery; if by telex, telegram or facsimile transmission,
immediately upon sending and upon confirmation of receipt; if by nationally
recognized overnight courier service with instructions to deliver the next
Business Day, one (1) Business Day after sending; and if by certified mail,
return receipt requested, five (5) days after mailing. All notices, requests and
demands upon the parties are to be given to the following addresses (or to such
other address as any party may designate by notice in accordance with this
Section):

            If to any Borrower or Guarantor: c/o Handy & Harman
                                             555 Theodore Fremd Avenue
                                             Rye, New York 10580
                                             Attention: Chief Financial Officer
                                             Telephone No.: (914) 921-5200
                                             Telecopy No.:  (914) 925-4498



            with a copy to:                  Olshan Grundman Frome Rosenzweig &
                                             Wolosky LLP
                                             Park Avenue Tower
                                             65 East 55th Street
                                             New York, New York 10027
                                             Attention: Steven Wolosky, Esq.
                                             Telephone No.: (212) 451-2300
                                             Telecopy No.: (212) 451-2222


            If to Agent:                     Congress Financial Corporation

                                             1133 Avenue of the Americas
                                             New York, New York 10036
                                             Attention: Portfolio Manager -
                                                        Handy & Harman
                                             Telephone No.: (212) 840-2000
                                             Telecopy No.: (212) 545-4283

                                      126



          13.4 PARTIAL INVALIDITY. If any provision of this Agreement is held to
be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not
invalidate this Agreement as a whole, but this Agreement shall be construed as
though it did not contain the particular provision held to be invalid or
unenforceable and the rights and obligations of the parties shall be construed
and enforced only to such extent as shall be permitted by applicable law.

          13.5 CONFIDENTIALITY.

            (a) Agent and each Lender shall use all reasonable efforts to keep
confidential, in accordance with its customary procedures for handling
confidential information and safe and sound lending practices, any non-public
information supplied to it by any Borrower pursuant to this Agreement which is
clearly and conspicuously marked as confidential at the time such information is
furnished by such Borrower to Agent or such Lender, provided, that, nothing
contained herein shall limit the disclosure of any such information: (i) to the
extent required by statute, rule, regulation, subpoena or court order, (ii) to
bank examiners and other regulators, auditors and/or accountants, in connection
with any litigation to which Agent or such Lender is a party, (iii) to any
Lender or Participant (or prospective Lender or Participant) or to any Affiliate
of any Lender so long as such Lender or Participant (or prospective Lender or
Participant) or Affiliate shall have been instructed to treat such information
as confidential in accordance with this Section 13.5, or (iv) to counsel for
Agent or any Lender or Participant (or prospective Lender or Participant).

            (b) In the event that Agent or any Lender receives a request or
demand to disclose any confidential information pursuant to any subpoena or
court order, Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, agrees (i) to the extent
permitted by applicable law or if permitted by applicable law, to the extent
Agent or such Lender determines in good faith that it will not create any risk
of liability to Agent or such Lender, Agent or such Lender will promptly notify
Administrative Borrower of such request so that Administrative Borrower may seek
a protective order or other appropriate relief or remedy and (ii) if disclosure
of such information is required, disclose such information and, subject to
reimbursement by Borrowers of Agent's or such Lender's expenses, cooperate with
Administrative Borrower in the reasonable efforts to obtain an order or other
reliable assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded to such portion
of the disclosed information which Administrative Borrower so designates, to the
extent permitted by applicable law or if permitted by applicable law, to the
extent Agent or such Lender determines in good faith that it will not create any
risk of liability to Agent or such Lender.

            (c) In no event shall this Section 13.5 or any other provision of
this Agreement, any of the other Financing Agreements or applicable law be
deemed: (i) to apply to or restrict disclosure of information that has been or
is made public by any Borrower, Guarantor or any third party or otherwise
becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure
in violation hereof, (ii) to apply to or restrict disclosure of information that
was or becomes available to Agent or any Lender (or any Affiliate of any Lender)
on a non-confidential basis from a person other than a Borrower or Guarantor,
(iii) to require Agent or any Lender to return any materials furnished by a
Borrower or Guarantor to Agent or a Lender or prevent Agent or a Lender from

                                      127



responding to routine informational requests in accordance with the CODE OF
ETHICS FOR THE EXCHANGE OF CREDIT INFORMATION promulgated by The Robert Morris
Associates or other applicable industry standards relating to the exchange of
credit information. The obligations of Agent and Lenders under this Section 13.5
shall supersede and replace the obligations of Agent and Lenders under any
confidentiality letter signed prior to the date hereof.

            (d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein or in
any of the other Financing Agreements or any other written or oral understanding
or agreement, (i) any obligations of confidentiality contained herein, in any of
the other Financing Agreements or any such other understanding or agreement do
not apply and have not applied from the commencement of discussions between the
parties to the tax treatment and tax structure of the transactions contemplated
herein (and any related transactions or arrangements), and (ii) each party (and
each of its employees, representatives, or other agents) may disclose to any and
all persons the tax treatment and tax structuring of the transactions
contemplated herein and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other
tax analyses) that are provided to such party relating to such tax treatment and
tax structure, all within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4;
provided, that, each party recognizes that the privilege that it may, in its
discretion, maintain with respect to the confidentiality of a communication
relating to the transactions contemplated herein, including a confidential
communication with its attorney or a confidential communication with a federally
authorized tax practitioner under Section 7525 of the Internal Revenue Code, is
not intended to be affected by the foregoing. Borrowers and Guarantors do not
intend to treat the Loans and related transactions as being a "reportable
transaction" (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4). In
the event Borrowers or Guarantors determine to take any action inconsistent with
such intention, it will promptly notify Agent thereof. Each Borrower and
Guarantor acknowledges that one or more of Lenders may treat its Loans as part
of a transaction that is subject to Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4 or
Section 301.6112-1, and the Agent and such Lender or Lenders, as applicable, may
file such IRS forms or maintain such lists and other records as they may
determine is required by such Treasury Regulations.

          13.6 SUCCESSORS. This Agreement, the other Financing Agreements and
any other document referred to herein or therein shall be binding upon and inure
to the benefit of and be enforceable by Agent, Lenders, Borrowers, Guarantors
and their respective successors and assigns, except that Borrower may not assign
its rights under this Agreement, the other Financing Agreements and any other
document referred to herein or therein without the prior written consent of
Agent and Lenders. Any such purported assignment without such express prior
written consent shall be void. No Lender may assign its rights and obligations
under this Agreement without the prior written consent of Agent, except as
provided in Section 13.7 below. The terms and provisions of this Agreement and
the other Financing Agreements are for the purpose of defining the relative
rights and obligations of Borrowers, Guarantors, Agent and Lenders with respect
to the transactions contemplated hereby and there shall be no third party
beneficiaries of any of the terms and provisions of this Agreement or any of the
other Financing Agreements.

                                      128



          13.7 ASSIGNMENTS; PARTICIPATIONS.

            (a) Each Lender may, with the prior written consent of Agent, assign
all or, if less than all, a portion equal to at least $5,000,000 in the
aggregate for the assigning Lender, of such rights and obligations under this
Agreement to one or more Eligible Transferees (but not including for this
purpose any assignments in the form of a participation), each of which assignees
shall become a party to this Agreement as a Lender by execution of an Assignment
and Acceptance; provided, that, (i) such transfer or assignment will not be
effective until recorded by Agent on the Register and (ii) Agent shall have
received for its sole account payment of a processing fee from the assigning
Lender or the assignee in the amount of $5,000.

            (b) Agent shall maintain a register of the names and addresses of
Lenders, their Commitments and the principal amount of their Loans (the
"Register"). Agent shall also maintain a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance
delivered to and accepted by it and shall modify the Register to give effect to
each Assignment and Acceptance. The entries in the Register shall be conclusive
and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error, and any Borrowers,
Obligors, Agent and Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the
Register as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement. The Register
shall be available for inspection by Administrative Borrower and any Lender at
any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

            (c) Upon such execution, delivery, acceptance and recording, from
and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, the
assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and to the other Financing
Agreements and, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been
assigned to it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and
obligations (including, without limitation, the obligation to participate in
Letter of Credit Accommodations) of a Lender hereunder and thereunder and the
assigning Lender shall, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have
been assigned by it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish its
rights and be released from its obligations under this Agreement.

            (d) By execution and delivery of an Assignment and Acceptance, the
assignor and assignee thereunder confirm to and agree with each other and the
other parties hereto as follows: (i) other than as provided in such Assignment
and Acceptance, the assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and
assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or
representations made in or in connection with this Agreement or any of the other
Financing Agreements or the execution, legality, enforceability, genuineness,
sufficiency or value of this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements
furnished pursuant hereto, (ii) the assigning Lender makes no representation or
warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial condition
of any Borrower, Obligor or any of their Subsidiaries or the performance or
observance by any Borrower or Obligor of any of the Obligations; (iii) such
assignee confirms that it has received a copy of this Agreement and the other
Financing Agreements, together with such other documents and information it has
deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into
such Assignment and Acceptance, (iv) such assignee will, independently and

                                      129



without reliance upon the assigning Lender, Agent and based on such documents
and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its
own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the
other Financing Agreements, (v) such assignee appoints and authorizes Agent to
take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this
Agreement and the other Financing Agreements as are delegated to Agent by the
terms hereof and thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental
thereto, and (vi) such assignee agrees that it will perform in accordance with
their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of this Agreement and the
other Financing Agreements are required to be performed by it as a Lender. Agent
and Lenders may furnish any information concerning any Borrower or Obligor in
the possession of Agent or any Lender from time to time to assignees and
Participants.

            (e) Each Lender may sell participations to one or more banks or
other entities in or to all or a portion of its rights and obligations under
this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements (including, without
limitation, all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans owing to it and
its participation in the Letter of Credit Accommodations, without the consent of
Agent or the other Lenders); provided, that, (i) such Lender's obligations under
this Agreement (including, without limitation, its Commitment hereunder) and the
other Financing Agreements shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain
solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such
obligations, and Borrowers, Guarantors, the other Lenders and Agent shall
continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such
Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Financing
Agreements, and (iii) the Participant shall not have any rights under this
Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements (the Participant's rights
against such Lender in respect of such participation to be those set forth in
the agreement executed by such Lender in favor of the Participant relating
thereto) and all amounts payable by any Borrower or Obligor hereunder shall be
determined as if such Lender had not sold such participation.

            (f) Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or prohibit any Lender
from pledging its Loans hereunder to a Federal Reserve Bank in support of
borrowings made by such Lenders from such Federal Reserve Bank; provided, that,
no such pledge shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder
or substitute any such pledgee for such Lender as a party hereto.

            (g) Borrowers and Guarantors shall assist Agent or any Lender
permitted to sell assignments or participations under this Section 13.7 in
whatever manner reasonably necessary in order to enable or effect any such
assignment or participation, including (but not limited to) the execution and
delivery of any and all agreements, notes and other documents and instruments as
shall be requested and the delivery of informational materials, appraisals or
other documents for, and the participation of relevant management in meetings
and conference calls with, potential Lenders or Participants. Borrowers shall
certify the correctness, completeness and accuracy, in all material respects, of
all descriptions of Borrowers and Guarantors and their affairs provided,
prepared or reviewed by any Borrower or Guarantor that are contained in any
selling materials and all other information provided by it and included in such
materials.

                                      130



            13.8 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement, the other Financing
Agreements, any supplements hereto or thereto, and any instruments or documents
delivered or to be delivered in connection herewith or therewith represents the
entire agreement and understanding concerning the subject matter hereof and
thereof between the parties hereto, and supersede all other prior agreements,
understandings, negotiations and discussions, representations, warranties,
commitments, proposals, offers and contracts concerning the subject matter
hereof, whether oral or written. In the event of any inconsistency between the
terms of this Agreement and any schedule or exhibit hereto, the terms of this
Agreement shall govern.

            13.9 COUNTERPARTS, ETC. This Agreement or any of the other Financing
Agreements may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be
an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Agreement or any of the
other Financing Agreements by telefacsimile shall have the same force and effect
as the delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement or any of
such other Financing Agreements. Any party delivering an executed counterpart of
any such agreement by telefacsimile shall also deliver an original executed
counterpart, but the failure to do so shall not affect the validity,
enforceability or binding effect of such agreement.

                                      131



            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Agent, Lenders, Borrowers and Guarantors have
caused these presents to be duly executed as of the day and year first above
written.

AGENT                                     BORROWERS
-----                                     ---------

CONGRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION,           HANDY & HARMAN
  as Agent
By:                                       By:
  ----------------------------               -----------------------------------
Title:                                    Title:
      ------------------------                  --------------------------------


LENDERS                                   OLYMPIC MANUFACTURING GROUP, INC.
-------


CONGRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION            By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------

By:                                       CONTINENTAL INDUSTRIES, INC.
   ---------------------------
Title:
      ------------------------

Commitment: $92,150,000                   By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------


                                          MARYLAND SPECIALTY WIRE, INC.
                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------


                                          HANDY & HARMAN TUBE COMPANY, INC.
                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------


                                          CAMDEL METAL COATING CORPORATION


                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------


                                          CANFIELD METAL COATING CORPORATION


                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------

                                      132



                                          MICRO-TUBE FABRICATORS, INC.


                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------


                                          INDIANA TUBE CORPORATION


                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------


                                          LUCAS-MILHAUPT, INC.


                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------


                                          HANDY & HARMAN ELECTRONIC
                                          MATERIALS CORPORATION


                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------


                                          SUMCO INC.


                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------


                                          GUARANTORS
                                          ----------


                                          HANDY & HARMAN OF CANADA,
                                          LIMITED


                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------


                                          ELE CORPORATION


                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------


                                          ALLOY RING SERVICE INC.


                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------

                                      133



                                          DANIEL RADIATOR CORPORATION


                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------


                                          H&H PRODUCTIONS, INC.


                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------


                                          HANDY & HARMAN AUTOMOTIVE
                                          GROUP, INC.


                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------


                                          HANDY & HARMAN
                                          INTERNATIONAL, LTD.


                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------


                                          HANDY & HARMAN PERU, INC.


                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------


                                          KJ-VMI REALTY, INC.


                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------


                                          PAL-RATH REALTY, INC.


                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------


                                          PLATINA LABORATORIES, INC.


                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------

                                      134



                                          SHEFFIELD STREET CORPORATION


                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------


                                          SWM, INC.


                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------


                                          WILLING B WIRE CORPORATION


                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------

                                      135



                                    EXHIBIT A

                                       to

                           LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

                       ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE AGREEMENT

          This ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE AGREEMENT (this "Assignment and
Acceptance") dated as of _____________, 200_ is made between
________________________ (the "Assignor") and ____________________ (the
"Assignee").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:
                               - - - - - - - - - -

          WHEREAS, Congress Financial Corporation, in its capacity as agent
pursuant to the Loan Agreement (as hereinafter defined) acting for and on behalf
of the financial institutions which are parties thereto as lenders (in such
capacity, "Agent"), and the financial institutions which are parties to the Loan
Agreement as lenders (individually, each a "Lender" and collectively, "Lenders")
have entered or are about to enter into financing arrangements pursuant to which
Agent and Lenders may make loans and advances and provide other financial
accommodations to Handy & Harman and certain of its affiliates (collectively,
"Borrowers") as set forth in the Loan and Security Agreement, dated _________,
2004, by and among Borrowers, certain of their affiliates, Agent and Lenders (as
the same now exists or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented,
extended, renewed, restated or replaced, the "Loan Agreement"), and the other
agreements, documents and instruments referred to therein or at any time
executed and/or delivered in connection therewith or related thereto (all of the
foregoing, together with the Loan Agreement, as the same now exist or may
hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or
replaced, being collectively referred to herein as the "Financing Agreements");

          WHEREAS, as provided under the Loan Agreement, Assignor committed to
making Loans (the "Committed Loans") to Borrowers in an aggregate amount not to
exceed $___________ (the "Commitment");

          WHEREAS, Assignor wishes to assign to Assignee [part of the] [all]
rights and obligations of Assignor under the Loan Agreement in respect of its
Commitment in an amount equal to $______________ (the "Assigned Commitment
Amount") on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and
Assignee wishes to accept assignment of such rights and to assume such
obligations from Assignor on such terms and subject to such conditions;

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

          1. ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE.

            (a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Assignment and
Acceptance, Assignor hereby sells, transfers and assigns to Assignee, and

                                      A-1



Assignee hereby purchases, assumes and undertakes from Assignor, without
recourse and without representation or warranty (except as provided in this
Assignment and Acceptance) an interest in (i) the Commitment and each of the
Committed Loans of Assignor and (ii) all related rights, benefits, obligations,
liabilities and indemnities of the Assignor under and in connection with the
Loan Agreement and the other Financing Agreements, so that after giving effect
thereto, the Commitment of Assignee shall be as set forth below and the Pro Rata
Share of Assignee shall be _______ (__%) percent.

            (b) With effect on and after the Effective Date (as defined in
Section 5 hereof), Assignee shall be a party to the Loan Agreement and succeed
to all of the rights and be obligated to perform all of the obligations of a
Lender under the Loan Agreement, including the requirements concerning
confidentiality and the payment of indemnification, with a Commitment in an
amount equal to the Assigned Commitment Amount. Assignee agrees that it will
perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms
of the Loan Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender. It is the
intent of the parties hereto that the Commitment of Assignor shall, as of the
Effective Date, be reduced by an amount equal to the Assigned Commitment Amount
and Assignor shall relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations
under the Loan Agreement to the extent such obligations have been assumed by
Assignee; PROVIDED, THAT, Assignor shall not relinquish its rights under
Sections 2.2, 6.4, 6.8, 11.5 and 12.5 of the Loan Agreement to the extent such
rights relate to the time prior to the Effective Date.

            (c) After giving effect to the assignment and assumption set forth
herein, on the Effective Date Assignee's Commitment will be $_____________.

            (d) After giving effect to the assignment and assumption set forth
herein, on the Effective Date Assignor's Commitment will be $______________ (as
such amount may be further reduced by any other assignments by Assignor on or
after the date hereof).

          2. PAYMENTS.

            (a) As consideration for the sale, assignment and transfer
contemplated in Section 1 hereof, Assignee shall pay to Assignor on the
Effective Date in immediately available funds an amount equal to $____________,
representing Assignee's Pro Rata Share of the principal amount of all Committed
Loans.

            (b) Assignee shall pay to Agent the processing fee in the amount
specified in Section 13.7(a) of the Loan Agreement.

          3. REALLOCATION OF PAYMENTS. Any interest, fees and other payments
accrued to the Effective Date with respect to the Commitment, Committed Loans
and outstanding Letter of Credit Accommodations shall be for the account of
Assignor. Any interest, fees and other payments accrued on and after the
Effective Date with respect to the Assigned Commitment Amount shall be for the
account of Assignee. Each of Assignor and Assignee agrees that it will hold in

                                      A-2



trust for the other party any interest, fees and other amounts which it may
receive to which the other party is entitled pursuant to the preceding sentence
and pay to the other party any such amounts which it may receive promptly upon
receipt.

          4. INDEPENDENT CREDIT DECISION. Assignee acknowledges that it has
received a copy of the Loan Agreement and the Schedules and Exhibits thereto,
together with copies of the most recent financial statements of Parent and its
Subsidiaries, and such other documents and information as it has deemed
appropriate to make its own credit and legal analysis and decision to enter into
this Assignment and Acceptance and agrees that it will, independently and
without reliance upon Assignor, Agent or any Lender and based on such documents
and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its
own credit and legal decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan
Agreement.

          5. EFFECTIVE DATE; NOTICES.

            (a) As between Assignor and Assignee, the effective date for this
Assignment and Acceptance shall be _______________, 200_ (the "Effective Date");
PROVIDED, THAT, the following conditions precedent have been satisfied on or
before the Effective Date:

              (i) this Assignment and Acceptance shall be executed and delivered
by Assignor and Assignee;

              (ii) the consent of Agent as required for an effective assignment
of the Assigned Commitment Amount by Assignor to Assignee shall have been duly
obtained and shall be in full force and effect as of the Effective Date;

              (iii) written notice of such assignment, together with payment
instructions, addresses and related information with respect to Assignee, shall
have been given to Administrative Borrower and Agent;

              (iv) Assignee shall pay to Assignor all amounts due to Assignor
under this Assignment and Acceptance; and

              (v) the processing fee referred to in Section 2(b) hereof shall
have been paid to Agent.

            (b) Promptly following the execution of this Assignment and
Acceptance, Assignor shall deliver to Administrative Borrower and Agent for
acknowledgment by Agent, a Notice of Assignment in the form attached hereto as
Schedule 1.

          6. AGENT. [INCLUDE ONLY IF ASSIGNOR IS AN AGENT]

            (a) Assignee hereby appoints and authorizes Assignor in its capacity
as Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf to exercise such powers
under the Loan Agreement as are delegated to Agent by Lenders pursuant to the
terms of the Loan Agreement.

                                      A-3



            (b) Assignee shall assume no duties or obligations held by Assignor
in its capacity as Agent under the Loan Agreement.]

          7. WITHHOLDING TAX. Assignee (a) represents and warrants to Assignor,
Agent and Borrowers that under applicable law and treaties no tax will be
required to be withheld by Assignee, Agent or Borrowers with respect to any
payments to be made to Assignee hereunder or under any of the Financing
Agreements, (b) agrees to furnish (if it is organized under the laws of any
jurisdiction other than the United States or any State thereof) to Agent and
Borrowers prior to the time that Agent or Borrowers are required to make any
payment of principal, interest or fees hereunder, duplicate executed originals
of either U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8ECI, as applicable
(wherein Assignee claims entitlement to the benefits of a tax treaty that
provides for a complete exemption from U.S. federal income withholding tax on
all payments hereunder) and agrees to provide new such forms upon the expiration
of any previously delivered form or comparable statements in accordance with
applicable U.S. law and regulations and amendments thereto, duly executed and
completed by Assignee, and (c) agrees to comply with all applicable U.S. laws
and regulations with regard to such withholding tax exemption.

          8. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

            (a) Assignor represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and
beneficial owner of the interest being assigned by it hereunder and that such
interest is free and clear of any security interest, lien, encumbrance or other
adverse claim, (ii) it is duly organized and existing and it has the full power
and authority to take, and has taken, all action necessary to execute and
deliver this Assignment and Acceptance and any other documents required or
permitted to be executed or delivered by it in connection with this Assignment
and Acceptance and to fulfill its obligations hereunder, (iii) no notices to, or
consents, authorizations or approvals of, any Person are required (other than
any already given or obtained) for its due execution, delivery and performance
of this Assignment and Acceptance, and apart from any agreements or undertakings
or filings required by the Loan Agreement, no further action by, or notice to,
or filing with, any Person is required of it for such execution, delivery or
performance, and (iv) this Assignment and Acceptance has been duly executed and
delivered by it and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of
Assignor, enforceable against Assignor in accordance with the terms hereof,
subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium,
reorganization and other laws of general application relating to or affecting
creditors' rights and to general equitable principles.

            (b) Assignor makes no representation or warranty and assumes no
responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations
made in or in connection with the Loan Agreement or any of the other Financing
Agreements or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness,
sufficiency or value of the Loan Agreement or any other instrument or document
furnished pursuant thereto. Assignor makes no representation or warranty in
connection with, and assumes no responsibility with respect to, the solvency,
financial condition or statements of Borrowers, Guarantors or any of their
respective Affiliates, or the performance or observance by Borrowers, Guarantors

                                      A-4



or any other Person, of any of its respective obligations under the Loan
Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished in connection therewith.

            (c) Assignee represents and warrants that (i) it is duly organized
and existing and it has full power and authority to take, and has taken, all
action necessary to execute and deliver this Assignment and Acceptance and any
other documents required or permitted to be executed or delivered by it in
connection with this Assignment and Acceptance, and to fulfill its obligations
hereunder, (ii) no notices to, or consents, authorizations or approvals of, any
Person are required (other than any already given or obtained) for its due
execution, delivery and performance of this Assignment and Acceptance, and apart
from any agreements or undertakings or filings required by the Loan Agreement,
no further action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Person is required of it
for such execution, delivery or performance; and (iii) this Assignment and
Acceptance has been duly executed and delivered by it and constitutes the legal,
valid and binding obligation of Assignee, enforceable against Assignee in
accordance with the terms hereof, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy,
insolvency, moratorium, reorganization and other laws of general application
relating to or affecting creditors' rights to general equitable principles.

          9. FURTHER ASSURANCES. Assignor and Assignee each hereby agree to
execute and deliver such other instruments, and take such other action, as
either party may reasonably request in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Assignment and Acceptance, including the delivery of any
notices or other documents or instruments to Borrowers or Agent, which may be
required in connection with the assignment and assumption contemplated hereby.

          10. MISCELLANEOUS

            (a) Any amendment or waiver of any provision of this Assignment and
Acceptance shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto. No failure or
delay by either party hereto in exercising any right, power or privilege
hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof and any waiver of any breach of the
provisions of this Assignment and Acceptance shall be without prejudice to any
rights with respect to any other for further breach thereof.

            (b) All payments made hereunder shall be made without any set-off or
counterclaim.

            (c) Assignor and Assignee shall each pay its own costs and expenses
incurred in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution and
performance of this Assignment and Acceptance.

            (d) This Assignment and Acceptance may be executed in any number of
counterparts and all of such counterparts taken together shall be deemed to
constitute one and the same instrument.

            (e) THIS ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY

                                      A-5



AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. Assignor and
Assignee each irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any State
or Federal court sitting in New York County, New York over any suit, action or
proceeding arising out of or relating to this Assignment and Acceptance and
irrevocably agrees that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding may
be heard and determined in such New York State or Federal court. Each party to
this Assignment and Acceptance hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent
it may effectively do so, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the
maintenance of such action or proceeding.

            (f) ASSIGNOR AND ASSIGNEE EACH HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND
INTENTIONALLY WAIVE ANY RIGHTS THEY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF
ANY LITIGATION BASED HEREON, OR ARISING OUT OF, UNDER, OR IN CONNECTION WITH
THIS ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE, THE LOAN AGREEMENT, ANY OF THE OTHER FINANCING
AGREEMENTS OR ANY RELATED DOCUMENTS AND AGREEMENTS OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT,
COURSE OF DEALING, OR STATEMENTS (WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN).

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Assignor and Assignee have caused this Assignment
and Acceptance to be executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers as
of the date first above written.



                                          [ASSIGNOR]
                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------

                                          [ASSIGNEE]
                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------

                                      A-6



                                   SCHEDULE 1

                       NOTICE OF ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE
                       -----------------------------------

                                                                       ___, 20__

Attn.:
      ----------------------
Re:
      ----------------------

Ladies and Gentlemen:

          Congress Financial Corporation, in its capacity as agent pursuant to
the Loan Agreement (as hereinafter defined) acting for and on behalf of the
financial institutions which are parties thereto as lenders (in such capacity,
"Agent"), and the financial institutions which are parties to the Loan Agreement
as lenders (individually, each a "Lender" and collectively, "Lenders") have
entered or are about to enter into financing arrangements pursuant to which
Agent and Lenders may make loans and advances and provide other financial
accommodations to Handy & Harman and certain of its affiliates (collectively,
"Borrowers") as set forth in the Loan and Security Agreement, dated
_____________, 2004, by and among Borrowers, certain of their affiliates, Agent
and Lenders (as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended, modified,
supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced, the "Loan Agreement"),
and the other agreements, documents and instruments referred to therein or at
any time executed and/or delivered in connection therewith or related thereto
(all of the foregoing, together with the Loan Agreement, as the same now exist
or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated
or replaced, being collectively referred to herein as the "Financing
Agreements"). Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the
respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Loan Agreement.

          1. We hereby give you notice of, and request your consent to, the
assignment by __________________________ (the "Assignor") to
___________________________ (the "Assignee") such that after giving effect to
the assignment Assignee shall have an interest equal to ________ (__%) percent
of the total Commitments pursuant to the Assignment and Acceptance Agreement
attached hereto (the "Assignment and Acceptance"). We understand that the
Assignor's Commitment shall be reduced by $_____________, as the same may be
further reduced by other assignments on or after the date hereof.

          2. Assignee agrees that, upon receiving the consent of Agent to such
assignment, Assignee will be bound by the terms of the Loan Agreement as fully
and to the same extent as if the Assignee were the Lender originally holding
such interest under the Loan Agreement.

          3. The following administrative details apply to Assignee:

                (A) Notice address:

                    Assignee name:
                                  --------------------

                                      A-1



                    Address:
                            -------------------
                    Attention:
                            -------------------
                    Telephone:
                            -------------------
                    Telecopier:
                            -------------------

                (B) Payment instructions:

                Account No.:
                            -------------------
                At:
                   ----------------------------
                Reference:
                          ---------------------
                Attention:
                          ---------------------

          4. You are entitled to rely upon the representations, warranties and
covenants of each of Assignor and Assignee contained in the Assignment and
Acceptance.

                                      A-2



          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Assignor and Assignee have caused this Notice of
Assignment and Acceptance to be executed by their respective duly authorized
officials, officers or agents as of the date first above mentioned.

                                          Very truly yours,
                                          [NAME OF ASSIGNOR]
                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------

                                          [NAME OF ASSIGNEE]
                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------


ACKNOWLEDGED AND ASSIGNMENT
CONSENTED TO:

CONGRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION,
  as Agent

By:
   ----------------------------
Title:
      -------------------------

                                      A-3



                                    EXHIBIT C

                                       TO

                           LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

                             COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

To:  Congress Financial Corporation,
      as Agent
     1133 Avenue of the Americas
     New York, New York 10036

Ladies and Gentlemen:

          I hereby certify to you pursuant to Section 9.6 of the Loan Agreement
(as defined below) as follows:

          1. I am the duly elected Chief Financial Officer of Handy & Harman, a
New York corporation ("Parent"). Capitalized terms used herein without
definition shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Loan and Security
Agreement, dated ______, 2004, by and among Congress Financial Corporation, as
agent for the financial institutions party thereto as lenders (in such capacity,
"Agent") and the financial institutions party thereto as lenders (collectively,
"Lenders"), Parent and certain of its affiliates (as such Loan and Security
Agreement is amended, modified or supplemented, from time to time, the "Loan
Agreement").

          2. I have reviewed the terms of the Loan Agreement, and have made, or
have caused to be made under my supervision, a review in reasonable detail of
the transactions and the financial condition of Parent and its Subsidiaries,
during the immediately preceding fiscal month.

          3. The review described in Section 2 above did not disclose the
existence during or at the end of such fiscal month, and I have no knowledge of
the existence and continuance on the date hereof, of any condition or event
which constitutes a Default or an Event of Default, except as set forth on
Schedule I attached hereto. Described on Schedule I attached hereto are the
exceptions, if any, to this Section 3 listing, in detail, the nature of the
condition or event, the period during which it has existed and the action which
any Borrower or Guarantor has taken, is taking, or proposes to take with respect
to such condition or event.

          4. I further certify that, based on the review described in Section 2
above, no Borrower or Guarantor has not at any time during or at the end of such
fiscal month, except as specifically described on Schedule II attached hereto or
as permitted by the Loan Agreement, done any of the following:

          (a)  Changed its respective corporate name, or transacted business
               under any trade name, style, or fictitious name, other than those
               previously described to you




               and set forth in the Financing Agreements.


          (b)  Changed the location of its chief executive office, changed its
               jurisdiction of incorporation, changed its type of organization
               or changed the location of or disposed of any of its properties
               or assets (other than pursuant to the sale of Inventory in the
               ordinary course of its business or as otherwise permitted by
               Section 9.7 of the Loan Agreement), or established any new asset
               locations.

          (c)  Materially changed the terms upon which it sells goods (including
               sales on consignment) or provides services, nor has any vendor or
               trade supplier to any Borrower or Guarantor during or at the end
               of such period materially adversely changed the terms upon which
               it supplies goods to any Borrower or Guarantor.

          (d)  Permitted or suffered to exist any security interest in or liens
               on any of its properties, whether real or personal, other than as
               specifically permitted in the Financing Agreements.

          (e)  Received any notice of, or obtained knowledge of any of the
               following not previously disclosed to Agent: (i) the occurrence
               of any event involving the release, spill or discharge of any
               Hazardous Material in violation of applicable Environmental Law
               in a material respect or (ii) any investigation, proceeding,
               complaint, order, directive, claims, citation or notice with
               respect to: (A) any non-compliance with or violation of any
               applicable Environmental Law by any Borrower or Guarantor in any
               material respect or (B) the release, spill or discharge of any
               Hazardous Material in violation of applicable Environmental Law
               in a material respect or (C) the generation, use, storage,
               treatment, transportation, manufacture, handling, production or
               disposal of any Hazardous Materials in violation of applicable
               Environmental Laws in a material respect or (D) any other
               environmental, health or safety matter, which has a material
               adverse effect on any Borrower or Guarantor or its business,
               operations or assets or any properties at which such Borrower or
               Guarantor transported, stored or disposed of any Hazardous
               Materials.

          (f)  Become aware of, obtained knowledge of, or received notification
               of, any breach or violation of any material covenant contained in
               any instrument or agreement in respect of Indebtedness for money
               borrowed by any Borrower or Guarantor.

          5. Attached hereto as Schedule III are the calculations used in
determining, as of the end of such fiscal month whether Parent and its
Subsidiaries are in compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 9.17 and
Section 9.18 of the Loan Agreement for such fiscal month.





          The foregoing certifications are made and delivered this day of
___________, 20__.

                                          Very truly yours,

                                          HANDY & HARMAN

                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------




                                    EXHIBIT D
                                       TO
                           LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
                           ---------------------------

                           BORROWING BASE CERTIFICATE
                           --------------------------





                                  Schedule 1.32

                                HISTORICAL EBITDA
                                -----------------

Fiscal Quarter                            EBITDA
--------------                            ------

3/30/03                                   $7,889,000

6/30/03                                   $9,237,000

9/30/03                                   $8,119,000

12/31/03                                  $5,589,000




                                  Schedule 1.34

            Locations of Eligible Consigned Precious Metals Inventory
            ---------------------------------------------------------

1.   Lucas Milhaupt, Inc.
     5656 S. Pennsylvania Avenue
     Cudahy, Wisconsin 53110

2.   Handy & Harman Electronic Materials Corporation
     231 Ferris Avenue
     East Providence, Rhode Island 02916

3.   Sumco Inc.
     1351 South Girls School Road
     Indianapolis, Indiana 46231

4.   Handy & Harman of Canada, Limited
     290 Carlingview Drive Rexdale,
     Ontario M9W5G1





                                  Schedule 1.50

                                Existing Lenders
                                ----------------


Citicorp USA, Inc.

Fleet Precious Metals, Inc.




                                  Schedule 1.51

                           Existing Letters of Credit
                           --------------------------



      Description                           Amount              Expiry Date
      -----------                           ------              -----------

Evansville, IN - IRB                      2,669,521               5/30/04

Montvale, NJ - EPA                          878,000               5/30/04

HHEM - EPA                                  135,000               5/30/04

Reliance 7/10/99 - 7/10/00                  350,000               4/30/04

Conn. Dept. of EPA $66,000 5/30/04

Liberty Mutual                            2,250,000               4/26/04

Zurich                                      954,267               5/30/04




                                  Schedule 1.94

                                Permitted Holders
                                -----------------


WHX Corporation