<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.2

                              AMENDED AND RESTATED

                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                     among

                                   IPC, INC.

                                  as Borrower,

                                      AND

                           IVEX PACKAGING CORPORATION

                                      AND

                     THE DOMESTIC SUBSIDIARIES OF IPC, INC.

                                 as Guarantors,

                                      AND

                         THE LENDERS IDENTIFIED HEREIN,

                                      AND

                               NATIONSBANK, N.A.

                            as Administrative Agent

                                      AND

                             BANKERS TRUST COMPANY

                             as Documentation Agent

                          DATED AS OF OCTOBER 2, 1997
<PAGE>   2
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS


<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                          <C>
SECTION 1  DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1
         1.1 Definitions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1
         1.2 Computation of Time Periods and Other Definitional Provisions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  25
         1.3 Accounting Terms.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  25

SECTION 2  CREDIT FACILITIES  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  26
         2.1 Revolving Loans. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  26
         2.2 Letter of Credit Subfacility.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  28
         2.3 Tranche A Term Loans.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  33
         2.4 Tranche B Term Loans.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  35
         2.5 Continuations and Conversions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  38
         2.6 Minimum Amounts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39

SECTION 3  GENERAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO LOANS AND LETTERS OF CREDIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39
         3.1 Interest.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39
         3.2 Place and Manner of Payments.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40
         3.3 Prepayments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40
         3.4 Fees.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  42
         3.5 Payment in full at Maturity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  43
         3.6 Computations of Interest and Fees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  44
         3.7 Pro Rata Treatment.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  45
         3.8 Sharing of Payments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  46
         3.9 Capital Adequacy.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  46
         3.10 Inability To Determine Interest Rate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  47
         3.11 Illegality. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  47
         3.12 Requirements of Law.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  48
         3.13 Taxes.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  49
         3.14 Compensation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  51

SECTION 4  GUARANTY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  52
         4.1 Guaranty of Payment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  52
         4.2 Obligations Unconditional. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  52
         4.3 Modifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  53
         4.4 Waiver of Rights.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  53
         4.5 Reinstatement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  54
         4.6 Remedies.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  54
         4.7 Limitation of Guaranty.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  54
         4.8 Rights of Contribution.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  54
</TABLE>

                                     -i-

<PAGE>   3
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                          <C>
SECTION 5  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  55
         5.1 Closing Conditions.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  55
         5.2 Conditions to All Extensions of Credit.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  62

SECTION 6  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  63
         6.1 Organization and Good Standing.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  63
         6.2 Due Authorization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  63
         6.3 No Conflicts.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  63
         6.4 Consents.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  64
         6.5 Enforceable Obligations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  64
         6.6 Financial Condition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  64
         6.7 No Default.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  64
         6.8 Ownership. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  64
         6.9 Indebtedness.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  64
         6.10 Litigation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  65
         6.11 Material Agreements.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  65
         6.12 Taxes.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  65
         6.13 Compliance with Law.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  65
         6.14 ERISA.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  65
         6.15 Subsidiaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  66
         6.16 Use of Proceeds; Margin Stock.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  67
         6.17 Government Regulation.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  67
         6.18 Environmental Matters.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  68
         6.19 Intellectual Property.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  69
         6.20 Solvency. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  69
         6.21 Investments.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  69
         6.22 Location of Collateral. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  70
         6.23 No Financing of Corporate Takeovers.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  70
         6.24 Disclosure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  70
         6.25 Licenses, etc.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  70
         6.26 No Burdensome Restrictions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  70
         6.27 Collateral Documents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  71

SECTION 7  AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  71
         7.1 Information Covenants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  71
         7.2 Financial Covenants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  75
         7.3 Preservation of Existence and Franchises.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  77
         7.4 Books and Records. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  77
         7.5 Compliance with Law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  77
         7.6 Payment of Taxes and Other Indebtedness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  77
         7.7 Insurance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  77
         7.8 Maintenance of Property. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  78
         7.9 Performance of Obligations.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  79
         7.10 Collateral. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  79
         7.11 Use of Proceeds.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  79
</TABLE>





                                      -ii-
<PAGE>   4
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                          <C>
         7.12 Audits/Inspections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  79
         7.13 Additional Credit Parties.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  80
         7.14 Interest Rate Protection Agreements.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  80
         7.15 Subordinated Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  81
         7.16 Further Assurances Regarding Landlord Waivers.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  81
         7.17 Information Update. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  81

SECTION 8  NEGATIVE COVENANTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  81
         8.1 Indebtedness.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  81
         8.2 Liens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  83
         8.3 Nature of Business.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  83
         8.4 Consolidation and Merger.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  83
         8.5 Sale or Lease of Assets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  84
         8.6 Sale Leasebacks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  84
         8.7 Advances, Acquisitions, Investments and Loans. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  84
         8.8 Restricted Payments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  85
         8.9 Transactions with Affiliates.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  85
         8.10 Ownership of Borrower.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  85
         8.11 Fiscal Year; Organizational Documents.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  85
         8.12 Subordinated Debt.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  86
         8.13 No Limitations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  86
         8.14 Negative Pledges. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  86
         8.15 Limitation on Foreign Operations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  87
         8.16 Margin Regulations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  87

SECTION 9  EVENTS OF DEFAULT  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  87
         9.1 Events of Default. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  87
         9.2 Acceleration; Remedies.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  90
         9.3 Allocation of Payments After Event of Default. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  91

SECTION 10  AGENCY PROVISIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  93
         10.1 Appointment.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  93
         10.2 Delegation of Duties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  93
         10.3 Exculpatory Provisions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  93
         10.4 Reliance on Communications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  94
         10.5 Notice of Default.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  94
         10.6 Non-Reliance on Agents and Other Lenders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  95
         10.7 Indemnification.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  95
         10.8 Agents in Their Individual Capacity.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  96
         10.9 Successor Agent.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  96

SECTION 11  MISCELLANEOUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  96
         11.1 Notices.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  96
         11.2 Right of Set-Off. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  97
         11.3 Benefit of Agreement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  97
</TABLE>





                                     -iii-
<PAGE>   5
<TABLE>
         <S>                                                                                               <C>
         11.4 No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  100
         11.5 Payment of Expenses; Indemnification. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  100
         11.6 Amendments, Waivers and Consents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  101
         11.7 Counterparts/Telecopy.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  102
         11.8 Headings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  102
         11.9 Defaulting Lender.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  102
         11.10 Survival of Indemnification and Representations and Warranties.  . . . . . . . . . . . . .  103
         11.11 Governing Law; Jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  103
         11.12 Waiver of Jury Trial.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  104
         11.13 Time.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  104
         11.14 Severability.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  104
         11.15 Further Assurances.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  104
         11.16 Entirety.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  104
         11.17 Binding Effect.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  104
         11.18 Acknowledgments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  105
</TABLE>





                                      -iv-
<PAGE>   6
SCHEDULES

Schedule 1.1(a)           Commitment Percentages
Schedule 1.1(b)           Existing Letters of Credit
Schedule 5.1(e)(i)        Mortgaged Properties
Schedule 5.1(e)(ii)       Leasehold Mortgaged Properties
Schedule 6.9              Indebtedness
Schedule 6.15             Subsidiaries
Schedule 6.18             Environmental Matters
Schedule 6.19             Intellectual Property
Schedule 6.22(a)          Real Property Locations
Schedule 6.22(b)          Personal Property Locations
Schedule 6.22(c)          Chief Executive Offices
Schedule 7.7              Insurance
Schedule 7.16             Other Leasehold Properties
Schedule 8.2              Liens
Schedule 8.7              Investments
Schedule 8.9              Affiliate Transactions
Schedule 11.1             Notices


EXHIBITS

Exhibit 2.1(b)            Form of Notice of Borrowing
Exhibit 2.1(e)            Form of Revolving Note
Exhibit 2.3(d)            Form of Tranche A Term Note
Exhibit 2.4(d)            Form of New Commitment Agreement
Exhibit 2.4(e)            Form of Tranche B Term Note
Exhibit 2.5               Form of Notice of Continuation/Conversion
Exhibit 7.1(d)            Form of Officer's Certificate
Exhibit 7.13              Form of Joinder Agreement
Exhibit 11.3              Form of Assignment Agreement





                                      -v-
<PAGE>   7
                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

         THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (this "Credit Agreement"),
is entered into as of October 2, 1997 among IPC, INC., a Delaware corporation
("Borrower"), IVEX PACKAGING CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation ("Holdings"),
each of Borrower's Domestic Subsidiaries (the Borrower's Domestic Subsidiaries,
together with Holdings, individually a "Guarantor" and collectively the
"Guarantors"), the Lenders (as defined herein), NATIONSBANK, N.A., as
Administrative Agent for the Lenders and BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, as
Documentation Agent for the Lenders.

                                    RECITALS

         WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Guarantors, the lenders party thereto and
NationsBank, N.A., as agent entered into that certain Amended and Restated
Credit Agreement dated as of March 24, 1997 which provided a $205 million
credit facility to the Borrower (the "Prior Credit Agreement").  The credit
facility provided pursuant to the Prior Credit Agreement replaced and
refinanced the credit facilities provided to the Borrower by NationsBank, N.A.,
as agent and certain other lenders pursuant to a credit agreement dated as of
December 7, 1995.

         WHEREAS, the Borrower and the Guarantors have requested the Lenders to
provide a new amended and restated senior secured credit facility to replace
and refinance the credit facility provided pursuant to the Prior Credit
Agreement.  Specifically, the Borrower and the Guarantors have requested that,
among other things, this new amended and restated senior secured credit
facility (i) provide up to $475 million of indebtedness to the Borrower and
(ii) extend the final maturity of the credit facilities provided under the
Prior Credit Agreement.

         WHEREAS, the Lenders party hereto have agreed to make the requested
amended and restated senior secured credit facility available to the Borrower
on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

         NOW, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION of the premises and other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:


                                   SECTION 1

                        DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

         1.1     DEFINITIONS.

         As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings herein
specified unless the context otherwise requires.  Defined terms herein shall
include in the singular number the plural and in the plural the singular:

<PAGE>   8
                 "Acadia" means Acadia Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited 
         partnership.

                 "Additional Credit Party" means each Person that becomes a
         Guarantor after the Closing Date, as provided in Section 7.13.

                 "Adjusted Base Rate" means the Base Rate plus the Applicable
         Percentage.

                 "Adjusted Eurodollar Rate" means the Eurodollar Rate plus the
         Applicable Percentage.

                 "Administrative Agent" means NationsBank, N.A. (or any
         successor thereto) or any successor administrative agent appointed
         pursuant to Section 10.9.

                 "Administrative Agent Fee Letter" means that certain letter
         agreement dated as of August 5, 1997 between the Administrative Agent
         and the Borrower, as it may be amended, modified, supplemented or
         replaced from time to time.

                 "Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other
         Person directly or indirectly controlling (including but not limited
         to all directors and officers of such Person), controlled by or under
         direct or indirect common control with such Person.  A Person shall be
         deemed to control a Person if such Person possesses, directly or
         indirectly, the power (i) to vote 10% or more of the securities having
         ordinary voting power for the election of directors of  such Person or
         (ii) to direct or cause direction of the management and policies of
         such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by
         contract or otherwise.

                 "Agency Services Address" means NationsBank, N.A.,
         NC1-001-15-04, 101 South Tryon Street, Charlotte, North Carolina
         28255, Attn: Agency Services, or such other address as may be
         identified by written notice from the Administrative Agent to the
         Borrower.

                 "Agents" means the Administrative Agent, the Documentation
         Agent and the Collateral Agent and any successors and assigns in such
         capacity.

                 "Agents Fee Letter" means that certain letter agreement dated
         as of August 5, 1997 among the Agents and the Borrower, as it may be
         amended, modified, supplemented or replaced from time to time.

                 "Applicable Percentage" means the appropriate applicable
         percentages corresponding to the Leverage Ratio in effect as of the
         most recent Calculation Date as shown below:





                                     - 2 -
<PAGE>   9
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
===========================================================================================================================
                                   Applicable      Applicable
                                   Percentage      Percentage                                Applicable     Applicable
   Pricing                            For           For Base     Applicable    Applicable    Percentage     Percentage
    Level     Leverage Ratio       Eurodollar      Rate Loans    Percentage    Percentage        for         for Base
                                   Loans that       that are     for Letter        For       Eurodollar     Rate Loans
                                 are Revolving     Revolving      of Credit    Commitment    Loans that      that are
                                    Loans or        Loans or        Fees          Fees       are Tranche    Tranche B
                                   Tranche A       Tranche A                                   B Term       Term Loans
                                   Term Loans      Term Loans                                   Loans
===========================================================================================================================
     <S>     <C>                    <C>             <C>            <C>          <C>            <C>            <C>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      I       <  2.75 to 1.0         0.625%            0%          0.625%       0.1875 %       1.500%         0.500%
              -
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      II      <  3.5 to 1.0          0.875%            0%          0.875%        0.250%        1.500%         0.750%
              - 
             but > 2.75 to 1.0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     III       < 4.0  to 1.0         1.125%          0.125%        1.125%        0.250%        1.750%         0.750%
               -
             but > 3.5 to 1.0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      IV     < 4.5 to 1.0 but        1.375%          0.375%        1.375%        0.250%        1.750%         0.750%
             -
               > 4.0 to 1.0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      V        > 4.5 to 1.0         1.625%          0.625 %        1.625%        0.375%        2.000%         1.000%
===========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

                 The Applicable Percentage for Base Rate Loans, Eurodollar
         Loans, the Letter of Credit Fees and the Commitment Fees shall, in
         each case, be determined and adjusted quarterly on the date (each a
         "Calculation Date") five Business Days after the date by which the
         Borrower is required to provide the officer's certificate in
         accordance with the provisions of Section 7.1(d); provided that the
         initial Applicable Percentage for Base Rate Loans, Eurodollar Loans,
         the Letter of Credit Fees and the Commitment Fees shall be based on
         Pricing Level IV (as shown above) and shall remain at Pricing Level IV
         until the Calculation Date occurring immediately after March 31, 1998
         (unless on any Calculation Date occurring at any time prior to March
         31, 1998 the then current Leverage Ratio is greater than 4.5 to 1.0,
         in which case the Applicable Percentage for Base Rate Loans,
         Eurodollar Loans, Letter of Credit Fees and Commitment Fees shall be
         based on Pricing Level V until the next Calculation Date) and,
         thereafter, the Pricing Level shall be determined by the then current
         Leverage Ratio; and provided further that if the Borrower fails to
         provide the officer's certificate required by Section 7.1(d) on or
         before the most recent Calculation Date, the Applicable Percentage for
         Base Rate Loans, Eurodollar Loans, the Letter of Credit Fees and the
         Commitment Fees from such Calculation Date shall be based on Pricing
         Level V until such time that an appropriate officer's certificate is
         provided whereupon the Pricing Level shall be determined by the then
         current Leverage Ratio.  Each Applicable Percentage shall be effective
         from one Calculation Date until the next Calculation Date.  Any
         adjustment in the Applicable Percentage shall be applicable to all
         existing Loans and Letters of Credit as well as any new Loans made or
         Letters of Credit issued.  The Borrower shall promptly deliver to the
         Administrative Agent at the address set forth on Schedule 11.1 and at
         the Agency Services Address the information required by Section 7.1(d)
         in accordance with the terms of Section 7.1(d).

                 "Asset Disposition" means the disposition of any or all of the
         assets (including without limitation any capital stock of any
         Subsidiary of such Person) of a Credit Party or any of its
         Subsidiaries whether by sale, lease, transfer or otherwise, other than
         transfers of assets permitted by Section 8.5 and other than any losses
         of assets or destroyed assets permitted by Section 7.7.





                                     - 3 -
<PAGE>   10
                 "Bankruptcy Code" means the Bankruptcy Code in Title 11 of the
         United States Code, as amended, modified, succeeded or replaced from
         time to time.

                 "Bankruptcy Event" has the meaning set forth in Section
         9.1(f).

                 "Base Rate" means, for any day, the rate per annum (rounded
         upwards, if necessary, to the nearest whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%)
         equal to the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Rate in effect on such
         day plus  1/2 of 1% or (b) the Prime Rate in effect on such day.  If
         for any reason the Administrative Agent shall have determined (which
         determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that it is
         unable after due inquiry to ascertain the Federal Funds Rate for any
         reason, including the inability or failure of the Administrative Agent
         to obtain sufficient quotations in accordance with the terms of the
         definition of "Federal Funds Rate", the Base Rate shall be determined
         without regard to clause (a) of the first sentence of this definition
         until the circumstances giving rise to such inability no longer exist.
         Any change in the Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate or the
         Federal Funds Rate shall be effective on the effective date of such
         change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Rate, respectively.

                 "Base Rate Loan" means any Loan bearing interest at a rate
         determined by reference to the Base Rate.

                 "Borrower" means IPC, Inc., a Delaware corporation, together
         with any successors and permitted assigns.

                 "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday,
         a legal holiday  or a day on which banking institutions are authorized
         or required by law or other governmental action to close in Charlotte,
         North Carolina or New York, New York; provided that in the case of
         Eurodollar Loans, such day is also a day on which dealings between
         banks are carried on in U.S. dollar deposits in the London interbank
         market.

                 "Calculation Date" has the meaning set forth in the definition
         of Applicable Percentage.

                 "Capital Expenditures" means all expenditures of Holdings and
         its Subsidiaries which, in accordance with GAAP, would be classified
         as capital expenditures, including, without limitation, Capital
         Leases.

                 "Capital Lease" means, as applied to any Person, any lease of
         any property (whether real, personal or mixed) by that Person as
         lessee which, in accordance with GAAP, is or should be accounted for
         as a capital lease on the balance sheet of that Person.

                 "Cash Equivalents" means (a) securities issued or directly and
         fully guaranteed or insured by the United States of America or any
         agency or instrumentality thereof





                                     - 4 -
<PAGE>   11
         (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States of
         America is pledged in support thereof) having maturities of not more
         than twelve months from the date of acquisition, (b) U.S. dollar
         denominated time and demand deposits and certificates of deposit of
         (i) any Lender, (ii) any domestic commercial bank having capital and
         surplus in excess of $500,000,000 or (iii) any bank whose short-term
         commercial paper rating from S&P is at least A-1 or the equivalent
         thereof or from Moody's is at least P-1 or the equivalent thereof (any
         such bank being an "Approved Bank"), in each case with maturities of
         not more than 270 days from the date of acquisition, (c) commercial
         paper and variable or fixed rate notes issued by any Approved Bank (or
         by the parent company thereof) or any variable rate notes issued by,
         or guaranteed by, any domestic corporation rated A-1 (or the
         equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or P-1 (or the equivalent
         thereof) or better by Moody's and maturing within six months of the
         date of acquisition, (d) repurchase agreements with a bank or trust
         company (including any of the Lenders) or recognized securities dealer
         having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000 for direct
         obligations issued by or fully guaranteed by the United States of
         America in which the Borrower shall have a perfected first priority
         security interest (subject to no other Liens) and having, on the date
         of purchase thereof, a fair market value of at least 100% of the
         amount of the repurchase obligations and (e) Investments, classified
         in accordance with GAAP as current assets, in money market investment
         programs registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
         amended, which are administered by reputable financial institutions
         having capital of at least $500,000,000 and the portfolios of which
         are limited to Investments of the character described in the foregoing
         subdivisions (a) through (d).

                 "Change of Control" means any "person" or "group" (within the
         meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act), in each case,
         other than Acadia and/or Senior Management has become, directly or
         indirectly, the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and
         13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that a Person shall be deemed to
         have "beneficial ownership" of all shares that any such Person has the
         right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or
         only after the passage of time), by way of merger, consolidation or
         otherwise, of 20% or more of the Voting Stock of Holdings on a
         fully-diluted basis, after giving effect to the conversion and
         exercise of all outstanding warrants, options and other securities of
         Holdings (whether or not such securities are then currently
         convertible or exercisable); provided that a change of control shall
         not be deemed to occur upon (a) the acquisition by the direct or
         indirect partners of Acadia (or their Affiliates) of shares of
         Holding's Voting Stock pursuant to a distribution made in connection
         with the winding-up of Acadia or (b) the acquisition of any Voting
         Stock of Holdings by any Person, the majority of the equity of which
         is owned by Persons (or their Affiliates) that in the aggregate
         currently control, or own a majority of the equity of, Acadia.

                 "Closing Date" means the date hereof.

                 "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the rules
         and regulations promulgated thereunder, as amended, modified,
         succeeded or replaced from time to time.





                                     - 5 -
<PAGE>   12
                 "Collateral" means all collateral described in and covered by
         the Collateral Documents.

                 "Collateral Agent" means NationsBank, N.A. (or any successor
         thereto) or any successor collateral agent appointed pursuant to
         Section 10.9.

                 "Collateral Documents" means the Security Agreement, the
         Pledge Agreement, the Mortgage Documents and such other documents
         executed and delivered by any Credit Party in connection with the
         attachment and perfection of the Lenders' security interests in the
         assets of the Credit Parties, including without limitation, UCC
         financing statements and patent and trademark filings with respect to
         the Material Intellectual Property.

                 "Commitment Fees" means the fees payable to the Lenders
         pursuant to Section 3.4(a).

                 "Commitments" means the Revolving Committed Amount, the
         Tranche A Term Loan Committed Amount and the Tranche B Term Loan
         Committed Amount.

                 "Credit Documents" means this Credit Agreement, the Notes, any
         Joinder Agreement, the Collateral Documents, the LOC Documents, and
         all other related agreements and documents issued or delivered by any
         Credit Party hereunder or thereunder or pursuant hereto or thereto.

                 "Credit Parties" means the Borrower and the Guarantors and
         "Credit Party" means any one of them.

                 "Credit Party Obligations" means, without duplication, (a) all
         of the obligations of the Credit Parties to the Lenders (including the
         Issuing Lenders) and the Agents, whenever arising, under this Credit
         Agreement, the Notes, the Collateral Documents or any of the other
         Credit Documents to which the Borrower or any other Credit Party is a
         party (including, but not limited to, any interest accruing after the
         occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event with respect to any Credit Party,
         regardless of whether such interest is an allowed claim under the
         Bankruptcy Code) and (b) all liabilities and obligations owing from
         such Credit Party to any Lender, or any Affiliate of a Lender, arising
         under Hedging Agreements.

                 "Debt Issuance" means the issuance of any Indebtedness for
         borrowed money by a Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries, other
         than Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.1.

                 "Default" means any event, act or condition which with notice
         or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.





                                     - 6 -
<PAGE>   13
                 "Defaulting Lender" means, at any time, any Lender that, (a)
         has failed to make a Loan or purchase a Participation Interest
         required pursuant to the terms of this Credit Agreement (but only for
         so long as such Loan is not made or such Participation Interest is not
         purchased), (b) has failed to pay to the Agents or any Lender an
         amount owed by such Lender pursuant to the terms of this Credit
         Agreement (but only for so long as such amount has not been repaid) or
         (c) has been deemed insolvent or has become subject to a bankruptcy or
         insolvency proceeding or to a receiver, trustee or similar official.

                 "Documentation Agent" means Bankers Trust Company (or any
         successor thereto) or any successor documentation agent appointed
         pursuant to Section 10.9.

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

                 "Domestic Subsidiaries" means all direct and indirect
         Subsidiaries of Holdings or the Borrower that are domiciled,
         incorporated or organized under the laws of any state of the United
         States or the District of Columbia.  As of the Closing Date, the
         Domestic Subsidiaries are as set forth on Schedule 6.15.

                 "EBITDA" means, for any period, with respect to Holdings and
         its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the sum of (a) Net Income
         for such period plus (b) an amount which, in the determination of Net
         Income for such period has been deducted for (i) Interest Expense for
         such period, (ii) total Federal, state, foreign or other income taxes
         for such period, (iii) all depreciation, amortization and other
         non-cash charges for such period, all as determined in accordance with
         GAAP, (iv) the net loss on the sale or disposition of any real
         property, and (v) all extraordinary losses, all as determined in
         accordance with GAAP, less (c) an amount which, in the determination
         of Net Income for such period has been added for (i) the net gain on
         the sale or disposition of any real property and (ii) all
         extraordinary gains, all as determined in accordance with GAAP, plus
         (d) the charges equal to the amount of all transaction costs incurred
         by Holdings and its Subsidiaries in connection with (A) the initial
         public offering of the common stock of Holdings, (B) this Credit
         Agreement, (C) the redemption by Holdings of the Holdings Debentures
         and (D) the payment by the Borrower of the Subordinated Notes.

                 "Effective Date" means the date on which the conditions set
         forth in Section 5.1 shall have been fulfilled (or waived in the sole
         discretion of the Lenders) and on which the initial Loans shall have
         been made and/or the initial Letters of Credit shall have been issued.

                 "Eligible Assignee" means (a) any Lender or Affiliate or
         subsidiary of a Lender, (b) any other commercial bank, financial
         institution, institutional lender or "accredited investor" (as defined
         in Regulation D of the Securities and Exchange Commission) and (c) any
         registered investment company that is not an Affiliate of the
         Borrower.





                                     - 7 -
<PAGE>   14
                 "Environmental Claim" means any investigation, written notice,
         violation, written demand, written allegation, action, suit,
         injunction, judgment, order, consent decree, penalty, fine, lien,
         proceeding, or written claim whether administrative, judicial, or
         private in nature arising (a) pursuant to, or in connection with, an
         actual or alleged violation of, any Environmental Law, (b) in
         connection with any Hazardous Material, (c) from any assessment,
         abatement, removal, remedial, corrective, or other response action in
         connection with an Environmental Law or other order of a Governmental
         Authority or (d) from any actual or alleged damage, injury, threat, or
         harm to natural resources, or the environment or health or safety from
         the release of any Hazardous Materials.

                 "Environmental Laws" means any current or future legal
         requirement of any Governmental Authority pertaining to (a) the
         protection of health, safety, and the indoor or outdoor environment,
         (b) the conservation, management, or use of natural resources and
         wildlife, (c) the protection or use of surface water and groundwater
         or (d) the management, manufacture, possession, presence, use,
         generation, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal, release,
         threatened release, abatement, removal, remediation or handling of, or
         exposure to, any Hazardous Material or (e) pollution (including any
         release to air, land, surface water and groundwater) and includes,
         without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
         Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended by the Superfund
         Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, 42 USC 9601 et seq., Solid
         Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation and
         Recovery Act of 1976 and Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendment of 1984,
         42 USC 6901 et seq., Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended
         by the Clean Water Act of 1977, 33 USC 1251 et seq., Clean Air Act of
         1966, as amended, 42 USC 7401 et seq., Toxic Substances Control Act of
         1976, 15 USC 2601 et seq., Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, 49
         USC App. 1801 et seq., Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, as
         amended, 29 USC 651 et seq., Oil Pollution Act of 1990, 33 USC 2701 et
         seq., Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, 42
         USC 11001 et seq., National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 USC
         4321 et seq., Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, as amended, 42 USC
         300(f) et seq., any analogous federal, state, provincial or local or
         any similar, implementing or successor law, and any amendment, rule,
         regulation, order, or directive issued thereunder.

                 "Equity Issuance" means any issuance by a Credit Party or any
         of its Subsidiaries to any Person other than the Borrower or any of
         its Subsidiaries of shares of its capital stock or other equity
         interests whether pursuant to the exercise of options (other than
         stock issued to managers, officers or directors pursuant to stock
         option plans or equity plans) or warrants or pursuant to the
         conversion of any debt securities to equity or otherwise.

                 "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
         1974, as amended, and any successor statute thereto, as interpreted by
         the rules and regulations thereunder, all as the same may be in effect
         from time to time.  References to sections of ERISA shall be construed
         also to refer to any successor sections.





                                     - 8 -
<PAGE>   15
                 "ERISA Affiliate" means an entity, whether or not
         incorporated, which is under common control with any Credit Party or
         any of its Subsidiaries within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(14) of
         ERISA, or is a member of a group which includes any Credit Party or
         any of its Subsidiaries and which is treated as a single employer
         under Sections 414(b), (c), (m), or (o) of the Code.

                 "Eurodollar Loan" means a Loan bearing interest based at a
         rate determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate.

                 "Eurodollar Rate" means, for the Interest Period for each
         Eurodollar Loan comprising part of the same borrowing (including
         conversions, extensions and renewals), a per annum interest rate
         determined pursuant to the following formula:

                 Eurodollar Rate =     London Interbank Offered Rate
                                   -------------------------------------
                                     1 - Eurodollar Reserve Percentage

                 "Eurodollar Reserve Percentage" means for any day, that
         percentage (expressed as a decimal) which is in effect from time to
         time under Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal
         Reserve System (or any successor), as such regulation may be amended
         from time to time or any successor regulation, as the maximum reserve
         requirement (including, without limitation, any basic, supplemental,
         emergency, special, or marginal reserves) applicable with respect to
         Eurocurrency liabilities as that term is defined in Regulation D (or
         against any other category of liabilities that includes deposits by
         reference to which the interest rate of Eurodollar Loans is
         determined), whether or not  Lender has any Eurocurrency liabilities
         subject to such reserve requirement at that time.  Eurodollar Loans
         shall be deemed to constitute Eurocurrency liabilities and as such
         shall be deemed subject to reserve requirements without benefits of
         credits for proration, exceptions or offsets that may be available
         from time to time to a Lender.  The Eurodollar Rate shall be adjusted
         automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in the
         Eurodollar Reserve Percentage.

                 "Event of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 9.1 
         hereof.

                 "Excess Cash Flow" means, with respect to the Borrower and its
         Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, for any fiscal year, an amount
         equal to (a) EBITDA minus (b) Capital Expenditures and Investments
         minus (c) cash Interest Expense minus (d) Federal, state and other
         income taxes actually paid minus (e) Principal Amortization Payment
         and principal payments under other Indebtedness minus (f) voluntary
         prepayments made with respect to the Term Loans minus (g) dividends
         paid to Holdings to redeem Holdings Debentures or as otherwise
         permitted by this Credit Agreement in accordance with the terms of
         this Credit Agreement unless such dividends were a result of an
         increase of the Tranche B Term Loan Committed Amount in accordance
         with the terms of Section 2.4(d) minus (h) so long as the Term Loans
         have been paid in full, that portion of any prepayment made with
         respect to the Revolving Loans to the extent the Revolving Committed
         Amount is permanently reduced by such prepayment, minus (i) any excess





                                     - 9 -
<PAGE>   16
         cash flow mandatory prepayment made or required to be made by a
         Foreign Subsidiary pursuant to any agreement governing the
         Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.1(j) in each case for such fiscal
         year.

                 "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
         amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as
         amended, modified, succeeded or replaced from time to time.

                 "Existing Letters of Credit" means the letters of credit
         described by date of issuance, letter of credit number, undrawn
         amount, name of beneficiary and the date of expiry on Schedule 1.1(b)
         hereto.

                 "Extension of Credit" means, as to any Lender, the making of a
         Loan by such Lender (or a participation therein by a Lender) or the
         issuance of, or participation in, a Letter of Credit by such Lender.

                 "Federal Funds Rate" means for any day the rate per annum
         (rounded upward, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100th of 1%) equal to
         the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds
         transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by
         Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve
         Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day;
         provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds
         Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next
         preceding Business Day and (b) if no such rate is so published on such
         next preceding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall
         be the average rate quoted to the Administrative Agent on such day on
         such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent.

                 "Fee Letters" means (a) the Agents Fee Letter and (b) the
         Administrative Agent Fee Letter.

                 "First Tier Foreign Subsidiaries" means, at any date of
         determination, each Foreign Subsidiary in which any one or more of the
         Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries owns directly more than 50%, in
         the aggregate, of the Voting Stock of such Foreign Subsidiary.

                 "Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" means, with respect to Holdings
         and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the ratio of (a) EBITDA
         minus Capital Expenditures to (b) the sum of, without duplication, (i)
         cash Interest Expense plus (ii) Federal, state and other income taxes
         paid in cash plus (iii) Scheduled Funded Debt Payments plus (iv)
         repayments of Holdings Debentures provided such repayments are not
         made with Tranche B Term Loan advances plus (v) cash interest due on
         Holdings Debentures, as such ratio shall be calculated from time to
         time giving effect to the Interim Adjustments.





                                     - 10 -
<PAGE>   17
                 "Foreign Subsidiaries" means all Subsidiaries of a Credit
         Party that are not Domestic Subsidiaries, including any Subsidiary of
         a Credit Party incorporated or organized under the laws of Puerto
         Rico.

                 "Funded Debt" means, without duplication, the sum of (a) all
         Indebtedness of Holdings and its Subsidiaries for borrowed money,
         excluding intercompany items, (b) all purchase money Indebtedness of
         Holdings and its Subsidiaries, (c) the principal portion of all
         obligations of Holdings and its Subsidiaries under Capital Leases, (d)
         (i) all obligations for unreimbursed draws on letters of credit issued
         for the account of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries (other than
         letters of credit supporting trade payables in the ordinary course of
         business), and (ii) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, relative
         to the face amount of banker's acceptances issued for the account of
         Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, (e) all Guaranty Obligations of
         Holdings and its Subsidiaries with respect to Funded Debt of another
         Person, (f) all Funded Debt of another entity secured by a Lien on any
         property of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries but only to the extent
         of the value of such property, whether or not such Funded Debt has
         been assumed by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, (g) all Funded
         Debt of any partnership or unincorporated joint venture to the extent
         Holdings or one of its Subsidiaries is legally obligated, net of any
         assets of such partnership or joint venture and (h) with respect to
         Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries (other than the Indebtedness with
         respect to the Newton Property permitted by Section 8.1(i)) the
         principal balance outstanding under any synthetic lease, tax retention
         operating lease, off-balance sheet loan or similar off-balance sheet
         financing product where such transaction is considered borrowed money
         indebtedness for tax purposes but is classified as an operating lease
         in accordance with GAAP.

                 "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the
         United States applied on a consistent basis and subject to Section
         1.3.

                 "Governmental Authority" means any Federal, state, local,
         provincial or foreign court or governmental agency, authority,
         instrumentality or regulatory body.

                 "Guarantor" means Holdings, each of the Domestic Subsidiaries
         of the Borrower and each Additional Credit Party which has executed a
         Joinder Agreement, together with their successors and assigns.

                 "Guaranty Obligations" means, with respect to any Person,
         without duplication, any obligations (other than endorsements in the
         ordinary course of business of negotiable instruments for deposit or
         collection) guaranteeing or intended to guarantee any Indebtedness,
         leases, dividends or other obligations of any other Person in any
         manner, whether direct or indirect, and including without limitation
         any obligation, whether or not contingent, (a) to purchase any such
         Indebtedness or other obligation or any property constituting security
         therefor, (b) to advance or provide funds or other support for the
         payment or purchase of such Indebtedness or obligation or to maintain
         working capital, solvency or other balance sheet condition of such
         other Person (including, without limitation, maintenance agreements,
         comfort letters, take or pay arrangements, put





                                     - 11 -
<PAGE>   18
         agreements or similar agreements or arrangements) for the benefit of
         the holder of Indebtedness of such other Person, (c) to lease or
         purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of
         assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or obligation, or (d) to
         otherwise assure or hold harmless the owner of such Indebtedness or
         obligation against loss in respect thereof.  The amount of any
         Guaranty Obligation hereunder shall (subject to any limitations set
         forth therein) be deemed to be an amount equal to the outstanding
         principal amount (or maximum principal amount, if larger) of the
         Indebtedness in respect of which such Guaranty Obligation is made.

                 "Hazardous Materials" means any substance, material or waste
         defined or regulated in or under any Environmental Laws.

                 "Hedging Agreements" means, collectively, interest rate
         protection agreements, foreign currency exchange agreements, commodity
         purchase or option agreements or other interest or exchange rate or
         commodity price hedging agreements, in each case, entered into or
         purchased by a Credit Party.

                 "Holdings" means Ivex Packaging Corporation, a Delaware 
         corporation.

                 "Holdings Debentures" means those certain 13 1/4% Senior
         Discount Debentures due 2005 issued by Ivex Packaging Corporation
         f/k/a Ivex Holdings Corporation as of March 8, 1993, as amended
         through the Closing Date and as further amended, restated, substituted
         or replaced from time to time in accordance with the terms of this
         Credit Agreement.

                 "Indebtedness" of any Person means, without duplication, (a)
         all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations
         of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar
         instruments, or upon which interest payments are customarily made, (c)
         all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title
         retention agreements relating to property purchased by such Person to
         the extent of the value of such property (other than customary
         reservations or retentions of title under agreements with suppliers
         entered into in the ordinary course of business), (d) all obligations,
         including without limitation intercompany items, of such Person issued
         or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services
         purchased by such Person which would appear as liabilities on a
         balance sheet of such Person, (e) all Indebtedness of others secured
         by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing
         right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on, or
         payable out of the proceeds of production from, property owned or
         acquired by such Person, whether or not the obligations secured
         thereby have been assumed, (f) all Guaranty Obligations of such
         Person, (g) the principal portion of all obligations of such Person
         under (i) Capital Leases and (ii) any synthetic lease, tax retention
         operating lease, off-balance sheet loan or similar off-balance sheet
         financing product of such Person where such transaction is considered
         borrowed money indebtedness for tax purposes but is classified as an
         operating lease in accordance with GAAP, (h) all obligations of such
         Person in respect of Hedging Agreements, (i) the maximum face amount
         of all performance and standby letters of credit issued or bankers'





                                     - 12 -
<PAGE>   19
         acceptances facilities created for the account of such Person and,
         without duplication, all drafts drawn thereunder (to the extent
         unreimbursed), (j) all preferred stock issued by such Person and
         required by the terms thereof to be redeemed, or for which mandatory
         sinking fund payments are due by a fixed date, (k) all other
         obligations which would be shown as a liability on the balance sheet
         of such Person and (l) the aggregate amount of uncollected accounts
         receivable of such Person subject at such time to a sale of
         receivables (or similar transaction) regardless of whether such
         transaction is effected without recourse to such Person or in a manner
         that would not be reflected on the balance sheet of such Person in
         accordance with GAAP.  The Indebtedness of any Person shall include
         the Indebtedness of any partnership or unincorporated joint venture in
         which such Person is legally obligated net of any tangible assets of
         such partnership or joint venture.

                 "Insignificant Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary of the
         Borrower that (a) has assets consisting of less than 2.5% of the Total
         Assets and (b) for the most recent fiscal year of the Borrower,
         accounted for less than 2.5% of the consolidated revenues of Holdings
         and its Subsidiaries and (c) is not necessary to the ongoing business
         of Holdings and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

                 "Interest Coverage Ratio" means, with respect to Holdings and
         its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the ratio of (a) EBITDA to
         (b) cash Interest Expense, as such ratio is calculated from time to
         time giving effect to the Interim Adjustments.

                 "Interest Expense" means, for any period, with respect to
         Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, all interest
         expense, including the interest component under Capital Leases and
         Receivables Transactions, as determined in accordance with GAAP.

                 "Interest Payment Date" means (a) as to Base Rate Loans, the
         last day of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower and the Revolving Loan
         Maturity Date, the Tranche A Term Loan Maturity Date or the Tranche B
         Term Loan Maturity Date as applicable, and (b) as to Eurodollar Loans,
         the last day of each applicable Interest Period, or, if earlier, the
         date such Loans or a portion of such Loans are prepaid and the
         Revolving Loan Maturity Date, the Tranche A Term Loan Maturity Date or
         the Tranche B Term Loan Maturity Date, as applicable, and in addition
         where the applicable Interest Period for a Eurodollar Loan is greater
         than three months, then also the date three months from the beginning
         of the Interest Period and each three months thereafter.

                 "Interest Period" means, as to Eurodollar Loans, a period of
         one, two, three or six months' duration, as the Borrower may elect,
         commencing, in each case, on the date of the borrowing (including
         continuations and conversions thereof); provided, however, (a) if any
         Interest Period would end on a day which is not a Business Day, such
         Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day
         (except that where the next succeeding Business Day falls in the next
         succeeding calendar month, then on the next preceding Business Day),
         (b) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Revolving Loan Maturity
         Date, the Tranche A Term Loan Maturity Date or the Tranche B Term Loan





                                     - 13 -
<PAGE>   20
         Maturity Date as applicable, (c) with regard to the Term Loans, no
         Interest Period shall extend beyond any Principal Amortization Payment
         Date unless the portion of Tranche A Term Loans or Tranche B Term
         Loans comprised of Base Rate Loans together with the portion of
         Tranche A Term Loans or Tranche B Term Loans comprised of Eurodollar
         Loans with Interest Periods expiring prior to the date such Principal
         Amortization Payment is due, is at least equal to the amount of such
         Principal Amortization Payment due on such date and (d) where an
         Interest Period begins on a day for which there is no numerically
         corresponding day in the calendar month in which the Interest Period
         is to end, such Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day of
         such calendar month.

                 "Interim Adjustments" means that, subsequent to the addition
         of a New Company, the Interest Coverage Ratio, the Fixed Charge
         Coverage Ratio and the Leverage Ratio shall be calculated using the
         adjustments and assumptions set forth below:

                 EBITDA, Capital Expenditures, Interest Expense and Scheduled
         Funded Debt Payments for any New Company will be calculated commencing
         after the acquisition of such New Company as follows:

                 (a)      for any partial fiscal quarter that occurs
         immediately subsequent to the addition of the New Company and for the
         first three full fiscal quarters subsequent to the addition of the New
         Company, EBITDA, Capital Expenditures, Interest Expense and Scheduled
         Funded Debt Payments for the New Company, for the quarter ending on
         such date, shall be multiplied times a ratio equal to (i) 365 divided
         by (ii) the number of days elapsed since the date of the addition of
         the New Company until the last day of such quarter; and

                 (b)      for the fourth full fiscal quarter subsequent to the
         addition of the New Company and each fiscal quarter end thereafter,
         EBITDA, Capital Expenditures, Interest Expense and Scheduled Funded
         Debt Payments for the New Company shall be the actual amounts for the
         four quarter period ending on such date.

                 "Investment" means (a) the acquisition (whether for cash,
         property, services, assumption of Indebtedness, securities or
         otherwise) of assets, shares of capital stock, bonds, notes,
         debentures, partnership, joint ventures or other ownership interests
         or other securities of any Person or (b) any deposit with, or advance,
         loan or other extension of credit to, such Person (other than deposits
         made in connection with the purchase of equipment or other assets in
         the ordinary course of business) or (c) any other capital contribution
         to or investment in such Person, including, without limitation, any
         Guaranty Obligation (including any support for a Letter of Credit
         issued on behalf of such Person) incurred for the benefit of such
         Person.

                 "Issuing Lender" means (a) with respect to certain Existing
         Letters of Credit, Societe Generale, Southwest Agency and (b) with
         respect to certain Existing Letters of Credit and any new Letters of
         Credit, NationsBank, N.A. or any successor Administrative Agent.





                                     - 14 -
<PAGE>   21
                 "Issuing Lender Fees" has the meaning set forth in Section
         3.4(b).

                 "Joinder Agreement" means a Joinder Agreement substantially in
         the form of Exhibit 7.13.

                 "Leasehold Mortgage" has the meaning set forth in Section
         5.1(e).

                 "Leasehold Mortgaged Properties" has the meaning set forth in
         Section 5.1(e).

                 "Lender" means any of the Persons identified as a "Lender" on
         the signature pages hereto, and any Person which may become a Lender
         by way of assignment in accordance with the terms of Section 11.3,
         together with their successors and permitted assigns.

                 "Letter of Credit" means (a) any standby or commercial letter
         of credit issued for the account of the Borrower by an Issuing Lender
         pursuant to Section 2.2, as such letters of credit may be amended,
         modified, extended, renewed or replaced and (b) any Existing Letter of
         Credit.

                 "Letter of Credit Fees" has the meaning assigned to such term 
         in Section 3.4(b).

                 "Leverage Ratio" means, with respect to Holdings and its
         Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the ratio of (a) Funded Debt on
         such date to (b) EBITDA for the twelve month period ending on such
         date, as such ratio is calculated from time to time giving effect to
         Interim Adjustments.

                 "Lien" means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment,
         deposit arrangement, security interest, encumbrance, lien (statutory
         or otherwise), preference, priority or charge of any kind, including,
         without limitation, any agreement to give any of the foregoing, any
         conditional sale or other title retention agreement, and any lease in
         the nature thereof.

                 "Loan" or "Loans" means the Revolving Loans, the Tranche A
         Term Loans and/or the Tranche B Term Loans (or a portion of any
         Revolving Loan, the Tranche A Term Loans or the Tranche B Term Loans),
         individually or collectively, as appropriate.

                 "LOC Documents" means, with respect to any Letter of Credit,
         such Letter of Credit, any amendments thereto, any documents delivered
         in connection therewith, any application therefor, and any agreements,
         instruments, guarantees or other documents (whether general in
         application or applicable only to such Letter of Credit) governing or
         providing for (a) the rights and obligations of the parties concerned
         or at risk or (b) any collateral security for such obligations.





                                     - 15 -
<PAGE>   22
                 "LOC Obligations" means, at any time, the sum of (a) the
         maximum amount which is, or at any time thereafter may become,
         available to be drawn under Letters of Credit then outstanding,
         assuming compliance with all requirements for drawings referred to in
         such Letters of Credit plus (b) the aggregate amount of all drawings
         under Letters of Credit honored by an Issuing Lender but not
         theretofore reimbursed.

                 "LOC Participants" means the Lenders whose Revolving Loan
         Commitment Percentage is greater than zero.

                 "London Interbank Offered Rate" means, with respect to any
         Eurodollar Loan for the Interest Period applicable thereto, the rate
         of interest per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest
         1/100 of 1%) appearing on Telerate Page 3750 (or any successor page)
         as the London interbank offered rate for deposits in Dollars at
         approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days prior to the
         first day of such Interest Period for a term comparable to such
         Interest Period; provided, however, if more than one rate is specified
         on Telerate Page 3750, the applicable rate shall be the arithmetic
         mean of all such rates.  If, for any reason, such rate is not
         available, the term "London Interbank Offered Rate" shall mean, with
         respect to any Eurodollar Loan for the Interest Period applicable
         thereto, the rate of interest per annum (rounded upwards, if
         necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) appearing on Reuters Screen
         LIBO Page as the London interbank offered rate for deposits in Dollars
         at approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days prior to
         the first day of such Interest Period for a term comparable to such
         Interest Period; provided, however, if more than one rate is specified
         on Reuters Screen LIBO Page, the applicable rate shall be the
         arithmetic mean of all such rates.

                 "Management" means any current officer or director of the
         Borrower.

                 "Mandatory Borrowing" has the meaning set forth in Section
         2.2(e).

                 "Margin Stock" means "margin stock" as defined in Regulation
         U, Regulation X or Regulation G.

                 "Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse effect,
         after taking into account applicable insurance, if any, on (a) the
         operations, financial condition or business or prospects of Holdings
         and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of a Credit
         Party to perform in any material respect its respective obligations
         under this Credit Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents, or
         (c) the validity or enforceability of this Credit Agreement, any of
         the other Credit Documents, or the rights and remedies of the Lenders
         hereunder or thereunder taken as a whole.

                 "Material Intellectual Property" has the meaning set forth in
         the Security Agreement.

                 "Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service, Inc., or any
         successor or assignee of the business of such company in the business
         of rating securities.





                                     - 16 -
<PAGE>   23
                 "Mortgage Documents" means the Mortgages, the Leasehold
         Mortgages and such other documents and agreements executed or
         delivered by any Credit Party in connection with the Real Properties.

                 "Mortgage Policies" has the meaning set forth in Section
         5.1(e).

                 "Mortgages" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(e).

                 "Mortgaged Properties" has the meaning set forth in Section
         5.1(e).

                 "Multiemployer Plan" means a Plan covered by Title IV of ERISA
         which is a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 3(37) or
         4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

                 "Multiple Employer Plan" means a Plan covered by Title IV of
         ERISA, other than a Multiemployer Plan, which any Credit Party or any
         of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate and at least one employer
         other than a Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA
         Affiliate are contributing sponsors.

                 "Net Cash Proceeds" means the gross cash proceeds (including
         cash actually received by way of deferred payment pursuant to a
         promissory note, receivable, or otherwise) received from an Asset
         Disposition, an Equity Issuance or a Debt Issuance, net of (a)
         transaction costs payable to third parties, (b) a good faith estimate
         of the taxes payable with respect to such proceeds (including, without
         duplication, withholding taxes) and (c) with respect to any Asset
         Disposition, the outstanding Indebtedness (other than the Loans)
         required  to be repaid as a result of such Asset Disposition.

                 "Net Income" means, for any period, the net income after taxes
         for such period of Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated
         basis, as determined in accordance with GAAP.

                 "Net Worth" means, as of any date, shareholders' equity or net
         worth of Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, as
         determined in accordance with GAAP.

                 "New Company" means a Person that is acquired by, and becomes
         a Subsidiary of, a Credit Party (or a Subsidiary that is established
         to purchase the assets of another Person) as long as, during the first
         four full fiscal quarters subsequent to such acquisition, it remains a
         separate Subsidiary of a Credit Party.

                 "Newton Property" means the property leased by the Borrower
         located in Newton, Massachusetts.

                 "Non-Excluded Taxes" has the meaning set forth in Section
         3.13.





                                     - 17 -
<PAGE>   24
                 "Note" or "Notes" means the Revolving Notes, the Tranche A
         Term Notes and/or the Tranche B Term Notes, individually or
         collectively, as appropriate.

                 "Notice of Borrowing" means a request by the Borrower for a
         Revolving Loan, in the form of Exhibit 2.1(b).

                 "Notice of Continuation/Conversion" means a request by the
         Borrower to continue an existing Eurodollar Loan to a new Interest
         Period or to convert a Eurodollar Loan to a Base Rate Loan or a Base
         Rate Loan to a Eurodollar Loan, in the form of Exhibit 2.1(e).

                 "Other Leasehold Properties" has the meaning set forth in
         Section 7.16.

                 "Participation Interest" means the Extension of Credit by a
         Lender by way of a purchase of a participation in Letters of Credit or
         LOC Obligations as provided in Section 2.2 or in any Loans as provided
         in Section 3.8.

                 "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
         established pursuant to Subtitle A of Title IV of ERISA and any
         successor thereto.

                 "Permitted Acquisition" means an acquisition of all or part of
         the assets or stock of another Person by a Credit Party or any
         Subsidiary; provided that after giving effect to such acquisition (a)
         there is at least $25,000,000 of availability under the Revolving
         Committed Amount, (b) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are in
         compliance, on a Pro Forma Basis, with all of the covenants set forth
         in Section 7.2, (c) in the case of an acquisition of the stock of
         another Person, the board of directors (or other comparable governing
         body) or stockholders, as appropriate, of such Person shall have
         approved such acquisition, (d) no Change of Control shall have
         occurred, (e) not including any acquisition or a portion thereof made
         with the issuance of capital stock, the total cost of any one
         acquisition shall not exceed $40,000,000, and together with other
         acquisitions made by the Credit Parties or any of their Subsidiaries
         during such calendar year, the aggregate acquisition costs of the
         Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries taken as a whole shall not
         exceed $75,000,000 and (f) no Default or Event of Default exists and
         is continuing.

                 "Permitted Investments" means Investments which are (a) cash
         or Cash Equivalents, (b) accounts receivable created, acquired or made
         in the ordinary course of business and payable or dischargeable in
         accordance with customary trade terms, (c) Investments in a Guarantor
         (other than Holdings), (d) loans to directors, officers, employees,
         agents, customers or suppliers in the ordinary course of business for
         reasonable business expenses, (e) loans to Management to finance
         purchases (or tax obligations relating to such purchases) of Holdings'
         capital stock not to exceed $15,000,000, in the aggregate, at any one
         time, (f) Permitted Acquisitions, (g) Investments in foreign joint
         ventures not to exceed $10,000,000, in the aggregate, at any one time,
         (h) the purchase of stock or options of Holdings by Holdings from (i)





                                     - 18 -
<PAGE>   25
         employees who voluntarily or involuntarily terminate their employment
         with the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) Senior
         Management, subsequent to the Closing Date, not to exceed $5,000,000
         in the aggregate, (i) the redemption of Subordinated Debt as permitted
         by this Credit Agreement, (j) the Investments set forth on Schedule
         8.7, (k) Investments in other Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries
         subject to Section 8.15 and (l) the purchase of other securities not
         to exceed $5,000,000 in the aggregate.

                 "Permitted Liens" means (a) Liens securing Credit Party
         Obligations, (b) Liens for taxes not yet due or Liens for taxes being
         contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which adequate
         reserves determined in accordance with GAAP have been established (and
         as to which the property subject to any such Lien is not yet subject
         to foreclosure, sale, collection, levy or loss on account thereof),
         (c) Liens in respect of property imposed by law arising in the
         ordinary course of business such as materialmen's, mechanics',
         warehousemen's, carrier's, landlords' and other nonconsensual
         statutory Liens and other like Liens which are not delinquent for a
         period of more than sixty days or, if due and payable, are being
         contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which adequate
         reserves determined in accordance with GAAP in effect from time to
         time have been established (and as to which the property subject to
         any such Lien is not yet subject to foreclosure, sale or loss on
         account thereof), (d) pledges or deposits made in the ordinary course
         of business to secure payment of worker's compensation insurance,
         unemployment insurance, pensions or social security programs, (e)
         Liens arising from good faith deposits in connection with or to secure
         performance of tenders, bids, leases, government contracts,
         performance and return-of-money bonds and other similar obligations
         incurred in the ordinary course of business (other than obligations in
         respect of the payment of borrowed money), (f) Liens arising from good
         faith deposits in connection with or to secure performance of
         statutory obligations and surety and appeal bonds, (g) easements,
         rights-of-way, restrictions (including zoning restrictions), matters
         of plat, minor defects or irregularities in title and other similar
         charges or encumbrances not, in any material respect, impairing the
         use of the encumbered property for its intended purposes, (h) judgment
         Liens that would not constitute an Event of Default, (i) Liens on
         receivables sold pursuant to a Receivables Transaction, (j) Liens in
         connection with Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.1(e), 8.1(i) and
         8.1(j), (k) Liens constituting intellectual property licenses entered
         into in the ordinary course of business, (l) Liens on the real
         property of a corporation which becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower
         or is merged with or into a Credit Party after the Closing Date that
         secures Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.1(h); provided, that (i)
         such Liens existed at the time such corporation became a Subsidiary of
         the Borrower or was merged with or into a Credit Party and were not
         created in anticipation thereof, (ii) such Liens do not extend to any
         property other than the actual property acquired in connection with
         such acquisition and (iii) at such time, no Default or Event of
         Default exists or shall result from such transaction; (m) Liens
         arising by virtue of any statutory or common law provision relating to
         banker's liens, rights of setoff or similar rights as to deposit
         accounts or other funds maintained with a creditor depository
         institution, (n) Liens identified on Schedule 8.2 and (o) any Liens
         granted in connection with any amendment, restatement, supplement,
         renewal, replacement, extension or refunding (or successive
         amendments, restatements,





                                     - 19 -
<PAGE>   26
         supplements, renewals, replacements, extensions or refundings) in
         whole or part of any such Liens or the Indebtedness permitted by
         Section 8.1(b); provided that the principal amount of Indebtedness
         secured by any such Lien does not exceed the principal amount of such
         Indebtedness outstanding immediately prior to such amendment,
         restatement, supplement, renewal, replacement, extension or refunding.

                 "Person" means any individual, partnership, joint venture,
         firm, corporation, limited liability company, association, trust or
         other enterprise (whether or not incorporated), or any Governmental
         Authority.

                 "Plan" means any employee benefit plan (as defined in Section
         3(3) of ERISA) which is covered by ERISA and with respect to which any
         Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate is (or,
         if such plan were terminated at such time, would under Section 4069 of
         ERISA be deemed to be) an "employer" within the meaning of Section
         3(5) of ERISA.

                 "Pledge Agreement" means the Amended and Restated Pledge
         Agreement executed and delivered by each of the applicable Credit
         Parties in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the
         Lenders, to secure their obligations under the Credit Documents, as
         amended, modified, extended, renewed or replaced from time to time.

                 "Prime Rate" means the per annum rate of interest established
         from time to time by the Administrative Agent at its principal office
         in Charlotte, North Carolina (or such other principal office of the
         Administrative Agent as communicated in writing to the Borrower and
         the Lenders) as its Prime Rate.  Any change in the interest rate
         resulting from a change in the Prime Rate shall become effective as of
         12:01 a.m. of the Business Day on which each change in the Prime Rate
         is announced by the Administrative Agent.  The Prime Rate is a
         reference rate used by the Administrative Agent in determining
         interest rates on certain loans and is not intended to be the lowest
         rate of interest charged on any extension of credit to any debtor.

                 "Principal Amortization Payment" means a principal payment on
         the Term Loans as set forth in Section 2.3(c) or 2.4(c).

                 "Principal Amortization Payment Date" means the date a
         Principal Amortization Payment is due.

                 "Pro Forma Basis" means, with respect to a Permitted
         Acquisition, that such Permitted Acquisition shall be deemed to have
         occurred as of the first day of the four fiscal quarter period ending
         as of the last day of the most recent fiscal quarter for which the
         Lenders have received the financial information required by Section
         7.1(b).

                 "Real Properties" means the Mortgaged Properties, the
         Leasehold Mortgaged Properties and the Other Leasehold Properties.





                                     - 20 -
<PAGE>   27
                 "Receivables Transaction" means a transaction in which a
         Credit Party sells or grants a security interest in its trade
         receivables, to the extent such transaction has been approved by the
         Required Lenders in their sole discretion.

                 "Regulation D, G, U, T or X" means Regulation D, G, U, T or X,
         respectively, of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
         as from time to time in effect and any successor to all or a portion
         thereof.

                 "Reportable Event" means a "reportable event" as defined in
         Section 4043 of ERISA with respect to which the notice requirements to
         the PBGC have not been waived.

                 "Required Lenders" means Lenders whose aggregate Credit
         Exposure (as hereinafter defined) constitutes at least 51% of the
         Credit Exposure of all Lenders at such time; provided, however, that
         if any Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender at such time then there
         shall be excluded from the determination of Required Lenders the
         aggregate principal amount of Credit Exposure of such Lender at such
         time.  For purposes of the preceding sentence, the term "Credit
         Exposure" as applied to each Lender shall mean (a) at any time prior
         to the termination of the Commitments, the sum of (i) the Revolving
         Commitment Percentage of such Lender multiplied by the Revolving
         Committed Amount, plus (ii) the Tranche A Term Loan Commitment
         Percentage of such Lender multiplied by the aggregate principal amount
         of Tranche A Term Loans outstanding at such time, plus (iii) the
         Tranche B Term Loan Commitment Percentage of such Lender multiplied by
         the aggregate principal amount of Tranche B Term Loans outstanding at
         such time and (b) at any time after the termination of the
         Commitments, the sum of (i) the principal balance of the outstanding
         Loans of such Lender plus (ii) such Lender's Participation Interests
         in the face amount of the outstanding Letters of Credit.

                 "Requirement of Law" means, as to any Person, the articles or
         certificate of incorporation and by-laws or other organizational or
         governing documents of such Person, and any law, treaty, rule or
         regulation or final, non-appealable determination of an arbitrator or
         a court or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or
         binding upon such Person or to which any of its material property is
         subject.

                 "Revolving Committed Amount" means ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY FIVE
         MILLION DOLLARS ($175,000,000) or such lesser amount as the Revolving
         Committed Amount may be reduced pursuant to Section 2.1(d) or Section
         3.3(c).

                 "Revolving Loan Commitment Percentage" means, for each Lender,
         the percentage identified as its Revolving Commitment Percentage on
         Schedule 1.1(a), as such percentage may be modified in connection with
         any assignment made in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.3.

                 "Revolving Loan Maturity Date" means October 2, 2003.





                                     - 21 -
<PAGE>   28
                 "Revolving Loans" means the Revolving Loans made to the
         Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1.

                 "Revolving Note" or "Revolving Notes" means the promissory
         notes of the Borrower in favor of each of the Lenders evidencing the
         Revolving Loans provided pursuant to Section 2.1, individually or
         collectively, as appropriate, as such promissory notes may be amended,
         modified, supplemented, extended, renewed or replaced from time to
         time and as evidenced in the form of Exhibit 2.1(e).

                 "S&P" means Standard & Poor's Ratings Group, a division of
         McGraw Hill, Inc., or any successor or assignee of the business of
         such division in the business of rating securities.

                 "Scheduled Funded Debt Payments" means, as of the date of
         determination, for Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated
         basis, the sum of all scheduled payments of principal on Funded Debt
         for the twelve month period ending on the date of determination
         (including the principal component of payments due on leases that are
         required to be capitalized in accordance with GAAP during the twelve
         month period ending on the date of determination); it being understood
         that Scheduled Funded Debt Payments shall not include voluntary
         prepayments or the mandatory prepayments required pursuant to Section
         3.3.

                 "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
         and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

                 "Security Agreement" means the Amended and Restated Security
         Agreement executed and delivered by each of the Credit Parties in
         favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Lenders to secure
         their obligations under the Credit Documents, as such may be amended,
         modified, extended, renewed, restated or replaced from time to time.

                 "Senior Management" means those directors of Holdings and
         those officers  of Holdings holding the offices identified in the
         section entitled "Management Section" in that certain Registration
         Statement No. 33-95436 on Form S-1 effective with the Securities and
         Exchange Commission on September 30, 1997.

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

                 "Solvent" means, with respect to any Person as of a particular
         date, that on such date (a) such Person is able to pay its debts and
         other liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as
         they mature in the normal course of business, (b) such Person does not
         intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or
         liabilities beyond such Person's ability to pay as such debts and
         liabilities mature in their ordinary course, (c) such Person is not
         engaged in a business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in
         a business or a transaction, for which such Person's assets would
         constitute unreasonably





                                     - 22 -
<PAGE>   29
         small capital after giving due consideration to the prevailing
         practice in the industry in which such Person is engaged or is to
         engage, (d) the fair value of the assets of such Person is greater
         than the total amount of liabilities, including, without limitation,
         contingent liabilities, of such Person and (e) the present fair
         saleable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the
         amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such
         Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured.  In computing
         the amount of contingent liabilities at any time, it is intended that
         such liabilities will be computed at the amount which, in light of all
         the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the
         amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured
         liability.

                 "Subordinated Debt" means the Holdings Debentures and the
         Subordinated Notes, as such may be amended, modified, restated,
         substituted or replaced from time to time in accordance with the terms
         of this Credit Agreement.

                 "Subordinated Notes" means those certain 12 1/2% Senior
         Subordinated Notes due 2002 issued by IPC, Inc.  f/k/a Ivex Packaging
         Corporation as Issuer as of December 15, 1992 as amended through the
         Closing Date and as further amended, modified, restated, substituted
         or replaced from time to time in accordance with the terms of this
         Credit Agreement.

                 "Subordinated Notes Call Date" means December 15, 1997 or such
         other Business Day (prior to December 31, 1997) on which the Borrower
         intends to repurchase all of the then outstanding Subordinated Notes
         as requested in writing by the Borrower at least one Business Day
         prior thereto.

                 "Subsidiary" means, as to any Person, (a) any corporation more
         than 50% of whose stock of any class or classes having by the terms
         thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the directors of
         such corporation (irrespective of whether or not at the time, any
         class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting
         power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time
         owned by such Person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries, and
         (b) any partnership, association, joint venture or other entity in
         which such person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries has more
         than a 50% equity interest at any time.

                 "Term Loans" means the Tranche A Term Loans and the Tranche B
         Term Loans.

                 "Termination Event" means (a) with respect to any Single
         Employer Plan, the occurrence of a Reportable Event or the substantial
         cessation of operations (within the meaning of Section 4062(e) of
         ERISA); (b) the withdrawal of any Credit Party or any of its
         Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiple Employer Plan
         during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as such
         term is defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA), or the termination of
         a Multiple Employer Plan; (c) the distribution of a notice of intent
         to terminate or the actual termination of a Plan pursuant to Section
         4041(a)(2) or 4041A of ERISA; (d) the institution of proceedings to
         terminate or the actual termination





                                     - 23 -
<PAGE>   30
         of a Plan by the PBGC under Section 4042 of ERISA; (e) any event or
         condition which might reasonably constitute grounds under Section 4042
         of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to
         administer, any Plan; or (f) the complete or partial withdrawal of any
         Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate from a
         Multiemployer Plan.

                 "Title Properties" has the meaning set forth in Section
         5.1(e).

                 "Total Assets" means, as of any date, all items which, in
         accordance with GAAP, would be classified as assets of Holdings and
         its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

                 "Tranche A Term Loans" means the Term Loans made to the
         Borrower pursuant to Section 2.3(a).

                 "Tranche A Term Loan Commitment Percentage" means, for each
         Lender, the percentage identified as its Tranche A Term Loan
         Commitment Percentage on Schedule 1.1(a), as such percentage may be
         modified in connection with any assignment made in accordance with the
         provisions of Section 11.3.

                 "Tranche A Term Loan Committed Amount" means ONE HUNDRED FIFTY
         MILLION DOLLARS ($150,000,000).

                 "Tranche A Term Loan Maturity Date" means October 2, 2003.

                 "Tranche A Term Note" or "Tranche A Term Notes" means the
         amended and restated promissory notes of the Borrower in favor of each
         of the Lenders evidencing the Tranche A Term Loans provided pursuant
         to Section 2.3(a), individually or collectively, as appropriate, as
         such promissory notes may be amended, modified, supplemented,
         extended, renewed or replaced from time to time.

                 "Tranche B Term Loans" means the Term Loans made to the
         Borrower pursuant to Section 2.4(a).

                 "Tranche B Term Loan Commitment Percentage" means, for each
         Lender, the percentage identified as its Tranche B Term Loan
         Commitment Percentage on Schedule 1.1(a), as such percentage may be
         modified in connection with any assignment made in accordance with the
         provisions of Section 11.3.

                 "Tranche B Term Loan Committed Amount" means ONE HUNDRED FIFTY
         MILLION DOLLARS ($150,000,000) less the amount of Holdings Debentures
         not tendered on the Tranche B Term Loan Funding Dates; provided that
         the Tranche B Term Loan Committed Amount may be increased subsequent
         to the Closing Date in accordance with the terms of Section 2.4(d).





                                     - 24 -
<PAGE>   31
                 "Tranche B Term Loan Funding Dates" means up to two dates,
         both of which must be a Business Day and must occur no later than
         thirty (30) days subsequent to the Closing Date, each as selected by
         the Borrower upon three Business Days prior written notice to the
         Administrative Agent.

                 "Tranche B Term Loan Maturity Date" means October 2, 2004.

                 "Tranche B Term Note" or "Tranche B Term Notes" means the
         amended and restated promissory notes of the Borrower in favor of each
         of the Lenders evidencing the Tranche B Term Loans provided pursuant
         to Section 2.4(a), individually or collectively, as appropriate, as
         such promissory notes may be amended, modified, supplemented,
         extended, renewed or replaced from time to time.

                 "Unused Commitment" means, for any period, the sum of (a) the
         amount by which (i) the then applicable aggregate Revolving Committed
         Amount exceeds (ii) the daily average sum for such period of the
         outstanding aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Loans plus the
         aggregate amount of LOC Obligations outstanding, (b) prior to the
         earlier of (I) the actual Subordinated Notes Call Date and (II)
         December 31, 1997, the amount by which the (i) Tranche A Term Loan
         Committed Amount exceeds (ii) the aggregate principal amount of the
         Tranche A Term Loans made on the Effective Date and (c) prior to the
         last Tranche B Term Loan Funding Date, the amount by which the (i)
         Tranche B Term Loan Committed Amount exceeds (ii) the aggregate
         principal amount of the Tranche B Term Loans made.

                 "Voting Stock" of a corporation means all classes of the
         capital stock of such corporation then outstanding and normally
         entitled to vote in the election of directors.

         1.2     COMPUTATION OF TIME PERIODS AND OTHER DEFINITIONAL PROVISIONS.

         For purposes of computation of periods of time hereunder, the word
"from" means "from and including" and the words "to" and "until" each mean "to
but excluding."  References in this Agreement to "Articles", "Sections",
"Schedules" or "Exhibits" shall be to Articles, Sections, Schedules or Exhibits
of or to this Agreement unless otherwise specifically provided.

         1.3     ACCOUNTING TERMS.

         Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all accounting terms
used herein shall be interpreted, and all financial statements and certificates
and reports as to financial matters required to be delivered to the Lenders
hereunder shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent
basis.  All calculations made for the purposes of determining compliance with
this Credit Agreement shall (except as otherwise expressly provided herein) be
made by application of GAAP applied on a basis consistent with the most recent
annual or quarterly financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.1 (or,
prior to the delivery of the first financial statements pursuant to Section
7.1, consistent with the financial statements described in Section 5.1(g);
provided, however, if (a) the Borrower shall object to determining such
compliance on such basis at the time of delivery of such financial statements
due to any change in GAAP or the rules promulgated with respect thereto or (b)
the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders shall so object in writing
within 30 days after delivery of such financial statements, then such
calculations shall be made on a basis consistent with GAAP as in effect as of
the date of the most recent financial statements delivered by the Borrower to
the Lenders to which no such objection shall have been made.





                                     - 25 -
<PAGE>   32

                                   SECTION 2

                               CREDIT FACILITIES

         2.1     REVOLVING LOANS.

                 (a)      Revolving Loan Commitment.   Subject to the terms and
         conditions set forth herein, each Lender who has a Revolving Loan
         Commitment Percentage that is greater than zero (the "Revolving Loan
         Lenders") severally agrees to make revolving loans (each a "Revolving
         Loan" and collectively the "Revolving Loans") to the Borrower, in
         Dollars, at any time and from time to time, during the period from and
         including the Effective Date to but not including the Revolving Loan
         Maturity Date (or such earlier date if the Revolving Committed Amount
         has been terminated as provided herein) equal to its Revolving Loan
         Commitment Percentage of each of the Revolving Loans requested by the
         Borrower; provided, however, that (i) the sum of the aggregate amount
         of Revolving Loans outstanding plus the aggregate amount of LOC
         Obligations outstanding shall not exceed the Revolving Committed
         Amount and (ii) with respect to each individual Revolving Loan Lender,
         the Revolving Loan Lender's pro rata share of outstanding Revolving
         Loans plus such Revolving Loan Lender's pro rata share of outstanding
         LOC Obligations shall not exceed such Revolving Loan Lender's
         Revolving Loan Commitment Percentage of the Revolving Committed
         Amount.  Subject to the terms of this Credit Agreement (including
         Section 3.3), the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow Revolving
         Loans.

                 (b)      Method of Borrowing for Revolving Loans.  By no later
         than 11:00 a.m. (i) on the date of the requested borrowing of
         Revolving Loans that will be Base Rate Loans or (ii) three Business
         Days prior to the date of the requested borrowing of Revolving Loans
         that will be Eurodollar Loans, the Borrower shall submit a written
         Notice of Borrowing in the form of Exhibit 2.1(b) to the
         Administrative Agent setting forth (A) the amount requested, (B)
         whether such Revolving Loans shall accrue interest at the Adjusted
         Base Rate or the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate, (C) with respect to
         Revolving Loans that will be Eurodollar Loans, the Interest Period
         applicable thereto and (D) certification that the Borrower has
         complied in all respects with Section 5.2.  All Revolving Loans made
         on the Effective Date shall be Base Rate Loans.  Thereafter, all or
         any portion of such Revolving Loans may be converted into Eurodollar
         Loans in accordance with the terms of Section 2.5.





                                     - 26 -
<PAGE>   33
                 (c)      Funding of Revolving Loans.  Upon receipt of a Notice
         of Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall promptly inform the
         Lenders as to the terms thereof.  Each applicable Lender shall make
         its Revolving Loan Commitment Percentage of the requested Revolving
         Loans available to the Administrative Agent by 2:00 p.m.  on the date
         specified in the Notice of Borrowing by deposit, in Dollars, of
         immediately available funds at the offices of the Administrative Agent
         at its principal office in Charlotte, North Carolina or at such other
         address as the Administrative Agent may designate in writing.  The
         amount of the requested Revolving Loans will then be made available to
         the Borrower by the Administrative Agent by crediting the account of
         the Borrower on the books of such office of the Administrative Agent,
         to the extent the amount of such Revolving Loans are made available to
         the Administrative Agent.

                 No Lender shall be responsible for the failure or delay by any
         other Lender in its obligation to make Revolving Loans hereunder;
         provided, however, that the failure of any Lender to fulfill its
         obligations hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its
         obligations hereunder.  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have
         been notified by any Lender prior to the date of any such Revolving
         Loan that such Lender does not intend to make available to the
         Administrative Agent its portion of the Revolving Loans to be made on
         such date, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has
         made such amount available to the Administrative Agent on the date of
         such Revolving Loans, and the Administrative Agent in reliance upon
         such assumption, may (in its sole discretion but without any
         obligation to do so) make available to the Borrower a corresponding
         amount.  If such corresponding amount is not in fact made available to
         the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall be able to
         recover such corresponding amount from such Lender.  If such Lender
         does not pay such corresponding amount forthwith upon the
         Administrative Agent's demand therefor, the Administrative Agent will
         promptly notify the Borrower, and the Borrower shall immediately pay
         such corresponding amount to the Administrative Agent.  The
         Administrative Agent shall also be entitled to recover from the Lender
         or the Borrower, as the case may be, interest on such corresponding
         amount in respect of each day from the date such corresponding amount
         was made available by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower to the
         date such corresponding amount is recovered by the Administrative
         Agent at a per annum rate equal to (i) from the Borrower at the
         applicable rate for such Revolving Loan pursuant to the Notice of
         Borrowing and (ii) from a Lender at the Federal Funds Rate.

                 (d)      Reductions of Revolving Committed Amount.  Upon at
         least three Business Days' notice, the Borrower shall have the right
         to permanently terminate or reduce the aggregate unused amount of the
         Revolving Committed Amount at any time or from time to time; provided
         that (i) each partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount at
         least equal to $5,000,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000,000
         above such amount and (ii) no reduction shall be made which would
         reduce the Revolving Committed Amount to an amount less than the
         aggregate amount of outstanding Revolving Loans plus the aggregate
         amount of outstanding LOC Obligations. Any reduction in (or
         termination of) the Revolving Committed Amount shall be permanent and
         may not be





                                     - 27 -
<PAGE>   34
         reinstated.  The Administrative Agent shall immediately notify the
         Lenders of any reduction in the Revolving Committed Amount.

                 (e)      Notes.  The Revolving Loans made by each Lender shall
         be evidenced by a duly executed promissory note of the Borrower to
         each applicable Lender in the face amount of its Revolving Loan
         Commitment Percentage of the Revolving Committed Amount in
         substantially the form of Exhibit 2.1(e).

         2.2     LETTER OF CREDIT SUBFACILITY.

                 (a)      Issuance.  Subject to the terms and conditions hereof
         and of the LOC Documents, if any, and any other terms and conditions
         which the Issuing Lenders may reasonably require (so long as such
         terms and conditions do not impose any financial obligation on or
         require any Lien (not otherwise contemplated by this Credit Agreement)
         to be given by any Credit Party or conflict with any obligation of, or
         detract from any action which may be taken by, any Credit Party or
         their Subsidiaries under this Credit Agreement), an Issuing Lender, as
         applicable, shall from time to time upon request issue (from the
         Effective Date to the Revolving Loan Maturity Date and in a form
         reasonably acceptable to the applicable Issuing Lender), in Dollars,
         and the LOC Participants shall participate in, letters of credit (the
         "Letters of Credit") for the account of the Borrower; provided,
         however, that (i) the aggregate amount of LOC Obligations shall not at
         any time exceed SIXTY FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ($65,000,000), (ii) the sum
         of the aggregate amount of LOC Obligations outstanding plus Revolving
         Loans outstanding shall not exceed the Revolving Committed Amount and
         (iii) with respect to each individual LOC Participant, the LOC
         Participant's pro rata share of outstanding Revolving Loans plus its
         pro rata share of outstanding LOC Obligations shall not exceed such
         LOC Participant's Revolving Loan Commitment Percentage of the
         Revolving Committed Amount.  The issuance and expiry date of each
         Letter of Credit shall be a Business Day.  Except as otherwise
         expressly agreed upon by all the LOC Participants, no Letter of Credit
         shall have an original expiry date more than one year from the date of
         issuance, or as extended, shall have an expiry date extending beyond
         the Revolving Loan Maturity Date.  Each Letter of Credit shall be
         either (x) a standby letter of credit issued to support the
         obligations (including pension or insurance obligations), contingent
         or otherwise, of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (y) a
         commercial letter of credit in respect of the purchase of goods or
         services by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary
         course of business.  Each Letter of Credit shall comply with the
         related LOC Documents.

                 (b)      Notice and Reports.  The request for the issuance of
         a Letter of Credit shall be submitted to the applicable Issuing Lender
         at least three Business Days prior to the requested date of issuance.
         The Issuing Lenders will, at least quarterly and more frequently upon
         request, provide to the Administrative Agent for dissemination to the
         Lenders a detailed report specifying the Letters of Credit which are
         then issued and outstanding and any activity with respect thereto
         which may have occurred since the date of the prior report, and
         including therein, among other things, the account party, the





                                     - 28 -
<PAGE>   35
         beneficiary, the face amount, and the expiry date as well as any
         payments or expirations which may have occurred.  The Issuing Lenders
         will further provide to the Administrative Agent, promptly upon
         request, copies of the Letters of Credit and the other LOC Documents,
         and the Administrative Agent, upon the request of a Lender, will
         provide copies of the Letters of Credit and other LOC Documents in its
         possession to such Lender.

                 (c)      Participations.

                          (i)     Each LOC Participant acknowledges and
                 confirms that it has a Participation Interest in the liability
                 of the applicable Issuing Lender under each Existing Letter of
                 Credit in an amount equal to its Revolving Loan Commitment
                 Percentage of such Existing Letters of Credit.  The Borrower's
                 reimbursement obligations in respect of each Existing Letter
                 of Credit, and each LOC Participant's obligations in
                 connection therewith, shall be governed by the terms of this
                 Credit Agreement.

                          (ii)    Each LOC Participant, upon issuance of a
                 Letter of Credit, shall be deemed to have purchased without
                 recourse a risk participation from the applicable Issuing
                 Lender in such Letter of Credit and each LOC Document related
                 thereto and the rights and obligations arising thereunder and
                 any collateral relating thereto, in each case in an amount
                 equal to its Revolving Loan Commitment Percentage of the
                 obligations under such Letter of Credit, and shall absolutely,
                 unconditionally and irrevocably assume, as primary obligor and
                 not as surety, and be obligated to pay to the applicable
                 Issuing Lender therefor and discharge when due, its Revolving
                 Loan Commitment Percentage of the obligations arising under
                 such Letter of Credit.  Without limiting the scope and nature
                 of each LOC Participant's participation in any Letter of
                 Credit, to the extent that an Issuing Lender has not been
                 reimbursed as required hereunder or under any such Letter of
                 Credit, each such LOC Participant shall pay to an Issuing
                 Lender its Revolving Loan Commitment Percentage of such
                 unreimbursed drawing in same day funds on the day of
                 notification by such Issuing Lender of an unreimbursed drawing
                 pursuant to the provisions of subsection (d).  The obligation
                 of each LOC Participant to so reimburse an Issuing Lender
                 shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected
                 by the occurrence of a Default, an Event of Default or any
                 other occurrence or event.  Any such reimbursement shall not
                 relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower or
                 any other Credit Party to reimburse such Issuing Lender under
                 any Letter of Credit, together with interest as hereinafter
                 provided.

                 (d)      Reimbursement.  In the event of any drawing under any
         Letter of Credit, an Issuing Lender will promptly notify the Borrower.
         Unless the Borrower shall immediately notify such Issuing Lender of
         its intent to otherwise reimburse such Issuing Lender, the Borrower
         shall be deemed to have requested a Revolving Loan at the Adjusted
         Base Rate in the amount of the drawing as provided in subsection (e)
         hereof, the





                                     - 29 -
<PAGE>   36
         proceeds of which will be used to satisfy the reimbursement
         obligations. The Borrower shall reimburse such Issuing Lender on the
         day of drawing under any Letter of Credit either with the proceeds of
         a Revolving Loan obtained hereunder or otherwise in same day funds as
         provided herein or in the LOC Documents.  If the Borrower shall fail
         to reimburse such Issuing Lender as provided hereinabove, the
         unreimbursed amount of such drawing shall bear interest at a per annum
         rate equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Percentage for the
         Base Rate Loans that are Revolving Loans plus two percent (2%).  The
         Borrower's reimbursement obligations hereunder shall be absolute and
         unconditional under all circumstances irrespective of (but without
         waiver of) any rights of set-off, counterclaim or defense to payment
         the applicable account party or the Borrower may claim or have against
         such Issuing Lender, the Agents, the Lenders, the beneficiary of the
         Letter of Credit drawn upon  or any other Person, including without
         limitation, any defense based on any failure of the applicable account
         party, the Borrower or any other Credit Party to receive consideration
         or the legality, validity, regularity or unenforceability of the
         Letter of Credit; provided, however, that the Borrower may have a
         claim against an Issuing Lender, and such Issuing Lender may be liable
         to the Borrower, to the extent of any actual damages suffered by the
         Borrower as a result of such Issuing Lender's gross negligence or
         willful misconduct in failing to pay a drawing under a Letter of
         Credit presented in strict conformity therewith.  The Issuing Lenders
         will promptly notify the LOC Participants of the amount of any
         unreimbursed drawing and each LOC Participant shall promptly pay to
         the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Issuing
         Lender, in Dollars and in immediately available funds, the amount of
         such LOC Participant's Revolving Loan Commitment Percentage of such
         unreimbursed drawing.  Such payment shall be made on the day such
         notice is received by such Lender from an Issuing Lender if such
         notice is received at or before 2:00 p.m., otherwise such payment
         shall be made at or before 12:00 Noon on the Business Day next
         succeeding the day such notice is received.  If such LOC Participant
         does not pay such amount to an Issuing Lender in full upon such
         request, such LOC Participant shall, on demand, pay to the
         Administrative Agent for the account of such Issuing Lender interest
         on the unpaid amount during the period from the date the LOC
         Participant received the notice regarding the unreimbursed drawing
         until such LOC Participant pays such amount to such Issuing Lender in
         full at a rate per annum equal to, if paid within two Business Days of
         the date of drawing, the Federal Funds Rate and thereafter at a rate
         equal to the Base Rate.  Each LOC Participant's obligation to make
         such payment to an Issuing Lender, and the right of an Issuing Lender
         to receive the same, shall be absolute and unconditional, shall not be
         affected by any circumstance whatsoever and without regard to the
         termination of this Credit Agreement or the Commitments hereunder, the
         existence of a Default or Event of Default or the acceleration of the
         obligations hereunder and shall be made without any offset, abatement,
         withholding or reduction whatsoever.

                 (e)      Repayment with Revolving Loans.  On any day on which
         the Borrower shall have requested, or been deemed to have requested, a
         Revolving Loan borrowing to reimburse a drawing under a Letter of
         Credit, the Administrative Agent shall give notice to the applicable
         Lenders that a Revolving Loan has been requested or deemed requested
         in connection with a drawing under a Letter of Credit, in which case a
         Revolving Loan





                                     - 30 -
<PAGE>   37
         borrowing comprised initially solely of Base Rate Loans (each such
         borrowing, a "Mandatory Borrowing") shall be immediately made from all
         applicable Lenders (without giving effect to any termination of the
         Commitments pursuant to Section 9.2) pro rata based on each Lender's
         respective Revolving Loan Commitment Percentage and the proceeds
         thereof shall be paid directly to the applicable Issuing Lender for
         application to the respective LOC Obligations.  Each such Lender
         hereby irrevocably agrees to make such Revolving Loans immediately
         upon any such request or deemed request on account of each such
         Mandatory Borrowing in the amount and in the manner specified in the
         preceding sentence and on the same such date notwithstanding (i) the
         amount of Mandatory Borrowing may not comply with the minimum amount
         for borrowings of Revolving Loans otherwise required hereunder, (ii)
         whether any conditions specified in Section 5.2 are then satisfied,
         (iii) whether a Default or Event of Default then exists, (iv) failure
         of any such request or deemed request for Revolving Loans to be made
         by the time otherwise required hereunder, (v) the date of such
         Mandatory Borrowing, or (vi) any reduction in the Revolving Committed
         Amount or any termination of the Commitments.  In the event that any
         Mandatory Borrowing cannot for any reason be made on the date
         otherwise required above (including, without limitation, as a result
         of the commencement of a proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code with
         respect to the Borrower or any other Credit Party), then each such
         Lender hereby agrees that it shall forthwith fund (as of the date the
         Mandatory Borrowing would otherwise have occurred, but adjusted for
         any payments received from the Borrower on or after such date and
         prior to such purchase) its Participation Interest in the outstanding
         LOC Obligations in an amount equal to such Lender's Revolving Loan
         Commitment Percentage thereof; provided, further, that in the event
         any Lender shall fail to fund its Participation Interest on the day
         the Mandatory Borrowing would otherwise have occurred, then the amount
         of such Lender's unfunded Participation Interest therein shall bear
         interest payable to such Issuing Lender upon demand, at the rate equal
         to, if paid within two Business Days of such date, the Federal Funds
         Rate, and thereafter at a rate equal to the Base Rate.

                 (f)      Modification and Extension.  The issuance of any
         supplement, modification or amendment which increases the face amount
         of an existing Letter of Credit or renewal, or extensions to any
         Letter of Credit shall, for purposes hereof, be treated in all
         respects the same as the issuance of a new Letter of Credit hereunder.

                 (g)      Uniform Customs and Practices.  The Issuing Lender
         may have the Letters of Credit be subject to The Uniform Customs and
         Practice for Documentary Credits, as published as of the date of issue
         by the International Chamber of Commerce (Publication No. 500 or the
         most recent publication, the "UCP"), in which case the UCP may be
         incorporated therein and deemed in all respects to be a part thereof.

                 (h)      Responsibility of Issuing Lenders.  It is expressly
         understood and agreed as between the Lenders that the obligations of
         the Issuing Lenders hereunder to the LOC Participants are only those
         expressly set forth in this Credit Agreement and that an Issuing
         Lender shall be entitled to assume that the conditions precedent set
         forth in Section 5.2 have been satisfied unless it shall have acquired
         actual knowledge that any





                                     - 31 -
<PAGE>   38
         such condition precedent has not been satisfied; provided, however,
         that nothing set forth in this Section 2.2 shall be deemed to
         prejudice the right of any LOC Participant to recover from an Issuing
         Lender any amounts made available by such LOC Participant to such
         Issuing Lender pursuant to this Section 2.2 in the event that it is
         determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that the payment with
         respect to a Letter of Credit constituted gross negligence or willful
         misconduct on the part of such Issuing Lender.

                 (i)      Conflict with LOC Documents.  In the event of any
         conflict between this Credit Agreement and any LOC Document, this
         Credit Agreement shall govern.

                 (j)      Indemnification of Issuing Lenders.

                          (i)     In addition to its other obligations under
                 this Credit Agreement, the Borrower hereby agrees to protect,
                 indemnify, pay and save the Issuing Lenders harmless from and
                 against any and all claims, demands, liabilities, damages,
                 losses, costs, charges and expenses (including reasonable
                 attorneys' fees) that the Issuing Lenders may incur or be
                 subject to as a consequence, direct or indirect, of (A) the
                 issuance of any Letter of Credit or (B) the failure of an
                 Issuing Lender to honor a drawing under a Letter of Credit as
                 a result of any act or omission, whether rightful or wrongful,
                 of any present or future de jure or de facto government or
                 governmental authority (all such acts or omissions, herein
                 called "Government Acts").

                          (ii)    As between the Borrower and an Issuing
                 Lender, the Borrower shall assume all risks of the acts,
                 omissions or misuse of any Letter of Credit by the beneficiary
                 thereof.  The Issuing Lenders shall not be responsible for
                 (except in the case of (A), (B) and (C) below if an Issuing
                 Lender has actual knowledge to the contrary):  (A) the form,
                 validity, sufficiency, accuracy, genuineness or legal effect
                 of any document submitted by any party in connection with the
                 application for and issuance of any Letter of Credit, even if
                 it should in fact prove to be in any or all respects invalid,
                 insufficient, inaccurate, fraudulent or forged; (B) the
                 validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or
                 assigning or purporting to transfer or assign any Letter of
                 Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds
                 thereof, in whole or in part, that may prove to be invalid or
                 ineffective for any reason; (C) failure of the beneficiary of
                 a Letter of Credit to comply fully with conditions required in
                 order to draw upon a Letter of Credit; (D) errors, omissions,
                 interruptions or delays in transmission or delivery of any
                 messages, by mail, cable, telegraph, telex or otherwise,
                 whether or not they be in cipher; (E) errors in interpretation
                 of technical terms; (F) any loss or delay in the transmission
                 or otherwise of any document required in order to make a
                 drawing under a Letter of Credit or of the proceeds thereof;
                 and (G) any consequences arising from causes beyond the
                 control of an Issuing Lender, including, without limitation,
                 any Government Acts.  None of the above shall affect, impair,
                 or prevent the vesting of an Issuing Lender's rights or powers
                 hereunder.





                                     - 32 -
<PAGE>   39
                          (iii)   In furtherance and extension and not in
                 limitation of the specific provisions hereinabove set forth,
                 any action taken or omitted by an Issuing Lender, under or in
                 connection with any Letter of Credit or the related
                 certificates, if taken or omitted in good faith, shall not put
                 such Issuing Lender under any resulting liability to the
                 Borrower or any other Credit Party.  It is the intention of
                 the parties that this Credit Agreement shall be construed and
                 applied to protect and indemnify the Issuing Lenders against
                 any and all risks involved in the issuance of the Letters of
                 Credit, all of which risks are hereby assumed by the Borrower,
                 including, without limitation, any and all risks of the acts
                 or omissions, whether rightful or wrongful, of any present or
                 future Government Acts.  An Issuing Lender shall not, in any
                 way, be liable for any failure by such Issuing Lender or
                 anyone else to pay any drawing under any Letter of Credit as a
                 result of any Government Acts or any other cause beyond the
                 control of such Issuing Lender.

                          (iv)    Nothing in this subsection (j) is intended to
                 limit the reimbursement obligation of the Borrower contained
                 in this Section 2.2.  The obligations of the Borrower under
                 this subsection (j) shall survive the termination of this
                 Credit Agreement.  No act or omission of any current or prior
                 beneficiary of a Letter of Credit shall in any way affect or
                 impair the rights of an Issuing Lender to enforce any right,
                 power or benefit under this Credit Agreement.

                          (v)     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
                 contained in this subsection (j), the Borrower shall have no
                 obligation to indemnify an Issuing Lender in respect of any
                 liability incurred by such Issuing Lender arising solely out
                 of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Issuing
                 Lender.  Nothing in this Credit Agreement shall relieve an
                 Issuing Lender of any liability to the Borrower in respect of
                 any action taken by such Issuing Lender which action
                 constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct of such
                 Issuing Lender or a violation of the UCP or Uniform Commercial
                 Code (as applicable), as determined by a court of competent
                 jurisdiction.

         2.3     TRANCHE A TERM LOANS.

                 (a)      Tranche A Term Loan Commitment.  Subject to the terms
         and conditions set forth herein, each Lender whose Tranche A Term Loan
         Commitment Percentage is greater than zero severally agrees to make
         available to the Borrower, on the Effective Date and on the
         Subordinated Notes Call Date such Lender's Tranche A Term Loan
         Commitment Percentage of the amount of the Tranche A Term Loan
         Committed Amount requested by the Borrower to be advanced on such date
         for the purposes hereinafter set forth.  Subject to and upon the terms
         and conditions set forth herein (including, without limitation, the
         terms and conditions set forth in Section 5.2), the Tranche A Term
         Loans shall be made in two separate advances.  The first advance shall
         occur on the Effective Date and the second advance shall occur on the
         Subordinated Notes Call Date.  The Borrower shall provide the
         Administrative Agent with written notice of the amount of the





                                     - 33 -
<PAGE>   40
         advance needed by the Borrower on the Effective Date.  That portion of
         the Tranche A Term Loan Committed Amount not advanced to the Borrower
         on the Effective Date shall be advanced to the Borrower on the
         Subordinated Notes Call Date.  Amounts repaid on the Tranche A Term
         Loans may not be reborrowed.

                 (b)      Funding of Tranche A Term Loans.  Each applicable
         Lender will make its Tranche A Term Loan Commitment Percentage of each
         Tranche A Term Loan advance available to the Administrative Agent by
         deposit, in Dollars and in immediately available funds, at the offices
         of the Administrative Agent at its principal office in Charlotte,
         North Carolina or at such other address as the Administrative Agent
         may designate in writing.  The amount of the Tranche A Term Loans will
         then be made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent by
         crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of such office of
         the Administrative Agent, to the extent the amount of such Tranche A
         Term Loans are made available to the Administrative Agent or otherwise
         in accordance with the Borrower's disbursement instructions.  All
         Tranche A Term Loans made on the Effective Date and on the
         Subordinated Notes Call Date shall be Base Rate Loans.  Thereafter,
         all or any portion of the Tranche A Term Loans may be converted into
         Eurodollar Loans in accordance with the terms of Section 2.5.

                 No Lender shall be responsible for the failure or delay by any
         other Lender in its obligation to make a Tranche A Term Loan
         hereunder; provided, however, that the failure of any Lender to
         fulfill its obligations hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender
         of its obligations hereunder.  If the Administrative Agent shall have
         received an executed signature page to this Credit Agreement (whether
         an original or via telecopy) from a Lender, the Administrative Agent
         may assume that such Lender has or will make available to the
         Administrative Agent its Tranche A Term Loan Commitment Percentage of
         each Tranche A Term Loan advance on the Effective Date and on the
         Subordinated Notes Call Date, and the Administrative Agent in reliance
         upon such assumption, may (in its sole discretion but without any
         obligation to do so) make available to the Borrower a corresponding
         amount of each Tranche A Term Loan advance.  If such corresponding
         amount is not in fact made available to the Administrative Agent, the
         Administrative Agent shall be able to recover such corresponding
         amount from such Lender.  If such Lender does not pay such
         corresponding amount forthwith upon the Administrative Agent's demand
         therefor, the Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower,
         and the Borrower shall immediately pay such corresponding amount to
         the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent shall also be
         entitled to recover from the Lender or the Borrower, as the case may
         be, interest on such corresponding amount in respect of each day from
         the date such corresponding amount was made available by the
         Administrative Agent to the Borrower to the date such corresponding
         amount is recovered by the Administrative Agent at a per annum rate
         equal to (i) from the Borrower at the applicable rate for such Tranche
         A Term Loan and (ii) from a Lender at the Federal Funds Rate.





                                     - 34 -
<PAGE>   41
                 (c)      Repayment of Tranche A Term Loans.  The principal
         amount of the Tranche A Term Loan shall be repaid in quarterly
         installments as follows, unless accelerated sooner pursuant to Section
         9.2:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  TRANCHE A TERM LOAN
                                   PRINCIPAL AMORTIZATION       PRINCIPAL AMORTIZATION
                                       PAYMENT DATES                    PAYMENT
                                <S>                                  <C>
                                December 31, 1997                     $3,750,000
                                March 31, 1998                        $3,750,000
                                June 30, 1998                         $3,750,000
                                September 30, 1998                    $3,750,000
                                December 31, 1998                     $5,000,000
                                March 31, 1999                        $5,000,000
                                June 30, 1999                         $5,000,000
                                September 30, 1999                    $5,000,000
                                December 31, 1999                     $6,250,000
                                March 31, 2000                        $6,250,000
                                June 30, 2000                         $6,250,000
                                September 30, 2000                    $6,250,000
                                December 31, 2000                     $6,250,000
                                March 31, 2001                        $6,250,000
                                June 30, 2001                         $6,250,000
                                September 30, 2001                    $6,250,000
                                December 31, 2001                     $7,500,000
                                March 31, 2002                        $7,500,000
                                June 30, 2002                         $7,500,000
                                September 30, 2002                    $7,500,000
                                December 31, 2002                     $8,750,000
                                March 31, 2003                        $8,750,000
                                June 30, 2003                         $8,750,000
                                September 30, 2003                    $8,750,000

                                Total                                $150,000,000
</TABLE>
                 (d)      Tranche A Term Notes.  The Tranche A Term Loan made
         by each Lender shall be evidenced by a duly executed promissory note
         of the Borrower to each applicable Lender in the face amount of its
         Tranche A Term Loan Commitment Percentage of the Tranche A Term Loan
         Committed Amount in substantially the form of Exhibit 2.3(d).

         2.4     TRANCHE B TERM LOANS.

                 (a)      Tranche B Term Loan Commitment. Subject to the terms
         and conditions set forth herein, each Lender whose Tranche B Term Loan
         Commitment Percentage is greater than zero severally agrees to make
         available to the Borrower on the Tranche B Term Loan Funding Dates
         such Lender's Tranche B Term Loan Commitment Percentage of the amount
         of the Tranche B Term Loan Committed Amount requested by the Borrower
         to be advanced on such date for the purposes hereinafter set forth.
         So long as no Default or Event of Default exists and is continuing,
         the initial Tranche B Term Loans





                                     - 35 -
<PAGE>   42
         shall be made, at the option of the Borrower, on one or both of the
         Tranche B Term Loan Funding Dates.  Amounts repaid on the Tranche B
         Term Loans may not be reborrowed.

                 (b)      Funding of Term Loans.  Each applicable Lender will
         make its Tranche B Term Loan Commitment Percentage of each Tranche B
         Term Loan advance available to the Administrative Agent by deposit, in
         Dollars and in immediately available funds, at the offices of the
         Administrative Agent at its principal office in Charlotte, North
         Carolina or at such other address as the Administrative Agent may
         designate in writing.  The amount of the Tranche B Term Loans will
         then be made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent by
         crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of such office of
         the Administrative Agent or otherwise in accordance with the
         Borrower's disbursement instructions, to the extent the amount of such
         Tranche B Term Loans are made available to the Administrative Agent.
         All Tranche B Term Loans made on the Tranche B Term Loan Funding Dates
         and any additional Tranche B Term Loans provided to the Borrower after
         an increase in the Tranche B Term Loan Committed Amount pursuant to
         the terms of Section 2.4(d) shall be Base Rate Loans on the date made.
         Thereafter, all or any portion of the Tranche B Term Loans may be
         converted into Eurodollar Loans in accordance with the terms of
         Section 2.5.

                 No Lender shall be responsible for the failure or delay by any
         other Lender in its obligation to make a Tranche B Term Loan
         hereunder; provided, however, that the failure of any Lender to
         fulfill its obligations hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender
         of its obligations hereunder.  If the Administrative Agent shall have
         (x) received an executed signature page to this Credit Agreement
         (whether an original or via telecopy) from a Lender or (y) written
         confirmation that a Lender plans to fund an increase in the Tranche B
         Term Loan Committed Amount pursuant to Section 2.4(d), the
         Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has or will make the
         amount of its Tranche B Term Loans available to the Administrative
         Agent on the Effective Date or on the date of the increase, as
         applicable, and the Administrative Agent in reliance upon such
         assumption, may (in its sole discretion but without any obligation to
         do so) make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount.  If such
         corresponding amount is not in fact made available to the
         Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall be able to
         recover such corresponding amount from such Lender.  If such Lender
         does not pay such corresponding amount forthwith upon the
         Administrative Agent's demand therefor, the Administrative Agent will
         promptly notify the Borrower, and the Borrower shall immediately pay
         such corresponding amount to the Administrative Agent.  The
         Administrative Agent shall also be entitled to recover from the Lender
         or the Borrower, as the case may be, interest on such corresponding
         amount in respect of each day from the date such corresponding amount
         was made available by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower to the
         date such corresponding amount is recovered by the Administrative
         Agent at a per annum rate equal to (i) from the Borrower at the
         applicable rate for such Tranche B Term Loan and (ii) from a Lender at
         the Federal Funds Rate.





                                     - 36 -
<PAGE>   43
                 (c)      Repayment of Tranche B Term Loans.  The principal
         amount of the Tranche B Term Loans shall be repaid in quarterly
         installments as follows, unless accelerated sooner pursuant to Section
         9.2:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              TRANCHE B TERM LOAN PRINCIPAL
                             PRINCIPAL AMORTIZATION          AMORTIZATION PAYMENT (SHOWN AS A
                                  PAYMENT DATES           PERCENTAGE OF THE THEN TRANCHE B TERM
                                                                  LOAN COMMITTED AMOUNT)
                         <S>                                       <C>
                         December 31, 1997                                 .250%
                         March 31, 1998                                    .250%
                         June 30, 1998                                     .250%
                         September 30, 1998                                .250%
                         December 31, 1998                                 .250%
                         March 31, 1999                                    .250%
                         June 30, 1999                                     .250%
                         September 30, 1999                                .250%
                         December 31, 1999                                 .250%
                         March 31, 2000                                    .250%
                         June 30, 2000                                     .250%
                         September 30, 2000                                .250%
                         December 31, 2000                                 .250%
                         March 31, 2001                                    .250%
                         June 30, 2001                                     .250%
                         September 30, 2001                                .250%
                         December 31, 2001                                 .250%
                         March 31, 2002                                    .250%
                         June 30, 2002                                     .250%
                         September 30, 2002                                .250%
                         December 31, 2002                                 .250%
                         March 31, 2003                                    .250%
                         June 30, 2003                                     .250%
                         September 30, 2003                                .250%
                         December 31, 2003                               23.500%
                         March 31, 2004                                  23.500%
                         June 30, 2004                                   23.500%
                         September 30, 2004                        Remaining amount of
                                                                   Tranche B Term Loans
</TABLE>

                 (d)      Increase in Tranche B Term Loan Commitment.  The
         Borrower shall have the right, from time to time, to increase the
         Tranche B Term Loan Committed Amount; provided that:

                          (i)     any increase in the Tranche B Term Loan
                 Committed Amount must be in a minimum amount of $5,000,000 and
                 in integral multiples of $1,000,000 above such amount;

                          (ii)    in no event may the Tranche B Term Loan
                 Committed Amount be increased to an aggregate amount greater
                 than One Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($150,000,000);





                                     - 37 -
<PAGE>   44
                          (iii)   as of the date of such increase in the
                 Tranche B Term Loan Committed Amount, after giving pro forma
                 effect to the new advance of Tranche B Term Loans to be made
                 under the increased Tranche B Term Loan Committed Amount, the
                 Credit Parties shall be in compliance with all the financial
                 covenants set forth in Section 7.2;

                          (iv)    any such increase in the Tranche B Term Loan
                 Committed Amount shall be provided, at the option of the
                 Borrower, by (A) an existing Lender or any existing Lenders,
                 as applicable upon such existing Lender's or Lenders' written
                 consent (to be provided in their sole discretion), as
                 applicable and/or (B) one or more institutions that is not an
                 existing Lender; provided that such institution (x) is an
                 Eligible Assignee and (y) becomes a Lender under this Credit
                 Agreement pursuant to the execution and delivery of a New
                 Commitment Agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit
                 2.4(d);

                          (v)     funds borrowed pursuant to any increase in
                 the Tranche B Term Loan Committed Amount are used by the
                 Borrower to repurchase Holding Debentures;

                          (vi)    the Borrower shall execute new Tranche B Term
                 Note(s) as necessary to reflect any increase in the Tranche B
                 Term Loan Committed Amount;

                          (vii)   the Borrower shall have paid all actual fees
                 and expenses owed to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent
                 in connection with any such increase in the Tranche B Term
                 Loan Committed Amount; and

                          (viii)  Schedule 1.1(a) shall be revised (without any
                 need to obtain the consent of any of the Lenders) to reflect
                 the change in the Tranche B Term Loan Commitment Percentages
                 of the Lenders as a result of such increase in the Tranche B
                 Term Loan Committed Amount.

                 (e)      Tranche B Term Notes.  The Tranche B Term Loan made
         by each Lender shall be evidenced by a duly executed promissory note
         of the Borrower to each applicable Lender in the face amount of its
         Tranche B Term Loan Commitment Percentage of the Tranche B Term Loan
         Committed Amount in substantially the form of Exhibit 2.4(e).

         2.5     CONTINUATIONS AND CONVERSIONS.

         The Borrower shall have the option, on any Business Day, to continue
existing Eurodollar Loans for a subsequent Interest Period, to convert Base
Rate Loans into Eurodollar Loans or to convert Eurodollar Loans into Base Rate
Loans; provided, however, that (i) each such continuation or conversion must be
requested by the Borrower pursuant to a written Notice of
Continuation/Conversion, in the form of Exhibit 2.5, in compliance with the
terms set forth





                                     - 38 -
<PAGE>   45
below, (ii) except as provided in Section 3.12, Eurodollar Loans may only be
continued or converted into Base Rate Loans on the last day of the Interest
Period applicable thereto, (iii) Eurodollar Loans may not be continued nor may
Base Rate Loans be converted into Eurodollar Loans if on the date of such
conversion or continuation a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing and (iv) any request to continue a Eurodollar Loan that fails to
comply with the terms set forth below in this Section 2.5 or any failure to
request a continuation of a Eurodollar Loan at the end of an Interest Period
shall constitute a conversion to a Base Rate Loan on the last day of the
applicable Interest Period.  Each continuation or conversion must be requested
by the Borrower no later than 11:00 a.m. (A) on the date for a requested
conversion of a Eurodollar Loan to a Base Rate Loan or (B) three Business Days
prior to the date for a requested continuation of a Eurodollar Loan or
conversion of a Base Rate Loan to a Eurodollar Loan, in each case pursuant to a
written Notice of Continuation/Conversion submitted to the Administrative Agent
which shall set forth (x) whether the Borrower wishes to continue or convert
such Loans and (y) if the request is to continue a Eurodollar Loan or convert a
Base Rate Loan to a Eurodollar Loan, the Interest Period applicable thereto.

         2.6     MINIMUM AMOUNTS.

         Each request for a borrowing, conversion or continuation shall be
subject to the requirements that (i) each Eurodollar Loan shall be in a minimum
amount of $5,000,000 and in integral multiples of $500,000 in excess thereof,
(ii) each Base Rate Loan shall be in a minimum amount of the lesser of
$1,000,000 (and integral multiples of $100,000 in excess thereof) or the
remaining amount available under the Revolving Committed Amount, the Tranche A
Term Loan Committed Amount or the Tranche B Term Loan Committed Amount, as
applicable, and (iii) no more than fifteen Eurodollar Loans shall be
outstanding hereunder at any one time.  For the purposes of this Section, all
Eurodollar Loans with the same Interest Periods that begin and end on the same
date shall be considered as one Eurodollar Loan, but Eurodollar Loans with
different Interest Periods, even if they begin on the same date, shall be
considered as separate Eurodollar Loans.

                                   SECTION 3

          GENERAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO LOANS AND LETTERS OF CREDIT

         3.1     INTEREST.

                 (a)      Interest Rate.  All Base Rate Loans shall accrue
         interest at the Adjusted Base Rate and all Eurodollar Loans shall
         accrue interest at the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate.

                 (b)      Default Rate of Interest.  Upon the occurrence, and
         during the continuance, of an Event of Default, the principal of and,
         to the extent permitted by law, interest on the Loans and any other
         amounts owing hereunder or under the other Credit Documents (including
         without limitation fees and expenses) shall, after written notice of
         same to the Borrower, bear interest, payable on demand, at a per annum
         rate equal to 2%





                                     - 39 -
<PAGE>   46
         plus the rate which would otherwise be applicable (or if no rate is
         applicable, then the rate for Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans
         plus two percent (2%) per annum).

                 (c)      Interest Payments.  Interest on Loans shall be due
         and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date.  If an Interest
         Payment Date falls on a date which is not a Business Day, such
         Interest Payment Date shall be deemed to be the next succeeding
         Business Day, except that in the case of Eurodollar Loans where the
         next succeeding Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar
         month, then on the next preceding day.

         3.2     PLACE AND MANNER OF PAYMENTS.

         All payments of principal, interest, fees, expenses and other amounts
to be made by a Credit Party under this Credit Agreement shall be received not
later than 2:00 p.m. on the date when due, in Dollars and in immediately
available funds, by the Administrative Agent at its offices in Charlotte, North
Carolina.  Payments received after such time shall be deemed to have been
received on the next Business Day.  The Borrower shall, at the time it makes
any payment under this Credit Agreement, specify to the Administrative Agent,
the Loans, Letters of Credit, fees or other amounts payable by the Borrower
hereunder to which such payment is to be applied (and in the event that it
fails to specify, or if such application would be inconsistent with the terms
hereof, the Administrative Agent shall, subject to Section 3.7, distribute such
payment to the Lenders in such manner as the Administrative Agent may deem
appropriate).  The Administrative Agent will distribute such payments to the
applicable Lenders on the date received if any such payment is received prior
to 2:00 p.m.; otherwise the Administrative Agent will distribute such payment
to the applicable Lenders on the next succeeding Business Day.  Whenever any
payment hereunder shall be stated to be due on a day which is not a Business
Day, the due date thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day
(subject to accrual of interest and fees for the period of such extension),
except that in the case of Eurodollar Loans, if the extension would cause the
payment to be made in the next following calendar month, then such payment
shall instead be made on the next preceding Business Day.

         3.3     PREPAYMENTS.

                 (a)      Voluntary Prepayments.  Subject to the terms of
         Section 3.4(d), the Borrower shall have the right to prepay Loans in
         whole or in part from time to time without premium or penalty;
         provided, however, that (i) Eurodollar Loans may only be prepaid on
         three Business Days' prior written notice to the Administrative Agent
         and any prepayment of Eurodollar Loans will be subject to Section
         3.14, (ii) each such partial prepayment of Loans shall be in the
         minimum principal amount of $1,000,000 and integral multiples of
         $100,000 in excess thereof and (iii) voluntary prepayments with
         respect to the Term Loans shall be applied pro rata between the
         outstanding Tranche A Term Loans and Tranche B Term Loans (pro rata
         among the remaining Principal Amortization Payments).





                                     - 40 -
<PAGE>   47
                 (b)      Mandatory Prepayments.

                          (i)     Revolving Committed Amount.  If at any time
                 the sum of the aggregate amount of Revolving Loans outstanding
                 plus LOC Obligations outstanding exceeds the Revolving
                 Committed Amount, the Borrower shall immediately make a
                 principal payment to the Administrative Agent in the manner
                 and in an amount necessary to be in compliance with Section
                 2.1.

                          (ii)    Excess Cash Flow.  Within 10 days after the
                 date the audited financial statements are required to be
                 delivered pursuant to Section 7.1(a) for each fiscal year,
                 commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 1998, the
                 Borrower shall make a prepayment of the Loans in an amount
                 equal to (a) 75% of the Excess Cash Flow earned during the
                 preceding fiscal year if, as of such fiscal year end, the
                 current Leverage Ratio is greater than or equal to 4.0 to 1.0,
                 (b) 50% of the Excess Cash Flow earned during the preceding
                 fiscal year if, as of such fiscal year end, the current
                 Leverage Ratio is less than 4.0 to 1.0 but greater than or
                 equal to 3.0 to 1.0 and (c) 0% of Excess Cash Flow earned
                 during the preceding fiscal year if, as of such fiscal year
                 end, the current Leverage Ratio is less than 3.0 to 1.0 (to be
                 applied as set forth in Section 3.3(c) below).

                          (iii)   Asset Sales.  Immediately upon receipt by a
                 Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries of proceeds from any
                 Asset Disposition, the Borrower shall forward an amount equal
                 to 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds of such Asset Disposition to
                 the Lenders as a prepayment of the Loans (to be applied as set
                 forth in Section 3.3(c) below).  Notwithstanding the
                 foregoing, in the event a Foreign Subsidiary is required to
                 forward all or a percentage of the Net Cash Proceeds received
                 from a disposition of assets of such Foreign Subsidiary in
                 accordance with the terms of any agreement governing the
                 Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.1(j), the Borrower shall
                 only have to forward to the Lenders as a prepayment of the
                 Loans that portion of the Net Cash Proceeds from such Asset
                 Disposition remaining with such Foreign Subsidiary after
                 making the prepayment required by the respective agreement
                 governing the Section 8.1(j) Indebtedness.

                          (iv)    Receivables Transaction.  Immediately upon
                 the receipt by a Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries of
                 proceeds from a Receivables Transaction, the Borrower shall
                 forward an amount equal to 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds of
                 such Receivables Transaction to the Lenders as a prepayment of
                 the Loans (to be applied as set forth in Section 3.3(c)
                 below).

                          (v)     Issuances of Equity.  Immediately upon
                 receipt by a Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries of
                 proceeds from any Equity Issuance (other than the issuance of
                 shares of capital stock of Holdings pursuant to the initial
                 public offering of capital stock of Holdings), the Borrower
                 shall forward 50% of the Net Cash Proceeds of such Equity
                 Issuance to the Lenders as a prepayment of the Loans (to be
                 applied as set forth in Section 3.3(c) below).
                 Notwithstanding the





                                     - 41 -
<PAGE>   48
                 foregoing sentence, prepayments made by the Borrower pursuant
                 to the terms of this Section 3.3(b)(v) shall not exceed
                 $50,000,000 in the aggregate.

                          (vi)    Issuance of Debt.  Immediately upon receipt
                 by a Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries of proceeds from
                 any Debt Issuance, the Borrower shall forward 100% of the Net
                 Cash Proceeds of such Debt Issuance to the Lenders as a
                 prepayment of the Loans (to be applied as set forth in Section
                 3.3(c) below).

                 (c)      Application of Prepayments.  All amounts required to
         be paid pursuant to Section 3.3(b)(i) shall be applied first to
         Revolving Loans and second to a cash collateral account in respect of
         LOC Obligations.  All amounts required to be paid pursuant to Section
         3.3(b)(ii), (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi) above shall be applied first,
         pro rata between the outstanding Tranche A Term Loans and the Tranche
         B Term Loans (pro rata among the remaining Principal Amortization
         Payments) until the Term Loans have been paid in full, second, to the
         Revolving Loans (with a corresponding reduction in the Revolving
         Committed Amount) until the Revolving Committed Amount shall be
         reduced to zero and third, to a cash collateral account in respect of
         LOC Obligations.  One or more holders of the Tranche B Term Loans may
         decline to accept a mandatory prepayment under Sections 3.3(b)(ii),
         (iii), (iv), (v) or (vi) (to the extent there are sufficient Tranche A
         Term Loans outstanding to be paid with such prepayment) in which case
         such declined prepayments shall be allocated pro rata among the
         Tranche A Term Loans and Tranche B Term Loans held by Lenders
         accepting such prepayments.  Within the parameters of the applications
         set forth above, prepayments shall be applied first to Base Rate Loans
         and then to Eurodollar Loans in direct order of Interest Period
         maturities.  All prepayments hereunder shall be subject to Section
         3.14.

         3.4     FEES.

                 (a)      Commitment Fees.  In consideration of the Revolving
         Committed Amount, Tranche A Term Loan Committed Amount and Tranche B
         Term Loan Committed Amount being made available by the Lenders
         hereunder, the Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for
         the pro rata benefit of each applicable Lender (based on each Lender's
         Revolving Loan Commitment Percentage of the Revolving Committed
         Amount, Tranche A Term Loan Commitment Percentage of the Tranche A
         Term Loan Committed Amount and Tranche B Term Loan Commitment
         Percentage of the Tranche B Term Loan Committed Amount, as
         applicable), a per annum fee equal to the Applicable Percentage for
         Commitment Fees multiplied by the applicable Unused Commitment (the
         "Commitment Fees").  The Commitment Fees accrued prior to the Closing
         Date shall be paid on the Effective Date and future Commitment Fees
         shall commence to accrue on the Effective Date to and excluding (i)
         with respect to the Revolving Committed Amount, the earlier of the
         Revolving Loan Maturity Date or the date on which the Revolving
         Committed Amount is terminated (ii) with respect to the Tranche A Term
         Loan, the earlier of the Subordinated Notes Call Date and December 31,
         1997 and (iii) with respect to the Tranche B Term Loan, the last of
         the two Tranche B Term Loan Funding Dates, and shall be due and
         payable in arrears on the last day of each





                                     - 42 -
<PAGE>   49
         fiscal quarter of the Borrower (as well as on the Revolving Loan
         Maturity Date, Subordinated Notes Call Date (or December 31, 1997),
         and the last of the two Tranche B Term Loan Funding Dates, as
         applicable, and on any date that the Revolving Committed Amount is
         reduced) for the immediately preceding fiscal quarter (or portion
         thereof), beginning with the first of such dates to occur after the
         Closing Date.

                 (b)      Letter of Credit Fees.

                          (i)     Letter of Credit Fees.  In consideration of
                 the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder, the Borrower
                 agrees to pay to the applicable Issuing Lender for the pro
                 rata benefit of the applicable Lenders (based on each Lender's
                 Revolving Loan Commitment Percentage of the Revolving
                 Committed Amount), a fee (the "Letter of Credit Fees") equal
                 to the Applicable Percentage for the Letter of Credit Fees on
                 the average daily maximum amount available to be drawn under
                 each such Letter of Credit from the date of issuance to the
                 date of expiration.  The Letter of Credit Fees will be payable
                 in arrears on the last day of each fiscal quarter of the
                 Borrower (as well as on the Revolving Loan Maturity Date) for
                 the immediately preceding fiscal quarter (or portion thereof),
                 beginning with the first of such dates to occur after the
                 Closing Date.

                          (ii)    Issuing Lender Fees.  In addition to the
                 Letter of Credit Fees payable pursuant to subsection (i)
                 above, the Borrower shall pay to the applicable Issuing Lender
                 for its own account, without sharing by the other Lenders, (A)
                 a fee equal to one-eighth of one percent (1/8%) per annum on
                 the total sum of the undrawn amounts of all Letters of Credit
                 issued by the Issuing Lenders, such fee to be paid in arrears
                 15 days after the last day of each fiscal quarter of the
                 Borrower (as well as on the Revolving Loan Maturity Date) and
                 (B) the customary charges from time to time to the Issuing
                 Lenders for their services in connection with the issuance,
                 amendment, payment, transfer, administration, cancellation and
                 conversion of, and drawings under, such Letters of Credit
                 (collectively, the "Issuing Lender Fees").

                 (c)      Administrative Fees.  The Borrower agrees to pay to
         the Administrative Agent, for its own account, an annual fee in
         accordance with the terms of the Fee Letters.

                 (d)      Prepayment Premium.  In the event any of the Tranche
         B Term Loans are voluntarily prepaid prior to the date one year from
         the Effective Date, the Borrower agrees to pay a pro rata prepayment
         premium to the Lenders that have made Tranche B Term Loan advances to
         the Borrower in an amount equal to one and one-half percent (1.5%) of
         the principal amount of Tranche B Term Loans voluntarily prepaid.

         3.5     PAYMENT IN FULL AT MATURITY.

                 (a)      On the Revolving Loan Maturity Date, the entire
         outstanding principal balance of all Revolving Loans and all LOC
         Obligations, together with accrued but





                                     - 43 -
<PAGE>   50
         unpaid interest and all other sums owing with respect thereto, shall
         be due and payable in full, unless accelerated sooner pursuant to
         Section 9.2.

                 (b)      On the Tranche A Term Loan Maturity Date, the entire
         outstanding principal balance of all Tranche A Term Loans, together
         with accrued but unpaid interest and all other sums owing with respect
         thereto, shall be due and payable in full, unless accelerated sooner
         pursuant to Section 9.2.

                 (c)      On the Tranche B Term Loan Maturity Date, the entire
         outstanding principal balance of all Tranche B Term Loans, together
         with accrued but unpaid interest and all other sums owing with respect
         thereto, shall be due and payable in full, unless accelerated sooner
         pursuant to Section 9.2.

         3.6     COMPUTATIONS OF INTEREST AND FEES.

                 (a)      Except for Base Rate Loans, in which case interest
         shall be computed on the basis of a 365 or 366 day year as the case
         may be, all computations of interest and fees hereunder shall be made
         on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a year of 360
         days.  Interest shall accrue from and include the date of borrowing
         (or continuation or conversion) but exclude the date of payment.

                 (b)      It is the intent of the Lenders and the Credit
         Parties to conform to and contract in strict compliance with
         applicable usury law from time to time in effect.  All agreements
         between the Lenders and the Borrower are hereby limited by the
         provisions of this paragraph which shall override and control all such
         agreements, whether now existing or hereafter arising and whether
         written or oral.  In no way, nor in any event or contingency
         (including but not limited to prepayment or acceleration of the
         maturity of any obligation), shall the interest taken, reserved,
         contracted for, charged, or received under this Credit Agreement,
         under the Notes or otherwise, exceed the maximum nonusurious amount
         permissible under applicable law.  If, from any possible construction
         of any of the Credit Documents or any other document, interest would
         otherwise be payable in excess of the maximum nonusurious amount, any
         such construction shall be subject to the provisions of this paragraph
         and such documents shall be automatically reduced to the maximum
         nonusurious amount permitted under applicable law, without the
         necessity of execution of any amendment or new document.  If any
         Lender shall ever receive anything of value which is characterized as
         interest on the Loans under applicable law and which would, apart from
         this provision, be in excess of the maximum lawful amount, an amount
         equal to the amount which would have been excessive interest shall,
         without penalty, be applied to the reduction of the principal amount
         owing on the Loans and not to the payment of interest, or refunded to
         the Borrower or the other payor thereof if and to the extent such
         amount which would have been excessive exceeds such unpaid principal
         amount of the Loans.  The right to demand payment of the Loans or any
         other indebtedness evidenced by any of the Credit Documents does not
         include the right to receive any interest which has not otherwise
         accrued on the date of such demand, and the Lenders do not intend to
         charge or receive any unearned interest in the event of such





                                     - 44 -
<PAGE>   51
         demand.  All interest paid or agreed to be paid to the Lenders with
         respect to the Loans shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law,
         be amortized, prorated, allocated, and spread throughout the full
         stated term (including any renewal or extension) of the Loans so that
         the amount of interest on account of such indebtedness does not exceed
         the maximum nonusurious amount permitted by applicable law.

         3.7     PRO RATA TREATMENT.

         Except to the extent otherwise provided herein:

                 (a)      Loans.  Each Revolving Loan borrowing (including,
         without limitation, each Mandatory Borrowing), each payment or
         prepayment of principal of any Loan, each payment of fees (other than
         the Issuing Lender Fees retained by each Issuing Lender for its own
         account and the Administrative Fees retained by the Administrative
         Agent for its own account), each reduction of the Revolving Committed
         Amount, and each conversion or continuation of any Loan, shall (except
         as otherwise provided in Section 3.11) be allocated pro rata among the
         relevant Lenders in accordance with the respective Revolving Loan
         Commitment Percentages, Tranche A Term Loan Commitment Percentages and
         Tranche B Term Loan Commitment Percentages, as applicable, of such
         Lenders (or, if the Commitments of such Lenders have expired or been
         terminated, in accordance with the respective principal amounts of the
         outstanding Loans and Participation Interests of such Lenders);
         provided that, if any Lender shall have failed to pay its applicable
         pro rata share of any Revolving Loan, any Tranche A Term Loan or any
         Tranche B Term Loan, then any amount to which such Lender would
         otherwise be entitled pursuant to this subsection (a) shall instead be
         payable to the Administrative Agent until the share of such Loan not
         funded by such Lender has been repaid; provided further, that in the
         event any amount paid to any Lender pursuant to this subsection (a) is
         rescinded or must otherwise be returned by the Administrative Agent,
         each Lender shall, upon the request of the Administrative Agent, repay
         to the Administrative Agent the amount so paid to such Lender, with
         interest for the period commencing on the date such payment is
         returned by the Administrative Agent until the date the Administrative
         Agent receives such repayment at a rate per annum equal to, during the
         period to but excluding the date two Business Days after such request,
         the Federal Funds Rate, and thereafter, the Base Rate; and

                 (b)      Letters of Credit.  Each payment of unreimbursed
         drawings in respect of LOC Obligations shall be allocated to each LOC
         Participant pro rata in accordance with its Revolving Loan Commitment
         Percentage; provided that, if any LOC Participant shall have failed to
         pay its applicable pro rata share of any drawing under any Letter of
         Credit, then any amount to which such LOC Participant would otherwise
         be entitled pursuant to this subsection (b) shall instead be payable
         to the applicable Issuing Lender until the share of such unreimbursed
         drawing not funded by such Lender has been repaid; provided further,
         that in the event any amount paid to any LOC Participant pursuant to
         this subsection (b) is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by an
         Issuing Lender, each LOC Participant shall, upon the request of such
         Issuing Lender, repay to the





                                     - 45 -
<PAGE>   52
         Administrative Agent for the account of such Issuing Lender the amount
         so paid to such LOC Participant, with interest for the period
         commencing on the date such payment is returned by such Issuing Lender
         until the date such Issuing Lender receives such repayment at a rate
         per annum equal to, during the period to but excluding the date two
         Business Days after such request, the Federal Funds Rate, and
         thereafter, the Base Rate.

         3.8     SHARING OF PAYMENTS.

         The Lenders agree among themselves that, except to the extent
otherwise provided herein, in the event that any Lender shall obtain payment in
respect of any Loan, unreimbursed drawing with respect to any LOC Obligations
or any other obligation owing to such Lender under this Credit Agreement
through the exercise of a right of setoff, banker's lien or counterclaim, or
pursuant to a secured claim under Section 506 of the Bankruptcy Code or other
security or interest arising from, or in lieu of, such secured claim, received
by such Lender under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law
or otherwise, or by any other means, in excess of its pro rata share of such
payment as provided for in this Credit Agreement, such Lender shall promptly
pay in cash or purchase from the other Lenders a participation in such Loans,
LOC Obligations, and other obligations in such amounts, and make such other
adjustments from time to time, as shall be equitable to the end that all
Lenders share such payment in accordance with their respective ratable shares
as provided for in this Credit Agreement.  The Lenders further agree among
themselves that if payment to a Lender obtained by such Lender through the
exercise of a right of setoff, banker's lien, counterclaim or other event as
aforesaid shall be rescinded or must otherwise be restored, each Lender which
shall have shared the benefit of such payment shall, by payment in cash or a
repurchase of a participation theretofore sold, return its share of that
benefit (together with its share of any accrued interest payable with respect
thereto) to each Lender whose payment shall have been rescinded or otherwise
restored.  The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing such a
participation may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all rights
of payment, including setoff, banker's lien or counterclaim, with respect to
such participation as fully as if such Lender were a holder of such Loan, LOC
Obligation or other obligation in the amount of such participation.  Except as
otherwise expressly provided in this Credit Agreement, if any Lender or an
Agent shall fail to remit to an Agent or any other Lender an amount payable by
such Lender or such Agent to such Agent or such other Lender pursuant to this
Credit Agreement on the date when such amount is due, such payments shall be
made together with interest thereon for each date from the date such amount is
due until the date such amount is paid to such Agent or such other Lender at a
rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate.  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 3.8 applies, such Lender shall,
to the extent practicable, exercise its rights in respect of such secured claim
in a manner consistent with the rights of the Lenders under this Section 3.8 to
share in the benefits of any recovery on such secured claim.

         3.9     CAPITAL ADEQUACY.

         If, after the date hereof, any Lender has determined that the adoption
or the becoming effective of, or any change in, or any change by any
Governmental Authority, central bank or





                                     - 46 -
<PAGE>   53
comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof in
the interpretation or administration of, any applicable law, rule or regulation
regarding capital adequacy, or compliance by such Lender, or its parent
corporation, 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, has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return
on such Lender's (or parent corporation's) capital or assets as a consequence
of its commitments or obligations hereunder to a level below that which such
Lender, or its parent corporation, could have achieved but for such adoption,
effectiveness, change or compliance (taking into consideration such Lender's
(or parent corporation's) policies with respect to capital adequacy), then,
upon notice from such Lender to the Borrower, the Borrower shall be obligated
to pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such
Lender for such reduction.  Each determination by any such Lender of amounts
owing under this Section shall, absent manifest error, be conclusive and
binding on the parties hereto.  This covenant shall survive the termination of
this Credit Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts
payable hereunder.

         3.10    INABILITY TO DETERMINE INTEREST RATE.

         If prior to the first day of any Interest Period, the Administrative
Agent shall have determined in good faith (which determination shall be
conclusive and binding upon the Borrower) that, by reason of circumstances
affecting the relevant market, adequate and reasonable means do not exist for
ascertaining the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period, the Administrative
Agent shall give telecopy or telephonic notice thereof to the Borrower and the
Lenders as soon as practicable thereafter, and will also give prompt written
notice to the Borrower when such conditions no longer exist.  If such notice is
given (a) any Eurodollar Loans requested to be made on the first day of such
Interest Period shall be made as Base Rate Loans, (b) any Loans that were to
have been converted on the first day of such Interest Period to or continued as
Eurodollar Loans shall be converted to or continued as Base Rate Loans and (c)
any outstanding Eurodollar Loans shall be converted, on the first day of such
Interest Period, to Base Rate Loans.  Until such notice has been withdrawn by
the Administrative Agent, no further Eurodollar Loans shall be made or
continued as such, nor shall the Borrower have the right to convert Base Rate
Loans to Eurodollar Loans.

         3.11    ILLEGALITY.

         Notwithstanding any other provision herein, if the adoption of or any
change in any Requirement of Law or in the interpretation or application
thereof occurring after the Closing Date shall make it unlawful for any Lender
to make or maintain Eurodollar Loans as contemplated by this Credit Agreement,
(a) such Lender shall promptly give written notice of such circumstances to the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent (which notice shall be withdrawn whenever
such circumstances no longer exist), (b) the commitment of such Lender
hereunder to make Eurodollar Loans, continue Eurodollar Loans as such and
convert a Base Rate Loan to Eurodollar Loans shall forthwith be canceled and,
until such time as it shall no longer be unlawful for such Lender to make or
maintain Eurodollar Loans, such Lender shall then have a commitment only to
make a Base Rate Loan when a Eurodollar Loan is requested and (c) such





                                     - 47 -
<PAGE>   54
Lender's Loans then outstanding as Eurodollar Loans, if any, shall be converted
automatically to Base Rate Loans on the respective last days or the then
current Interest Periods with respect to such Loans or within such earlier
period as required by law.  If any such conversion of a Eurodollar Loan occurs
on a day which is not the last day of the then current Interest Period with
respect thereto, the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such amounts, if any, as
may be required pursuant to Section 3.14.

         3.12    REQUIREMENTS OF LAW.

         If the adoption of or any change in any Requirement of Law or in the
interpretation or application thereof applicable to any Lender, or compliance
by any Lender with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of
law) from any central bank or other Governmental Authority, in each case made
subsequent to the Closing Date (or, if later, the date on which such Lender
becomes a Lender):

                 (a)      shall subject such Lender to any tax of any kind
         whatsoever with respect to any Letter of Credit, any Eurodollar Loans
         made by it or its obligation to make Eurodollar Loans, or change the
         basis of taxation of payments to such Lender in respect thereof
         (except for Non-Excluded Taxes covered by Section 3.13 (including
         Non-Excluded Taxes imposed solely by reason of any failure of such
         Lender to comply with its obligations under Section 3.13(b)) and
         changes in taxes measured by or imposed upon the overall net income,
         or franchise tax (imposed in lieu of such net income tax), of such
         Lender or its applicable lending office, branch, or any affiliate
         thereof);

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

                 (c)      shall impose on such Lender any other condition
         (excluding any tax of any kind whatsoever);

and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender,
by an amount which such Lender deems to be material, of making, converting
into, continuing or maintaining Eurodollar Loans or issuing or participating in
Letters of Credit or to reduce any amount receivable hereunder in respect
thereof, then, in any such case, upon notice to the Borrower from such Lender,
through the Administrative Agent, in accordance herewith, the Borrower shall be
obligated to promptly pay such Lender, upon its demand, any additional amounts
necessary to compensate such Lender for such increased cost or reduced amount
receivable, provided that, in any such case, the Borrower may elect to convert
the Eurodollar Loans made by such Lender hereunder to Base Rate Loans by giving
the Administrative Agent at least one Business Day's notice of such election,
in which case the Borrower shall promptly pay to such Lender, upon demand,
without duplication, such amounts, if any, as may be required pursuant to
Section 3.14.  If any Lender becomes entitled to claim any additional amounts
pursuant to this Section 3.12, it





                                     - 48 -
<PAGE>   55
shall provide prompt notice thereof to the Borrower, through the Administrative
Agent, certifying (x) that one of the events described in this Section 3.12 has
occurred and describing in reasonable detail the nature of such event, (y) as
to the increased cost or reduced amount resulting from such event and (z) as to
the additional amount demanded by such Lender and a reasonably detailed
explanation of the calculation thereof.  Such a certificate as to any
additional amounts payable pursuant to this Section 3.12 submitted by such
Lender, through the Administrative Agent, to the Borrower shall be conclusive
and binding on the parties hereto in the absence of manifest error.  This
covenant shall survive the termination of this Credit Agreement and the payment
of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

         3.13    TAXES.

                 (a)      Except as provided below in this Section 3.13, all
         payments made by the Borrower under this Credit Agreement and any
         Notes shall be made free and clear of, and without deduction or
         withholding for or on account of, any present or future income, stamp
         or other taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions or
         withholdings, now or hereafter imposed, levied, collected, withheld or
         assessed by any court, or governmental body, agency or other official,
         excluding taxes measured by or imposed upon the overall net income of
         the Administrative Agent or any Lender or its applicable lending
         office, or any branch or affiliate thereof, and all franchise taxes,
         branch taxes, taxes on doing business or taxes on the overall capital
         or net worth of any Lender or its applicable lending office, or any
         branch or affiliate thereof, in each case imposed in lieu of net
         income taxes: (i) by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such
         Lender, applicable lending office, branch or affiliate is organized or
         is located, or in which its principal executive office is located, or
         any nation within which such jurisdiction is located or any political
         subdivision thereof; or (ii) by reason of any connection between the
         jurisdiction imposing such tax and such Lender, applicable lending
         office, branch or affiliate other than a connection arising solely
         from such Lender having executed, delivered or performed its
         obligations, or received payment under or enforced, this Credit
         Agreement or any Notes.  If any such non- excluded taxes, levies,
         imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions or withholdings
         ("Non-Excluded Taxes") are required to be withheld from any amounts
         payable to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder or under
         any Notes, (A) the amounts so payable to the Administrative Agent or
         such Lender shall be increased to the extent necessary to yield to the
         Administrative Agent or such Lender (after payment of all Non-Excluded
         Taxes) interest or any such other amounts payable hereunder at the
         rates or in the amounts specified in this Credit Agreement and any
         Notes, provided, however, that the Borrower shall be entitled to
         deduct and withhold any Non- Excluded Taxes and shall not be required
         to increase any such amounts payable to any Lender that is not
         organized under the laws of the United States of America or a state
         thereof if such Lender fails to comply with the requirements of
         paragraph (b) of this Section 3.13 whenever any Non-Excluded Taxes are
         payable by the Borrower, and (B) as promptly as possible after
         requested the Borrower shall send to the Administrative Agent for its
         own account or for the account of such Lender, as the case may be, a
         certified copy of an original official receipt received by the
         Borrower showing payment thereof.  If the Borrower fails to pay any
         Non- Excluded Taxes when





                                     - 49 -
<PAGE>   56
         due to the appropriate taxing authority or fails to remit to the
         Administrative Agent the required receipts or other required
         documentary evidence, the Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative
         Agent and any Lender for any incremental taxes, interest or penalties
         that may become payable by the Administrative Agent or any Lender as a
         result of any such failure.  The agreements in this subsection shall
         survive the termination of this Credit Agreement and the payment of
         the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

                 (b)      Each Lender that is not incorporated under the laws
         of the United States of America or a state thereof shall:

                          (i)     (A)      on or before the date of any payment
                          by the Borrower under this Credit Agreement or Notes
                          to such Lender, deliver to the Borrower and the
                          Administrative Agent (x) two duly completed copies of
                          United States Internal Revenue Service Form 1001 or
                          4224, or successor applicable form, as the case may
                          be, certifying that it is entitled to receive
                          payments under this Credit Agreement and any Notes
                          without deduction or withholding of any United States
                          federal income taxes and (y) an Internal Revenue
                          Service Form W-8 or W-9, or successor applicable
                          form, as the case may be, certifying that it is
                          entitled to an exemption from United States backup
                          withholding tax;

                                  (B)      deliver to the Borrower and the
                          Administrative Agent two further copies of any such
                          form or certification on or before the date that any
                          such form or certification expires or becomes
                          obsolete and after the occurrence of any event
                          requiring a change in the most recent form previously
                          delivered by it to the Borrower; and

                                  (C)      obtain such extensions of time for
                          filing and complete such forms or certifications as
                          may reasonably be requested by the Borrower or the
                          Administrative Agent; or

                          (ii)    in the case of any such Lender that is not a
                 "bank" within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code,
                 (A) represent to the Borrower (for the benefit of the Borrower
                 and the Administrative Agent) that it is not a bank within the
                 meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (B) agree to
                 furnish to the Borrower, on or before the date of any payment
                 by the Borrower, with a copy to the Administrative Agent, two
                 accurate and complete original signed copies of Internal
                 Revenue Service Form W-8, or successor applicable form
                 certifying to such Lender's legal entitlement at the date of
                 such certificate to an exemption from U.S. withholding tax
                 under the provisions of Section 881(c) of the Code with
                 respect to payments to be made under this Credit Agreement and
                 any Notes (and to deliver to the Borrower and the
                 Administrative Agent two further copies of such form on or
                 before the date it expires or becomes obsolete and after the
                 occurrence of any event requiring a change in the most
                 recently provided form and, if necessary, obtain any
                 extensions of time reasonably requested by the





                                     - 50 -
<PAGE>   57
                 Borrower or the Administrative Agent for filing and completing
                 such forms), and (C) agree, to the extent legally entitled to
                 do so, upon reasonable request by the Borrower, to provide to
                 the Borrower (for the benefit of the Borrower and the
                 Administrative Agent) such other forms as may be reasonably
                 required in order to establish the legal entitlement of such
                 Lender to an exemption from withholding with respect to
                 payments under this Credit Agreement and any Notes.

         Notwithstanding the above, if any change in treaty, law or regulation
         has occurred after the date such Person becomes a Lender hereunder
         which renders all such forms inapplicable or which would prevent such
         Lender from duly completing and delivering any such form with respect
         to it and such Lender so advises the Borrower and the Administrative
         Agent then such Lender shall be exempt from such requirements.  Each
         Person that shall become a Lender or a participant of a Lender
         pursuant to Section 11.3 shall, upon the effectiveness of the related
         transfer, be required to provide all of the forms, certifications and
         statements required pursuant to this subsection (b); provided that in
         the case of a participant of a Lender, the obligations of such
         participant of a Lender pursuant to this subsection (b) shall be
         determined as if the participant of a Lender were a Lender except that
         such participant of a Lender shall furnish all such required forms,
         certifications and statements to the Lender from which the related
         participation shall have been purchased.

         3.14    COMPENSATION.

         The Borrower promises to indemnify each Lender and to hold each Lender
harmless from any loss or expense which such Lender may sustain or incur as a
consequence of (a) default by the Borrower in making a borrowing of, conversion
into or continuation of Eurodollar Loans after the Borrower has given a notice
requesting the same in accordance with the provisions of this Credit Agreement,
(b) default by the Borrower in making any prepayment of a Eurodollar Loan after
the Borrower has given a notice thereof in accordance with the provisions of
this Credit Agreement or (c) the making of a prepayment of Eurodollar Loans on
a day which is not the last day of an Interest Period with respect thereto.
With respect to Eurodollar Loans, such indemnification shall be an amount equal
to (i) the amount of interest which would have accrued on the amount so
prepaid, or not so borrowed, converted or continued, for the period from the
date of such prepayment or of such failure to borrow, convert or continue to
the last day of the applicable Interest Period (or, in the case of a failure to
borrow, convert or continue, the Interest Period that would have commenced on
the date of such failure) in each case at the applicable rate of interest for
such Eurodollar Loans provided for herein (excluding, however, the Applicable
Percentage included therein, if any) minus (ii) the amount of interest (as
reasonably determined by such Lender) which would have accrued to such Lender
on such amount by placing such amount on deposit for a comparable period with
leading banks in the interbank Eurodollar market.  The agreements in this
Section shall survive the termination of this Credit Agreement and the payment
of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.





                                     - 51 -
<PAGE>   58
                                   SECTION 4

                                    GUARANTY

         4.1     GUARANTY OF PAYMENT.

         Subject to Section 4.7 below, each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly
and severally, unconditionally guarantees to each Lender, each Affiliate of
Lender that enters into a Hedging Agreement and the Agents the prompt payment
of the Credit Party Obligations in full when due (whether at stated maturity,
as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration or otherwise).  The Guarantors
additionally, jointly and severally, unconditionally guarantee to each Lender,
each Affiliate of a Lender that enters into a Hedging Agreement and the Agents
the timely performance of all other obligations under the Credit Documents and
such Hedging Agreements.  This Guaranty is a guaranty of payment and not of
collection and is a continuing guaranty and shall apply to all Credit Party
Obligations whenever arising.

         4.2     OBLIGATIONS UNCONDITIONAL.

         The obligations of the Guarantors hereunder are absolute and
unconditional, irrespective of the value, genuineness, validity, regularity or
enforceability of any of the Credit Documents or the Hedging Agreements, or any
other agreement or instrument referred to therein, to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, irrespective of any other circumstance whatsoever
which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a
surety or guarantor.  Each Guarantor agrees that this Guaranty may be enforced
by the Lenders without the necessity at any time of resorting to or exhausting
any other security or collateral and without the necessity at any time of
having recourse to the Notes or any other of the Credit Documents or any
collateral, if any, hereafter securing the Credit Party Obligations or
otherwise and each Guarantor hereby waives the right to require the Lenders to
proceed against the Borrower or any other Person (including a co-guarantor) or
to require the Lenders to pursue any other remedy or enforce any other right.
Each Guarantor further agrees that it shall have no right of subrogation,
indemnity, reimbursement or contribution against the Borrower or any other
Guarantor of the Credit Party Obligations for amounts paid under this Guaranty
until such time as the Lenders (and any Affiliates of Lenders entering into
Hedging Agreements) have been paid in full, all Commitments under the Credit
Agreement have been terminated and no Person or Governmental Authority shall
have any right to request any return or reimbursement of funds from the Lenders
in connection with monies received under the Credit Documents.  Each Guarantor
further agrees that nothing contained herein shall prevent the Lenders from
suing on the Notes or any of the other Credit Documents or any of the Hedging
Agreements or foreclosing its security interest in or Lien on any collateral,
if any, securing the Credit Party Obligations or from exercising any other
rights available to it under this Credit Agreement, the Notes, any other of the
Credit Documents, or any other instrument of security, if any, and the exercise
of any of the aforesaid rights and the completion of any foreclosure
proceedings shall not constitute a discharge of any of any Guarantor's
obligations hereunder; it being the purpose and intent of each Guarantor that
its obligations hereunder shall be absolute, independent and unconditional
under any and all circumstances.  Neither any Guarantor's obligations under
this Guaranty nor any remedy for the





                                     - 52 -
<PAGE>   59
enforcement thereof shall be impaired, modified, changed or released in any
manner whatsoever by an impairment, modification, change, release or limitation
of the liability of the Borrower or by reason of the bankruptcy or insolvency
of the Borrower.  Each Guarantor waives any and all notice of the creation,
renewal, extension or accrual of any of the Credit Party Obligations and notice
of or proof of reliance of by any Agent or any Lender upon this Guarantee or
acceptance of this Guarantee.  The Credit Party Obligations, and any of them,
shall conclusively be deemed to have been created, contracted or incurred, or
renewed, extended, amended or waived, in reliance upon this Guarantee.  All
dealings between the Borrower and any of the Guarantors, on the one hand, and
the Agents and the Lenders, on the other hand, likewise shall be conclusively
presumed to have been had or consummated in reliance upon this Guarantee.

         4.3     MODIFICATIONS.

         Each Guarantor agrees that (a) all or any part of the security now or
hereafter held for the Credit Party Obligations, if any, may be exchanged,
compromised or surrendered from time to time; (b) the Lenders shall not have
any obligation to protect, perfect, secure or insure any such security
interests, liens or encumbrances now or hereafter held, if any, for the Credit
Party Obligations or the properties subject thereto; (c) the time or place of
payment of the Credit Party Obligations may be changed or extended, in whole or
in part, to a time certain or otherwise, and may be renewed or accelerated, in
whole or in part; (d) the Borrower and any other party liable for payment under
the Credit Documents may be granted indulgences generally; (e) any of the
provisions of the Notes or any of the other Credit Documents may be modified,
amended or waived; (f) any party (including any co-guarantor) liable for the
payment thereof may be granted indulgences or be released; and (g) any deposit
balance for the credit of the Borrower or any other party liable for the
payment of the Credit Party Obligations or liable upon any security therefor
may be released, in whole or in part, at, before or after the stated, extended
or accelerated maturity of the Credit Party Obligations, all without notice to
or further assent by such Guarantor, which shall remain bound thereon,
notwithstanding any such exchange, compromise, surrender, extension, renewal,
acceleration, modification, indulgence or release.

         4.4     WAIVER OF RIGHTS.

         Each Guarantor expressly waives:  (a) notice of acceptance of this
Guaranty by the Lenders and of all extensions of credit to the Borrower by the
Lenders; (b) presentment and demand for payment or performance of any of the
Credit Party Obligations; (c) protest and notice of dishonor or of default
(except as specifically required in the Credit Agreement) with respect to the
Credit Party Obligations or with respect to any security therefor; (d) notice
of the Lenders obtaining, amending, substituting for, releasing, waiving or
modifying any security interest, lien or encumbrance, if any, hereafter
securing the Credit Party Obligations, or the Lenders' subordinating,
compromising, discharging or releasing such security interests, liens or
encumbrances, if any; (e) all other notices to which such Guarantor might
otherwise be entitled; and (f) demand for payment under this Guaranty.





                                     - 53 -
<PAGE>   60
         4.5     REINSTATEMENT.

         The obligations of the Guarantors under this Section 4 shall be
automatically reinstated if and to the extent that for any reason any payment
by or on behalf of any Person in respect of the Credit Party Obligations is
rescinded or must be otherwise restored by any holder of any of the Credit
Party Obligations, whether as a result of any proceedings in bankruptcy or
reorganization or otherwise, and each Guarantor agrees that it will indemnify
the Agents and each Lender on demand for all reasonable costs and expenses
(including, without limitation, reasonable fees of counsel) incurred by an
Agent or such Lender in connection with such rescission or restoration,
including any such costs and expenses incurred in defending against any claim
alleging that such payment constituted a preference, fraudulent transfer or
similar payment under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law.

         4.6     REMEDIES.

         The Guarantors agree that, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand,
and the Agents and the Lenders, on the other hand, the Credit Party Obligations
may be declared to be forthwith due and payable as provided in Section 9 (and
shall be deemed to have become automatically due and payable in the
circumstances provided in Section 9) notwithstanding any stay, injunction or
other prohibition preventing such declaration (or preventing such Credit Party
Obligations from becoming automatically due and payable) as against any other
Person and that, in the event of such declaration (or such Credit Party
Obligations being deemed to have become automatically due and payable), such
Credit Party Obligations (whether or not due and payable by any other Person)
shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors.  The Guarantors
acknowledge and agree that their obligations hereunder are secured in
accordance with the terms of the Security Agreements and the other Collateral
Documents and that the Lenders may exercise their remedies thereunder in
accordance with the terms thereof.

         4.7     LIMITATION OF GUARANTY.

         Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein or in
any of the other Credit Documents, (a) to the extent the obligations of any
Guarantor shall be adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason
(including, without limitation, because of any applicable state or federal law
relating to fraudulent conveyances or transfers) then the obligations of such
Guarantor hereunder shall be limited to the maximum amount that is permissible
under applicable law (whether federal or state and including, without
limitation, the Bankruptcy Code) and (b) the obligations of Holdings hereunder
and under the Credit Documents, in the aggregate, shall be limited to an amount
equal to $146,298,000, unless at least ninety percent (90%) of the Holdings
Debentures have been repurchased, in which case no such limitation shall apply.

         4.8     RIGHTS OF CONTRIBUTION.

         The Credit Parties agree among themselves that, in connection with
payments made hereunder, each Credit Party shall have contribution rights
against the other Credit Parties as permitted under applicable law.  Such
contribution rights shall be subordinate and subject in right





                                     - 54 -
<PAGE>   61
of payment to the obligations of the Credit Parties under the Credit Documents
and no Credit Party shall exercise such rights of contribution until all Credit
Party Obligations have been paid in full and the Commitments terminated.


                                   SECTION 5

                              CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

         5.1     CLOSING CONDITIONS.

         The obligation of the Lenders to enter into this Credit Agreement and
make the initial Extension of Credit is subject to satisfaction of the
following conditions:

                 (a)      Executed Credit Documents.  Receipt by the
         Administrative Agent of duly executed copies of: (i) this Credit
         Agreement; (ii) the Notes; (iii) the Collateral Documents; and (iv)
         all other Credit Documents, each in form and substance reasonably
         acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion.

                 (b)      Corporate Documents.  Receipt by the Administrative
         Agent of the following:

                          (i)     Charter Documents.  Copies of the articles or
                 certificates of incorporation or other charter documents of
                 each Credit Party certified to be true and complete as of a
                 recent date by the appropriate Governmental Authority of the
                 state or other jurisdiction of its incorporation and certified
                 by a secretary or assistant secretary of such Credit Party to
                 be true and correct as of the Effective Date.

                          (ii)    Bylaws.  A copy of the bylaws of each Credit
                 Party certified by a secretary or assistant secretary of such
                 Credit Party to be true and correct as of the Effective Date.

                          (iii)   Resolutions.  Copies of resolutions of the
                 Board of Directors of each Credit Party approving and adopting
                 the Credit Documents to which it is a party, the transactions
                 contemplated therein and authorizing execution and delivery
                 thereof,  certified by a secretary or assistant secretary of
                 such Credit Party to be true and correct and in full force and
                 effect as of the Effective Date.

                          (iv)    Good Standing.  Copies of (A) certificates of
                 good standing, existence or its equivalent with respect to
                 each Credit Party certified as of a recent date by the
                 appropriate Governmental Authorities of the state or other
                 jurisdiction of incorporation and each other jurisdiction in
                 which the failure to so qualify and be in good standing would
                 have a Material Adverse Effect on the business or operations
                 of a Credit Party in such jurisdiction and (B) to the extent
                 available, a





                                     - 55 -
<PAGE>   62
                 certificate indicating payment of all corporate franchise
                 taxes certified as of a recent date by the appropriate
                 governmental taxing authorities.

                          (v)     Incumbency.  An incumbency certificate of
                 each Credit Party certified by a secretary or assistant
                 secretary to be true and correct as of the Effective Date.

                 (c)      Opinion of Counsel.  Receipt by the Administrative
         Agent of an opinion, or opinions (which shall cover, among other
         things, authority, legality, validity, binding effect, enforceability
         and attachment and perfection of liens), reasonably satisfactory to
         the Administrative Agent, addressed to the Administrative Agent on
         behalf of the Lenders and dated as of the Effective Date, from legal
         counsel to the Credit Parties.

                 (d)      Personal Property Collateral.  The Collateral Agent
         shall have received, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
         the Collateral Agent:

                          (i)     searches of Uniform Commercial Code ("UCC")
                 filings in the jurisdiction of the chief executive office of
                 each Credit Party and each jurisdiction where any Collateral
                 is located or where a filing would need to be made in order to
                 perfect the Lenders' security interest in the Collateral,
                 copies of the financing statements on file in such
                 jurisdictions and evidence that no Liens exist other than
                 Permitted Liens;

                          (ii)    to the extent not previously received by the
                 Collateral Agent, duly executed UCC financing statements for
                 each appropriate jurisdiction as is necessary, in the
                 Collateral Agent's sole discretion, to perfect the Lenders'
                 security interest in the Collateral;

                          (iii)   searches of ownership of registrations and
                 applications for Material Intellectual Property in the
                 appropriate governmental offices in the United States of
                 America and such patent/trademark/copyright filings with
                 respect to the Material Intellectual Property as requested by
                 the Collateral Agent as are reasonably necessary to perfect
                 the security interest of the Collateral Agent therein in the
                 United States of America;

                          (iv)    to the extent not previously received by the
                 Collateral Agent, all stock certificates evidencing the stock
                 pledged to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Pledge
                 Agreement, together with duly executed in blank undated stock
                 powers attached thereto; and

                          (v)     to the extent not previously received by the
                 Collateral Agent, all instruments and chattel paper in the
                 possession of a Credit Party as required pursuant to the
                 Collateral Documents together with allonges or assignments as
                 may be necessary or appropriate to perfect the Lenders'
                 security interest in the Collateral.





                                     - 56 -
<PAGE>   63
                 (e)      Real Property Collateral.  The Collateral Agent shall
         have received, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
         Collateral Agent:

                          (i)     (A) fully executed and notarized mortgages,
                 deeds of trust or deeds to secure debt and/or (B) fully
                 executed and notarized amendments to existing mortgages, deeds
                 of trust or deeds to secure debt of record in favor of the
                 Collateral Agent, as appropriate, (each such mortgage, deed of
                 trust and deed to secure debt and each existing mortgage, deed
                 of trust and deed to secure debt of record as amended by the
                 amendments, as appropriate, referenced above shall be referred
                 to herein as a "Mortgage" and collectively as "Mortgages") for
                 each real property asset owned by a Credit Party as set forth
                 on Schedule 5.1(e)(i) (each of those real property assets on
                 Schedule 5.1(e)(i) being a "Mortgaged Property" and
                 collectively the "Mortgaged Properties"), together with such
                 UCC-1 or UCC-3 financing statements, as appropriate, as the
                 Collateral Agent shall deem appropriate with respect to each
                 such Mortgaged Property;

                          (ii)    (A) fully executed and notarized leasehold
                 mortgages, deeds of trust or deeds to secure debt and/or (B)
                 fully executed and notarized amendments to existing leasehold
                 mortgages, deeds of trust or deeds to secure debt, as
                 appropriate, (each such leasehold mortgage, deed of trust and
                 deed to secure debt and each existing leasehold mortgage, deed
                 of trust and deed to secure debt of record as amended by the
                 amendments, as appropriate, referenced above, a "Leasehold
                 Mortgage" and collectively the "Leasehold Mortgages") for each
                 leasehold interest of a Credit Party set forth on Schedule
                 5.1(e)(ii) (each a "Leasehold Mortgaged Property" and
                 collectively the "Leasehold Mortgaged Properties"), together
                 with such UCC-1 or UCC-3 financing statements, as appropriate,
                 as the Collateral Agent shall deem appropriate with respect to
                 such Leasehold Mortgaged Properties and evidence that each
                 leasehold estate set forth on Schedule 5.1(e)(ii) is in the
                 name of a Credit Party;

                          (iii)   ALTA or other appropriate form mortgagee
                 title insurance policies (the "Mortgage Policies") issued by
                 Chicago Title Insurance Company or other title insurers
                 satisfactory to the Collateral Agent (the "Title Insurance
                 Company"), in an amount satisfactory to the Collateral Agent
                 with respect to each Mortgaged Property and each Leasehold
                 Mortgaged Property (collectively, the "Title Properties"),
                 which amount shall not exceed the fair market value for each
                 such Title Property, assuring the Collateral Agent that the
                 applicable Mortgages or Leasehold Mortgages, as applicable,
                 create valid and enforceable first priority mortgage liens on
                 the respective Title Properties, free and clear of all defects
                 and encumbrances except Permitted Liens which Mortgage
                 Policies shall be in form and substance reasonably
                 satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and containing such
                 endorsements as shall be reasonably satisfactory to the
                 Collateral Agent and for any other matters that the Collateral
                 Agent may request, and providing affirmative





                                     - 57 -
<PAGE>   64
                 insurance and such reinsurance as the Collateral Agent may
                 request, all of the foregoing in form and substance reasonably
                 satisfactory to the Agents;

                          (iv)    to the extent not previously delivered to the
                 Collateral Agent, maps or plats of an as-built survey of the
                 sites of the Title Properties certified to the Collateral
                 Agent and the Title Insurance Company in a manner reasonably
                 satisfactory to them, dated a date satisfactory to the
                 Collateral Agent and the Title Insurance Company by an
                 independent professional licensed land surveyor reasonably
                 satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and the Title Insurance
                 Company, which maps or plats and the surveys on which they are
                 based shall be sufficient to delete any standard printed
                 survey exception contained in the applicable title policy and
                 be made in accordance with the Minimum Standard Detail
                 Requirements for Land Title Surveys jointly established and
                 adopted by the American Land Title Association and the
                 American Congress on Surveying and Mapping in 1992, and,
                 without limiting the generality of the foregoing, there shall
                 be surveyed and shown on such maps, plats or surveys the
                 following: (A) the locations on such sites of all the
                 buildings, structures and other improvements and the
                 established building setback lines; (B) the lines of streets
                 abutting the sites and width thereof; (C) all access and other
                 easements appurtenant to the sites necessary to use the sites;
                 (D) all roadways, paths, driveways, easements, encroachments
                 and overhanging projections and similar encumbrances affecting
                 the site, whether recorded, apparent from a physical
                 inspection of the sites or otherwise known to the surveyor;
                 (E) any encroachments on any adjoining property by the
                 building structures and improvements on the sites; and (F) if
                 the site is described as being on a filed map, a legend
                 relating the survey to said map;

                          (v)     an opinion of counsel (which counsel shall be
                 satisfactory to the Collateral Agent) in the state in which
                 each Mortgaged Property and Leasehold Mortgaged Property is
                 located with respect to the enforceability of the Mortgages
                 and Leasehold Mortgages, standard remedies with respect
                 thereto, and sufficiency of the form of UCC-1 and/or UCC-3
                 financing statements to be recorded or filed in such state and
                 such other matters as the Collateral Agent may request, in
                 form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral
                 Agent (with respect to any Mortgage or Leasehold Mortgage
                 which is being amended in connection with this Credit
                 Agreement, counsel shall opine that such Mortgage or Leasehold
                 Mortgage (together with all amendments thereto) is enforceable
                 against the respective Credit Party);

                          (vi)    to the extent not previously delivered to the
                 Collateral Agent, zoning letters from appropriate authorities
                 in form and substance acceptable to the Collateral Agent or
                 other evidence satisfactory to the Collateral Agent that each
                 of the Title Properties, and the uses of the Title Properties,
                 are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable
                 zoning laws, including the zoning designation made for each of
                 the Title Properties, the permitted uses of each such Title





                                     - 58 -
<PAGE>   65
                 Properties under such zoning designation and zoning
                 requirements as to parking, lot size, ingress, egress and
                 building setbacks;

                          (vii)   to the extent not previously delivered to the
                 Collateral Agent, certification from Bankers Hazard
                 Determination Services or Borrower's land surveyor in a form
                 reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent or other
                 evidence acceptable to the Collateral Agent that none of the
                 improvements on the Title Properties located within the United
                 States are located within any area designated by the Director
                 of the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a "special flood
                 hazard" area or if any improvements on the Title Properties
                 are located within a "special flood hazard" area, evidence of
                 a flood insurance policy from a company and in an amount
                 satisfactory to the Collateral Agent for the applicable
                 portion of the premises, naming the Collateral Agent, for the
                 benefit of the Lenders, as mortgagee;

                          (viii)  to the extent not previously delivered to the
                 Collateral Agent, with respect to the Mortgaged Properties
                 located in Bridgeview, Illinois and Troy, Ohio, a fully
                 executed and notarized modification of the existing mortgage
                 or deed of trust in favor of the issuer of the applicable
                 letter of credit securing the bond financing on such property,
                 in form and substance acceptable to the Collateral Agent,
                 which amends and modifies such mortgage or deed of trust to
                 secure, among other things, the obligations of the Credit
                 Parties under this Credit Agreement; and

                          (ix)    to the extent not previously delivered to the
                 Collateral Agent, with respect to the Mortgaged Property
                 located in Grove City, Pennsylvania, (A) such estoppel
                 letters, consents and waivers from the owner of such Mortgaged
                 Property and the holder of any existing mortgage or deed of
                 trust on such Mortgaged Property, as may be reasonably
                 required by the Collateral Agent, which estoppel letters shall
                 be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
                 Collateral Agent and (B) evidence that the installment sale
                 contract pursuant to which the Borrower's interest in such
                 Mortgaged Property is derived or a memorandum of such contract
                 with respect thereto, or other evidence of such contract in
                 form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral
                 Agent, has been recorded in all places to the extent necessary
                 or desirable, in the reasonable judgment of the Collateral
                 Agent, so as to enable the Mortgage encumbering such Mortgaged
                 Property to effectively create a valid and enforceable lien
                 (subject only to Permitted Liens) on the Borrower's rights and
                 interests in such Mortgaged Property in favor of the
                 Collateral Agent (or such other Person as may be required or
                 desired under local law) for the benefit of Lenders.

                 (f)      Environmental Reports.  The Administrative Agent
         shall have received, in form and substance satisfactory to the
         Administrative Agent, environmental site assessment reports and
         related documents with respect to all Real Properties.





                                     - 59 -
<PAGE>   66
                 (g)      Financial Statements.  Receipt and approval by the
         Administrative Agent of (i) the consolidated financial statements of
         Holdings, the Borrower and their Subsidiaries for each of the fiscal
         years ending December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996, including balance
         sheets and income and cash flow statements, audited by nationally
         recognized independent public accountants and containing an
         unqualified opinion of such firm that such statements present fairly,
         in all material respects, the consolidated financial position and
         results of operations of Holdings, the Borrower and their
         Subsidiaries, and are prepared in conformity with GAAP, (ii) unaudited
         consolidated financial statements of Holdings, the Borrower and their
         Subsidiaries for the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 1997, (iii)
         company prepared working capital detail of Holdings, the Borrower and
         their Subsidiaries for the most recent twelve month period, together
         with projections for working capital for the twelve month period
         subsequent to the Closing Date, (iv) a satisfactory proforma
         consolidated balance sheet of Holdings, the Borrower and their
         Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date giving effect to the transactions
         contemplated hereby, reviewed by nationally recognized independent
         accountants, (v) satisfactory projections of Holdings, the Borrower or
         any of their Subsidiaries (the "Projections") for each twelve month
         period through the twelve month period ending seven (7) years from the
         Closing Date and (vi) such other financial information deemed
         reasonably necessary for review in connection herewith.

                 (h)      Evidence of Insurance.  Receipt by the Administrative
         Agent of copies of insurance policies or certificates of insurance of
         the Credit Parties evidencing liability and casualty insurance meeting
         the requirements set forth in the Credit Documents, including, but not
         limited to, naming the Collateral Agent as additional insured or loss
         payee on behalf of the Lenders.

                 (i)      Material Adverse Effect. No event shall have occurred
         since December 31, 1996 that has had or would be reasonably expected
         to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                 (j)      Litigation.  There shall not exist any pending or
         threatened action, suit, investigation or proceeding against a Credit
         Party or any of their Subsidiaries that would have or would reasonably
         be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                 (k)      Officer's Certificates.

                          (i)     The Administrative Agent shall have received
                 a certificate or certificates executed by the chief financial
                 officer or treasurer of the Borrower as of the Effective Date
                 stating that (A) the Borrower and each of the Borrower's
                 Subsidiaries are in compliance with all existing financial
                 obligations, (B) all governmental, shareholder and third party
                 consents and approvals, if any, with respect to the Credit
                 Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby have been
                 obtained, (C) no action, suit, investigation or proceeding is
                 pending or, to the best knowledge of such chief financial
                 officer, threatened in any court or before any arbitrator or
                 governmental instrumentality that purports to affect the
                 Borrower, any of the Borrower's Subsidiaries or any
                 transaction contemplated by





                                     - 60 -
<PAGE>   67
                 the Credit Documents, if such action, suit, investigation or
                 proceeding could be reasonably expected to have a Material
                 Adverse Effect, (D) the financial statements and information
                 delivered to the Administrative Agent on or before the
                 Effective Date were prepared in good faith and using
                 reasonable assumptions, (E) no event or condition has occurred
                 since December 31, 1996 which has had or might be reasonably
                 expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (F) immediately
                 after giving effect to this Credit Agreement, the other Credit
                 Documents and all the transactions contemplated therein to
                 occur on such date, (1) the Borrower and each of the
                 Borrower's Subsidiaries is Solvent, (2) no Default or Event of
                 Default exists, (3) all representations and warranties
                 contained herein and in the other Credit Documents are true
                 and correct in all material respects, and (4) the Credit
                 Parties are in compliance with each of the financial covenants
                 set forth in Section 7.2.

                          (ii)    The Administrative Agent shall have received
                 a certificate or certificates executed by the chief financial
                 officer or treasurer of Holdings as of the Effective Date
                 stating that (A) Holdings is in compliance with all existing
                 financial obligations and (B) immediately after giving effect
                 to this Credit Agreement, the other Credit Documents and all
                 the transactions contemplated therein, Holdings is Solvent.

                 (l)      Payment of Prior Credit Facility.  Receipt by the
         Administrative Agent of evidence that all obligations outstanding
         under the Prior Credit Agreement have been or are in the process of
         being paid in full and all obligations (other than those
         indemnifications that specifically survive) have been or are being
         terminated.

                 (m)      Initial Public Offering.  Receipt by the
         Administrative Agent of evidence satisfactory to the Administrative
         Agent of the completion of the initial public offering of common stock
         of Holdings with net proceeds received from such offering of at least
         $90 million.

                 (n)      Subordinated Debt.  To the extent not previously
         received by the Administrative Agent, copies of all documentation
         evidencing the Subordinated Debt certified by an officer of the
         Borrower and Holdings, as applicable, to be true and correct, and the
         Administrative Agent shall be satisfied that the execution and
         delivery of the Credit Documents does not conflict with the terms of
         the Holdings Debentures or the Subordinated Notes.

                 (o)      Stock Ownership Arrangements.  Receipt by the
         Administrative Agent of copies, certified by the Borrower to be true
         and correct as of the Effective Date, of all documentation evidencing
         the stock ownership arrangements of Management.

                 (p)      Consent.  Receipt by the Administrative Agent of
         evidence that all governmental, shareholder and material third party
         consents and approvals necessary or





                                     - 61 -
<PAGE>   68
         desirable in connection with the execution and delivery of the Credit
         Documents and the consummation of the transactions set forth therein
         have been obtained.

                 (q)      Fees and Expenses.  Payment by the Credit Parties of
         all fees and expenses owed by them to the Lenders and the Agents,
         including, without limitation, payments to the Agents set forth in the
         Fee Letters.

                 (r)      Other.  Receipt by the Lenders of such other
         documents, instruments, agreements or information as reasonably and
         timely requested by any Lender, including, but not limited to,
         information regarding litigation, tax, accounting, labor, insurance,
         pension liabilities (actual or contingent), real estate leases,
         material contracts, debt agreements, property ownership and contingent
         liabilities of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries.

         5.2     CONDITIONS TO ALL EXTENSIONS OF CREDIT.

         In addition to the conditions precedent stated elsewhere herein, the
Lenders shall not be obligated to make Loans (including the obligations of the
Lenders to make the second advance with respect to the Tranche A Term Loans as
set forth in Section 2.3(a) or the obligation of any Lender to fund an increase
in the Tranche B Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.4(b) or (d)), nor
shall an Issuing Lender be required to issue or extend a Letter of Credit
unless:

                 (a)      Notice.  The Borrower shall have delivered (i) in the
         case of any new Revolving Loan, a Notice of Borrowing, duly executed
         and completed, by the time specified in Section 2.1, (ii) in the case
         of any Letter of Credit, the applicable Issuing Lender shall have
         received an appropriate request for issuance in accordance with the
         provisions of Section 2.2 or (iii) in the case of the second advance
         with respect to the Tranche A Term Loans or any advance in connection
         with an increase in the Tranche B Term Loans, the Borrower shall have
         delivered notice of its desire to receive such advance at least one
         Business Day prior to such advance;

                 (b)      Representations and Warranties.  The representations
         and warranties made by the Credit Parties in any Credit Document are
         true and correct in all material respects at and as if made as of such
         date;

                 (c)      No Default.  No Default or Event of Default shall
         exist or be continuing either prior to or after giving effect thereto;

                 (d)      No Material Adverse Effect.  There shall not have
         occurred any Material Adverse Effect since December 31, 1996; and

                 (e)      Availability.  Immediately after giving effect to the
         making of a Revolving Loan (and the application of the proceeds
         thereof) or to the issuance of a Letter of Credit, as the case may be,
         the sum of the Revolving Loans outstanding plus LOC Obligations
         outstanding shall not exceed the Revolving Committed Amount.





                                     - 62 -
<PAGE>   69
The delivery of each Notice of Borrowing and each request for a Letter of
Credit shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower of the
correctness of the matters specified in subsections (b), (c), (d) and (e)
above.


                                   SECTION 6

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         Each Credit Party hereby represents and warrants to the Agents and
each Lender that:

         6.1     ORGANIZATION AND GOOD STANDING.

         Holdings, the Borrower and each of their Subsidiaries (a) is a
corporation duly incorporated or formed, validly existing and in good standing
(or its equivalent) under the laws of the State (or other jurisdiction) of its
incorporation or formation, (b) is duly qualified and in good standing as a
foreign corporation authorized to do business in every United States
jurisdiction where the failure to so qualify would have a Material Adverse
Effect and (c) has the requisite corporate power and authority to own its
properties and to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be
conducted.

         6.2     DUE AUTHORIZATION.

         Each Credit Party (a) has the requisite corporate power and authority
to execute, deliver and perform this Credit Agreement and the other Credit
Documents to which it is a party and to incur the obligations herein and
therein provided for and (b) is duly authorized to, and has been authorized by
all necessary corporate action, to execute, deliver and perform this Credit
Agreement and the other Credit Documents to which it is a party.

         6.3     NO CONFLICTS.

         Neither the execution and delivery of the Credit Documents, nor the
consummation of the transactions contemplated therein, nor performance of and
compliance with the terms and provisions thereof by such Credit Party will (a)
violate or conflict with any provision of its articles or certificate of
incorporation or bylaws, (b) materially violate, contravene or conflict with
any law, regulation (including, without limitation, Regulation U or Regulation
X), order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree or permit applicable to it, (c)
violate, contravene or materially conflict with contractual provisions of, or
cause an event of default under, any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, deed
of trust, contract or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or
by which it may be bound, the violation of which could have or might be
reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (d) result in or
require the creation of any Lien (other than those contemplated in or created
in connection with the Credit Documents) upon or with respect to its
properties.





                                     - 63 -
<PAGE>   70
         6.4     CONSENTS.

         No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing,
registration or qualification with, any court or Governmental Authority or
third party in respect of any Credit Party is required in connection with the
execution, delivery or performance of this Credit Agreement or any of the other
Credit Documents by a Credit Party, or if required, such consent, approval and
authorization has been obtained.

         6.5     ENFORCEABLE OBLIGATIONS.

         This Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents have been duly
executed and delivered and constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of
each Credit Party enforceable against such Credit Party in accordance with
their respective terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy or insolvency
laws or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally or by general
equitable principles.

         6.6     FINANCIAL CONDITION.

         The financial statements and financial information provided to the
Lenders as described in Section 7.1  fairly present the financial condition and
operations of Holdings, the Borrower and their Subsidiaries as of the date of
each such statement.  In addition, such financial statements were prepared in
accordance with GAAP and, since the audited financial statements dated December
31, 1996, there have occurred no changes or circumstances which have had or are
likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         6.7     NO DEFAULT.

         No Default or Event of Default has occurred and continues to exist.

         6.8     OWNERSHIP.

         Other than Permitted Liens, each Credit Party, and each of its
Subsidiaries, is the owner of (free and clear of all Liens) and has good and
marketable title to (a) all of its Mortgaged Properties (except as indicated on
the Mortgage Policies accepted by the Collateral Agent) and (b) all of its
other respective assets.

         6.9     INDEBTEDNESS.

         The Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries have no Indebtedness except
(a) as disclosed in the financial statements referenced in Section 5.1(g), (b)
as set forth on Schedule 6.9 and (c) as otherwise permitted by this Credit
Agreement.





                                     - 64 -
<PAGE>   71
         6.10    LITIGATION.

         There are no actions, suits or legal, equitable, arbitration or
administrative proceedings, pending or, to the knowledge of any Credit Party,
threatened against Holdings, the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries which
would have or would be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         6.11    MATERIAL AGREEMENTS.

         Neither Holdings, the Borrower nor any of their Subsidiaries is in
default in any respect under any contract, lease, loan agreement, indenture,
mortgage, security agreement or other agreement or obligation to which it is a
party or by which any of its properties is bound which default would have or
would be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         6.12    TAXES.

         Each of Holdings, the Borrower and their Subsidiaries, has filed, or
caused to be filed, all tax returns (federal, state, local and foreign)
required to be filed and paid all amounts of taxes shown thereon to be due
(including interest and penalties) and has paid all other taxes, fees,
assessments and other governmental charges (including mortgage recording taxes,
documentary stamp taxes and intangibles taxes) owing by it, except for such
taxes (i) which are not yet delinquent or (ii) that are being contested in good
faith and by proper proceedings, and against which adequate reserves are being
maintained in accordance with GAAP in effect from time to time.  No Credit
Party is aware of any proposed material tax assessments against it, any of its
Subsidiaries or any other Credit Party.

         6.13    COMPLIANCE WITH LAW.

         Each of Holdings, the Borrower and their Subsidiaries, is in
compliance with all laws, rules, regulations, orders and decrees (including
without limitation Environmental Laws) applicable to it, or to its properties,
unless such failure to comply would not have or be reasonably expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect.

         6.14    ERISA.

         Except as would not result or be reasonably expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect:

                 (a)      During the five-year period prior to the date on
         which this representation is made or deemed made:  (i) no Termination
         Event has occurred, and, to the best knowledge of the Credit Parties,
         no event or condition has occurred or exists as a result of which any
         Termination Event could reasonably be expected to occur, with respect
         to any Plan; (ii) no "accumulated funding deficiency," as such term is
         defined in Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, whether
         or not waived, has occurred with respect to any Plan; (iii) each Plan
         has been maintained, operated, and funded in compliance with its





                                     - 65 -
<PAGE>   72
         own terms and in material compliance with the provisions of ERISA, the
         Code, and any other applicable federal or state laws; and (iv) no lien
         in favor of the PBGC or a Plan has arisen or is reasonably likely to
         arise on account of any Plan.

                 (b)      The actuarial present value of all "benefit
         liabilities" under each Single Employer Plan (determined within the
         meaning of Section 401(a)(2) of the Code, utilizing the actuarial
         assumptions used to fund such Plans), whether or not vested, did not,
         as of the last annual valuation date prior to the date on which this
         representation is made or deemed made, exceed the current value of the
         assets of such Plan allocable to such accrued liabilities.

                 (c)      Neither a Credit Party, nor any of its Subsidiaries
         nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or, to the best knowledge of the
         Credit Parties, are reasonably expected to incur, any withdrawal
         liability under ERISA to any Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer
         Plan.  Neither the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries nor any ERISA
         Affiliate has received any notification that any Multiemployer Plan is
         in reorganization (within the meaning of Section 4241 of ERISA), is
         insolvent (within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA), or has been
         terminated (within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA), and no
         Multiemployer Plan is, to the best knowledge of the Credit Parties,
         reasonably expected to be in reorganization, insolvent, or terminated.

                 (d)      No prohibited transaction (within the meaning of
         Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) or breach of
         fiduciary responsibility has occurred with respect to a Plan which has
         subjected or is reasonably likely to subject the Borrower or any of
         its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate to any liability under
         Sections 406, 409, 502(i), or 502(l) of ERISA or Section 4975 of the
         Code, or under any agreement or other instrument pursuant to which the
         Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate has agreed
         or is required to indemnify any person against any such liability.

                 (e)      The present value (determined using actuarial and
         other assumptions which are reasonable with respect to the benefits
         provided and the employees participating) of the liability of the
         Borrower and its Subsidiaries and each ERISA Affiliate for
         post-retirement welfare benefits to be provided to their current and
         former employees under Plans which are welfare benefit plans (as
         defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA), net of all assets under all such
         Plans allocable to such benefits, are reflected on the Financial
         Statements in accordance with FASB 106.

                 (f)      Each Plan which is a welfare plan (as defined in
         Section 3(1) of ERISA) to which Sections 601- 609 of ERISA and Section
         4980B of the Code apply has been administered in compliance in all
         material respects with such sections.

         6.15    SUBSIDIARIES.

         Set forth on Schedule 6.15 is a complete and accurate list of all
Subsidiaries of each Credit Party as of the Closing Date.  Information on
Schedule 6.15 includes, as of the Closing





                                     - 66 -
<PAGE>   73
Date, jurisdiction of incorporation; the number of shares of each class of
capital stock or other equity interests outstanding; the number and percentage
of outstanding shares of each class owned (directly or indirectly) by such
Credit Party; and the number and effect, if exercised, of all outstanding
options, warrants, rights of conversion or purchase and all other similar
rights with respect thereto.  The outstanding capital stock and other equity
interests of all such Subsidiaries is validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable and is owned by each such Credit Party, directly or indirectly,
free and clear of all Liens (other than those arising under or contemplated in
connection with the Credit Documents).  Other than as set forth in Schedule
6.15, as of the Closing Date, neither any Credit Party nor any Subsidiary
thereof has outstanding any securities convertible into or exchangeable for its
capital stock nor does any such Person have outstanding any rights to subscribe
for or to purchase or any options for the purchase of, or any agreements
providing for the issuance (contingent or otherwise) of, or any calls,
commitments or claims of any character relating to its capital stock.

         6.16    USE OF PROCEEDS; MARGIN STOCK.

         The proceeds of the Loans hereunder will be used solely for the
purposes specified in  Section 7.11.  None of the proceeds of the Loans will be
used in a manner which would violate or result in a violation of Regulation U,
Regulation X or Regulation G or for any other purpose which might be
inconsistent with the provisions of Regulation U, Regulation X, Regulation G or
Regulation T.  As of the Closing Date, none of the Credit Parties owns any
Margin Stock.  Following the application of the proceeds of each Loan, less
than 25% of the value (as determined by any reasonable method) of the assets of
Holdings and its Subsidiaries (on a consolidated and an unconsolidated basis)
which are subject to any limitation on sale, pledge or other restriction
hereunder taken as a whole are and will continue to be, Margin Stock, it being
understood that the Credit Parties may only purchase Margin Stock if it
qualifies as a Permitted Investment.

         6.17    GOVERNMENT REGULATION.

         No Credit Party, nor any of its Subsidiaries, is subject to regulation
under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, the Federal Power Act,
the Investment Company Act of 1940 or the Interstate Commerce Act, each as
amended.  In addition, no Credit Party is  an "investment company" registered
or required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended, or controlled by such a company, or  a "holding company," or a
"Subsidiary company" of a "holding company," or an "affiliate" of a "holding
company" or of a "Subsidiary" or a "holding company," within the meaning of the
Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended.





                                     - 67 -
<PAGE>   74
         6.18    ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.

                 (a)      Except to the extent it would not cause or be
         reasonably expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect:

                          (i)     each of the Real Properties and all other
                 real property owned or leased by any Credit Party or any one
                 of its Subsidiaries (collectively, the "Properties") and all
                 operations at the Properties are in compliance with all
                 applicable Environmental Laws, and there is no violation of
                 any Environmental Law with respect to the Properties or the
                 businesses operated by a Credit Party or any of their
                 Subsidiaries (the "Businesses"), and there are no conditions
                 relating to the Businesses or Properties that could give rise
                 to liability under any applicable Environmental Laws.

                          (ii)    None of the Properties contains, or has
                 previously contained, any Hazardous Materials at, on or under
                 the Properties in amounts or concentrations that, if release,
                 constitute or constituted a violation of, or could give rise
                 to liability under, Environmental Laws.

                          (iii)   No Credit Party has received any written or
                 verbal notice of, or inquiry from any Governmental Authority,
                 any violation, alleged violation, non-compliance, liability or
                 potential liability regarding environmental matters or
                 compliance with Environmental Laws with regard to any of the
                 Properties or the Businesses, nor does any Credit Party have
                 knowledge or reason to believe that any such notice is being
                 threatened.

                          (iv)    Hazardous Materials have not been transported
                 or disposed of from the Properties, or generated, treated,
                 stored or disposed of at, on or under any of the Properties or
                 any other location, in each case by or on behalf of any Credit
                 Party or any of their Subsidiaries.

                          (v)     No judicial proceeding or governmental or
                 administrative action is pending or, to the knowledge of a
                 Credit Party, threatened, under any Environmental Law to which
                 a Credit Party or any of their Subsidiaries is or will be
                 named as a party, nor are there any consent decrees or other
                 decrees, consent orders, administrative orders or other
                 orders, or other administrative or judicial requirements
                 outstanding under any Environmental Law with respect to a
                 Credit Party or any of their Subsidiaries, the Properties or
                 the Businesses.

                          (vi)    There has been no release or threat of
                 release of Hazardous Materials at or from the Properties, or
                 arising from or related to the operations (including, without
                 limitation, disposal) of a Credit Party or any of their
                 Subsidiaries in connection with the Properties or otherwise in
                 connection with the Businesses.





                                     - 68 -
<PAGE>   75
                          (vii)   Neither a Credit Party nor any of their
                 Subsidiaries has assumed any liability of any Person (other
                 than another Credit Party) under any Environmental Law.

                 (b)      The Borrower has adopted procedures that are designed
         to (i) ensure that each Credit Party and their Subsidiaries, any of
         their operations and each of the properties owned or leased by each
         Credit Party and their Subsidiaries remains in material compliance
         with applicable Environmental Laws and (ii) minimize any liabilities
         or potential liabilities that each Credit Party and their
         Subsidiaries, any of their operations and each of the properties owned
         or leased by each Credit Party and their Subsidiaries may have under
         applicable Environmental Laws.

                 (c)      As of the Closing Date, no Credit Party is aware of
         any material environmental issues other than as set forth on Schedule
         6.18, none of which has caused or could be reasonably expected to
         cause a Material Adverse Effect.

         6.19    INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.

         Each Credit Party and each of their Subsidiaries owns, or has the
legal right to use, all Material Intellectual Property owned or licensed by it.
Set forth on Schedule 6.19 is a list of all registrations and applications for
Material Intellectual Property owned by each Credit Party and a list of all
license agreements to which a Credit Party is a party relating to Material
Intellectual Property that any Credit Party has the right to use as of the
Closing Date.  Except as provided on Schedule 6.19, as of the Closing Date, no
claim has been asserted and is pending by any Person against any Credit Party
challenging or questioning the use of any such Material Intellectual Property
or the validity or effectiveness of any such Material Intellectual Property,
nor does any Credit Party know of any such claim, and to the Credit Parties'
knowledge the use of such Material Intellectual Property by a Credit Party or
any of their Subsidiaries does not infringe on the rights of any Person.
Except as set forth on Schedule 6.19, as of the Closing Date, none of the
Material Intellectual Property owned by a Credit Party is the subject of any
licensing or franchise agreement.

         6.20    SOLVENCY.

         Each Credit Party is and, after consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Credit Agreement, will be Solvent.

         6.21    INVESTMENTS.

         All Investments of each Credit Party and each of their Subsidiaries
are either Permitted Investments or otherwise permitted by the terms of this
Credit Agreement.





                                     - 69 -
<PAGE>   76
         6.22    LOCATION OF COLLATERAL.

         Set forth on Schedule 6.22(a) is a list of all Real Properties with
street address, county or district and state where located as of the Closing
Date.  Set forth on Schedule 6.22(b) is a list of all locations where any
personal property of a Credit Party is located, including county or district
and state where located as of the Closing Date.  Set forth on Schedule 6.22(c)
is the chief executive office and principal place of business of each Credit
Party as of the Closing Date.

         6.23    NO FINANCING OF CORPORATE TAKEOVERS.

         Other than the repurchase of the Subordinated Notes and the Holdings
Debentures in accordance with the terms of this Credit Agreement, no proceeds
of the Loans hereunder have been or will be used to acquire, directly or
indirectly, any security in any transaction which is subject to Sections 13 or
14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or to refinance any
Indebtedness used to acquire any such securities.

         6.24    DISCLOSURE.

         Neither (a) this Credit Agreement nor (b) any financial statements
delivered to the Lenders nor (c) any other document, certificate or written
statement on the date as of which such document, certificate or statement is
made or certified, furnished to the Lenders by any Credit Party (including any
officer or director of a Credit Party) in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits
to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained
therein or herein in light of the circumstances in which they were made, taken
as a whole, not misleading; provided that projections and assumptions expressed
in the information, exhibits, reports, certificates, statements and documents
so furnished were reasonable based on the information available at the time so
furnished, but no Credit Party makes any representation or warranty that such
projections or assumptions will prove in the future to be accurate or that any
Credit Party or any of their Subsidiaries will achieve the financial results
reflected therein.

         6.25    LICENSES, ETC.

         The Credit Parties have obtained and hold in full force and effect,
all franchises, licenses, permits, certificates, authorizations,
qualifications, accreditations, easements, rights of way and other rights,
consents and approvals which are necessary for the operation of their
respective businesses as presently conducted, except where the failure to
obtain same would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

         6.26    NO BURDENSOME RESTRICTIONS.

         No Credit Party, nor any of their Subsidiaries, is a party to any
agreement or instrument or subject to any charter or corporate restriction
which, individually or in the aggregate, would have or be reasonably expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect.





                                     - 70 -
<PAGE>   77
         6.27    COLLATERAL DOCUMENTS.

         The Collateral Documents create valid security interests in, and Liens
on, the Collateral purported to be covered thereby, which security interests
and Liens are and will remain perfected security interests and Liens to the
extent required by the Collateral Documents, prior to all other Liens other
than Permitted Liens.  Each of the representations and warranties made by the
Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries in the Collateral Documents is true and
correct in all material respects.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is
understood that certain Collateral can only be perfected upon the filing of
adequate financing statements in appropriate filing offices.


                                   SECTION 7

                             AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

         Each Credit Party hereby covenants and agrees that until the Loans and
LOC Obligations, together with interest and fees and other obligations
hereunder other than obligations that expressly survive the termination of this
Credit Agreement, have been paid in full and the Commitments and Letters of
Credit hereunder shall have terminated:

         7.1     INFORMATION COVENANTS.

         The Borrower will furnish, or cause to be furnished, to the
Administrative Agent and, except as otherwise specifically provided below, each
of the Lenders:

                 (a)      Annual Financial Statements.  As soon as available,
         and in any event within 90 days after the close of each fiscal year of
         the Borrower, a consolidated balance sheet and income statement of
         Holdings and its Subsidiaries and the Borrower and its Subsidiaries,
         as of the end of such fiscal year, together with related consolidated
         statements of operations and retained earnings and of cash flows for
         such fiscal year, setting forth in comparative form consolidated
         figures for the preceding fiscal year, all such financial information
         described above to be in reasonable form and detail and audited by
         independent certified public accountants of recognized national
         standing reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and whose
         opinion shall be to the effect that such financial statements have
         been prepared in accordance with GAAP (except for changes with which
         such accountants concur) and shall not be limited as to the scope of
         the audit or qualified in any manner.

                 (b)      Quarterly Financial Statements.  As soon as
         available, and in any event within 45 days after the close of each of
         the first three fiscal quarters of the Borrower (other than the fourth
         fiscal quarter, in which case 90 days after the end thereof), (i) a
         consolidated balance sheet and income statement of Holdings and its
         Subsidiaries, and the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, as of the end of
         such fiscal quarter, together with related consolidated statements of
         operations and retained earnings and of cash flows for such fiscal
         quarter in each case setting forth in comparative form consolidated
         figures for





                                     - 71 -
<PAGE>   78
         the corresponding period of the preceding fiscal year, all such
         financial information described above to be in reasonable form and
         detail and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, and
         accompanied by a management discussion as to such financial
         information and a certificate of the chief financial officer or
         treasurer of the Borrower to the effect that such quarterly financial
         statements fairly present in all material respects the financial
         condition and results of operations of Holdings, the Borrower and
         their Subsidiaries and have been prepared in accordance with GAAP,
         subject to changes resulting from audit and normal year-end audit
         adjustments.

                 (c)      Monthly Financial Statements.  As soon as available
         and in any event within 35 days after the end of each month of the
         Borrower (other than the last month of the first three fiscal quarters
         in which case 45 days after the end thereof), a consolidated balance
         sheet and income statement of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, and the
         Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such month, together
         with related consolidated statements of operations and retained
         earnings and of cash flows for such month in each case setting forth
         in comparative form consolidated figures for the corresponding period
         of the preceding fiscal year (and such other financial information as
         reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or the Required
         Lenders, including financial information regarding the divisions of
         the Borrower), all such financial information described above to be in
         reasonable form and detail and reasonably acceptable to the
         Administrative Agent, and accompanied by a management discussion as to
         such financial information and a certificate of the chief financial
         officer or treasurer of the Borrower to the effect that such monthly
         financial statements fairly present in all material respects the
         financial condition and results of operations of Holdings, the
         Borrower and their Subsidiaries and have been prepared in accordance
         with GAAP, subject to changes resulting from audit and normal year-end
         audit adjustments.

                 (d)      Officer's Certificate.  At the time of delivery of
         the financial statements provided for in Sections 7.1(a) and 7.1(b)
         above, a certificate of the chief financial officer or treasurer of
         the Borrower substantially in the form of Exhibit 7.1(d), (i)
         demonstrating compliance with the financial covenants contained in
         Section 7.2 by calculation thereof as of the end of each such fiscal
         period, (ii) demonstrating compliance with any other terms of the
         Credit Agreement as requested by the Administrative Agent and (iii)
         stating that no Default or Event of Default exists, or if any Default
         or Event of Default does exist, specifying the nature and extent
         thereof and what action the Borrower proposes to take with respect
         thereto.  The Borrower shall also deliver a copy of such certificate
         to the Agency Services Address.

                 (e)      Annual Business Plan and Budgets.  At least 30 days
         after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, beginning with the
         fiscal year ending December 31, 1997, an annual business plan and
         budget of Holdings, the Borrower and each of its operating groups
         containing, among other things, pro forma financial statements for the
         next fiscal year.





                                     - 72 -
<PAGE>   79
                 (f)      Compliance With Certain Provisions of the Credit
         Agreement.  Within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the
         Borrower, the Borrower shall deliver a certificate, containing
         information regarding (i) the calculation of Excess Cash Flow, and
         (ii) the amount of any Asset Dispositions, Debt Issuances, Equity
         Issuances and Receivables Transactions that were made during the prior
         fiscal year.

                 (g)      Accountant's Certificate.  Within the period for
         delivery of the annual financial statements provided in Section
         7.1(a), a certificate of the accountants conducting the annual audit
         stating that they have reviewed this Credit Agreement and stating
         further whether, in the course of their audit, they have become aware
         of any Default or Event of Default and, if any such Default or Event
         of Default exists, specifying the nature and extent thereof.

                 (h)      Auditor's Reports.  Promptly upon receipt thereof, a
         copy of any "management letter" submitted by independent accountants
         to Holdings, the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries in connection
         with any annual, interim or special audit of the books of Holdings,
         the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries.

                 (i)      Reports.  Promptly upon transmission or receipt
         thereof, (a) copies of any filings and registrations with, and reports
         to or from, the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any successor
         agency, and copies of all financial statements, proxy statements,
         notices and reports as Holdings, the Borrower or any of their
         Subsidiaries shall send to its shareholders generally or to a holder
         of any Indebtedness owed by Holdings, the Borrower or any of their
         Subsidiaries in its capacity as such a holder and (b) upon the written
         request of the Administrative Agent, all reports and written
         information to and from the United States Environmental Protection
         Agency, or any state or local agency responsible for environmental
         matters, the United States Occupational Health and Safety
         Administration, or any state or local agency responsible for health
         and safety matters, or any successor agencies or authorities
         concerning environmental, health or safety matters.

                 (j)      Notices.  Upon a Credit Party obtaining knowledge
         thereof, such Credit Party will give written notice to the
         Administrative Agent immediately of (a) the occurrence of an event or
         condition consisting of a Default or Event of Default, specifying the
         nature and existence thereof and what action the Borrower proposes to
         take with respect thereto, and (b) the occurrence of any of the
         following with respect to Holdings, the Borrower or any of their
         Subsidiaries (i) the pendency or commencement of any litigation,
         arbitral or governmental proceeding against Holdings, the Borrower or
         any of their Subsidiaries which if adversely determined would have or
         would be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or
         (ii) the institution of any proceedings against Holdings, the Borrower
         or any of their Subsidiaries with respect to, or the receipt of notice
         by such Person of potential liability or responsibility for violation,
         or alleged violation of any federal, state or local law, rule or
         regulation, including but not limited to, Environmental Laws, the
         violation of which would have or would be reasonably expected to have
         a Material Adverse Effect.





                                     - 73 -
<PAGE>   80
                 (k)      ERISA.  Upon any of the Credit Parties or any ERISA
         Affiliate obtaining knowledge thereof, the Borrower will give written
         notice to the Administrative Agent promptly (and in any event within
         five Business Days) of any of the following which would have or would
         be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect:  (i) any
         event or condition, including, but not limited to, any Reportable
         Event, that constitutes, or might reasonably lead to, a Termination
         Event; (ii) with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, the receipt of
         notice as prescribed in ERISA or otherwise of any withdrawal liability
         assessed against the Credit Parties or any of their ERISA Affiliates,
         or of a determination that any Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization
         or insolvent (both within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA); (iii) the
         failure to make full payment on or before the due date (including
         extensions) thereof of all amounts which Holdings, the Borrower or any
         of their Subsidiaries or ERISA Affiliates is required to contribute to
         each Plan pursuant to its terms and as required to meet the minimum
         funding standard set forth in ERISA and the Code with respect thereto;
         or (iv) any change in the funding status of any Plan that could have a
         Material Adverse Effect; together, with a description of any such
         event or condition or a copy of any such notice and a statement by a
         principal financial officer of the Borrower briefly setting forth the
         details regarding such event, condition, or notice, and the action, if
         any, which has been or is being taken or is proposed to be taken by
         the Credit Parties with respect thereto.  Promptly upon request, the
         Borrower shall furnish the Administrative Agent with such additional
         information concerning any Plan as may be reasonably requested (and in
         the case of a Multiemployer Plan is reasonably available to the Credit
         Parties or their Subsidiaries), including, but not limited to, copies
         of each annual report/return (Form 5500 series), as well as all
         schedules and attachments thereto required to be filed with the
         Department of Labor and/or the Internal Revenue Service pursuant to
         ERISA and the Code, respectively, for each "plan year" (within the
         meaning of Section 3(39) of ERISA).

                 (l)      Environmental.

                          (i)     Upon the reasonable written request of the
                 Administrative Agent, the Borrower will furnish or cause to be
                 furnished to the Administrative Agent, at the Borrower's
                 expense, a report of an environmental assessment of reasonable
                 scope, form and depth, including, where appropriate, invasive
                 soil or groundwater sampling, by a consultant reasonably
                 acceptable to the Administrative Agent as to the nature and
                 extent of the presence of any Hazardous Materials on any
                 property owned, leased or operated by a Credit Party and as to
                 the compliance by the Credit Parties with Environmental Laws.
                 If the Borrower fails to deliver such an environmental report
                 within seventy-five (75) days after receipt of such written
                 request then the Administrative Agent may arrange for same,
                 and the Borrower hereby grants to the Administrative Agent and
                 its representatives access to such properties and a license of
                 a scope reasonably necessary to undertake such an assessment
                 (including, where appropriate, invasive soil or groundwater
                 sampling).  The reasonable cost of any assessment arranged for
                 by the Administrative Agent





                                     - 74 -
<PAGE>   81
                 pursuant to this provision will be payable by the Borrower on
                 demand and added to the obligations secured by the Collateral
                 Documents.

                          (ii)    Each Credit Party will conduct and complete
                 all investigations, studies, sampling, and testing and all
                 remedial, removal, and other actions necessary to address all
                 Hazardous Materials on, from, or affecting any real property
                 owned or leased by a Credit Party to the extent necessary to
                 be in compliance with all Environmental Laws and all other
                 applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, rules
                 and policies and with the orders and directives of all
                 Governmental Authorities exercising jurisdiction over such
                 real property to the extent any failure to do so would cause
                 or be reasonably expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect.

                 (m)      Other Information.  With reasonable promptness upon
         any such request, such other information regarding the business,
         properties or financial condition of the Credit Parties and their
         Subsidiaries as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may
         reasonably request.

         7.2     FINANCIAL COVENANTS.

                 (a)      Leverage Ratio.  The Leverage Ratio, as of the end of
         each fiscal quarter, for the twelve month period ending on such date,
         shall be less than or equal to:

                          (i)     From the Effective Date to and including 
                 March 31, 1998, 5.0 to 1.0;

                          (ii)    From April 1, 1998 to and including September
                 30, 1998, 4.5 to 1.0;

                          (iii)   From October 1, 1998 to and including 
                 September 30, 1999, 4.25 to 1.0;

                          (iv)    From October 1, 1999 to and including 
                 September 30, 2000, 3.75 to 1.0; and

                          (v)     From October 1, 2000 and thereafter, 3.5 to 
                 1.0.

                 (b)      Interest Coverage Ratio.  The Interest Coverage
         Ratio, as of the end of each fiscal quarter, for the twelve month
         period ending on such date, shall be greater than or equal to:

                          (i)     From the Effective Date to and including 
                 March 31, 1998, 2.35 to 1.0;





                                     - 75 -
<PAGE>   82
                          (ii)    From April 1, 1998 to and including September
                 30, 1998, 2.4 to 1.0;

                          (iii)   From October 1, 1998 to and including 
                 September 30, 1999, 2.5 to 1.0;

                          (iv)    From October 1, 1999 to and including 
                 September 30, 2000, 2.75 to 1.0; and

                          (v)     From October 1, 2000 and  thereafter, 3.0 to 
                 1.0.

                 (c)      Net Worth.  At all times Net Worth shall be greater
         than or equal to:

                          (i)     From the Effective Date to and including
                 December 30, 1997, negative Sixty Million (- $60,000,000);

                          (ii)    From December 31, 1997 to and including March
                 30, 1998, negative Fifty Five Million (- $55,000,000);

                          (iii)   From March 31, 1998 to and including June 29,
                 1998, negative Fifty Million (- $50,000,000);

                          (iv)    From June 30, 1998 to and including September
                 29, 1998, negative Forty Five Million (- $45,000,000);

                          (v)     From September 30, 1998 to and including
                 December 30, 1998, negative Forty Million (- $40,000,000);

                          (vi)    From December 31, 1998 to and including
                 December 30, 1999, negative Thirty Five Million
                 (-$35,000,000);

                          (vii)   From December 31, 1999 to and including
                 December 30, 2000, negative Twenty Million (- $20,000,000);

                          (viii)  From December 31, 2000 to and including 
                 December 30, 2001, Five Million ($5,000,000);

                          (ix)    From December 31, 2001 to and including
                 December 30, 2002, Twenty Five Million ($25,000,000);

                          (x)     From December 31, 2002 to and including
                 December 30, 2003, Forty Five Million ($45,000,000); and

                          (xi)    From December 31, 2003 and thereafter, Sixty 
                 Five Million ($65,000,000).





                                     - 76 -
<PAGE>   83
                 (d)      Fixed Charge Coverage.  The Fixed Charge Coverage
         Ratio, as of the end of each fiscal quarter, for the twelve month
         period ending on such date, shall be greater than or equal to 1.0 to
         1.0.

         7.3     PRESERVATION OF EXISTENCE AND FRANCHISES.

         Each of the Credit Parties will, and will cause its Subsidiaries to,
do all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its
existence, rights, franchises and authority unless any such Credit Party
determines that any such rights, franchises or authority is no longer necessary
to the conduct of its business.

         7.4     BOOKS AND RECORDS.

         Each of the Credit Parties will, and will cause its Subsidiaries to,
keep complete and accurate books and records of its transactions in accordance
with good accounting practices on the basis of GAAP (including the
establishment and maintenance of appropriate reserves).

         7.5     COMPLIANCE WITH LAW.

         Each of the Credit Parties will, and will cause its Subsidiaries to,
comply with all laws, rules, regulations and orders, and all applicable
restrictions imposed by all Governmental Authorities, applicable to it and its
property (including, without limitation, Environmental Laws) if noncompliance
with any such law, rule, regulation, order or restriction would have or
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         7.6     PAYMENT OF TAXES AND OTHER INDEBTEDNESS.

         Each of the Credit Parties will, and will cause its Subsidiaries to,
pay and discharge (a) all taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies
imposed upon it, or upon its income or profits, or upon any of its properties,
before they shall become delinquent, (b) all lawful claims (including claims
for labor, materials and supplies) which, if unpaid, might give rise to a Lien
upon any of its properties, and (c) except as prohibited hereunder, all of its
other Indebtedness as it shall become due; provided, however, that a Credit
Party or its Subsidiary shall not be required to pay (i) any such tax,
assessment, charge, levy, claim or Indebtedness which is being contested in
good faith by appropriate proceedings and as to which adequate reserves
therefor have been established in accordance with GAAP or (ii) any such payment
in (a), (b) or (c) above if the failure to make such payment does not give rise
to an immediate right to foreclose on a Lien securing such amounts or would not
have or be reasonably expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect.

         7.7     INSURANCE.

         Each of the Credit Parties will at all times maintain in full force
and effect insurance (including worker's compensation insurance, liability
insurance, casualty insurance and business





                                     - 77 -
<PAGE>   84
interruption insurance) in such amounts, covering such risks and liabilities
and with such deductibles or self-insurance retentions as are in accordance
with normal industry practice.  All policies shall have the Collateral Agent,
on behalf of the Lenders, as an additional insured or loss payee.

In the event there occurs any material loss, damage to or destruction of the
Collateral of any Credit Party or any part thereof, such Credit Party shall
promptly give written notice thereof to the Administrative Agent generally
describing the nature and extent of such damage or destruction.  In the case of
any such loss, damage to or destruction of the Collateral of any Credit Party
or any part thereof, such Credit Party, whether or not the insurance proceeds,
if any, received on account of such damage or destruction shall be sufficient
for that purpose, at such Credit Party's cost and expense, will promptly repair
or replace the Collateral of such Credit Party so lost, damaged or destroyed;
provided, however, that such Credit Party need not repair or replace the
Collateral of such Credit Party so lost, damaged or destroyed to the extent the
failure to make such repair or replacement (a) is desirable to the proper
conduct of the business of such Credit Party in the ordinary course and
otherwise is in the best interest of such Credit Party and (b) would not
materially impair the rights and benefits of the Administrative Agent or the
Lenders under this Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document.  In the event
a Credit Party shall receive any proceeds of such insurance in a net amount in
excess of $5,000,000 for any single occurrence, such Credit Party will
immediately pay over such proceeds to the Administrative Agent, for payment on
the Credit Party Obligations; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent
agrees to release such insurance proceeds to such Credit Party for replacement
or restoration of the portion of the Collateral of such Credit Party lost,
damaged or destroyed if, but only if, (A) no Default or Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing at the time of release, (B) written application
for such release is received by the Administrative Agent from such Credit Party
within 30 days after written notice of receipt of such proceeds and (C) the
Administrative Agent has received evidence reasonably satisfactory to it that
the Collateral lost, damaged or destroyed has been or will be replaced or
restored to its condition immediately prior to the loss, destruction or other
event giving rise to the payment of such insurance proceeds or such proceeds
are used in a manner reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.  All
insurance proceeds shall be subject to the security interest of the Collateral
Agent under the Security Agreement.

The present insurance coverage as of the Closing Date of Holdings, the Borrower
and their Subsidiaries is outlined as to carrier, policy number, expiration
date, type and amount on Schedule 7.7.  The Borrower agrees to provide to the
Administrative Agent notice once per annum as to any material changes in such
insurance coverage.

         7.8     MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTY.

         Each of the Credit Parties will, and will cause its Subsidiaries to,
maintain and preserve its properties and equipment material to the conduct of
its business in good repair, working order and condition, normal wear and tear
excepted, and will make, or cause to be made, in such properties and equipment
from time to time all repairs, renewals, replacements, extensions, additions,
betterments and improvements thereto as may be needed or proper, to the extent
and in





                                     - 78 -
<PAGE>   85
the manner customary for companies in similar businesses unless any such Credit
Party determines any such properties or equipment are no longer necessary to
the conduct of its business.

         7.9     PERFORMANCE OF OBLIGATIONS.

         Each of the Credit Parties will, and will cause its Subsidiaries to,
perform in all material respects all of its obligations  under the terms of all
material agreements, indentures, mortgages, security agreements or other debt
instruments to which it is a party or by which it is bound.

         7.10    COLLATERAL.

         If, subsequent to the Effective Date, a Credit Party shall (i) acquire
any personal property which would be required to be delivered to the Collateral
Agent in accordance with the Collateral Documents or any fee simple interest in
real property, Material Intellectual Property or securities or (ii) enter into
any lease agreement with respect to any real property (not including immaterial
office space) not part of the Real Properties as of the Closing Date, the
Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of same in each case as soon as
practicable after the acquisition thereof or execution of such lease agreement,
as appropriate.  Each Credit Party shall adhere to the covenants regarding the
location of personal property as set forth in the Security Agreement.  Each
Credit Party shall take such action, as reasonably requested by the
Administrative Agent, to ensure that the Lenders have a first priority
perfected Lien in all real and personal property of the Credit Parties as set
forth in the Collateral Documents (whether now owned or hereafter acquired),
subject only to Permitted Liens.

         7.11    USE OF PROCEEDS.

         The Credit Parties will use the proceeds of the Loans solely (a) to
refinance all Indebtedness outstanding under the Prior Credit Agreement, (b) to
repurchase Subordinated Notes and Holding Debentures, (c) to pay premiums, fees
and expenses in connection with the Credit Agreement and the repurchase of
Subordinated Notes and Holdings Debentures, (d) to provide letters of credit
for general corporate purposes including the credit enhancement of the existing
outstanding principal balance under certain industrial revenue bonds in
connection with the Mortgaged Properties, (e) to provide working capital and
for general corporate purposes including Permitted Investments, (f) to make
Permitted Acquisitions and (g) to provide loans to Management pursuant to stock
ownership arrangements of Management in an amount not to exceed $15,000,000 in
the aggregate.  The Credit Parties will use the Letters of Credit solely for
the purposes set forth in Section 2.2(a).

         7.12    AUDITS/INSPECTIONS.

         Upon reasonable notice and during normal business hours, each Credit
Party will permit, and will cause its Subsidiaries to permit, representatives
appointed by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, including,
without limitation, independent accountants, agents, attorneys and appraisers
to visit and inspect such Credit Party's property, including its books and





                                     - 79 -
<PAGE>   86
records, its accounts receivable and inventory, its facilities and its other
business assets, and to make photocopies or photographs thereof and to write
down and record any information such representative obtains and shall permit
the Administrative Agent, the Required Lenders or their representatives to
investigate and verify the accuracy of information provided to the Lenders, and
to discuss all such matters with the officers, employees and representatives of
the Credit Parties.  The Credit Parties agree that the Administrative Agent and
its representatives may conduct an annual audit of the Collateral (or may audit
the Collateral at any time during the existence of an Event of Default), at the
expense of the Borrower.

         7.13    ADDITIONAL CREDIT PARTIES.

         At the time any Person becomes a Subsidiary of a Credit Party, the
Borrower shall so notify the Administrative Agent and promptly thereafter (but
in any event within 30 days after the date thereof) shall cause such Person to
(a) if it is a Domestic Subsidiary, execute a Joinder Agreement in
substantially the same form as Exhibit 7.13, (b) cause all of the capital stock
of such Person (if it is a Domestic Subsidiary) or 65% of the capital stock of
such Person (if it is a First Tier Foreign Subsidiary) to be delivered to the
Collateral Agent (together with undated stock powers signed in blank) and
pledged to the Collateral Agent pursuant to an appropriate pledge agreement in
substantially the form of the Pledge Agreement (or a joinder to the existing
Pledge Agreement) and otherwise in a form acceptable to the Collateral Agent,
(c) if such Person is a Domestic Subsidiary, pledge all of its assets to the
Collateral Agent pursuant to a security agreement in substantially the form of
the Security Agreement (or a joinder to the existing Security Agreement) and
otherwise in a form acceptable to the Collateral Agent, and (d) if such Person
is a Domestic Subsidiary and has any Subsidiaries, (A) deliver all of the
capital stock of such Domestic Subsidiaries owned by it and 65% of the stock of
the First Tier Foreign Subsidiaries owned by it (together with undated stock
powers signed in blank) to the Collateral Agent and (B) execute a pledge
agreement in substantially the form of the Pledge Agreement (or a joinder to
the existing Pledge Agreement) and otherwise in a form acceptable to the
Collateral Agent, (e) if such Person is a Domestic Subsidiary and owns or
leases any real property, execute any and all necessary mortgages, deeds of
trust, deeds to secure debt or other appropriate real estate collateral
documentation in a form acceptable to the Collateral Agent (or use its
commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be delivered to the Collateral
Agent a landlord waiver or estoppel letter with respect thereto in a form
reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent) and (f) deliver such other
documentation as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request in connection with
the foregoing, including, without limitation, appropriate UCC-1 financing
statements, real estate title insurance policies, environmental reports,
landlord's waivers, certified resolutions and other organizational and
authorizing documents of such Person and favorable opinions of counsel to such
Person (which shall cover, among other things, the legality, validity, binding
effect and enforceability of the documentation referred to above), all in form,
content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent.

         7.14    INTEREST RATE PROTECTION AGREEMENTS.

         Within ninety (90) days after the Closing Date, the Borrower shall
enter into and maintain interest rate protection agreements, in form and
substance acceptable to Administrative Agent,





                                     - 80 -
<PAGE>   87
protecting against, for a period expiring no earlier than three years from the
date such interest rate protection agreement is purchased, fluctuations in
interest rates and in a notional amount of at least fifty percent (50%) of the
outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans.

         7.15    SUBORDINATED NOTES.

         The Borrower will prepay or repurchase all the Subordinated Notes on
or before the Subordinated Notes Call Date.

         7.16    FURTHER ASSURANCES REGARDING LANDLORD WAIVERS.

         As soon as practicable after the Effective Date and in any event not
later than 60 days after the Closing Date the Credit Parties shall use their
commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be delivered to the Collateral
Agent, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent,
an estoppel letter, consent or waiver from the landlords with respect to each
leasehold estate of a Credit Party set forth on Schedule 7.16 (each an "Other
Leasehold Property" and collectively the "Other Leasehold Properties"), which
estoppel letters, consents or waivers shall, among other things, recognize the
Collateral Agent's first priority security interest in all personal property
located on the Other Leasehold Properties and provide a waiver of such
landlord's rights in such personal property in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Collateral Agent.

         7.17    INFORMATION UPDATE.

         Each of the Credit Parties hereby agrees that it shall promptly (and
in any event within ten Business Days) update Schedule 6.15, Schedule 6.19
and/or Schedule 6.22 upon the request of the Administrative Agent or the
Required Lenders; provided, however, each of the Lenders hereby agrees that
such update of Schedule 6.15, Schedule 6.19 and/or Schedule 6.22 shall not be
considered an amendment or change to the Credit Agreement and therefore will
not require the signature of the Required Lenders.

                                   SECTION 8

                               NEGATIVE COVENANTS

         Each Credit Party hereby covenants and agrees that until the Loans and
LOC Obligations, together with interest, fees and other obligations hereunder
other than obligations that expressly survive the termination of this Credit
Agreement, have been paid in full and the Commitments and Letters of Credit
hereunder shall have terminated:

         8.1     INDEBTEDNESS.

         Neither Holdings, the Borrower nor any of their Subsidiaries will
contract, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness, except:





                                     - 81 -
<PAGE>   88
                 (a)      Indebtedness arising under this Credit Agreement and
         the other Credit Documents;

                 (b)      Indebtedness existing as of the Closing Date as
         referenced in Section 6.9 (and renewals, refinancings, replacements or
         extensions thereof on terms and conditions no more favorable, in the
         aggregate, to such Person than such existing Indebtedness and in a
         principal amount not in excess of that outstanding as of the date of
         such renewal, refinancing, replacement or extension);

                 (c)      Indebtedness in respect of current accounts payable
         and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business and
         to the extent not current, accounts payable and accrued expenses that
         are subject to bona fide dispute;

                 (d)      Indebtedness owing by (i) one Credit Party to another
         Credit Party, (ii) a Foreign Subsidiary to another Foreign Subsidiary,
         (iii) a Credit Party to a Foreign Subsidiary and (iv) a Foreign
         Subsidiary to a Credit Party provided such Indebtedness is a Permitted
         Investment;

                 (e)      Indebtedness with respect to Capital Leases and
         purchase money Indebtedness, provided that (i) the total of all such
         Indebtedness shall not exceed $5,000,000, in the aggregate, at any one
         time, (ii) such Indebtedness when incurred shall not exceed the
         purchase price of the asset(s) financed and (iii) no such Indebtedness
         shall be refinanced for a principal amount in excess of the principal
         balance outstanding thereon at the time of such refinancing;

                 (f)      Indebtedness in connection with a permitted
         Receivables Transaction;

                 (g)      Indebtedness evidenced by the interest rate
         protection agreements referred to in Section 7.14 or any other Hedging
         Agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business and not for
         speculative purposes;

                 (h)      Indebtedness existing with respect to real property
         or any industrial revenue bond financing of a corporation which
         becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower or is merged with or into a
         Credit Party after the date hereof; provided that (A) such
         Indebtedness existed at the time such corporation became a Subsidiary
         of the Borrower or was merged with or into a Credit Party, (B) such
         Indebtedness was not incurred in anticipation thereof, (C) at such
         time no Default or Event of Default exists or shall result from such
         transaction and (D) such Indebtedness is more favorable than available
         under this Credit Agreement;

                 (i)      Indebtedness with respect to the Newton Property not
         to exceed $9,000,000;





                                     - 82 -
<PAGE>   89
                 (j)      Indebtedness incurred by Foreign Subsidiaries (in
         addition to such Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.1(d) above) not
         to exceed $30,000,000, in the aggregate, at any one time; and

                 (k)      other unsecured Indebtedness (in addition to
         Indebtedness otherwise permitted under this Section 8.1) which does
         not exceed $5,000,000, in the aggregate, at any one time.

         8.2     LIENS.

         Neither Holdings, the Borrower nor any of their Subsidiaries will
contract, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien with respect to any
of its property or assets of any kind (whether real or personal, tangible or
intangible), whether now owned or after acquired, except for Permitted Liens.

         8.3     NATURE OF BUSINESS.

         Neither Holdings, the Borrower nor any of their Subsidiaries will
alter the character of its business from that conducted as of the Effective
Date or engage in any business other than the business conducted as of the
Effective Date and activities which are substantially similar or related
thereto.

         8.4     CONSOLIDATION AND MERGER.

         Neither Holdings, the Borrower nor any of their Subsidiaries will
enter into any transaction of merger or consolidation or liquidate, wind up or
dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution); provided that
notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 8.4, the following
actions may be taken if after giving effect thereto no Default or Event of
Default exists and provided that other actions are taken as reasonably
necessary to ensure that the Lenders have a Lien on all Collateral subject only
to Permitted Liens:

                 (a)      any Credit Party other than Holdings may be merged or
         consolidated with or into the Borrower or any other Credit Party;
         provided that if such transaction shall be between the Borrower and
         another Credit Party, the Borrower shall be the continuing or
         surviving corporation;

                 (b)      any Credit Party other than Holdings may merge or
         consolidate with any other Person (other than another Credit Party) if
         such Credit Party shall be the continuing or surviving corporation or
         such other Person may be the surviving corporation if such other
         Person becomes a Credit Party hereunder in accordance with the terms
         of this Credit Agreement upon consummation of such merger and takes
         such other action as required by the Collateral Agent; provided,
         however, notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Borrower is involved in
         such merger or consolidation with any other Person, the Borrower shall
         be the surviving corporation; and





                                     - 83 -
<PAGE>   90
                 (c)      any Foreign Subsidiary may merge or consolidate with
         any other Foreign Subsidiary.

         8.5     SALE OR LEASE OF ASSETS.

         Unless the Net Cash Proceeds are forwarded to the Administrative Agent
as set forth in Section 3.3(b)(iii), neither Holdings, the Borrower nor any of
their Subsidiaries will convey, sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of,
in one transaction or a series of transactions, all or any part of its business
or assets whether now owned or hereafter acquired, including, without
limitation, inventory, receivables, leasehold interests, and securities but
excluding (i) any inventory or other assets sold, leased or disposed of (or
simultaneously replaced with like goods) in the ordinary course of business,
(ii) obsolete, idle or worn-out assets no longer used or useful in its
business, (iii) subject to Section 8.4, the sale, lease or transfer or other
disposal by a Credit Party of any or all of its assets or the capital stock of
any other Credit Party to the Borrower, another Credit Party or other Person
provided such Person promptly becomes a Credit Party in accordance with the
terms of Section 7.13, (iv) permitted Receivables Transactions, if
consideration paid by third parties does not exceed, in the aggregate,
$50,000,000, and all proceeds from same are paid to the Lenders as set forth in
Section 3.3(b)(iv), (v) license agreements entered, as licensor, in the
ordinary course of business for use of intellectual property or other
intangible assets of any Credit Party or any of their Subsidiaries, (vi)
transfers constituting Permitted Investments, (vii) other sales of assets of
the Credit Parties or any of their Subsidiaries not to exceed $1,000,000, in
the aggregate, during any fiscal year of the Borrower and (viii) other sales of
assets of the Foreign Subsidiaries; provided that the Borrower complies with
the terms of Section 3.3(b)(iii).

         8.6     SALE LEASEBACKS.

         Except with the consent of the Required Lenders, none of the Credit
Parties will, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or
indirectly become or remain liable as lessee or as guarantor or other surety
with respect to any lease, whether an operating lease or a capital lease, of
any property (whether real or personal or mixed), whether now owned or
hereafter acquired, (a) which such Credit Party or Subsidiary has sold or
transferred or is to sell or transfer to any other Person other than a Credit
Party or (b) which such Credit Party or Subsidiary intends to use for
substantially the same purpose as any other property which has been sold or is
to be sold or transferred by such Credit Party or Subsidiary to any Person
other than a Credit Party in connection with such lease.

         8.7     ADVANCES, INVESTMENTS AND LOANS.

         Neither Holdings, the Borrower nor any of their Subsidiaries will make
any Investments except for Permitted Investments.





                                     - 84 -
<PAGE>   91
         8.8     RESTRICTED PAYMENTS.

         Neither Holdings, the Borrower nor any of their Subsidiaries will,
directly or indirectly, (a) declare or pay any dividends (whether cash or
otherwise) or make any other distribution upon any shares of its capital stock
of any class or (b) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire or make any
provisions for redemption, acquisition or retirement of any shares of its
capital stock of any class or any warrants or options to purchase any such
shares other than a Permitted Investment; provided that (i) if no Default or
Event of Default exists and is continuing, the Borrower may pay dividends to
Holdings, (A) for administration expenses up to $1,000,000 per year, (B) to
allow for the repurchase of stock or options of Holdings that constitutes a
Permitted Investment, (C) to allow for the payment of taxes in accordance with
that certain Tax Allocation Agreement dated as of December 17, 1992 among Ivex
Packaging Corporation f/k/a Ivex Holdings Corporation and its Subsidiaries, (D)
subsequent to September 14, 2000, to pay interest on the Holdings Debentures
and (E) to allow for the redemption by Holdings of the Holdings Debentures,
(ii) (A) Subsidiaries of the Borrower may pay dividends to the Borrower or to
another Credit Party that is a Subsidiary of the Borrower and (B) Foreign
Subsidiaries may pay dividends to another Foreign Subsidiary, and (iii)
Holdings may repurchase the capital stock of Holdings so long as such
repurchase constitutes a Permitted Investment.

         8.9     TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES.

         Except as set forth on Schedule 8.9, neither Holdings, the Borrower
nor any of their Subsidiaries will enter into any transaction or series of
transactions, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, with any
officer, director, shareholder, or Affiliate (other than a Subsidiary of
Holdings) other than on terms and conditions substantially as favorable as
would be obtainable in a comparable arm's-length transaction with a Person
other than an officer, director, shareholder, Subsidiary or Affiliate.

         8.10    OWNERSHIP OF BORROWER.

         Holdings will not sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any shares of
capital stock of the Borrower.  Furthermore, Holdings will not hold any assets
other than (a) the stock of the Borrower, (b) such amounts allowed to be
transferred to Holdings pursuant to Section 8.8  and (c) net proceeds from an
equity offering by Holdings for a period not to exceed 90 days from the date of
such equity offering.  Holdings may not have any liabilities other than the
liabilities under the Credit Documents, the Holdings Debentures and tax
liabilities and other liabilities in the ordinary course of business.


         8.11    FISCAL YEAR; ORGANIZATIONAL DOCUMENTS.

         Neither Holdings, the Borrower nor any of their Subsidiaries will (a)
change its fiscal year without the prior written consent of the Required
Lenders or (b) in any manner that would reasonably be likely to adversely
affect the rights of the Lenders, change its articles or certificate of
incorporation or its bylaws.





                                     - 85 -
<PAGE>   92
         8.12    SUBORDINATED DEBT.

         Neither Holdings nor the Borrower will amend, modify or waive any of
the terms and conditions of the Holdings Debentures or the Subordinated Notes,
as applicable, in a manner that would adversely affect the Lenders, or their
rights under the Credit Documents, without the prior written consent of the
Required Lenders; provided that any amendment to the terms and conditions of
the Subordinated Debt solely to allow for the redemption or other acquisition
of Holdings Debentures or Subordinated Notes in accordance with the terms
hereof shall not be deemed to adversely affect the Lenders.

         8.13    NO LIMITATIONS.

         No Credit Party will, nor will it permit its Subsidiaries to, directly
or indirectly, create or otherwise cause, incur, assume, suffer or permit to
exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction of any kind
on the ability of any such Person to (a) pay dividends or make any other
distribution on any of such Person's capital stock, (b) pay any Indebtedness
owed to the Borrower or any other Credit Party, (c) make loans or advances to
any other Credit Party or (d) transfer any of its property to any other Credit
Party, except for encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of
(i) customary non-assignment or net worth provisions in any lease governing a
leasehold interest, license or other contract, (ii) any agreement or other
instrument of a Person existing at the time it becomes a Subsidiary of the
Borrower; provided that such encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to
any other Person, or any property of any other Person, other than such Person
becoming a Subsidiary of the Borrower and was not entered into in contemplation
of such Person becoming a Subsidiary of the Borrower, (iii) this Credit
Agreement and the other Credit Documents, (iv) any agreement of a Credit Party
or any of its Subsidiaries in effect as of the Closing Date governing
Indebtedness of a Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries outstanding as of the
Closing Date and, if such Indebtedness is renewed, extended or refinanced in
accordance with the terms of this Credit Agreement, such other restrictions in
the agreements governing the renewed, extended or refinanced Indebtedness (and
successive renewals, extensions and refinancings thereof in accordance with the
terms of this Credit Agreement) provided such restrictions are no more
restrictive in any material respect than those contained in the agreements
governing such outstanding Indebtedness being renewed, extended or refinanced,
(v) any agreement governing Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.1(f), (g) and
(k) provided such restrictions are no more restrictive in any material respect
than those contained in the Credit Documents, (vi) any agreement governing
Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.1(h), (vii) any agreement of a Foreign
Subsidiary governing Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.1(j), (viii) any
agreement establishing Permitted Liens with respect to those assets subject to
such Permitted Liens and (ix) any agreement of a foreign joint venture in
effect at such time such foreign joint venture becomes a Subsidiary of a Credit
Party.

         8.14    NEGATIVE PLEDGES.

         Except as set forth in the Credit Documents and in any agreements
governing Indebtedness permitted by Schedule 8.1(b), a Credit Party will not,
nor will it permit any of its





                                     - 86 -
<PAGE>   93
Domestic Subsidiaries to, enter into, assume or become subject to any agreement
prohibiting or otherwise restricting the creation or assumption of any Lien
upon its properties or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or
requiring the grant of any security for such obligation if security is given
for some other obligation; except for any prohibition or restriction existing
under or by reason of (i) Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.1(b), (ii)
customary non-assignment provisions in leases, licenses and other contracts,
(iii) restrictions in agreements establishing Permitted Liens with respect to
the assets subject to such Permitted Liens, (iv) any agreement governing
Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.1(f), (g) and (k) provided such
restrictions are no more restrictive in any material respect than those
contained in the Credit Documents, (v) any agreement of a Foreign Subsidiary
governing Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.1(j) and (vi) any agreement
governing Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.1(h).

         8.15    LIMITATION ON FOREIGN OPERATIONS.

         The Credit Parties will not, nor will they permit any of their
Subsidiaries to, allow the Foreign Subsidiaries to have assets which in the
aggregate constitute more than 30% of Total Assets at any time.

         8.16    MARGIN REGULATIONS.

         The Credit Parties will not, nor will they permit any of their
Subsidiaries to, use any of the proceeds of the Loans to purchase or carry any
Margin Stock in violation of Regulation U, Regulation X or Regulation G.  The
Credit Parties will not, nor will they permit any of their Subsidiaries to, own
any Margin Stock to the extent the value of all Margin Stock of Holdings and
its Subsidiaries (on a consolidated and unconsolidated basis) would equal or
exceed 25% of the value (as determined by any reasonable method) of the assets
of Holdings and its Subsidiaries (on a consolidated and unconsolidated basis).


                                   SECTION 9

                               EVENTS OF DEFAULT

         9.1     EVENTS OF DEFAULT.

         An Event of Default shall exist upon the occurrence of any of the
following  specified events (each an "Event of Default"):

                 (a)      Payment.  Any Credit Party shall:

                          (i)     default in the payment when due of any
                 principal of any of the Loans or of any reimbursement
                 obligation arising from drawings under Letters of Credit; or





                                     - 87 -
<PAGE>   94
                          (ii)    default, and such default shall continue for
                 three or more days, in the payment when due of any interest on
                 the Loans, or of any fees or other amounts owing hereunder,
                 under any of the other Credit Documents or in connection
                 herewith.

                 (b)      Representations.  Any representation, warranty or
         statement made or deemed to be made by any Credit Party herein, in any
         of the other Credit Documents, or in any statement or certificate
         delivered or required to be delivered pursuant hereto or thereto shall
         prove untrue in any material respect on the date as of which it was
         deemed to have been made.

                 (c)      Covenants.  Any Credit Party shall:

                          (i)     default in the due performance or observance
                 of any term, covenant or agreement contained in Sections 7.2,
                 7.3, 7.5, 7.11, 7.15, 7.17 or 8.1 through 8.16 inclusive; or

                          (ii)    default in the due performance or observance
                 by it of any term, covenant or agreement contained in Section
                 7.1 and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of
                 five Business Days after the earlier of an officer of Credit
                 Party becoming aware of such default or notice thereof is
                 given by the Administrative Agent; or

                          (iii)   default in the due performance or observance
                 by it of any term, covenant or agreement (other than those
                 referred to in subsections (a), (b) or (c)(i) or (ii) of this
                 Section 9.1) contained in this Credit Agreement and such
                 default shall continue unremedied for a period of at least 30
                 days after the earlier of an officer of a Credit Party
                 becoming aware of such default or notice thereof given by the
                 Administrative Agent.

                 (d)      Other Credit Documents.  (i) Any Credit Party shall
         default in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or
         agreement in any of the other Credit Documents and such default shall
         continue unremedied for a period of at least 30 days after the earlier
         of an officer of a Credit Party becoming aware of such default or
         notice thereof given by the Administrative Agent, or (ii) any Credit
         Document shall fail to be in full force and effect or any Credit
         Document shall fail to give the Agents and/or the Lenders the security
         interests, liens, rights, powers and privileges purported to be
         created thereby or any Credit Party or any Person acting by or on
         behalf of any Credit Party shall deny or disaffirm its obligations
         under the Credit Documents.

                 (e)      Guaranties.  The guaranty given by the Credit Parties
         hereunder or by any Additional Credit Party hereafter or any provision
         thereof shall cease to be in full force and effect, or any guarantor
         thereunder or any Person acting by or on behalf of such guarantor
         shall deny or disaffirm such Guarantor's obligations under such
         guaranty.





                                     - 88 -
<PAGE>   95
                 (f)      Bankruptcy, etc.  The occurrence of any of the
         following with respect to a Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries
         (other than Insignificant Subsidiaries) (each a "Bankruptcy Event"):
         (i) a court or governmental agency having jurisdiction in the premises
         shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of a Credit Party
         or any of its Subsidiaries (other than Insignificant Subsidiaries) in
         an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or
         other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appoint a receiver,
         liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar
         official of a Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries (other than
         Insignificant Subsidiaries) or for any substantial part of its
         property or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs; or
         (ii) an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency
         or other similar law now or hereafter in effect is commenced against a
         Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries (other than Insignificant
         Subsidiaries) and such petition remains unstayed and in effect for a
         period of 60 consecutive days; or (iii) a Credit Party or any of its
         Subsidiaries (other than Insignificant Subsidiaries) shall commence a
         voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other
         similar law now or hereafter in effect, or consent to the entry of an
         order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or consent
         to the appointment or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator,
         assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of such
         Person or any substantial part of its property or make any general
         assignment for the benefit of creditors; or (iv) a Credit Party or any
         of its Subsidiaries (other than Insignificant Subsidiaries) shall
         admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they
         become due or is not generally paying its debts as they become due; or
         (v) a Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries (other than
         Insignificant Subsidiaries) shall take any action in furtherance of
         any of the aforesaid purposes.

                 (g)      Defaults under Other Agreements.  With respect to any
         Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness outstanding under this Credit
         Agreement) of a Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries in a principal
         amount in excess of $5,000,000 individually, or in the aggregate,
         including, without limitation, the Subordinated Debt (i) a Credit
         Party or any of its Subsidiaries shall (A) default in any payment
         (beyond the applicable grace period with respect thereto, if any) with
         respect to any such Indebtedness, or (B) default (after giving effect
         to any applicable grace period) in the observance or performance
         relating to such Indebtedness or contained in any instrument or
         agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event
         or condition shall occur or condition exist, the effect of which
         default or other event or condition is to cause, or permit, the holder
         or holders of such Indebtedness (or trustee or agent on behalf of such
         holders) to cause (determined without regard to whether any notice or
         lapse of time is required) any such Indebtedness to become due prior
         to its stated maturity; or (ii) any such Indebtedness shall be
         declared due and payable, or required to be prepaid other than by a
         regularly scheduled required prepayment prior to the stated maturity
         thereof; or (iii) any such Indebtedness shall mature and remain
         unpaid.

                 (h)      Judgments.  One or more judgments, orders, or decrees
         shall be entered against a Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries
         involving a liability of $2,500,000 or more, in the aggregate, (to the
         extent not paid or covered by insurance provided by a





                                     - 89 -
<PAGE>   96
         carrier who has acknowledged coverage) and such judgments, orders or
         decrees (i) are the subject of any enforcement proceeding commenced by
         any creditor or (ii) shall continue unsatisfied, undischarged and
         unstayed for a period ending on the first to occur of (A) the last day
         on which such judgment, order or decree becomes final and unappealable
         or (B) 60 days.

                 (i)      ERISA.  The occurrence of any of the following events
         or conditions which in the aggregate would have a Material Adverse
         Effect:  (A) any "accumulated funding deficiency," as such term is
         defined in Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, whether
         or not waived, shall exist with respect to any Plan, or any lien shall
         arise on the assets of a Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries or
         any ERISA Affiliate in favor of the PBGC or a Plan; (B) a Termination
         Event shall occur with respect to a Single Employer Plan, which is, in
         the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, likely to result
         in the termination of such Plan for purposes of Title IV of ERISA; (C)
         a Termination Event shall occur with respect to a Multiemployer Plan
         or Multiple Employer Plan, which is, in the reasonable opinion of the
         Administrative Agent, likely to result in (i) the termination of such
         Plan for purposes of Title IV of ERISA, or (ii) a Credit Party or any
         of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate incurring any liability in
         connection with a withdrawal from, reorganization of (within the
         meaning of Section 4241 of ERISA), or insolvency (within the meaning
         of Section 4245 of ERISA) of such Plan; or (D) any prohibited
         transaction (within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section
         4975 of the Code) or breach of fiduciary responsibility shall occur
         which may subject a Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries or any
         ERISA Affiliate to any liability under Sections 406, 409, 502(i), or
         502(l) of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, or under any agreement or
         other instrument pursuant to which a Credit Party or any of its
         Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate has agreed or is required to
         indemnify any person against any such liability.

                 (j)      Ownership.  There shall occur a Change of Control.

                 (k)      Subordinated Debt. The holders of the Subordinated
         Notes or the holders of the Holdings Debentures assert in a legal
         proceeding (or any Governmental Authority with applicable jurisdiction
         determines) that the Lenders are not either (i) holders of Senior
         Indebtedness (as defined in the Subordinated Notes) or (ii) holders of
         Senior Obligations (as defined in the Holdings Debentures), as
         applicable.

         9.2     ACCELERATION; REMEDIES.

         Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, and at any time thereafter
unless and until such Event of Default has been waived in writing by the
Required Lenders (or the Lenders as may be required hereunder) or cured to the
satisfaction of the Required Lenders (or the Lenders as may be required
hereunder), the Administrative Agent shall, upon the request and direction of
the Required Lenders, by written notice to the Borrower, take any of the
following actions without prejudice to the rights of the Administrative Agent
or any Lender to enforce its claims against the Credit Parties, except as
otherwise specifically provided for herein:





                                     - 90 -
<PAGE>   97
                 (a)      Termination of Commitments.  Declare the Commitments
         terminated whereupon the Commitments shall be immediately terminated.

                 (b)      Acceleration of Loans.  Declare the unpaid  principal
         of and any accrued interest in respect of all Loans, any reimbursement
         obligations arising from drawings under Letters of Credit and any and
         all other indebtedness or obligations of any and every kind owing by a
         Credit Party to any of the Lenders hereunder to be due whereupon the
         same shall be immediately due and payable without presentment, demand,
         protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by
         the Credit Parties.

                 (c)      Cash Collateral.  Direct the Borrower to pay (and the
         Borrower agrees that upon receipt of such notice, or upon the
         occurrence of an Event of Default under Section 9.1(f), they will
         immediately pay) to the Administrative Agent additional cash, to be
         held by the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the applicable
         Lenders, in a cash collateral account as additional security for the
         LOC Obligations in respect of subsequent drawings under all then
         outstanding Letters of Credit in an amount equal to the maximum
         aggregate amount which may be drawn under all Letters of Credits then
         outstanding.

                 (d)      Enforcement of Rights.  Enforce any and all rights
         and interests created and existing under the Credit Documents,
         including, without limitation, all rights and remedies existing under
         the Collateral Documents, all rights and remedies against a Guarantor
         and all rights of set-off.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in Section
9.1(f) shall occur, then the Commitments shall automatically terminate and all
Loans, all reimbursement obligations under Letters of Credit, all accrued
interest in respect thereof, all accrued and unpaid fees and other indebtedness
or obligations owing to the Lenders hereunder shall immediately become due and
payable without the giving of any notice or other action by the Agents or the
Lenders, which notice or other action is expressly waived by the Credit
Parties.

Notwithstanding the fact that enforcement powers reside primarily with the
Administrative Agent, each Lender has, to the extent permitted by law, a
separate right of payment and shall be considered a separate "creditor" holding
a separate "claim" within the meaning of Section 101(5) of the Bankruptcy Code
or any other insolvency statute.

         9.3     ALLOCATION OF PAYMENTS AFTER EVENT OF DEFAULT.

         Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Credit Agreement, after
the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, all amounts
collected or received by an Agent or any Lender on account of amounts
outstanding under any of the Credit Documents or in respect of the Collateral
shall be paid over or delivered as follows:

                 FIRST, to the payment of all reasonable out-of-pocket costs
         and expenses (including without limitation reasonable attorneys' fees)
         of the Agents in connection with





                                     - 91 -
<PAGE>   98
         enforcing the rights of the Lenders under the Credit Documents and any
         protective advances made by the Agents with respect to the Collateral
         under or pursuant to the terms of the Collateral Documents;

                 SECOND, to payment of any fees owed to an Agent or an Issuing
         Lender;

                 THIRD, to the payment of all reasonable out-of-pocket costs
         and expenses, (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys'
         fees) of each of the Lenders in connection with enforcing its rights
         under the Credit Documents;

                 FOURTH, to the payment of all accrued fees and interest
         payable to the Lenders hereunder;

                 FIFTH, to the payment of the outstanding principal amount of
         the Loans and unreimbursed drawings under Letters of Credit, to the
         payment or cash collateralization of the outstanding LOC Obligations
         and to any principal amounts outstanding under Hedging Agreements, pro
         rata as set forth below;

                 SIXTH, to all other obligations which shall have become due
         and payable under the Credit Documents and not repaid pursuant to
         clauses "FIRST" through "FIFTH" above; and

                 SEVENTH, to the payment of the surplus, if any, to whoever may
         be lawfully entitled to receive such surplus.

In carrying out the foregoing, (a) amounts received shall be applied in the
numerical order provided until exhausted prior to application to the next
succeeding category; (b) each of the Lenders shall receive an amount equal to
its pro rata share (based on the proportion that the then outstanding Loans,
LOC Obligations and obligations under Hedging Agreements held by such Lender
bears to the aggregate then outstanding Loans, LOC Obligations and obligations
under Hedging Agreements) of amounts available to be applied pursuant to
clauses "THIRD", "FOURTH," "FIFTH" and "SIXTH" above; and (c) to the extent
that any amounts available for distribution pursuant to clause "FIFTH" above
are attributable to the issued but undrawn amount of outstanding Letters of
Credit, such amounts shall be held by the Collateral Agent in a cash collateral
account and applied (x) first, to reimburse the Issuing Lenders from time to
time for any drawings under such Letters of Credit and (y) then, following the
expiration of all Letters of Credit, to all other obligations of the types
described in clauses "FIFTH" and "SIXTH" above in the manner provided in this
Section 9.3.





                                     - 92 -
<PAGE>   99
                                   SECTION 10

                               AGENCY PROVISIONS

         10.1    APPOINTMENT.

         Each Lender hereby designates and appoints NationsBank, N.A. as
Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent and Bankers Trust Company as
Documentation Agent of such Lender to act as specified herein and the other
Credit Documents, and each such Lender hereby authorizes the Agents, as the
agents for such Lender, to take such action on its behalf under the provisions
of this Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents and to exercise such
powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated by the terms  and of
the other Credit Documents, together with such other powers as are reasonably
incidental thereto.  Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary elsewhere
herein and in the other Credit Documents, the Agents shall not have any duties
or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein and therein, or
any fiduciary relationship with any Lender, and no implied covenants,
functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read
into this Credit Agreement  or any of the other Credit Documents, or shall
otherwise exist against the Agents.  The provisions of this Section are solely
for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders and none of the Credit Parties
shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary of the provisions.  In
performing its functions and duties under this Credit Agreement and the other
Credit Documents, each Agent shall act solely as an agent of the Lenders and
does not assume and shall not be deemed to have assumed any obligation or
relationship of agency or trust with or for any Credit Party.

         10.2    DELEGATION OF DUTIES.

         An Agent may execute any of its duties hereunder or under the other
Credit Documents by or through agents or attorneys-in-fact and shall be
entitled to advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to such duties.
An Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any
agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by it with reasonable care.

         10.3    EXCULPATORY PROVISIONS.

         Neither the Agents nor any of their officers, directors, employees,
agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates shall be  liable for any action
lawfully taken or omitted to be taken by it or such Person under or in
connection herewith or in connection with any of the other Credit Documents
(except for its or such Person's own gross negligence or willful misconduct) or
responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders for any recitals, statements,
representations or warranties made by any of the Credit Parties contained
herein or in any of the other Credit Documents or in any certificate, report,
document, financial statement or other written or oral statement referred to or
provided for in, or received by an Agent under or in connection herewith or in
connection with the other Credit Documents, or enforceability or sufficiency
therefor of any of the other Credit Documents, or for any failure of the
Borrower to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder.  The Agents shall
not be responsible to any Lender for the effectiveness, genuineness, validity,
enforceability, collectibility or sufficiency of this Credit Agreement, or any
of the other Credit





                                     - 93 -
<PAGE>   100
Documents or for any representations, warranties, recitals or statements made
herein or therein or made by the Borrower or any Credit Party in any written or
oral statement or in any financial or other statements, instruments, reports,
certificates or any other documents in connection herewith or therewith
furnished or made by an Agent to the Lenders or by or on behalf of the Credit
Parties to the Agents or any Lender or be required to ascertain or inquire as
to the performance or observance of any of the terms, conditions, provisions,
covenants or agreements contained herein or therein or as to the use of the
proceeds of the Loans or the use of the Letters of Credit or of the existence
or possible existence of any Default or Event of Default or to inspect the
properties, books or records of the Credit Parties.  The Agents are not
trustees for the Lenders and owe no fiduciary duty to the Lenders.

         10.4    RELIANCE ON COMMUNICATIONS.

         The Agents shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in
relying, upon any note, writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate,
affidavit, letter, cablegram, telegram, telecopy, telex or teletype message,
statement, order or other document or conversation believed by it to be genuine
and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or
Persons and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including, without
limitation, counsel to any of the Credit Parties, independent accountants and
other experts selected by the Agents with reasonable care).  The Agents may
deem and treat the Lenders as the owner of its interests hereunder for all
purposes unless a written notice of assignment, negotiation or transfer thereof
shall have been filed with the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section
11.3(b).  The Agents shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take
any action under this Credit Agreement or under any of the other Credit
Documents unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the
Required Lenders as it deems appropriate or it shall first be indemnified to
its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expense which
may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such
action.  The Agents shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in
refraining from acting, hereunder or under any of the other Credit Documents in
accordance with a request of the Required Lenders (or to the extent
specifically provided in Section 11.6, all the Lenders) and such request and
any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all
the Lenders (including their successors and assigns).

         10.5    NOTICE OF DEFAULT.

         An Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the
occurrence of any Default or Event of Default hereunder unless such Agent has
received notice from a Lender or a Credit Party referring to the Credit
Document, describing such Default or Event of Default and stating that such
notice is a "notice of default." In the event that the Administrative Agent
receives such a notice, the Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice
thereof to the Lenders.  The Administrative Agent shall take such action with
respect to such Default or Event of Default as shall be reasonably directed by
the Required Lenders.

         Subsequent to an Event of Default and during the continuation thereof,
the Administrative Agent shall, if requested by a Lender, conduct a phase I
environmental audit, and, where necessary, a phase II environmental audit on
any parcel of real estate owned by a Credit





                                     - 94 -
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Party prior to proceeding with foreclosing on any real property of a Credit
Party or exercising voting rights or other remedies with respect to any Pledged
Shares (as defined in the Pledge Agreement).

         10.6    NON-RELIANCE ON AGENTS AND OTHER LENDERS.

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

         10.7    INDEMNIFICATION.

         The Lenders agree to indemnify each Agent in its capacity as such (to
the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower and without limiting the obligation
of the Borrower to do so), ratably according to their respective Commitments
(or if the Commitments have expired or been terminated, in accordance with the
respective principal amounts of outstanding Loans and Participation Interest of
the Lenders), from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses,
damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements
of any kind whatsoever which may at any time (including without limitation at
any time following payment in full of the Credit Party Obligations) be imposed
on, incurred by or asserted against an Agent in its capacity as such in any way
relating to or arising out of this Credit Agreement or the other Credit
Documents or any documents contemplated by or referred to herein or therein or
the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or any action taken or omitted
by an Agent under or in connection with any of the foregoing; provided that no
Lender shall be liable for the payment of any portion of such liabilities,
obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs,
expenses or disbursements resulting from the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of an Agent.  If any indemnity furnished to an Agent for any purpose
shall, in the opinion of





                                     - 95 -
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such Agent, be insufficient or become impaired, such Agent may call for
additional indemnity and cease, or not commence, to do the acts indemnified
against until such additional indemnity is furnished.  The agreements in this
Section shall survive the payment of the Credit Party Obligations and all other
amounts payable hereunder and under the other Credit Documents.

         10.8    AGENTS IN THEIR INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY.

         Each Agent and its affiliates may make loans to, accept deposits from
and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any other
Credit Party as though such Agent were not an Agent hereunder.  With respect to
the Loans made and Letters of Credit issued and all obligations owing to it, an
Agent shall have the same rights and powers under this Credit Agreement as any
Lender and may exercise the same as though they were not an Agent, and the
terms "Lender" and "Lenders" shall include each Agent in its individual
capacity.

         10.9    SUCCESSOR AGENT.

         Any Agent may, at any time, resign upon 20 days written notice to the
Lenders.  Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right
to appoint a successor Agent provided such successor Agent is a Lender
hereunder or qualifies under clause (b) of the definition of Eligible Assignee.
If no successor Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders, and
shall have accepted such appointment, within 45 days after the notice of
resignation, then the retiring  Agent shall select a successor Agent provided
such successor is a Lender hereunder or qualifies under clause (b) of the
definition of Eligible Assignee.  Upon the acceptance of any appointment as an
Agent hereunder by a successor, such successor Agent shall thereupon succeed to
and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the
retiring Agent, and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and
obligations as an Agent, as appropriate, under this Credit Agreement and the
other Credit Documents and the provisions of this Section 10.9 shall inure to
its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was
an Agent under this Credit Agreement.


                                   SECTION 11

                                 MISCELLANEOUS

         11.1    NOTICES.

         Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices and other
communications shall have been duly given and shall be effective (a) when
delivered, (b) when transmitted via telecopy (or other facsimile device) to the
number set out below, (c) the Business Day following the day on which the same
has been delivered prepaid to a reputable national overnight air courier
service, or (d) the third Business Day following the day on which the same is
sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, in each case to the
respective parties at the address or telecopy numbers set forth on Schedule
11.1, or at such other address as such party may specify by written notice to
the other parties hereto.





                                     - 96 -
<PAGE>   103
         11.2    RIGHT OF SET-OFF.

         In addition to any rights now or hereafter granted under applicable
law or otherwise, and not by way of limitation of any such rights, upon the
occurrence of an Event of Default and during the continuation thereof, each
Lender is authorized at any time and from time to time, without presentment,
demand, protest or other notice of any kind (all of which rights being hereby
expressly waived), to set-off and to appropriate and apply any and all deposits
(general or special) and any other indebtedness at any time held or owing by
such Lender (including, without limitation, branches, agencies or Affiliates of
such Lender wherever located) to or for the credit or the account of any Credit
Party against obligations and liabilities of such Credit Party to the Lenders
hereunder, under the Notes, the other Credit Documents or otherwise,
irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent or the Lenders shall have made
any demand hereunder and although such obligations, liabilities or claims, or
any of them, may be contingent or unmatured, and any such set-off shall be
deemed to have been made immediately upon the occurrence of an Event of Default
even though such charge is made or entered on the books of such Lender
subsequent thereto.  The Credit Parties hereby agree that any Person purchasing
a participation in the Loans and Commitments hereunder pursuant to Section
11.3(c) or 3.8 may exercise all rights of set-off with respect to its
participation interest as fully as if such Person were a Lender hereunder.

         11.3    BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT.

                 (a)      Generally.  This Credit Agreement shall be binding
         upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the respective
         successors and assigns of the parties hereto; provided that none of
         the Credit Parties may assign and transfer any of its interests
         without the prior written consent of all the Lenders; and provided
         further that the rights of each Lender to transfer, assign or grant
         participations in its rights and/or obligations hereunder shall be
         limited as set forth in Section 11.3.  Notwithstanding the above,
         nothing herein shall restrict, prevent or prohibit any Lender from (A)
         pledging its Loans hereunder to a Federal Reserve Bank in support of
         borrowings made by such Lender from such Federal Reserve Bank, (B)
         granting assignments or participations in such Lender's Loans and/or
         Commitments hereunder to its parent company and/or to any Affiliate of
         such Lender or to any existing Lender or Affiliate thereof, provided
         that the Issuing Lenders shall be notified of any such assignment or
         participation, or (C) with the prior consent of the Borrower and the
         Administrative Agent and in compliance with all applicable laws,
         pledge all or any portion of its Notes or Loans to a trustee for the
         benefit of investors to secure such Lender's obligations to such
         investors.

                 (b)      Assignments.  In addition to the assignments
         permitted by Section 11.3(a), each Lender may, with the prior written
         consent of the Borrower, the Issuing Lenders (subject to the
         limitations set forth below) and the Administrative Agent (provided
         that no consent of the Borrower shall be required during the existence
         and continuation of an Event of Default), which consents shall not be
         unreasonably withheld or delayed (it being understood that the
         Borrower may refuse to consent to an assignment to a potential





                                     - 97 -
<PAGE>   104
         competitor of the Borrower), assign all or a portion of its rights and
         obligations hereunder pursuant to an assignment agreement
         substantially in the form of Exhibit 11.3 to one or more Eligible
         Assignees; provided that (i) any such assignment shall be in a minimum
         aggregate amount of $5,000,000 of the Commitments and in integral
         multiples of $1,000,000 above such amount (or the remaining amount of
         Commitments held by such Lender) and (ii) each such assignment shall
         be of a constant, not varying, percentage of all of the assigning
         Lender's rights and obligations under the Commitment being assigned.
         Any assignment hereunder shall be effective upon satisfaction of the
         conditions set forth above and delivery to the Administrative Agent of
         a duly executed assignment agreement together with a transfer fee of
         $3,500 payable to the Administrative Agent for its own account.  The
         consent of an Issuing Lender hereunder shall only be required in
         connection with an assignment of all or a portion of the Revolving
         Committed Amount, and each Issuing Lender hereby agrees it will
         consent to any assignee that is a commercial bank that (A) is rated
         B/C or better by Thompson Bankwatch and (B) has assets in excess of
         $1,000,000,000.  Upon the effectiveness of any such assignment, the
         assignee shall become a "Lender" for all purposes of this Credit
         Agreement and the other Credit Documents and, to the extent of such
         assignment, the assigning Lender shall be relieved of its obligations
         hereunder to the extent of the Loans and Commitment components being
         assigned.  Along such lines the Borrower agrees that upon notice of
         any such assignment and surrender of the appropriate Note or Notes, it
         will promptly provide to the assigning Lender and to the assignee
         separate promissory notes in the amount of their respective interests
         substantially in the form of the original Note or Notes (but with
         notation thereon that it is given in substitution for and replacement
         of the original Note or Notes or any replacement notes thereof).

         By executing and delivering an assignment agreement in accordance with
         this Section 11.3(b), the assigning Lender thereunder and the assignee
         thereunder shall be deemed to confirm to and agree with each other and
         the other parties hereto as follows: (i) such assigning Lender
         warrants that it is the legal and beneficial owner of the interest
         being assigned thereby free and clear of any adverse claim and the
         assignee warrants that it is an Eligible Assignee; (ii) except as set
         forth in clause (i) above, such 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 Credit Agreement, any of the other Credit
         Documents or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant
         hereto or thereto, or the execution, legality, validity,
         enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Credit
         Agreement, any of the other Credit Documents or any other instrument
         or document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto or the financial
         condition of any Credit Party or the performance or observance by any
         Credit Party of any of its obligations under this Credit Agreement,
         any of the other Credit Documents or any other instrument or document
         furnished pursuant hereto or thereto; (iii) such assignor and assignee
         each represents and warrants that it is legally authorized to enter
         into such assignment agreement; (iv) such assignee confirms that it
         has received a copy of this Credit Agreement, the other Credit
         Documents and such other documents and information as it has deemed
         appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into
         such assignment agreement; (v) such assignee will independently and





                                     - 98 -
<PAGE>   105
         without reliance upon the Agents, such assigning Lender or any other
         Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem
         appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in
         taking or not taking action under this Credit Agreement and the other
         Credit Documents; (vi) such assignee appoints and authorizes the
         Agents to take such action on its behalf and to exercise such powers
         under this Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document as are
         delegated to the Agents by the terms  or thereof, together with such
         powers as are reasonably incidental thereto; and (vii) such assignee
         agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all the
         obligations which by the terms of this Credit Agreement and the other
         Credit Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

                 (c)      Participations.  Each Lender may sell, transfer,
         grant or assign participations in all or any part of such Lender's
         interests and obligations hereunder; provided that (i) such selling
         Lender shall remain a "Lender" for all purposes under this Credit
         Agreement (such selling Lender's obligations under the Credit
         Documents remaining unchanged) and the participant shall not
         constitute a Lender hereunder, (ii) no such participant shall have, or
         be granted, rights to approve any amendment or waiver relating to this
         Credit Agreement or the other Credit Documents except to the extent
         any such amendment or waiver would (A) reduce the principal of or rate
         of interest on or fees in respect of any Loans in which the
         participant is participating or increase any Commitments with respect
         thereto, (B) postpone the date fixed for any payment of principal
         (including the extension of the final maturity of any Loan or the date
         of any mandatory prepayment), interest or fees in which the
         participant is participating, or (C) release all or substantially all
         of the collateral or guaranties (except as expressly provided in the
         Credit Documents) supporting any of the Loans or Commitments in which
         the participant is participating, (iii) sub-participations by the
         participant (except to an Affiliate, parent company or Affiliate of a
         parent company of the participant) shall be prohibited and (iv) any
         such participations shall be in a minimum aggregate amount of
         $5,000,000 of the Commitments and in integral multiples of $1,000,000
         in excess thereof.  In the case of any such participation, the
         participant shall not have any rights under this Credit Agreement or
         the other Credit Documents (the participant's rights against the
         selling Lender in respect of such participation to be those set forth
         in the participation agreement with such Lender creating such
         participation) and all amounts payable by the Borrower hereunder shall
         be determined as if such Lender had not sold such participation;
         provided, however, that such participant shall be entitled to receive
         additional amounts under Sections 3.9, 3.12, 3.13 and 3.14 to the same
         extent that the Lender from which such participant acquired its
         participation would be entitled to the benefit of such cost protection
         provisions; provided that any participant seeking reimbursement under
         Sections 3.9, 3.12, 3.13 or 3.14 shall comply with the obligations
         imposed on a Lender by each such Section.

                 (d)      Registration.  The Administrative Agent, acting for
         this purpose solely on behalf of the Borrower, shall maintain a
         register (the "Register") for the recordation of the names and
         addresses of the Lenders and the principal amount of the Loans owing
         to each Lender from time to time.  The entries in the Register shall
         be conclusive, in the absence





                                     - 99 -
<PAGE>   106
         of manifest error, and the Borrower, the Agents and the Lenders shall
         treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register as the owner
         of a Loan or other obligation hereunder for all purposes of this
         Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents, notwithstanding
         notice to the contrary.  Any assignment of any Loan or other
         obligation hereunder shall be effective only upon appropriate entries
         with respect thereto being made in the Register.  The Register shall
         be available for inspection by the Borrower or any Lender at any
         reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

         11.4    NO WAIVER; REMEDIES CUMULATIVE.

         No failure or delay on the part of an Agent or any Lender in
exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Credit
Document and no course of dealing between the Borrower or any Credit Party and
the Agents or any Lender shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any
single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder or under
any other Credit Document preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the
exercise of any other right, power or privilege hereunder or thereunder.  The
rights and remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any
rights or remedies which the Agents or any Lender would otherwise have.  No
notice to or demand on any Credit Party in any case shall entitle any Credit
Party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other
circumstances or constitute a waiver of the rights of the Agents or the Lenders
to any other or further action in any circumstances without notice or demand.

         11.5    PAYMENT OF EXPENSES; INDEMNIFICATION.

         The Credit Parties agree to:  (a) pay all reasonable out-of-pocket
costs and expenses of (i) the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Lenders in
connection with (A) the negotiation, preparation, execution and delivery and
administration of this Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents and the
documents and instruments referred to therein (including, without limitation,
the reasonable fees and expenses of Moore & Van Allen, special counsel to the
Administrative Agent, the fees and expenses of counsel for the Administrative
Agent in connection with collateral issues or foreign issues and the fees and
expenses of counsel to an Issuing Lender in connection with amendments to the
Existing Letters of Credit), and (B) any amendment, waiver or consent relating
hereto and thereto including, but not limited to, any such amendments, waivers
or consents resulting from or related to any work-out, renegotiation or
restructure relating to the performance by the Credit Parties under this Credit
Agreement and (ii) the Agents and the Lenders (during the existence of an Event
of Default) in connection with (A) enforcement of the Credit Documents and the
documents and instruments referred to therein, including, without limitation,
in connection with any such enforcement, the reasonable fees and disbursements
of counsel for the Agents and each of the Lenders, and (B) any bankruptcy or
insolvency proceeding of a Credit Party of any of its Subsidiaries and (b)
indemnify each Lender, its officers, directors, employees, representatives and
agents from and hold each of them harmless against any and all losses,
liabilities, claims, damages or expenses incurred by any of them as a result
of, or arising out of, or in any way related to, or by reason of, any
investigation, litigation or other proceeding (whether or not any Lender is a
party thereto) related to (i) the entering into and/or performance of any
Credit Document or the use of proceeds of any Loans





                                    - 100 -
<PAGE>   107
(including other extensions of credit) hereunder or the consummation of any
other transactions contemplated in any Credit Document, including, without
limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel incurred in
connection with any such investigation, litigation or other proceeding (but
excluding any such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses to the
extent incurred by reason of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part
of the Person to be indemnified), (ii) any Environmental Claim and (iii) any
claims for Non-Excluded Taxes.

         11.6    AMENDMENTS, WAIVERS AND CONSENTS.

         Neither this Credit Agreement  nor any other Credit Document nor any
of the terms hereof or thereof may be amended, changed, waived, discharged or
terminated unless such amendment, change, waiver, discharge or termination is
in writing and signed by the Required Lenders; provided that no such amendment,
change, waiver, discharge or termination shall without the consent of each
Lender affected thereby:

                 (a)      extend the scheduled maturities (including the final
         maturity) of any Loan or extend or waive any Principal Amortization
         Payment of any Loan or any portion thereof;

                 (b)      reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of
         interest (other than as a result of waiving the applicability of any
         post-default increase in interest rates) thereon or fees hereunder;

                 (c)      reduce or waive the principal amount of any Loan;

                 (d)      increase or extend the Commitment of a Lender over
         the amount thereof in effect (it being understood and agreed that a
         waiver of any Default or Event of Default or a waiver of any mandatory
         reduction in the Commitments shall not constitute a change in the
         terms of any Commitment of any Lender); provided that the Tranche B
         Term Loan Committed Amount may be increased in accordance with Section
         2.4.

                 (e)      release all or substantially all of the Collateral
         securing the Credit Party Obligations hereunder (provided that the
         Collateral Agent may, without consent from any other Lender, release
         any Collateral that is sold or transferred by a Credit Party in
         conformance with Section 8.5);

                 (f)      release the Borrower from its obligations or release
         all or substantially all of the other Credit Parties from their
         respective obligations under the Credit Documents;

                 (g)      amend, modify or waive any provision of this Section
         or Section 3.4(a), 3.4(b)(i), 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 3.10, 3.11, 3.12,
         3.13, 3.14, 5.2, 9.1(a), 9.3, 11.2, 11.3 or 11.5;

                 (h)      reduce any percentage specified in, or otherwise
         modify, the definition of Required Lenders; or





                                    - 101 -
<PAGE>   108
                 (i)      consent to the assignment or transfer by the Borrower
         (or another Credit Party) of any of its rights and obligations under
         (or in respect of) the Credit Documents.

Any amendment to Section 3.3(b) or any of the defined terms contained in such
Section 3.3(b) shall be effective upon the written consent of the Required
Lenders.

No amendment or change that affects the application of prepayments pursuant to
Section 3.3(c) or the allocation of payments between the Tranche A Term Loans
and Tranche B Loans shall be effective unless Lenders holding in the aggregate
at least 51% of the outstanding Tranche A Terms Loans and at least 51% of the
Tranche B Term Loans shall consent to such amendment or change in allocation of
payments.

No provision of Section 10 may be amended without the consent of the
Administrative Agent.  No provision affecting an Issuing Lender's rights to (a)
reimbursement or indemnity under Section 2.2 or (b) any fronting fee under
Section 3.4(b)(ii) may be amended without the consent of such Issuing Lender.

Notwithstanding the fact that the consent of all the Lenders is required in
certain circumstances as set forth above, (x) each Lender is entitled to vote
as such Lender sees fit on any reorganization plan that affects the Loans or
the Letters of Credit, and each Lender acknowledges that the provisions of
Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code supersedes the unanimous consent
provisions set forth herein and (y) the Required Lenders may consent to allow a
Credit Party to use cash collateral in the context of a bankruptcy or
insolvency proceeding.

         11.7    COUNTERPARTS/TELECOPY.

         This Credit Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts,
each of which where so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of
which shall constitute one and the same instrument.  Delivery of executed
counterparts by telecopy shall be as effective as an original and shall
constitute a representation that an original will be delivered.

         11.8    HEADINGS.

         The headings of the sections and subsections hereof are provided for
convenience only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or construction of
any provision of this Credit Agreement.

         11.9    DEFAULTING LENDER.

         Each Lender understands and agrees that if such Lender is a Defaulting
Lender then notwithstanding the provisions of Section 11.6 it shall not be
entitled to vote on any matter requiring the consent of the Required Lenders or
to object to any matter requiring the consent of all the Lenders; provided,
however, that all other benefits and obligations under the Credit Documents
shall apply to such Defaulting Lender.





                                    - 102 -
<PAGE>   109
         11.10   SURVIVAL OF INDEMNIFICATION AND REPRESENTATIONS AND
                 WARRANTIES.

         All indemnities set forth herein and all representations and
warranties made herein shall survive the execution and delivery of this Credit
Agreement, the making of the Loans, the issuance of the Letters of Credit and
the repayment of the Loans, LOC Obligations and other obligations and the
termination of the Commitments hereunder.  This Credit Agreement shall
terminate upon the termination of all the Commitments and the repayment in full
of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Loans, LOC Obligations,
all interest accrued thereon, and all fees and expenses and other amounts due
and payable under the Credit Agreement; provided, however, notwithstanding the
foregoing all obligations of the Credit Parties that expressly survive the
termination of this Credit Agreement shall continue to remain in full force and
effect following the termination of this Credit Agreement.

         11.11   GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION.

                 (a)      THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS AND THE
         RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER AND THEREUNDER SHALL
         BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
         LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (other than the Mortgage Documents which
         are governed by the laws of the State where the real property is
         located that is covered by such Mortgage Document).  Any legal action
         or proceeding with respect to this Credit Agreement or any other
         Credit Document may be brought in the courts of the State of North
         Carolina or of the United States for the Western District of North
         Carolina, and, by execution and delivery of this Credit Agreement,
         each Credit Party hereby irrevocably accepts for itself and in respect
         of its property, generally and unconditionally, the jurisdiction of
         such courts.  Each Credit Party further irrevocably consents to the
         service of process out of any of the aforementioned courts in any such
         action or proceeding by the mailing of copies thereof by registered or
         certified mail, postage prepaid, to it at the address for notices
         pursuant to Section 11.1, such service to become effective 30 days
         after such mailing.  Nothing herein shall affect the right of a Lender
         to serve process in any other manner permitted by law or to commence
         legal proceedings or to otherwise proceed against a Credit Party in
         any other jurisdiction.  Each Credit Party agrees that a final
         judgment in any action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be
         enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any
         other manner provided by law; provided that nothing in this Section
         11.11(a) is intended to impair a Credit Party's right under applicable
         law to appeal or seek a stay of any judgment.

                 (b)      Each Credit Party hereby irrevocably waives any
         objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of
         any of the aforesaid actions or proceedings arising out of or in
         connection with this Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document
         brought in the courts referred to in subsection (a) hereof and hereby
         further irrevocably waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any
         such court that any such action or proceeding brought in any such
         court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.





                                    - 103 -
<PAGE>   110
         11.12   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.

         EACH OF THE PARTIES TO THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES
ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING
OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT, ANY OF THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS
OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

         11.13   TIME.

         All references to time herein shall be references to Eastern Standard
Time or Eastern Daylight time, as the case may be, unless specified otherwise.

         11.14   SEVERABILITY.

         If any provision of any of the Credit Documents is determined to be
illegal, invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be fully severable and
the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect and shall be
construed without giving effect  to the illegal, invalid or unenforceable
provisions.

         11.15   FURTHER ASSURANCES.

         The Credit Parties agree, upon the request of the Administrative
Agent, to promptly take such actions, as reasonably requested, as is necessary
to carry out the intent of this Credit Agreement and the other Credit
Documents, including, but not limited to, such actions as are necessary to
ensure that the Lenders have a perfected security interest in the Collateral
subject to no Liens other than Permitted Liens.

         11.16   ENTIRETY.

         This Credit Agreement together with the other Credit Documents
represent the entire agreement of the parties hereto and thereto, and supersede
all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, if any, including any
commitment letters or correspondence relating to the Credit Documents or the
transactions contemplated herein and therein.

         11.17   BINDING EFFECT.

         This Credit Agreement shall become effective at such time when all of
the conditions set forth in Section 5.1 have been satisfied or waived by the
Lenders and it shall have been executed by each of the Credit Parties and the
Agents, and the Agents shall have received copies  (telefaxed or otherwise)
which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each Lender (including the
Issuing Lenders), and thereafter this Credit Agreement shall be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of each Credit Party, the Agents and each Lender and
their respective successors and assigns.  Upon this Credit Agreement becoming
effective, the Prior Credit





                                    - 104 -
<PAGE>   111
Agreement shall be deemed terminated and the Credit Parties and the lenders
party to the Prior Credit Agreement shall no longer have any obligations
thereunder (other than those obligations in the Prior Credit Agreement that
expressly survive the termination of the Prior Credit Agreement).

         11.18   ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.

         The Credit Parties hereby acknowledge that:

                 (a)      they have discussed with counsel the terms of this
         Credit Agreement and the other Collateral Documents;

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

                 (c)      no joint venture or partnership is created hereby or
         by the other Credit Documents or otherwise exists by virtue of the
         transactions contemplated hereby among the Lenders or among the Credit
         Parties and the Lenders or among the Credit Parties and the
         Administrative Agent.


                  [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]





                                    - 105 -
<PAGE>   112
         Each of the parties hereto has caused a counterpart of this Credit
Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

BORROWER:                               IPC, INC.
                                        a Delaware corporation

                                        By:
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           Name:   Richard R. Cote
                                           Title:  Vice President and Treasurer

GUARANTORS:                             IVEX PACKAGING CORPORATION
                                        a Delaware corporation

                                        IVEX PAPER MILL CORPORATION
                                        a Delaware corporation

                                        IPMC HOLDING CORPORATION
                                        a Delaware corporation

                                        IPMC, INC.
                                        a Delaware corporation

                                        VALLEY EXPRESS LINES, INC.
                                        a Delaware corporation

                                        KAMA OF ILLINOIS CORPORATION
                                        a Delaware corporation

                                        PACKAGING PRODUCTS, INC.
                                        a Delaware corporation

                                        CFI INDUSTRIES, INC.
                                        a Delaware corporation

                                        CFI RECYCLING, INC.
                                        a Delaware corporation

                                        PLASTOFILM INDUSTRIES, INC.
                                        a Delaware corporation

                                        TRIO PRODUCTS, INC.
                                        a Delaware corporation

                                        By: 
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           Name:   Richard R. Cote
                                           Title:  Vice President and Treasurer
                                                   of each of the above named 
                                                   Guarantors

<PAGE>   113
Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 2,
1997, among IPC, Inc., as Borrower, Ivex Packaging Corporation and the Domestic
Subsidiaries of IPC, Inc., as Guarantors, the Lenders party thereto,
NationsBank, N.A., as Administrative Agent and Bankers Trust Company, as
Documentation Agent.

LENDERS:

                                        NATIONSBANK, N.A.,
                                        individually in its capacity as a
                                        Lender and in its capacity as 
                                        Administrative Agent and Collateral 
                                        Agent

                                        By:                                    
                                           ------------------------------------
                                        Name:                                  
                                             ----------------------------------
                                        Title:                                 
                                              ---------------------------------


                                        BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,
                                        individually in its capacity as a 
                                        Lender and in its capacity as 
                                        Documentation Agent

                                        By:                                    
                                           ------------------------------------
                                        Name:                                  
                                             ----------------------------------
                                        Title:                                 
                                              ---------------------------------