<PAGE>   1

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.8










                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                     BETWEEN

                                 ILLUMINET, INC.


                                       AND

                              BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

                                DATED MAY 9, 2000



<PAGE>   2

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


<TABLE>
<S>                                                              <C>
ARTICLE 1: DEFINITIONS .....................................      1

   1.1 GENERAL PROVISIONS ..................................      1

   1.2 ADVANCES ............................................      1

   1.3 AFFILIATE ...........................................      1

   1.4 AVAILABLE AMOUNT ....................................      1

   1.5 BASE RATE MARGIN ....................................      1

   1.6 BUSINESS DAY ........................................      1

   1.7 CONVERSION DATE .....................................      2

   1.8 CONVERTING LOAN ADVANCES ............................      2

   1.9 CONVERTING LOAN CREDIT LIMIT ........................      2

   1.10 CONVERTING LOAN FEE MARGIN .........................      2

   1.11 DEBT ...............................................      2

   1.12 EBITDA .............................................      2

   1.13 ERISA ..............................................      2

   1.14 FUNDED DEBT ........................................      2

   1.15 FUNDED DEBT/EBITDA RATIO ...........................      2

   1.16 GAAP ...............................................      2

   1.17 GUARANTOR(S) .......................................      2

   1.18 L/C AGREEMENTS .....................................      2

   1.19 LETTERS OF CREDIT ..................................      3

   1.20 LIBOR MARGIN .......................................      3

   1.21 LOAN DOCUMENTS .....................................      3

   1.22 MARGIN .............................................      3

   1.23 NOTES ..............................................      3

   1.24 OBLIGATIONS ........................................      3

   1.25 PERSON .............................................      3

   1.26 PLAN ...............................................      3

   1.27 RTFC ...............................................      4

   1.28 REVOLVING LOAN ADVANCES ............................      4

   1.29 REVOLVING LOAN CREDIT LIMIT ........................      4

   1.30 REVOLVING LOAN FEE MARGIN ..........................      4
</TABLE>



                                       i
<PAGE>   3

<TABLE>
<S>                                                              <C>
   1.31 SUBSIDIARY .........................................      4

   1.32 SWAP CONTRACT ......................................      4

   1.33 SWAP OBLIGATIONS ...................................      4

   1.34 TANGIBLE NET WORTH .................................      4

   1.35 TERMINATION DATE ...................................      4

   1.36 TRAILING BASIS .....................................      5

ARTICLE 2: REVOLVING LOAN ..................................      5

   2.1 REVOLVING LOAN FACILITY .............................      5

   2.2 REVOLVING NOTE ......................................      5

   2.3 PROCEDURE FOR REVOLVING LOAN ADVANCES ...............      5

   2.4 LETTERS OF CREDIT ...................................      5

   2.5 LETTER OF CREDIT FEES ...............................      5

   2.6 FACILITY FEE ........................................      6

ARTICLE 3: CONVERTING LOAN FACILITY ........................      6

   3.1 CONVERTING LOAN .....................................      6

   3.2 NOTE ................................................      6

   3.3 PROCEDURE FOR CONVERTING LOAN ADVANCES ..............      6

   3.4 REPAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL ..............................      6

   3.5 FACILITY FEE ........................................      6

ARTICLE 4: GUARANTY ........................................      7

ARTICLE 5: CONDITIONS OF LENDING ...........................      7

   5.1 AUTHORIZATION .......................................      7

   5.2 DOCUMENTATION .......................................      7

   5.3 GUARANTY ............................................      7

   5.4 RTFC CONSENT ........................................      7

   5.5 OPINION OF COUNSEL ..................................      7

   5.6 FEES ................................................      8

   5.7 PROOF OF INSURANCE ..................................      8

   5.8 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES ......................      8

   5.9 COMPLIANCE ..........................................      8

ARTICLE 6: REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES ..................      8
</TABLE>



                                       ii
<PAGE>   4

<TABLE>
<S>                                                              <C>
   6.1 EXISTENCE ...........................................      8

   6.2 ENFORCEABILITY ......................................      8

   6.3 NO LEGAL BAR ........................................      8

   6.4 FINANCIAL INFORMATION ...............................      8

   6.5 LIENS AND ENCUMBRANCES ..............................      9

   6.6 LITIGATION ..........................................      9

   6.7 SUBSIDIARIES ........................................      9

   6.8 PAYMENT OF TAXES ....................................      9

   6.9 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN ...............................      9

   6.10 MISREPRESENTATIONS .................................      9

   6.11 NO DEFAULT .........................................     10

   6.12 NO BURDENSOME RESTRICTIONS .........................     10

ARTICLE 7: AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS ...........................     10

   7.1 USE OF PROCEEDS .....................................     10

   7.2 EBITDA ..............................................     10

   7.3 FIXED CHARGE COVERAGE RATIO .........................     10

   7.4 FUNDED DEBT/EBITDA RATIO ............................     10

   7.5 TANGIBLE NET WORTH ..................................     10

   7.6 FINANCIAL INFORMATION ...............................     11

   7.7 AGING REPORT ........................................     11

   7.8 MAINTENANCE OF EXISTENCE ............................     11

   7.9 BOOKS AND RECORDS ...................................     11

   7.10 ACCESS TO PREMISES AND RECORDS .....................     11

   7.11 NOTICE OF EVENTS ...................................     11

   7.12 PAYMENT OF DEBTS AND TAXES .........................     12

   7.13 INSURANCE ..........................................     12

ARTICLE 8: NEGATIVE COVENANTS ..............................     12

   8.1 LIENS AND ENCUMBRANCES ..............................     13

   8.2 DEBT ................................................     13

   8.3 GUARANTIES ..........................................     14

   8.4 DISPOSITION OF ASSETS ...............................     14

   8.5 MERGERS/ACQUISITIONS ................................     14
</TABLE>



                                      iii
<PAGE>   5

<TABLE>
<S>                                                              <C>
   8.6 WAGE AND HOUR LAWS ..................................     14

   8.7 ERISA ...............................................     14

   8.8 DISSOLUTION .........................................     15

   8.9 BUSINESS ACTIVITIES .................................     15

   8.10 LOANS ..............................................     15

   8.11 INVESTMENTS ........................................     15

ARTICLE 9: EVENTS AND CONSEQUENCES OF DEFAULT ..............     15

   9.1 EVENTS OF DEFAULT ...................................     15

   9.2 REMEDIES UPON DEFAULT ...............................     17

ARTICLE 10: MISCELLANEOUS ..................................     17

   10.1 MANNER OF PAYMENTS .................................     17

   10.2 NOTICES ............................................     18

   10.3 DOCUMENTATION AND ADMINISTRATION EXPENSES ..........     19

   10.4 COLLECTION EXPENSES ................................     19

   10.5 WAIVER .............................................     19

   10.6 ASSIGNMENT .........................................     19

   10.7 MERGER .............................................     19

   10.8 AMENDMENTS .........................................     20

   10.9 MANDATORY ARBITRATION ..............................     20

   10.10 CONSTRUCTION ......................................     21

   10.11 COUNTERPARTS ......................................     21
</TABLE>



                                       iv
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                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

        THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made between Illuminet, Inc., a
Delaware corporation ("Borrower"), and Bank of America, N.A., a national banking
association (including its successors and/or assigns, "Bank"). The parties agree
as follows:

                             ARTICLE 1: DEFINITIONS

        1.1 GENERAL PROVISIONS. All terms defined below shall have the meaning
indicated. All references in this Agreement to:

               (a)    "dollars" or "$" shall mean U.S. dollars;

               (b) "Article," "Section," or "Subsection" shall mean articles,
        sections, and subsections of this Agreement, unless otherwise indicated;

               (c) terms defined in the Washington version of the Uniform
        Commercial Code, R.C.W. Section 62A.9-101, et seq. ("UCC"), and not
        otherwise defined in this Agreement, shall have the meaning given in the
        UCC; and

               (d) an accounting term not otherwise defined in this Agreement
        shall have the meaning assigned to it under GAAP.

        1.2 ADVANCES shall mean Revolving Loan Advances and Converting Loan
Advances.

        1.3 AFFILIATE shall mean Illuminet Holdings, Inc., a Delaware
corporation.

        1.4 AVAILABLE AMOUNT shall mean at any time:

               (a) With respect to the Revolving Loan, the amount of the
        Revolving Loan Credit Limit minus the unpaid balance of the Revolving
        Note, minus the combined principal balance of all Letters of Credit
        outstanding; and

               (b) With respect to the Converting Loan, the amount of the
        Converting Loan Credit Limit minus the unpaid balance of the Converting
        Note.

        1.5 BASE RATE MARGIN shall mean 0.125% until receipt by Bank of the
compliance certificate for the end of fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2000, and
thereafter shall mean the percentage indicated under the heading "Base Rate
Margin" in Section 1.22.

        1.6 BUSINESS DAY shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, or
other day on which commercial banks in Seattle, Washington, are authorized or
required by law to close.

        1.7 CONVERSION DATE shall mean June 1, 2002.

        1.8 CONVERTING LOAN ADVANCES shall mean the disbursement of loan
proceeds under the Converting Loan. A Converting Loan Advance shall not
constitute a "payment order" under R.C.W. Section 62A.4A-103.



                                       1
<PAGE>   7

        1.9 CONVERTING LOAN CREDIT LIMIT shall mean $15,000,000.

        1.10 CONVERTING LOAN FEE MARGIN shall mean 0.375% until receipt by Bank
of the compliance certificate for the end of fiscal quarter ending March 31,
2000, and thereafter shall mean the percentage indicated under the heading
"Converting Loan Fee Margin" in Section 1.22.

        1.11 DEBT shall mean all consolidated obligations, on a GAAP basis,
included in the liability section of a balance sheet of Affiliate.

        1.12 EBITDA shall mean Affiliate's consolidated earnings before interest
expense, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, on a Trailing Basis (provided,
that Affiliate's EBITDA may be adjusted, for purposes of financial covenant
calculation and Margins, to include the historical results of new acquisitions
if such adjustments are supported by unqualified opinions of certified public
accountants acceptable to Bank).

        1.13 ERISA shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended.

        1.14 FUNDED DEBT shall mean, as of the date of determination, the
aggregate principal amount of all consolidated Debt of Affiliate for (a)
borrowed money (other than trade indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of
business for value received) having a final maturity of one year or more from
the date of determination; (b) installment purchases of real or personal
property; (c) capital leases; and (d) guaranties of Funded Debt of other
Persons, without duplication.

        1.15 FUNDED DEBT/EBITDA RATIO shall mean Affiliate's ratio of Funded
Debt to EBITDA.

        1.16 GAAP shall mean generally accepted accounting principles as in
effect from time to time in the United States and as consistently applied by
Affiliate.

        1.17 GUARANTOR(s) shall mean Affiliate, and any other Subsidiary of
Borrower that becomes a Guarantor pursuant to Article 4.

        1.18 L/C AGREEMENTS shall have the meaning given in Section 2.4.

        1.19 LETTERS OF CREDIT shall have the meaning given in Section 2.4.

        1.20 LIBOR MARGIN shall mean 1.375% until receipt by Bank of the
compliance certificate for the end of fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2000, and
thereafter shall mean the percentage indicated under the heading "LIBOR Margin"
in Section 1.22.

        1.21 LOAN DOCUMENTS shall mean collectively this Agreement, the Notes,
all L/C Agreements, all Swap Contracts, and all other mortgages, deeds of trust,
security agreements, guaranties, documents, instruments, and other agreements
now or later executed in connection with this Agreement.



                                       2
<PAGE>   8

        1.22 MARGIN shall mean the percentage rates per annum as determined by
the following chart:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                    Converting
                                                  Base Rate       Revolving Loan     Loan Fee
Funded Debt/EBITDA Ratio*     LIBOR Margin          Margin          Fee Margin        Margin
-------------------------     ------------          ------          ----------        ------
<S>                           <C>                 <C>             <C>               <C>
Greater than or equal to         1.750%             0.500%            0.300%          0.425%
2.00 to 1, but less than
2.50 to 1

Greater than or equal to         1.625%             0.375%            0.250%          0.375%
1.50 to 1 but greater than
2.00 to 1

Less than 1.50 to 1              1.375%             0.125%            0.250%          0.375%
</TABLE>

*      as determined based on the most recently delivered quarterly compliance
       certificate of Affiliate, in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto.

Upon receipt of a quarterly compliance certificate showing a decrease or
increase in the Funded Debt/EBITDA Ratio which places Borrower in a new pricing
category, all Advances and fees shall begin being calculated at the higher or
lower Margin, as the case may be, for the period beginning on the first Business
Day of the month following the month in which such financial statement was
received by Bank.

        1.23 NOTES shall mean the Revolving and Converting Notes.

        1.24 OBLIGATIONS shall mean the Notes, all Swap Obligations, Borrower's
obligation to reimburse Bank for all amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, and
all fees, costs, expenses, and indemnifications due to Bank under this
Agreement.

        1.25 PERSON shall mean any individual, partnership, corporation, limited
liability company, business trust, unincorporated organization, joint venture,
or any governmental entity, department, agency, or political subdivision.

        1.26 PLAN shall mean any employee benefit plan or other plan maintained
for Borrower's employees and covered by Title IV of ERISA, excluding any plan
created or operated by or for any labor union.

        1.27 RTFC shall mean the Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative, a South
Dakota cooperative association.

        1.28 REVOLVING LOAN ADVANCES shall mean the disbursement of loan
proceeds under the Revolving Loan. A Revolving Loan Advance shall not constitute
a "payment order" under R.C.W. Section 62A.4A-103.

        1.29 REVOLVING LOAN CREDIT LIMIT shall mean $10,000,000.

        1.30 REVOLVING LOAN FEE MARGIN shall mean 0.250% until receipt by Bank
of the compliance certificate for the end of fiscal quarter ending March 31,
2000, and thereafter shall mean the percentage indicated under the heading
"Revolving Loan Fee Margin" in Section 1.22.



                                       3
<PAGE>   9

        1.31 SUBSIDIARY shall mean a corporation 50% or more of the outstanding
voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by Borrower or by one or
more other Subsidiaries, or by Borrower together with one or more other
Subsidiaries.

        1.32 SWAP CONTRACT shall mean any interest rate swap transaction,
forward rate transaction, interest rate cap, floor or collar transaction,
swaption, bond or bond price swap, option or forward, treasury lock, any similar
transaction, any option to enter into any of the foregoing and any combination
of the foregoing, which agreements may be oral or in writing including, without
limitation, any master agreement relating to or governing any or all of the
foregoing any related schedule or confirmations.

        1.33 SWAP OBLIGATIONS shall mean all indebtedness and obligations of
Borrower to Bank under any Swap Contract, as any or all of them may from time to
time be modified, amended, extended, renewed and restated.

        1.34 TANGIBLE NET WORTH shall mean the excess of Affiliate's total
consolidated assets over Affiliate's total consolidated liabilities, excluding,
however, from the determination of total assets (a) all assets which should be
classified as intangible assets (such as goodwill, patents, trademarks,
copyrights, franchises, and deferred charges, including unamortized debt
discount and research and development costs), (b) cash held in a sinking or
other similar fund established for the purpose of redemption or other retirement
of capital stock, (c) to the extent not already deducted from total assets,
reserves for depreciation, depletion, obsolescence, or amortization of
properties and other reserves or appropriations of retained earnings which have
been or should be established in connection with Affiliate's business under
GAAP, and (d) any revaluation or other write-up in book value of assets
subsequent to the fiscal year of Affiliate last ended at the date Tangible Net
Worth is being measured.

        1.35 TERMINATION DATE shall mean June 1, 2002, or such earlier date upon
which Bank's commitment to make Advances or issue Letters of Credit is
terminated pursuant to Subsection 9.2(a).

        1.36 TRAILING BASIS shall mean on an annualized basis based on the
preceding four fiscal quarters.

                            ARTICLE 2: REVOLVING LOAN

        2.1 REVOLVING LOAN FACILITY. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, Bank shall make Revolving Loan Advances to Borrower from time to
time, until the Termination Date ("Revolving Loan"), with the aggregate
principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the Revolving Loan
Credit Limit, less the principal amount of all Letters of Credit outstanding.
Borrower may use the Revolving Loan by borrowing, prepaying, and reborrowing the
Available Amount, in whole or in part, without a prepayment fee except in the
event of prepayment of LIBOR Rate Loans (as defined in the Revolving Note) prior
to conclusion of an Interest Period.

        2.2 REVOLVING NOTE. The obligation of Borrower to repay the Revolving
Loan shall be evidenced by a promissory note (including all renewals,
modifications, and extensions thereof, the "Revolving Note") made by Borrower to
the order of Bank, and shall bear interest as



                                       4
<PAGE>   10

provided in the Revolving Note. The Revolving Note shall be unsecured and shall
be in form satisfactory to Bank.

        2.3 PROCEDURE FOR REVOLVING LOAN ADVANCES. Borrower may borrow under the
Revolving Loan on any Business Day. Borrower shall give Bank irrevocable notice
(written or oral) specifying the amount to be borrowed and the requested
borrowing date. Bank must receive such notice on or before 3:30 p.m., Pacific
time, on the day borrowing is requested, or by such earlier time as may be
required under the Revolving Note. All Revolving Loan Advances shall be
discretionary to the extent notification by Borrower is given subsequent to that
time.

        2.4 LETTERS OF CREDIT. Upon Borrower's execution of Bank's standard form
Application and Agreement for Standby Letter of Credit (each an "L/C
Agreement"), Bank shall, until the Termination Date, issue on Borrower's behalf,
up to the aggregate lesser amount of (a) the Available Amount with respect to
the Revolving Loan, or (b) $5,000,000, standby letters of credit ("Letters of
Credit") which expire no later than the Termination Date. If there is a draw
under a Letter of Credit, and Borrower fails to reimburse Bank for the amount of
such draw by 3:30 p.m., Pacific time, on the day of the draw, Bank may on that
date make an Advance in the amount of the draw, whether or not a Default exists
or Borrower has requested an Advance.

        2.5 LETTER OF CREDIT FEES. Borrower shall pay to Bank, quarterly in
arrears, letter of credit fees for all Letters of Credit, equal to the LIBOR
Margin in effect from time to time, multiplied by the stated amount of the
Letter of Credit, and transaction fees on all drafts, transfers, extensions, and
other transactions in regard to Letters of Credit, according to Bank's
then-outstanding standard fee schedule, and reimburse Bank for all out-of-pocket
costs, legal fees, and expenses with regard thereto.

        2.6 FACILITY FEE. Upon execution of this Agreement, Borrower shall pay
to Bank a nonrefundable loan fee of $20,000 for the Revolving Loan. In addition,
on the first Business Day of each June, September, December, and March,
beginning June 1, 2000, Borrower shall pay to Bank in arrears a commitment fee
equal to the Revolving Loan Fee Margin per annum multiplied by the difference
between the Revolving Loan Credit Limit and the average daily outstanding
principal balance of the Revolving Note during such quarter.

                       ARTICLE 3: CONVERTING LOAN FACILITY

        3.1 CONVERTING LOAN. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, Bank shall make Converting Loan Advances to Borrower from time to
time, on a nonrevolving basis, until the Conversion Date ("Converting Loan"),
with the aggregate principal amount advanced not to exceed the Converting Loan
Credit Limit. Borrower may prepay the Converting Loan, in whole or in part,
without a prepayment fee except in the event of prepayment of LIBOR Rate Loans
(as defined in the Converting Note) prior to conclusion of an Interest Period.

        3.2 NOTE. The obligation of Borrower to repay the Converting Loan
Advances shall be evidenced by a promissory note (including all renewals,
modifications, and extensions thereof, the "Converting Note") made by Borrower
to the order of Bank, and shall bear interest as provided in the Converting
Note. The Converting Note shall be unsecured and shall be in form satisfactory
to Bank.



                                       5
<PAGE>   11

        3.3 PROCEDURE FOR CONVERTING LOAN ADVANCES. Borrower may borrow under
the Converting Loan on any Business Day prior to the Conversion Date. Borrower
shall give Bank irrevocable written notice specifying the amount to be borrowed
and the requested borrowing date. Bank must receive such notice on or before
3:30 p.m., Pacific time, on the day borrowing is requested, or by such earlier
time as may be required under the Converting Note. All Converting Loan Advances
shall be discretionary to the extent notification by Borrower is given
subsequent to that time.

        3.4 REPAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL. On the first Business Day of each September,
December, March, and June, beginning the first Business Day of September, 2002,
and continuing through the first Business Day of June, 2004, Borrower shall pay
to Bank installments of principal under the Converting Note, each equal to 5.0%
of the outstanding principal balance of the Converting Note as determined at the
close of business on the Conversion Date. Thereafter, on the first Business Day
of each September, December, March, and June, beginning September 1, 2004,
Borrower shall pay to Bank installments of principal under the Converting Note,
each equal to 15% of the outstanding principal balance of the Converting Note as
determined at the close of business on the Conversion Date. All principal and
accrued interest of the Converting Note shall be due and payable in full on June
1, 2005.

        3.5 FACILITY FEE. Upon execution of this Agreement, Borrower shall pay
to Bank a nonrefundable commitment fee of $30,000 for the Converting Loan. In
addition, on the first Business Day of each June, September, December, and
March, beginning June 1, 2000, and continuing through and on the Conversion
Date, Borrower shall pay to Bank in arrears a commitment fee equal to the
Converting Loan Fee Margin per annum multiplied by the difference between the
Revolving Loan Credit Limit and the average daily outstanding principal balance
of the Revolving Note during such quarter.

                               ARTICLE 4: GUARANTY

        The Obligations shall be absolutely and unconditionally guaranteed by
Affiliate, in form satisfactory to Bank. Borrower authorizes Bank to release to
any present or future Guarantor all information Bank possesses concerning
Borrower or any loans, credits, or other financial accommodations made to
Borrower by Bank. Borrower shall cause any newly acquired or created Subsidiary
to execute and deliver to Bank a guaranty of the Obligations, in form
satisfactory to Bank, and a certified copy of a resolution of such Subsidiary's
board of directors, satisfactory in form to Bank, authorizing its guaranty.

                        ARTICLE 5: CONDITIONS OF LENDING

        Bank's obligation to make the initial Advance (or issue the initial
Letter of Credit) is subject to the conditions precedent listed in Sections 5.1
through 5.7, and to make subsequent Advances (or issue subsequent Letters of
Credit) is subject to the conditions precedent listed in Sections 5.8 and 5.9,
unless waived by Bank in writing:

        5.1 AUTHORIZATION. Borrower shall have delivered to Bank a certified
copy of the resolution of Borrower's board of directors authorizing the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the execution, delivery, and
performance of all Loan Documents, together with



                                       6
<PAGE>   12

Borrower's articles of incorporation, bylaws, a certificate of existence, and
appropriate certificates of incumbency. Affiliate shall have delivered to Bank a
certified copy of a resolution of Affiliate's board of directors, satisfactory
in form to Bank, authorizing its guaranty of the Obligations.

        5.2 DOCUMENTATION. Borrower shall have executed and delivered to Bank
all documents to reflect the existence of the Obligations.

        5.3 GUARANTY. Affiliate and any existing Subsidiary of Borrower shall
have executed and delivered its guaranty to Bank, and such guaranty shall remain
in full force and effect.

        5.4 RTFC CONSENT. Borrower shall have provided Bank with evidence
satisfactory to Bank that RTFC has executed, in writing, all consents and
waivers necessary to permit Borrower to enter into this Agreement without
creating an event of default or event of acceleration under any loan document
evidencing or securing any credit facility provided by RTFC to Borrower.

        5.5 OPINION OF COUNSEL. Borrower shall deliver to Bank original opinions
of counsel for Borrower and Affiliate (which may be staff counsel) directed to
Bank confirming the accuracy of Sections 6.1 through 6.3 as to Borrower and the
accuracy of the representations and warranties made in the Consent of Guarantor,
as to Affiliate, subject to customary limitations, qualifications, and
assumptions, and in form and substance satisfactory to Bank.

        5.6 FEES. Borrower shall have paid to Bank the fees required by Section
2.6 and 3.5, and all fees, costs, and expenses payable pursuant to Section 10.3.

        5.7 PROOF OF INSURANCE. Proof of insurance as required by Section 7.13
shall have been provided to Bank.

        5.8 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The representations and warranties
made by Borrower or Affiliate in the Loan Documents and in any certificate,
document, or financial statement furnished at any time shall continue to be true
and correct, except to the extent that such representations and warranties
expressly relate to an earlier date.

        5.9 COMPLIANCE. No Default or other event which, upon notice or lapse of
time or both would constitute a Default, shall have occurred and be continuing,
or shall exist after giving effect to the advance of credit to be made.

                    ARTICLE 6: REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

        To induce Bank to enter into this Agreement, Borrower represents,
warrants, and covenants to Bank as follows:

        6.1 EXISTENCE. Borrower is in good standing as a corporation under the
laws of the state of Delaware, has the power, authority, and legal right to own
and operate its property or lease the property it operates and to conduct its
current business; and is qualified to do business and is in good standing in the
state of Washington and all other jurisdictions where the ownership, lease, or
operation of its property or the conduct of its business requires such



                                       7
<PAGE>   13

qualification, except where the failure to obtain such qualification would not
have a materially adverse effect on Borrower's business or its properties, taken
as a whole.

        6.2 ENFORCEABILITY. The Loan Documents, when executed and delivered by
Borrower, shall be enforceable against Borrower in accordance with their
respective terms in all material respects.

        6.3 NO LEGAL BAR. The execution, delivery, and performance by Borrower
of the Loan Documents, and the use of the loan proceeds, shall not violate any
existing law or regulation applicable to Borrower; any ruling applicable to
Borrower of any court, arbitrator, or governmental agency or body of any kind;
Borrower's organizational documents; any security issued by Borrower; or any
mortgage, indenture, or material lease, contract, undertaking, or other
agreement to which Borrower is a party or by which Borrower or any of its
property may be bound.

        6.4 FINANCIAL INFORMATION. By submitting each of the financial
statements required by Section 7.6, Affiliate is deemed to represent and warrant
that: (a) such statement is complete and correct in all material respects and
fairly presents the consolidated financial condition of Affiliate as of the date
of such statement; (b) such statement discloses all consolidated liabilities of
Affiliate that are required to be reflected or reserved against under GAAP,
whether liquidated or unliquidated, fixed or contingent; and (c) such statement
has been prepared in accordance with GAAP. As of this date, there has been no
adverse change in Affiliate's consolidated financial condition since preparation
of the last such financial statements delivered to Bank which would materially
impair Borrower's or Affiliate's (in its capacity as guarantor of the
Obligations) ability to repay the Obligations.

        6.5 LIENS AND ENCUMBRANCES. As of this date, Borrower has good and
marketable title to its property free and clear of all security interests,
liens, encumbrances, or rights of others, except as disclosed in writing to
Bank, except for taxes which are not yet delinquent and for conditions,
restrictions, easements, and rights of way of record which do not materially
affect the use of any of Borrower's property, and except for other liens
incidental to the conduct of its business or the ownership of its property which
were not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money or the obtaining of
credit and which do not, in the aggregate, materially impair the value or use of
its property.

        6.6 LITIGATION. Except as disclosed in writing to Bank, there is no
threatened (to Borrower's knowledge) or pending litigation, investigation,
arbitration, or administrative action which may materially adversely affect
Borrower's business, property, operations, or financial condition.

        6.7    SUBSIDIARIES.  Borrower currently has no Subsidiaries.

        6.8 PAYMENT OF TAXES. Except as would not have a material adverse effect
on Borrower, (i) Borrower has filed or caused to be filed all tax returns when
required to be filed (giving effect to any extensions of time therefor); and
(ii) has paid all taxes, assessments, fees, licenses, excise taxes, franchise
taxes, governmental liens, penalties, and other charges levied or assessed
against Borrower or any of its property imposed on it by any governmental
authority,



                                       8
<PAGE>   14

agency, or instrumentality that are due and payable (other than those returns or
payments of which the amount, enforceability, or validity are contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which reserves in
conformity with GAAP are provided on Borrower's books).

        6.9 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN. Borrower is in compliance in all material
respects with the provisions of ERISA and the regulations and published
interpretations thereunder. Borrower has not engaged in any acts or omissions
which would make Borrower liable in a material amount to the Plan, to any of its
participants, or to the Internal Revenue Service, under ERISA.

        6.10 MISREPRESENTATIONS. No written information, exhibits, data, or
reports furnished by or on behalf of Borrower in connection with Borrower's
application for credit misstates any material fact, or omits any material fact
necessary to make such information, exhibits, data, or reports not misleading.

        6.11 NO DEFAULT. Borrower is not in default in any Loan Document, or in
any material contract, agreement, or instrument to which it is a party.

        6.12 NO BURDENSOME RESTRICTIONS. No contract or other instrument to
which Borrower is a party, or order, award, or decree of any court, arbitrator,
or governmental agency, materially impairs Borrower's ability to repay the
Obligations.

                        ARTICLE 7: AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

        So long as this Agreement shall remain in effect, or any liability
exists under the Loan Documents, Affiliate shall, as to Sections 7.2 through 7.6
of this Article, and Borrower shall as to all other Sections of this Article:

        7.1 USE OF PROCEEDS. Use the proceeds of the Revolving Loan for working
capital and other general corporate purposes, including the transactions
permitted under Section 8.5, and use the proceeds of the Converting Loan for
capital expenditures.

        7.2 EBITDA. Maintain as of each fiscal quarter end, on a Trailing Basis,
EBITDA of at least $25,000,000.

        7.3 FIXED CHARGE COVERAGE RATIO Maintain as of each fiscal quarter end,
on a Trailing Basis, the following totals in a ratio of at least 2.00 to 1:

               (a)    EBITDA minus $7,000,000 (representing maintenance capital
        expenditures); divided by

               (b) Cash interest expenses plus current portion of long-term
        Funded Debt (with the amount included to be no less than 20% of the
        outstanding principal balance of the Converting Note as determined at
        the close of business on the Conversion Date).

        7.4 FUNDED DEBT/EBITDA RATIO Maintain as of each fiscal quarter end
specified below, on a Trailing Basis, a Funded Debt/EBITDA Ratio of not more
than 2.50 to 1.



                                       9
<PAGE>   15

        7.5 TANGIBLE NET WORTH Maintain a Tangible Net Worth as of each fiscal
quarter end equal at least to the sum of:

                (a) 85% of Tangible Net Worth determined as of the date of this
        Agreement; plus

                (b) 50% of all net income earned by Affiliate for each full
        quarter since the date of this Agreement (with no deduction for net
        losses in a quarter); plus

                (c) 75% of the proceeds of any equity offerings by Affiliate.

        7.6 FINANCIAL INFORMATION. Maintain a standard system of accounting in
accordance with GAAP and furnish to Bank the following:

                (a) Annual Financial Statements. As soon as available and, in
        any event, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a copy of
        the consolidated balance sheet, consolidated statement of income and
        retained earnings, consolidated statement of shareholders' equity, and
        consolidated statement of cash flow of Affiliate for such year, setting
        forth in each case, in comparative form, corresponding figures from the
        preceding annual statements, each audited by independent certified
        public accountants of recognized standing selected by Affiliate and
        reasonably satisfactory to Bank, certifying that such statement is
        complete and correct in all material respects, fairly presents without
        qualification the consolidated financial condition of Affiliate for such
        period, is prepared in accordance with GAAP, and has been audited in
        conformity with generally accepted auditing standards;

                (b) SEC Reporting. As soon as made available to the Securities
        and Exchange Commission or Affiliate's shareholders, copies of all 10-Q
        and 10-K filings;

                (c) Compliance Certificates. Together with the delivery of each
        quarterly 10-Q statement and each annual financial statement, a
        certificate of the chief financial officer of Affiliate, in the form of
        Exhibit A attached; and

                (d) Additional Financial Information. As soon as available and,
        in any event, within ten days after request, such other data,
        information, or documentation as Bank may reasonably request.

        7.7 AGING REPORT. Furnish to Bank annually, within 120 days of each year
end, a report providing the agings of Borrower's accounts receivable and
Borrower's accounts payable, in form and substance satisfactory to Bank.

        7.8 MAINTENANCE OF EXISTENCE. Preserve and maintain its existence,
powers, and privileges in the jurisdiction of its formation, and qualify and
remain qualified in each jurisdiction in which its presence is necessary or
desirable in view of its business, operations, or ownership of its property.
Borrower shall also maintain and preserve all of its property which is necessary
or useful in the proper course of its business, in good working order and
condition, ordinary wear and tear and replacement excepted.



                                       10
<PAGE>   16

        7.9 BOOKS AND RECORDS. Keep proper books, accounts, and records in
accordance with GAAP.

        7.10 ACCESS TO PREMISES AND RECORDS. At all reasonable times and as
often as Bank may reasonably request, permit any authorized representative
designated by Bank to have access to the premises, property, and financial
records of Borrower, including all records relating to the finances, operations,
and procedures of Borrower, and to make copies of or abstracts from such
records.

        7.11 NOTICE OF EVENTS. Furnish Bank prompt written notice of:

                (a) Proceedings. Any proceeding instituted by or against
        Borrower in any court or before any commission or regulatory body, or
        any proceeding threatened against it in writing by any governmental
        agency which if adversely determined would have a material adverse
        effect on Borrower's business, property, or financial condition, or
        where the amount involved is $500,000 or more and not covered by
        insurance;

                (b) Material Development. Any material development in any such
        proceeding referred to in Subsection (a);

                (c) Subsidiaries. Within 10 days, of the creation or acquisition
        of any new Subsidiary;

                (d) Defaults. Any accident, event, or condition which is or,
        with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a Default, or a
        material default under any other material agreement to which Borrower is
        a party, including but not limited to Borrower's loan from the Rural
        Telephone Finance Cooperative secured by Borrower's headquarters
        building; and

                (e) Adverse Effect. Any other action, event, or condition of any
        nature which reasonably could be expected to result in a material
        adverse effect on the business, property, or financial condition of
        Borrower.

        7.12 PAYMENT OF DEBTS AND TAXES. Except as would not reasonably be
expected to have a material adverse effect on Borrower, and giving effect to
applicable extensions and grace periods, (i) pay all Debt and perform all
obligations promptly and in accordance with their terms, and (ii) pay and
discharge promptly all taxes, assessments, and governmental charges or levies
imposed upon Borrower, its property, or revenues prior to the date on which
penalties attach thereto, as well as all lawful claims for labor, material,
supplies, or otherwise which, if unpaid, might become a lien or charge upon
Borrower's property. Borrower shall not, however, be required to pay or
discharge any such tax, assessment, charge, levy, or claim so long as its
enforceability, amount, or validity is contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings.

        7.13 INSURANCE. Maintain commercially adequate levels of coverage with
financially sound and reputable insurers, including, without limitation:

                (a) Property Insurance. Insurance on all property of a character
        usually insured by organizations engaged in the same or similar type of
        business as Borrower



                                       11
<PAGE>   17

        against all risks, casualties, and losses through extended coverage or
        otherwise and of the kind customarily insured against by such
        organizations;

                (b) Liability Insurance. Public liability insurance against tort
        claims which may be asserted against Borrower; and

                (c) Additional Insurance. Such other insurance as may be
        required by law.

                          ARTICLE 8: NEGATIVE COVENANTS

        So long as this Agreement shall remain in effect, or any liability shall
exist under the Loan Documents, Borrower shall not, without prior written
consent of Bank, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld:

        8.1 LIENS AND ENCUMBRANCES. Create, incur, or assume, or agree to
create, incur, or assume any lien, whether consensual or nonconsensual, on any
of its property, or to enter into any lease with respect to any of its property
except:

                (a) Existing Liens. Liens in effect as of this date, including a
        deed of trust on Borrower's headquarters building in favor of the Rural
        Telephone Finance Cooperative;

                (b) Liens of Bank. Liens in favor of Bank;

                (c) Capital Leases. Capital leases entered into with Agilent
        Technologies Inc.;

                (d) Tax Liens. Liens for taxes not yet due or which are being
        contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; and

                (e) Incidental Liens. Other liens incidental to the conduct of
        its business or the ownership of its property which are not incurred in
        connection with the borrowing of money or the obtaining of credit, and
        which do not in the aggregate materially impair the value or use of
        property.

        8.2 DEBT. Create, incur, assume, permit to exist, or otherwise become
committed for any Debt except any:

                (a) Unsecured Trade Credit. Unsecured, short-term Debt arising
        from current operations by purchasing on credit goods, services,
        supplies, or merchandise and not constituting borrowings;

                (b) Existing Obligations. Debt owing to Bank, or in existence as
        of this date and disclosed to Bank, and all renewals, modifications, and
        extensions thereof;

                (c) Derivatives. Obligations arising under derivative facilities
        obtained from or through Bank;



                                       12
<PAGE>   18

                (d) Lease Agreements. Debt incurred in connection with existing
        capital leases and new capital leases between Borrower and Agilent
        Technologies and/or Hewlett-Packard; and

                (e) Ordinary Course. Debt incurred in the ordinary course of
        business and appearing on the liability section of the consolidated
        balance sheet of Affiliate, prepared in accordance with GAAP, including,
        without limitation, accrued liabilities and taxes payable.

        8.3 GUARANTIES. Assume, guaranty, endorse, become a surety for,
indemnify, or otherwise in any fashion become responsible for, directly or
indirectly, any obligation of any Person other than a Subsidiary, except:

                (a) Negotiable Instruments. Endorsements on negotiable
        instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of
        business; and

                (b) Performance Bonds. Performance bonds as required in the
        ordinary course of Borrower's business.

        8.4 DISPOSITION OF ASSETS. Sell, transfer, lease, or otherwise assign or
dispose of a substantial portion of its property to any Person other than a
Subsidiary, outside the ordinary course of business.

        8.5 MERGERS/ACQUISITIONS. Become a party to any merger, consolidation,
or like corporate change, or make any substantial transfer or contribution to,
or material investment in, stock, shares, or licenses of any Person other than a
Subsidiary, except where all of the following are satisfied:

                (a) the target is in a substantially similar or related line of
        business as Borrower;

                (b) Borrower provides to Bank complete financial information as
        to the target prior to such acquisition;

                (c) the acquisition is of a nonhostile nature and the target's
        board of directors has approved the acquisition;

                (d) no Default has occurred and is continuing, and no Default
        would result from giving effect to the acquisition (provided, that
        Affiliate's EBITDA may be adjusted, for purposes of financial covenant
        calculation and Margins, to include the historical results of new
        acquisitions if such adjustments, are supported by unqualified opinions
        of certified public accountants acceptable to Bank);

                (e) Borrower has at least $5,000,000 of availability under the
        Revolving Loan after giving effect to the acquisition; and



                                       13
<PAGE>   19

                (f) No one acquisition exceeds $20,000,000 based on both cash
        and assumption of Debt, and all such acquisitions in the aggregate in
        any one fiscal year do not exceed $30,000,000 based on both cash and
        assumption of Debt.

        8.6 WAGE AND HOUR LAWS. Engage in any material violation of the federal
Fair Labor Standards Act or any comparable state wage and hour law.

        8.7 ERISA. Engage in any act or omission which would make Borrower
materially liable under ERISA to the Plan, to any of its participants, or to the
Internal Revenue Service.

        8.8 DISSOLUTION. Adopt any agreement or resolution for dissolving,
terminating, voluntarily suspending, or substantially curtailing Borrower's
present business activities.

        8.9 BUSINESS ACTIVITIES. Engage or enter into any activity which is
material to Borrower's business and which is unusual to Borrower's existing
business, other than extensions, expansions, and other such modifications of
Borrower's existing business.

        8.10 LOANS. Make any loan or advance to any Person, including but not
limited to Affiliate, otherwise than advances for expenses made in the ordinary
course of business, and made with a reasonable expectation of being reimbursed
in the ordinary course of business.

        8.11 INVESTMENTS. Make any investment outside the ordinary course of
Borrower's business, except:

                (a) Permitted Investments in Businesses. Investments permitted
        under Section 8.5;

                (b) Certificates of Deposit. Investments in certificates of
        deposit maturing within one year from the date of acquisition from any
        one or more of the top 100 commercial banks in the United States;

                (c) Money Market. Money market mutual funds, bankers'
        acceptances, eurodollar investments, repurchase agreements, and other
        short-term money market investments acceptable to Bank;

                (d) Commercial Paper. Prime commercial paper with maturities of
        less than one year; and

                (e) U. S. Government Paper. Obligations issued or guaranteed by
        the United States Government or its agencies.

                  ARTICLE 9: EVENTS AND CONSEQUENCES OF DEFAULT

        9.1 EVENTS OF DEFAULT. Any of the following events shall, at the option
of Bank and at any time without regard to any previous knowledge on the part of
Bank, constitute a default by Borrower under the terms of this Agreement, the
Notes, and all other Loan Documents ("Default"):



                                       14
<PAGE>   20

                (a) Nonpayment. Any payment or reimbursement due or demanded
        under this Agreement or any Loan Document is not made within three days
        of the date when due;

                (b) Breach of Warranty. Any representation or warranty made in
        connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any
        certificate, notice, or report furnished pursuant hereto, is reasonably
        determined by Bank to be false in any material respect when made, and is
        relied upon by Bank to its detriment;

                (c) Failure to Perform. Any other term, covenant, or agreement
        contained in any Loan Document is not performed or satisfied, and, if
        remediable, such failure continues unremedied for 30 days after written
        notice thereof has been given to Borrower by Bank;

                (d) Defaults on Other Obligations. There exists a default in the
        performance of any other agreement or obligation for the payment of
        borrowed money, for the deferred purchase price of property or services,
        or for the payment of rent under any lease, whether by acceleration or
        otherwise, which would permit such obligation to be declared due and
        payable prior to its stated maturity; and such default continues for 30
        days after Borrower receives written notice thereof from the creditor so
        affected;

                (e) Guarantor. Any Guarantor shall revoke or attempt to revoke
        its guaranty of the Obligations, whether with respect to future
        transactions or outstanding Obligations, or otherwise breaches the terms
        and conditions of such guaranty, or shall fail to comply with any of its
        covenants set forth in the Consent of Guarantor appended to this
        Agreement, or shall default under any agreement with Bank evidencing or
        securing any credit facilities provided by Bank to such Guarantor;

                (f) Loss, Destruction, or Condemnation of Property. A portion of
        Borrower's property is affected by any uninsured loss, damage,
        destruction, theft, sale, or encumbrance other than created herein or is
        condemned, seized, or appropriated, the effect of which materially
        impairs Borrower's financial condition or its ability to pay its debts
        as they come due;

                (g) Attachment Proceedings and Insolvency. Borrower or any
        material portion of Borrower's property is affected by any:

                        (i) Judgment lien, execution, attachment, garnishment,
                general assignment for the benefit of creditors, sequestration,
                or forfeiture, to the extent Borrower's financial condition or
                its ability to pay its debts as they come due is thereby
                materially impaired; or

                        (ii) Proceeding under the laws of any jurisdiction
                relating to receivership, insolvency, or bankruptcy, whether
                brought voluntarily or involuntarily by or against Borrower,
                including, without limitation, any reorganization of assets,
                deferment or arrangement of debts, or any similar proceeding,
                and, if such proceeding is involuntarily brought against
                Borrower, it is not dismissed within 60 days;



                                       15
<PAGE>   21

                (h) Judgments. Final judgment on claims not covered by insurance
        which, together with other outstanding final judgments against Borrower
        or Affiliate, exceeds $10,000,000, is rendered against Borrower and is
        not discharged, vacated, or reversed, or its execution stayed pending
        appeal, within 60 days after entry, or is not discharged within 60 days
        after the expiration of such stay;

                (i) Government Approvals. Any governmental approval,
        registration, or filing with any governmental authority, now or later
        required in connection with the performance by Borrower of its
        obligations under the Loan Documents, is revoked, withdrawn, or
        withheld, or fails to remain in full force and effect, except Borrower
        shall have 60 days after notice of any such event to take whatever
        action is necessary to obtain all necessary approvals, registrations,
        and filings; or

                (j) Material Adverse Change. Any event shall occur which Bank
        reasonably believes will have a material adverse effect on Affiliate's
        consolidated financial condition or Borrower's ability to repay the
        Obligations, or Guarantors' collective ability to perform under their
        guaranty.

        9.2 REMEDIES UPON DEFAULT. If any Default occurs under Subsection
9.1(g), Bank's commitment to make Advances and issue additional Letters of
Credit shall immediately and automatically terminate, and all Obligations,
including all accrued interest, shall immediately and automatically become due
and payable, without presentment, demand, protest, or notice of any kind, all of
which are hereby expressly waived by Borrower, and Bank may immediately exercise
any or all of the following remedies for Default; and if any other Default
occurs and is continuing, Bank may, upon notice to Borrower:

                (a) Terminate Commitments. Terminate Bank's commitment to make
        Advances or issue additional Letters of Credit;

                (b) Suspend Commitments. Refuse to make further Advances or
        issue additional Letters of Credit until any Default has been cured;

                (c) Accelerate. Declare all or any of the Notes, together with
        all accrued interest, to be immediately due and payable without
        presentment, demand, protest, or notice of any kind, all of which are
        hereby expressly waived by Borrower; and/or

                (d) Setoff. Exercise its right of setoff against deposit
        accounts of Borrower with Bank, or place an administrative freeze on any
        such accounts; and/or

                (e) All Remedies. Pursue any other available legal and equitable
        remedies.

All of Bank's rights and remedies in all Loan Documents shall be cumulative and
can be exercised separately or concurrently.



                                       16
<PAGE>   22

                            ARTICLE 10: MISCELLANEOUS

        10.1   MANNER OF PAYMENTS.

               (a) Payments on Nonbusiness Days. Whenever any event is to occur
        or any payment is to be made under any Loan Document on any day other
        than a Business Day, such event may occur or such payment may be made on
        the next succeeding Business Day and such extension of time shall be
        included in computation of interest in connection with any such payment.

               (b) Payments. All payments and prepayments to be made by Borrower
        shall be made to Bank when due, at Bank's office as may be designated by
        Bank, without offsets or counterclaims for any amounts claimed by
        Borrower to be due from Bank, in U.S.
        dollars and in immediately available funds.

               (c) Automatic Debit. Borrower agrees that interest payments and
        principal payments under the Notes, will be deducted automatically on
        the due date from the Borrower's account number 68892306, or such other
        of the Borrower's accounts with Bank as designated in writing by
        Borrower. Bank will debit the account on the dates the payments become
        due. If a due date does not fall on a Business Day, Bank will debit the
        account on the first Business Day following the due date. Borrower will
        maintain sufficient funds in the account on the dates Bank enters debits
        authorized by this Agreement. If there are insufficient funds in the
        account on the date Bank enters any debit authorized by this Agreement,
        the debit will be reversed.

               (d) Application of Payments. All payments made by Borrower shall
        be applied first against fees, expenses, and indemnities due; second,
        against interest due; and third, against principal as Borrower may
        direct; provided that Bank shall have the right, after a Default which
        is continuing, to apply any payments or collections received against any
        one or more of the Obligations in any manner which Bank may choose.

               (e) Recording of Payments. Bank is authorized to record on a
        schedule or computer-generated statement the date and amount of each
        Advance, and all payments of principal and interest. All such schedules
        or statements shall constitute prima facie evidence of the accuracy of
        the information so recorded.

        10.2 NOTICES. Bank may make Advances, and changes between interest rate
options, based on telephonic, telex, and oral requests made by any Person whom
Bank in good faith believes to be authorized to act on behalf of Borrower. All
other notices, demands, and other communications to be given pursuant to any of
the Loan Documents shall be in writing and shall be deemed received the earlier
of when actually received, or two days after being mailed, postage prepaid and
addressed as follows, or as later designated in writing:



                                       17
<PAGE>   23

BANK:                                       BORROWER:

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.                       ILLUMINET, INC.
Southwest Commercial Banking                4501 Intelco Loop S.E.
820 A Street, Suite 350                     Olympia, WA 98503-5952
Tacoma, WA 98401                            Attention: Daniel E. Weiss, VP & CFO
Attention: Steve Harlow

        10.3 DOCUMENTATION AND ADMINISTRATION EXPENSES. Borrower shall pay,
reimburse, and indemnify Bank for all of Bank's reasonable costs and expenses,
including, without limitation, all accounting, appraisal, and report preparation
fees or expenses, all attorneys' fees (including the allocated cost of in-house
counsel), legal expenses, and recording or filing fees, incurred in connection
with the negotiation, preparation, execution, and administration of this
Agreement and all other Loan Documents, and all amendments, supplements, or
modifications thereto. Borrower acknowledges that any legal counsel retained or
employed by Bank acts solely on the Bank's behalf and not on Borrower's behalf,
despite Borrower's obligation to reimburse Bank for the cost of such legal
counsel, and that Borrower has had sufficient opportunity to seek the advice of
its own legal counsel with regard to this Agreement.

        10.4 COLLECTION EXPENSES. The nonprevailing party shall, upon demand by
the prevailing party, reimburse the prevailing party for all of its costs,
expenses, and reasonable attorneys' fees (including the allocated cost of
in-house counsel) incurred in connection with any controversy or claim between
said parties relating to this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, or
to an alleged tort arising out of the transactions evidenced by this Agreement,
including those incurred in any action, bankruptcy proceeding, arbitration or
other alternative dispute resolution proceeding, or appeal, or in the course of
exercising any judicial or nonjudicial remedies.

        10.5 WAIVER. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the
part of Bank, any right, power, or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver
thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, power, or
privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof, or the
exercise of any other right, power, or privilege. Further, no waiver or
indulgence by Bank of any Default shall constitute a waiver of Bank's right to
declare a subsequent similar failure or event to be a Default.

        10.6 ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement is made expressly for the sole benefit
of Borrower and for the protection of Bank and its successors and assigns. The
rights of Borrower hereunder shall not be assignable by operation of law or
otherwise, without the prior written consent of Bank.

        10.7 MERGER. The rights and obligations set forth in this Agreement
shall not merge into or be extinguished by any of the Loan Documents, but shall
continue and remain valid and enforceable. This Agreement and the other Loan
Documents constitute Bank's entire agreement with Borrower with regard to the
Revolving Loan, including the Letter of Credit facility thereunder, and the
Converting Loan, and supersede all prior writings and oral negotiations. No oral
or written representation, covenant, commitment, waiver, or promise of either
Bank or Borrower shall have any effect, whether made before or after the date of
this Agreement, unless



                                       18
<PAGE>   24

contained in this Agreement or another Loan Document, or in an amendment
complying with Section 10.8. ORAL AGREEMENTS OR ORAL COMMITMENTS TO LOAN MONEY,
TO EXTEND CREDIT, OR TO FORBEAR FROM ENFORCING REPAYMENT OF A DEBT ARE NOT
ENFORCEABLE UNDER WASHINGTON LAW.

        10.8 AMENDMENTS. Any amendment or waiver of, or consent to any departure
by Borrower from any provision of, this Agreement shall be in writing signed by
each party to be bound thereby, and shall be effective only in the specific
instance and for the specific purpose for which given.

        10.9   MANDATORY ARBITRATION.

               (a) At the request of either Bank or Borrower, any controversy or
        claim between Bank and Borrower, arising from or relating to this
        Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, or arising from an alleged
        tort, shall be settled by arbitration in Seattle, Washington. The United
        States Arbitration Act shall apply even though this Agreement is
        otherwise governed by Washington law. The proceedings shall be
        administered by the American Arbitration Association under its
        commercial rules of arbitration. Any controversy over whether an issue
        is arbitrable shall be determined by the arbitrator(s). Judgment upon
        the arbitration award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction
        over the parties. The institution and maintenance of an action for
        judicial relief or pursuit of an ancillary or provisional remedy shall
        not constitute a waiver of the right of either party, including the
        plaintiff, to submit the controversy or claim to arbitration if such
        action for judicial relief is contested. For purposes of the application
        of the statute of limitations, the filing of an arbitration pursuant to
        this subsection is the equivalent of the filing of a lawsuit, and any
        claim or controversy which may be arbitrated under this subsection is
        subject to any applicable statute of limitations. The arbitrator(s) will
        have the authority to decide whether any such claim or controversy is
        barred by the statute of limitations and, if so, to dismiss the
        arbitration on that basis. The parties consent to the joinder of any
        guarantor, hypothecator, or other party having an interest relating to
        the claim or controversy being arbitrated in any proceedings under this
        Section.

               (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), no
        controversy or claim shall be submitted to arbitration without the
        consent of all parties if at the time of the proposed submission, such
        controversy or claim arises from or relates to an obligation secured by
        real property.

               (c) No provision of this subsection shall limit the right of
        Borrower or Bank to exercise self-help remedies such as set-off,
        foreclosure, retention or sale of any collateral, or obtaining any
        ancillary, provisional, or interim remedies from a court of competent
        jurisdiction before, after, or during the pendency of any arbitration
        proceeding. The exercise of any such remedy does not waive the right of
        either party to request arbitration.

        10.10 CONSTRUCTION. Each term of this Agreement and each Loan Document
shall be binding to the extent permitted by law and shall be governed by the
laws of the State of



                                       19
<PAGE>   25

Washington, excluding its conflict of laws rules. If one or more of the
provisions of this Agreement should be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any
respect, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall remain effective and
enforceable. If there is a conflict among the provisions of any Loan Documents,
the provisions of this Agreement shall be controlling. The captions and
organization of this Agreement are for convenience only, and shall not be
construed to affect any provision of this Agreement.

        10.11 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement and each Loan Document may be signed
in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same
effect as if the signatures to such counterparts were upon the same instrument.

        DATED as of May 9, 2000.

BORROWER:                                   BANK:
ILLUMINET, INC.                             BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.



By      /S/ DANIEL E. WEISS                 By     /S/ STAN M. HARLOW
  -----------------------------------         ----------------------------------

Title   VP-FINANCE                          Title  VP
     --------------------------------            -------------------------------

                              CONSENT OF GUARANTOR

        The undersigned Affiliate, as guarantor of the Obligations, acknowledges
receipt of a copy of the above Agreement and consents to its contents. Affiliate
agrees to keep accurate and complete books, accounts, and records in which
complete entries shall be made in accordance with GAAP, reflecting all material
financial transactions of Affiliate; provide to Bank the financial reports
required to be provided under Section 7.6; and comply with the covenants set
forth in Sections 7.2 through 7.6 of the Agreement. Affiliate represents and
warrants to Bank as follows:

                (a) Affiliate is in good standing as a corporation under the
        laws of the state of Delaware, has the power, authority, and legal right
        to own and operate its property or lease the property it operates and to
        conduct its current business; and is qualified to do business and is in
        good standing in the state of Washington and all other jurisdictions
        where the ownership, lease, or operation of its property or the conduct
        of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to
        obtain such qualification would not have a materially adverse effect on
        Affiliate's business or its properties, taken as a whole.

                (b) Those Loan Documents to be executed by Affiliate, when
        executed and delivered by Affiliate, shall be enforceable against
        Affiliate in accordance with their respective terms in all material
        respects.

                (c) The execution, delivery, and performance by Affiliate of
        those Loan Documents to which it is a party shall not violate any
        existing law or regulation



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<PAGE>   26

        applicable to Affiliate; any ruling applicable to Affiliate of any
        court, arbitrator, or governmental agency or body of any kind;
        Affiliate's organizational documents; any security issued by Affiliate;
        or any mortgage, indenture, or material lease, contract, undertaking, or
        other agreement to which Affiliate is a Party or by which Affiliate or
        any of its property may be bound.

                (d) By submitting each of the financial statements required by
        Section 7.6, Affiliate is deemed to represent and warrant that: (i) such
        statement is complete and correct in all material respects and fairly
        presents the consolidated financial condition of Affiliate as of the
        date of such statement; (ii) such statement discloses all consolidated
        liabilities of Affiliate that are required to be reflected or reserved
        against under GAAP, whether liquidated or unliquidated, fixed or
        contingent; and (iii) such statement has been prepared in accordance
        with GAAP. As of this date, there has been no adverse change in
        Affiliate's consolidated financial condition since preparation of the
        last such financial statements delivered to Bank which would materially
        impair Affiliate's ability to perform under its guaranty of the
        Obligations.

                DATED AS MAY 9, 2000.

ILLUMINET HOLDINGS, INC.

By:     /s/ DANIEL E. WEISS
   ----------------------------------

Title:  VP - Finance
      -------------------------------



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